The Elemental Journal: Composing Artful Expressions from Items Cast Aside

by Tammy Kushnir

Create Expressive Books from Salvaged Treasures Rusty doorknobs, cardboard containers and plastic packaging may seem like trash to some, but through the creative mind, they are transformed into beautiful expressions - equally parts artful book and assemblage. The Elemental Journal will show you how to craft a wide variety of journals to hold your secrets or express your inner thoughts, and discover new ways to use wood, paper, fabric, plastic and metal in your art. Peek inside The Elemental Journal and you will One artist's trash is another's treasure. Discover yours with The Elemental Journal .

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Crafts

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 21, 2011

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't make it very far in this one. While I'm intrigued by making journals (and have made a couple of duct tape journals), I'm not interested in making a journal covered in bark.

[Kiki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first ever review of a craft book, but not by far the first craft book I have ever owned or read. Feeling a bit out of my element not having plot or characters or setting to discuss, I am just going for a quite honest opinion. First, the book is absolutely beautiful. I did enjoy looking through it. Second, the idea of it was great, using objects from nature or recycled materials to make something new. Third, the directions were easy to follow.

But, if I had looked at this book in a Borders or something, I would not have purchased it. The crafts all looked too much alike, and I buy craft books when there are so many good ideas in them that I have to take it home. If, like in the case of this book, they all look the same, I would have just taken that concept home with me, but maybe never realized anything from it except if it would come back to me unexpectedly when creating a project of my own down the road as inspiration.

So, is it worth a look, yes, it’s a beautiful book. Is it practical enough to buy, I would unfortunately have to say no, but again, that is just my opinion. Another crafter may think differently, and I have a friend in mind that I will show it too who may just think differently

[Awjtf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful ideas for making journals out of unexpected things!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Composing artful expressions from items cast aside.

Ms. Kushnir's book is sweet, sentimental, and creative. It taps into a very simple and tasteful form of art. But more important than all that, Journal is a "how-to" book that is a solid guide for those of us who are much less creative. The crafts that had a step-by-step explanation coupled with the photos are so great, that I found myself wishing that all the craft ideas had such drawn out explanations.

Ultimately, I had the most fun trying to piece together something similar to what I saw in the book out of the materials that I actually owned. Turns out that Journal doesn't just draw out your creativity by showing you how to make something. Instead, it feeds your creativity until you start to come up ideas yourself.

[Haley Mathiot · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Elemental Journal was really interesting. The journals were pretty advanced, and even though the instructions were clear they would have required a lot of materials. I would use this book for inspiration more than step by step instructions. This book would be great for any crafter who saves everything and sees potential in random pieces of "trash" like tree bark, scraps of fabric, wire, old plastic game pieces, door knobs, etc.

Mind you I loved it: it was wild and cool and exciting: it's just slightly more advanced and a little intimidating. Recommended for experienced crafters.

[Robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit too formula-driven for my taste, but author showed some good techniques for alternative book-making in the process.