And there’s nothing like springtime to inspire some creativity, motivation, a fresh start.

I made this page with some origami paper that I cut up, a page I ripped out of a catalog, and some lace/ribbon that I had saved from the pretty packaging on something had I ordered off Etsy a while ago… (actually, now that I’m thinking of it, I believe it was the packaging from a vintage type drawer/shelf I purchased from Ms.Ashley herself! Ha!)  I used a white pen to do my journaling because I felt like my usual black one would look too harsh… the quote says “I want to continue on the path of a life less ordinary – and bask in the brilliance of the moments – not the destination.” I wish I could remember where I read it. But I love it.

I was going for a coordinated “blue” theme with this page. I used a mish-mash of paint samples, vintage wall paper, a post card, a vintage catalog card (I think), and of course some of my favourite metallic striped washi tape.

So there you have it!  Happy Friday and don’t forget to check out Ashley’s pages here.

Want to check out previous pages?
Volumes 3 & 4 can be found here
Volumes 1 & 2 here

{These art journal pages were created based on the Art Journal All Year e-course from Red Velvet, found here.}

and this one’s pretty good too…

Well here we are again with my friend Ashley and I’s little art journaling journey.

I’m really enjoying the process of this. I’ve been trying to set aside my Sunday afternoons for some much needed creative me-time and, so far, I’ve found it so SO great.

.

This page was fun. I started with doodling on a page I ripped out of a favourite catalogue and wrote down a few of my favourite things, then added more to it as other things I love popped into my head throughout the week.

.

It may sound strange but I had been saving this cardboard tissue box specifically to use for art-journaling at some point (you’d be surprised how many collected papers/ephemera I’ve accumulated over the past couple years) so I finally dug it out! I added some of these great Japanese masking tape stickers, stapled on a random piece of ribbon and glued down some paper doilies.

So there you have it!  Happy Friday and don’t forget to check out Ashley’s pages here.

{These art journal pages were created based on the Art Journal All Year e-course from Red Velvet, found here.}

So, in addition to my daily photo project and (bi-)weekly art-journaling project,  yesterday I signed up to do a “30 Days of Lists” project… which – again – is basically what I already do anyway, this will just be – again – with special prompts… and with sharing (which – again – I’ve never been good at, until recently).

Should be fun/interesting!  It officially starts March 1st. Care to join?

(photo from here)

If I was going somewhere a little fancy for v-day I would definitely be wearing something like this little outfit I put together on Polyvore – featuring one of my favourite colour combinations; red and turquoise.

Are you joining in?

Watching:  PVR’d episodes of Pan Am, Anthony Bourdain/No Reservations, Museum Secrets, Fashion Television, and Wonders of the Solar System (it hurts my brain, that show – some things just boggle the mind)

Drinking:  chai tea, gin and tonics, Cherry Hill coffee, ice cold water, red wine

Feeling:  sleepy, anxious, happy, and the occasional heartburn

Reading:  The Girls, by Lori Lansens (so good)

Listening:  Cat Power, Arcade Fire and, oddly, this song that randomly got stuck in my head

Eating:  spinach salads, turkey soup (defrosted from last November’s American Thanksgiving dinner leftovers), nutella on toast, apples with peanut butter

Wearing:  my favourite winter accessory – extra fluffy earmuffs (Brian calls them my Princess Leia earmuffs)

Writing:  in my daily journal, every night

Planning:  my next tattoo, some new jewellery for my shop, a weekend getaway

My super cool/creative/stylish/smart friend Ashley and I are both pretty obsessed with art-journaling so we recently decided to take this Red Velvet art journal class together. What is art-journaling, you ask? (Aside from the fact that apparently it’s not a real word, according to spell-check.) Well, I think it’s probably different for everyone but for me it’s basically a combination of “real” scrap-booking*, collage, painting, doodling and writing/journaling.

* “real” scrap-booking; as in collected scraps of paper, images, ephemera, the occasional photo, etc. – taped/glued/stapled to a page. Not the newfangled, fancy-schmancy stuff you see at Michael’s.

Since it will take us the rest of the year to complete the whole course (it’s 52 art-journal pages) we thought it might be fun to share our pages/progress every couple of weeks, via our blogs, to try and encourage/inspire each other (and maybe you too). Make sure you go check out Ashley‘s pages too!

Anyhoot, without further ado…

Volume 1

Volume 2

(Since my pages can sometimes be pretty personal, I may occasionally blur/remove some of the extra-private journaling bits.)

I’m feeling a bit rusty at this, with the first few sessions, but once I start getting into it I’m sure I’ll be more confident with the creativity of my pages. (It’s really all just about the process anyway.)

If you’re taking the class too, let us know! We’d love to see what you are creating.

Oh, and please excuse the dark/grainy pictures – I used my iPhone camera late last night. Next time I’ll use my proper camera!

I’ve tried daily photo challenges before (failed 365 Project, anyone?)  but I’m extra fond of this one because it actually has prompts – so I’m not scrambling to find just anything to take a picture of – I actually have to think about it.

Two weeks in now and so far so good.
(As you can see, I’ve taken way more than 15 photos – look at me go! Ha!)

Spring is all about the transition from the deep shades of fall, to the bright and bold hues that reappear each summer – so I’m thrilled to see lots of bright blues/greens and pinks/corals… not to mention a bit of sparkle here and there, of course.

Here are a few of my favourite new pieces…

Semi-precious stones… sterling silver, rose gold… handcrafted details… yesss… Take a peek!