CRUSADE No. 26 ~ Scent of the Season

 

We've done scent before but that was June of 2007.  By now you probably have a host of new scents - those used in your home, on your self, and you need to document them.  I've been doing it for years and find it an incredible treasure to be able to revisit memories through past scents.  For instance, I love scented candles or incense in my studio.  The constant fragrance helps me capture and solidify thoughts I'm experiencing Right Now.   Taking a whiff of old favorites that I've put on a page can even trigger creativity as they remind me of a groove I was in when I first used them.  The challenge this month is to select a scent for the holiday season, use it all month long, and document it in your journal. 

 

The scents that help us recall memory don't always have to be a perfume or candle - it might be a bath gel or soap.  Do you find you change your scents from summer to winter?  Journal about that.  Do you have a favorite you never stray from?  Journal about that.  Breathe in, and think about what scents make you happy, or calm, or whatever.  Find a way to get that scent on your page, and write about it.  Don't forget to date it.  It's amazing how time can march on and we change our routine and it goes unnoticed, or worse, undocumented.  Here's a summer scent I will put on a page soon - there are only a few drops left in the bottle and it's time to put on my winter scent. 

If you don't have a new scent for the holiday or the winter you could make a page that is evidence from the summer.  THEN, go out and shop for a new scent, AND while you're at it pick up some sweet smelling things as gifts.  Candles are always a great gift.  One year my friend Judi gave me Frosted Cranberry candles and lotion, from Bath & Body Works.  I adore that scent and chipped the last of the candle into an envelope for my journal.  Luckily that candle is available again this year and I've stocked up.  Another year Lisa gifted me with the Elton John Fireside candle that made me wild.  It is only available now on ebay for a king's ransom so it's a good thing I poured some melted wax onto my journal pages.  Here are a few In-Progress pages that are Evidence of my scents, including my new fave Cedar incense from Pier 1:

 

 

When I re-stocked on Cool Water incense the formula must have changed, and now it's not available, so I was really glad I took the first few sticks from the pack and put them in my journal about 4 years ago.  I'm not a scent snob.  My fave candle this year is from Glade.  I can get it at Target and my grocery store!  Whatever works - it's the fragrance that matters.  Yes, that's a car freshener thing on my page.  I just discovered Black Ice.  LOVE IT in my van.  Their other offerings make me gag but Black Ice rocks.  The kids say it smells like Dad which is probably why I like it, *wink*. 

If you weren't around for Crusade No. 9 ~ What's that Smell you can revisit the prompt and the links that were shared. 

 

  

If you are treating yourself to a new scent, why not pick out some new sounds too?  Songs help build a gateway to memory almost as strongly as scent.  Last year I picked up the Sarah McLachlan Christmas cd.  Putting it on the player this week made me remember so much from last year.  Maybe you need to treat yourself to a HIM cd!  Trick yourself into capturing memories, and make pages about it now.

  

CRUSADE NO. 26 ~ Scent of the Season DUE JANUARY 1ST 

Pick a scent, make a journal page, blog about it, then come here and leave a comment.  I'll post you to the link list, newest will be at the top.  (Past crusades are archived into alphabetical order by first name.)  You are welcome to join in on any crusade at any time, and anyone can play.  Don't forget to leave your enthusiastic comments when visiting the links, even if you aren't playing along.  Don't have a blog?  Get yourself a free flickr account and post your photos there. 

Have a great month as you prepare for whatever holiday you celebrate.  Breathe in, and enjoy the fragrance the season brings.

EDIT:  Archived links have been moved from sidebar to here.

CRUSADE NO. 26

• Alberta
  
• Becci Renfro (C25)
  
• Belinda Schneider
  
• Bre
  
• Carlene Federer
  
• Cath Sheard (C25)
  
• Christy Sobolewski
  
• Elizabeth Bunsen
  
• Hedwig
  
• JeriAnn
  
• Julie Prichard
  
• Julie Thornton
  
• Julie Thornton (C24)
  
• Julie Thornton (C25)
  
• Kathryn Antyr
  
• Lay Hoon
  
• Lee
  
• Lydia Fiedler (C25)
  
• Megan Warren
  
• Melissa Sabin
  
• Melissa Sabin (more)
  
• Michelle Ward
  
• Pam Carriker
  
• Paula Long
  
• Stephanie Hilvitz

Comments

[JeriAnn]

An intriguing idea, Michelle! One of my grandmothers is forever linked to the scent of Chanel No. 5 in my memory. However, may I change this up a little? I am extremely allergic to perfume (Grandma made me sneeze!) but I have no problem with herbs or food aromas. Would that work?

