Artline Monday - Self care ideas

January is a great time to get into some new good habits and indulging in some self care is definitely on the list of things I want to do more regularly this year.  I realised at the end of last year that I hadn't really been looking after myself or taking the time to do the things I enjoy so I decided to change that in 2019.  If you feel like you have been neglecting yourself a little then I have some easy and inexpensive ideas for you to try!

Self care ideas - created with Artline pens

If you are super busy then it can be hard to find the time to look after yourself and recharge your batteries but if you can squeeze in one of these activities once a week or even better daily then they should help you feel a little more pampered or refreshed.

Relax and unwind

Have a shower or bath

Whichever you prefer or can fit into your day, use a squirt of your favourite shower gel and wash your worries away!

Movie night

When was the last time you sat through a whole film without keeping one eye on your phone and scrolling through Facebook or other social media?  Grab some snacks, put your mobile out of reach, turn off the lights and pop on a film.  

Music

Play your favourite song or album, sing and dance along if the mood takes you.  There's nothing like escaping into music to bring a smile to your face.

Be kind to yourself

Read

Discover a new book or revisit an old favourite, take the time to sit and devour a chapter or two.  A good book is like a mini holiday if it sweeps you away to a different world or life.

Take a nap

Honestly naps are the best! Twenty minutes or half an hour curled up on the sofa is my ultimate treat.

Enjoy your favourite hot drink

Grab a cup or giant mug of your favourite hot drink, sit down, sip slowly and relax, warm your hands and your soul.  

Get warm and cosy

This is just for the next few months while it is still pretty cold outside, invest in a pair of think, warm socks to keep your feet nice and toasty and wrap yourself in a jumper or cardigan to chase away the chill of winter!  If you are at home you can add a blanket around your shoulders or a dressing gown, bonus points for a hot water bottle too!

I used lots of Artline products to create this spread including fineliners, metallic markers and Stix drawing and brush pens, lettering and doodling are another couple of things I like to do during my "me time" so this was a fun way to spend my morning!  

If you would like some more ideas to help you relax or battle through the rest of January then you can read my Ways to relax and January motivation posts for a bit of inspiration. If you fancy taking up a new hobby then check this post out for some ideas as well.

Artline Tuesday - Getting back to school ready

So there is just over a week to go until the new school year starts, are you ready?  If not, don't worry!  I have some tips today to help you be prepared for the first day of term and make the most of the last few days of the holiday!

My back to school checklist

I always write myself a back to school checklist to make sure I get everything done and so I don't forget anything.  Grab a pen and write your own now, there is still enough time left to get organised!  

My first section is usually for the things I need to buy like uniforms and school supplies, I use a highlighter to make little check boxes and then list the items I need.  Once I have brought them I can add a tic or cross to the box so I know that it has been completed.

If you still need to buy your school stationery check out my Back to school essentials post for some ideas!

To buy & To do

The To do section is for things that need to be done at some point over the break, these aren't time sensitive they just need to be finished before school starts again.  I only have a couple of things on this list, the first is to label the uniforms with my Artline laundry marker.  I used this pen last year to write my kids names on their clothes and it withstood repeated washing over the school year and I didn't have to rewrite anything, it was fantastic!

The second is to check everyone's diaries for term dates and inset days so I can add them all to my calendar. 

Week before, Day before & 1st day of school

On the second page I have a timetable for getting back to school ready.  It is split into three sections:

Week before

• Hair cuts
• Check shopping lists (have I brought everything?)
• Get back into a routine (bedtimes and early mornings again)

Day before

• Leave out uniforms the night before
• Pack bags
• Pack PE kits
• Book Bag
• Set alarm
• Top up mobiles
• Charge phones

1st Day of school

• Wake up early
• Have breakfast
• Take photos (I love those back to school pics!)

If you follow these tips the first day of school should run smoothly and hopefully be less stressful than just trying to wing it.

