A peak inside...

Here's a peak into this past weeks pages:

And a peak inside my journal too!

Hope you've been having a fabulous Easter!

@Typoshop is coming to the UK! #TypoUK

I was amazingly lucky to be invited along to the TYPO blogger event / media evening. If you haven't heard of TYPO before, they are an incredibly popular shop in Australia, a shop right up my alley, a combination of stationery and lifestyle items. And guess what...they are now in the UK! They don't have a 'proper shop' just yet although they are hoping to have one in London very soon BUT you can order online from (I think) 5th April and it ships all around the UK so no crazy shipping prices or customs duties to pay. Shipping is even free if you spend over £25! Wooo hoooo!

So of course I vlogged whilst I was there and am sharing it with you now:

I went these lovely bunch of ladies, my blogger friends. In the picture from left to right we have:

Daisy from MyGreenCow: http://www.mygreencow.co.uk/

Me!

Joey from SoJoey: http://www.sojoey.com/

Chloe Murray: http://chloesthoughtss.blogspot.co.uk/

Ruth Thompson: https://www.youtube.com/user/xoxRufus

It was so lovely to meet up with them again, we had a really fab time chatting away whilst checking out all of the lovely and exciting goodies that Typo had to share with us. We were allowed to touch everything!

Here are a couple of photos of some of the things that really spoke to me:

Of course there was much much more to see there than what I have shown in the photos but you will be able to check it all out in the video.  

I would like to thank Typo for having me, it was a super fun evening and I wish you all the best here in the UK. I know I can't wait to check out the website as I saw a couple of items that would be perfect for my bedroom. We are redecorating and replacing everything (it is all over 12 years old) and some of the items would go perfectly with what I am planning!

I have a little haul to share with you too but I will do that in another post so stay tuned for that!

Easter Themed Snail Mail Blog Hop

Well if you remember last week I gave you a little show of the Easter themed pocket letter and said to come back this week for the Design Team Easter Themed Snail Mail Blog Hop!

Well here you are and we have a variety of snail mail to share with you. Each of us have created a piece of snail mail to send to someone else. It might be a pocket letter or it could be something different. Whatever it is we hope we have inspired you in some way to get more creative with your pen palling.

Here are just some sneak peaks, or some teasers if you will!

OK so to start your blog hop all you need to do is to head on over to Stef's blog which is: http://novelteacorner.blogspot.com/ and there you will find more photos and a break down of how she created this. Stef will then link  you on to the next person, Zinia to see what she made who will link you to the next person and so on! If for whatever reason you have problems here are all the blog links..

Stef's Blog: http://novelteacorner.blogspot.com/

Zinia's Blog: http://abstractinspiration.com/

Margie's Blog: http://bumblesandfairytales.blogspot.co.uk/

Geraldine's Blog: http://geraldinejayne.com/

Daisy's Blog: http://www.mygreencow.co.uk/

Charlie's Blog: http://seasaltandpaper.com/

Of course you have already seen my creation but if you missed it here is the link: http://mrsbrimbles.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/easter-pocket-letter.html

My Travelers Notebook / Fauxdori Set Up & Contents

Well as you know my little Travelers Notebook and I have become the best of friends of late. Our relationship has been growing stronger and stronger every day. When I first knew about midori's or travelers notebooks I really didn't get what all the fuss was about. Maybe I wasn't doing it right or maybe I just hadn't found the right one I am not sure. I dabbled in a couple and wasn't massively digging it. I then went on to the fabric ones from Love Neen and Lyra & Co (both on Etsy) and I loved those but only for sketch books and journals. But since I have been using my TN from Websters Pages it has been a match made in heaven. I know, I know, I have been going on about it lol!

Anyhooo I have been meaning to share my set up with you and you lot have been asking but it's been a tad busy round here but Ta Da! here it is!

As you know one of the things that sets the Websters Pages TN's out from some of the others is all of the nifty pockets on the inside. I am not really utilising them for anything much. All of my loyalty cards and debit cards are in my purse and so these pockets are just getting filled as time goes on with bits and bobs like stickers and photos. I kinda like that it grows and changes organically though. The first insert that I have is a week on two page diary from Travelers Times on Etsy. The cover is a plain Kraft and so I have collaged mine with bits of scrapbook papers, stickers, enamel dots and the like. I love how it looks and how it is a collection of things that represent my personality.

Next up I have another insert, again from Travelers Times that I am using for my 'You' planner. My word of the year for 2016 was you or Me if you prefer and that is all about encouraging me to spend more time on myself as I often neglect me. This just helps me to keep track of that to make sure I am doing something. The covers of this insert are made using scrapbook paper and greetings cards that I received. If you want to know more about my word of the year you can watch my video:

I also have a journal inside which I use for thoughts and feelings, ya know 'dear diary' stuff as well as documenting my life with photos and bits. I don't do any messy art journaling in there though. This is the sort of clean, dry stuff I do on the sofa of an evening.

I also have a fourth notebook and my watercolour palette for on the go needs. You'll get a much better look at those though in the video.

