One of the ways to focus on and contemplate my word of the year is through visually designing the word itself. If you aren’t interested in doing that, you can always look for a font on your computer and print out your word in the font, adding color, definitions, quotes, symbols etc.
Each year I dedicate a page to this in the journal used for everyday things, but you can also post it where you can see it each day.
Nurture your creative Spirit with me this June in my studio. We will venture into creative play to explore, expand and express our creative selves, making unique and beautiful art journals in an inspiring retreat-like setting.
Merriam-Webster defines intention as:
“a determination to act in a certain way, of Import, significance.”
How can I be intentional in how I choose to live my life?
One way is to make intentions based on a Word focus for the year.
My word SPIRIT is quite broad. Putting my intentions in a journal helps me integrate my word into my day to day life. The process of making an intentions page reminds me of what is important about my Word for this year, and in living life.
After I realized fear of failing was keeping me from hearing God clearly and taking positive action, I found the inspiration and motivation I needed. This post shares what I found. I am already stepping out with more confidence and intentional action.
Only a week into the new year and decade and I was feeling overwhelmed. Not good. Numerous ‘opportunities’ were coming my way in addition to the already scheduled commitments and events on my calendar. As I wondered what to do, and not do, confusion started swirling in my head. My thoughts were not linear so I decided to do a mind map. This post shows the process I went through and three easy steps to make your own mind map.
Whether you are researching your Word of the year or any word, these online research steps can help you grow in understanding of your word. In this post there is listed step-by-step process to explore the meaning of a word and find Scripture and quotes to add to the meaning. Examples of visually expressing words are also given.
Introducing four new Celtic stencils inspired by Celtic illuminated manuscripts. Spark your creativity with four videos and inspiring examples.See what you can do to make a bullet journal come alive with using stenciled letters that don’t look like stencils, and beautiful Spiral and tile patterns. Use a Gel Press to print shimmery papers with metallic Pan Pastels and acrylic paints.
Here is a walk through of my Word of the Year bullet journal set-up for 2020. I also compare it to 2019’s journal set-up. I hope you are inspired to set up your own journal. It’s so nice to set up the monthly calendar as I go in the journal. That way there aren’t any blank pages in between entries.
Leuchtturm or Moleskine? In this video I show you the basic supplies I use for a Word of the Year Bullet Journal. There is a list and links in the post. Cheers to your new year!
The beautiful guiding prayer of The Maranatha Community has been read and heard by millions worldwide. It has helped transform my thinking and used to bring about inner healing. In this post I’ve use the sound-track from the original Shalom CD (with permission) to overlay it onto my original artwork to create this video rendition.
New ATC (Artist Trading Card) size stencil plus Mid-Century Modern Star Stencils. Video and inspirational examples included in this post.
Video and written reasons on the benefits of including a Word of the Year in a bullet/calendar/everyday/anything style of journal
This post shows my finished journal pages of the A-Z Word of the Year Challenge & links including A-Z of my Mystery and applying it to a word of the year.
All StencilGirl Products® stencils are on sale now, the biggest stencil sale of the year 25% off! Ideas, Inspiration, Freebies…
2019 monthly calendar made in my Leuchtturm 1917 dotted journal with theme of mid-century modern & using banner stencil. Biggest Stencil Sale of the year!
Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for you and appreciate your visits to my blog and website. I hope you enjoy the spirit of Thanksgiving wherever you are!
Moving toward a zenith, the highest point in life, with passion and zeal sounds fulfilling and to me. I would like to live with such purposeful intention.
What I yearn for I tend to say ‘yes’ to. That is why it is so important to nurture my heart, be aware of what or who I give my heart to, what I focus on, and even what I see and hear.
Video and written steps on how to choose a Word of the Year to focus on and live by. Visit my blog for creative ways to journal and live your word this year
The mysterious treasure and paradox of the letter ‘X’ in the A-Z of Mystery journal. Scripture and questions to consider in this journey of life.
Seeking wisdom “the ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, insight, understanding and common sense; unbiased judgment, and compassion.” What do I have grace and time for?
V in the A-Z Word of the Year Challenge I was almost asleep one night recently when a phrase floated across my mind and I knew it spoke truth and asked to be written down. So I pulled myself out of bed and went to my journal to write: “Vision with Valor lead to Victory.” This got me thinking of what this means to me personally. I went to the first A-Z journal I did with Bernice Hopper’s challenge back in 2013. Here is my V for Vision for that: Vision is a key word for me right now, and… Read More
Once again I’m participating in this studio tour in Oregon’s Washington County. It is a great community event, FUN, FREE, & INSPIRATIONAL! This weekend October 19-20, 2019 between 11am – 5 pm. Stenciling Demos and introducing new Studio Workshops for 2020! I hope to see you in the studio. Cheers!
