Art Journal Catalysts

1. Spark

Messy Recipes: The Overthinker’s Guide to Making Art

Messy Recipes: The Overthinker’s Guide to Making Art

Workshop Replay Messy Recipes: The Overthinker's Guide to Making ArtThe workshop is for the perfectionist who chooses mess instead. It’s the perfect, practical antidote to overthinking. I’m a recovering perfectionist myself. Embracing the mess is a...

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Imperfect Face by Iris Fritschi-Cussens

Imperfect Face by Iris Fritschi-Cussens

OKYour challenge, should you choose to accept it: Draw and paint an imperfect face with simple raw art journaling techniques Action Steps Bring your imperfect, messy self, take what you need, and know...

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Three, Two, One

Three, Two, One

Explore ways to create pages with a simple formula of 3 colors, 2 words, and 1 image. This formula opens us up to endless possibilities to create unique layouts.

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Movement as a Distraction

Movement as a Distraction

We constantly are moving, doing, and staying busy in our daily lives. How can we carve away slivers of time for peace and creating? In this journal we will connect to a moment of calm in the midst of the chaos playing on contrast and complimentary colors to highlight this dichotomy in our lives.

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Color Interactions

Color Interactions

Explore how colors interact with each other. Experimenting with color in your journal helps you find brush strokes and color combinations you may never have thought to try before! Make rainbows, mix colors, and see which new colors you can make from the tubes of paint you already have!

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X Prompts + Sidekick Part I

X Prompts + Sidekick Part I

X#gmseasonofXDownload the season sidekick Save this PDF to your computer, print it out, and let it accompany you on your artistic journey this season. This PDF is...

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01 – Seeking Inspiration in Nature

01 – Seeking Inspiration in Nature

We are going out looking for inspiration in nature. In this lesson we will go out into our nearest patch of nature searching for treasure. We will look closely at leaves, plants, flowers or...

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Day 01 New

Day 01 New

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Create a new, dedicated home for your Messy May journey by binding an imperfect,...

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Day 28 Self

Day 28 Self

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Create a 1 page zine with the theme of your current self. My best advice for...

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Color & Paper Mixing by Roben-Marie Smith

Color & Paper Mixing by Roben-Marie Smith

MessYour challenge, should you choose to accept it: Gather papers by color and collage them into your sketchbook for project inspiration. Bonus Save this file to your computer, print it out, and...

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Transformation

Transformation

Moments #gmseasonofmoments Your challenge, should you choose to accept it: Create an art journal page using the word Transformation as the theme. Bonus points: Limit your palette...

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Starting Points

Starting Points

Select one simple starting point from nature and recreate it several times in different ways in your sketchbook.

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Recipe 18

Recipe 18

#getmessyrecipes Art Journal Water jar Brushes, one medium flat, one small flat Colorful, art paper scraps, magazine ephemera, scrapbooking paper, wrapping paper Gesso Paper towel or wet wipe 3...

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Time Capsule

Time Capsule

Spark#gmseasonofsparkLet’s go back in time! This gave me a great excuse to look through my old art journals and reference photos and match them up.  I’ve realized that sometimes I...

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Introspection Inspir-action

Introspection Inspir-action

Fill up your creative well and find ideas for your next art journal page. Private member galleryCreative TeamInstagram #gmseasonofintrospection"Vintage" Gallery This is a static gallery from...

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Wrapping Up

Wrapping Up

The integrating self grows in confidence and is open to other perspectives. As the new integrated self builds its new habits, it makes choices based on its core values. It acknowledges...

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Welcome to Becoming Whole

Welcome to Becoming Whole

An introduction to the workshop and how it’s structured, the journals I’m using and a list of materials. “If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would...

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Welcome to Ama-ZINE

Welcome to Ama-ZINE

Ama-Zine is the modern zine making class. What’s a zine? It’s a handmade magazine or mini-comic about anything you can imagine. They contain diary entries, rants, interviews, and stories. They...

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Welcome to Going Wild

Welcome to Going Wild

Here's what we will be doing in this glorious nature-inspired class. By the end of this introductory lesson, you’ll have a lot of ideas about finding inspiration from nature - a local park or...

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Day 31 Un/finished

Day 31 Un/finished

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May: What is finished when it comes to art, anyway? Celebrate all the finishing you...

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Day 26 Scraps

Day 26 Scraps

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Do you have a tidy desk? I certainly don’t. Hey, there is no shame in it! 😉 The...

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Day 16 Clusters

Day 16 Clusters

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May: Use old morning pages and masterboards to create interesting journaling clusters...

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Day 15 Reimagine

Day 15 Reimagine

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Create with as few distractions as possible to achieve a State of Flow.

