“Notebooking Grows Up” or Creative Art Projects for the Teenage Years

Some time ago, I fell in love with Altered Composition books after being introduced to them by Kim of Starry Sky Ranch.

While spending one of my favorite gifts…a gift certificate to a book store ;o)   I came across this book~
The Decorated Page Journals, Scrapbooks and Albums Made Simply Beautiful by Gwen Diehn.  This book is a grab bag full of ideas and step-by-step visual directions (that include suggestions for materials and material gathering) that help you add dimension and creativity to journals. 

This book was not one that I read all at once.  I kept it by my "nursing chair" and would read a few pages at a time and then talked casually about what I learned to my twin dds (13) (it was a good exercise of persuasive Mommy-Narration)
I asked them to do the same thing (read 2 or so pages at a time) so they could absorb some ideas about creative journaling.  I wanted them to see that they could create something personal and meaningful with their journaling, whether it be a nature journal, a personal journal or one that fit some academic subject or idea.   I asked them to think of it as their own "art class".  I thought of it as "notebooking grows up".

Not surprisingly, this author did make some other books that I am interested in as well…like this one… 

The Decorated Journal, and this one….

Making Books That Fly, Fold, Wrap, Hide, Pop Up, Twist & Turn: Books for Kids to Make

Ok, so my fever doesn’t stop there… Look at this from the book
More Making Books by Hand: Exploring Miniature Books, Alternative Structures, and Found Objects

And this book….had some interesting pages when I cked out the inside of the book…Visual Chronicles: The No-Fear Guide to Creating Art Journals, Creative Manifestos and Altered Books

I also found this interesting site that promises to join the scrappers and the journalers together.

I am on a mission.  I will let you know how it all turns out!  If anyone has a decent digital camera they are looking to get rid of…let me know.  Mine died and untimely death when it hit the floor (  I would looove to share some pictures of what we are creating with you!