CRUSADE No. 16 ~ Journal Your Blog

I don't do New Year's Resolutions.  It's just one more thing that can make me feel like a failure.  Instead, I choose to reflect on the last year at everything I've done, especially as an artist.  I want to chronicle and document things I made, thoughts I had, ideas that were born, and all I accomplished.  EVIDENCE.  Evidence that I existed in 2007.  It's very empowering to look back over a whole year and realize everything you've done.  It motivates you to keep moving forward in the next year. 

I'm sure you feel like I do - we love blogs.  But do you ever feel like your effort to make posts online results in less work in your real journal sitting dusty under a pile of stuff on your work table?  What?  You don't have a visual journal?  *Puts hands over ears*  I don't want to hear that.  If that's the case, use this Crusade to start one!  If you have been a good artist and have a journal, but you have been lacking in making pages, take this month to print out some of your favorite blog entries and paste them in your journal.  You've already done the work.....give yourself some credit and replicate a blog post on a real page.  I often wonder, especially when blogs go down for maintenance, if they will evaporate into the ether.  How sad would that be? 

I love to make Evidence pages in my journal.  You know what I'm talking about - documenting a process of an art piece, or simply attaching remnants from a memorable day onto your page.  Why not make Evidence pages about your blog?  Easy! 

 

This month show us one blog post (or more) that has been transformed onto a page in your visual journal.  If you're new to making journal pages this is an easy way to jump start a new habit.  Print your photos and text, and maybe even a favorite comment, then paste in your journal.  You don't have to do anything else.....but I'll bet you'll want to paint the page and add extra stuff, and maybe even handwrite a note or two about why you made that post and how it made you feel to put it out there on your blog.  The post can be anything you choose.

Once you've made a page, scan or take a photo and share it on your blog with a link to here.  Leave a comment below with a link to your site and I'll add it to the list.  You are invited to make more than one entry in this Crusade. 

Crusade No. 16 ~ Journal Your Blog DUE DATE: February 1.

Want some labels for your page?  Take these.  (Click to get enlarged version)

Want a button for your post, take this:

Need to know more about the Street Team?  Click on the "What's a Street Team?" link, upper left.  Looking for the Guestbook?  Click on "Where in the World" link, same place.  That's it....now get to work!

EDIT:  A reminder that links are posted to the list on the left, with newest at the top for easy navigation to visit your fellow teamers.  Archived Crusades are revised to alphabetical.

 

Comments

[Christine]

Michelle, as usual, you rock! I'm just starting to blog...to make evidence of my existence. :-) I've always meant to start a visual journal, just have never gotten around to it. Putting the two together is such a great idea, and I believe that this will be the year that I will create more and have "evidence" of it. Thanks for the inspiration!

[jodi barone]

I love the concept of documenting, which is both evidence and organization...and I need both! Adore the labels! Authentic enough to remind me of when I was a defense attorney, gorgeous enough to be used in my life now! jodi barone

[Maj]

What a great idea! I started my Visual Journal last year - this challenge may just be the much needed kick-start for my blog - thank you!

[Carrie]

Brilliant! And I've been meaning to start a physical journal, now I have a time frame in which to start! It's really kidna funny too that we're going to journal our blogs, and then blog our journals of our blogs :)

[Cherie]

Michelle, thank you for this fabulous idea. I journal on 4 blogs and this is a fabulous way to have a visual of what I've been doing. My project for the new year!!!!

[Chris]

I wasn't sure whether to comment here, since I don't have a contribution yet, but I see others have commented, so I will. And if everyone was jumping off a cliff, would I do it too?!

How awesome is this crusade? HUH? I was so overwhelmed with it I almost forgot to work on it. And, putting comments in a little envelope on the side? Brilliant! I have a great idea for my comments. First, I have to take out all the bad words, and then I might make an...
oops, almost gave it away.

C

p.s. just kidding. all the words are GOOD.

[Fiona]

I love this theme, and not just because it was something I started doing in about November. I started to print out my blog in Word and just glued it into an altered book. When time and the mood allow I embellish it. I know you can Blog Slurp but it's more fun this way. Another great challenge!

[Hildi]

This crusade needs bit thinking... my blog is mainly, all most only, about my visual journal. And i have blogged just so short while. Perhaps I do other way round; show in my blog pages of my visual journals from old days, when I did not have blog?

Michelle, wow! you have learnt some finnish words! Or do you know already many?

[Zura]

Wow! Thanks for these awesome images for using in our journals. I love the idea of putting blog posts in our journals.

I'll post about this challenge in my blog.

Thanks!

[eb]

WOW - Michelle - you are SO cool - this is just what I was up to - ready to go - I'll be back...

xox - eb.

[Linda Cain]

What a wonderful, wonderful blog! Beautiful work. I WILL make a journal from my blog pages. It's a great idea, and you can get 2 spots of artistic work from one project!
Thanks...will definitely be back,

Linda Cain

[Chris]

I'm back. Yes, like a recurring nightmare.

