zipper pouch for my planner

Ever since the big announcement about THE DOCUMENTED LIFE PROJECT people all over the world have been posting photos of their cool planners and journals. I love all of the sharing and communicating that has come from being a part of this project.

I have had quite a few fellow documenters ask about the zipper pouch that I have attached to my planner, so I thought I would give you the scoop. I bought this pouch as part of a two pack in the Dollar Section of Target. I think I paid $3 for this and a smaller one like this.

I left the ring that attached both pouches on the felt tab but removed the smaller pouch. I use a binder clip to hold the pouch in place- this way I can remove it easily when replenishing supplies and what not. I found that by positioning it a little off center the book closes nicely.

Most days I keep several colored ink pens and a small roll of washi tape on hand. I also keep a sleeve of stamps and a few miscellaneous papers on hand. This way I can make notes on pretty scraps, doodle them up and tape them in- all on the go. I think I will keep my eyes open for a special charm to add to that ring!

I dyed some seam binding using DYLUSIONS INKS for a pop of color, and attached them to a pretty bobby pin I found in the Dollar Bin at Micheals. I can use it to attach an uplifting word or note to the front of my journal.

When I am finished documenting for the moment, I zip up the pouch and flatten out the supplies. The planner closes just fine. I am sure that as my planner gets chunkier I will have to add a longer elastic band to hold my book closed. Maybe I will dye some elastic in a bright color. I am working on adding a prettier, longer, wider place marker ribbon as well. Will post some photos when that is complete!

READ HERE -----> to learn how to add a pretty Sari Ribbon Place Marker to your Planner!

I hope this answered some questions. I can't wait to see what you guys come up with for your planners over the next few months. I have seen so many awesome adaptations here and here already and I am loving every one of them! Want to learn more?  More Details here ----->

You can find us:

• Facebook:
  

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedocumentedlifeproject/

• Flickr:
  

  http://www.flickr.com/groups/thedocumentedlifeproject/

• Instagram: #documentedlife 
  

*Our Blogs

• Roben-Marie Smith
• Lorraine Bell
• Rae Missigman
• Sandi Keene
• And our Life Photographer: Barbara Moore

15 minutes of mixed media

This week for my 15 minutes of mixed media I took a cue from a challenge in another project I am working on - The Documented Life Project. I wrote an entire two pages of journaling, then painted over all but what I felt like sharing.

Before I set the timer this week I chose a two page layout that had been prepped with a simple background- just a few swipes of bright paint.

Once the clock was ticking I started writing. I wrote in pencil and paint. I had my embosser handy, as always, to dry layers more quickly, saving me lots of time. Once I finished journaling I started layering. First I painted over most of my writing with large circles of yellow and blue paint. I like to use glossy craft paints for these little pops of color.

The scalloped border was created using a handcut cardstock stencil. Lots of little black and white details were added using my favorite thing ever- paints pens. Another recycled stencil, a scrap of laser cut lace paper, was used with spray inks to create lots of tiny colorful squares all over my page. I used a hand carved stamp to create feather leaves.

My journal layout this week is bold and bright. I am learning to be brave and let go and let the colors choose themselves. Sometimes, like this week, they are pretty wild, and not what I would usually choose- but I like it!

Supplies at the ready when the clock started ticking this week: 4 colors of craft paint, black and white paint pens, two recycled cardstock stencils, hand carved feather stamp, sunshine dylusions spray ink, brown staz on ink pad, pencil.

