Seeing Red

I have not yet read the prompts for the coming week (#4) of the DLP 2016 planner, but I did start my weekly page early and really love it.

For my background page, I used a scrap piece of bristol board from a play day in the past when I tested new stencils and paints.  I have a stash of papers like this and never liked this one, but for some reason, I decided the to use it as the weight is good for a page in the planner.
I used vintage labels for the days of the week, cutting them in half so they didn't take up so much room.

I put washi tape on the left side and added a nice little art element with the bird, which was on a gift tag last year from friend Gaye.

I couldn't decide how to separate the days of the week.  A strip of black washi tape between each one seemed too much.  Drawing a dark black line with a permanent marker didn't seem to strike a chord with me ether.   Ah.. my Inktense black watercolor pencil.  Still my favorite tool.  I quickly scribbled lines around the page and between the days.

I held my breath and applied water to the pencil lines.  You never know what it will actually look like until the pencil is activated with water.  But I really liked it.  It was just the grungy look I was going for, and I really liked how the acrylic paint resisted the watercolor.

 

The piece of bristol board I used was pretty big before I cut it down.  In addition to the acrylic paint on it, it had a shimmery spray that I had also tested.  Rather than cut the page to the exact size I needed, I kept it long on one end and folded it over, so the part where the holes are is double thickness.  I glued down some kraft paper under that flap that was formed and put some decorative tape over the edge of the flap.    

 

 I'm not sure what will go on that page, so I guess I'd better go look at the assignment now! 

 



Play dates

Forgot to post this earlier, but this is what I played with for Week 3 of the DLP 2016 planner.  I still have to finish some of it. 

Left:  the Dare2Be card.  I edged the page with my printed label stickers, then printed out the free download to put on top of that.  I picked my word to use (hopeful)... I have a lot to say about that on my card as I feel I have been challenged in all areas of my life in the past year or two. 

Middle:  My weekly date page.  I printed the template on scrapbook paper that I cut to size to fit my printer.  I used my hole reinforcers that I decorated last week.  For the days of the week, I cut the words from a small pocket size datebook from years past.

Right:  I printed out the template for a To Do List and attached it to a really pretty envelope, then punched holes on the left so I can put it in the planner.  Inside the envelope are some notes and ideas about those things I need To Do!  The envelope is held closed with an arrow shaped paper clip.

Three of the days on the weekly calendar have the word "snow" on them!  brrrr... I know it's winter, but it seems like we always get a lot of snow all at once. 

Holey Moley

I've been wanting to do something fun with hole reinforcers.  I started by stamping designs in black ink. 

 Then I sponged on different colors of stamp pad ink. That's all there is to it.  Quick and easy.

 Or so I thought.  I seem to have taken up permanent residence in the Land of Oblivion.  In the picture below, notice that the sheet on the left has no hole reinforcers on it.  That's because they are on the reverse side of that sheet.  How I could have been so oblivious to stamp and sponge the whole sheet without noticing that is beyond me.  But when I realized it, I just turned it over and repeated it all over again.  But you know, once I have used up the reinforcers, that back side of the sheet with all those holes would make a nice embellishment.

 As will my scrap paper where I worked, with all those dots. 

The Land of Oblivion provides lots of happy accidents as a bonus to its residents.

Getting Organized

For some reason, I have trouble with this new planner project.  Not with making my pages, but gathering my thoughts about what to do each week.  Simple solution...  Make a page to go in my planner that tells me. I copied part of it directly from the website and printed it on cardstock to fit the page size.  I need to double check that I have the information right, then embellish the page some and permanently attach the vintage plastic divider tab.  This will come in handy for my scattered brain.

One thing I missed about last year's journal is that I had a place in the beginning of my book where I listed all the assignments for each week and month.  The great thing about this planner is that you do what you want with it.  So, I made some pages where I can record the assignments.  I simply used a ledger type paper, put some reinforcement at the edge and punched holes.  I printed the DLP header off the website to put on the first page.

I have not completed this week's assignment, but I feel a whole lot better about seeing at a glance what I need to do! 

I Feel Dated

Played around with the Week 1 assignment for DLP 2016 off and on this weekend.  I'm trying to follow instructions and figure out exactly what I'm supposed to do this first week. As usual, I do have a way of straying off the beaten path.  It's only week 1, so that doesn't bode well! 

What I have done so far is:
Monthly divider page for January.  I used a black cardstock page, collaged some map gift wrap tissue from a  Christmas gift along with some vintage postage, and two rows of washi tape. Added a label tab for the month, used a corner rounder, and called it good.  (Note to self:  When using the corner rounder, do it before adding the month tab.)

January Calendar:  Printed off a blank calendar from the downloads, lettered the month, and stamped the numbers.   (Note to self:  Next time use the other calendar, the one that starts on Sunday.  I get very confused with weeks that start with Monday.)  I printed one of my journal pages onto label paper and put labels on the left side of the calendar, and some washi tape on the right side.  Used the corner rounder, and called it good.

Instead of using one of the downloads for the weekly view, I used a timecard.  And instead of making an art card this week, I used the back of the timecard/weekly calendar to make an art card.  I have a plastic sleeve this will go in, with holes punched on the left for the three ring binder.  The front (weekly) part of the card is pretty self explanatory.
For the art card part, I lightly painted it with acrylic paint.  I noticed the words about lost time and time out, and left those visible.  I added on random words all over the card (Archival stamp pad ink) from a word stencil.

I still need to add my notes about technique as well as the challenge and prompt. 
January Challenge:  Trying something new (for me, this Unplanner will be something new).
Week 1 Prompt:  Incorporate 16 into your art. 

Not totally happy with everything, but I don't hate it.  Not going to go back at this point and change anything! 

Twenty Sixteen

Happy New Year!  I always feel like I have a fresh start on the first day of a new year.  I don't make resolutions, no sense setting myself up for failure.  I do like to have goals in mind, but there is no punishment if I don't accomplish them all.

I have unfinished business from last year, mainly my Documented Life Project 2015 Journal.  There are several weeks that I skipped over, and I will finish those.  The assignments will be a nice change of pace from whatever else goes on this year.

I am already suffering from Journal Indecision for 2016.  That is not a good way to start the year.  It is not uncommon for me to have more than one journal going on at the same time.  But this year I am very indecisive about what I want to do.

I usually have my "grid journal", a small journal for writing that has graph paper pages.  I couldn't find one this year and ended up buying a larger lined journal (above).  It will mainly be for writing, but I will also add stamping and stenciling, washi tape, other fun stuff.

I have also signed up for Documented Life Project 2016, the Unplanner.  This is a three ring binder with inserts.  I have played around with their generous downloads of pages for calendars, weekly planner, lists, etc.  I'm anxious to see where that will take me! To see what it's all about, watch their video here.

Before I got my lined journal, I bought this book, Year of the Doodle.  I really love the images of ephemera used on the printed page. I didn't get it to doodle, but planned to use it for my writing journal.  Then I decided that I sometimes need more room for certain days than what that provides.  Not sure what I'm going to use it for yet.  Maybe an idea journal.  I'm always jotting ideas on scraps of paper while I'm working, and then they end up lost or accidentally thrown away. 

So, that is the State of the Arts at my house on this first day of 2016.  Hope everyone has a most wonderful year ahead, lots of creative ideas, and a heart full of joy!