And I am so excited about this crusade, that I thought: why not document the whole excruciating process? So... I just folded my first pages!!

I may have to lie down.

Chris

[susan w]

Thanks to the lovely and resourceful Michelle, I opened a Flickr account to post my journal-not-blog pages. Am I correct in posting the link in the URL box?
If not I'll stick it here as well. Yay for us

http://www.flickr.com/photos/64337073@N00/2166611240/in/set-72157603629511628/

[Chris]

Susan W, I don't have a flickr account, but I had to tell you your journal pages are really terrific! great feeling and texture.

[Belinda]

taadaa it's 3.30 am here, so do i get an extra cheer for staying up early to finish my crusade entry? :)
http://belindaschneider.wordpress.com/2008/01/05/gpp16-picasso-and-dora-maar/
happy new year michelle! looking forward to another year filled with fun crusades

[Any Smith]

I've found that I've been journaling less since I started blogging. This is a great opportunity to combine the two. Thanks again, Michelle for the creative challenge.

[eb]

just couldn't wait - I think I broke the rules and put my own spin on this but here it is...

http://www.elizabethbunsen.typepad.com

... next time I'll follow the rules and use some of those yummy tags...

thanks Michelle!

xox - eb.

[Colette]

Hello. I'd like to join in this one. :-) I'm wondering might if it be ok if I turned the pointing hand the other way (using photoshop)?

[Colette]

Hello everyone. I feel realy delighted to have found this exciting place to gather and create. I love it. Here's my Crusade 16 so far. http://earthdreamer.wordpress.com/2008/01/06/123/
I'm sure there'll be another post later if not sooner. Does that sound curious and curiouser?

[Heather]

well, well...i resolved to begin a visual journal for 2008 and here is this Crusade to help me along! you know what they say about great minds...well it must apply to creative minds too ~ and seeing the posts that have been done so far by Colette, Elizabeth, Belinda and Susan, I must say that we creative souls ROCK! can't wait to see more!
much love and creativity your way...heather

[stephanie]

Michelle!!! You are an amazing artist and source of inspiration my dear!!

As I say in my post, you appeared at just the moment I needed you...
http://rodrigvitzstyle.typepad.com/rodrigvitz_style/2008/01/journal-your-bl.html

thanks!!!

[Pam]

Ok, I'm going to post my first attempt before viewing the above entries, so I won't be swayed. I went digital as my first try...but it looks really handmade, and more messy than I tend to usually get with paint... it's a neat twist and fun to do. I haven't done as much with my Visual Journal as I wanted to... you hit it on the head Michelle... and I need the push to sit down and DO IT! I've gotten better about finding time to blog now... now I need to find time to journal... been doing more reading than doing... well here's the link to my site and entry:
http://dieverdog.blogspot.com/
find the yummy FREE fonts on DaFont.com... a most awesome site! They have loads of Goth fonts and even fonts with skulls and skeletons, Michelle!

[Monica Magness]

I done it... (that's Alabama slang for I DID IT). ;)

http://girl-gone-thread-wild.blogspot.com/2008/01/tick-tock-toil.html

This is by far my favorite CRUSADE to join in on. !!! Thanks Michelle for inspiring me to STOP! what I'm doing and JOURNAL. ~Monica

[eb]

OH YEAH!
passionate about this one
here's round two and thanks again
loved your article in the new Somerset
we used to make potato print lady bugs...

yes you do inspire - come see!

http://www.elizabethbunsen.typepad.com

xox - eb.

[Laura Bray]

Not to get off topic, but I'm briefly revisiting the Mail Art crusade in my blog today! I hope you don't mind! It was one of my favs!

http://katydiddys.blogspot.com/2008/01/letter-writing-party.html

[Julie Prichard]

If there is one thing I love as much as playing in my journal, it's writing on my blog! What a delight this challenge was!!

http://lostluggage.typepad.com/the_land_of_lost_luggage/2008/01/gpp-street-team.html

I'll be back for more! :)

[Pam]

Here's the handmade, cut, pasted and painted version... messier and harder than I thought it would be! I think I've come to rely on that un-do button on the computer more than I realized! When you put paint down...it's down! I have a few more ideas to try... I'm sure they will improve as I go along.
http://dieverdog.blogspot.com/2008/01/crusade-16-journal-your-blog.html
It is neat to meld the two ways of working...glad this forced me to give it a try!

[hollylovesart]

Fantastic!!! I've been thinking about something similar but now you've just made it very clear! A wonderful idea!! Happy New Year!

Holly
Los Angeles, CA

[Colette]

Hi. I've done some more work relating bask to the previous sharing. http://earthdreamer.wordpress.com/2008/01/10/130/

[Robin]

Man, I love art journaling and I love blogging and this crusade is so much fun! I had a green page already painted so I filled that one in first...but I also have all these red pieces I also printed off so it looks like my work isn't finished just yet! ;) Come see at http://alchemy-studio.blogspot.com/ . Thanks Michelle!