Want to see more simple background ideas for your art journal pages created using 15 minutes of mixed media? Read here----->

currently: ten things

1. Enjoying the sweet sound of violin. I am so proud of my youngest right now. She recently tried out for the All County Chamber Orchestra and made the cut- first violin section. This is not the first year she has auditioned, but her third. She has made the cut the past two years and so I was not prepared for her reaction on the ride home that day. She cried. Not just a little. She cried hard and long. And then it hit me- she cares. She finally cares enough to be worried about failure. She has always practiced and done well. She has always given her all, but there was someting missing. That little extra edge of determination maybe? When she walked away from that judges table she knew. She knew there was always the chance she was not good enough. And so she cried. She told me later that she was worried that her piece was less than perfect. So for thirty minutes I listened with my ears and my heart to all she had to say about her music and her posture, her scales- her fears. And then I told her- This is great. THIS is what you have been working toward. You finally care enough to not want to fail. You have a whole week to wait for the results of that audition, but a whole lifetime to care. You are there.

2. Packaging up goodies for etsy. I am not going to lie. I get behind the eight ball sometimes when it comes to my tiny piece of the world wide web. I LOVE making hand crafted items and it gives me great joy to share them with all of you- but sometimes I find myself wondering if all the time spent is worth the reward? And then I get an email, a note, a comment from one of you gushing over something you have grabbed from the shop and I sigh. It is worth it. It is worth the effort and the time. The reward is in you. In the people I have that come here to read about my trials and tribulations, my projects, my plans, my art. I am so grateful for each of you and look forward to sharing more pretty things with you in the future!

3. Learning to work with new color. If you have been reading this blog for any length of time you know I am big fan of WHITE! My entire home is centered around that one non-color. A neutral palette is what soothes me and even my studio is white. I love having such a perfect "life size substrate" if you will, when I go to create. But when I make art I use color. The same colors. Lately, I have been trying something new. I am going bold. I am learning to reach for colors I would normally pass over. I am learning to create outside of the lines and give those brignt and beautiful colors a chance- and I am loving it.

4. Celebrating a birthday- mine! I don't mind sharing with you that I turned 47 this past week. I used to think I would be afraid of getting older, that I would dread all that came with age. Sure, my hair is a lot grayer and I have to walk three times as far to stay fit, but I am not all that bummed out about another year claiming me for it's own. I no longer wish I was that person I was five or ten years ago. I no longer look to future to see who I will be then. I am ok with right here, right now. I am okay with 47. This year I might be another year older, but I know that I am a tiny bit braver, a little wiser and a whole lot happier!

5. Taking a new class. Brene Brown's- The Gifts of Imperfection. I recently claimed this year for my own. I am ready to stop worrying about EVERYTHING and start living with what happens. I wanted to stop wondering when IT would happen and just be okay with what IS. I wanted to be enough. I KNOW I am not perfect. I SHOULD know I am enough. We all should. But we are so very hard on ourselves. It is sad. I am not going to do it anymore. I am ready. This is my year. I might meet my goals, I might not...but I will LIVE this year, and close it as well, knowing- I AM enough.

6. Documenting the little things. My life is full of them. As a matter of fact, I am not sure my life would be much without them. THE DOCUMENTED LIFE PROJECT has given new meaning to those little things. I used to carry around my agenda, nothing more than a calendar to make a note of appointments and meetings. Now my planner is part of me. My life now, is no more outstanding- I don't attend galas or go to celebrity concerts, but I DOCUMENT my life in a whole new way. I like writing the time of my latest appointment in hot pink ink. I enjoy stapling in a photograph to remind that this day was extra special because... I love having a place to doodle, draw or make lists while I wait. The little things that make up my life are who I am. I chose to be a mother and chauffeur to five children. I chose to stand by a good man through thick and thin. I made a life around all that these choices entail and for ONCE I can flaunt how much I love it. The good, the bad, the regular, the boring, and the occasional outstanding days are now a beautiful place for me to color outside of the lines!

7. Realizing I have a style all my own. I used to really worry about this. I mean how in the world could I really be any kind of artist if I didn't have "a style?" A few times over the years I have wanted to give up. I never felt like anything I did really shouted "that is who I am!" And then one day a friend said something to me, something I had heard her say before- "let it find you." Well I heard her- but what the hek did that mean? How was a style going to find me? And so I decided that maybe it wasn't up to me after all, maybe if I was meant to be any kind of artist God would let me know. Someday. And so I quit worrying. I stopped wondering if I was an artist at all and I just made art. And then it happened. I walked into the studio and picked up something I had been working on, and I saw it. This is me. I made this. This is what my art looks like. And I knew. Did realizing I had a style make me a "REAL ARTIST" ? Ummm. No. But it sure felt good knowing I had found it!