[michelleward]

JeriAnn - of course! Any aroma - pine, wood-burning stove, saltwater, cinnamon bread, pesto.....anything goes!

[lorraine]

interesting challenge..I cant have candles as my husband suffers from asthma. But incense and patchouli oil always remind me of my days in my afghan!! should have fun doing this page..thanks for the prompt!!

[Barb (aka Craft Junkie)]

Both of my parents have been gone for years but anytime I smell yeast rolls, it makes me think of home at the holidays. Ahhhh, that sweet scent of home.
I've not done any of the Crusades but this one tugs at my heart strings.
Peace & Love,
~Barb~

[Pam Carriker]

My grandma used Rose Milk lotion, and to this day anytime I or my sister smells something similar, we are transported back to little girldom, sitting at grandma's dressing table, playing with her makeup and perfume.
Looking forward to the challenge!
BTW, I just got done writing an article for Somerset Apprentice about a piece they are featuring that uses one of your adorable birdie stamps:-) It's due out March '09
xoxo
Pam

[Kathryn-collagediva]

Ahhh the power of scent. One of my favorite books is Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins. I was given that same Sarah MacLachlen Christmas CD last year for Christmas from a colleague - I love singing along to it in the car. I belt it out like I'm on stage. Hahaha.

This is a fabulous task to heighten our awareness to smells and scents and to cast one for this season. You rock!

[inge]

I'm not fond of perfume... mostly people use to much and I get overwhelmed by it and get headaches.... I only like a subtle hint of perfume...

But I am addicted to some smells ... which ones ? I think you should read my blog when I post about it...:)
I never recorded anything about smells and your new crusade is a real challenge !

till later
Inge

[Bre]

Ohhhh.... I love this challenge. I've always responded to scents so much that I thought I was a bit of wacko LOL. They totally bring me back to a memory and I have many to choose from - it all depends on my mood. I also have some reed diffuser sticks in my classroom that are really calming to me. My students will say - oh oh, she's sniffing her sticks again !

......and my hubby just put in a new car freshener caled leather that we almost mutineed him for ....smelled like some Stetson cologne from Avon but 10 times worse. We'll have to try and find Black Ice for him.

But of course it takes YOU to inspire me to document my scent memories ...I would never have thought about that ! Thank you again for the inspiration - this will be a fun one!

Bre

[Becci Renfro]

I went ahead and posted my Gesso experiments for C#25...I'm behind a bit but hey, what the heck!

Have a great hair day! Becci

[Becci Renfro]

Aw Geeze, I commented in the wrong crusade... :-)

[Julie Prichard]

Feliz Navidad Muchacha ;)

http://lostluggage.typepad.com/the_land_of_lost_luggage/2008/12/scent-of-the-season-gpp-crusade-26.html

[Megan Warren]

Roses - just the first of many scents.

[Lay Hoon]

Ya , I like scent when I'm in bad mood.
Thanks for this challenge, i capture this wonderful memory in my Journal page.

http://mescrap.blogspot.com/2008/12/crusade-26-scent-of-season.html

[carlene]

Fun challenge! I was already working on the scent, but b/c of the Challenge thought to save a little bit of it for myself to remember Holiday '08...thanx for the nudge to remember all these little things that make our days "ours" and special! Happy Holidays to U & URs Michelle! xoxo & happytrails! Carlene

[Melissa]

I can't resist the smell of pine in the house during the holidays. Love love love "Fir" by Thymes diffuser. I applied it to this sketch of some pines in my yard after a softly fallen snow.

[Pam Carriker]

Hey Michelle, I finally got my post done! So fun to participate in your challenges. Somerset must love your images too, as I just got a pdf back on my 'Somerset Art Journal' article and one of the pages they are using has one of your stamps on it! This one will be coming out Jan '09. Thank you so much for all of the inspiration you provide through the challenges, your blog, and your lovely stamps! You are awesome!
xoxo
Pam

[Paula Valo]

Michelle, please don't faint...but this is 2 in a row for me! I reallly, really enjoyed this. Got the juices flowing...

http://amothintoabutterfly.blogspot.com/2008/12/heaven-scent.html

PS: Ville says hi.

