As Seen on TV: Bullet Journaling + My New Planner Class!

If you love creative planners -- day planners with a scrapbooking twist -- you may already be aware of bullet journals. It's time to take a shot. Get it? Bullet... shot. Yeah, weak. Let's move on! ;)

Bullet journals are basically list-oriented journals that you can use to capture any details of your life that appeal to you. It can be more task driven or more favorites focused. Or, as with many journals (including mine), a combination of both!

Bullet Journal Supplies

First, let's talk supplies. Doesn't get much easier than this, friends. A journal, a pen, a pencil, a solid eraser, and a ruler. If you want to add some color to the mix, colored pencils are an easy option.

I highly recommend a fine-tipped pen, like the Micron .01. I also use the Micron Brush Tip and the Micron Color Tips. I don't work for Micron or anything. This is just a great pen and worth checking out!

My journal is the new (and awesome!!!) travel journal from Freckled Fawn (the white with the hearts)! Heidi Swapp has also just launched a planner specifically with bullet journaling in mind (the black one) that is pretty fab! The travel journal is actually the heart cover, and the inserts snap in with the attached band. The kraft booklet below is the insert for the journal. I like this one because the paper is thicker and I could dress it up without much bleed-through.

If you want to step your supplies up a little, you can introduce washi tape, stickers, clips, and other decorative extras. Totally your call! Clips are great for hold the journal pages open, both for photo-taking and working in your journal. These AWESOME jumbo paperclips are part of my planner class kit for March. Yay! (More on that below.)

Once you have your supplies, it's a matter of deciding on a preferred purpose for your journal. For me, this meant searching bullet journals on Instagram (#bulletjournal) and Instagram, screenshotting the images that made me happy, and then going back over those images to help identify my style preferences. I quickly realized I was into capturing details creatively using doodles. But first, a key...

Key

If you're going to use your journal to track tasks, a key is useful. Again, decide on a system that works for you. For me, it was as simple as this:

KEY COMPONENTS
open box = task
box with diagonal line = task in progress
box filled in with diagonal lines = task complete
box with line across middle = task cancelled
box with arrow in it = task migrated (moved or changed)
exclamation point next to a box = task priority
circle = event
clock = appointment
heart = special

Now, time to get creative with some doodled list making. Fun!

Home Goals List

I have so many things I want to do around my home. The list grows with each passing year. Until now, that list has all been in my head for the most part. Now it has a place to live and feel organized. LOVE! I simply doodled a house, including boxes for each of the spaces in our home. From there, I listed goals for each space, using my to-do coding seen in my Key.

Gratitude List

When I'm looking for a little sunshine on those cloudy days (and the sunny ones, actually), I like to think of things I'm grateful for. This gives me a space to capture those happy thoughts. I drew a circle in the center of the page, which I colored using colored pencils. The sun rays are made from various strips of gold washi tape. Skinny tape works well, leaving you more room to write.

Habit Tracker + Spending

Not as fun, but still important. Many use bullet journals in this way nearly exclusively. It's a great way to track days, weeks, months, habits, spending, goals, etc.

This one took a bit more work to sketch out, but some journals come with lines and boxes that would make it easier. I drew mine. Not perfect, but that's okay. It doesn't have to be. If you find yourself without a ruler at 3:00 AM, washi tape works in a pinch. ;)

My journal grows by the day. It's SO MUCH FUN! I'll be sure to bring it to my next planner class so you can have a closer look, take pics, ask questions, etc. Speaking of the class...

Forget the hammer, it's PLANNER time! (Upcoming planner class in Lehi, Utah!)

I can't begin to describe how wonderful it was to teach at Paper Crush this month. Those who attended the class came strangers and left friends. Many asked if we could do it again. Twist my arm. ;) Of course!

A Date to Create Planner Class
Where: Paper Crush in Lehi, Utah
Date: Friday, March 24
Time: 7-9 PM
Sign Up: Visit the Paper Crush website to sign up.
Open to all, whether you took the first class or not. I'll make sure everyone is up to speed and ready to play. :) Space is limited.

I sure hope you can join us. A good time will be had by all. I know that's a bold prediction, but it's hard to not have fun when visiting one of Utah's cutest stores (seriously!), enjoying discounted shopping, playing with paper, meeting new friends, and devouring tasty snacks.

DIY Planner/Journal Inserts Made with We R Memory Keepers Tools

One technique we'll cover in class is how to make your own planner and journal inserts using an awesome tool by We R Memory Keepers--the Tab Punch Board. In the meantime, here's a sneak peek of a brand new We R product, The Planner Punch, which is out in May.

It punches holes to fit MANY different planner types and sizes. So great! The We R Memory Keepers Tab Punch Board will be used in class so you can get a better feel for customizing options. It's a great way to put patterned paper to use and make your planners and journals more unique to you.

