Tag: art

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April 2022 Bullet Journal Setup

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Just in time for a new month’s spread, I received my Amanda Rach Lee Acrylograph markers (from her collaboration with Archer & Olive). If you are not familiar with Amanda Rach Lee, she is basically the queen of bullet journaling and has her own brand online. She partnered with the famous stationery brand, Archer & Olive, to create exclusive colors for their Acrylograph paint markers. Not only are the tones aligned to Amanda’s muted pastel aesthetic, but she also designed a unique tin for storing the markers with her signature doodles. Aren’t they beautiful!?!

Cover Page

After polling my Instagram followers, I used their feedback to decide on the theme of “April Showers.” This theme worked well with my new Acrylographs. I did the title in Rustic Brown. The clouds were outlined in Mellow Tangerine, the sun and its rays were done in Pastel Sun and the rain was done in Vintage Denim. Faded Pear was used on grass and flower stems and the florals were done in several of the brighter hues like Lilac Fields and Pink Quartz. I left a lot of negative space on the page to keep it clean and to make sure that the center of the cover page was the illustration with my new favorite markers.

Calendar

This simple calendar layout is my go-to. I’ve been using a 5×5 grid spacing calendar throughout 2022. I like the way I have plenty of space for writing out upcoming events. The margins are for more detailed planning or things to be remembered for this month. I alternated between several Acrylograph colors when numbering the days of the month.

Fitness and Diet Tracker

Each day gets a horizontal line in this spread. On the left hand side, I numbered the dates vertically and then left space to fill in workouts and notes. On the right side, I wrote out my eating goals and left space to mark off the foods from my diet that I consume in their respective categories.

Blog Spread

Another very simple spread here. Just a basic drawing using the Acrylographs and the dates fill this half-page spread. I use this space to track the posts that I publish throughout the month and to plan upcoming posts.

Weekly Spread

This rolling weekly layout was inspired by The Plant Based Bride. On the first page, there is space to record upcoming events for the week. Additionally I used this space to jot down things to keep in mind. On the second page, I use the task migration system and habit trackers to make sure that I am productive and efficient throughout the week. These are great spaces to quickly make note of what needs done and any tasks that have been completed.

Supplies

Amanda Rach Lee and Archer & Olive Collab Acrylograph Set

Papermate Flair

Tombow Fudenoske (Black)

The Ameri Brit Mom

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March 2022 Bullet Journal Setup

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Last month, my design was a bit illustration-heavy so as I looked toward March I sought inspiration in a more simplistic design and layout. I used a minimalist approach and used very few supplies when designing each of the spreads and pages below. At the end of the post I share what I used to make this month’s spreads so be sure to check that out.

February Review

At the end of February, I scrapped my usual layout and used the final spread to reflect on the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. I filled the page with a summary of the event as well as a prayer for all that is going on in Eastern Europe right now.

Cover Page

The theme I settled on in March was this color blob theme with teal, pink and green scheme. For lettering, I chose to go with a simple bubbled style. I wanted something that would be easy to carry on throughout this month’s pages, but that also elicited happy feelings and good vibes. The idea of loose tracing or echoing of color blobs is really popular on Pinterest right now and so I pulled inspiration from some of those that I pinned recently.

Calendar

This simple calendar layout is great for visualizing and planning the month at a glance. Each box is 5×5 sqauares in my dotted notebook. The size of the calendar itself allowed for plenty of room for color blobs to be added and helped to balance out the white space in the margins.

Fitness and Diet Tracker

These two spreads followed the layout pattern that I’ve been using all year so far. I left most of the pages clear for tracking workouts and meals, but decorated the frame of the spread with the color blob design to tie this spread in with the rest of the monthly pages.

Blog and Self Care Tracker

These are new spreads this month. I decided to try out a space in my bullet journal for tracking the posts for The Ameri Brit Mom as well as for all the moments I set aside for self-care in March. Both of these areas are things I want to focus on more in and so it seemed fitting to devote an entire spread to tracking these goals.

Weekly Spread

This rolling weekly layout was inspired by The Plant Based Bride. On the first page, there is space to record upcoming events for the week. Additionally I used this space to jot down things to remember or to know for that week. On the second page, I use the task migration system and habit trackers to make sure that I am productive and efficient throughout the week. These are great spaces to quickly make note of what needs done and any tasks that have been completed.

