Learn Something New Every Day - New fonts and ways of printing

My creativity has been given an uplift since making a journal for the month of September, and each day brings something new. I am not planning, just seeing what the day brings, and yesterday I downloaded some new fonts for my computer as I was looking for something specific. Sometimes these small details can make a big difference.

This morning I was faced with a background page with typewriters. I knew some pages would be a challenge as I  prepared pages in advance so that I could add to them daily in a quick and easy way. But this background was serendipity because it reminded me of the new fonts I had downloaded and how I had changed the way I print small details!

Often I want to print a small amount of text or image and using the tray feed means I waste a lot of paper. So I have started to set my printer to rear feed when I want to print part of a page; I can cut off what I need and put the sheet back into the printer rather than seeing it as 'scrap'. It means I have to reset my printer to revert back to the tray feed but this simple task will save paper. That is always a good thing. 

I am also practicing imperfection, which is as well because day 5 page includes some smudges! I remind myself, this is not about being perfect, it's about recording memories and recalling lessons learnt. 

I wanted to add lots of journaling to the next page so the top opens and reveals extra space. Last month I focused on clearing paperwork and magazines and today I am celebrating success.  The clearing and organising is on going but I feel like I have climbed the mountain and it's lovely to make time for some creativity again.

A final page is to remind me of the lovely surprise video call I received from a friend. She just wanted to say hello and I truly 

value moments like that. Often it is the small things in a day that count and it made me think of the times I think about calling some one and don't. Another lesson learnt. 

5 in 5 - September 2020 - Learn Something New Every Day Journal

Welcome to '5 in 5' where on the 5th

of each month I post 5 photos that I have

taken in 5 minutes.

September is the start of a new academic year and in the past I used to enjoy marking this time by making a handmade journal. This was an annual class run online by Shimelle Laine and called 'Learn Something New Every Day'. Shimelle no longer runs this class, however, the idea remains and I decided to do it again using my own prompts and inspiration. 

 

First I made my journal. My favourite size for this type of project is A5, and I used white card to make it study, and sewed 3 signatures into a Kraft card cover. There are 36 pages in total, with space for a manifesto. I enjoyed a relaxed day covering the pages with background papers and designs. Often I do this as I go along so that the design connects with my journalling. But I want to fill pages quickly and easily have little excuse not to complete a page daily, so it will be interesting to see how some of these pages work. If necessary I can cover the page or add gesso, but I am hoping these random designs will add a challenge and spark ideas when the time comes. It will be an interesting way to work that I've not tried before.....

For the background pages I have used an eclectic collection including paper bags, scrapbook papers, my own printed papers, maps and pages from books and magazines. These types of books are often referred to as junk journals and I like the freedom and variety that these give me. Some pages will have pockets to hold journalling, tickets or photos and I look forward to finding out what the month will offer.

Here's the cover and some of the inside pages.....

 

 

The journal will hold memories, like the day I visited a friend. We'd sat in her garden chatting, and when I got home she messaged me.  It was out of context and I couldn't make a connection with what she was saying. However, I made sense of it thinking she had made a typo and this led to an interesting and very amusing conversation with us both confused and at cross purposes!  We had a good laugh once we discovered what had happened!  Lesson learnt!  Ask questions if it is not clear! 

 

Do let me know in the comments what you learn this month, or what projects you are taking on. 

 

And as always I in invite you to join in this monthly 5in5 photo challenge. It's very simple, and it offers a new way of looking through the camera lens and adding a spark of new ideas.

 

So here's how it works: 

1.  Choose a location.

2.  Have your camera ready.

3.  Set a mobile timer for 5 minutes.

4.  Take as many photos you can until the time is up.

5.  Choose 5 photos to download and share by using the link tool 

   

You have until the 25th of the month to add your photos and if you want to know more about 5in5 there are details here.

And one more thing - when you use the link tool, please click on your post title.  This will show the web address. Please right click, copy and paste this as your link.  This will take readers directly to your '5 in 5' blog page and be easier for them to find.