Today is a special week for me and Get Messy. Not just because it’s the week that everyone shares their responses to the monthly prompt (July = Party!), but because this week was when I finished my first art journal. I’ve started countless art journals over the years, but today I can say that I finished one cover to cover.

I like to decorate the covers of things last, and I was actually kind of hesitant to do so because there was already a nice image of some wind turbines on it. So I compromised and covered the text and background with washi tape, still leaving the original image.

Get Messy Art Journal | Uncustomary Art

On these pages, you can see a cat and I partying pretty hard. I received this cat in the mail (possibly from Ann-Marie?), and I gave him a body made out of toys. He obviously represents Bug. Both of the “Party Hard” stickers are courtesy of Andrew WK’s merch shop, and obviously the image of me was turned into a cartoon masterpiece by Michelle.

Get Messy Art Journal | Uncustomary Art

Get Messy Art Journal | Uncustomary Art

On the left, I included the envelope that LaShandra sent my congratulatory card (for quitting my day job last year) in. And on the right, I used a drawing that Jaclyn made of me for the Monster Cookie Heart Squad. You can see that I am a cookie, holding a balloon and envelope, making magic. Just like normal.

Get Messy Art Journal | Uncustomary Art

It’s also important to keep balloons around in case you have an emergency. This one is easily removable.

Get Messy Art Journal | Uncustomary Art

I was really drawn to the image on the left. The idea of partying on a rooftop in the city in a bunny costume is pretty brilliant to me. And I included one of the Stories Of The Day that Jaclyn thought to mail to me.

“This is a magical beast that holds the secret of light and shadow in a safe place in her heart and when it has been too long and grey, she starts to dance and laugh and cry and sing and the sunlight fills her up and spills in wild abandon back into the world again.”

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And on the right, on the very last page of the first journal I ever finished, is a picture of me, waving a magic wand in my favorite city while wearing an outfit that can only be described as gaudy. I surrounded myself with gold glitter, both literally and figuratively; both past and present. No matter what happens, I know how to party. And party I will.

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I hope you’re partying, both in and outside of your art journal! Be sure to check out everyone else’s work this week. Stay classy, San Diego. I will leave you with this quote about partying:

“You gotta have life your way. If you ain’t losing your mind, you ain’t partying right.” – Young Jeezy

Get Messy is an art journal challenge where a gang of crafty vixens are sharing art journal pages we have created to practise our skills and push past our creative limits with hopes to inspire. We share our pages without restraint every week, and once a month we create around a prompt. Go check out these crazy talented ladies who each have a unique perspective and style. We will be sharing our work around social media so follow the hashtag #getmessyartjournal