journal girl loves...

Anonymous asked: do you have classes/tutorials for the techniques you use when journaling? i'm pretty new to most of the materials so i'm looking for some sort of guide.

I’d browse my YouTube channel. I have a supply list vid and tons of tutorials or looking over my shoulder videos. That should be a good start! 

http://www.youtube.com/samanthakira

Anonymous asked: how did you do the doily and gesso???

The doily isn’t flat, meaning it has some height to it… I just put it down on the journal page and, using a palette knife, spread a ton of gesso over it. Smoothed it over the top and left it to dry that way for a bit. When the gesso was kinda dry but solid enough to keep its shape, I removed the doily.  :D

Facebook Page questions for today.

Rachel Garduno Okay I will so here it is, so I want to work in my journal but I can’t get in the mood or even have inspiration … So my question is what do u do when u r in a inspiration rut?

Sitting at your desk staring at your journal isn’t going to help much. I’ve had those days, when I just can’t seem to get inspired no matter what. Sometimes, you’ve got to let it be — sit with your inspiration but allow yourself not to work. I know it sounds contrary to what you should be doing, but a nice walk, a photo-taking session, or simple meditation can do a lot.

Or, you could grab the closest bottle of paint and squeeze some directly on the page, then smush it around. Do that with another color. See what happens. Slap your hand down on the page and mix with your fingers. Put on some music and just tap the beat in paint or paper or ink or whatever’s your favorite. 

Showing up is the hardest part. It’s like a stalled car — give it a little momentum, turn the key, and let gravity take over. 

Andrea Meyer Schmidt What kind of sewing machine and needle do you use when stitching papers together?

I have a vintage Singer, but have also used a new Singer and a Janome to stitch together paper. I don’t think the machine matters all that much — a friend uses a little machine meant for mending. The needle? I usually have a needle for thicker fabrics on my machine since I work with a lot of canvas. But I’m thinking you probably want smaller holes, so grab one for knits. This could be totally wrong — I’m just letting you know what I use. Just make sure to replace it every so often; needles dull, much like scissors, when used with paper much faster than with fabric. 

Experiment and see what works for you! 

dearkrissy asked: Do you have a tutorial on how you make your journals? :) I hate the restriction of store bought journals, and would much rather make my own.

I have a BUNCH of links for ya, doll! 

How to make wire-bound journals (with the help of your local office supply shop)

Easy-Peasy Journal | Part 2 (video)

Case-Bound (this is unfinished, but I’ll be re-filming it next week!)

I also have two project-based mini-workshops that highlight my favorite techniques. 

WISH Journal

Button Journal 

The last one is the kind of journal I use right now. I also have a post here all about the paper I use inside. 

I hope this helps! I really love making journals, and from time to time put a batch up on Etsy (I’m doing so next week, too!). 

<3, kira

Anonymous asked: not really a question but i just wanted to let you know how inspired i am by your work, it is wonderful and i love so so so many things about it and also the process that you go through to get there. so genuine and the result is beautiful!

Oh, wow, thank you!! *G* That kind of message just makes my day, and is exactly the kind of thing I print and paste into my journals. I hope to inspire and teach and help…I’m so glad!! 

*blushes* Can you tell I’m only now becoming comfortable taking a compliment? ;)

Anonymous asked: can you post more of your journal pages on your flickr account?! :) there were a bunch that i saw when you flipped through your journal in your latest video and i would love to see some of them in more detail!

I’ll scan ‘em when I get the desktop back up. ;) I’ve had so much going on, I haven’t even thought of posting journal pages. :D I’ve been going back and forth in my journal, re-working previous pages, etc. It’s all experimentation and play!

eonabritta asked: don't have any question right now but i just want to say that it's good to see you here. i saw you first in the somerset magazine. love your art journaling.

Thank you so much darling! I’m glad you found me; I’ve quickly become a Tumblr addict! Plus, it’s easier to update from my phone as a photoblog. :D Don’t be a stranger!

Anonymous asked: Have you ever experienced a period where you created pieces but lacked the confidence to share it with others?

Oh, yeah! Especially at the beginning, when I didn’t know if something was “good enough” to show. And there are still journal pages I create that I look at and just groan and close the thing. It happens. 

But what I’ve also learned is that I’m my own worst critic. I’ve created pages I hate, posted them, and then had tons of people tell me they love them, etc. So you can’t really trust your own opinion as to what will be liked and not liked. 

I’ve gotten to a point where I love sharing a lot of what I do. And now, when I have something I’m not confident about, I’ll let it sit for about 2 weeks before I even think about posting or sharing it. That gives you distance and perspective. 

My most recent changes in my style, from about Mid-October to December, were really hard to post. I usually run away from the computer when I come up against something like that. But I also want to present a true me, and sometimes, that means closing your eyes, showing the world, and hoping for the best. 

shellycentral asked: Your art has such a unique vibe to it. How do you stay so authentic and not let yourself be overly influenced by other artists you admire?

Wow. Good question! 

I think I reached a point where I was looking for inspiration more than creating my art, and needed to just turn it all off. While I adore reading blogs and finding new art and artists, I usually take a break from it all before sitting down to make something myself. 

It took a long time for me to find my voice, and even more time to develop it into something I can shout from mountaintops. When I look at my pieces, I can see all the little bits of inspiration that came from others. I think the trick is to take all those things that inspire you, mix them up, and put them through the ME Filter. Change them into things you REALLY like (what if you love a painting, but wish it were in different colors? had this shape instead of that one? was on a different surface?). 

I definitly go through phases, where I’m really groovin’ on someone’s work and want to experiment with it myself. And then I’ll experiment and play and use my favorite materials and stretch it and turn it on its head, and it’ll come out completely different. 

Just keep playing, experimenting, and documenting; it’ll all work out in the end!

blissartworks asked: Do you always make your own journals? If so, what kind of paper is your favorite? And, if you buy them, what kind is your favorite and why?

I used to purchase my journals, but would always compromise on a feature or something I really wanted — it’d be a bit too big or small, or the paper not what I needed, etc. So, about three years ago, I started making my own.

They always are made in the style I’m into at the moment, and have been all kinds of sizes. Here’s my 3 favorite types of paper to use:

* Poster Board. It’s thick, holds up well, and really inexpensive!

* Canson or Strathmore 300 Series Bristol. You can get the smooth or vellum, and be fine. It’s really thick and takes mediums really well (get vellum if you’re looking for a bit of tooth).

* Stonehenge Printmaking Paper. I found this really cheap at my local art supply store and love it! It’s printmaking, so it takes stuff great, but this brand has some tooth for when I want to use watercolors, etc. It’s my current fav. (I also use American Standard, which is like the generic for this paper).

I love papers that can take all the layers I throw at them, that add something to my work (texture all the way!) and that don’t need gesso to be worked on; sometimes I want to do spur of the moment journaling, and don’t want to have to wait to gesso a page and let it dry (or have to prep pages beforehand…sometimes I just write and don’t want to have gesso in the way!).