8. Organizing in the studio. I received a beautiful new box style tray by Kelly Rae Roberts from a sweet friend on my birthday. It is bright and colorful and is divided into four sections, three long and narrow and one short and wide. It has turned out to be a great container for storing and filing all of my favorite bits and pieces for The Documented Life Project and Project Life. The best part? It had this wonderful message on the bottom. The message was most definitely meant for me this year. I loved that by covering it up it was secret and special to me- something I knew I needed to read, to hear. A hidden reminder when I need it. I love it!

9. Sewing some stuff. I have missed my sewing machine. Except for a few stitched pages we have not made much magic together lately. I am ready for that to change. I have gathered some supplies and have a few things planned! I am looking forward to the feel of fabric again and to making some pretty things.

10. Enjoying the view. I dreaded my move. You know I did, but I have to say, I am enjoying where I sit. ALOT. I love the windows and the lovely light that shines in them. I love the openness of the room and the feeling of being a part of what is going on the rooms around me. I am grateful for the surprise of natural overhead lighting for those late nights working- thank you to my better half for that. I couldn't believe it when I flipped the switch that first night. I am very thankful for such a beautiful creative space!

the documented life project- weekly challenge 5

Welcome to Week 5 of the THE DOCUMENTED LIFE PROJECT.

January 25 - Add a Doodle Border to your page.

This week I chose a piece of vintage ledger paper as my tip in. I added large swipes of translucent watercolor and two large colorful collaged circles.

I doodled a large feather as my border, then decided it needed more.  I added lots of scallops and circles with a permanent pen. Then I began to fill in with color. I even added another piece of bright washi tape. I added some doodled circles and dots to my collage shapes.

Doodling is so fun, but truthfully it is not the easiest thing for me. I am better with a more sketchy approach and so my doodling always apprears a little shaky when I try to make it pretty and symmetrical. I try to compensate for this with color.

I filled in my scallops with dylusions inks. I knew the colors would bleed out on the old paper but wanted them to appear more fluid like and less like zentangle.  I love how the bright hues all popped together. Once the inks were dry I added little dots of white to make the bold colors stand out even more.

It is very difficult for me to confine a layout to one layer. This week was the perfect challenge for me for that reason. All of  the doodles helped make my tip in appear as if it were more than one dimension, so I was happy with my page in the end.

Looking forward to seeing your interpretations of this week's challenge and I can't wait to meet you back here next week for some more exciting fun!

Find out more about Art to the 5th and see a list of archived challenges here ----->

You can find us:

• Facebook:
  

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedocumentedlifeproject/

• Flickr:
  

  http://www.flickr.com/groups/thedocumentedlifeproject/

• Instagram: #documentedlife
• For a list of the archived challenges visit our Art to the 5th Blog 
  

*Our Blogs

• Roben-Marie Smith
• Lorraine Bell
• Rae Missigman
• Sandi Keene
• And our Life Photographer: Barbara Moore
  

Post your challenge response to your favorite social media and upload it to our Flickr group or Facebook group to share in the community of Life Documentors.

sari ribbon place marker

If you are participating in The Documented Life Project and are anything like me, you may be having a hard time leaving your planner or journal alone!

As I was creating challenges over the past few weeks, it occurred to me that I needed a longer place marker. Because my book is so chunky I knew my sewing options were limited. Here is what I came up with ----->

I grabbed some beautiful recycled sari ribbon a pal gifted to me, and some colorful thread.

Next I moved the detachable arm piece of my sewing machine out far enough that I could rest my planner on it. I opened my planner to the center and rested it on the arm, stretching the original place marker out as far as I could.

