My Happy Book 2019.

Just wanted to share with you what I'm using the food packaging for -- not just for artist trading cards, but also to decorate a journal that my therapist doctor encouraged me to make -- one filled positively to the brim with goodness, kindness, and joy! She said to add in my doodles, scriptures because she knows my faith is important to me, and good memories. 

I purchased a Composition Notebook and began adding in dividing lines with skinny washi-tape (planner format) and decorating the sides plus adding days and dates, but when I went to write on the pages, the pen poked through the thin paper. So before adding in any more washi tape section lines or to the edges of the paper,  I cut down some single sheets of notebook paper and glued it onto the front and back of the pages. It helped a lot! This is what it looks like to washi-tape the edges of the pages. I think it will not only pretty up the pages, but help strengthen the edges as they get thumbed through everyday.  

So here's January's pages -- to enlarge the video, click on the little box in the bottom right hand corner of the toolbar on the video screen. 

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I've uploaded a new video for February and added it to a new playlist here: DJR: Positivity Journal 2019. Enjoy! 

Almost had a ink disaster. Hubby purchased two new ball point pens for me and unbeknownst to me, one developed a leak in the crock I'm using for a pencil holder and the ink traveled everywhere, all over my hands, up my arms and on the notebook cover every time I pulled something from the crock. I also learned that the ink wasn't permanent -- a drip of glue blurred some of the written words inside the notebook. Learned a good ball point permanent ink pen or fine-line marker should be used to write with. 

Happy to share some of what I've written in my notebook with you here. 

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My March journal video is happily uploaded to YouTube! Check it out! Happy Easter! 

I've got an idea for another journal, so I reviewed the lessons from Stephanie Ackerman's online doodle and Bible journaling classes last week and am beginning to read her book this week -- Faith Journaling for the Inspired Artist. The link to her book is up on the left hand side menu if you are interested. She's also featuring her doodle class again, if you are interested in that too. Just click on her button on the side menu and it will take you to her website where you can sign up.  Here's the new playlist for my Doodles -- a notebook full of doodled scriptures. Part One consists of one doodled verse from each of the first ten books of the Bible. 

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I'm learning to smile through April Showers -- see me grit my teeth together -- 🤪. I uploaded my newest video and YouTube slapped me with a music copyright infringement claim. I haven't taken the video down as I'm claiming a grandfather clause -- that music is on my Microsoft video editor under another name and has been there for two years. It was pre-installed on my computer when it was given to me as a Christmas gift in 2017. About time I learned to use it huh? I've made the proper feedback to both Microsoft and YouTube and I'm letting them duke it out, so before I'm told to take it down, if you want to view it, click here! Add a like too for good measure. Thanks! 

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Another copyright infringement again, for the month of June. Again, I made the proper feedback and told Microsoft I wish that they would find some music for me that won't ruffle YouTube's feathers. Found two ladies who LOVE Mary Engelbreit like I do and added their videos of a Mary Engelbreit journal that one of them made for the other on my YouTube playlist. Check out my list of videos if you want to see the journal over on my side bar! Someone asked me if I was enjoying making my positivity journal and I said YES! 

I've added cards from my sisters of my heart (girlfriends) and decorated them without obscuring their handwritten names, because I want to remember who gave me the cards. After I used a Christmas card from a girlfriend at church (Princess Sister), she got up in our Gratitude testimony time to tell everyone about my positivity journal -- I happened to have it with me because I wanted to show her, her card in my journal. smile! Well, that was a good lead-in, so I got up and told everyone the purpose for the journal. I got some very positive comments after the service and that made a happy memory for me! 

I also show in my video this month how fat my composition notebook is getting to be and it's not even to the middle of the one signature yet. 

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Just uploaded my second doodle video tonight after finishing up Joanne Sharpe's lettering book and her free tutorials -- see the link lists on the left side bar for links to tutorials and video playlists.  For the next ten doodles, I plan to read this book with contributing artist, Valerie Sjodin.  

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I uploaded July's section of my Happy Book and it has a small tutorial on how to make an envelope pocket at the very end. I even figured out how to add text with the video editor. 

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August 2019 - This month's section of my happy book is in honor of our son and in memory to my friend, Karen Lange. The words, saying, quotes, and scripture that I used in honor of our son is located here and at the end of the video is a small memorial for Karen. A homeschooling friend introduced us as she was a leader for our homeschool support group a few years prior to us joining the group. She continued teaching Spanish to homeschooled young people and at our local community college, was a rubber stamping buddy, got some of her cards published in Just Cards magazine, followed Documented Faith with me for a couple of years and we enjoyed swapping song bites via text with each other. It's her voice at the end of the video along with a photo of her this last Mother's day. 

I really learned a lot editing this video with Microsoft's Video Editor App. I had to figure out how to convert Karen's song from one format to another and then send it to my laptop so I could complete the video. I also learned that seconds count when compiling a video, so when one bit stops, another bit begins and I am trying to learn to do it as smoothly as possible. 

