Art for self care/Junk Journaling beginning

@9yearspast That sounds like a very rewarding project to have done those volunteer art classes! A win-win for everyone involved, right!?

For fun and self-soothing, I do crochet work, playing with beads of different sorts making long strings of them, using colored pencils to color in books or journals, making quilts. This year I have challenged myself to participate in an art journaling challenge, and it really is difficult for me to step up to the plate. But it is good for me. Something about the different sensations and the tactile feel of everything seems to soothe me, heal me.

You already stated some great ideas to get yourself started on a new art journal! I will be interested to see what you do. Will you share with us?
Ginger

Hi Ginger. Yes I will. For now I am thinking of starting of saving some more items. I am about to order a mixed media notebook. I was thinking of doing that because I have not seen paper trash bags for a while. I have been watching YouTube videos today about it. I have saved anything with a dog.

I like hearing about what you are doing. I did a great deal of crafts as a kid. Art was seen as a luxury in later years, but when I was injured physically I started doing it. I had formerly been involved in various physical activities which was what I did for balance in school and work. So glad they now talk about work life balance as I did not have that. Now I am disabled and not able to work. I tell people to not be like me and make sure to have life.

I so love the tactile stuff too. I think inna world of touch screens it really helps.

I've always been more of a fiber person. Ran a local yarn store for 10 years in an effort to teach and share my passions with others. Yarn is interesting stuff. You can get some BIG yarn, watch a few YouTube videos and literally learn to knit or crochet! Just remember, anything is better than nothing and a blanket with a mistake is not going to keep it from being warm for yourself or someone in need!

I have done some art in the past in the form of collage or mixed media. I want to get back to it for it was a time that gave me some relief from my dreaded depression, but can’t seem to get motivated to start without self criticism.

How wonderful you found junk journaling helpful.

I used to do a lot of journaling.. Very helpful but I can't get it started anymore.. I've gone through all of my writing and threw away all that I felt was too dramatic.. I kept the most profound writing.. The moments of my life I felt were incredibly traumatic. I paint a lot now and I'll use ink from pens. I'll make a mess of it on a piece of wood and see what comes out .. Abstract.. usually it's a dragon or a woman.. it's cool because I don't know how to draw but the shape is there for me to bring it to life...

Oh, and I dilute the pen ink with nail polish remover and then add dollar store paint!! Lol.. there's not a whole lot of ink in pens and it's hard to spread out.. I've also made a mixture of water and baking soda, kinda like spackle and added the pen ink to it. Depression really f'ing sucks... I've dealt with it since high school. I'm 50 years old.. When I look back at high school years I ask myself what the hell I was so sad about.. I've been through a lot of painful life lessons.. I love to help people anyway I can but I'm antisocial!!! I'm also tough as nails!!! But scared of living like this....

You touched my heart with your testimony... If ever a story proves that depression is a real, chronic, lifelong brain illness, yours does. I pray for strength & peace for the rest of your life. You are a good soul!

One of my besties is a Middle School Art Teacher. On the side she has a crafting business called Apple Core Studios. She teaches various junk journaling classes!! Have fun with you junk journaling craft.