The Art Of Noticing | Stories In My Notebook

Last week I embarked on my first The Art Of Noticing adventure using the notebook we offered last month. 

When I initially envisioned the kinds of stories I would tell in this project I was thinking about looking for beauty + really practicing paying attention. The stories I ended up telling are more about what our life looks like within this new normal right now. I was sick for a good portion of the days I was documenting which influenced the kinds of stories I told. I stared those stories and images on my Instagram account and then was able to use that as the content for this notebook once I was feeling better. 

Here's what I loved about working in this notebook: 

  • Each spread is an opportunity to play. I loved diving into my stash to help support the stories I'm telling within this notebook. I liked that one page could use pattern paper, another use a photo enlargement, and another use leftovers from my art journaling adventures.  
  • I loved that each story has a home with a specific place for the photo and a specific place for my journaling. 
  • I loved that I can write things down in the moment on the lines provided or I could add them later when I copied and pasted from what I'd written on Instagram.  
  • I loved that I have a home for little stories from this time. 

My plan is to continue adding stories to this notebook that are related to staying home. 

Check out a process video at the bottom of this post!

If you missed out on the notebook you can always pick up a blank travelers notebook or make your own with papers you may already have at home.  

Here's a look at the stories I included in my notebook: 

For this notebook I decided to cover the first page with a bold + bright pattern paper and to create a pocket using vellumred line tape that holds some journaling about this notebook as a whole. 

I used one of the stamps and punched it using a 1.25 inch circle punch and adhered it to the center of one of the colorful bursts. 

SUPPLIES

For each of my stories I printed my photos using my Epson PictureMate PM400 and cut my photos to 3.25 inch x 2.5 inch and adhered them into the preprinted box. I copied the journaling I had shared on Instagram directly onto the lined journaling section. 

For this story I looked around on my desk and grabbed one of the pieces of deli paper that I had been "rolling off" onto when creating art journaling pages recently. I used a rolling adhesive to attach this to the page. You can see more about that process in my Stamp Week video here

SUPPLIES

For this one I wanted to play with big letter stamps on top of pattern paper. After stamping I ran the page through my sewing machine (this is before I adhered it into the notebook) to add some texture. On top of the circles on the pattern paper I added a few chipboard circles from past kits. 

SUPPLIES

For this page I decided to play around with a brush pen on top of a house pattern paper

SUPPLIES

Another option for the full page that accompanies your story is to print out a photo. For this one I printed a photo of Facetiming with my friends for coffee in the morning. On top of the photo I added a fun new shaker sticker from Amy Tangerine. 

SUPPLIES

I love that you can make these as complex or as simple a spread as you want them to be. For this one I printed one photo of Simon and one of Anna and then just added a few word/phrase stickers on top of the enlarged photo. 

SUPPLIES

Another fun way to play with these pages is to create your own stamped pattern. For this I used the "O" from the Tim Holtz Upper Cutout Stamp Set and three different inks. I stamped "simple" + "beautiful" + "things" onto a paper heart from a past kit. 

SUPPLIES

PROCESS VIDEO

Here's a look at how all these pages came together: 

Thanks so much for playing along with this project. 

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9 thoughts

  1. Mindnic says…
    03/26/2020

    This is so good! Thank you for the video. What type of white paper are you using to stamp on and add to your TN?

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. AliEdwards says…
      03/26/2020

      Hi! Just white cardstock: https://bit.ly/2y3i1rR

  2. adawson816 says…
    03/26/2020

    Can you share the brand for that rose gold rainbow vellum? Thanks! (Never mind, I was looking at the very bottom of the post!)

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. AliEdwards says…
      03/26/2020

      Hi! It's listed under the supply list for that page: https://bit.ly/2UEDy1R (it's Crate Paper)

  3. Mayasmom6 says…
    03/26/2020

    Love this Ali! I'm using my Art of Noticing for the same thing. It's just the right size to record a small story each day. Who knew this is what we would use it for. Stay well!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Laurie_Anne says…
    03/26/2020

    Lovely! Our lives haven’t changed too much during this weird time, so I am struggling with stories to be told. But I will document something! I am wondering if you plan to carry the art of noticing booklet for a long time—will it be regular stock? I hope so! What are the plans?

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. AliEdwards says…
      03/26/2020

      Hi! We are planning to have it again in the future. Not sure of the timing right now but I definitely like working in notebooks as an option so we will likely offer more in the future.

  5. amccolle says…
    03/27/2020

    Will you be bringing the physical stamps for Art of Noticing back? I would love the set. It could work with so many things!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. tullyr says…
    03/28/2020

    Love it Ali. I am new to the travelers notebook style of documenting. Do you take the notebook apart to add paper, sewing etc to the left or do it in the book. What do you use to adhere full size photos or paper to that side? I am worried its going to all peel off.

    Reply 0 Replies

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