Tuesday Tips and Techniques: Using Previously Prepped Pages

Using prepped pages has always been an intriguing exercise for me, and I think if you give it a try, you'll get some of the same results.  One of the most profound things anyone ever said to me was, "your subconscious doesn't have a sense of humor".  I've found that statement to be quite true.  


Last week's "Tuesday Tips and Techniques" was about prepping pages in a random fashion.  You may remember the first pages that I prepped.

When I looked at these pages days later, I could see the rough shape of the United States as soon as I looked at it.

I sketched the outline of the country in with a marker, and I sketched out my state of Ohio and the state of California.  I added blue to the water areas and green to my Canadian neighbors.  What's all this have to do with the subconscious?  For the last 2 weeks, I've been coming to terms with our youngest son headed west for an adventure.  It's been a roller coaster ride of emotions.  The four of us have remained within 20 minutes of each other for almost 30 years.  This is a significant family event.  

I found an image of a California map in tones of red, green and gold, and a piece of mail arrived that had this Love stamp in shades of blue and gold.  Coincidence or synchronicity?   Either way, they fit the page and the entire spread allowed me to face my emotions instead of burying them in my usual fashion.

When I looked at my second set of prepped pages, I noticed what looked like a hand blocking a face so I sketched it in with a marker.  Beyond that, I wasn't sure where to go with the pages so I looked through the items torn from magazines that I have tucked into the back of my journal.  The Prismacolor pencil and the words "shine on" seemed to fit.

The left side reminded me of a flower garden so I sketched in some floral shapes.  I thought about how blocked I felt creatively and suddenly realized that by trying to block my emotions, I was also blocking my creativity.  I wrote, "Embrace and accept the emotions or they will block the flow of creativity".  Once I came to that realization, I've been much more creative.  I spent all of yesterday afternoon journaling from one journal to the next.  I couldn't get things on the pages fast enough!

I finished the spread with colored pencil and also wrote "Comfort is in the sanctuary of the garden and the connections of the heart".  When I initially prepped these pages, I had no idea that they would become a significant source of healing and dealing with my deepest emotions.


Prepping pages ahead of time doesn't always lead to such profound journaling.  Sometimes the results are much more playful and the pages become a catalyst for using some of those magazine treasures that you have tucked away, or for experimenting with new techniques and materials.


My posts have been few and far between in the last month or so, but my plan is to get back on track in the next week.  I'm having a great time with my new Creative Art Journaling class, and this past week has been filled with lots of family time as our days with Mike nearby draw to an end.


Whatever's going on in your life at the moment, I hope you always take the time to "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!"

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Honeysuckle

This is the one time I really wish you could click a button and get the full, intoxicating  fragrance  of these Honeysuckle blossoms.  I don't know who's enjoying it more - Keith & I or the hummingbirds!