It has been ridiculously long since I did a Smorgasbord Sundays post, and you know what? I sorely missed writing posts that shared another side of me that isn’t beauty-related (like my knitting posts)!
Okay, so I won’t be able to go back to posting these each week like I did before, but I’m ready to bring it back every once and a while.
Things are very hectic on my side of the pond, and it’s not just because of Christmas coming (although that has made things busier).
I’ve been juggling a lot of things – a full-time job, freelance work, hanging out with my boyfriend, general holiday craziness, and a new chapter in my life!
I bought my first home! This is a huge deal to me because I’m done with renting and paying someone else’s mortgage.
I’m looking forward to it, even though there’s so much packing and a lot of work before and after the move. It seems very daunting right now since I’m in the initial stages of preparing for the move in 2014, but, as with any challenge in life, you just have to step up to the plate, take it on, and come out the other side. It’ll all be worth it in the end.
Now for the real reason for today’s Smorgasbord Sundays post! 🙂
I picked up Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith recently because I think it’ll be a fun, carefree project to relieve stress and tap into my creativity. (You may have already heard me mentioning this if you follow me on Instagram and saw the Wreck This Journal video I posted.)
The premise of the journal really speaks to me because the focus is on happiness rather than perfection. If you follow Swatch And Learn, you’ll know that philosophy is one I heavily promote because I believe in it and try to follow it in my daily life.
There are written instructions on each page that ask you to do a lot of random, fun things. You can be as creative as you dare, and there’s room for interpretation, which is what art is all about.
As you complete each page, you add your unique spin and personality. Check out YouTube videos about Wreck This Journal to see how this project really lets your inner artist shine.
I’m very excited about this project, and I’ll be sharing photos each step of the way. I’ll probably show pages on social media, but I plan to revive my Smorgasbord Sundays posts with some of my Wreck This Journal completed pages.
Check out the rest of this post to learn more about it and to see a couple of pages I’ve already worked on.
I purchased two from Chapters. They’re $16 CAD each, but if you order them online, you can get them for $11-something CAD.
Since I wanted to work on it immediately and during the time I spend at my mom’s for Christmas, I paid the full price in-store.
The red-mesh one is for me. I like how it’s vibrant and looks textured. However, over time, I plan to put stuff on the cover to really make it more personalized.
I got the black one for my boyfriend for Christmas. We’re going to do a few pages together.
I’m actually really excited to see what he comes up with because he has this unique ability to draw a mirror image of anything without even trying! (He can use both hands to write words simultaneously, and one side will be a mirror image!)
I’ve never known anyone who has that skill, and since he hasn’t really tried his hand at artistic projects, this might just be something that’ll put the spotlight on his talent.
I love books, especially when they’re new and crisp. But this book is designed to make you lose inhibitions and try new things, which I find both scary and exciting!
It was pretty funny because when I first saw the cover, I used my hand to wipe near the title. I thought there was a little hair between the “H” and “I”. (You can see it in the photo.) But, it turns out it’s part of the design.
I literally laughed when I realized this because it just shows you how I wanted this book to be pristine, yet I obviously need to learn to just let it go for the sake of self development when working through this book.
I love how the ‘tape’ around the title is embossed, which is pretty neat – gives it a home-made feel.
Where it says “START HERE” on the cover with an arrow, I almost put some tape on that corner of the book to follow that direction. However, since I’ll be covering the front with something else later, I decided not to. Oh, look at my rebellious self! Hahahaha! *Rolls eyes*
Since I need some markers to label my moving boxes, and I wanted to some to use in Wreck This Journal, I picked up some Sharpies from Michael’s.
They have a brush tip, so you can create fine, thick, and bold strokes. You have more freedom than the regular marker tips.
When I saw that there were neon Sharpies, I just had to buy those, too! Who doesn’t like neon? (These have regular tips.)
I got a pack of Crayola pencil crayons to give me more drawing options.
