I have a long standing love affair with journals. I also have a long standing tradition of using them for about a week and never picking them up again. And yet, because of my eternally optimistic personality, I continue to try. This year, not to be outdone, I'm starting 3, a line a day 5 year journal, an inspiration journal and this one which I made to capture month by month family memories.
I wanted to make the journal using materials on hand so I took this flat canvas panel and cut it in half and covered it with pretty papers, I wrapped the paper on the inside and then cut another piece to cover the gaps as you can see on the left side in the picture below.
I'm dividing the journal into months and just used scraps of fabric stamped using a Stazon inkpad to prevent smudging) and my fave Cavallini number stamps to make a divider for each month. I plan on filling the journal with photos, mementos and journaling. I'm trying not to hold myself to too high a standard as I think that is usually my downfall.
I'm keeping it simple and just using things I already have like glassine envelopes, pretty paper and japanese masking tape. I'm using these rings to make it easy to get things in and out but at the end of the year I'm going to replace them with fabric or ribbon.
Blogging is the only form of journaling that I've ever been able to maintain. I'm often amazed that it's held my interest for this long. I hope this year I can build on that.
I can totally relate to your journal addiction, but I've never been very consistent with them either. I love your idea for a monthly family journal. It seems completely do-able (and adorable). I may need to try something like this too...
ReplyDeleteI love it!!
ReplyDeleteI can be the same way...big intentions that fall by the wayside. It's always much more "possible" to keep going with it when the journal is "more me".
Good job. I just may have to pin this. ;)
I love it!!
ReplyDeleteI can be the same way...big intentions that fall by the wayside. It's always much more "possible" to keep going with it when the journal is "more me".
Good job. I just may have to pin this. ;)
Pretty!!! If you are interested I am having a linky party>>http://www.thevintagefarmhouse.com/2012/02/its-that-time-of-week-again.html
ReplyDeleteJournaling= a pretty form of book arts. We still need to make some books together!
ReplyDeleteSooo pretty! I love the cover.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you've made it very do-able. I find that I'm able to stick to things when I don't expect myself to be perfect.
I have always had the same problems with keeping a journal since I was a little girl...maybe if I had had ones as pretty as these I would have kept up with it!
ReplyDeleteShe's a beauty! Is there no end to your magic??
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! Love that you just used what you had on hand, too.
ReplyDeleteI've done a monthly family memory book for a couple years and that seems to be the best form for me to do memory keeping- it keeps it simple.
I do keep a daily journal though- I love being able to look back over the last fifteen or so years to remember where I used to be and it shows me that I actually HAVE grown over time. But I never force the habit- if I can't get to it that day, I can't- no big deal. I think having that attitude is what has kept it going, and now it's one of the highlights of my day. A helpful habit. :)
Yep - I'm going to pin this. What a great idea. Maybe it will be one of those pinned things I actually do.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your journaling efforts. What a beauty you've created. I've been journaling for 20+ years (only started blogging in 2005). I find myself sort of combining the two sometimes. If I'm too tired to write things in my journal, I will copy and paste my blog post into a Word document, then format and print to fit my journal. A few pieces of tape and I'm done. :) Still, there are things that are better handwritten, in a journal, for my eyes only. Journaling is very therapeutic, especially during hard times.
ReplyDeleteI seriously love the journal you've made. It's divine.
Beautiful...I need to journal more, since blogging, I have left it behind! Love this one. :D
ReplyDeleteLove it, Jen!!
ReplyDeleteyou should see my collection of half-full journals! :)
ReplyDeletethis is a gorgeous project...i look forward to seeing it later in the year!
Yay! I love journaling. Hang in there! I have kept a journal for 40 years. And I know you can do it too! Kit
ReplyDeleteVERY cool..blogging is also the only "journal" I've ever kept up with! Hope we get to see the project at the end of the year! Will so awesome with the ribbon or however you decide to tie it...you will come up with something awesome I just know it!
ReplyDeleteJen...I'm amazed that you put this journal together. I can't even make it up the stairs to my craft room...because of Pinterest and FB and Blogland.
ReplyDeleteYou amaze me. J
I have a journal and notebook addiction too, but like you, don't keep up with the journaling on a regular basis. The journal you made is gorgeous!
ReplyDeletehi jen,
ReplyDeleteyour journal is adorable. i love the stamped fabric dividers = genius!
here is to many offline "posts"!
happy belated valentine's
xo
elyse
I love your journal. It will look nice just sitting on a nightstand even if you never pick it up again. Nice work.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful journal! I love that you used what you had on hand. I haven't journaled since I met my husband but always want to start again. It's hard for me to remember to keep up with it, but so worth it when I get to look back.
ReplyDelete