journal your gratitudes :: the album

Goodness...I just wasn't feeling the mojo with my journal. I adored my 2010 album so, so  much that I was having a hard time recreating something that I thought could even compare.


In real life, the green is not quite as "pukey" as it appears here although the cover is bright and cheerful for sure. I used a 5x7 Canvas Art Board cover from Zutter {which I also used on this mini album} first painting it light blue, then dabbing some paint off and coating it with lime green. After dabbing and swishing the paint brush around, I brushed some red paint at the edges and used a tissue to dab most of it off.

The turquoise numbers and wording are American Crafts rub-ons and I used my letter stamps to spell out gratitude, blessing and joy. You might notice that I wrapped Lemondrop baker's twine from The Twinery around my 2" binder ring and through the holes of my bookplate.

I decided to mix in a variety of page sizes and shapes to give my journal more interest, that was one feature of my 2010 album that I really enjoyed. So, as I was assembling my album to write this post, I actually ended up creating a few more pages!

Making Memories journal spot | Anna Griffin journal spot

Martha Stewart label | manila shipping tag and transparency from Hobby Lobby

Anna Griffin journal spot | menu planner from Michael's Dollar bin

Teresa Collins journal spot | studio g stamp

Colorbok {?} journal spot | ek success real estate punch

Avery labels | Anna Griffin journal spot and Hobby Lobby transparency

Hello label from WalMart | Cosmo Cricket journal spot

Colorbok {?} journal spots | time card from Office Depot

Stampin' Up scallop punch | Avery labels

Michael's Dollar bin | Fiskars punch

Teresa Collins journal spot | {?}

Teresa Collins journal spot | ek success Real Estate punch

Post-It Notes | journaling card

Colorbok journal spots | ek success Real Estate punch

Cosmo Cricket journal spot | Fiskars Threading Waters border punch

craft supply | Martha Stewart label

Top Note die cut | craft supply

label from Dollar Tree | back cover made by adhering two pieces of chipboard together

sweet little touches achieved by using baker's twine from The Twinery

I'm not sure how often I will write in my journal...not as often as daily but more often than weekly. And for the one-sided patterned papers, I might include a photo on the reverse side and just add journaling on top of that. I'll be sharing my pages throughout the year and how I've included bits of memorabilia and photos to tell the story of my 2011 gratitudes.

If you think you'd like to journal your gratitudes, but aren't into making a journal this involved, you could try to embellish a spiral bound index notebook, make a cover for a notepad or even use a composition book and pretty up the cover a bit.  You might want to do a digital album, much like Karen Grunberg's {she provides a free template for you}. Don't let the "pretty" stop you, after all, that's not what it's all about. It is about making ourselves more aware of the bounties in our life.

I would love it if you would share a link with me to your own Gratitude Journal so that I can be inspired by you! Don't forget that clicking on the photos brings them up in a new window in a larger size.

Herehere, and here are links to other posts referring to the Gratitude Journal.

NOTE  |  The new Gratitude Journal is now available in the shop!

10 comments

  1. i love your book as per usual :)

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  2. I just love your book and was totally inspired! I started mine last night, you can view it here. 2011 Gratitude Mini Album
    Thanks for the inspiration!

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  3. I found you from Whatever goes Wed. and I love this book. I love how you made it with different items, so that not everything coordinates. This is perfect to make to use up those bits and pieces I just cannot get rid of! I am going to have to make one!

    thanks for the inspiration!

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  4. Awesome Monika! Mines almost done. It's altogether and half of the journalling spots are in. Just need to stamp the other half, hopefully today

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  5. These are ALL so CUTE! Love them all and can see the time and work you put into them. I found you at a linky and YOU MUST link up to my Whassup linky! Im also your newest follower and if you like my blog, i would sooo love it if you would follow back :) Hope to see you!

    *ENTER LINKY PAR-TAY Here *

    xoxokara

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  6. ah I love this, so beautiful! http://ladybug-blessings.com/2010/12/30/drawing-pad/

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  7. I was so inspired by your 2010 Gratitude journal, I decided to make one of my own for 2011. Here is the posts for the Jan/Feb/March. Plan on completing the rest of the months over the next couple of days. Thanks for the inspiration

    http://moleskineadventures.blogspot.com/2010/12/2011-gratitudes-january-february-march.html

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  8. Monika,

    Thanks for your inspiration! Here is a link to my blog and my recent post of the start of my Gratitude Journal:

    http://dpljmassaro.blogspot.com/

    Thanks again! Happy New Year!

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  9. It's done and blogged!

    http://beccisscrapjournal.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-gratitude-journal.html

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