Journaling

I used to keep journals. Not regularly. Usually when I traveled. Rome. Ecuador. Wales. Those were the times I wanted to clutch experiences like fireflies, to dash out my first impressions before they could lose their glamor from examination, familiarty, and staleness.

And then some day years later, perhaps when you are cleaning house or looking for something to do on a rainy day, you pick it up and turn through the pages, and it is is a delight to discover little swatches of time and memory tucked between the pages.

Do you (or did you) keep a journal?  What sort of things do you (or did you) write about?

#5Faves: Free & Pretty Resources

Wonder where I get all the graphics and texts to change my blog header every three days?  I don't shell out money for those beauties, no way!  Here are my five favorite free resources on the internet.

1 // the Ink Nest clipart

{The Ink Nest} provides original clip art for very reasonable prices--not free, you say, but bear with me.  If you follow their blog and subscribe to the newsletter, you'll get free downloadables, like {May's productivity kit}.

2 // design love fest wallpapers

{Design Love Fest} provides weekly, refreshable wallpapers for your computer and your phone with Dress Your Tech.  She hosts different artists' and photographers' work with each set, so you'll never get bored, and you're sure to find something you like.

3 // Blessed Is She wallpapers

{Blessed Is She} also offers weekly, inspirational wallpapers penned by the genius behind {Be a Heart}.  I love her calligraphy, which is highly stylized but still incredibly readable.  And I love the ministerial work being done over at BIS; thank you, ladies!

4 // lollyjane fonts

I adore the fonts gathered and shared by the twin creative geniuses at {lollyjane}.  They've even got some free Mother's Day cards and plenty of DIY projects.  Bookmark this blog or add it to your reading list!

5 // anything from Catholic Icing {www.catholicicing.com}

Joining {Rachel} this week for Five Favorites.

Christie-made: Easy Personalized Notebooks

There's so much you can do with a simple white gel pen.  I used to use them all the time to highlight my doodles and illustrations, even sketches.  (You can make even the shoddiest sketch a hair closer to  Michelangelo by adding white highlights on stained coffee paper.)

I want to show you how I make a sweet, folksy wreathed illustration on a kraft paper notebook.  It's so easy and so pretty!

These make lovely, fresh gifts, too.

What You'll Need

You may also use a ruler if you don't have a steady hand or to keep your writing from going wobbly.

I used Moleskin journals, but search around in the dollar or craft store if you need something more friendly for your budget.  Black or any solid colored, matte covered notebooks would work, too.  Just as long at the white gel ink will sink in and show up.

How To

Using a cup from your kitchen, trace around the rim (or bottom) using the pen or pencil.  Add tiny leaves going around the circle.

My wreathes are kind of big; the great thing about it is that you can switch out any size cup or lid or circular object for the size circle/wreath you want.

This is the part where I use my pencil, and maybe even a ruler to write the word "notes" inside the wreath.  You can write "notes," or "to-do," or "love," or even your name.  If you're worried about not having cutesy handwriting, make neat lettering in pencil first.  You can see what it looks like and adjust if necessary.

A variation on the popular wreath with easy handwriting.

Ink over the letters (and the wreath if you drew it first in pencil).  Be careful to let it dry!  If the white gel ink smudges, it'll ruin your pretty drawing!  After it does, go over and erase the visible pencil lines.

So fun, right?

So try it out and share your personalizations and variations!  Or, if you're not the craftsy type, these little notebooks are going to be available soon in my shop.  I'm also happy to make something a little more complex just for you!

Happy Monday!

17/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2015."

Roan:  No one sees as babies see; whole, without the static of influence and bias.  He's completely on input.  It makes me hyper aware of my own feelings, anxieties, and sense of wellbeing, because I don't want to be feeding him any negativity; just complete acceptance and love.

Afon:  He has been upset this week; a cold that started with Roan and then passed to me is probably part of that.  But I sense there is something more upsetting him, and when I ask him, he just looks at me helplessly and speaks in nonsensical syllables.  It makes me sad, but I hug him tight and tell him I love, willing him to feel it.

Change

Tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle!

We wake to the birds' beautiful racket in the morning.  The sun is hot but the air, under the shade, retains a tinge of spring.  Each year, April becomes a reflective time for me--a time of change, of renewal, but a renewal outward rather than starting over, like a tree putting on rings.

Changes are coming.  I'm excited and nervous and ready.

Little Stories: Palm Sunday + Easter