Monday, December 31, 2012

Holiday Art Journal: Resolutions

Ah New Year's Resolutions. I think of these as an opportunity to hone in on my goals, to focus on just a few things I really want to accomplish so that I will remember to pursue those goals throughout the year.
I suggest keeping your resolutions attainable and enjoyable. Losing 20 pounds sounds awful, but trying new dance classes or finding a great hiking route sound like fun, see?
If you make your resolutions the journey instead of the goal, you won't be disappointed. For instance, I WANT to be able to do handstand in the middle of room, but I won't be able to do it if I don't practice yoga. Instead of making handstand my resolution, yoga is my resolution--that way I'll set myself up for success!

What are your New Year's Eve resolutions?

♥ Shannon

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Holiday Art Journal: New Year's Eve Memories

What are your favorite New Year's Eve memories?
New Year's Eve comes with a lot of expectations--who will you kiss at midnight? What party to go to or outfit to wear? Resolutions, etc.
Reflect on your favorite New Year's Eve memories. What made the night special? Was it where you were? Who you were with? 
I believe that where you are when the ball drops will reflect how your year will go BUT this is a self-fulfilling prophecy! The night--and your year--is what you make of it. Surrounded by loved ones, or maybe taking time to yourself. At a party or just a quiet night? Filled with meaning or restful? It's up to you.

Where will you be at midnight on New Year's Eve?

♥ Shannon

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Holiday Art Journal: What Have You Learned?

Yesterday you wrote about what happened this year. Today, think about what you have learned. I mentioned that I took a lot of things for granted in 2012. When I saw this zodiac advertisement, it made me think of my Leo tendencies.
Write down one simple thing you can do in 2013 that you did not do (or did not do well) in 2012. Something simple, measurable, and impressionable.

I taped off my page with complimentary washi tape and am left with a very simple reminder to better myself.

♥ Shannon

Friday, December 28, 2012

Holiday Art Journal: Year in Review

What did you do in 2012?
Reflect on the past year and journal about the most memorable moments--good, bad, exciting, life changing, special, normal. 
I had some trouble remembering what I did this year and then the memories came flooding back. Blogs, Instagram, and Facebook help! You might be left with impressions, for example, I feel like 2012 was stressful for me.

But looking back, I did so many fun things. This is how I realized I took a lot of moments and opportunities for granted. I won't make the same mistake in 2013!

♥ Shannon

Thursday, December 27, 2012

A Peek at Christmas

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday! We spent Christmas with my mom and sisters, very relaxed with friends and boyfriends stopping by for visits in between board games, gift giving, delicious food, and merriment! 

♥ Shannon

Holiday Art Journal: What Made You Happy?

Today, think about the happiest moments of this holiday season. What was special?
Today, journal about your favorite moments this holiday season--Thanksgiving, parties, Hanukkah, Christmas, gift giving, gift receiving, decorating, movies, weather. So much to choose from!
You can use pictures of your favorite moments, or images from magazines or catalogs. I used a picture of one of my gifts from Matthew (eek!),  and gave it a border of washi tape. Then I wrote down my thoughts below.
What wonderful things happened to you this season?

♥ Shannon

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Holiday Art Journal: Take a Moment

Hello loves! I hope everyone has been enjoying their holidays, maybe taking some time off work. Today let yourself just journal for a bit. Anything that inspires you.
I played a bit with contrasting colors (bright salmon with dark turquoise) and writing over an image. The contrast is much more apparent on the actual page, but even if it was not, I didn't worry about how it looked.
I chose this image because I loved the design of the top and the bright colors of the page. I kept the tear line from where I ripped it out of the catalog. 

Just your thoughts--be free with it, be careless, have fun, and see if you discover something new!

♥ Shannon

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Holiday Art Journal: Christmas Day

Merry Christmas! What are you doing today?
Keep your journal simple today. Write down your favorite moments, include a polaroid snapshot, reflect for a moment, then get back to your family.
Merry Christmas!

♥ Shannon

Monday, December 24, 2012

Holiday Art Journal: Christmas Eve

I love the history of holidays.
Celebrating Christmas and winter holidays are especially fun because even today, they are like living in an Arthurian tale, and I'm a big nerdy lover of Arthurian tales. Candles, feasts, fire, dancing, music, singing--these current traditions all herald back to ancient celebrations.
I invite you to learn something new about Christmas, whether you celebrate it or not. If you do celebrate, maybe look up one of your favorite traditions. 
Today I began with a black and white chevron pattern on my page, as well as a pretty title. Christmas colors are a lovely compliment to black and white patterns. 
For my journal entry, I wrote what I had learned about Christmas customs. So fun and pretty!

What did you learn?

