August 4 - Art Journal Challenge #4

I went crazy adding different colors of acrylic paint to the background.  I swiped them on with an old gift card.

I tried rolling over a bare tree stencil but it turned out to be a negative impression instead of a positive impression.  The paint didn't go through the stencil holes, so I flipped it over and pressed it down while the paint was still wet.  It turned out to be a happy accident.

I cut out some old ads from a 1963 magazine I got at a used book store.  I thought they were kind of funny so I adhered them here as the focus and then added the letters.

August 3 - Art Journal Challenge Day 3

I think the reason why I love art journaling so much is because you never really know where a page is going until you know when it's finished.  I know, don't ask, I'm just warming up.  LOL~!

 I water-colored the background, then added drips of Dr. Martins watercolors, then I added spray mists over some stencils to create the background. 

August 2 - Art Journal Challenge Day 2

This is a poem by Samuel Colbridge that I really like.  I watercolored a background and added copic black marker lines and wrote the poem to fill the odd spaces.  Then I went back and colored in the closed circle letters with different colored copic markers.  I did this one while curled up in a chair and while I was watching the Olympics.  Fun!

August 1 - Art Journal Challenge Day 1

Here's my first page!  I used watercolor paint, collage, blue china pencil, decorative tape and Cray Pas oil pastels.

Art Journal Challenge for August

Hey Everybody,  I haven't art journaled in a very long, long time and I'm really excited to start this challenge.  In fact, I already did.  I have today's page finished already.  I would love for you to join me in this challenge.  So, if you want to join me then leave a comment below with a link to where your page is.  Thanks for coming by.

A Happy Pile Of Filos!

I've had planners in the past and have always enjoyed using them.

A few years ago, my brother-in-law had an extra palm pilot from his business that nobody was using so he gave it to me.  I was very excited to enter into that realm of technology.  I enjoyed using it and putting in lots and lots of data.  Data that would help me if I needed it.  I had birthdays, my calendar, games, our furnace filter size and other household details that could come in handy.  I had doctors, insurance agents, policy numbers, fax numbers, email addresses, etc, etc, etc... the list goes on.  Then one day my little "brain" wouldn't turn on.  ALL WAS LOST!  (stupid thing!)

So I decided that the best thing to do was to purchase a brand  new one, one that hadn't been used before like this previous one.  I bought the new one added all the data again and then one day it happened again.  It wouldn't turn on.  Urggghh, talk about being frustrated and angry!  That was it for me, no more palm pilots, or personal hand held computers.

I was floundering for years, forgetting appointments, birthdays and all that stuff.  I pretty much just kept a calendar on my refridgerator.  Obviously, that wasn't working very well.  That's why I decided to get back into using a planner.  I started out using the Planner Pad, which I liked very much, but didn't use it as it was intended, so I felt that I was wasting it.  Planners are always so dependable, providing you don't lose it.  I've never lost one yet, they're always there, ready to take information or give it.  I'm so happy to be back on that track again.  Oh, I do use my iPhone too, but I won't depend on that.  My planner is where it's at for me now!

Here's a pic of a pile of our Filofaxes. Isn't it lovely!  The Ochre Malden was a gift to my son for leaving for College.  I took this pic before I received my Vintage Pink Malden.  I'll have to gather them all up again and take another pic so it's more recent.  Third from the top is a Filofax Flex folder.

Vintage Pink Malden filofax

I picked up this Vintage Pink Malden after I saw my son's Ochre Malden.  I love how the Malden looks "aged" and feels so supple.  I especially like that it lays flat.  But, I really, really love the ochre Malden best.   I can live with the Vintage Pink color, it's very nice too.  I took a picture of it in the sunshine to try to show it's true color,  because I had a hard time deciphering it's correct color from all the photos I found on the web.  Hope it helps someone.

I decided to make this Personal size Malden my take along daily calendar, notes, and prayer journal.  I've changed my personal Cuban into a food journal and exercise tracker.    So currently I'm living very happily in 5 Filofaxes and they are:

A5 Aqua Chameleon - used for long and short term goals, to do lists, planning, etc.

Personal Cuban - used for food journal, menu planning, exercise tracker, health and fitness

Personal Malden - used for take along daily calendar, notes, prayer journal

Pocket Chameleon - used as my wallet, grocery/shopping lists

Mini Domino - used as a note pad on my living room end table

I couldn't imagine trying to fit all of that information in one Filofax.  They're all kind of fat as it is.  Below are some more pics of my Malden. 


The pen shown was part of a pen and pencil set that someone gave me as a gift and it matches beautifully, that was a happy unplanned thing. 

Below are 3 of my Filofax family, not shown are my Mini Domino in purple and my Personal Cuban in Chilli.

A Challenge for Myself - An Art Journal Page a Day in August

I haven't art journaled in a very long time and I'm chomping at the bit to get started again, Sooooo, I'm challenging myself to complete one art journal page a day for the month of August.  No rules!  Just art journaling!  Wish me luck, I'm not sure that I can do it "everyday" for 31 days, but I'll try my darnedest!

So stay tuned!  I will post each day's Art Journal page here on my blog no later than 9:00 PM CST every day.

I Love This Poem by Rumi

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

~ Rumi ~

“If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.”
-Fred Rogers

Accessories for My Filofax from the Container Store

I picked up some useful items from the Container Store today for my Filofaxes.  Here they are:

 Some sticky notes from Moleskine.  I couldn't resist these.

 Calendar stickers too!

And finally some little magnet markers.  These are very strong, magnetically speaking.

A Little Gift for My Son - A Filofax, Malden in Ochre

My son is leaving for University at the end of August and I thought that he would love his very own Filofax.   Soooooo - I purchased him a Malden Personal Size in Ochre.  I also purchased him the Chicago map insert.  He'll be needing that because his school is right Downtown Chicago.  I'll feel better when I know he knows his way around.  He was very excited to receive it.  Of course, I had to get my hands on it.  I helped him set it up.

I loved the smell, the supple feel of the leather and the "dated" look that this Malden had, and since it was on sale, I had to buy one for myself in Vintage Pink (should arrive tomorrow). I haven't seen this color in person and can't really get a good look from anywhere online, I hope I like it. 

I am restricting myself at this point from buying anymore binders.  I just started with Filofax around the middle of June and now I have 5 binders.  I figured out a use for 4 so the 5th one will be a challenge, but I WILL find a use for it.