The supplies I used this month are very minimal. In order to recreate these spreads all you need is a bullet journal and…

Crayola Super Tip Markers

PaperMate Flairs

The Ameri Brit Mom

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Five Favorite Bullet Journal Youtubers

The Ameri Brit Mom3 Comments

(This is a non affiliate post and based solely on my personally curated Youtube subscriptions.)

Since 2016, I have been a part of the bullet journal community.

This system has worked so well for me because I’ve been able to integrate my inner Ennegram 6 personality with my creative passions like doodling, word art, and painting. Each month, I plan to continue sharing my bullet journal spreads with you, but I must confess that I rarely approach a new spread without inspiration from one of my favorite bullet journal queens. Today, I want to share with you my FIVE FAVORITE BULLET JOURNAL YOUTUBERS. I recommend subscribing to each of these channels whether you are new to the hobby or well-practiced. It is always a breath of fresh air to watch how others are utilizing their creativity in functional ways.

So here they are…in no particular order:

1. Amanda Rach Lee

Photo Credit: Facebook/AmandaRachLee

I know that I said that these are in no particular order, but I must confess that Amanda Rach Lee is really my favorite. She is one of the first bullet journal artists to inspire me to get creative on the pages of my bullet journal. From her cute doodles, relaxing voice, and positive vibes, I am addicted to her channel. I think I’ve viewed every video on her channel and every time I get a notification that she has a new upload I get so excited. During the pandemic, Amanda’s channel has really helped me to keep my head up and to focus on the things I can control rather than the things that I cannot. Amanda also has an online shop and my newest bullet journal (which I will share with you soon) comes from her recent product launch.

2. Plant Based Bride

Photo Credit: Plant Based Bride website

I’ve only been watching Elizabeth of Plant Based Bride for a few months, but I really enjoy her channel. Not only does Elizabeth create beautifully functional pages, but she also is an avid reader like me. Her channel includes monthly bullet journal setups, art tutorials, life updates, and book reviews. Elizabeth is also a minimalist which has been a passion of mine over the past couple of years. I can’t believe I’ve only found her recently because her channel aligns with so many of my niches.

3. Caitlin’s Corner

Photo Credit: Caitlin da Silva website

I think I am drawn most to Caitlin’s Corner because she is so authentic. Each video just feels like a chat with an old friend. Caitlin likes to use a lot of different mediums in her bullet journal and she inspires me to play around with supplies and layouts. Not only is she a creative journaler, but Caitlin also shares videos about life in general. This helps her followers feel like a friend–because we have glimpsed many different aspects of her life beyond just bullet journaling.

4. Julianne Doodles

Photo Credit: Julianne Doodles Youtube

Julianne’s channel is unique because she creates stickers for each month’s spread which you can purchase. Her illustrations and doodles are always unique and her personality is very bubbly and easy to relate to. Like all the women above, Julianne is a doodler from Canada (Why are all the greats Canadian? Is there something I don’t know about Canada?)

5. Shayda Campbell

Photo Credit: Shayda Campbell Youtube channel

Shayda’s channel is unique because her content goes beyond bullet journal videos and also includes art tutorials. Her expertise is floral painting but she also provides tutorials in hand lettering, drawing, water colors and many other illustrating techniques. Her voice is very tranquil and her overall vibe is very “chill” and perfect for an atmosphere of creativity.

I am always looking for new inspirations so please drop a comment if you have another favorite that I can add to my subscription list. Also, go show some love to these ladies and subscribe to their channels…you won’t be disappointed!

The Ameri Brit Mom

fiction · Uncategorized

What Feeds Your Creativity?

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I just watched an inspiring TEDx talk by Gabriela Pereira, founder of DIY MFA. In it she discusses the fact that our human nature makes us creative beings. (Side note: our Father is the ultimate Creator and we were formed in his image.)

We can become our own biggest obstacles, but at our core we all have a story or creative spark to share with the world. Our responsibility to ourselves is to put in the work daily that helps us to channel that creativity.

For me, that creativity is in the form of  writing.

The passion I have for telling stories is strong. That passion has led me to study and practice the craft  nearly every day. I’m working on my next steps as a writer by working through the DIY MFA Book Club.