If you are looking for things to keep your kids entertained over the last few days of summer then there are a couple of Artline competitions running at the moment.  They can join the Artline Heroes and design their own superhero mask, you can find the info here, and there are also some printable activities to keep them busy too.  This comp closes on the 31st August so make sure you enter before then!

The second competition is to design a pair of glasses with Scrivens and this is running until the 1st September, you can find all the details about it here.

I have really enjoyed spending the summer with my children, we've had so much fun and tried lots of new crafts and activities but I will admit I am kind of looking forward to being home alone again and enjoying some peace and quiet!  How about you?

Artline Monday - Christmas card calligraphy

It's December!  It's time to get your Christmas cards written and in the post!  Since I have been practising my lettering and calligraphy this year I thought I would try and use my new skills on my cards and share some hints and tips with you today.

Christmas calligraphy 

It's okay if you are a complete beginner, you don't need to have had months of practice to make your cards look fancy.  All you need is a good calligraphy pen and some paper to practice the words you want to write.

I suggest you sit at a table or desk and angle your paper, notebook or card slightly to the left if you are right handed and to the right if you are left handed.  This will give you room to rest your arm on the table while you write and gives you better control over your pen.

On the down strokes you need to apply a little pressure to the pen to make your lines look nice and thick and then a light touch on the up strokes for much thinner lines.  Try doing these strokes a few times until you get used to writing this way with a calligraphy pen.

Practising in my notebook

The next stage is to practice the words you need to write on your cards and envelopes.  If you don't have an idea of what kind of font you want to use take a look on Google or Pinterest for some inspiration, just search for Christmas calligraphy and see what takes your fancy.  

Once you have found a style you like try and copy it on your paper or notebook and repeat until you are happy with how it looks.  When you are confident move on to writing it on your Christmas card or envelope.  Go slowly and take your time with each letter, rushing through the word makes you more likely to make a mistake.  

Depending on how many cards you need to send you might want to write them in batches instead of doing them all at once.  My hand seems to cramp up if I spend too long writing so I like to do five or six cards at a time and then take a break.  This also keeps my handwriting nice and neat as it gets messier the longer I write!

When I was practising I used a 3mm calligraphy nib but this was a bit big for inside my cards so I changed down to a 1mm nib instead.  The smaller nib was the perfect size for the cards and envelopes, leaving me plenty of room to write what I wanted to on both.

Slow and steady

I am only writing the recipients names in calligraphy on my envelopes, I will be adding their address in a clear, print font so it will be easy for the postmen and women to read when they are delivering my cards.  I used an Artline calligraphy marker for the names as it is permanent ink and water resistant and I will be writing the addresses with an Artline Supreme permanent marker for the same reasons.  These inks should withstand any rain or snow the cards might encounter along the way and not run or become illegible.

So, are you feeling inspired?  Will you being giving this a go with your Christmas cards?  I think I am going to go and finish mine off now so I can pop them in the post before the rush later in the month!

Artline Monday - Bullet Journal basics

Bullet journaling is, according to it's creator Ryder Carroll, an analog system for the digital age.  The idea behind it is to help you track the past, organise the present and plan for the future but a bullet journal is more than just a planner.  It can be anything you want it to be including a sketch book, to do list, notebook, diary and journal, that is the beauty of it!  It is also really easy to set one up, all you need is a notebook and some pens.

My notebook and Artline pens & highlighters

Ideally your notebook should have dotted or squared pages but if you have a lined or plain notebook sat on your shelf you can use that too. 

Index

The first page you need to create is your Index, this will be where you write the page numbers for each section of your bullet journal.  My favourite way to write headers in my journal is to print the word using a highlighter first and then write over the top of it in a smaller, cursive font, I think it looks really pretty.

There are three main sections in a bullet journal, these are the Future Log, the Monthly Log and the Daily Log.  These sections are bones of your bullet journal, anything you add after these are the meat, so-to-speak.

Future Log

Your Future log is an overview of the next six months.  You just need to split your two page spread into six equal size boxes and list the first six months you want to work with.  I have started mine in November as we are already in October. You can use these pages to plan ahead, add any birthdays, reminders and events to the corresponding month and this will give you an idea of what you will have going on.  You can add a little calendar for each month but I decided to pop some inspirational quotes on mine instead.