And so that is my set up and everything that is housed in my travelers notebook. I hope that gives you a bit more of an insight into the inner workings of me and also gives you some ideas for what you can use yours for too.

I am a #GirlBoss

I'm a business owner. I have a business. I am a girl. I am therefore a #GirlBoss.

These are all things that I had never thought of before and all things that had never occurred to me to think about.

Both Jon and I like to read inspirational books and I was very lucky to have been given the book #GirlBoss for my birthday. I had heard people mention the #GirlBoss thing on social media but it is not something I had looked into to be honest. I had heard of Sophia Amaruso and that is about it.

So last weekend I wanted to start a new book and reached for my TBR pile and this one spoke to me. In fact it spoke to me the whole time I was reading it to be honest. 

It was a quick and easy read and if it hadn't have been for me being poorly this last week with a cold then I would have finished it sooner but with a banging headache I never feel like reading.

Whilst I was reading it I had my trusty journal out and made notes along the way. Whether you are a business owner or not this book is full of motivation for living a life you have dreamed of. It resonated with me a lot because I saw a lot of myself in this book, the passion, the drive and determination. Any of us can do what we want and live how we want to if we graft for it. If you sit on ya backside eating cake all day your not going to achieve, you've got to make your own success, set your goals and work at obtaining them!

I never set out to run a business and I never really see it as such even now. I work 7 days a week, albeit not all day everyday but I am still working but it doesn't feel like work because I enjoy it. I was ill, then started my YouTube and Blog during my recovery (I posted my first video in April 2013) and then I opened a little Etsy shop never dreaming that anyone would want to buy inserts or dashboards for planners with my art on. Fast forward to now, March 2016 and I am now making my living creating art and selling it on Stationery products as well as curating and selling the #BrimblesBox a monthly planner / stationery subscription which has been going 16 months now! It all just kind of happened. No plan which is kind of odd for a planner nerd don't you think!

I am not money driven. I am driven by community and helping people to get in touch with their creative side and help on a cathartic side with journaling and to help people by providing planning supplies to help them reach and obtain their goals. Hopefully if you are in the 'Mrs Brimbles Happy Place' Facebook group you will have seen this side to me by now. The .co.uk shop started in two ways... I live miles away from any decent shops and wanted to source products for me to use that were hard to find. I soon found out that a lot of you were the same. You wanted cool stuff but couldn't get it. That is how it began. It didn't and still doesn't feel like work. It is only just starting to feel like a business. Shit is getting real! I have an accounts system and that is freaking me out! I'm a creative person, I do not have a head for numbers.

So reading this book has confirmed what I kind of thought was the case but didn't really believe and that is I have a business. It kinda snuck up on me to be honest and it wasn't something I planned. Mrs Brimbles was born in a very similar way to Nasty Gal that it's scary how similar we are.

Reading the book has made me realise that I can take it to the next level if I want to and I think I do. My goal is to open a physical shop / studio space where people can come and grope the products but also meet up and chat with each other over tea and cake or paint n craft in the studio space. That is my dream.

Are you a #GirlBoss or an aspiring one? If so and you haven't done, read the book, you'll be glad you did!

Now to remind myself that I am one and I can do anything I set out to achieve.

Easter Pocket Letter

The lovely ladies on my design team and I were chatting about wouldn't it be cool to create something together and do a blog hop and some snail mailing. So we decided why not do an Easter themed swap. Errrr yeah, bunnies and the like, Hello! Durrrr! He he!

So everybody has been busy creating their pocket letters or snail mail and I will be showing them off altogether on the blog (my blog, the one you are reading right now) on Good Friday which is 25th March. So if you come back then you will be able to see a 'Master' blog post which will start off the Bunny Hop (I know it's really a blog hop but I just had to write bunny in there lol!). You will then be directed to all of the ladies blogs so you can see how they made their creations etc. Sound fun, you betcha!

What I thought I would do today is share with you the pocket letter that I created for my swap partner so that you could see that in more detail as when we kick off with the blog hop you won't see it so much.

Of course I filmed the process of me making it so that you could see how it all came together:

I am really rather please with how it turned out especially since I was a bit rusty and hadn't made any for a while. I went through a period of doing loads and it got a bit too much so I stopeed. (I am not looking to take any more swaps on at the moment).

I love the little details too!

This is how it looks all bundled up and ready to put in the envelope. I thought I would tie in a chocolate bunny lollipop just to kind of round it off and make it look 'sweet'.

I used a mix of items that I already had plus items that were in the March Brimbles Box. Here is a supply list for you:

Top left

• 'Ashley' Card Stock http://www.mrsbrimbles.co.uk/product/ashley-12x12-paper-mme-hello-gorgeous/ 
• Black star washi tape: http://www.mrsbrimbles.co.uk/product/black-with-transparant-stars-washi-tape/
• Stripe Washi Tape: http://www.mrsbrimbles.co.uk/product/black-white-diagonal-stripe-washi-tape/

Top Middle

• Packaging with a white label and alpha stickers from Websters Pages 'Painted Passport'. Pink stripe washi tape: http://www.mrsbrimbles.co.uk/product/pink-stripe-washi-tape/
• Tulip Flower stickers: http://www.mrsbrimbles.co.uk/product/spring-bunny-stickers/

Top Right

• Paper from the Easter Collection: http://www.mrsbrimbles.co.uk/product/easter-collection-kit-12x12-papers-stickers/

Middle Left

• Bits and pieces I had in (unknown)

Middle / Middle

• Acetate card I already had plus felt Easter scatters: http://www.mrsbrimbles.co.uk/product/easter-felt-scatters/

Middle Right

• Postcard from the March Brimbles Box embellished with washi tape from Lidl plus above.

