Wreck This Journal: 3rd Update!

I, regrettably, have neglected my journal for the greater part of the gap between the last post. I touch it now, on average, once a week, yet it still manages to continue growing and morphing into the gargantuan super-book it now is. Progress with it has been slow, but good.

"crack the spine" featuring horribly-drawn spines and a jellyfish with the lyrics to Brand New's "Seventy Times Seven." "leave this page blank on purpose," which I didn't exactly do. I cut up strips of cardstock and glued them on, then splattered bleach on the page, which made it look all cool and bleach-y.

"glue, staple, or tape these pages together" I did all three by covering it with electrical tape, covering the font with transparent tape, gluing the previous page on top, and then stapling the top of the page. I often forget about this page, even though it's really cool looking.

 "document your dinner," or lunch. I went out for sushi with some friends (one of which has a WTJ) and poured miso soup, soy sauce, chipotle sauce, chicken terriyaki, rice, salad, and other dishes all over the page then smudged it and kept the chop sticks and menue and glued those in. The poor waitress probably thought I was having a mental breakdown.

"test page for pens, paints, markers, or art supplies." This page has been constantly changing since I got the journal. I actually had to go through my pen/pencil cup a few months back and tested all of them on this page. A few Christmas stamps also got tested out on the upper right corner.

"collect the stamps off of all your mail." This page disappointing me big time initially, because what little mail I get doesn't typically come with stamps on it. Then I stumbled across a small box filled with all these cool stamps I kept from a few years back, and the page now  has SOMETHING on it. Scope the sweet UP stamp.

the "sudden unpredictable movement" page also led the journal to a stand-up mixer (this page open) with a dough hook that tore a hole clear through the page. Poor thing didn't stand a chance.

"glue random items here" is making significant progress, although I've never featured this page. It has literally LAYERS of items, all of which either were found or retired from use, or just looked cool. The right page actually fell out from the weight of everything accumulating on it and I had to HOT GLUE the poor thing back in.

"create a drawing using a piece (or several pieces) of your hair." This page is kind of ground-breaking and a lot of conversation-starting and even more gag reflex-inducing. I really hate hair balls and piles of hair and cleaning hair brushes, anything like that, so literally taking a two-week-old ball of hair out of my shower drain and modpodging it into my journal was a huge feat of courage for me. The left page is still in progress, but I really love how it's turning out.

"stain log" and the blank page before it. The stain log has taken FOREVER to even get this far. Nothing is really stainable that I encounter everyday so when I find something that is I take advantage of it, although I normally forget. Does anyone know of anything that stains green? This page could use some green.

"figure out a way to freeze this page." I believe I posted a progress picture of this page (I actually did. Scope it here). I liked the way it was at first, but I love how it looks now. I ended up leaving the journal buried in snow for a day when I volunteered at a youth winter camp a few weeks back and all the pages bled into each other and got all soggy and awesome. It looks like a light leak.

 "slide the journal (this page face-down) down a long hallway." I also posted the progress for this page and promised an explanation. While cleaning said youth room, we took a TON of glow-in-the-dark-stars off the ceiling, and I figured I would stick them in my journal. I really love this page because it just looks rad.

The poor book is getting so fat and out of control. I also lost the writing on the bottom edge when I ran a paint roller (covered in paint) over the bottom, which bled into the book. You can see it on a few pages, at the bottom of the pages.

 The binding is SO CLOSE to just falling apart at the seams. This is also the journal splayed out naturally. I don't know why it thinks it can just do this in front of everyone on the internet. Geeze. No discretion.

I'll keep adding tidbits as time progresses, but it's growing so fragile that I have to limit how much I work on it at once, and I definitely can't carry it around with me anymore - it doesn't fit in any of my bags!

Wreck This Journal Processes

I've decided to limit the Wreck This Journal updates to approximately once-a-month, but that doesn't mean I can't share the pages in progress and some of my more obscure methods for wrecking the crud out of this book!

This was a spur-of-the-moment wreck, in which I took the journal to the car wash with me and let it catch the mist from the wash. I also opened it up to the "take this book into the shower with you" page and sprayed it with water and the cleanser wash, and because I was barefoot the entire time, I stomped on the "stand here" page a couple times with my wet feet. This sufficiently wrecked the journal.

"slide the journal (this page down) down a long hallway" I had previously done this page down my home's main hallway and down a hallway which my memory now fails to recall, but I decided to do it one more time, on a dusty floor of a youth room I was helping redecorate. we had been working with pallets, so the floor was super dusty and it shows on the page incredibly well. I have now since completed this page, which I will further elaborate on in my next update! There's just something satisfying beyond explanation about sliding a fragile object, such as a book, across a floor for a period of time. (I also kicked it around a bit, but we won't tell anyone that. oops!)

Unfortunately, I never got the chance to mail the journal to myself while it was still small, so shipping would now cost me more than I'd like to pay for a few dings and scratches, so I just slapped a USPS sticker on the back in a half-hearted attempt at being witty. The back of my journal isn't nearly as cool as the front :(

If I remember, I'll be getting a new update up here in a few weeks or so. There has been a ton of small progress in my journal and I'm beginning to become really proud of what it has become. It's like an art project, really. One that I get to wage war on and beat into the ground, but art nonetheless. Merriment!

