Welcome to May 2021. For my word of the year, this year, it is a prefix: RE. Each month Re- words are featured in my planner journal, along with a visual theme. It’s been fun to see how these two little letters (re) relate to life and the words others have chosen for the year. Looking up the definition of the word theme for the month gives insight and is often the starting point of inspiration.

This month the ‘RE’ word is Recreate, specifically beauty represented by flowers.

Recreate means to cause to come into being in a new way, as something unique, extraordinary. It also means 'to refresh by means of relaxation and enjoyment, as restore physically or mentally.'

Recreating beauty in the midst of what is not beautiful can be hard, but beauty uplifts the soul, bringing hope and joy.

Beauty is 'the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).' (Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary, 1996, Random House, New York)

How can you invite or create beauty this month
that uplifts your soul and the hearts of others?

FREE Plan with me Video Tutorials on this blog each month!

Below is a video showing how to paint the cover page for May, and below that, is the ‘Plan with Me’ video tutorial showing the step-by-step process of setting up the month of May in my calendar~word of the year journal.

The following first video shows the set-up and painting for the monthly calendar. The second one shows the rest of pages for the month.

The following journal set-up video includes how to make these pages: monthly calendar, gratitude pages, monthly workflow, & weekly calendars. Enjoy!

Each month during 2021 on this blog

2021 Planner journal set-up videos. Sign up for my newsletter, at the bottom of the page to receive notice when the monthly tutorial comes out and watch Ad-free on this blog!

Plan with Me E-course available

In addition to the videos above, each month Plan with me Premium includes a how-to video on how to make the dutch door page (shown below) with downloadable pattern, and devotional videos that includes a personal devotional activity for the interior of the Dutch door, PLUS accompanying PDF downloadable devotional pages and patterns.

Materials used in May’s 2021 journal set-up

Stencils:

https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencils-valerie-sjodin-s/2044.htm

Stencils used:

Planner Banner Ribbons #L832

Script Sans Serif Planner Alphabet + Grid #L833

Garden Flowers Tile Stencil Mini #M295

Supplies used:

• 160 gsm notebook: https://amzn.to/3pPU7GV NOTE: There are many journals like this to choose from with 160 gsm dotted paper. I am trying this journal out because it has the thicker dotted paper, more pages than most, includes page numbers, has a low price point for the type of journal and is easy to order from Amazon. I will be testing more journals with 160 gsm dotted throughout the year.

• Kneaded eraser: https://amzn.to/3m0wDwp

• Micron pen set: https://amzn.to/3jpWOup or other waterproof pen set such as STA pigment liner set: https://amzn.to/396GX2h

• White Posca paint pen/s: https://amzn.to/3hhmV75

• Cosmetic wedges: https://amzn.to/2IVno1J

• Metallic Gelly Roll pens: https://amzn.to/3l1dvwK

• MT Gold Washi tape: https://amzn.to/38BFos5

• Tombow double sided tape: https://amzn.to/3aRmnDI

• Color M600 Artist Mica Watercolor Paint, Metallic: https://amzn.to/337mfvp

• NOTE: I also saw some that look like they might be the same pigment but in a rectangular shape on Blick: https://www.dickblick.com/products/finetec-artist-mica-watercolors/ . You can also copy the name and google it to see other options.

• Silver Brush 3000S-6 Black Velvet Short Handle Round Size 6: https://amzn.to/339sEq0

• Silver Brush 3000S-2 Black Velvet Short Handle Round, Size 2: https://amzn.to/2UVEZtq

• Silver Brush set of large wash and small pointed brushes: https://amzn.to/37Si4Xb

• Watercolors: (Qor brand used) Quinacridone Magenta, Pyrrole Red Light, Cobalt Teal, Raw Umber, Quinacridone Gold, Thalo Blue, Indigo, Neutral (black), white

• 140 lb hot press watercolor paper Fabriano Artistico

• Ruler

• craft knife

• craft cutting mat

• toothbrush

I only recommend and link to products I've used and am happy with. The above links are affiliate links, meaning if you click from here and order, I get a small commission. It costs you nothing. Win/Win! Thank you! Please email me with any questions or concerns.

Featured Word of the Year Blog Posts

For more how-to videos for your word of the year planner journal scroll through these blog posts and read more for inspiration!

For more Word of the Year Inspiration check out: https://www.valeriesjodin.com/word-year-calendar-everyday-journals