We are bound together in a common life. Seeking unity with one another is a worthwhile pursuit. “How wonderful it is…to live together in harmony.
There is something special about birds – full of wonder, flight, freedom… An egg is a symbol of hope and possibility. Feathers speak of spirituality, and nests of the nurturing comfort of home. There is also something special about being able to paint these as symbols of our personal story.
Do you want to improve your painting skill while celebrating the wonder of birds? In this course you can! There are 7 step-by-step video lessons with bird themes of eggs, birds, feathers, and nests. Have fun and learn how to paint realistically and expressively with acrylics on a variety of surfaces and backgrounds: watercolor sheet/journal, wood board or canvas, sheet music (thin paper.)
Sometimes the smallest ordinary things hold the most important lessons – if I stop to look and listen… Here is a video I took of my lesson from one of God’s small often overlooked little creatures.
It’s been nearly nine years since I began blogging and six years since teaching my first online course. So much has happened since then. First I want to thank you for participating with me on the journey. If you are reading this, you either took the time to open an email or visit my blog, and I appreciate that. I hope to continue to offer inspirational content and hear from you too. It’s time for new ideas and new teaching and learning.
In fact, if you would respond to a few questions I would love to know what you think and what inspires you. You can respond to this in the comment section of my blog or if you are receiving the blog updates you can respond to the email.
What would you like me to address on my blog?
What would you like to learn from me in an online course?
What in-person workshop would you enjoy taking?
In general, what inspires your creativity?
Is there any other thoughts you would like to share?
“We live in the past of the future,” I heard Jonathan Cahn say. So I am choosing to make today count like a time traveler! It’s like I am actually able to go back in time and change the trajectory of my future. If I were looking back from tomorrow or next year, that is exactly what coming back to this moment would be like.
It’s time to Shine! What does it mean to shine? “How do I shine as myself, with God, and others?” To shine looks differently for us individually, but my guess there are also some common things we long for, need, and value.
Seeking to establish a fulfilling rhythm of daily life, working from rest and resting from work in a fulfilling way. Every living thing has a rhythm. “R” for Rhythm in the A-Z of Mystery Word of the Year Challenge.
Getting quiet is important in order to hear and discern what to do. Listening prayer is a way to do that. Suggested questions & art reflections on Q-Quiet in the A-Z Challenge included
Paradox is holding two opposites as true at the same time. We live in paradoxical times that have polarized relationships and our nation. We tend to paint other people with harsh, broad brush strokes of black or white. Living with paradox requires empathy and invites reconciliation, seeking to understand a viewpoint opposite of our own.
Overcoming my struggle to order my stuff, organize and create beauty. O – Order in A-Z Word of the Year Challenge. Key questions to help organize.
Mid-Century Modern Stencil Club & paintings, July calendar and Washi tape adventure as we celebrate America’s freedom and enter a new season.
Celebrating Nature with a Word of the Year active challenge and NEW leafy doodle stencils. Included are artful inspirations and a how-to stencil Washi tape video, comparing medical tape with white Washi tape.
Stenciling video tutorials, Summer Solstice StencilGirl Stencil Sale June 20-22, New stencils, Inspirational Art Projects in variety of media.
The word ‘Muse’ is filled with mystery. Muse is associated with memory and music. We may sense the connection most when we hear a song from our past, bringing back all sorts of memories, and we feel transported back to a specific event or time. Google Dictionary defines Inspiration as:” the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative” or “a sudden brilliant, creative, or timely idea.”
Traveling changes you. Keeping an art journal helps me process and remind us of the important memories. Going on our amazing adventure to the UK, France and Greece was wonder full! So much beauty! I’m finding my life and perspectives have expanded through the process of going so many new places and meeting new people that have now become friends. Writing and art journaling the journey is so rewarding.
Post includes my goals for travel art journaling, pages from my abstract travel journal made in Mary Beth Shaw’s class on our Blue Walk Art tour of Greece, and examples of making it my own by combining abstract techniques in class with realistic images from my trip photos.
I’ve been reminded to look back in order to move forward. At first it sounded counter-intuitive and non-productive, but after doing it, I see the value of taking a fresh look at what I have, what I’ve done, and stop to look, listen, and be grateful. It was the prompt I needed to Live this moment, to be present without the pressure to perform.
A key is a small thing that opens a larger, important experience. A question can be a key to the answer you’re looking for. A key can unlock a mode of transportation that can take us on a journey to another place. A key can open up a space of a new world. A key can bring us home.