[Belinda]

here's my baroque'n roll scent
http://belindaschneider.wordpress.com/2008/12/14/baroquen-roll/
glad i made managed to play again this year. how often do you change your scent? i'm not good for the perfume industry :)

[Kathryn - Collage Diva]

Michelle,

The scent found me. Visit here to see: http://www.collagediva.com/collagediva/2008/12/holiday2008-scent.html

Merry Christmas!
{soul hugs} k

[julie thornton]

I'm a little behind Michelle so here is my entry on gesso but scent is just drying so will be back with photos of that tomorrow. Two in a row for me as well...wow!

[julie thornton]

Whoops

http://julie-justme.blogspot.com/2008/12/crusade-no-25.html

[julie thornton]

http://julie-justme.blogspot.com/2008/12/gpp-crusade-26.html

No 26...had fun with this too!

[Alberta]

Pumpkin spice is my scent of choice this Christmas!

http://amusingmuses2.blogspot.com

[Melissa Sabin]

Here is my second page...one to commemorate a trip to France this summer.

[Bre]

Yeah, I made it before the deadline this time !

Although I'm still a "New Crusader", I really enjoyed doing this one. I liked the gesso one too but it took a little more time. I have to admit I really haven't "art journalled" before. I found it so freeing !
So here's the link : http://chantillygrace.blogspot.com/2008/12/had-so-much-fun-doing-this-crusade-from.html

Also, on your suggestion, I picked up artist's cafe - thoroughly enoyed it and it was fun reading about your art experiences. Didn't realize that you were such a celebrity but with your talents I'm not surprised ! I guess it was serendipity that I stumbled on you blog.

Have a great Christmas,
Bre

[stephanie]

Merry Christmas Michelle!
Busy busy here, but, I unexpectadly ran across a bottle of perfume and thought...HEY! I'll do the challenge...
http://rodrigvitzstyle.typepad.com/rodrigvitz_style/2008/12/crusade-of-scent.html

[julie thornton]

I'm a few days late but just want to hope you had a great xmas Michelle and wish you a wonderful new year!

Take care.

Julie

[elizabeth bunsen]

YO girl love! - I am on and just in the nick of time - so love returning to the Crusade Homelands - and I love this one for sure - it has been a...
well a life...
Happy Holidays to you and yours...

http://www.elizabethbunsen.typepad.com

xox - eb.

[elizabeth bunsen]

YO girl love! - I am on and just in the nick of time - so love returning to the Crusade Homelands - and I love this one for sure - it has been a...
well a life...
Happy Holidays to you and yours...

http://elizabethbunsen.typepad.com/be_dream_play/2008/12/winter-smells-like-blue-chamomile.html

xox - eb.

[Cath]

Hi Michelle. I finally got a chance to do C25. I loved it, and think the postcards I made will make really useful backgrounds. Thanks for the inspiration. It's posted here http://cathsheard.wordpress.com/2008/12/29/running-kinda-late-gpp-challenge/

[Christy]

This is my first crusade participation. I've been following along since #18. Better late than never right? Here is my post on my blog documenting my efforts: http://averageamericangirl.com/blog/?p=1397
Happy Holidays!

[JeriAnn]

Hi, Michelle, I hope you had a good Christmas. Love your X and O post. I kept thinking of the sign language letters R and O. *Smacks forehead with heel of hand* Of course it was X and O. Sheesh!

Sorry to be last minute, but my Scents of the Season are awaiting at http://commutersjournal.blogspot.com.

Here's wishing you a very Happy New Year!

[hedwig]

Hi Michelle
on the last day of this crusade i made it.... here is my link http://belle2create.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/scents-and-fabric-wishesscents-and-fabric-wishes

And off course: BEST wishes for the year to come. Hugs,
Hedwig

[lee]

Just got in under the wire. Happy New Year

http://leekre.blogspot.com/2008/12/scent-of-woman-street-team-challenge-no.html

[julie thornton]

Just completed crusade 24 as well...I am on a roll now.

http://julie-justme.blogspot.com/2008/12/crusade-24.html

Oh and have a happy new year everyone!

[Kathleen]

Great crusade - my first one! I'm late but I did it :)
http://www.kathleengreen.com/blog/2009/01/crusade-26-scent-of-season.html
Thanks!