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A New Journal For The New Year

January 4, 2013 by Patti 26 Comments

Putting into practice an attitude of gratefulness can be life changing.  Even when one is going through times that may not seem to hold much in the way of blessing, there is ALWAYS something to be grateful for.  In our search for that something, followed by the act of writing it down, there comes a proven shift in our way of thinking. This change in thinking reaches all the way down into our hearts where we begin to FEEL a difference in our attitudes. 
We are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).

You don’t have to be a writer to keep a Journal, and a Gratitude Journal is a good place to start.  I’ve been journaling for several years now and sometimes I’ve purchased really pretty journals (at really pretty prices) and sometimes my writing has been done on whatever random notebook I’ve had on hand.  I came across the idea of covering mini-composition books (3-1/4″x4-1/2″) at The 36th Avenue and was inspired to make my own.  Here’s how:

I bought two different types and sizes of notebooks. The larger composition book is 9-3/4″ x 7-1/2″ and was .99 cents at Office Max.  The smaller spiral notebook is 7″ x 5″ and the cost was $1.99.  I like the smaller one a lot because it has a pocket inside that you can slip a little note into for gift giving.

I started by lining the cover up over the paper I would use to cover it,  then traced it and cut it out. 
The notebooks can be covered with a variety of materials . . . leftover fabric from another project or an old article of clothing, scrapbooking paper, wallpaper or even thick wrapping paper.  Just glue your material on with a gluestick after you’ve cut it to size.
The black spine of the composition journal looked fine with this particular paper but I decided to use the reverse side of the scrapbooking paper for contrast.  The strip I cut and applied was about 2-3/4″ wide by 9-3/4″ long.  Note:  If you are using fabric it takes more glue to make it stick as the fabric tends to wick up the glue (a lesson learned by trial and error).
Now, for a little heavy reading atop the notebook while it dries!

 

So here are the books I covered today.  This is a quick and easy project, especially when done assembly line style.  I did 17 of them in one evening to give as gifts to friends (okay, so I’ll admit, it was one really LATE evening).

 

Some of the notebooks received an extra little embellishment, a fabric rosette . . . (tutorial here)
. . . or a stamp with a message and some old buttons . . .

 

. . . a cutout monogram with a button glued on to match the buttons on the paper . . .

 

 . . . and a plain paper monogram in a contrasting color.  I used my handy dandy glue gun to add the embellishments.  You could get really imaginative and have a lot of fun with this part!

 

 

I can see the future of my journals now . . .

 

 

. . . instead of being in random places all over the house, my personal journals will now be uniform in size, organized by date, tied up with a pretty ribbon and artfully displayed on my office bookshelf. 
Just another little vignette to make me smile 🙂
  So . . . who or what are you grateful for in your life today?  
Is there someone that has helped you or met a need?  
Is there someone who has been kind to you or just blessed you with a smile? 
Are you grateful for the beauty of creation around you?
 Have you had any recent answers to prayer that you can be grateful for? 
I am thankful for so very much . . . a warm fire on a cold night, a hot cup of tea, my family’s love, friends that accept me for who I am, doggie kisses (I know GROSS, right?) . . . my list goes on and on.  And while this may seem trivial in the grand scheme of things I’m also thankful for things that bring beauty to my home . . . 
things like .99 cent journals covered with old scraps of fabric or paper. 
These are the little things that brighten up my small corner of the world.
And always, I’m thankful for YOU,
Patti

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Filed Under: 2013, Burlap Rosettes, Covered Composition Books, Covered Journal Tutorial, Gratitude Journal

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Comments

  1. Kris @ Driven by Décor says

    January 5, 2013 at 3:57 pm

    I love your notebook with the fabric and rosette – so darling! I have a thing for pretty notebooks – I am much more likely to sit down and journal or jot notes when I have something pretty to write in!

    Reply
    • Patricia Krank says

      January 6, 2013 at 2:40 pm

      Thank you Kris! It was a fun project and I made extra for those times that I need a little gift to give away. Patti

      Reply
  2. The Rosegarden in Malevik says

    January 5, 2013 at 4:51 pm

    Hi there
    just Love your notebook……and nice to start the New Year 🙂
    and do not miss……

    S
    A
    T
    U
    R
    D
    A
    Y

    S
    H
    O
    W

    O
    F
    F

    it is FUN 🙂
    WELCOME
    Håkan ( The Roseman)

    Reply
    • OldThingsNew says

      January 6, 2013 at 2:43 pm

      Thank you! I checked out your blog and your truly do know how to grow roses. My rose garden is sort of sad looking so I will be looking to you for some “How to” advice. Linking my post to your party, even though the rosettes aren’t live ones. Thanks for the invite. Patti

      Reply
  3. Little Miss Maggie says

    January 5, 2013 at 5:22 pm

    Lovely journals and a beautiful post. Being grateful can definitely change one’s life.

    Reply
    • Patricia Krank says

      January 6, 2013 at 3:09 pm

      Maggie – Thank you for the compliment. Your blog is lovely and full of such great ideas. Blessings, Patti

      Reply
  4. hula-la says

    January 5, 2013 at 6:16 pm

    I’m loving it! Hope you will visit me and check out my altered books! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

    Reply
    • Patricia Krank says

      January 6, 2013 at 3:10 pm

      Thank you so much. I did visit and your books are great! Happy New Year back to you. Patti

      Reply
  5. Emily says

    January 5, 2013 at 7:04 pm

    I love MY journal and am thankful to be the recipient of one of those late night ones. 🙂 I’ve actually used it only for God’s purposes… message notes, dreams, etc. And it makes me smile every time I see it because I know you MADE it!!! 🙂

    Love!