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Day 07 Garner

Day 07 Garner

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Build a database of colors, patterns, designs, and subject matter that you...

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Day 02 Expand

Day 02 Expand

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Let’s explore how we can use Messy May as a catalyst to expand our creative ideas...

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Messy May 2023

Messy May 2023

Welcome to Messy May 2, you beautiful tropical fishHere are three ways to make the most of your month: 1. Bring your messy self - As imperfect as you are and as glorious as you are. Your whole-ass messy self. Remember that "get messy" is an invitation.2. Take what YOU...

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Welcome to Imagined Landscapes

Welcome to Imagined Landscapes

Welcome to Imagined Landscapes! Here are a few ideas for starting and some things to consider...DownloadDownload the worksheets for this lesson.Action StepsThink about what kind of...

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Courageous Adventures in Art Journaling

Courageous Adventures in Art Journaling

Join Char and Claudette as they collaborate on an exploration of courageous adventures in art journaling. Click on the Welcome button above to get started. Because this is a collaboration, this class is presented as a two-in-one. Each lesson has two takes, so make...

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068 Awe

068 Awe

Awe#gmseasonofaweThis season’s artwork is created by our guest artists Dear Messy Artist According to Panpsychism, the mind is a fundamental feature of the world which exists throughout the universe...

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065 Chapters

065 Chapters

Chapters#gmseasonofchaptersThis season’s artwork is created by our guest artists Dear Messy Artist Recently,  I was lying on a stretcher in the ER. I have never been in that much pain. It came on...

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Day 31 Celebration

Day 31 Celebration

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Celebrate your creative month! Write a list of small achievements, add confetti,...

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Day 30 Awe

Day 30 Awe

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Grab a sheet of paper and collage anything onto it that reminds you of the things...

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Day 29 Serenity

Day 29 Serenity

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Make your practice today meditative. Some ideas: light a candle, drink some fruit...

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Day 27 Mindfulness

Day 27 Mindfulness

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Use a monochromatic color palette to help bring your mind into a calm and present...

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Day 26 Failure

Day 26 Failure

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Go back to your unfinished or "failed" pages and rework them. Cover them up, pain...

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Day 25 Bloom

Day 25 Bloom

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Let it bloom: cultivate your creativity through an expressive floral zine. Don't...

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Day 24 Magic

Day 24 Magic

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Take a moment to look around you and find the magic in your surroundings. This...

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Day 23 Contrast

Day 23 Contrast

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Explore contrast through value, complementary colors, and paradoxical subject...

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Day 22 Love

Day 22 Love

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Use gesso, black paint, a pencil, watercolors, and a vintage image to express the...

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Day 21 Words

Day 21 Words

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Add journaling to your art journal page. What are you thinking? How are you...

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Day 20 Nature

Day 20 Nature

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Take your supplies outside and create inspired by the world around you! Follow the...

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Day 19 Less

Day 19 Less

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Using a base of neutral collage, add a single block of color to create impactful...

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Day 18 Documenting

Day 18 Documenting

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:How do you document your days? What are you learning about yourself as each day...

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Day 17 Yes

Day 17 Yes

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:What was the last creative impulse you felt? Was it to try a new medium? Attempt a...

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Day 16 Belonging

Day 16 Belonging

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:"Belonging is being your authentic self and knowing that no matter what happens,...

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Day 15 Flow

Day 15 Flow

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Create with as few distractions as possible to achieve a State of Flow. Just....

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Day 13 Home

Day 13 Home

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Create a collage house with images filled with the comforts of home. Creating art...

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Day 12 Habit

Day 12 Habit

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Create a habit of seeing possibilities for using recycled materials in your art...

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Day 11 Imperfection

Day 11 Imperfection

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Make a list of five ways to practice and embrace imperfection in your art. If you...

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Day 10 Connection

Day 10 Connection

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Create a page that connects you to your art process. You can do this by including...

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Day 03 Happy

Day 03 Happy

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Carefree fun. Create with the joyfulness of a child. Don't take your artwork too...

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Day 01 Starting

Day 01 Starting

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May: Start. Either by opening your journal to a new page or by binding a journal just...

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Messy May 2022

Messy May 2022

Welcome to Messy May 2022, you rainbow-infused space unicorn Here are three ways to make the most of...

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Daily Chroma

Daily Chroma

Look for an inspiring object/s and observe all the colors in it, not simply the main hue, but all the shifts in tone with highlights/shadows, etc.

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Collage Lines

Collage Lines

Use cut paper lines/shapes to create a sense of motion across two spreads in your journal. Working with lines, colors and imagery will create visually interesting and dimensional art journal pages.

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It’s time for us to go back to our roots.

