Have you ever wanted to learn how to make a Cosmic Smashbook?
You’ve come to the right place!
(If you’ve never heard of a Cosmic Smashbooking before reading this, but it sounds intriguing … you’ve come to the right place too! Welcome.)
Cosmic Smashbooking is a no-pressure, no-rules art journaling process created by my friend and teacher Catt Z, a visionary artist in California. The process is rooted in Intentional Creativity, which means to create with mindfulness, intention and love.
Combining journaling, prayer, intentions, bursts of color and messy art-making , it’s all smashed together onto the pages of an inexpensive composition notebook.
No artistic talent needed! Just a willingness to be courageously creative and ask that critical voice in your head to shush for a little bit and let you have some fun.
How To Make A Cosmic Smashbook
It’s easy! If you want to learn how to make a Cosmic Smashbook, just get one of those cheap-o black and white composition notebooks and a few basic art supplies. Then watch this video.
I offer step-buy-step instructions for how to make a Cosmic Smashbook, including setting an intention, making the cover with a colorful abstract art design and transforming the notebook into your one-of-a-kind art journal. I also discuss the Cosmic Smashbooking process and how to incorporate Cosmic Smashbooking into a daily(ish) creative practice.
For best results, take your time. Pause the video, make your art. Then come back for the next step. It might take you an hour or two. It might take a week or two.
However you get it done is perfect!
Next Steps
Making your own Cosmic Smashbook is just the beginning.
Then what?
Well, then the fun really begins! Here are a few options to get you started:
Download my class hand-out here to find several journal prompts and a review of the Cosmic Smashbooking process you learned in the video.
Subscribe to this blog (there’s a sign-up box below) and to my YouTube channel so you don’t miss any future videos.
If you live near Fairfax County, Virginia, come to my in-person classes at the Pohick Library in Burke.
Thank you for reading this post!
Cosmic Smashbooking has been an incredibly joyful and healing experience for me.
It has helped me with big things like learning how to trust my own instincts again.
And little things like getting through an annoying day. It has connected me with wonderful new friends on their own journeys of creativity and self-discovery.
Also, it’s a whole lot of fun. (Rule #3!)
My hope is that Cosmic Smashbooking will be an amazing experience for you as well.
Love,
Courtney
Follow my adventures! New stories every week-ish.
2 responses to “How To Make A Cosmic Smashbook”
Good morning Courtney! You have inspired me 🙂 I am uncertain how to reach you directly, so I’m hoping you’ll see this response to your post. I’m planning to attend your Smashbook book club on Wednesday… hopefully it will still happen even with the current weather situation?. But would also love to chat with you about Smashbooks and your thoughts on doing this with elementary age students. Hope to hear back from you!
Happy Snow Day! Yes–please come to the library on Wednesday. Hopefully it will be open. 🙂 Your question about elementary-aged children is so interesting. I had only ever led Smashbook with adults — up until Saturday when a bunch of kids showed up at the Audrey Moore open house where I was doing a demo. I don’t know why I wasn’t expecting that! So I adjusted my adult plan for kids and they all seemed to like it. So — yes! I think this would be wonderful to do with kids. It’s a great way to process big feelings when you don’t have the words to articulate them. WordPress gave me your email address when you left the comment. If it’s OK with you, I can send you an email and we can talk about this more. –Courtney