After reading some of Gabriela’s advice I put together a “Feed Me” box. This is a box of things I use to spark my creativity. For years I’ve had go-to resources, but it is always a refresher to see what others use to help them create.

I gathered all of my resources into one box and am excited to share that with you.

You could really put anything in your box. For me, I have several prompt related resources, an adult coloring book, dice, and random pictures.

Another item that feeds my creativity is coffee.

With mellow music playing in the background and a fresh cup of coffee in front of me there isn’t much I cannot conquer. When I’m writing lesson plans at school I create a similar environment.

What gets your creative heart pumping?

The Ameri Brit Mom

2018 Bullet Journal Flip Through
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2018 Bullet Journal Flip Through

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I rang in the new year with a household of germy humans.

We took turns sharing flu symptoms. I must admit it was not the ideal ending to the winter break, but I was able to get a few things done around the house as I was confined within it.

Today I wanted to share with you a Flip Through of last year’s bullet journal. In 2018, I set a goal to maintain a regular schedule in my bujo and I’m happy to say that apart from some short setbacks I was able to complete the journal. I’m really pleased with many of the pages and I’ve learned some techniques that I plan to incorporate into my 2019 bullet journal.

Here is a look at some of my favorite pages:

 

Which spread is your favorite?

The Ameri Brit Mom

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September Plan With Me: Bullet Journal Updates

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August was a big month for me. I returned to work after a lengthy maternity leave, I arrived back in the USA after a month abroad, and my oldest daughter started kindergarten. With all of these additions to my schedule over the past thirty-one days I am pleased to say I stayed pretty consistent in my Bullet Journal routine.

Over the past few months my journal has been a refuge for me. Planning, scheduling, and making lists as a form of creative release has benefited me in so many ways. I worried that getting back into a busy routine would cause me to use my bullet journal less, but as I look back over my August pages I can tell that I still kept it a daily priority.

August Recap

I filled in my Habit and Anxiety trackers everyday! I also added a page for Arianna’s soccer season statistics and another for Bible Study notes as I read through the book of Jonah. I love the way these pages all turned out.

September

This month my pages were made using the following tools: PaperMate Flair pens, Veritas metallic glitter pens, Tombow Monodraw pens, brown and navy Cardstock, images from the Cricut Design App, and the Cricut Air 2.

September Theme: Football Friday Night

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On my title page for this month I used some metallic pens in gold, brown, and blue to create a sketch of my theme. The school colors for my local team are gold and navy so I used those colors to set the scheme for the month. This is a simple title page that highlights my lack of sketching ability.

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My weekly pages follow the color scheme for the month and include space for planning each day, journaling, and recording my meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I want to make sure that as the school year starts that I am still eating well and one way that motivates me is to keep record of what I am eating. Having to write down a horrible meal is reason enough to skip it for me. I used my Cricut to create embellishments this month. I’ve never used cardstock in my journal so I will see how well I like it.

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This month my Anxiety tracker takes the shape of a goal post. I added the cardstock football to help clarify what shape I was intending for the anxiety tracker. Each day of the month has a line on the goal post and I will color each according to my level of anxiety each day throughout the month.

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My fitness log follows the same outline as the past few months. It’s working well for me to track this way so I’m going to stick with it.

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I love the way this Weekly Review spread turned out. Each week this year I have recorded highlights from the week and something for which I am grateful.

One of my goals this month is to create a recycling plan for my family. Once I’ve established that I will post a picture. If your family recycles I’d love to hear tips and ways to make it fun for kids. I’m also looking for ideas for my October pages.

The Ameri Brit Mom

DIY · Uncategorized

Seasonal Blocks

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I don’t get in crafty moods often, but when I do you better watch out. This weekend I decided to finish a DIY project I started over a year ago. This is something I saw at a craft show last Christmas and decided I would try to make for myself. It’s fairly simple and requires little time, money, and skill. And because I love to decorate for the seasons I decided to go with a seasonal theme. Here is a look at my finished seasonal blocks:

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What you need to make these seasonal blocks:

-six wooden blocks of varying sizes

-white paint (or a paint color of your choice)

-4 seasonal pages of scrapbook or patterned paper

-1 black Sharpie (or letter stamps if you prefer not to free hand the lettering)

-Mod Podge

-paintbrushes

How to make these blocks: (Warning: It make take more than one day to complete this craft due to the amount of time it takes for the paint to dry. I started out just doing each season as it approached and over the course of the year finished it. However, it can also take just two days to knock out the whole thing.)