    Reply
    • Patricia Krank says

      January 6, 2013 at 3:11 pm

      Emily my friend. I am so blessed by you and & glad you are using the journal for God purposes. That makes ME smile. Love you, Patti

      Reply
  6. Kathryn Ferguson Griffin says

    January 6, 2013 at 3:53 pm

    These are so pretty!! Thank you for sharing them at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House! Hope to see your prettiness again on Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

    Reply
    • Patricia Krank says

      January 8, 2013 at 3:59 pm

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Reply
  7. Patricia Krank says

    January 6, 2013 at 5:27 pm

    Thank you Kathryn. Thank you for hosting such a great party. I’ll be back, Patti

    Reply
  8. Jillian designdreamsblog.com says

    January 6, 2013 at 9:36 pm

    This is such a great idea! My daughter wants an orange journal with unlined paper (very specific) so it has been very hard to find. This is the perfect solution!

    Reply
    • Patricia Krank says

      January 8, 2013 at 4:00 pm

      Nice! You could help her make one herself. Thanks for commenting. Patti

      Reply
  9. Debbiedoo's says

    January 7, 2013 at 5:46 pm

    Very sweet. WOuld make me for sure want to journal. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Patricia Krank says

      January 8, 2013 at 4:00 pm

      Thank you Debbie for hosting the party. Patti

      Reply
  10. living from glory to glory says

    January 7, 2013 at 11:18 pm

    I love to journal and to be able to make a few for myself and a gift would be fun. Loved the scriptures!
    Blessings, Roxy

    Reply
    • Patricia Krank says

      January 8, 2013 at 4:01 pm

      Thank you for visiting and commenting on my blog. I really appreciate it and YOU! Patti

      Reply
  11. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    January 9, 2013 at 1:08 am

    Hi Patti, I have been keeping a grateful journal for years but yours is so much prettier. Thank you for sharing this at the Open House party. xx, Sherry

    Reply
    • Patricia Krank says

      January 9, 2013 at 5:52 am

      Sherry – Thank YOU for hosting an awesome party. Patti

      Reply
  12. Sherry says

    January 9, 2013 at 2:57 am

    Great idea and it’ s cute.
    Sherry

    Reply
    • Patricia Krank says

      January 12, 2013 at 3:59 pm

      Thanks Sherry 🙂 Patti

      Reply
  13. Art and Sand says

    January 12, 2013 at 5:33 am

    I love to make journals, but I rarely write in them. I give many of them as gifts and sell a few. I have started putting quotes in them lately and really like how they are turning out. One woman who follows my blog is going through hard times and I am thinking about making her a quote book with the bible passages she puts on each post.

    Thanks for showing your style of journal. I am always looking for ideas.

    Reply
  14. Patricia Krank says

    January 12, 2013 at 4:03 pm

    That would be a great idea to make her one! I have a journal from one of the hardest times in my life that I go back to occasionally and read through. It is full of the absolute miracles that God did in my life at the time and I can see how the hardships shaped who I am today. I’m sure she’ll appreciate it greatly. Thanks for visiting, Patti

    Reply
  15. this domain says

    September 23, 2014 at 11:06 pm

    We are a gaggle of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.
    Your site offered us with helpful info to work on. You have done an impressive activity and our entire
    community will be grateful to you.

    Reply

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Welcome! I am Perfectly Imperfect Patti and I’d like to invite you to come in and take a seat in this creative space of mine.

I love the process of hunting for orphaned and cast off furniture (particularly my Chosen Chairs) and then taking the time to transform each piece into something new and beautiful. This process allows me to reflect upon my own story of transformation and blesses me over and over with each piece I redesign.

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“In 1965, Charles Schulz, a devout Christian and “In 1965, Charles Schulz, a devout Christian and creator of the Peanuts comic strip, was asked to create a Christmas special for CBS featuring the Peanuts Characters. He agreed with one requirement, that they allow him to include the story of the birth of Jesus. Although the stations executives were hesitant and tried to convince him otherwise, Schulz was insistent. As a result, for the past 50 plus years, millions of people have watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and heard the story of Jesus and “what Christmas is all about.”

It wasn’t until a few years back that I realized a “hidden message” in the film. Linus, a child who seems to have some insecurities as he carries a security blanket with him at all times. In fact, Linus NEVER drops his blanket, except once....

While sharing the message of “what Christmas is all about,” Linus drops his blanket at the exact moment he says the words, “fear not!”

In this seemingly innocent moment, Linus delivers a powerful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. We are to “fear not”, for Jesus is born. We needn’t rely on material things for security, we have God with us, “Immanuel”, (Matthew 1:23) Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior - the true meaning of Christmas.

Awhile back, someone informed me, indignantly so, that Linus picks up his blanket at the end of the speech so my interpretation must be wrong. Well, he was right, Linus does pick up his blanket at the end of his speech. However, he “drops” it again later... 

Amid big, bright, colorful, shiny artificial trees, Charlie Brown chose the least of these, a little, wooden tree with just a few branches. Shortly thereafter, Linus uses his blanket to wrap about the base of the tree and says, “Maybe it just needs a little love”. In that moment, the tree “awakens”, stands tall and firm. A reminder that no matter who we are, how many mistakes we’ve made, a “little love” can make all the difference.

Let’s strive to “fear not” (Luke 2:10) and “love one another” (John 13:34), not just at Christmastime, but the whole year through.”

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