Wreck This Journal 2nd Post!

I almost forgot, but I've just passed my one month of ownership with my Wreck This Journal! I haven't been obsessively working on it as I did after I first got it, but I have been putting work into it in small increments. It's getting so FAT! I'm starting to become concerned for its overall well-being because it's just so huge!

I even had to adjust the string closure for it because the loop of string I had before just wasn't cutting it anymore. I have to wrap this piece around the button a few times to get it to stay put. Poor thing!

I'm really glad I wrote on the edges of the book right after I got it, because there is NO WAY I would be able to accomplish that now. 

I think I'm most proud of this page. I took some watercolours and let them bleed into each other, then used my handy-dandy inkwell pen to outline the story of Creation. I absolutely adore it. Also, the warning and acknowledgements page. More watercolours.

"Press Leaves and Other Found Objects." I just really enjoy looking at this page. Also, scope the little pieces of flower gathering in the spine. I love it.

"Draw Lines While In Motion." I kept putting this page off out of fear of it not coming out good enough for my liking, but I finally conquered it and I think it turned out kind of awesome. I drew the lines in ballpoint pen while in the car on a winding mountain road, then traced over the lines with sharpie and inkwell, and watercoloured the squares.

One of the "more ways to wreck this journal" pages: cover with things of your favourite colour (blue), "make a paper chain" and the half-completed "collect fruit stickers here." The blue page still needs a TON more work.

"Bring this book in the shower with you." This was one of the first journal tasks I completed, but the blank page just kept staring at me with a daunting challenging gaze. So I watercoloured it, too. Can you tell I really like watercolours?

Another "more ways to wreck" page: cover with tea bags (needs more work) and "sew this page." Also needs more work. I'm really stumped as to what I'm going to do with them, though.

"Make a mess. clean it up." The left side is watercolours and pastels all thrown haphazardly onto the page and topped off with white acrylic paint splatters and soggy cardboard chunks. Right side is the pastels and watercolours lined up, with lines of white acrylic and a solid cardboard piece. I have no idea how I came up with this idea, but I kind of like it. I'll probably do more with it.

"Trace your hands." I finished this page a few weeks ago, but I don't really pay much attention to it, so I barely realized it's done. Or almost done.

Another "more ways to wreck" page: bubblewrap a page! I slapped this on the back of the "draw with glue" page.

"Figure out a way to freeze this page." I stained it with watered-down ink and painted snowflakes on it with acrylic and glittered the instruction portion, but most of the ink came out in the water. I'll have to redo it once it's defrosted.

"Draw lines using abnormal writing utensils.." this page started as lines drawn with various shades of oil and acrylic paints dipped with dental floss, straws, and Christmas candy cane tubes (the ones that hold Reese's and stuff like that), but I ended up just taking my fingers to it and making a mess. it was so unbelievably therapeutic.

"Write a list of more ways to wreck this journal." in case you were wondering what the rest were. I've only even started half of these.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, my journal started off as the paper bag version of the new journal, but you can't even tell. The cover is some magazine clippings of woodlands and such. 

Coconut Oil & Its Myriad Uses: A Love Affair

I purchased my first jar of coconut oil earlier this year (sometime in April) from a Trader Joe's after hearing about what a wonderful natural product is. Long story short: I'm hooked, and show no signs of giving it up any time soon. Just a brief (I'll try to keep it at that) list of what I use it for: cooking oil (makes INCREDIBLE French toast), makeup remover (it allegedly helps eyelashes grow and repair themselves from mascara's damaging effects), ear lobe moisturizer (I have my lobes stretched to 3/4" and it wards off "ear cheese"), cuticle oil, chapped lip rescuer, ashy elbow moisturizer, additive in smoothies and protein shakes, and for my dog, I use it to keep his nose moisturized and fur soft and shiny. BUT the main reason I got into it and the one that has yet to leave me hanging: HAIR. I use it as a deep conditioner twice a week and as a leave-in after every wash. My hair-cutter-person even noticed that my normally damaged and split hair was somehow smoother and healthier. Thank you, coconut oil.

Anyways, my regimen goes as follows:
My go-to CO comes from Trader Joe's, in a 16 fluid ounce glass jar. The price ranges from $5-$6, I can never remember exactly how much it is.

 Note that the only ingredient is organic VIRGIN coconut oil. The "virgin" is vital, because unrefined coconut oil holds more benefits than that which has been bleached and purified.

 The consistency is similar to lard or vegetable shortening, and melts upon contact with skin. I use about a handful for each deep conditioning treatment and about a dime-sized chunk for each leave-in. For the deep treatment, I melt a huge wad of it in my hands and slather it all over my hair, focusing on the ends. I then use a paddle brush to disperse it and detangle my hair. I let it sit about an hour, then shampoo! It has washed out clean for me every time, regardless of which shampoo used.

