TRAVELLING NOTEBOOK: Smash my mailbox #3 - Ninni's notebook sneak peek

It has already been over two weeks since I sent Ninni's notebook on its way to Emilienne, but this project is too much fun not to blog about it! The front of Ninni's notebook says Journal, and so I used it that way. I rediscovered the fun of journalling, keeping a diary and just rambling away about your day, your feelings, etc. Writing is so much fun! Come and take a look.

In Ninni's notebook, I kept a journal for seven days straight. This was quite the challenge, just getting yourself to write every evening. But in sharing something about my day I cleared my head and felt more relaxed when I went to bed.

Next to my so-called diary, I filled some pages with lists, recipes and other things I just really like to write about. I also used a different colored fineliner each day, and I like to think the colors in the journal represent how I felt that day. Colors do that.

Yup, of course some doodling and handlettering went on in the notebook. And it wouldn't be a proper contribution with my name on it when I did not use washi (lots) and stickers (lots). Even though to me this notebook was more about writing than about artsyfartsy stuff, I still had a lot of fun just decorating some pages.

Like I mentioned in my previous Smash my mailbox post, this again triggered me to do something with (art) journalling for myself. Somehow I find it difficult to take the first step with that, maybe I work better with a certain assignment. When I open a blank notebook of my own the first page keeps looking at me very intimidating. Might be my perfectionism saying hi. Does anyone else experience this?

Well, just one last picture to drive Ninni crazy ;-) Who does not want to open this notebook and take a peek, right? I love how the pages wrinkle a little from the ink, paper crafts and glue. It gives the notebook character.

I wonder what my own notebook looks like right now, but I'm sure it's getting filled with happy things! Next up is Kaylah's notebook, hopefully it will arrive soon!

Love,
Anne

TRAVELLING NOTEBOOK: Smash my mailbox #2 - Sarah's notebook sneak peek

Our travelling notebook round robin is fully up to speed, and last week I sent off Sarah's notebook to the next in line: Emilienne. I can't wait to show you the pictures, but of course I am not going to spoil the surprise for Sarah. So today I am just posting a little sneak peek, you will have to wait for the rest of the pictures until some time early next year I am afraid.

So Sarah gave her notebook the theme "quotes", such a great idea. Every now and then when I stumble upon a beautiful quote, I add them to my Pinterest board. This board definitely came in handy for Sarah's notebook!

I used Sarah's notebook in an art journal kind of way, I didn't do a lot of 'real' journalling (as in keeping a written diary for some days, notice the quotation marks: I DO consider art journalling REAL journalling!) In total, I decorated eight pages. And I had sooo much fun! It made me realise I should start my own art journal some time soon (as well as start learning Spanish, make a stew every weekend, work out three times a week...could I please please please add a few more hours to every day? Especially the weekends, kthxbai).

I decided to show you one page of the notebook! One I think turned out pretty nice. In the notebook, I wrote down an alphabet of positivity: 26 words that give you a positive feeling. This wasn't as easy as it sounds, even in Dutch it is hard to come up with 26 words like that! First, I started writing down the words that came to mind, and of course there were some letters left I could not come up with something for. I used this AWESOME list! Awesome blog as well, by the way. Guys, we should seriously fill up those dictionaries when it comes to Q, X and Z.

Well, I hope Sarah's notebook travels safely to Emilienne in France, and ultimately back to Canada! I received Ninni's notebook a couple of days ago, and will start filling it soon. When you think about it, it's so much fun to send something beautiful around the world! I wish I could travel with it. Wow, that would be one heavy package.

Love,
Anne

TRAVELLING NOTEBOOK: Smash My Mailbox #1 - Off you go

Yay, I'm participating in such a fun project! My dear Finnish penpal Ninni (we have been writing for almost two years!) initiated the idea of a travelling notebook round robin. Me, her, and three other girls (Emilienne from France, Kaylah from the US and Sarah from Canada) will each be sending a notebook around to be filled with nice words and beautiful decorations. We called this round robin Smash My Mailbox, because some mailboxes are definitely going to be smashed with happy notebooks. Yesterday, I sent my own empty notebook on its way to Emilienne. Let's have a look at the first pages...

I bought a plain ruled notebook (A5) with sturdy kraft cardboard cover at HEMA (where else?!) and because I just love the look of kraft paper I decided not to 'overdo' the cover. I used cream colored rub-on stickers with a lace-like/vintage look and wrote the theme of my notebook in fake-calligraphy. 

I would like to send some positivity around the world, and so I asked the other participants to fill my notebook with happiness. Just to give them some inspiration, on the first page I wrote down a couple of questions (kind of like a mailtag), added my likes (long list!) and dislikes (very short list) when it comes to decorations and in case the notebook gets lost I wrote down my address. I used the inside of the cover to explain a little bit about my expectations and why I chose this theme. This was the first time I used my typewriter, and I loved it! 

Hopefully my notebook gets to Emilienne safe in a few days. When everything goes as planned, I should be getting my notebook back from Sarah sometime late December/early January. Fingers crossed it does not get lost in the postal system! I am sooo much looking forward to a beautifully decorated, fully written notebook, can't wait!

Love,

Anne