I cut the page below from watercolor paper, punched it with both punches, and added watercolor paint to create a bullet journal Create List. I'll bring paint to my planner class so you can play, too. Or not. Totally your call on how you choose to customize! The idea with a Create List is to put projects to make on it. I'll fill in each of my painted bubbles with my many crafting goals. If seeing the 'after' interests you, keep an eye on my Instagram. I'll share it there soon.

Finally, if you're interested in seeing all of this in action, you can check out my Studio 5 segment today at 11. It's like a happy Show & Tell of bullet journaling. I hope it leaves you feeling inspired!

Cheers!

 

Halloween Happiness (latest TV segment, WitchFest, and scrapbooking)

All month, I've been in a witchy way. I'm sure this has everything to do with the fact that I blog for Gardner Village and right now is their popular WitchFest event. If you live in Utah and haven't had a chance to visit, you definitely need to give it a go. That atmosphere is magical and there is so much to do!

Photographing witches for a living?! Doesn't get much more fun than this!

Witch Crafts

With the witch in mind, I had fun creating witchy crafts for my October Studio 5 TV segment. (Watch segment here.)

This witch banner came together thanks to a triangle chipboard banner set I purchased from Target's one spot for $1. I simply turned the triangles upside down and witch hats were practically made.

We witch shoe a merry Christmas... errr, happy Halloween!

From pointed hats to striped stockings. If you know me, you know I LOVE bubblegum. So when I was thinking of ways to add a colorful stripe to this to this "sock," gumballs popped into my head.

Double BUBBLE toil and trouble!

This sentiment would work with a bubble bath gift as well. You know, in case you're seeking a sweets-free option. :)

For the shoes, I used this free download, created by Needful Things. Isn't it fun? You can save it as an image by right clicking and then size it up and down to fit the needs of your project before you print it.

Magazine Time

The Fall issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine is now available. In it, I shared this Halloween layout I made about last year's fun with my sweet Snow and little Dopey.

WitchFest at Gardner Village

In between all this crafting, we've had fun at Gardner Village this month. Thanks for joining us, Izzy and Ashley!

I hope you have the happiest of Halloweens, boo!

Cheers!

Three Trends in Paper Crafting, Part 2 (Watercolor)

In my last post, I shared three trends that I discussed on the TV show Studio 5 this month (watch segment here). Those trends: watercolor, foil, and plaid. Such a fun bunch of looks on the scene right now!

On the set of Studio 5, just after sharing this bunch of trendy fun on TV. Why I decided to hunch over in this odd fashion, I do not know. ;)

Well, I'm back to share a couple of projects I created from the watercolor trend. I used the Just Add Watercolor line from Julie Comstock of Cosmo Cricket to create a home decor item.

Like the name of this product line suggests, all i had to do was add watercolor to get this cool effect. The sheet was already die cut in this pretty way, with the resist areas (embossed areas that won't take color) and foil already added. I used a combination of watercolor crayons from Lulu's Boutique in Gardner Village and the awesome Swatch Sticks, also from Cosmo Cricket, to color my piece. (More on both products below.)

I love quick gift ideas, and this Just Add Watercolor Paper Cuts Deck is just the ticket! Buy a few inexpensive frames (thanks, IKEA), and you've got gifts for friends, Mom, coworkers, and more ready to rock! Here are the cuts that come in the set. You also get gold foil sheets and white cardstock sheets included, so you can take your pick on how you want to back your colored piece.

Image Credit: Cosmo Cricket

I also had fun playing with the Resist Pen from the Just Add Watercolor Cosmo Cricket line. It's a clear ink that, when dry, resists the watercolor, making it an excellent masking/resist option when you want a DIY look.

Image Credit: Cosmo Cricket

Here are a couple of tags I designed with this pen.

Watercolor Tools

I am slightly obsessed with watercolor mediums. I have several different paint options, including a traditional set of paints, watercolor pencils from Stampin' Up!, watercolor crayons from various companies, and now, Swatch Sticks from Cosmo Cricket. Here's a little about what I like about each of my options:

Traditional Watercolor Paint

Pros
* Easy to blend colors
* Light weight and thin case
* Many color options

Cons
* A bit fragile--you wouldn't want to drop them or you risk cracking the paint
* Bigger (not as travel friendly, but the case is thin [as mentioned above], which helps

 

Watercolor Crayons

Pros
* Easy to lift color directly from crayon using water brush (I like the Aqua Painters from Stampin' Up!)
* Can also color directly on paper and then blend
* Pretty portable

Cons
* Can also be fragile, but the ones shown here are pretty durable with their hard plastic case
* Not as easy to blend
* Can create harsh lines when used directly on paper (vs. pulling color from crayon using brush)

These particular crayons create a glittered finish, which is so pretty. I wish my camera would have picked it up better. I purchased these at Lulu's Boutique in Gardner Village.

