Sunday, October 28, 2007

3BT2

'member this?

it's the little art journally book thingie i made in july, inspired by clare grant's fantastic blog three beautiful things


well, i am rather proud to say that, unlike the other 9,000,047 times i have started journals or diaries, this time i have kept doing it for more than two weeks! in fact, me & the little 3BT book have just celebrated our three month anniversary! since said volume has gotten rather lumpy in that time (sadly, the book is not the only one of us who is fatter since july...but i digress...) instead of just replacing its ring yet again, i have elected to retire this baby and start a second volume!


since i have been really enjoying the "art journal" aspect of it, this time i have made a slightly bigger book. this one is 4" x 6". (volume one--which began life as a 7 gypsies swatch book--was 2 1/2" x 7") i used super-thick chipboard for the covers and scraps of basic grey & all my memories papers, a chipboard dragonfly (with a stamped one on top), basic grey & ki rub-ons, a stemma epoxy sticker, we-r-memorykeepers ribbon, and of course lots of lovely rhinestones! i was having so much fun that after i finished the back of the book went on to pre-decorate a few pages; the rest are blank and just cut from scraps of cardstock.

as to why this attempt at journal-keeping succeeded when all of my previous attempts did not, i'd have to say that having a specific and fairly narrow focus (in this case to merely think of three things i want to remember from each day) is--for me, at least--a very, very good idea! also, i have discovered that while i am capable of doing the 3BT part consistently, i am not equally "into" the art journalling every single day, and i've decided that's ok. some days i decorate a page, write my three, and i'm done. some days, i have more ideas so i keep decoratin'. some days i have NO ideas (or no time, or no energy) and i use one of the "pre-made" pages...or just write on a blank one and call it "good enough"!

my friend beshka said something a while ago that really stuck in my mind. she was beginning a new journal and feeling intimidated by the task, until she, and i quote "...gave myself permission to make something ugly..." and voila--the pressure was off, she started having fun, and her page reflected that. at the time, i didn't think too much about it, but a week or so later, when i was worrying over something i was about to start working on, her words came back to me, and WOW i have to say, i'm not sure why or how...but...that really works!!!

if you'd like to see another little project i cooked up recently, you could visit monkee maker's hilarious blog (what??! you don't read monkee maker? are you kidding me??! sheesh, you are missing a whoooooooole lotta fun, my friend!) anyway, today she has come out of her self-imposed blog exile (for the second time!) to write a really really nice post about some little cards i made for her. to answer a few potential questions in advance:

  1. it was gonna be *one* card...except there were too many fab pix for me to narrow it down
  2. i had more fun making those babies than it would be dignified to admit
  3. tastykakes are heavier (& thus more expensive to mail) than i would've imagined...but well worth it!
  4. i shoulda put some money on that "teatime" thing!!!

9 comments:

  1. What a lovely idea .... and in the case of your journally book thingie, a beautiful keep-sake.

    I too have trouble with keeping journals and although I love to buy them every year, come May .... ok, January 23rd .... I'm struggling to remember what has happened during the previous week to catch up.

    And thanks for the mention again - as well as the brilliant cards, natch - but Lauren, really, do you ever worry that your sense of humour may be a little .... odd? Hilarious?? 'nuff said.

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  2. Beautiful Journal lauren,
    You never cease to amaze me with your creativity, and your sense of humour!
    Your monkey cards are fab! Loved the witty captions! (I may have a job for you, writing my blog titles when I run out of ideas-which is going to be soon!)
    Loved the post about your hubby and the glitter, that is hysterical! and has happened here on more than one occasion too!

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  3. i LOVE your little art journally book thingie!!! what a wonderful keepsake, it looks just beautiful, you did a fantastic job! what a little treausre!!

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  4. Beautiful journal thingie Lauren - and fab Monkee cards, too!

    Shame you didn't put any money on MM's blogging... But hey, console yourself with the thought that you probably wouldn't have got very good odds - we all knew she'd crack! ;o)
    VCx

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  5. now THAT is a gorgeous little piece of work (oh... just like you!) Really and truly - i was so happy when I clicked and i got a larger view so i could see it just a little bit closer. Very cool way to document your days and what is beautiful- i love the whole idea. I particularly enjoyed the section you talked about your friend and her little moment about permission to create 'ugly'. This is such a key thing - we're all so into making pretty things and being perfect and sometimes its important to go ahead and make a little ugly - its truly part of the process of creating. i detest the ubiquitous use of the word journey (almost as much as awesome LOL) but in this case it seems to be the perfect word. the journey thru the ugly gets you to the beautiful and most creative parts of you :-)

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  6. Thanks for the update on your 3BT journal. It is a beautiful work of art! I love the second one too. You go, Girlfriend!

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  7. 3BT....the art journal is beautiful! And yes, at times U should just let go & make it ugly! The idea as I perceive is to remember the days gone by, some day....and sometimes u need some "Ugly" to make U appreciate the "Beautiful" more!

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  8. Wow! Your journals are totally inspirational TFS. PS I too, am fatter since July!

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  9. Wow! I love your 3BT art journal and how you've made the whole journal/diary thing work *for you.* Very inspiring.
    (coming to you via June & Tracy)

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