 BUT while we're on the topic of shampoo, I figured I'd take a moment to boast on my all-time favorite brand: Organix. Every other wash, I switch up the order between the two following varieties:

One wash, I'll use the biotin shampoo/keratin conditioner, and the next I'll use keratin shampoo/biotin conditioner. I just like switching things up and the two varieties combined just make my hair feel FANTASTIC.

Also, another healthy happy hair tip: take Biotin supplements. Biotin aids in cellular health and production, and helps hair grow healthy and strong. 

But since this post is mainly for coconut oil, I'd say, give it a shot and see if it works for you. Personally, my hair is super strong and healthy, and so much easier to manage when I use coconut oil as opposed to not using it. I hope it has the same effects for you!

Wreck This Journal: 1st Update!

After three years of desiring a Wreck This Journal, but lacking the justification to pay $20 for one, I finally found one, at a Marshalls, for $7! Of course I HAD to pounce on this opportunity.
This post comes a few days shy of two weeks of ownership. I've had a blast filling in pages and wreaking havoc on this entertaining book. Fall semester just ended, too, so hopefully I'll have more time and creativity to put in more work.
Here is my journal (right) compared to a brand new one I bought for my best friend (left):

and how thick mine already is compared to a brand new one. almost three times the size!

"Poke Holes in this Page using a Pencil." I initially intended to leave this page blank with holes in it, but after binge listening to Incubus' "Morning View" I decided that doing a lyrical adaptation of "Wish You Were Here" was so much more appropriate. Inspired by "The sky resembles a backlit canopy with holes punched in it." I also watercolored the page and added glitter glue to the punched out holes. I love the outcome!

"Color this Entire Page." I couldn't think of a single way to adequately use these two pages, until I realized that Brand New's "Deja Entendu" is one of the most compellingly beautiful album covers ever. So here ya go.

                            

"Make a Sudden, Destructive, Unpredictable, Movement with the Journal." I intially just wanted to incinerate the edges of this page, but I realized that's boring, so I ran it over with my car. It flattened the book to the point I almost thought I couldn't salvage it, but left a gnarly tire mark. I kind of love it.

"Tear this Page Out. Put it in Your Pocket. Put it Through the Wash. Stick it Back In." I colored the page before I ripped it out, folded it, and stuck it in my jeans. BEWARE: Wreck This Journal pages will practically deteriorate when put through a wash cycle. It's a wonder mine was able to be reconstructed. This page definitely got "wrecked."

"Lose This Page."/"A Page for Four-Letter Words." It almost hurt to let half of the first page go, but it looks pretty sweet. Also, there are a LOT of four-letter words! I got all of mine from magazines, and I love the collage look of the page.

"Draw With Glue." Also one of my favorite pages! This one was inspired by this pin I found on Pinterest. I LOVE LOVE LOVE how it came out.

"Cover this Page in Tape." I covered the right in black duct tape, then used strips on the left, and covered all the negative white space with clear Scotch tape, after doodling a bit on the left page. Again, I love this page. The duct tape also adds a sturdy thickness to this particular page. 

I hope to keep updating as I continue with my Wreck This Journal, but I'm having so much fun, I just might forget! 

Bead-azzled a sun catcher garland!

First post! Phew, about time, there.
If you must know one things about how I spend my spare time, know I am a moderate-to-avid Pinterest user.
I dabble here and there and spend only a handful of moments a day scrolling aimlessly through the categories, pinning and liking, but rarely actually doing any of the things that catch my attention.
That changes today!
I am a child at heart, so of course a pin about pony bead sun catchers would catch my eye and stir up excitement in me.
I even had a tub of GLITTER pony beads that have been collecting dust since my freshman year in high school when I thought I could sell beaded bracelets for fun.
So I gathered my supplies and set out to make the most captivating sun catchers to ever see daylight.

Supplies used:
12-compartment muffin tin
glitter pony beads (various colors)
oven (obviously)
metal rivets

I don't have photos from the beginning of the process because it was only until after they were done that I decided "WHOA this is really cool I should blog it nothing this cool has ever been done before", so I only have photos from the cooling process and after

I started by arranging the beads by colors (warm, cool, monochrome, random, etc.) in the muffin tin and placing a rivet towards the edge of each soon-to-be-sun catcher.

All the while, the oven was a-preheatin' away at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

I stuck them in the oven, set the timer for 25 minutes, turned on as many fans as possible, and prepared for a gross and melted plastic smelling two dozen minutes. TO MY SURPRISE, the chemical-ly plastic stench wasn't too overwhelming and dissipated within about 15 minutes of removing the pan from the oven. After setting the pan on the patio table, it took about 10 minutes for them to cool and once the pan was flipped, out they popped! like magic!

Solid purple and warm tone, cooling. GLITTER

All cooled!

Catching sunlight.

Strung and hung on my window to catch morning light.

I'm so pleased with the outcome that I can easily see myself redoing this project as a gift for my twin nieces' nursery.

They just hold a certain whimsy that I adore oh-so much.