Documented Life Project - January 2014

Thought it about time I did a dedicated Documented Life Project (DLP) posting.

This project is about doing a bit of journaling in your yearly planner or in my case the little diary I received as a present. I use this diary mainly for crafty reminders as we have a family desk diary downstairs for all appointments.

You can add "tip-ins" extra fold out pages on the end of each page using washi tape. I am just adding them as I go along.

In the DLP each week you get a prompt and you can make of it what you wish. I have also filled in one of the beginning pages with bits and bobs. Guess how old I'll be in just over 2 weeks?



So far we have had 5 prompts:

1) Your Front Door - just love our original wooden front door.

2) Selfie and One little Word (your mantra for the year) I'm trying to be humble, but it is certainly not an easy task, could well take all year and more...












3) Add an envelope - I used a decorated one which I received in a swap last year. Had to cut it into 3 though.

4) Secret Message - paint over it leaving one key word. My word is "wondering" and I guess I'll leave you wondering what my message was.

5) Doodled Border - I added a border to this page, the picture is from the Radio Times (TV magazine here in the UK) from the radio section, there are always some cool pictures there. Something about this one grabbed me.



I seem to have acquired a few Sharpie pens on this journey too. This may come as a shock to some as I am not really a pen person, but am loving the metallic ones I got in Staples when I got the Washi tape at Christmas last.

So there we are then - my first month's worth of the DLP.

52 weeks - week #03 - part 1

Still not settled into a rhythm with all the challenges I am doing this year, but had a mind for a red background for this week's pages so went with that.







My fingers are still red from the Dylusions of last night! I popped a piece of scrap paper behind my journal so I could get a piece for the tip-in in my diary for the Documented Life Project (DLP) too.

The DLP seems to be a week ahead of the others and their prompt this week (4) was to write a secret message and paint over it leaving a key word, so that is exactly what I did. My diary is only 14cmx7cm so it is only diddy.











I took the theme of singing/rejoicing from Psalm 5 and added some lips for the smile prompt in the Journal 52 challenge. I love the thought that there is a song in our heart for Jesus.

The Craft Barn prompt isn't up until tomorrow so the blank page is awaiting that, and I suppose it will have to be lyrics this week considering. The Craft Barn put up 2 words each fortnight so I thought I could do one a week.


Another "red" project was to make some more tags for church, which I did yesterday too.

WOYWW #242 - Scrapping At Last!

Yay I have finally got around to doing some scrapping! Egged on by some new papers and the set of chipboard letters I got for an Advent gift.

I have finished 2 pages and have another 2 laid out ready for more inspiration.



Trying to see if I can use up all the letters. Managed JENGA, UPPING, BEACON and WALES so far!



I also got around the the recycling challenge on 12 months in view and made these Angels out of old Christmas cards.





I did my weekly journaling pages of Psalm 3, A special place (my garden with the birdsong), and a quote with "Smile" in it. I have the free printables from Psalm 5 pending inspiration for this week.

So come join in the blog hop fun known as WOYWW.

12 Months Catch Up & More

Been a bit behind with the 12 Months in View Challenge due to all the other challenges starting this month, but finally managed to get my Recycled Challenge done.

Love my little angels made out of old Christmas Cards.


For the Documented Life Project - Week 3 we had to "Add an Envelope" received in the post.

I have cut up an altered envelope I received in a swap last year.

Now have 4 pockets in the front of my diary. Two are flaps/tip-ins and the other is flat on a page so it makes 2 further pockets.




Also I have done my swap card on the theme of "Ribbons" for the UKPC swap this month. I have mounted the ATCs I received from last months Exchange too.

Yes I had a bit of a crafty day yesterday....what fun.

52 Weeks - Week #02

Just getting to grips with all my challenges for this year and have decided to try and incorporate as many as I can in my Journal for this year. It has 64 pages, so 63 double spreads, so happily one double spread a week for the 52 weeks, with 11 spare to play with.


Yearly Challenges are:- 52 Weeks of Psalms; Journal 52; The Craft Barn

I am loving the free printout cards from the Psalms challenge and have made a pocket and tag template out of acetate so I can make one easily each week, to put the concertina cards into.

The word prompt from Psalm 3 which I have based my page on is Peace.

I have stuck the shield from the printout on the back of my tag

The Journal 52 prompt is, "Somewhere, A Simple Place". Well my place is my garden where I can watch the birds and listen to their song.