  1. Start by painting the surface  of each of the wooden blocks. I chose to paint my blocks white to match the woodwork in my living room, but you may choose to stain or paint your blocks in other colors to match your decor. I’ve seen this done with black blocks before and I think it looks really crisp and nice as well.
  2. As the paint is drying, begin to cut out six rectangles from each of your patterned papers.
  3. Once the rectangles are cut you can go ahead and write out or stamp the letters on to each piece of paper.
  4. Once the paint has dried evaluate whether the blocks require multiple coats. Mine did. And so I really only got through the painting process in the first day of crafting.
  5. After the paint is dry, you can begin with your first side of mod podge. Before you begin with the sticking you want to arrange your rectangles in an appealing way. If they are different sizes you will want to play around with how to organize them.
  6. When you have organized the order of the blocks, you can begin with the mod podge. I always add a dab of mod podge to the block first to adhere the paper like glue. Then, once the paper is stuck onto the block go over the edges and the entire paper with the mod podge. At first it will look very gluey, but mod podge will dry clear. You want to make sure you have enough mod podge that the paper is secure, but not too much that the paper bubbles.
  7. Repeat the mod podge process for the entire name of the season.
  8. Then, before moving on to the next face or season make sure the entire mod podged face is dry.
  9. Important: When adding each new season be sure to keep the letters in the order you originally arranged!

This was a fun little project. I plan to make some more in the future because it was so simple and I like the look of it. I know people who use a similar method to create Christmas calendar blocks counting down the 25 days of Christmas. I’ve also seen this as a popular gift for new parents who use blocks to either countdown to the arrival of their bundle of joy or to announce the time since their child was born in monthly photographs. I’m looking for some new ideas so if you have any other ways that simple blocks and mod podge could be used please share!

The Ameri Brit Mom

Family · Uncategorized

Stand In The Place Where You Live

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Lately, I’ve been on the prowl to find some unique pieces for a couple of gallery walls in my house. Currently, there is a wall in progress in the living room and one in the kitchen of more themed pieces. Over the weekend, while on a shopping escapade I had a wonderful idea: why not use some unique regional pieces which showcase our family’s heritage?

Marrying a man from England has truly shaped my worldview. I’ve learned to think and love outside of my small corner of the world. I may have never lived more than an hour from my home epicenter in any direction, but being married to Sam has helped me to see that there is more to be explored beyond the Ohio River.

I’m an Ohioan through and through and that will not ever change.

Sam is a Southampton boy and that will never change either.

So I’ve been thinking about bringing the ameri-brit part of our family into our home decor. What better way to highlight that uniqueness to our children and guests than to incorporate knicks and knacks from both of our backgrounds in the aesthetic presence of our house.

Below is a mood board of some pieces I would love to see join our gallery walls.

  1. Blue English Canvas
  2. Ohio Pallet
  3. Ohio Stuff from Simply Vague
  4. London Canvas 
Faith · Uncategorized

Love and Grace

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This Sunday morning my husband is on the road with a basketball show and I am nursing my daughter back to health after an ear infection. This winter has brought sickness after sickness for my little girl, but on Friday we received some potential answers as to why. It looks like our little girl has allergies and all of these upper respiratory issues lately are rooted in that condition.

For the third time in the past month I’m missing church again today so I won’t be posting a Covenant message. However, I do look forward to catching up via podcast later in the week.

Today, my message was brought to me from my biblical coloring book, Live Loved.

Jeremiah 31:3- I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

Because God loves us with an everlasting love it means that He always has and always will continue to love us. No matter where we’ve been or what we’ve done His love for each of us is eternal. His unfailing kindness refers to the fact that while we may not deserve it He has chosen to love us anyway.

When God looks at us He chooses not to see our sins and mistakes. Out of His unfailing kindness He chose GRACE. And His grace covers all of our weaknesses.

I’m so thankful for a God who loves, forgives, and covers us with grace!

The Ameri Brit Mom