Labor Day Sale Going On Now

Prepping My Junk Journal for Listing

I've been using junk journals for listing, like this one, since the very first time I participated in a 30 Lists challenge. It was September 2011, and that was 16 challenges ago. This will be my 17th round of listing which means that I will have 510 snapshots of who I was at those specific points in time, in list form.

My Right Now.
My Currently.
My Story.

Lucky me.

You, too, can capture your story and document in any way that works for you. On your phone with a list app. On Instagram. In a journal like mine. In a spiral notebook or even a sweet little notepad you picked up at the Target Dollar Spot. It all works. Don't let what you're going to use stop you from taking the step to registering. {affiliate link}

Through Noon EST on Wednesday, 8.29.2018 you can enter the giveaway to win one of two spots in the September class!

PREPPING MY JUNK JOURNAL FOR LISTING

I'm excited to share a few little sneaky peeks of how I've prepped some pages in my journal. Not everyone does, but I prep pages because even though I work from home, creating fun stuff that I ship all over the world, my days are not always my own. I'm like all the other working ladies out there trying to sneak in some "me time" where I can.

The journal I'm using is sold out, but there are still a few larger sized journals like it still available at I Love It All.

INSIDE MY JOURNAL

So the white card on the front comes embellished with the washi tape and floral flag shape already attached. I went a little further and added a kraft strip of paper I trimmed into a banner and added #30lists with my Sharpie. I then added some foam dots to the back of a 2018 die cut that was part of a kit I had in the shop.

Inside the pocket formed when I folded over the kraft bag, which serves as the cover to the mini book, I added the journaling card that is part of the download I designed {and you receive for free when registering for #30lists}, I added a little All About Me list. I also added a cardstock tab and wrote September.

Flip the page for Day One and I wrote September, again, on the back of the tab and used the ONE die cut from the free download I designed. My "the story" journaing card is one I designed and will be adding to shop inventory soon. Cute, right?

For Day 4, I pulled out my seldom used Crop-o-Dile and used an orphaned number sticker to make a pretty darn cute page marker. I've been a fan of pink and green since my high school days. Class of 82 - were were all preppy back then!

I used the "on this DAY" printable journaling card from the Happy Birthday set {more downloads in the shop here} as a place holder for my journaling on Day 5.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

Head over to my IG account to enter to win one of two spots in the September 30 Lists challenge. Entries close at Noon Wednesday, August 29, 2018.

Two Days' Work

I'm not going to lie, making Gratitude Journals takes time. Lots of time. But, it's a labor of love. Apart from being a bestseller, being pinned to Pinterest a bajillion times, and bringing joy to hundreds of customers, using a Gratitude Journal myself brings me joy.

This bin holds just a few of the 15 journals I made over the past two days and thankfully, some have already been shipped to their new homes.

Yesterday afternoon, just as I was getting ready to leave for school pick-up, I received an e-mail from a first time customer. Here's an excerpt:

I just received my gratitude journal today and absolutely love it. A friend of mine is going through some stuff and I think I will order one for her as well!! 

Wow, right?

Notes of any kind, but especially notes like this one, make every hour standing on my feet trimming, collating, stapling, stamping, punching, lettering, corner rounding and binding worth it. Because these journals are a handcrafted and handmade item, it's not an inexpensive purchase. It's a purchase  that you might even put in your cart and think about for a while. Maybe a long while. Waiting for a sales event, coupon code or maybe some birthday money to arrive. Yeah, I get that. I'm on a budget, too.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for choosing my handmade shop in which to spend your money. It really is very much appreciated as I know how many really awesome shops there are out there, in your local neighborhood as well as online. And it is always my hope that you all love your goodies as much as I did making them.

Please know this, I am grateful for each of you and for each and every sale.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

Have you entered the giveaway? I have two spots for the September 30 Days of Lists challenge over on my IG page, @iloveitallshop.

30 Days of Lists Class Giveaway

The Most Simple Things

September 30 Days of Lists + A Mixed Paper Journal

The September 30 Days of Lists challenge is just around the corner so I wanted to drop in to say that registration is still open and there's still time for you to join the fun. You'll love it! This is my 17th challenge and I learn a little bit more about myself every time I play along. You can read more about the challenge and register here*.

WHAT JOURNAL SHOULD I USE?