I opened the sari ribbon up and wrapped it around the end of the original place marker, getting as close to the book as possible. I secured it with a straight pin until I had it under the foot of the machine. Once under the foot (it will move a little) I lowered the foot and removed the pin. I stitched back and forth a few times to secure the two markers together. Moving downward from my stitching,  I opened the sari ribbon and wrapped it around the original marker.

Once secured, I stitched the sari ribbon, rotating from horizontal to vertical stitching every few inches.

Lastly, I trimmed the ribbon and threads. I added a pretty bead,  knotting the ribbon just below it a few times until secured. If I need more length as the year goes on, I can undo one or two of the knots and easily make my marker longer.

Now my planner has a pretty place marker that can handle the bulk of my book! I love it!

Want to make your place marker longer or prettier? This was an easy and FREE project. Just dig through your stash and grab a piece of ribbon or colorful twine and stitch away. Don't sew? Use a tacky fabric glue and set aside to dry overnight!

READ HERE -----> to see how I added a removable zipper pouch (in about five minutes) to my planner here!

READ HERE TO LEARN MORE AND JOIN ME IN DOCUMENTING YOUR DAILY LIFE! Enjoy!

15 minutes of mixed media

This week's 15 minutes of mixed media challenge turned out even better than I had hoped. I love the colors.

This week I started with a ghost print of a gelli print. This was a print that was already in my art journal. It gave me a slight edge, as starting with a back ground will do. I like it. Sometimes it is a great springboard for color and definition on a page.

Having backgrounds at the ready in your journal is a simple way to add layers to your 15 minute challenge as well as perserve supplies. I never wipe my gelli plate to clean it. I always keep printing until all the paint is depleted. This makes beautiful ghost (or light) prints. I also like to take extra paint off of the palette and swipe it on the page, smearing it out from the center as I go. To do this I like to use an old credit card or a scraper.

Here is the short list of supplies that I had on hand before I started the timer. Remember, having just a few supplies at the ready saves valuable time when the clock is ticking! *5 paint colors (just run of the mill cheap craft paints. I would list the colors, but most of them are so old the labels are worn off) *sticky note tabs *permanent marker *black and white paint pens *glue stick *scraps of painted deli paper *stamp *stamp pad *embosser (to speed up the drying process in between layers) *dylusions blue spray ink

Setting the timer is certainly a challenge on most days, but it gets my creative mind racing. I usually begin a bit harried, but by the time the buzzer rings I am in a flow. Remember- if you are joining in on this challenge and setting the timer- THIS IS YOUR ART JOURNAL. Depending on your schedule and what goals you have set for yourself, YOU DON'T HAVE TO STOP THERE. Keep creating. If nothing else, you will have spent 15 minutes setting up a base for your layout. I choose to stick to the 15 minutes so that I can post honest to goodness 15 MINUTES OF MIXED MEDIA ART JOURNAL PAGES.

If you have started playing along I would love to hear about it. Love how your art is turning out when you set the timer? Send me a few photos via the contact page- I would love to see them! Enjoy!

currently: ten things

1. Making mail art. I have been using some prints of my favorite canvas BE BOLD.  "Be Bold. Take a chance. Live life right!" It reminds me to hold my head up and take a chance on life. I like spreading that message and what better way than through pretty mail art. I have also been adding in some yummy vintage grocery stamps from the sweet and talented Michelle and some cool retro postage stamps from my fellow Art to the 5th pal, Barbara.

2. Trying to make a new house our home. I am trying to make a list as I go. For every negative I try to list a positive. NEGATIVE: My laundry room went from the size of a small bedroom to the size of a small closet. I lost five cupboards, two countertops and room for three drying racks and an ironing board. POSITIVE: My new laudry room has a window. A beautiful, bright, sunny window. I can see the tree line of the lake from that window. I can see the sky and thank God for all His blessings from that window. I am making progress.