Bottom Left

• Easter card as above
• Rabbit Paper Clips: http://www.mrsbrimbles.co.uk/product/bunny-paper-clips-set-of-6/
• Flower Sticky Tabs: http://www.mrsbrimbles.co.uk/product/spring-flowers-birds-sticky-notes-tabs/

Bottom Middle & Right

• Items from my collection already had in.

I hope you liked it and remember to pop back on Good Friday to see all the Happy Mails!

Planner peace & decorated pages

Well I always thought I had planner peace. In fact no I am sure, 100% sure that I did in fact have planner peace with my personal ring planners using the Websters Pages week on two page inserts. It made me happy and it worked. Really worked. Of course I only used this for my 'home life' and all work and blog stuff is in another planner or two. So if you are blissfully happy why change? Why rock the boat? What if it didn't work?

Well those are easy to answer....I changed because I received my Websters Pages Travelers Notebooks and I fell in love with them. Previously I had used fabric fauxdori's as journals only but when the WP ones arrived it was certainly love at first sight and I wanted to move my whole life into it and apart from work stuff which is still separate, this is what I have done! If I fall out of love with it I can always go back but for now it makes me very happy.

I promise I will do a set up tour soon. I know I have been promising but things have been very busy in the Brim household with one thing or another and then to top it off I got a cold which took me 'out of service' for nearly a week. I was gonna film today but I thought I would save that for another week so you can enjoy without hearing me sniffing! In the meantime I thought you would like to look at my decorated pages for the past few weeks as I realised that I haven't shared any pages here on the blog for such a long time!

Making folders for your planner

Hello there! Debbie here from Craftin' Chaos sharing my March box items and what i did with the beutiful papers that came in the box.

There were 4 sheets of 12 x 12 Echo Park papers in the box this month and they are all so bright and cheery! Then the adorable bunny correction tape, 2 packs of stickers, washi tape and the cards with the artwork and this adorable dashboard. This dashboard is by far my favorite. This bunny is just too cute!

Pockets I made with the papers and look at that cute washi tape and bunny correction tape

Dress up your planner with some cute planner clips and goodies!

Adorable Bunny Charm from Cloudy Cow

One of the folders I made showing it closed up

Love the cards included with the bunnies on them. I like to stick them in a pocket peeking out to make it cheery.

I am going to give you some info on how to create your own pocket folders for your planner with the 12 x 12 paper. These instructions are for a A5 sized planner so all you would need to do is modify the sizing which should be fairly easy but same procedure to create the pockets.

Here is a pic where I snipped out a triangle to take the folder in and out of my planner. You can see I should have done the opposite with the paper as my bunnies are upside down on the inside! That is one of the lessons I learned during this experiment but as they say there are no mistakes in paper crafting!

I have a drawing below with the measurements and easy to follow instructions. On the area that gets adhesive I just used an ATG gun, you can use a fine line of liquid adhesive or a tape runner would be best.

Play around! You can make so many things to personalize your planner if you just browse pinterest and some blogs or just have an idea of ways to make your planner work better for you! I hope you will share the things you did with your paper that came in the box this month and maybe I will get more ideas of things to make as well! Thanks for stopping by!

Unicorns & Colouring Books!

Happy sigh....February's Brimble box. It's all about the unicorns and I am one happy lady. I received the Big Stationery Box which "...is exactly the same as our regular box only it has more of those goodies inside for you to enjoy!" You're not wrong there Mrs B!!!!
 

To give you a true sense of this box I'll post my unboxing video at the end of this post. Here is what was in the box...

So, taking the following items from the box, I came up with a great idea!

• Postcard
• Post it Note
• Washi Tape
• Stickers

I created a beautiful framed keepsake of a memory from summer last year. I printed a photo from my phone using my Polaroid Zip and put everything together. I also added some typed text and a piece of washi from Project Life's Instax Washi Book.



Et voila!

Colouring Book

As you can see, there was a stunning colouring book and pencils by the talented Neon Magpie. Rather than just use colouring pencils, being a lover of mixed media, I decided to try Art bars and Inktense watercolour pencils. The art bars were a joy to use and blend using the blending tool. As you can see, there was a beautiful, whimsical look about these...
 

Next up, Inktense pencils. I love these!!! Oh, they are so incredibly vibrant!!! I need to use them for projects more often!!!
 

Honestly, I didn't think I'd be all that into colouring. But I could have coloured for hours!!! Finally, as promised, here is my unboxing video for this box. Thank you so much for stopping by!


    

 

http://geraldinejayne.com/