2013 Journal Challenge

Maybe because it is New Year's Eve and one of my resolutions is to be more intentional in my thoughts, but I have decided to begin a 2013 journal. Since I am KayteeJane and love vintage, I wanted to do my journal a bit different...by using an old book and drawing or doodling directly over the type - an altered journal if you will.

How many of you remember these Reader's Digest Condensed Books? - The ones with the pretty patterened covers.

Well currently I am in possession of several (35+) of these books. I lucked into them when a nice lady at my local library gave them to me because she knows that I enjoy doing crafts with recycled items.  I have made many things out of these books - including paper flowers, hearts & gift tags from the pages.

Now one (or more) of these pretty books will be turned into a journal to record my thoughts, hopes, prayers, favorite scriptures or whatever is on my mind. This will be my way to quiet myself at the end of the day and reflect upon my blessings. I hope to use the journal to record my thoughts in written or picture form.

Here is a page that I did using a black marker and some colored pencils. I wanted to remember this quote so I jotted it down in my book.

It wasn't difficult. It didn't take me a whole lot of time. I just did what was on my heart.

Here is another page - this one was even easier. I just stapled a piece of paper right to the page. This is one of my favorite scriptures and now it is part of my journal. Easy. Wouldn't this be a great way to cherish those sweet notes your young child writes to you? Or keep a movie stub from a date night you want to remember? Just staple what you want to keep right into the journal.

 

The beauty of using an old book is I won't have to do anything or buy anything to begin - which suits me perfectly. All I will need to do is purposefully take time each day to journal; I will record things I am thankful for, creative ideas, prayers, scriptures, quotes, memories - whatever I want - into the journal. And if I do that I am hoping that by the end of the year I will have a beautiful book that I can look through and cherish for years to come - a snapshot of what I was thinking about in 2013.

Now that you know what this involves I would like to invite you to journal along with me. Will you take the 2013 Journal Challenge? You can use any old book that you have on hand. Or...I would be happy to send you one of my many RDC books. If you are interested you can email me at kayteejane@hotmail.com. I will happily mail you one of the books. All you will need to do is send me the postage.

This isn't meant to be intimidating or to add another chore to our many. It is meant to be what you want it to be - and nothing more.

Are you game? I hope so! I promise to post pictures of my journal pages from time to time.

Here's wishing you a Happy New Year!
KayteeJane