the documented life project: weekly challenge 14

Welcome to Week 14 of The Documented Life Project!

March 29 - Write Your Name & Embellish It!

For this week's challenge I cut the letters out of a piece of water color paper that I had painted with the Peerless Water Colors! They are much prettier in color than the monitor shows.

I ran my tall skinny letters through the xyron and adhered them to a tip in that I had painted with varying colors of paint. I began adding some color with paint pens, scraps of my art journaling papers and washi tape. 

Last, I added some detail around the lettering with a black permanent marker and a white and pink paint pen. Easy peasy! I can't wait to see what you create this week! 

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This week's challenge supplies: scissors, uhu glue stick, Golden Acrylic in Teal , Golden Acrylic in green gold, Golden Fluorescent Heavy Body Paints in Pink, Chartreuse, and Orange ,  Painters Brand Paint Pens in White, Pink, Orange, and Green, and these Art Journaling Pages. I also used Peerless water colors, a xyron and some washi tape!

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-------> Art to the 5th Blog - Our Story

-------> List of Weekly Archived Challenges

-------> Facebook

------> Flickr

-------> Instagram - #documentedlife

-------> Our Blogs

            Rae

            Lorraine

            Sandi

            Barbara

            Roben-Marie

the documented life project: weekly challenge 11

Welcome to Week 11 of The Documented Life Project!

March 8 - Draw, Photograph or Collage a Bird onto your Page.

I don't mind admitting that this week's challenge scared me a little bit. If there is one thing I have not mastered, it would drawing. I could have photographed a bird, but I have said from the get go that I would push myself with this project...

...so I sketched a little bird out onto a gelli print tip in page. I started with a pencil. Once I was happy with her shape I sketched in a quick scratchy fashion over the pencil with my favorite fine tip black pen. I like how the pen and pencil combined to give the feathers some definition. I added some hand written text - "hallelejuha-sing a new song unto the Lord today."

Next I grabbed some colorful painted papers and began tearing them into small pieces to collage my bird. I also used painted deli paper and inked ultra thin brown kraft paper. I love how she blends with the gelli print.

I love all the texture this process lends to the page. The gelli print I chose was the perfect foundation- using the gelli plate I added more layers of paint than I normally would, using several different stencils, giving it a cool nubbly texture.

I collaged a funky sun at the top of the page and called it done. I have a hard time walking away from a page. Well, I do walk away, but I keep coming back. Again and again and again. This time I liked the simplicity of this chubby little bird and her sun and so I closed the book.

I can't wait to finish filling in the calendar side of my planner this week! Look for a peek soon!

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-------> Art to the 5th Blog - Our Story

-------> List of Weekly Archived Challenges

-------> Facebook

------> Flickr

-------> Instagram - #documentedlife

-------> Our Blogs

            Rae

            Lorraine

            Sandi

            Barbara

            Roben-Marie

*as an amazon affiliate, I receive a small incentive if you purchase a product through these links*

the documented life project - weekly challenge 10

Welcome to Week 10 of The Documented Life Project!

March 1 - Make a List of What Makes You YOU!

This challenge was another favorite of mine, so far. I LOVE making lists. I intended to create just that - a hand written roll of who I am. As I worked on my draft I received a phone call. Naturally, I began to doodle, and by the time I hung the phone up, I knew my LIST had gone from that registry of words to a series of words and images.

I have been faithful to my self imposed spending halt and am using LOTS of things I usually use for my Project Life Pages. I love the combination of letter squares, rub-on's and decorative stamps. As my idea morphed from just words to more, I saw the need for more space and took a cue from a past challenge- adding a flap to a flap.

As my flaps unfolded I could add more things that make me ME to the back side as well. I prettied up the edges with colorful washi tape.

 I loved seeing all those odd bits of "old" stuff transformed into something beautiful as they came together.

I used the lined journal page to add even more text - a running list of I LOVE....

Want to know what makes me ME? photographs. counting. collecting. family. recycling. vision trouble. faith. writing. creating. being a mom. cats. birds. art. light and windows. my children. home. travel.

I can't wait to fill in the calendar side of my planner this week! Look for a peek soon!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------> Art to the 5th Blog - Our Story

-------> List of Weekly Archived Challenges

-------> Facebook

------> Flickr

-------> Instagram - #documentedlife

-------> Our Blogs

            Rae

            Lorraine

            Sandi

            Barbara

            Roben-Marie

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

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!

the documented life project- weekly challenge 3

Welcome to Week 3 of The Documented Life Project!

January 12 Challenge - Add an envelope from your mailbox.

I am a collector of mail. I can't part with all of the beautiful mail art that I have been blessed with in the past. This was a perfect challenge for me!

I layered up a few of the most colorful, artsy samples I could find and stitched them to the page, in layers, creating little pockets.

I like being able to see some of my dear friend's handwriting when I open up to this page. It reminds me of happy times. I had a very special postcard that a pal sent to me from overseas that I wanted to incorporate.

I used some washi tape to add it in, so it could fold out- I can read my pretty sentiment this way.

I love the details, the color and the special meaning that this challenge offered. I loved this challenge!

Pretty little details!

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!

recycled tip in pages

Have you read about the crazy fun DOCUMENTED LIFE PROJECT ? Chances are, if you are joining in, you have a planner or journal from last year. This is a great way to upcycle part of that agenda or book and incorporate it into this years project. Here is the planner I used in 2013.

