Today I'm going to create a background. I'm also joining Valerie's Geometric Shapes theme at Art Journal Journey. I'm sure she'll find a few geometric shapes by the time we have made this background.
Let's begin with a page or two in your favorite altered book. Alternately, use a blank journal or a canvas. Your substrate is your choice.
Begin by choosing a color or two for mark making. I chose water soluble crayons, a gift I received over two years ago from my friend Cindy that just keeps on giving. 
I tried not to saturate the pages too much. You may not have to worry about that if the marks you chose to make are drier than the ones I used. 
It's time to find papers of any kind that match your color scheme. I've chosen recyclables of course, like the large flowery bag saved because it was too beautiful to go in the recycle bin. You might have some of those security envelopes like I have.
If you are lucky, you might have some old wallpaper samples or left over raised wallpaper border that will add texture. 
If it's paper and it matches your color scheme, it should be considered fair game. 
I like symmetry, so I tried to be as symmetrical as possible on these two pages, 
even though I only had one of a few pieces. 
It was like putting a jigsaw puzzle together, yet leaving spaces open that you have colored,
while allowing some book text to show through, too.
Once dry, you have a great background to use in a future spread. Bleubeard and I are thrilled you stopped by today. We hope you will also join us at Art Journal Journey with your own art inspired by Geometric Shapes. We also hope you recycle something today.
For Day 18 of 22 leading up to bEARTHday, I recycled various papers to create a background for future use. This just shows you don't need to buy paper. You can surely find some around your own home that will make great backgrounds.
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19 thoughtful remarks:
Looks like loads of fun and the fabulous colours as a result of this...x
Oh! We had such beautiful 70´s wallpaper. My Brother renovated without me knowing and threw it all away.
Boy, did we have a fight, but it was too late...
And you chose "use ALCOHOL" to shine through?! LOL, Hubby heard on the news that here in Germany the consumption of alcohol has risen a lot in this crisis.
Well, humour we need!
Cheers, dear friend ;-)
Morning Elizabeth, you just reminded me that when we first moved into our villa, I was very new to crafting, on a visit to the uk I collected tiny pieces of wallpaper samples to use but after a few years threw them away as I never used them.
I have been inspired by your recycling, yesterday I covered two tins and have another to finish today, I will show you on Tuesday.
I love your page and what a good idea to use it later for another project.
Have a great day, keep safe dear Elizabeth.
Jan x
Beautiful spread with LOTS of geometrical shapes, too many for me to count, I was never good at maths....Great colours, too, and thanks for linking o my challenge. Have a fun day, Valerie
great how creative you designed the background !!!
Have a good Day!
Greetings Elke
Such beautiful pages! I always love seeing your recycled pieces and the collection of collage papers look amazing on your pages, such pretty designs 😁. Wishing you a happy weekend and keep well! Hugs, Jo x
This looks great and I love the shapes and colours.
Hope your weekend goes well.
Take care and keep safe.
All the best Jan
Very pretty, and also interesting to see how you turned things that would have been recycled into something lovely to view!
I can't wait to see what you do with this background. And kudos to you for going asymmetrical. I also like symmetry so I know how hard it can be but how good it is to step out a comfort zone. Nice background! Happy Saturday. Hugs-Erika
Lovely pages - I think they could just be pages on their own. Fantastic use of recycling of course!
great bright recycling ~ Terrific background for a future project in the making ~
You chose such lovely colors and textures. What a great way to use up scrap. I also think the background pages you made would make great collage pages on their own.
The end result is lovely Elizabeth.
That looks like it was fun :) Pretty!
What a fabulous collage Elizabeth! I love the variety of papers you used to make these beautifully balanced pages! Hugs, Chrisx
I agree with everyone-a fabulous page that looks like it was very fun to create-Happy weekend!
You created a great collage background with the paper pieces and it is a super idea, to have one ready to use. I It looks fantastic already as looks now. Its the kind of piece that you see something different each time you look.
Stay safe and well.
Yvonne xx
I love the colour-blocking on the text underlying the whole collage - what a lovely idea to get things started for your background. Great way to use up all those paper scraps and what a fabulous spread just waiting to happen when you return to it.
Alison x
I love the idea of painting or working on book pages as a substrate. It gives such a nice background. I always enjoy your April posts, Elizabeth. They inspire me to be more careful with what I have and more creative as well.
I also wanted to add thanks for stopping by the blog. You always leave the best comments that leave me really smiling. It's all the more appreciated as I know you've had more than your share of computer and/or internet problems. So extra thanks!
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