Creating Interactive Pages for a Friendship Journal Signature
Sometimes the best mixed media sessions begin with only a loose plan, a handful of scraps, and the willingness to simply play.
For this project, I continued working on a signature for our Friendship Journals on a Journey collaboration. This signature is being created for Carol from Carol Adams Creations, and I wanted the pages to reflect some of the things she loves most — music, little houses, lakes, bright colors, and artistic texture.
Along the way, this mixed media junk journal project became a combination of vintage music pages, map paper, Distress Oxide sprays, shaker elements, hidden paper clips, texture paste, inks, sequins, music paper shingles, and lots of experimenting.
Which honestly feels like the perfect definition of mixed media.
Beginning with Vintage Music Pages
I started with two vintage music pages that I wanted to keep together as a spread instead of cutting them apart. Since music plays such a large role in Carol’s life, preserving the song felt important for this journal piece.
To make the pages work as part of the journal signature, I joined the two pages together, folded them into a journal-sized spread, created a large pocket across the bottom, and added color with Distress Oxide inks and sprays.
One of my favorite things about Distress Oxides is how unpredictable they can be. The sprays created beautiful splotches, layered color, and soft blending that immediately gave the pages more life and texture.
Adding Personal Details with Maps and Tiny Houses
Carol lives in the Dallas area and loves spending time at the lake, so I incorporated an old map into the design. I used portions of the map to create pockets, decorative layers, and tiny house embellishments.
One little house became a semi-hidden paper clip made from patterned paper and tiny map fragments. I added windows, a roof trim, and hand-drawn details to give it a whimsical cottage feel.
Sometimes the smallest details become the most fun parts of a project.
Turning a House into a Shaker Element
During the Mixed Media MAYhem livestream, the project evolved even further.
I turned one of the house elements into a shaker pocket using sequins, tiny shell embellishments, clear packaging, foam tape, and layered papers.
Then I topped the house with hand-cut “shingles” made from vintage music paper. Each piece was individually trimmed and layered to create texture and dimension.
It definitely took longer than expected, but those are often the projects that end up becoming favorites.
Adding Texture with Modeling Paste
To bring in even more mixed media texture, I added modeling paste through a stencil to create subtle raised details on the house.
One of the things I love most about mixed media is that it doesn’t have to be perfect. Often the best results come from experimenting, layering products, trying unexpected combinations, adding color, scraping texture, and simply seeing what happens.
That freedom to explore is what makes mixed media so much fun.
Watch the Full Process
You can watch both livestream segments here:
Friendship Journals on a Journey
Where the signature design began:
Mixed Media Texture Play
Where I continued adding texture, shaker elements, and mixed media details:
Final Thoughts
This signature is still a work in progress, but I already love how personal and layered it feels.
That’s one of my favorite things about collaborative friendship journals — every page becomes part art, part memory, and part story.
And honestly? A little creative mayhem makes it even better.
Keep the Adventure Going!
If you enjoy creative events, journaling, and paper crafting inspiration, I’d love for you to continue exploring more creative adventures here at My Artful Adventures — including livestream events, junk journals, folios, mixed media projects, printable collections, and creative tutorials.
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Cheers to YOUR Artful Adventures!
Kristie