Secrets Journal No. 3

I've been on the hunt for a new "Secrets" Journal - my version of Post Secrets. I don't send them (I'd like to send some one day), but trying to distill things into one sentence with the aid of imagery has helped me so much.

I do one a year, so this is my third journal.

I looked at Wal-Mart (they stopped carrying the perfect one - recycled paper, brown, 8 1/2 x 11, cheap), Hobby Lobby, Michael's, the Dollar Tree, you name it - I've looked there.

So, yesterday we were wandering through Wal-Mart (which I normally hate) and I thought about using a 3-subject ringed notebook (which is what I used last year). Then, I looked at the school materials that were all on sale and hit the jackpot - I bought two packages of lined notebook paper (on sale for 92 cents each, 300 pages total, which would mean 150 b/c I glue them together to make them thicker/stronger) and a 3-ring 1" binder (on sale for 82 cents). Total cost? Cheapest yet - a little under $3.

Last night I got my overstuffed binder out and pulled out dozens and dozens of magazine clippings (some are reserved for painting inspiration, but I have three separate categories just for collages) and got to work.

I made my own modge podge (equal parts Elmer's glue and water - works wonderfully!), found a cheap brush, and glued a few pages together. I also decorated the front of the notebook.

It is easy for me to see patterns, colors, and subjects and how they all fit together. It's soothing, like a puzzle. There's only one best way that things fit together, and I love finding out which layout it is.

I've got a few pages done already, and of course I already have secrets that need to be written down so I can stop carrying them around in my head of every minute of every day.

There's been a lot dumped on me of late -- and here I thought last year was rough. :/

At least now if I can hit school sales, I can have plenty of secret journals to pour my secrets into.