So, you've checked it all out and registered but now are wondering about what journal you should use. This mixed paper journal is the half letter size, 5.50" x 8.50", giving you plenty of room for the journal prompt, some embellishments and, of course, your list.

There's even a mini embellishment kit included:

And you have a chance to include optional kits, coordinated to go with your journal.

And if you think you'll need more little bits and baubles and crafty goodness, there's a whole Embellishment Kit section in the shop.

Did you know that when you register for 30 Lists that you also get a link to the free download I designed for all you September listers?

I WANT A SMALLER SIZE

Want a smaller size? This 4x6 journal might be just what you're looking for.

JUST LISTED - 2019 GRATITUDE JOURNALS

And I wanted to let all of you know that have messaged me and sent e-mails, the 2019 Gratitude Journals are in the shop, you can go take a peek here.

AFFILIATE LINK

* I am an affiliate of 30 Days of Lists and will earn a small fee if you register using my link. It will cost you nothing extra for doing so, but I will so appreciate your support.

Gratitude Journals | Chunky Paper Goodness

The 2019 Gratitude Journals are now in stock and ready to ship. Oh my gosh, they are chunky, full of paper goodness and just begging for you to keep turning page after page. I do believe that I have more stamped pages than I have ever included in any Gratitude Journal...and so many other pages, too. I kind of got on a roll and just couldn't stop myself.

2019 GRATITUDE JOURNAL

Here, let me show you most of the stamped pages.

And here's an up-close, detail shot.

And then there are the other fun pages. You can see that they're all different sizes, shapes, colors textures and thicknesses. They range from colored index cards, vintage book and hymnal pages, a folded kraft paper bags, colorful shipping tags, mini journaling cards, office paper ephemera and envelopes {I see now that I forgot to include the tall coin envelopes in this photo}.

And here's a close-up for you.

I use designer double-sided cardstock for the monthly tabbed divider pages. This year, the selection comes from Studio Calico, American Crafts, SEI,

MINI EMBELLISHMENT KIT

And there's even a mini embellishment kit included with each journal, in case you're someone who likes to decorate their pages. I do. And you can find more Kit Collections in the shop.

GRATITUDE JOURNAL PAGES

I thought that you may want to see more of the pages as they look inside the journal, they give you a  better idea of just how chunky this year's journal is. For me, the different papers have me looking forward to turning the page and beginning a new week of journaling.

This may take a while, so I'll see you in a few minutes after you've strolled through all the photos!

Today Is A Good Day For A Good Day

Free 30 Lists Download + Journals for Days

FREE 30 LISTS DOWNLOAD

The September 30 Days of Lists challenge is 17 days away, and when you register, you'll receive this free 30 Lists download {designed by moi} to download, print and use as many times as you like. There's even a discount coupon code to the shop!

Here's a post sharing a few pages showing how I used some of the freebies in my own journal, {I'm using this one - and there's only one left} but here's a similar journal just in the half letter size.

JOURNALS FOR DAYS

For all you long time readers who have hung around despite my sporadic blogging bouts, you know how much I love a mini book. Like love love. But if you're new here {hello new reader!} I thought I would give you a little tour of some of the mini books and journals I make and sell in my shop over here: I Love It All.

I'll link the journals below the photos to make it easier for you to find them quickly. It won't take you days, but you never know!

Journal

Smashbook Junk Journal

Junk Journal

 Crochet Heart Clip Journal

Half Letter Size Junk Journal

Mini  4x4 Instagram Journal

Purple Flowers Half Letter Size Book

Hummingbird Mixed Media Journal with Sewn Binding

Smashbook Listing Journal

Date Night Journal

So yeah, I do love a mixed paper journal, that's for sure! 

Visit The Shop 

Register for the September 30 Lists Challenge

by registering with my affiliate link, I earn a fee but it costs you nothing extra...thank you!

My Babies Are Growing Up

It had been a while since I actually printed some photos and did a little memory keeping project for our family, rather than just for the shop, so I decided to play with some pretty paper the other day. 

Here's what your page will look like when you receive your journal. 

And this is me debuting my photo and some embellishments. You can see that my final page had me putting my photo on a slight angle. You can find the Star Die Cuts and Rectangle Label Die Cuts like I used on my page design in the Embellishment Kit section here. 

The Joy We Feel