I was having one of those weeks where everything felt hard. You know those days where something should’ve been simple, but everything went sideways.

I could feel my anxiety rising and my heart feeling like it might jump out of my chest. When this happens, I know what I need to do… I’ve done it many times…. I need to write it out. I need to shut the door, and quiet the noise around me and in my head.

And my favorite way to do that is to write it all out in my journal…. like a brain dump slash prayer. And to find a place that I can see the things that I’m grateful for.

I also found some rest in the words of Morgan Harper Nichols in her daily affirmations app on my phone. As I was getting my journal out, the notification popped up and her words prompted me to take a deep breath.

She writes ” Keep taking moments to breathe however you can. Keep paying attention to the small things that make you feel grounded. Keep noticing where you feel loved and free to just be.”

I’ll share more about it and the peaceful process of this journal page in the video.

I hope today’s project gives you permission to just rest and take a deep breath and always know that you are loved.

Supplies used:

1. My handmade journal
2. Liquitex gesso – white and black
3. Liquitex fluid matte medium
4. Acrylic paint – raw sienna, burnt sienna, dark teal, unbleached titanium, olive green, prism violet
5. Grumbacher raw umber
6. Neocolor 1 crayons, Colored pencils
7. Soft pastel pencil and Charcoal pencil ex. soft, Stabilo All pencil
8. Brayer, dip pen and black soft pastel stick
9. Collage paper

Stencils used: THESE WILL BE ON SALE THIS WEEK

1. Paint circles 5×8
2. Playful pattern marks 5×8
3. simple background 7 5×8
4. simple background 8 5×8
5. simple background 1 5×8
6. carved sphere 5×8
7. background script 5×8