[Kathy]

Hey Michelle! I realize your challenge to us this month, is to put a post from your blog in your visual journal... but what if someone misunderstood (or forgot, or just wanted to be different, or had started their current blog posts before they read your challenge) and posted their visual journal on their blog?!?!? Would that count? Well, guess what? That's what I did... check it out when you can... I'll post some stuff from my blog posts to my visual journal and then post that on my blog before the end of the month! :D
xoxo

[Kathleen Chabot]

Great challenge, as usual, Michelle! I joined the online group "Blissfully Art Journalling" a few months ago, and have done all but one of the weekly challenges each week--working on that one! I also have a separate blog for posting the journal pages, but have not thought of journalling pics or ideas from my blog blog. I'll be joining the Crusade this month.

[Sondra Caserio]

I love this concept and plan to journal more of my blog entries!
http://sondisees.typepad.com/feelingarty/

[jodi barone]

Whew! I needed that. Thanks for a great prompt!

http://wildvines.blogspot.com/2008/01/journal-noun-and-verb.html
jodi

[Kathy McCreedy]

Hi Michelle, me again! Once again, I managed to "goof it up" and blogged about my visual journal where in I journaled about blogging! Please stop by to see... you just might be mentioned! This has really been a fun challenge... it's so great to see what others are doing w/their blogs and their visual journals! Thanks again for the "push"... xoxo K.

[susan w]

How do I add another set of pages? Here is the Flickr link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/64337073@N00/?saved=1

[paula]

Too much fun! I really enjoyed this challenge! Thank you for making me motivated. I hope you all stop by! http://forcryeye.blogspot.com/2008/01/crusade-no-16-street-team.html

[Becky New]

Doin' tha Dance.... ya ya ya.... :)

Got my GPP Crusade #16 posted! :D Have a look-see.....
http://beckynew.typepad.com

[Ariel Gill]

Michelle,
You just keep coming up with the best ideas. I am always encouraged to push myself to get on the Street. Thank you. Ariel

[jodi barone]

Michelle,

You always inspire me to do more than one! One more journal on blogging on journaling......

http://wildvines.blogspot.com/2008/01/reinvention.html

jodi

[Fiona]

My contribution to this crusade is funally up on my blog. Another great challenge!

[dlyn]

Very interesting idea, taking the ephemeral from the net and making it real...

[Lay hoon]

Dear Michelle,
Thanks for your idea to come out the Blog Journal.
I really love your masterpiece in Art Journals.
Here is mine
http://mescrap.blogspot.com/2008/01/record-of-my-life.html

[Laurie Blau-Marshall]

Oh, dear. I think I should be posting anonymously for this one. I may be the only person in this vast and varied community that is not into journalling. At least not in the way journalling is meant.

Thank you, though, for the challenge. It actually helped me get really complete about not journalling! The opposite of what you hoped for, I'm sorry.

This is the (slightly whiny) post I ended up with:

http://loudlife-laurieblaumarshall.blogspot.com/2008/01/art-crusade-16-journal-your-blog.html

I want to thank you for doing what you do here on this site. You've really opened up my world a little more. I have met such nice people through my participation. I'm looking forward to many more crusades (provided you don't kick me out for my journal views!).

Thanks,
Laurie

[Heather]

Well, I finally did it! After drooling over everyone elses' pages, ideas, etc. I threw aside my hesitation and slowly pulled a page together and did a post! Yeah for me! And thanks, Michelle, and all the other artists for the unspoken encouragement!
Hugs to all! Heather
http://paperfollies.typepad.com
http://paperfollies.etsy.com

[Ketutar]

Thank you for the invitation, but not this time... I went through my blog and got quite depressed, as all I do is talk, talk, talk... I don't want to journal THAT!
But I made a promise - not to blog BEFORE I have actually DONE something ;-) So next year I can journal about my blog and actually feel proud of it :-D
But I hope to join your street team next month :-)

[Penny Stuart]

Hey Michelle,
Here is my entry for January's Crusade. Thanks again for the challenge. Thanks for encouraging me to create again, to cry again, to laugh again! Your Crusade's ROCK!
http://pennyrabbitart.typepad.com/penny_rabbit_art/

[Heather Bradley]

How cool is this!!! I am learning so much from this Crusade...please go back and see my NEW photos that I managed to spiff up in Photoshop! Thanks for all of the learning involved in this creative endeavor!
Hugs,
Heather

[susan w]

At learning of this news, I had to add this page now - today January 22, 2008. Peace to Heath and his family.

(Michelle, is this the only way to do it? Am I missing a doorway onto the crusade posting?)

[sondra]

Here is the second set of journal pages that I did to journal my blog. I really like the idea of digging deeper in this manner.
Here are my pages:
http://sondisees.typepad.com/feelingarty/2008/01/journal-your--1.html