Then I saw they had special pencil crayons that create watercolour effects! I couldn’t refuse!
See all the different ways you can use these watercolour pencil crayons:
While at Michael’s, I also found this Tapeffiti decorative tape set on sale. I thought they’d be perfect to use somewhere in and on my Wreck This Journal.
Love the houndstooth and the pink/black floral lace!
Cupcakes!
Animal print? I’m so there!
The title page looks like this.
I really love that statement: To Create Is To Destroy. That’s so true, and it’s very inspiring!
I wanted to test out some of the Sharpie markers, so I thought this would be a good page to experiment on.
Without planning anything, this is what I doodled randomly. (Haha, I’m not sure why, but I decided to draw feet. I’m not a foot fetishist!)
Just in case any of you are planning to use Sharpies in a Wreck This Journal, be forewarned that the markers bleed through the page onto the other side.
I was a bit disappointed because I wanted to use the markers throughout the whole journal, but now, it looks like I’ll need to buy regular markers. (If there are activities where you can mark up the other side of the page, well, maybe I can use them.)
Back of the title page
The next page has a warning. I love it!
While talking on the phone with my mom, I spontaneously coloured the warning page.
There are no page numbers in the book, so you have to add your own, which is another activity. Instead of numbering them in order, I’m going to write random numbers as I work on the pages.
That’s the fun thing about this book. You don’t have to work through it in order. You can open up the book randomly and do that page.
I think Wreck This Journal would be a great gift for anyone, but especially for those who want to express themselves creatively!
Watch for future posts on here and social media for the pages I complete or am working on. Also, I plan to collaborate with Marta for some pages. It’ll be a fun ‘twin project’. And, if I get permission, I’ll post photos of the pages that my boyfriend completes, so you can see how each Wreck It Journal turns out completely different!
Note: I’ve added a separate category section called “Wreck This Journal”, so you can easily find my progress posts in the future.
Have you tried the Wreck This Journal? What is a creative project you’re currently working on? When was the last time you painted, drew, or wrote something for fun?
Congradulations on the house! I ‘ve never hear of wreck this journal before but I ‘m very intrigued.
Hey @messy_manis!
Thanks – Wreck This Journal is new to me, too, and it’s just the thing I needed to work on during the holidays and beyond. It’ll be lots of fun!
I have never heard of Wreck This Journal before, but now I want one! Also art supply drool- I want all of them!
Hey Fedoraharp!
I could seriously spend hours in craft stores. There are so many things to see, and I find it inspiring to even see the supplies and ideas for projects. It must be a lot of fun to work at a place like Michael’s! Or maybe it’s dangerous because it would make you want to buy everything in sight! 😉
Congratulations on your first house! So exciting!
This book looks great, I’ve been wanting to buy one as well.
Hey Soraya!
It’s exciting, but also really scary! More responsibility, but it feels great to be investing in my future.
If you get one of the Wreck This Journals, please share with me your completed pages. I find it very interesting to see how others finish the activities!
sounds like fun
congrats with your new house, new beginning clean beginning
make a list , what is on every box in case you cant find something right away you know in witch box you will find it, and also you know if something is missing
Hey Icequeen81!
Thank you so much! 🙂 It’s soooo much work even just organizing everything and putting them into boxes. I’ve used your tip and have written down what’s in each box. Haha, now I just have to be careful not to lose the list! 😉 (That would be too funny!)
indeed that can happen too, no writte on your laptop as backup, your smath phone, it cant go wrong
Again, good idea! Haha, so now I need backups not only of nail polishes and beauty products, but also of lists! 😉
Congrats on purchasing your first home! It’s so nice when you finally have a home of your own after years of renting. Wreck This Journal sounds interesting…I look forward to seeing your updates!
Hey Jess!
Yes, I’ve been renting for quite some time, so it feels good to finally have my own place. I see it as an investment in my future, and it’s nice that it’s stable. When you rent, you never really feel grounded because at any time, the landlord could sell the property or have different tenants stay. With my own place, I can feel more psychologically comfortable.