These crayons were a gift from the Easter Bunny, so I tried them out in my sketch book. I wish the shimmer showed up here. It's so sparkly and pretty IRL.

Watercolor Pencils

Pros
* Can draw defined, fine lines and then blend
* Great for detail work
* Nice when practicing lettering or when you want smaller letters

Cons
* Fragile (but you can always sharpen the tips if they break)
* Not as easy to blend


Swatch Sticks

Pros
* Small and very travel friendly (can you tell I like to craft on the go?)
* Dual tips, so each stick has two colors in one
* Easy to store
* Saturated color
* Easy to pull color directly from tip using water brush
* Can be applied directly to project for coloring
* Blend beautifully

Cons
* Lids sometimes come off (store them in a sandwich bag when traveling)
* Some of the darker colors didn't blend as well when applied directly to paper, but lifting the color from the stick worked like a charm

These are just a few of my go-tos. I also love the various pigment powders, like the Pixie Paints from Cosmo Cricket (bottle shown above) and the Color Bursts from Ken Oliver. (You can watch my Studio 5 segment showing the Color Bursts here.) And Gelatos pigment sticks by Faber Castell are always a fun choice.

What is your favorite way to watercolor? I always love hearing of new ideas or approaches. The ones I've listed here are my current faves, but there are so many fantastic options available. I'm all for hearing how you create this soft look.

Cheers!

The Trendy Look of Laser Cuts (and my TV segment)

Have you seen the look of laser cuts that have come onto the crafting scene? This intricate design motif appears to be inspired by the look of doilies and die cuts, which have been popular for quite some time. Cut from various materials, including paper, fabric and wood, you can achieve a variety of textured looks using these cut cuties. 

Here are just a few of the projects I created for my latest Studio 5 segment, which is all about working with laser cuts. 

1. Laser Cut Wreath: I used the paper flowers to create a spring wreath, which would be nice for spring, a Mother's Day celebration, or a baby shower. 

Tip: One of the reasons laser cuts are cool is the way the light shines through them, so I purposefully selected a thin wreath base (embroidery hoop), which allows the bulk of the laser cut pieces to stand free so the light can pass through. 

2. Home Address Plate: The laser cut plaques offer great creative potential, from creating a menu frame to designing your own calendar. I decided to go with an outdoor piece--a home address plate. After all, this is the time of year that people are putting their energy outdoors to up their springtime curb appeal. 

Tip: With nothing more than a marker, you can tint wood cut pieces. I used an india ink marker (the Pitt Pen by Faber-Castell) to color the black elements on this plaque. For the green center, I watered down acrylic paint to create a colored stain--a great budget tip (colored stains can get expensive). 

3. Garden Pick: Decorative picks add personality to garden spaces, but they can also be quite expensive. This is a way to make your own--one that is completely customizable and charming. Get the kids in on the fun. My sweet Maggie Dawn painted this one. 

Tip: Use an outdoor sealant to help the wood withstand the elements, and looking at placing the pick in a pot that you hand water vs. a garden that will get regularly saturated by sprinklers. 

4. Coasters: The laser cut wood circles are just right for creating outdoor color in the form of coasters (or indoor). 

Tip: I sealed these with Mod Podge so they'll stand up to wet glasses. 

5. Luggage Tag: The travel-themed cuts are perfect for adding personality to your luggage. They're sturdy enough to hold up and eye-catching.

Tip: To include my info on the back, I simply used letter stickers, which I sealed using Mod Podge. 

6. Travel Album: I was instantly drawn to the travel-themed tags and knew they'd make an awesome mini album. 

Tip: Pair the travel-themed cuts with basic manilla shipping tags for an easy approach to documented travel memories. The wood adds rigidity and structure to the book, and a jump ring binds it all together. These would be so fun as family reunion favors. 

7. Handmade Gift Wrap: The laser-cut pieces make excellent stencils with their intricate cut-out designs, so I used one to dress up an ordinary canvas bag. Just use a dabbing motion and a sponge brush to apply acrylic paint. 

Tip: Not wanting the now painted laser-cut piece to go to waste, I added a wood piece to its center and turned it into a tag to go with the bag. 

8. DIY "Laser Cuts:" Create your own laser-cut look using punches or decorative-edge scissors and crepe paper. I just adore the look of Mexican party flags and this idea by Studio DIY is a terrific way to get them in bitty size. 

Tip: Simply fold the crepe paper accordion style, cut the bottom of the folded stack, and trim the sides to allow for tabs between each flag. 

As you can see, the laser look is pretty sweet, whether you use pre-made products or create your own "cuts." I hope you'll add a little la-la-laser to your spring and summer seasons. 

Cheers!
Megan