June Journal/Planner Setup!

Sneak Peek!!!

So. This month. Now that I feel I have this whole journal thing down. I wanted to incorporate a teeny tiny bit of planner-ishness into my Travelers Notebook. 

Fear Not!!!

Yes. I still have. Love. And use my purple personal sized Malden Filofax!  It just lives on my desk as a very important information catch it all filing cabinet. I found that I didn't need to carry it every day because I am not a person who really ever has appointments.  I am either at work or at home. 

But. 

I dooooo carry my TN everywhere since it is my journal and I thought IT would be the best place for my daily To Do Lists!!!  So for this month (and hopefully every month going forward.) I will be splitting my Field Note inserts into four weeks. 

This is what I did.  On page one I found a free calendar printable and shrunk it down to size and glued it in.  I find having a month to view really handy!!!  Especially when trying to remember things like Birthdays, and Holidays.

After that I evenly spaced out the next for weeks by tipping in (hinging a piece of paper using tape) Mr. Ray Blake's WO2P FN size templates!!!  On these pages I will write down all those pesky or fun little things I want to get done on any given day!  And of course the occasional appointment.  If I have anything that needs to be planned for the following month (which is rare) I will just stick a sticky note on the last page of my insert so that I know to include it in my next months Field Note.  Easy Peasy!

Finally on all of the blank pages I will be doing my regular journaling, starting the 365/30 List Prompts and of course, my weekly Documented Life Project challenges.  

So yeah. I'm excited. Should be fun!  And I will film a flip through at the end of the month showing the full details.  

What are you all doing for June???

Journaling: Why You Should Draw

Even if you are like moi and can't!!!

Really!!!  You should. And here is why. 

It is my firm belief that those art journal pages I hate end up being my favorites later on. It's because of the story they tell. Mistakes are a part of life. Not everything is a beautiful piece of art. And that's ok!!!  

We need those pages we don't like at first to learn and grow. Without our mistakes we don't make progress. We find ourselves through our mistakes. And in art and life that is really a big deal!

Plus. Your journal is a reflection of you. It's your life. And I KNOW we don't all have perfect lives. So the mistakes in your journal are just another element of you. And that makes it special!

So. Back to drawing. I can't. No really I can't!!!  I simply don't have the patience to be any good at it. I can quickly sketch a silly flower or some mountain like shapes but that is about it. But that's ok!!!  I've learned to love those little "drawings" and these days my favorite thing to do is to add a water color wash over them. It creates this beautiful and light space to then journal within.  

So draw!!!  Practice makes perfect. And when you look back through your journals they will tell a story. They will show you how far you've come. What you've learned. Who you were and who you are now. Have fun!!!  And when in doubt. Cover it with gesso and try again. Haha. Cheers!!!

Journaling: Newbie

How I set up my pages!!!

So. Being new to the whole art journaling thing I thought I would share some things I've learned so far and show you how I set up my pages!

Blank white paper kind of freaks me out. It's just there. All perfect and staring at you. It's almost impossible to put pen to white paper for me. It's just. I don't wanna ruin it!!!  Also for me it causes a total BLANK on what I would like the page to end up looking like... Colors represent mood and a hint of color down on a page first is like a fresh breath of air!  So in my journal I have gotten into the habit of pre coloring some pages in advance so when I feel the urge to have some fun I have already avoided that blank white page freak out. 

First. Most of the Field Notes notebooks I use have thin-ish paper. These notebooks were designed for jotting notes and not necessarily ink and paint. So far I haven't had many problems that I couldn't work around.  Also, I think mistakes and experiments and slightly warped pages just add another layer of charm and personalization to your journal!  

