Journaling Prompt for March

They say March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb but what happened this year? Winter seems to have hung on until the very last minute. The clocks went forward for the start of British Summer time but someone forgot to tell the weather to change seasons! But finally the garden seems to be waking up. Crocus and daffodils are flowering all be it a bit late. What’s going on in your garden? Have you managed to get out and plant some seeds or plants for this summer?

And if it’s been a bit too cold and wet what about the house? Have you started the Spring cleaning? This month I’ve been busy decorating the bedroom and just putting the finishing touches to the decoration with new curtains and quilt covers. Have you done any work in your house you want to journal about?

In March we celebrate Mothering Sunday have you memories of the day this year you want to remember? Do you want to record some memories of the past of your Mum or Grandmother? Perhaps you want to record gifts given to you by your children.

And also this month we had Saint Patricks day. Do you celebrate this? If you do journal what happens in your household or what traditions you have.

I’ve been experimenting with various concoctions this month, for those thinking about art journaling try mixing media. Introduce paint, inks, chalks, pens and pencils onto your journal pages. Try using watercolour pens or pencils and see what effects you can create.

Chris & Jac

Next Crop - 28th March

The next crop is on Sunday 28th March and Chris has created a fab project, a hanging keepsake, which can be either painted or covered with patterned papers and decorated to your individual taste.

You will need the following supplies:
3 Photo's printed onto normal paper (approx 3"-3")
Ribbon
Paint and/or patterned papers
Lettering
Chalk inks
Embellishments

Chris will be demonstrating using UTEE (ultra thick embossing powder) and will be able to supply the UTEE and chipboard for the project.

Keep watching the blog for the next Journal Your Month post and don't forget clocks go forward on the Saturday evening.

See you all soon.. Jackie & Chris

Next Crop - 7th March

Wow time flies by, I just realised this morning that its the crop next week so before I dash off out I thought I'd better update you all on the crop project.

This month its Technique Sunday and I've put together a 12x12 page that I hope you will love, its full of little techniques that you've probably done in the past but are nice to use again.

You will need:
1 sheet 12x12 patterned paper/cardstock
2 sheets co-ordinating 12x12 plain cardstock
2 - 2.5"x3.5" portrait photo's (or similar)
Black cardstock to mount photo's
5-6 co-ordinating buttons
Thread (embroidery is best)
Journaling words/stickers
Swirl stamp or diamante swirl (or similar)
Ribbon

Lettering for Title

We will be providing a printed flower and to cover the printing costs will be 10p.

Hope to see you all on the 7th.

Jackie & Chris

Journaling Prompt for February

The weather is continuing cold. Snow showers again throughout the month. Will it ever be spring? For all its cold it must not be far off. I snapped a picture of a frog on my patio at the beginning of the month and there are crocus braving the cold in the flower bed. Have you snapped any photos of wildlife you want to journal.? Who are the visitors to your garden bird table or feeders? Have you seen any early stirrings of spring?

If it is too early for flowers in the garden, how about in the house? Valentine’s day is traditionally celebrated with a gift of flowers or chocolates. Have you a secret or not so secret admirer you want to journal about?

We’ve also celebrated shrove Tuesday and the start of Lent. Do you have any Lenten traditions you want to record? What do you give up or do extra over the Lenten period?

For those thinking about art journaling try introducing some paint onto your journal pages. If you have some prime the page first with Gesso to stop the paint sinking into the card. Try applying your paint with foam applicators or baby wipes and see what effects you can create.

Chris & Jac

On-Line Class - Journal the Year

Journaling January

Welcome to our on line class. Please see the previous post below for details. Now to get started..

First choose or make your book or album. I’ve made one with greyboard covers and cardstock pages. You can choose your own size but for those who like to follow exactly the dimensions of my book are:

Covers: 14cmx24cm
Pages: alternating sizes 13cmx22cm and 13cmx23cm.

I’ve used book rings to bind my book so that I can take the pages out and work on them flat.

I chose this size as a 10x15cm photo fits on the pages with a small amount of space left for decoration or journaling.

Decorate the front cover and choose a title.

The title of my journal is “During 2010 I..”

You might want to do an introduction on the first page telling people what the journal is about.

Prompt For January

The start of a new year, with new beginnings. What have you done for the first time this month? Did you make any New Year resolutions? What were they and have you managed to continue your resolve to the end of the month? There have been a couple of birthdays of crop members this month ; have you celebrated anything?
Did you manage to grab any photos before the snow melted this month? Journal about the snow this year. Do you have memories of better, or worse, snowy weather you want to record.

For art journals think about the text we use. I hate to look at my own handwriting on a page normally but art journals mix up the font shapes and sizes. The words are uneven and can be written along wiggly lines in different shapes and sizes. Have a little bit of practice on some scrap paper and you will see how effective it looks. I’ll bring some examples of my test pieces to the February crop.

Have fun! Chris

On-Line Class - Journal the Year

Isabella Crop Circle 2010 Journal The Year

First..Don’t panic. The purpose of this on-line class is to have a project to do between each crop and create a scrapbook or journal for 2010. You might want to simply scrapbook your year or you may wish to try to do a journal of events, thoughts and feelings. It is up to you how you use the prompts.

Each month I will post some prompts of things to think about and things you might wish to record or journal. You can use the prompts or simply do your own thing. It’s up to you this will be your album.

I’ll also be posting some art journaling techniques but please be patient, I am as new to this as you and will be working with techniques I’ve picked up from books and magazines.

Art journaling is a new trend that many people are becoming addicted to (including Jac and I). If you want to see some examples look at Dylan Reavely’s blog (www.dyan-reaveley.blogspot.com). If anyone is interested she runs classes at Art From The Heart in Harrogate (www.afth.co.uk).

Please feel free to share your work by posting on the blog, emailing your pictures or bringing them to the crop. It would be nice to know who’s journaling along with us, so please post if you’re going to give this a try. It’s also open to any non-crop members who use this blog, give us a wave and let us know you’re out there please.

Finally remember this is a bit of fun ... something new to try. There is no right or wrong way to do this...better not be because I’m making it up as I go along. Above all remember the purpose of crafting is to have fun.

Chris

Next Crop 7th February

I'm sure you are all looking forward to our next crop, it's ages since we all got together. If you havn't already done the layout that was proposed for January then bring along your supplies. We will try to post within the next few days a project created by one of the group for you all to do at the crop, so keep calling back.

Looking forward to seeing you all on the 7th.