As you know I have been working in my Creative Journal to "Do Something Creative Everyday" (or in my case every chance I get) and now I have completed my Gratitude Journal.  How fitting that I was walking out of Borders the other day and came upon this book "Living Life As A Thank You":

Life_Thank 

I was in a hurry and decided to buy it to go along with my latest project and I am glad I did.  It was a very inspiring book and I highly recommend it.  On page 25 they list "Ten Ways to Get More Engery By Being Thankful" and #1:

  1. Gratitude Journal – Keep a Gratitude Journal.  At the end of the each day, write five things you feel grateful for from the day:  a smile from a stranger, a hug from your child, an unexpected compliment, a good meal, a moment of laughter with a friend.

So how timely is this?  So here is the simple (the key to this for me is SIMPLE) Gratitude Journal I altered and created to suit ME:

 I started with a plain watercolor journal (I love watercolor paper!) and of course my Helmar Adhesives:

 TWB_6918a 

STEP-BY-STEP:

  1. Tear apart watercolor pad. 
  2. Spread a nice even layer of Helmar Acid Free Glue on front and back cover (front & inside face) and cover with Patterned Paper (Basic Grey).  Sand and distress edges with your favorite ink pad.
  3. Add Rick Rack/Ribbon with Helmar 450 Quick Dry
  4. Adhere flowers with 450 Quick Dry
  5. Draw Stems with Indian Ink (Black)
  6. Cut out flowers with Green cardstock and ahdere with Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots for lots of dimension!
  7. Finish by adding "Be Grateful Everyday" with Helmar 450 Quick Dry.
  8. Rebind with Zutter Bind-It-All

GratitudeMATERIALS LIST:

  • Helmar Adhesives:  450 Quick Dry, Liquid Scrap Dots, Acid Free Glue
  • Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey
  • Cardstock:  Core'dinations
  • Rick Rack – Creative Impressions
  • Distress Inks & Sanding Block
  • Binding:  Zutter Bind It All

TWB_7161a 
Now the fun really begins!  New techniques and creativity on every page!

Also, join me tonight at 6:30 pm (PST…check our local time zone!) for a LIVE Helmar Ustream class where we will make a simple and beautiful handmade Gratitude Album.  Click HERE to watch LIVE!

Ustream-logo copy 
Who will be joining me?  I welcome you to join me and get a Gratitude Journal of your own.  EMAIL ME and let me know how you are journaling.  It can be a notebook, a pad of paper, or something simple that encourages you to write down those things to be grateful for!

Tracy 

"Take a moment every day simply to be thankful that you are alive and never forget that life is still really good despite the sad parts." Jacy Good