As most could of guessed by my posts I love to recycle or upcycle things, so over a period of time I have collected some strange pieces of cardboard and assorted different papers with the intentions of creating an Art Journal with them.
Well guess what I have created…
Materials needed to create a similar project
2 A4 MDF boards
2 sheets of decoupage paper
assorted flowers, metal embellishments
assorted cardboards, mailing envelopes, fancy thick papers
black acrylic paint
Art alchemy wax
Helmar Spray Adhesive 
Helmar Krystal Kote Matte Varnish 
Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive 
Helmar 3 Dimensiol Scrap Dots 
I started with 2 MDF boards and 2 sheets of decoupage papers by Little Birdie.
Using Helmar Spray Adhesive I sprayed both the paper and the board and stuck them together.
I allowed this to dry doesn’t take long at all.
Next step was to paint my MDF boards and the edges with a Matte Black paint blending around the edges of the decoupaged front board.
To protect my MDF painted boards and the decoupaged front board I took my pieces outside and sprayed thoroughly with Helmar Krystal Kote Matte Varnish.
While this was drying or should I say airing because it does omit some toxic fumes (so always spray outside), I started on my decoupage rose piece for the front board.
I have fussy cut this out and then just broke the paper fibres with my stylus to allow the image to sit with a bit of shape.
I have used scrap dots to secure my decoupaged roses onto the front board image.
I then decided this project needed some kind of mixed media embellishing.
So I have cut some ball and chain pieces to use as the flower stems and also added a recycled butterfly piece off a hair band from an op shop all attached with Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive.
Used a bit of Art Alcamey wax to add some colour around the board edges and to define the 3D flowers.
Now onto the recycled pages what a collection I have.
I use the boards to mark the position of where the holes need to be punched and then re enforced all my assorted papers with some cellophane tape to help protect the holes from tearing.
To attach all my pages I have used 2 screw apart threaded DRings.
Once my album was all completed I finished up with a nice fabric flower on the front.
And that is how you create a recycled journal out of any and all papers and cardboard pieces.
Thanks and please share!
