Linda Matthews: Creative Explorer » Art Journals

Handmade Journals

Linda Matthews — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:57:56 +0000

When I began using digital grounds to print the artwork for my art bags, I always began by first printing a smaller print to test the design for color, composition and any apparent design problems. As you may recall, these test prints were just the right size to make journal covers which I’ve been using for gifts, but I’ve also had requests from others for my journals so I’ve decided to add some of my favorite designs to the store.

I love these journals and I now use one myself as an “ideas journal” to capture all those little ideas that seem to come at the oddest times; it’s the perfect size to stuff in my bag and carry with me whenever I go out. And because of the special process used to prepare them the cover is very durable but flexible, almost like fine leather but with beautiful surface texture and of course beautiful imagery, so they can take a lot of wear and tear.

These are the designs that are currently available so if you’d like your very own digital art journal, you can rush right over to the store for details and pricing. If you don’t see anything that you can’t live without I will be adding other designs so check back in a couple of days.

I’m also considering doing custom orders, so if you have your own artwork that you’d like turned into a beautiful journal cover, get in touch for details.

And of course if you have any questions, you know what to do.

I love to get your questions, comments and feedback! Leave them in the comments section here: Handmade Journals

Journal Cover – Poppy

Linda Matthews — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:11 +0000

Using the same technique as I used on this journal cover, this is another of my digital art designs printed on fabric paper treated with digital grounds. I’ve treated the surface with a sealer which gives it a soft gloss finish and helps to protect the fabric paper. The results are a strong, flexible and water resistant surface, with lovely texture, and best of all sewable either by machine or hand.

I really like the colors and the design and I think this design will look great on an art bag.

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Digital Grounds Sample Set

I love to get your questions, comments and feedback! Leave them in the comments section here: Journal Cover – Poppy

Take Time to Smell The Roses

Linda Matthews — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:00:17 +0000

Taking a break from Art Bags, I whipped up this soft fabric journal cover using one of my print samples. This is a similar image to the one I used on this art bag, except it has a different background color and this image was printed directly onto fabric using durabrite inks. This was a fun project to put together and a great way to use up sample prints.

This is the front …

And the back …

Pick up your Supplies at DickBlick.com

Find out why I recommend DickBlick.com

Digital Grounds Sample Set

I love to get your questions, comments and feedback! Leave them in the comments section here: Take Time to Smell The Roses

Japanese Journal Cover

Linda Matthews — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

This is a journal cover I finished recently. The image is a digital art design printed onto fabric paper using digital grounds. I’ve used this image before, but it’s taken on a whole new persona now that I’ve added other design elements. These journal covers are about 7″ x 5″ and are a great size to test out my digital art designs before printing them in a larger size. I hope to get a few more journals completed shortly.

And the back …

Pick up your Supplies at DickBlick.com

Find out why I recommend DickBlick.com

Digital Grounds Sample Set

I love to get your questions, comments and feedback! Leave them in the comments section here: Japanese Journal Cover

Rose Journal Cover

Linda Matthews — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:34:59 +0000

This weekend I played around some more with my favorite fabric paper and my very favorite digital grounds, and combined the two together to make a lovely journal cover.

I collaged together an image in Photoshop …

… and printed it onto a sheet of fabric paper treated with digital grounds.

Added a few beads, decorative fibers and other embellishments; and it’s done!

Lovely surface texture.

I love to get your questions, comments and feedback! Leave them in the comments section here: Rose Journal Cover