♥ Shannon

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Holiday Art Journal: Your Favorite Holiday

Think about your favorite holiday and what it represents for you. Write about it today. 
I chose simplicity, because that is truly all I want from holidays, and holidays are about celebrating our favorite things in life. To mirror the concept, I kept my page itself very simple. See if you can use images or quotes, or even just the design of your journal, to support your concept.
Feel free to add journal entries, recording your thoughts or memories. I love how these look when I write them on a separate piece of paper and tape them in.
What does your favorite holiday mean to you?

♥ Shannon

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Holiday Art Journal: Winter Clothes

Today is the first day of Winter! One thing I love about the changing of the seasons is how fashion changes with it. I always look forward to the cycle of fashion: warm coats and scarves, light cardigans, summer dresses, ankle boots, repeat. 
What are you looking forward to wearing this winter? Find some inspiration online, in a magazine or catalog, and include it in your art journal. You can write about what you love about winter fashion, something you've never tried, or pieces you want to add to your wardrobe.
Add doodles or embellishments to keep your page bright and exciting. I added a bit of washi tape just for fun. Maybe play with complimentary--or even contrasting--colors to the fashion you've included in your page.

Happy Winter!!

♥ Shannon

Friday, December 21, 2012

Holiday Art Journal: Winter Solstice

Of course we've all heard of the Mayan prediction of the apocalypse for today. I do not think the world will end today, but perhaps there will be an energy shift, and the world as we know it will end (if we want it to).
I completely believe that if you reach out to something, it will come closer to you. We can manifest anything we want just by focusing on it, putting it into the universe, and willing it to be. 
For today, think about what you want to manifest in the new world. I started out by drawing random empty shapes--circles, rounded edge rectangles, anything. In each shape, write or draw what you want to invite into your life.
With a marker, fill in the negative space behind the boxes. I did a haphazard cross-hatch, just sketching without worrying if the lines were even. You can add pops of color into the word boxes as well, maybe highlighting your favorites.

Tonight, if you're a pagan like me, have a glass of wine, offer a libation to the gods, and know that this is the darkest night of the year, and the days will begin to grow longer and longer as the light returns.*

Happy Solstice!

♥ Shannon

*Is this only for the Northern Hemisphere? Maybe even Northwestern. I'm still curious about what Christmas is like in Australia!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Holiday Art Journal: A Quote

Today I finished up my Christmas shopping and I was inspired by a quote from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas": "Maybe Christmas, thought the Grinch, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."
Find a quote, holiday related or not, that is inspired by what you did today. Try cutting out each word separately (also, even if you're very, very tired, don't forget to change the font to something you like!) and gluing them in--I love this look.
I glued my quote onto a pretty catalog image. I also found a silly mis-matched picture of the Grinch to add on. The nature of cutting out each word makes the page eclectic, so let the background and any related pictures also be eclectic!

♥ Shannon

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Holiday Art Journal: Ghost of Christmas Past

I love looking at pictures of previous holidays. They immediately bring back the magic of that day. Today, find your favorite pictures of a holiday in the past and journal about it.
To make my page interesting, I started with a paper collage of scraps. I made my title with stamps and stickers, and then added in some doodles. 

Bonus Entries: 
Christmas Present -- What are you doing for the holidays this year? What parties have you been to this season?
Christmas Future -- What do you look forward to in the future? Children of your own? Grandchildren? Traveling somewhere special?

 ♥ Shannon

Monday, December 17, 2012

Holiday Art Journal: What Are You Grateful For?

Today is another day for you to take a few moments for yourself and journal your thoughts. This can be very simple. Just write down what you've been feeling, what you did today, what you wish you did today, anything you like.
Add a little detail to your pages by doodling borders for your journal entries and pictures. Experiment here and see what kinds of designs you can come up with!
I'm on Day 10 of the 21 Day Challenge, where for 21 days the first thing I do in the morning is write down five things I'm grateful for. It starts my day off with feelings of gratitude, peace, and happiness.
For today, write down what you are grateful for. If it is difficult for you to come up with aspects in your life, perhaps now is a time to consider shifting your thoughts. Invite positivity into your life, starting with today! 
I loved the image I used as my background, so I wanted to keep my journaling to a minimum. I made a pop up page for my title...
...and my journal entry! I carried over the design elements from yesterday's entry. Easy and cute!

What are you grateful for?

 ♥ Shannon

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Holiday Art Journal: Fashion Inspiration

There are so many parties this season! And so many fun things to wear! Today, find some inspiration--your dream dress, the perfect shoes, the great accessories!
I really love the negative space in magazine and catalog pages.  It's the perfect space for journaling!
The littlest touches can make a big difference. Here, I balanced out the doodling on one page with little matching stars in the corner of the second page.
Write down what fashion trends you are loving, describe an outfit you'll be wearing this year, or find your absolute dream dress. Have fun with this!


Bonus points, actually wear your outfit to a party and include a picture here!!

♥ Shannon
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