Documented Life

I have a new obsession.  I know, I know!  I flit from one to the other.  This time, I hope I'm sticking to it for the next year.  I've joined in with a group on Facebook called The Documented Life Project.  It is a free group, but you have to ask to be in it.  The idea came about when 5 artsy friends spent some time together and admired one of their journals.  It is a combination planner, journal and art journal.  They decided to make it into a project for everyone to participate in. Thus began the Documented Life Project.  Every Saturday the administrators post a challenge and you can choose to participate or not.

The amazing thing is to see how people interpret the challenge as well as all the helpful hints and advice that are given out.  When I joined the group I think there were approximately 355 people in it.  Now it is over 4,200 participants from all over the world.  They are all encouraging each other and giving support in their arty endeavors.

I have a thing for journals.  I buy them and then never complete them.  I have one that I have used to doodle a scripture or inspiring quote during my quiet time.  It has been an on-and-off again attempt.  I wrote in journals some when the girls were growing up.  Most of the time they were my prayers.

This project started on January 1st and is to continue throughout the year.  So far so good, I'm on track! Here are a few pictures of my journal.

We added tabs and fold-ins.  

The fold-in's are the pages where we can art journaling, they are added in using Washi tape.  

 Challenge #1 was to incorporate our front door into a page. My door doesn't photograph very well since it's in the shade.  It's too bad because it's beautiful.  I also fiddled with the photo on Photoshop making it look a little more like a sketch.  Then I actually sketched around it. 

Challenge #2 was to incorporate a selfie and our One Little Word (OLW), if we were doing that as well.  My OLW for 2014 is Choose/Choice.  I also fiddled with my photo again.

This is Challenge #3 - To use mail art.  People used junk mail and envelopes, all kinds of things.  

Can you see the mail on my page?

This is Challenge #4 where we were to write something and cover up most of it.  Well, I did it a little differently because I wanted all of the words to be visible. I loved the quote and was playing with some new art supplies. (I just realized that this is the same quote I used on Challenge 3).  I guess I really liked it a lot.  Geez!!

This was off of another participant's page.  It's called Mind-Mapping and it is a more visual way to make lists.  I kind of liked it.  Although this one wasn't quite right since some of the things were weekly and some were monthly.

I bought some fun watercolor paints with a gift card that my parents gave me for Christmas.  I have a lot to learn regarding painting, that's for sure!!

This cute lady was for Challenge 5 - Doodle a border.  

My border is really simple because I thought it looked better simple. I haven't put this into my book, yet.  I was also learning, via You Tube, how to paint backgrounds with stencils and acrylic paint.  There is so much fun stuff to learn!  

If you've always wanted to try art journaling, check out the Documented Life Project.  

"IT'S YOUR LIFE, DOCUMENT IT"

* I know I need to change my header since it's almost Valentine's and no longer Christmas.  One of these days!  ** Okay, updated with a Valentine header!!