My Craft Barn word is "Smile" and you can't but smile when you see and hear the birds. The quote is from Mother Teresa.

Q&L Challenge #01

Well The Craft Barn has got us off to a good start with their new challenge this year. They are giving us a couple of words each fortnight to make a piece using the words in either a Quote or Lyrics from a song.

The words this fortnight are "Up" and "Smile".

I couldn't resist the Lyrics for, "Up, up and Away" (in my beautiful balloon) which was first recorded by The 5th Dimension in 1967.


For Smile I have used a quote by Mother Teresa.

 I did my background following Neil's instructions on the Craft Barn Blog.

I am incorporating my pieces into my journal for 2014.

WOYWW #241 - What A Pretty Parcel

Oh look what landed on my desk this week, such a pretty parcel! I wonder what it can be?

Here's what's under the parcel, a host of projects on the go:-

1) my 2014 diary containing my documented life challenge pieces.


2) an art journal round robin book where I really ought to get my entry done soon!


3) the beginnings of my 52 weeks journal where I will do the psalms challenge alongside the journal 52 challenge, both weekly.


4) the penultimate month in my 12 months in view journal of the seasons, plus my January zine entry.

5) a little mini book made using the Tim Holtz Valentine mini book method. I did this with the first craft club round at my house - what fun we had.

6) A get well soon card for one guy who couldn't make the craft club as he is poorly.

7) A badge from Gilwell Park Scout Camp which I need to sew on my son's scout blanket as he was away last weekend for the Winter Camp - gosh it was cold.


So exactly what was in the parcel?


Well a friend, Anne, had reorganised her storage so she had some 12x12 boxes going spare so I bought 4 from her. Thanks Anne, the parcel really made me smile inside and out! Can't believe I have filled all 4 already!




Thanks to Julia for this weekly blog hop.
Join in WOYWW to see loads of craft spaces round the world.

Year Long Weekly Challenges #01

I have started a few year long journaling challenges - at last!

Obviously needed to get the right journal (with enough pages). Found just the thing in a local art shop. It is a 14.8cm x 21cm spiral bound, hard covered book with 64 drawing papers of 140gsm. Made in France by Clairefontaine. No idea if it is acid free though? It is bound on the long side (last years was similar sized but bound on the short side - needed a change).

Anyway got to work this morning and even got the Dylusions out and sprayed the pages in blues. They have gone a bit crinkly but have held out well as they were quite wet in the process.

First Challenge - 52 weeks of Psalms and Psalm 1. Great prompt, lots to think about, you get free printable cards which are great. I used a spare pocket I had printed last week and made up the cards like shown. I stuck them to the tag in the pocket.


Second Challenge - Journal 52 - Up, Up and Away. Another good prompt and photos showing the author's journal.

Looks like I am up and running now - phew!

WOYWW #240 - Snowdrops @ Craft Club

Back to craft club this evening. The theme was stamping, not my favourite, unless for backgrounds as a colourer-in person I am not.

I decided to take my 12 months Journal along with the snowdrop giveaway papers I had just printed.










I made up the pocket and tag back earlier and did the page at club. I did stamp a bit on it and it isn't really finished as yet but getting there. I also cut out the bigger snowdrops for my calendar page.

Also on my desk is the box I took with supplies with my raffle ticket. I won the little black tin box with a selection of brads and gems. Love it.



Finally the card for my Mum's birthday on Saturday. She loved my Timmy tag from last month, so I had to make her one.






Well that is me for this week, I think, head in the clouds somewhat!

Come join in the fun at Julia's for the weekly jaunt around the craft desks of the world, what we lovingly call WOYWW .

12 Months - January

Here's my January garden, all a bit sad now the leaves have finally gone. It was a very frosty morning when I took the photo as well.

I am loving my 12 months journal, it is quite colourful, here's an overview.

WOYWW #239 - Day Late (hangs head in shame)

Oh how could I forget WOYWW and right on the first day of the year too. Hope I'll be allowed to link up despite my tardiness. Here's my desk in quite a mess for me. My BIA is still out after my momentous binding of my first two books (only a year since I got it!!) Check out Tim's Tag book and Alpha Challenge book

I have made a replica of my December Timmy Tag for my Mother's birthday on 11th as she liked it so much.

I have started the Documented life project in a small diary I got for Christmas, not sure where I am going with this or the other 12 month projects I have signed up for.
The Documented Life Project, Journal 52, Psalm 52

But all in all I have made a mess! Happy New Year Everyone.