101 Journals Project: It's a Wrap!

98-101

These are the final 4 journals of my personal challenge "The 101 Journals Project". I started this back in October as a de-stash/no new supplies/use it or lose it thang. I completed it on New Years Day. 

The three orange journals are single signature, sort of travel themed, gender neutral, writing/drawing journals remaining from a set I created for my nephews and for my nieces boyfriends/husband. The pages consist of maps, ledger papers, grid papers, assorted art papers and sporadic pages from National Geographic magazines. The covers are my own personal photographs.

The Little Women journal was left for last because it presented the greatest challenge...attempting to conform to a decorative theme. I had been sitting on this Graphic 45 paper collection for several months having found it at Tuesday Morning and thinking I had to have it. I've only ever found Graphic 45 at TM once, before I even knew what it was. I remember sitting on that one for quite a while as well because I didn't know what to do with it. I've come to realize that I don't really like it. I find the colors to be too garish for my taste and I have a heck of a time trying to coordinate other papers with it.

Anyhoo, I decided to get out of my comfort zone with this one and make it conform to my aesthetic.  I've decided that January will be focused on decorating and ephemera. First task is to use the ephemera I've already made as well as create some new stuff.

After gifting 25 journals, this is what remains

The biggest take-away from this project is that I don't need anywhere near as much stuff as I thought I did. 

The only thing that I've come close to running out of is scrapbook paper. I like to use it for the signature covers because I can fold it up to make pockets...oh! and ledger paper. I'm almost out of ledger paper. I  love ledger paper.

A couple of weeks ago I went to Michaels because I needed glue and blades for my paper cutter. I perused the paper because I wanted to see if there was anything that captured my attention. There wasn't. I get a lot more satisfaction shopping at SCRAP, the creative re-use center and things I've received in swaps. 

I'm so glad that I did this! I think I've broken out of hoarding things that I love. There will always be more stuff and if something speaks to me I'll use it rather than save it for the "right project".

The right project is now.