I love the painted covers and did not want to just throw this away. I decided to remove the covers and use them as tip in pages in my planner this year for the THE DOCUMENTED LIFE PROJECT. Just remove the front and back covers and trim to fit your new planne or journal.

I plan on adding these as a tip in page, meaning they will fold out. I use washi tape to attach them to an existing page in my planner.

Because these will fold out, I can use the opposite side for list making, journaling, doodling, painting and more. Yea!

See more ideas and read all the details on this FREE  year long project here and here! Enjoy!

the documented life project- weekly challenge 2

Welcome to Week 2 of The Documented Life Project!

January 5 Challenge - Say Cheese! This week's challenge is to incorporate a selfie into your planner.

This can be done as simply as snapping a photo with your phone, printing it out and adding it to your planner. Dont' want to add your sweet face to your planner? No worries! Consider using words to describe yourself and add those to your planner instead. Not into the selfie scene? Remember! This challenge is totally optional! Feel free to skip right over it and wait for next week's challenge! In addition, if you are participating in One Little Word and would like to share that in your selfie or on your page, then add that in as well.

I am in full "use what I have mode" this year- especially since I am in the middle of big move. I am purging big time and finding that while I don't really WANT to use up this old stuff, it always turns out ok in the end.

Having made up my mind to be faithful to this "green goal" I set for myself, I grabbed some old patterned paper and my sewing machine. I stitched some of that paper to a gelli print that used as a tip-in in my planner.

I listed some of the things I AM on some vintage ledger paper and tacked that to the bottom of my photo. A reminder to myself that I wear a lot of hats and that is a tough job in itself. I need to be kind to myself when I feel I am losing ground. I just layered up from there, adding a painted deli paper monogram and some painted greens from the woods behind my house. And I added my One Little Word for the year. LOVE. My word could have been a million things this year. I wanted to use LET GO. But I chose LOVE instead. I want to LOVE where I am have been. LOVE where I am going and most importantly, I want to LET GO WITH LOVE.

I can choose to be happy. I can choose to embrace the future. I can choose to LOVE what is in front of me. I welcome 2014 with LOVE. 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!

newsworthy: The Documented Life Project

One part planner plus one part art journal and one part weekly challenge equals an amazing year of organization, inspiration and community.
Join us for the Documented Life Project.

We start with a Moleskine Weekly Planner.

• If you want to buy the "as it comes" Moleskine Planner online, Click Here
• If you want to take a mini-class on how to alter your Moleskine planner including gorgeous downloads, details coming soon via Lorraine Bell's blog Here
• If you have your own calendar or planner you want to use, that's great too.

Now the journey begins!

Starting January 1, 2014, *we will issue a weekly challenge on  ways to use and decorate your planner to make it uniquely yours.  Interpret the challenge in any way you desire or be inspired by our artists.  Yes, this is free and open to everyone - artists, scrapbookers, calendar keepers, organization lovers, art journalers- yes, YOU! You can find the first challenge on any of the below blogs or the Facebook page listed.

If you would like your planner to look just like ours, we are offering a mini-class taught by artist Lorraine Bell with step-by-step video instructions, filmed behind the camera by Roben-Marie, featuring hand painted gorgeous downloads to make your book an inspiring place for you to look forward to spending some time each week (click here to see a sample of Lorraine's gorgeous planner). Watch for details coming for this class soon OR if you prefer, you can make the planner in your own style.

READ MORE ABOUT OUR STORY AND SEE A LIST OF ARCHIVED WEEKLY CHALLENGES 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
  

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!

We would be thrilled to have you create and play along with us in The Documented Life Project. 

Who knows what can happen?!

Here are a few photos of what my planner is shaping up to look like --->

I am so excited to be a part of this group! And to be working in and with this amazing planner! I could not survive with out my yearly planner, but I, like these other artists were tired of the boring, plain agendas you would find yourself grabbing, year after year, in the school supply aisle. This planner is going to change all of that!

I love having one side of some of my pages already collaged, painted, and doodled. I plan using them as a springboard for the upcoming challenges as well as for inspiration as I create alongside of my daily life. To me, documenting your life can occur in any number of creative ways. Lists, drawings, doodles, photographs and more- ! The fold-out page construction of this planner allows you to add as many or as few pages as you choose. All the more space to DOCUMENT YOUR LIFE!

The bold and patterened tape edges are one design element that makes this planner both functional and pretty. I, for one, like to have a pop of color or a splash of pattern on each of my art journal pages. Seeing colorful stripes as I flip through my book makes me want to fill the pages with more than just my daily appointments - it makes me want to create! I can't wait to share more detailed photos along the way!

With the added option of painting your cover, this planner will be entirely YOU! I have chosen to leave my cover plain for now, but I can see that changing as the year goes on. We save photographs, we save diaries, we save art journals- most of us have stacks upon stacks, collected over the years. This project offers a deep and personal look into our ordinary, into our everyday. The routines of ourselves and our loved ones that make our memories personal. Something, that at years end, will be worth adding to that stack.

I am always anxious for the new year to arrive. Resolutions and a fresh start in so many ways- a new look at life. Won't you join me- join us, in making our daily life more beautiful? Come be a part of what is sure to be one of the most rewarding projects you take on this year!

To DOCUMENT YOUR LIFE in this planner means- staying focused, keeping up, and being creative too. Whether you like to make lists, doodle while you plan, or sketch your surroundings, this is your agenda. This is your new year. This is YOUR LIFE! DOCUMENT IT!