Monthly Log

The Monthly log is your month at a glance.  On the first page you write down the days of the month and then make a note of anything you need to do or remember.  Some of these things will already be on your Future Log so you can just transfer them across at the start of the month.  I have highlighted the weekends on this page as it helps me break down the month into weeks easily.

On the second page of this log you can get creative!  I have given myself space to list my goals, kids reminders, blog stuff and my tasks for the month but you can put anything on this page that you want to keep track of, accomplish or remember.  You can change this up every month too, if you find the page isn't working for you one month you can try something different the following month until you find your perfect system.

Daily Log

The third section is your Daily Log, this is usually a two page spread set up to plan and record your day.  I have a timeline on the first page, it starts at 6am when I get up and goes on until when I go to bed in the evening.  I use this to visualise my day so I can see what I need to do, where I need to be and at what time.  

I also have two more sections on this page, they are for the weather and a reminder of the goals I want to complete each day.  

Again, on the second page you can do what ever you want!  I divided up the page using a highlighter and the squares on my paper which is a quick and easy way to create a layout.  If you are using plain paper you could use a ruler to make your sections or draw them freehand, your bullet journal doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to be useful!

Food tracking, memories, brain dump & more

My first section on this page is for me to record the food I have eaten and then the next two are for my best and worst moments of the day. 

Brain dump is where I write down things I need to remember and my Christmas countdown is just there because I'm childishly excited for the festive season!

I have a small section for my shopping list, I add anything on here that I either need to buy that day or things I am running out of and will need to buy when I do the weekly shop.

My last section is to record my mood that day, I am still doing my year in pixels as well but I wanted to keep everything together in the bullet journal instead of spreading them out over two books.

Ideas for your daily log could be:

• A doodle a day
• Exercise 
• Meditation
• Reminders
• Reading log
• Quote of the day

If you don't think you need a whole page or two for your Daily Log then you could create a weekly spread instead.  It is up to you to decide what would work best for you or try out a few different things and see how they feel.

Bullet journal symbols

On my Index page I also added a key for the symbols you use in the logs as part of this system.  They are a dot for tasks, a circle for events and a line for notes.  You can also use an asterisk to signify something as important.  Once you have completed a task you change the dot into an X.  Any tasks that you haven't completed need to be considered, is it something that still needs to be done and is it worth your time doing it?  If you no longer need to complete the task you can cross it through, if you decide to complete it at a later date you change the dot into a > to show you have moved it onto your Monthly Log.  If you think the task will be completed at a much later date, like in a month or two then you use this < to show it has been moved onto your Future Log.  This is called migration and it is an important way to help you manage your time and whittle down your to do lists.

So what do you think of Bullet Journalling?  Will you be giving it a go or are you already a seasoned user? 

Artline Monday - Study tips

As it is still the beginning of the school year now is the perfect time to get into some good study habits.  A little bit of preparation can save you some time and stress later on so let's get started!

My study tips list created with Artline pens

When it comes to studying I've always found it easier to break down what I need to learn into small chunks and then take a short break after completing each section as a reward.  You could go and make yourself a drink, give yourself a little treat, go for quick walk to stretch your muscles or try a breathing exercise to relax before hitting the books again.

Colour coding is a great way to make your notes look more interesting, easier to read and helps you to highlight important information.  I've also read that you are more likely to remember something written in blue ink than black ink so it's worth giving that a go and try writing the most useful things in blue ink to see if it helps you.

Break things down, colour code,
organise supplies & make notes

My favourite thing about studying is the stationery!  You definitely need some nice pens in a variety of styles and colours.  Artline fineliners, highlighters and markers all make fab notes and will add a splash of colour to your revision.  Post it notes, page flags and a planner or notebook are also essential.

