Our first class prompt was to create a color wheel and my mind went straight to this jar of buttons. I have wanted to create a mandala using some of my button collection for months now, and it feels so good to have finally made that happen!
Oh my gosh, you guys, I have SO many buttons! But when I think of downsizing my supply and letting some of them go I get a little knot in my stomach. Ha!
I love these sketchbooks made by Canson - I use their mixed media style. The pages take water well so I can use watercolors on them, and I also love the weight and texture of the paper. {I love me some nice quality paper!!!} Plus it has a nice sturdy cover and it really took the gesso and mod podge well for this project. I purchase mine from Michael's, always with a coupon.
I am so excited to start filling this art journal with all kinds of color, and you can bet I'll share some of my pages as I go.
♥
In case you're curious, here's how I created the cover:
* two coats of gesso to cover up the print on the front of the sketchbook
* a layer of sheet music pieces, torn and then adhered with mod podge
* a wash of blue watercolor paint
* a swirl of gesso to anchor the design
* bright colored buttons that I arranged and re-arranged and re-arranged some more before gluing them on with tacky glue