My therapist suggested this next month's theme, so I will be adding in representations of all my other friends! So be forewarned! grin!

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Have you heard about the FREE Online Bible Journaling Conference? I attended Be The Light-Bible Journal Conference. To Inspire and Encourage Christians to Grow in the Word Creatively on October 16-18, 2019. To learn more, click here.  

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Drum roll please! :) I finally finished up September's positivity journal section. Yay! It's to introduce you to my friends which are all represented by paper dolls. And tomorrow begins the Bible Journaling Conference at 10:00 AM CST. Stephanie Ackerman is going to be interviewed on the third day of the Conference. If you want to see her interview, better sign up tonight, just a' sayin'!

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Here's Stephanie explaining what five products she uses to Bible Journal with - water-colors, photos, pens, highlighters, and a white pigment pen. She said she gets overwhelmed with too many product choices and is basically a simple gal. 

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October has been a busy and stressful month for us. Our hot water heater died and yay! we have a new one as of today (11/16/2019). Our new-to-us, but used pretty red Jeep needs repairs, which we are going to have to save the money for because we've learned our lesson about the credit card trap (too easy to overspend), and we need new medical devices, and my husband's father passed away plus I really had to dig for cottage, home, and house memories quotes, sayings and scriptures, but today, I'm glad to say that I uploaded a video to YouTube and published the words to my gratitude blog. Whew! We survived and lived through another month with its ups and downs and God was the friend who took our hands,  stood by us and saw us supportively through. Thank you, Jesus! Now on to November! Oh, and by the way, even though I'm a little behind everyone else, I've been following Marsha Baker's 21 Day Sketch-note Challenge on YouTube. I took her workshop at the Bible Journaling Conference and thought it would help me organize my sermon note-taking. If you are interested, click here. 

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November arrived and went and here it is the middle of December, but I finally got November's section of the Positivity Journal completed and the video uploaded to YouTube. YAY! ✨  ✨  ✨

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I'm so proud of myself. I've struggled the last three months, October, November, and December, to get my journal chapters done  in a timely fashion,  but they are finally complete! For the WHOLE YEAR! Yay! 

My therapist wants me to continue with the Positivity Journal in 2020, so you will see a new post about it before long.  Click here for video. 
The words are still available over on my gratitude journal blog here. 

I've learned some new things along the way -- for one thing, new technology, like using an video editor app and video chat. That was fun! 😁 And I'm thinking of changing up the format of the journal a bit. I know there will be some more of my doodles, because I'm planning for that to go along with Marsha Baker's 365 Days Doodle Challenge. And I'm embarking on a new venture - sharing my doodled scripture sheets with my spiritual family. Thank you, Jesus! I'm praying that I can get a scanner up and working and figure out how to use that online cloud space. If Stephanie Ackerman can do it, so can I! 

Blessings to you all and a very HAPPY, POSITIVE NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL!

My 3rd 30-Day-Coloring Challenge

It's that time of the year again! Kathy Racoosin's 30-Day-Coloring Challenge.

 

#the dailymarker30day

July 5-Aug 5, 2016

 

Last Friday night, my husband and I went to hear a presentation by a photographer named Bruce Matthews. He has published 4 books in collaboration with the Kansas City Star books and is working on his next one. He mentioned during his speech about the use of stained glass windows in churches and hospitals. He said there is growing evidence that color can be a part of the healing process, so this morning I did some googling on the use of stained glass windows and color in healthcare. His reference was our Kansas City Children's Mercy Hospital. They have made use of stained glass windows throughout the hospital.

 

I remember asking our therapist, Dr. Grace Ketterman, who diagnosed our family with ADD fifteen years ago, about the use of color in a child's bedroom, if it was valid theory and she said yes, it's a proven fact that color can affect mood. One of the things she wanted us to do during the winter was to use at least 100 watt wide spectrum light bulbs in our home as the lights would imitate sunlight with its rainbow of colors  and would help alleviate the symptoms of SAD (seasonal affective disorder).

Hospital Design = https://www.bu.edu/articles/2024/impact-of-hospital-design-on-patient-recovery/

 

 DAY 1

Kathy's Coloring Book Card

My Coloring Project For Day 1:

I'm following Stephanie Ackerman's Documented Faith 2016 and back in May she sent us a doodled coloring page to do and guess who is just getting around to painting it? grin! I had firework smoke hangover today, so wasn't feeling my best and waited until the last minute to watercolor and upload Stephanie's doodled digi.

 

 

DAY 2

Kathy has a blog-hop with giveaway!

 

Mine:

Today I water-colored backgrounds. So I have a bunch in every color of the rainbow hanging to dry on one of those old-fashioned, wooden laundry racks.