When it comes to going back over your work it is worth making some notes to help the information sink in.  Writing something down once is said to be the equivalent of reading it seven times and putting the info down in your own words also makes it easier to recall and understand. 

Use mind maps & don't stress out

Mind maps are a fun way to see how things connect when studying.  They are especially helpful for people who prefer a visual learning tool and as they are both analytical and creative, they engage both sides of your brain.  Mind maps are a good way to see the structure of the subject you are studying, the central idea goes in the middle of the page and then the main branches are for all the subtopics which then lead onto the smaller subtopics.  Make sure you use a large size piece of paper like A4 or A3, turn it to landscape orientation so you have plenty of room to create your map and try to incorporate some colour for each set of branches/subtopics.

Finally, don't stress out!  If you are feeling overwhelmed take a proper break and talk to someone, share your woes and worries.  Sometimes just saying out loud what is bothering you can make you feel better.   You could also try going for a long walk outside to clear your brain, the exercise will release some endorphins and help you come back to things in a better frame of mind.

Do you have any study tips to share with us?  I'd love to know!

Nu Notebook hack - adding a pocket to your notebook

As I have mentioned before I love notebooks so when Nuco contacted me about their new website and blog I jumped at the chance to work with them.  They sent me this gorgeous pink Nu Era pop notebook so I could share with you my little hack for adding a pocket to a notebook to keep your bits and pieces safe.

Nu Notebook - Era pop journal

I usually use notebooks this size to plan projects but I like to add a pocket to hold receipts and scraps of paper so they won't fall out or get lost in my bag.

Here is how I do it:

Pretty polka dot envelope

Step one: Find a pretty envelope and seal it.

Make your mark

Step two: Decide how big you want your pocket to be.  Draw a line to mark where you need to cut off the excess.

Draw a semicircle

Step three: To make it easier to remove the things you put in the pocket, use something round to draw a semicircle in the open end of the envelope and cut the shape out.

The finished pocket

Step four: Glue the pocket into your notebook.  I also glued a project life card onto the front of mine to make it look cute.

The pocket in use

If you can't find a nice envelope then you could use a plain white one and decorate it with washi tape or stickers. You could even make your own with some scrapbook paper, there are lots of tutorials on Pinterest to help you out.

Nuco's new website will be launching near the end of the month so I will let you know when it is live if you want to pop over and take a look.

Do you have a favourite notebook hack or any hints and tips? I would love to know!

Mr Philofaxy saved the day!

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's  Mr Philofaxy and he has saved the day! You might remember that I asked for help removing a pen mark from my Original Filofax the other week, if not you can read the post here.  I called on Mr Philofaxy A.K.A Steve Morton and he came to my rescue!

This is the offending mark I found.  Right on

the front cover!

Steve suggested using a cotton bud dipped in alcohol to try first and to test it on a hidden part of the leather just in case it damaged it.  I have had a vodka miniature sat on the shelf for years and years so I decided to break the seal and use a little of that.  

I rubbed the vodka moistened cotton bud on the inside of the back cover and then left it for a little while to check nothing happened to the leather or finish.  It looked ok so I started to rub the pen mark gently and could see it getting lighter.  I did have to rub it a bit harder to get all of the ink off but this took off a little of the finish too.  I guess I hadn't rubbed the test area hard enough so if you are ever in the same situation I recommend really giving it some welly when you do your pre removal tests so you get a proper idea of how it will affect your Filofax.

The pen mark is gone! You can barely see 

where it was.

I much prefer a slightly lighter patch of leather on the front than the black pen mark and you can only really notice it in certain lights so overall I would say it was a success.  Lots of lovely people on Facebook suggested products I could try to restore the finish but to be honest I would rather leave it as it is than risk making it worse.

I have angled my filo for this photo so you

can see where it has taken the 

shine off the leather.

I did contact Filofax themselves first to ask if they had any ideas on removing the ink.  They got back to me quickly but said they couldn't recommend anything because of the Original's finish so I would like to say a great big thank you to Steve for his help and to everyone who commented on my post on Facebook and here on my blog.....

Thank you!!