So to begin with I like to put a layer down to sort of bulk the page up and resist bleed through.  I like to put down a layer of white gesso first. (Gesso is basically a white acrylic that is a little more heavily bodied and toothy?  Basically it can be used as a barrier to protect the paper, as a whiteout to cover a mistake and start over, or in thicker layers it can be used to add awesome texture!)  This really helps to make sure that no matter how wet you get the paper in between layers you will resist ripping it easily.  You could also use just white acrylic paint or any colored acrylic or skip it all together and go to the next step! But I like to add a layer of Gesso juuuuust to make sure I can have lots of inky, wet fun without worry.

After that I like to put a thin layer of colored acrylic paint. (You can use any brand you like. The less expensive works just as good as the more costly. The only difference I have noticed is that the cheaper acrylic tends to be thinner which can be great for a lightly color washed look. They also seem to dry to a more chalky feel which holds nicely to your next layer. The more expensive ones are usually thicker in consistency and dry to a softer feel. I use both!!!) back to adding paint.  I do this by just putting a few drops down and then taking a wippie, yes,  a diaper wipe and I smear the colors around.  Sooometime I also use a paintbrush, and often I just use my fingers!!!  All methods work great for either the initial setup of your page or covering up something you didn't like and starting again!

That's it!!!  My page is now ready for whatever else I want to put on top!  Ink. Markers. Water colors!  More acrylic. Then in the light colored spaces that are left after I've added some junk journal ephemera or photos I do my actual journaling and documenting. Easy peasy!!!  

If slightly wrinkled and warped pages bother you then for your adventures in journaling I would probably use a sketch journal of some sort. But me?  I like that texture. I like that my pages look and feel worked on. 

Have fun!!!  Cheers! 

Journaling: I Love It!!!

How I got here!!!

So I am a total newb when it comes to art journaling. I've always wanted to be a journaler. You know, the kind who sits down every day with a quill in hand and by candle light, records his daily life happenings, epic romances, jousting wins, damsels saved, proposals made, battles won, police boxes discovered, potions tests passed, sparkly people met.. . Well. I totally fail at that...  (and not because I don't live in one of my favorite books)

I can't tell you how many expensive journals I have started and stopped over the last decade!!!  (really, it's embarrassing)  Travel journaling is more my style and now I sort of do a part travel journal/junk journal/smash book style and part art journal and part regular old writing journal!!! I feel like I am hitting my stride finally.  I find myself a few times a day just wanting to open my journal and start playing. 

First. I like a small journal. I always wanted to have one epic large hard bound leather record of my life but that's just not me!!!  I use Field Notes for my journals. They are small. 3 1/2 by 5 1/2. They travel wonderfully and so far have taken abuse really well!!!  I like that I don't have a lot of space to fill. It makes me less anxious and I love that I can have a complete journal in as little as a month. They come in a variety of cover choices. Most are graph but some are lined or blank, which for me I have learned doesn't even really matter because I never leave my pages white anymore!!!  I love that I can keep it in my Traveler's Notebook style cover and that I don't have to worry about it getting banged up.

I love seeing the progression of my skills as well. From my first completed FN journal to my current one I'm working in. I love that often I don't like my page. And I leave it and go back later and add another layer and eventually it's all magic. 

I love that I can do no wrong. That I can cover up what I don't like and try again. And honestly. Those pages I don't like at first?  Almost always become my favorites later on. 

Whatcha think???  Have you tried journaling yet?  What's stopping you? Tips and tutorials to follow!!!

I'm Still Here!!!

Hello all!  Yes. I am still here. Though notably not as much. Without going into the gory details let's just say I had a rough few months. But all is well now!!!  And I have soooooo much to share with you!

Most importantly you (yes my one reader) haha. You can expect more regular blog posts from Miss Sara Jean! I have been getting alllllllllllll types of crafty lately and I can't wait to share it all with you! There will be quick little tutorials. 

Some videos. And Lots of bright pictures.

 There will be regular mail posts (now that I'm not having panic attacks that stop me from writing) and art journal peeks!!!
  

Yes. I am art journaling.

 And of course we can't forget my Filofax!

SO, stay tuned!  So happy to be back. And documenting my life in all ways possible. Cheers!!!