I saw this idea first on Elise Blaha’s blog and I fell in love immediately. Apparently, the first to start the awesome “Currents” movement is talented Tina Aszmus – kudos to her.
The idea of micro journaling is just perfect for someone who likes to record everyday life but feels overwhelmed about it [Me. Me. Me].
One of my favorite things is going over old journals and reliving the days I took the time to record.
One of my deepest regrets is getting rid of the journal I’ve had all through high school and through law school. I mostly wrote bad things in it. Bad experiences. I think most of it was filled with teen unrequited love (I believe that goes hand in hand with being a teenager).
At the time I got rid of it I thought it will be therapeutic to get rid of all the harsh memories and concentrate on all the happiness and loveliness I have in my life. But in retrospective, I do regret throwing it away, because it seems like I have thrown away parts of my life. Not to mention that some of my best writing was manifested there.
Anyhow, let bygones be bygones. [and it’s not like I can unearth it from the dumpster in Dublin]
This mini journal was so easy to make and I printed it on the back side of some OLD [even ancient] patterned papers. I got hooked on the idea of printing on patterned paper after I saw one of my workshop’s member, Mandy do that – amazingly! The only difference is that I printed mine on the back side of the pages and Mandy used double sided papers and printed her pages on the pattern.
Tools & Supply
- Word processing software (I’m not providing a printable, because it isn’t an original idea of mine)
- Old patterned paper
- Recycled cardboard
- Crop-a-dile
- Binding rings
- Chipboard letter stickers [mine are from Making Memories “5th Avenue” collection that I bought a while back]
How To
- Create a 4″ by 6″ page with your regular word processing software (make sure the page settings are set to the right size for easy printing) where you make a list of the categories you want to record
- Cut all your extra paper to 4″ by 6″ pieces (6 pieces out of each 12 by 12 sheet, unless you discard parts that have the company’s logo on it)
- Feed your cut paper through your printer, the same way you put a 4″ by 6″ photo paper in it to print photos.
- Cut 2 thicker 4″ by 6″ pieces for the cover. I used corrugated cardboard.
- Punch hols for the binding (or use any binding system that you love using).
- Bind all the pages together with binding rings or ribbon.
- Write. Write. Write. [Just put it on your desk, nightstand or purse and fill in a page whenever you have a minute – that’s all it takes].
Share
What do you think about the idea of micro journaling? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.
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Tags: creativity prompt, everyday, journal, mini-book, Self, yourself
Love, love, love this!!!! What a fabulous idea! I want to journal, I really do, but it seems like it takes huge chunks of time. This is so perfect. I want to make one right now!
Thanks! That’s exactly what I was feeling when I first saw Elise’s blog post 🙂
I really love your take, Avital! I tend to obsess over my wording when I journal (which is why I never stick with it!), and this is such a fantastic solution. On my list to make this week…
Exactly!
🙂
I’d love to see your take on it once you’ve made it…
Love the currents, did you see our take on it => http://scraprendezvous.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-theme-lists-listes.html
I totally understand what you’re saying about throwing your journals, I did that once with letters and will always regret it…
Thank you Avital ~
I can’t believe how I have missed that. Your take on it is fabulous (do you know how to be anything else but fabulous? I wonder).
this looks great!I created something similar http://www.lifebehindthepurpledoor.com/2010/05/handmade-christmas-mini-diaries.html – although I’ve now updated it to being a 4×6 size. I’m out of the habit of using it regularly, but write in it every now and again!
Love, love, love your take! I am also reluctant to start anything that I “must” do daily. However these are simple enough for me to duplicate and put everywhere, to spike my mood more often…
your post really hit home. I also threw one of my first sketchbook journals away as a therapeutic way of getting rid of bad memories. I was barely 20 years old. Now at age 59 and 32 books later I enjoy going through the books every once in a while. I wish I would have kept that first book.
I guess we must let bygones be bygones and refrain from repeating the same mistake 🙂
[…] Micro Journaling – Current Journal – Creativity Prompt […]
[…] these posts (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 )? Well, I got this idea from this Creativity Prompt Blog to make a micro-journal.I just stapled together a few pieces of paper and used the scrap fancy […]
[…] this cute ideas on everyday journaling.. but you can also do this once a week. I found the idea on Avital’s blog who got the idea from Elise, and Elise got it from Amy, and Amy got it from Tina.. hahaha.. […]
Love this idea — I’m going to make one too!