What Else is in Your Daily Journal?

I am often asked by friends, family and casual acquaintences if I only "journal" in my daily journal.  Mostly yes, but the journal I am using this year also has some designated art space.  Often, I just keep on writing (due to # of pages in the journal as a whole), but I do sometimes make doodles, or put positivity quotes to remind me to be a kinder, gentler person.

2015 Daily Writing Journal

Early last year, I bought a Picadilly journal from my friend Tina Canupp that she had tarted up and I love the paper in those journals for actual writing. Tina had made some designated art pages in it, just using white paper (copy paper?) and washi tape with tip in flaps and some embellishments here and there. 



Tina actually made me a second custom journal which I will likely use next year for my musings....and it's not that I don't have any journals...... I have a gargantuan drawer full of them.  And I have many journals that friends have made me or I have made, still waiting to be used.  But when it comes to writing and paper, I want and like a certain feel of the paper, and how the pen or writing instrument glides (or doesn't) along the page.  Smooth is the name of the game for me.  And these Picadilly journals are great for just that...writing. 

 My choice of writing instruments varies, depending on my mood of the day, and what instrument is handy beside my recliner.    Most of the time, I prefer to write with a real, honest-to-goodness fountain pen, and my vintage pen and my Mont Blanc pens are my favorites and go-to pens.

Doodle Therapy - PaperMate Flair Pens

A favorite quote - with Prismacolor Pencil

But what else is in there?  Today I decided to show you some of what lurks within my daily writing journal.  Mostly they are just little bits of something.  A note, a quote, a biblical verse that has meaning to me, a doodle, lists of every imaginable type, and lettering practice sometimes.  If I art at all in my writing journal, (because I do not want to bulk it up more than it already is) I do not tip in additional art paper such as bristol or watercolor paper. I use what Tina put there. And because that paper is thin, I use one of these basic pen types that do not bleed through: A Sakura Gelly Roll, regular gel ink pens, Signo Uniball pens, PaperMate Flair pens or a Faber Castell Pitt pen.  If I add any additional color at all, it is almost always Prismacolor pencils, which live beside my recliner so they are easy to grab, relax and "color" when I finish my doodles or whatever. 

I have to admit, I have tried using some acrylic in there, but it wasn't successful and the page warping annoys me.  I also often highlight words within the writing with the colored pencil, or color block certain sections to draw me back to that day or thought.

Doodle on a paint chip tip-in flap

My daily writing journal is a place for me to unload the day, recap the day's events, highs and lows. I get to freely explore things about myself I need to address.  When the journal is all filled up, I will gesso over ALL THE WRITING and then add more art to it.  When I do this part, I will sometimes let some words peek through.  I know what's there. Nobody else needs to know.

I believe that what is written in my daily journal is generally for my eyes only, and rarely, if ever, for any type of public consumption.  I surely don't want to kick the bucket and have my family read all the entries for those "bad" days and the dark words that are sometimes there.  My journal is my healing place, my happy place. It is the one special world all my own, with no interaction with others and I can be brutally frank and honest with myself.  This type of writing is very cathartic for me.  So, all the more reason I add little quotes about positive "being."  I sometimes need those reminders to self.  Don't we all sometimes?  More times than not, I am journaling very late at night, just before retiring for the evening. Some doodles are wins, others are not.  But for me, it isn't about creating amazing art here. It's about relaxing. Unloading. Contemplation of the past, and hope for the future.
 

One of many lists!

So to continue, here's some more "peeks" at some of the random things that happen in my writing journal.  I don't mind sharing these with you, as a spark for your own journal. 







These snippets are just sometimes for the relaxing pleasure I derive from doodling, lettering practice, or just being creative and adding a little bit of color to my rantings. 









Sakura Gelly Roll and Prismacolor Pencils. Inspired by a printed tag made by Therese Ramsay I saw at an art show.

A not-so-successful doodle on a baby-wiped acrylic background.  But it was relaxing!

More Sunflowers-they are everywhere in my journal

Another quote on the bottom half of a day's writing that reminds me to let go of the small stuff and just don't sweat it.  I need daily reminders!

This page was an epic fail of painted on acrylic on that thin paper, then wiping off with a baby wipe.  The page is wavy, but there is color!

A little reminder at the bottom of a day's writing

Self-explanatory when it comes to who I am and what I drink....

     


<<A little "Scribble Art" I did the night after I finished my Artful Mail Groupies Scribble Art Swap.  These are fun to do...so why not?


>> I try to keep myself centered with faith-based notes and quotes to myself.  These always seem to fit nicely on the art pages in this journal, and usually just take a few minutes.  Remember, I'm talking to myself...... not making quality art here. LOL




So there you  have it.  A few select items from the pages of my daily life out of my real "journaling" journal.  My reminders. My self-healing quotes.  Things I want to remember to reinforce in my life.  This writing journal is almost full, and soon ALL the pages will be prepped and ready for more art.  Maybe I will do a lot of collage in this one when it's all finished.  Lord knows I have plenty of papers, bits and bobs to create something else! You see I must create. Everywhere.

Keep color in your world, keep artful in your thoughts. And most of all, keep creating and let it all out!

Hugs!
~~Betty aka Arty Auntie