3. Carving some stamps. I love feathers and wanted a feather stamp. I had some erasers and the tool. What I ended up with is something more akin to a leaf or branch, but I like it. I haven't had much time in the studio, so ten minutes of carving filled a void. I can't wait to carve some more. I need the practice.

4. Packing up the last few loads.  A person really never knows just how much they have accumulated over the years until they go to pack it all up. I did a more than thorough job of purging and still had more than I could imagine. I gave it all a second look with this thought in mind. "Is this just a THING I have collected or is it something that has meaning in my life. Does this object have a purpose or does it add value to who I am as a person?" I was able to donate several more boxes of perfectly good "stuff" to the church this way. And then I had a thought. If I could get rid of so much excess physical baggage in my life, then I could do the same for mental luggage I have been carrying around as well. I choose to leave those thoughts and feelings that weigh heavy on my heart behind this year, hopefully lightening the load on my mind as well.

5. Creating challenges for The Documented Life Project. I have found this to be a fantastic way to keep track of all the little things in my life, as well as for making time to add a little art to the daily grind. You can read more about the project here. This months' challenges introduced us to the New Year as well as to each other. February is fast approaching, and with it, a whole new set of fun challenges! I hope that you will take the time to check it out and document alongside of me and the rest of the Art to the 5th.

6. Playing with light. I have been taking a few moments lately to play with natural light in photography. I love the way it can tell the story of a photograph. This new home of ours is filled with windows. The selling point for me. Windows galore. No longer will an indoor photo be off the table.

7. Appreciating family. For every single thing that you think is going wrong, something good comes out of it in the end. I lost sight of what real family was for awhile. I was so caught up in worrying about what everyone else would think about me, us, that I forgot that I was not in control of the big picture. God was. He leads my family. And while I may not always have the tightest grip on what that plan is I know that I trust Him. My family might not be picture perfect in alot of peoples eyes, but it is the most beautiful thing in my possession and I will not lose sight of that again.

8. Putting my studio back together again. Like most of the other rooms in this house I lost a lot of space in the studio. In addition I lost a walk in closet and two full walls of space. I did gain two more beautiful windows and a view of the front porch. The lighting is beautiful and the layout works. I am learning that by trying to follow the layout of the old studio I make the most progress. With a few small revisions and a truckload more of purging I think it will work.

9. Amazed at how God continues to speak to me. I have had so many prayers answered lately that I can not find the words to describe my thankfulness. Loud and clear His answers come. Most recently He gave me two tangible reminders in addition to my anwered prayers- a beautiful heart rock to add to my collection and this lovely coral cross. Sometimes we just need a little reminder to look up. For me, all it took was a quick look down.

10. Wishing I could have a real live peony bush. I love these flowers. To me they are just so lovely. I have this pretty "silk" version, and they make me happy just to look at them- but I long for the real thing. I wonder if they would even survive the brutal temperatures of the Florida sun? Is there an indoor version? Do they like the shade? I guess I have some research to do.

go to paint and ink colors

This little post is in response to the dozens of requests I have had about my favorite paint colors. I have so many - but these are the few I seem to go most often!

In order from top to bottom, left to right ------>

LIQUITEX INKS - pyrrole red. quinacridon magenta. cadium yellow light hue.

GOLDEN ACRYLIC PAINTS- teal. quinacridone red. diarylide yellow.

ASSORTED ACRYLIC CRAFT PAINTS - I like the glossy colors too!

FolkArt- neon orange. Craft Smart- ocean breeze. Craft Smart- neon pink. Apple Barrel (gloss)- dandelion yellow. Craft Smart- neon yellow. Craft Essentials- apple tart. Craft Essentials- neon purple. Plaid Shiny- ultramarine blue.

GOLDEN HEAVY BODY NEON ACRYLICS - Fluorescent Green, Fluorescent Chartreuse, Fluorescent Orange, Fluorescent Red, Fluorescent Pink.