 

 

DAY 3

Kathy -- Adding Color with Pencils

 

Me:

I got some rubber stamping done last night, but just as I was getting ready to color it in, my husband came to ask me to come cut his hair and trim his bushy beard. I'd been pestering him for several days to let me cut it, so, you all who are married understand that scenario, right? grin! Although, come to think of it, doesn't black and white colors count, Kathy?

 

 

DAYS 4-6:

Kathy's Day 4 -- Water-colored Postcards

 

ME: I'm filling in where I missed (I know, it's not the same as doing it during Kathy's 30 Day coloring challenge, but I'm determined to finish), so here's one day -- I colored this page in with markers.

 

 

Kathy's Day 5 -- Quick Post

 

ME: Here's the second day -- this is the last monthly divider I needed to finish for my Documented Faith-book. It's always amazing to me, how much a difference there is between my first day to second day. From using light colors on the background to the finished state with the dry colored pencils.

 

 

Kathy's Day 6 --  It's All About You

 

Me:

We attended a family reunion and a birthday party  down in the country this last weekend and I didn't have access to the internet there. Didn't sweat it as I knew I would color again once I returned home and had access to a scanner and the Wi-Fi.

 

DAY 7:

Kathy's Day 7 -- Blog Hop and Giveaway.

 

 

I had some oopsie pages from the previous stamping pages, so I cut out the flowers, watercolored them and enhanced them with dots and dashes like Kathy has done to some of her images. I left the top one plain so you can see how I enhanced them with a black fine-line sharpie and a white gel pen. Click on them to enlarge to see details.

 

DAY 8:

Kathy's -- Doodle Coloring

 

ME: I tried to emulate Kathy's Doodle flowers only in opposite colors as I still had some flowers left over from the oopsie pages that I fussy cut out and glued to a quarter page, then watercolored. Now I have a background I can use on a card sometime. Kinda reminds me somewhat of a bandana handkerchief. What do you think?

 

 

DAY 9:

Kathy's -- feather card

ME: This is a coloring page from a Gratitude Coloring Book that I found a couple of months ago at Half-Price Bookstore with a quote by Doris Day -- "Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty." I used the black fine-line marker and white paint pen to restore and add in the details.

DAY 10:

What? Kathy watercolored with coffee!

 

Me: Another Stephanie Ackerman coloring sheet. . .

 

 

DAY 11-13:

Kathy's -- Mermaid Altered Stamps

ME: Day 2 colored - front

 

Kathy's Blog Hop

ME: Day 2 colored - back

 

Kathy's Featured coloring projects

ME:

DAY 14:
Kathy's Zig Marker Shaker Card

ME: I appreciate not only the military personnel, but also our police officers, who stand in for me to serve and protect. . .

 

DAY 15:
Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner!

ME: My asthma is thankful for my husband today. He was able to come home from work and help clean up an ammonia mess that my elbow created when I pulled the dryer lint trap out to clean. PU!

Never Alone

Supplies:

Shepherd/Sheep = Highlander Celtic Stamp H-271

Harlequin Diamond Shadow Stamp = Hero Arts D3415 Single Harlequin

Sentiment = Inkadinkado 8825M

Last spring (13 May 2010), I fell in my backyard and broke a disc in my lower back between the 4th and 5th vertebra. It was after the last snow of the season, the ground was soggy from the melt-off and my doggie was being disobedient. Since I was not thrilled with her disobedience, envisioning a muddy dog, I went after her, stepped into a hole and fell flat on my face.

Nothing prepared me for the pain of a broken disc. I’ve had a child and labor pain is over shortly, but I suffered for several months until I could see a surgeon. Pain of that kind takes over one’s life because one is checking the clock constantly to see when one can take the next dose of painkiller that just took the edge off. Trying to find positions or chairs to sit in that didn’t hurt. Being able to sleep on one side that didn’t hurt. It takes away your ability to think. And yet, God was there with me the whole way.

I forgave my dog for her disobedience and am grateful for Jesus’ example of forgiveness and mercy.

He held my hand when I had to slide into the closed MRI tube (I’m very claustrophic) for 20 minutes with my knees and stomach touching the sides.

He was with me when I was diagnosed also with arthritis in my spine and neck as well as vertigo.

He was with me and helped me get through my fear of having pain shots in my spine twice. When I had to have our son by emergency c-section in 1986, I wouldn’t have the epidural, but insisted they put me totally out because of my fear of a needle in my back.

Never alone, I’ve been learning to live with restrictions, although sometimes I chaff under them. I’m not to garden (no bending over for any length of time) or lifting more than 5 pounds. I’m not to play miniature golf (it’s that back & forth swing that’s out) or sit for more than 20 minutes at a time. I can stand up for less than an hour. I cannot lean back to relax on a sofa anymore and am having to walk with a cane outside or on stairs because I’m still wobbly. Rather than feeling sorry for myself, God has showed me that there are things I can still do, like type and design cards and teach my Sunday School class. And I appreciate the things I can do more because I don’t take them for granted any longer. The Lord is my shepherd . . .

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