Hi and welcome back to the Chrissie Murphy Designs Blog. I have some pics of a handmade journal I recently made to share with you today. Let’s check out all the Expressive and Practical bits…
The Expressive Bits
What inspired me to create this handmade journal?
A few years ago I came across “The Artist’s Way” by Julie Cameron. It’s a book about rediscovering yourself as an artist. Julie recommends doing something she calls “morning pages”.
Julie says that…
“The bedrock tool of a creative recovery is a daily practice called Morning Pages.”
Julie Cameron
She describes them as “three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning.”
I’ve been doing them for years. I believe in the power of journalling and I wanted to encourage others to consider journalling as a daily practice. So this handmade journal was made for a gift.
What techniques were used for the it?
I used some ink blending techniques to create a vintage look for the journal cover. And I applied some background stamps and inserted journal cards throughout to enhance the vintage theme. Kaisercraft make some beautiful 10inch x 10inch paper pads. I used some of their thicker, more interesting papers, as dividers throughout the journal as well.
What was I trying to express?
Crafting, drawing, writing and painting are great enablers of expression. They provide a tool for us to be able to reflect what’s inside us spiritually.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
Romans 8:28
I believe in Romans 8:28. It’s a verse that’s become foundational to my view of life. So when I say I believe in the power of journalling, it’s because I believe in its power to record the working together of things. It gives me a chance to see the bigger picture and learn how God is manifesting in my life. I encourage you to try it.
Does it mean anything in terms of my artistic work as a whole?
On social media earlier this year I shared about wanting to rely on the Spirit of God to be the enabler of my creative thinking and ability. I have found it’s so easy to purchase myself out of a problem instead of relying on the creativity God gives me to find another way.
Do you find it easy to say you’ll commit to something, but then struggle when it comes time to do it? I do. So choosing to give a handmade journal aligned with this desire to rely on the Holy Spirit and to create from what I have. Yes, I could have bought a nice journal for my friend, but then I wouldn’t have stretched myself creatively.
Stepping out into what we believe is risky! The unknown is scary, and failure is always threatening, but I read something about failure recently that I feel to share.
So never fear failure or try to avoid it. Embrace it. Rejoice in it. It’s a sign that you’ve gone far enough. Race car drivers know this in their bones. They even have a saying about it: “The one sure way to find out if you’re going fast enough is to crash.” Cooks know it too. Nearly everything they make has an “Oops, we’ve gone too far” point to it. And the only way they can learn where that point is, is to go past it.
From “How to get Ideas” by Jack Foster
I am seeking to grow and to see Him manifest abundance in my life, both artistically and physically. To do that, I need to continually step out and trust in His provision. All failure does it guide me closer to the point of knowing I’ve finally gotten there.
How can you take this idea and be more Expressive?
What about you? Are you stepping out into what you really believe? If you aren’t, how can you begin to do so this next week.
Take some time to begin recording things. Look at the bigger picture that’s unfolding around you. You will begin to see how God is manifesting in your life and then you can begin to intentionally work on those things.
A manifestation journal is a great way to do this. You can record what you are seeking to see manifest in your life, and then commit it to prayer. I encourage you, it’s always satisfying when you take a step towards expressing the real you.
If you’re new to this whole “expressive” business, consider signing up to my Expressive’s List below. Each month I send out journal prompts that are specifically designed to draw expression out of you. They can help with determining what you want to see manifest in your life. It’s a great place to begin.
The Practical Bits
What materials were used?
- The covers were made by trimming 8.5” x 11” chipboard and then stamping and staining with Ranger Distress Ink.
- I used trimmed A5 copy paper (not lined) by Jie Xiang throughout.
- Cinch Binding Wires by We R Memory Keepers were used to bind the journal.
- Journal Cards by Kaisercraft and BasicGrey were stained and inserted throughout.
- Kaisercraft Textured Papers and Cardstock were trimmed, stained and inserted throughout.
How big is the handmade journal?
The journal is roughly 5.25” x 5.75” or 13.3cm x 14.6cm.
Are the handmade journal’s for sale?
Yes. They are $40 each, plus postage. Just leave me a message with your order.
Want to be more Expressive?
Join my Expressive’s List to begin to learn ways you can start to express yourself creatively. There are no moulds or limits with the Lord, just possibilities and the promise of one day unearthing who you were created to be.
Expressive Subscribers receive an email each month that contains creative inspiration and ideas, links to helpful resources and a month’s worth of journal prompts to stimulate creative expression. These prompts are a great way of learning to express yourself when you’ve never really tried it before. Fill in your details below to sign up.
Until next time, listen to your heart and sharpen your coloured pencils. A masterpiece awaits.
Bless you my friend
Chrissie xx