I hope this helps. As I choose new favorites I will post them here to share with you! Happy Creating!

the documented life project- weekly challenge 4

Welcome to Week 4 of The Documented Life Project!

January 19 Challenge - Write a Secret Message. Paint over all but one key word.

This was a great challenge for me this week. I have had a lot of feelings running through my head that needed to be written down, but not necessarily rehashed every day. Somehow the process of painting over it all helped put it to rest.

Leaving just one encouraging word peeking through turned a discouraging thought encouraging. My key word for this challenge is STRENGTH. A perfect word to pair up with my One Little Word for the year, LOVE. These two words are a written reminder of where I need my focus to be in the coming months. If I remain strong in all things, and love what I do and who I am with, I will have a wonderful year.

I used a book paper collage I created on a trip with my Art to the 5th pals in Grand Cayman last September as the base of my tip in page for this week's challenge. I have been saving it for something special. Since the whole idea for THE DOCUMENTED LIFE PROJECT began to form on that trip, thanks to the ever talented Lorraine Bell, it seemed fitting to add it into my planner for the year.

I added my secret message to the backside of this tip-in collage, stitching on a stamped message telling you where to look on the front of the page.

The bold colors seemed to go hand in hand with my word STRENGTH. I added lots of deli paper shapes, adding pops of color through black washi tape and paint pens. A wheel shaped stamp is the latest addition to my favorite recycled tools in the studio, and is an empty thread spool!

I plan on doing some extra special stuff to the date side of the page this week. I had a pal tell me today that I needed to celebrate myself, (with a big birthday coming up) and so I think I will paint and doodle and ink and stitch away to my hearts content. Maybe I will make everyday a special day this week!

Looking forward to your interpretations of this week's challenge and can't wait to meet you back here next week!

 

You can find us:

• Facebook:
  

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedocumentedlifeproject/

• Flickr:
  

  http://www.flickr.com/groups/thedocumentedlifeproject/

• Instagram: #documentedlife 
  

*Our Blogs

• Roben-Marie Smith
• Lorraine Bell
• Rae Missigman
• Sandi Keene
• And our Life Photographer: Barbara Moore
  

Post your challenge response to your favorite social media and upload it to our Flickr group or Facebook group to share in the community of Life Documentors!

i wanted to carve a feather stamp

Sometimes we don't always get what we want, but we might get lucky and like what we end up with.

So I wanted to carve a feather stamp. Feathers are my favorite thing right now, but...but it turns out that if you don't use your stamp carving tools for months you lose your touch. What I ended up with looks more like a leaf or branch of some kind, but I like it. I like the imperfections in each feather/leaf - not unlike in nature. If you want to have your own little imperfect feather leaf here is what I did ----->

1. Grab an eraser. I like the cheap ones from The Dollar Tree if you are just starting out. They aren't the best quality, but they come in a 3 or 4 pack for a dollar and are great for beginners.  I also like how they stay rigid when you go to stamp with them. You will also need a stamp carving tool. I use this SPEEDBALL set and love it. And you will need a pencil to draw your word or design on the eraser.

2. Draw your design. Don't forget to use tracing paper if you are writing a word or special design that will need to be drawn in reverse.

3. Start carving. Slow is key for me. This particular tool came with several cutting heads in the base of the handle. I used the smallest one for outlining my design first, then went back and carved out more with a larger, deeper cutting tool.

4. Finish off with the flat blade to smooth things out. My homemade stamps don't always look pretty when I am finished, but they stamp great!

Obviously I need to brush up on my stamp carving skills some more, but I think I will keep it. I like it's quirky shape and style. Here is what it looks like on a tag card project I did. Enjoy!

TAG CARD: gelli printed tag. painted deli paper scraps. book paper scraps. oil pastels. paint pens. machine stitching. thank you stamp from dollar bin at Target. my hand carved feather leaf stamp. recycled seam binding.