Ooh watercolor pencils!? 😀
This looks fun, love all the bright and colorful markers and tape and stuff
Congrats on the house!
Happy holidays!!
Hey Arathael!
I only just found out about the watercolour pencils when I shopped at Michael’s recently. I like the idea, and I’m anxious to try it out because it seems like it’s a better way to paint when you don’t want to carry around actual paints. Neater! We’ll see. I plan to try them out really soon.
Thank you, and a Merry Christmas to you! 🙂 Hope you enjoy the holidays and have a wonderful time!
Congrats on the new house! Thank you for sharing such a cool post!
Hey Melissa!
Thank you so much for your continual support. It means so much to me that you take the time out of your day to bring a smile to my face! 🙂
Congratulations on your new house! It’s such a big step, enjoy it!
I don’t know what a Wreck this Journal is, but it seems like a lot of fun.
About knitting, no new projects?? I really enjoyed that section last year, right now I’m beginning with a knitting board and plane basic scarves, but I got really inspired by your beanies, so I’m buying a round knitting board to make my own beanies.
Good luck with your very busy (and interesting, full of colour) holidays!!!!!!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Hey Angelina!
Thank you! I can’t wait to move into my new place. It’ll be a welcomed change, since I’ve been living at the same place now for over 5 years.
As far as knitting goes, I was in the process of knitting another beanie. Hehe, I have so much fun making those. This time, it’s a neon-yellow one, but I haven’t had much time to work on it. In a future Smorgasboard Sundays post, I’ll show it off, but that might not be for a while, since my priority is focused on preparing for the move. (Also, there are a few cool things I have lined up for 2014, so stay tuned!) 😉
I wish you a very Merry Christmas and the happiest New Year! have a great one!
You’ve reminded me that I bought a copy of Wreck This Journal like, 2 years ago and it’s just sitting there collecting dust! I’m definitely going to brush mine off and destroy it now. 😀
I love your Sharpie page, so cute!
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Hey Sarah!
Haha, yes, destroy it! 😉
When you bought the book years ago, did you do any of the pages? I’m still decorating the pages leading up to the instructions. After that, I plan to just do activities from random pages instead of going in order.
I want one of these so badly! By the way, would you ever consider posting some of your boyfriend’s work up too. Also, can’t wait to see future progress.
Hey Maddy!
Yes, I definitely plan to post some of his stuff, as long as he gives me permission to do so. I think it’ll be interesting to see how we’ll come up with completely different pages!
I want more Wreck this journal posts! 😀
Hey Julie!
I totally need to do more pages in that book, don’t I? I miss working on it. Things have been very topsy-turvy in my personal life, so I haven’t had too much time, but I think I should make the time because Wreck This Journal is very therapeutic.
First, congrats on the house! I’ve never heard of Wreck This Journal before, but it looks like something that I would love to do. It’s definitely an awesome idea. I’m for sure going to look up places that sells this so I can pick up one for me as well as for my son.
Hey Charity Rutenberg!
Thanks for the well wishes! 🙂 I’m so pleased with my new home. It isn’t a mansion (haha), but it suits me very well!
Have fun with the Wreck This Journal – you and your son will enjoy doing the activities together!
I love this concept and want the book. I need help unwinding the perfectionist in me. I can sympathize about the book cover thing, when I’m buying a new book/movie I examine each looking for the defect free.
Hey Tanyatopia!
Haha, sometimes I dig deep in the back of the shelf to get the book with a pristine cover. Once I was with my friend, who asked, “What are you doing?” I must’ve looked a little crazy. Hehe, there were about 6 books, but I needed to get the one from the back. 😉 Glad I’m not the only one!
love this
Hey Rebecca!
Same – I need to make some spare time to work on it. Haven’t done any in a while! 🙁 That will change soon!