Hello friends! Elizabeth here from @thejoyfulsojourn on YouTube and Instagram. Creative journaling has transformed my approach to journaling. What used to be writing sentence after sentence has turned into an experience that is good for the spirit (creative play), and makes space for contemplating my place in this world. And birthdays feel like the perfect reset, just like the transition from one calendar year to the next.

 

I created a “Year 42 Hopes” list, reflecting on the areas I want to push myself in, and the ways I will better the life of me and my family with this new year God has given me. The stars of the show are the stamps! The Flutterby Creative Kit includes a stamp and stencil set, and the stamp subscription for August is a set of alphas! Combined, you have limitless possibilities for creative journaling and lists!

 

 

Start with a show-stopping header in the middle of your page. I used the stamp subscription alphas to spell out “year” and “hopes”, on either side of giant numbers for my age. (Pro tip: I find it helpful to get the largest decorative pieces down on the page first, then use the actual journaling element as ‘filler’. This creates a balanced and cohesive spread.) I was incredibly intimidated by the stamp and stencil set, but it was easy to pick up after the first try! If you’re new to stamping and stenciling together, make sure you practice on a piece of scrap paper first. I also shared how to use the set in my “Flutterby” unboxing video on YouTube.

  

 

 

Pick whatever colors speak to you for your spread, and buff them through the stencil. I enjoyed using 2 colors per butterfly: a lighter color around the wing tips, and a darker color towards the center/body. Use washi tape to hold down the stencil if you’re worried about it moving. Lift the stencil and see how beautiful the ink looks buffed out! But wait, it’ll get better. Stamp the corresponding butterfly on top of the stencil ink, and you have the prettiest looking multi-colored butterfly!

 

 

Here, I sporadically placed the different butterflies and alternated colors. The “Flutterby” theme is nice because it covers all the colors of the rainbow, so you can have your pick!

I didn’t want the butterflies to ‘fly away’, so I drew a frame around the whole spread, then inner-lined it with thin ombre’d Flutterby washi to bring out more color.

 

 

One more creative element - I loved the sentiment of the front of the journaling prompt card from the Flutterby Journaling Kit, so I ripped it down and ran a black pen along the edges to make them pop against the page, then glued it down to the page with a glue stick.

 

 

Once your big decorative elements are down, add lines sporadically around the page. I first started with a list of 8 “hopes” for my next year of life, and as the spread came together and I noticed gaps, I added additional words that were meaningful to me. I hope this is a fun and simple project that encourages you to take time around your birthday to create something lovely that inspires you to dream and plan for your next year of life!

   

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