It’s time for us to go back to our roots.

My dear beautiful, beautiful Messy Artist It’s time for us to go back to our roots.  Get Messy has always been a place that evolves and adapts and fits around your life rather than the other way around. It’s never been a place where you have to change to be a part of...

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Recipe 21

Recipe 21

#getmessyrecipes Background papers (see the PDF for printable options) Clip art (see the PDF for printable options) Scrap paper, ledger paper, favorite paper Glue Stabilo All Watercolor pen or...

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Recipe 19

Recipe 19

#getmessyrecipes Background papers (see the PDF for printable options) Clip art (see the PDF for printable options) Scrap paper, ledger paper, favorite paper Glue Stabilo All Watercolor pen or...

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Micro Challenges

Micro Challenges

Showing Up#gmseasonofshowingupMicro Challenge 1 What is your WHY? Why do you art journal? Why is it important to you and why do you keep coming back to it even when life is...

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Your WHY

Your WHY

Your Why is the MOST important part of your Get Messy journey and one that you will come back to again and again.

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Day 14 Kindness

Day 14 Kindness

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May: Create a journal spread that encourages you to share kindness with others and...

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2.1 Visual Emotions

2.1 Visual Emotions

Hello everyone, it’s Vanessa (aka @dansmoncrane) and I am very excited to be here with you. Thank you to Get Messy for inviting me to participate in this wonderful class by LaQuisha. Paper...

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1.1 Welcome to Window View

1.1 Welcome to Window View

Hey everyone! LaQuisha here (aka Confident Canvas). I began my creative journey young, but only officially made myself known as an artist in 2016. I absolutely love Bible journaling, hand...

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Ease + Joy Suggested Journal

Ease + Joy Suggested Journal

Ease + Joy#gmseasonofease#gmseasonofjoyThis season, the suggested journal is a ZINE. Need some inspiration? Here ya go!If you'd like to dig into zines, Ama-ZINE will be released for...

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Day 30 Favourite

Day 30 Favourite

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Life is too short to hoard your favourite supplies! Take some time today to use...

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Day 29 Sunburst

Day 29 Sunburst

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:I’ve been noticing a trend in my journal pages lately… things are BURSTING with...

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Day 28 MissTakes

Day 28 MissTakes

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Let’s explore what we can do with supposed mistakes and learn how they can help...

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Day 27 Archive

Day 27 Archive

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Often times when I look back at my journals, it’s the smaller mundane moments that...

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Day 25 Collaboration

Day 25 Collaboration

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Work collaboratively to help overcome many of the obstacles we all face as...

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Day 24 Palette

Day 24 Palette

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Do you ever struggle with selecting the perfect color scheme? Well, not today! We...

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Day 23 Play

Day 23 Play

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Let go of expectations and tap into playfulness and possibility! Download Ingrid's...

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Day 22 Identity

Day 22 Identity

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Create three distinct background pages to represent three different aspects of...

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Day 21 Lifelines

Day 21 Lifelines

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Let´s see how one continuous line can break the blank page and lead us intuitively...

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Day 20 Trust

Day 20 Trust

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Journaling is the perfect way to rediscover your inner child and have fun. Nothing...

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Day 19 Gratitude

Day 19 Gratitude

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Did you take too many photos? Don't forget them in your digital storage. Print...

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Day 18 Extensions

Day 18 Extensions

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Delve into page extension possibilities.

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Day 17 Explore

Day 17 Explore

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Set forth on a Creative Exploration with limited supplies.

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Day 14 Let Go

Day 14 Let Go

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May: Create a journal spread that encourages you to share kindness with others and...

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Day 13 Serendipity

Day 13 Serendipity

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:ser*en*dip*i*ty: the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or...

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Day 12 Renewal

Day 12 Renewal

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Take some time to reflect on your resolutions for 2023. Are you where you wanted...

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Day 11 Notice

Day 11 Notice

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May: Take a look around you and gather bits and scraps that light you up. Grab some...

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Day 10 Time

Day 10 Time

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May: There’s often a barrier in our minds that say we need to have lots of time to...

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Day 09 Layers

Day 09 Layers

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May: Gather at least four pieces of ephemera that inspire you and get started on an...

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Day 08 Alchemy

Day 08 Alchemy

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May: Let’s transform a few basic office supplies into a beautiful expression of the...

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Day 06 Patchwork

Day 06 Patchwork

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Combining colours, emotions, and assorted aspects of our lives in our journals is...

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Day 05 Elevate

Day 05 Elevate

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Elevate your page from okay to fabulous - simply by using paint, tissue paper and...

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Day 04 Joy

Day 04 Joy

Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:What do you do when you are in a journaling rut? Do you ever find yourself...

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