Do you SMASH?

[mandak]

I've been reading bits and pieces about Smash Books, and finally decided to give one a try. I went out this morning and purchased one and I'm excited to get it going! Is anyone else making one (whether an actual Smash Book or one you've created yourself)?

[Angeltown]

"Smash" style is EXACTLY how I've created my journal for last like 15+ years. I have several completed ones although I'm not as diligent as I used to be since starting my own business. I write in it, brainstorm, make project notes, paste in all sorts of bits and pieces, from time to time do an art journal style page or two, etc. I really need to make more time for it.

Let me know how you like it!!! I've loved it for so long and I'm excited to see other people try it, too.

I typically use the black spiral bound standard artist notebooks now but my older ones are smaller books:

[mandak]

Oh my Angel! How awesome! I think this style of journaling will be hard for me, my journals are all neatly in notebooks - handwritten or typed and pasted in in chronological order. Very little creativity involved....besides the occasional doodle! I'm excited to try something new, and will likely continue my normal journaling as well

But, after flipping through pages on Pinterest of Smash Book stuff, I was inspired to make one of my honeymoon (so I can get the HUGE box of memorabilia out of the closet) but the actual Smash albums were too small for a lot of what I have....I just got home from Michael's where I purchased a fun artist notebook, thanks to your post, and picked up a few additional supplies and pulled the box out of the closet. Now if the baby would nap so I could get started I'd be a happy gal!

[Angeltown]

Oh, I'm excited for you Manda! I think a honeymoon book is a perfect way to explore this type of journaling! Combining your pics with memorabilia and journaling will be fabulous and so fun to look at again and again. To me it's a lot more personal than just "scrapping" ... I guess because I allow myself so much more freedom in form and composition.

It's a process that for me has evolved over the years. If I get the chance I'll snap a couple pics for you of pages in the next few days. Some pages are obviously too personal, but often times I also write/paste in bits from magazines, song lyrics, etc.

My process now is to put in whatever strikes my fancy on any page. I add to pages as I go along. So for example I write song lyrics on a page and some time later I might add a picture from a photography magazine I'm reading. Some pages may never get "finished" and some get completely filled. A perfect activity to do while watching some fave movies!

[ADBDesign {anita_d}]

Oh ladies I just have to join in this conversation....i LOVE LOVE LOVE this....I did something like this YEARS ago before my work life (travel) and kids (oh the stress) got in the way....I am enthused to start again! THANK YOU BOTH for the inspiration!

[mandak]

That'd be great Angel I'd appreciate it!

Anita, welcome to the party!

[Janet-B]

I saw some of these at Michael's the other day. I'm intrigued by this, as well as art journaling digitally (which I've just started playing with). I like digi because I don't have to commit, there's always control-Z!

Ok, stupid question for you -- how do you just get over that huge, blank, white page and start with the real paper?

[mandak]

Janet, that's one of the things I liked about the actual Smash Books at like Michaels....there is not huge white page to worry about....they have already started all of the pages in some way, which for me makes it less intimidating! A small part of me misses paper scrapping (but not the mess.....) so htis is a fun way for me to get a little of that back

[Aveziur]

Oh I love this idea, I bougth an album months ago, and I didn't found the time to start do in it!

[Janet-B]

Loved your blog post, Manda! It was fun to see how you started in it!

[Angeltown]

Oh Manda, you're off to a BRILLIANT start!!! Love what you've done!

I took just a few pics - and sorry these are so absolutely terrible. I loaned my camera to my sis so I had to use my phone. Plus you don't get great light when you work in the middle of the night LOL.

K, here we go. Some of these go back to like 1998.

Here's one of my covers:


An inside cover:


Sticker from the first car I bought new:


Memorabilia from a ski trip:


Journal entries:



Song lyrics:


Various clippings... my old version of Pinterest LOL:




Post breakup? LOL:


Sleeve cover added at the end to hold letters:


I Dilbert:

[mandak]

Thanks for sharing Angel, it's inspirational! I appreciate you taking the time (even in hte middle of the night) to share!

[Janet-B]

Thanks for posting these photos! Definitely an inspiration!

[Toiny]

Angel I loved looking at those! Thank you for sharing. It's definitely something I want to do FOR ME as the kids get bigger & learn to stay out of my glue....

[Angeltown]

Thanks ladies!!! I hope you all get as much fulfillment out your books as I have out of mine over the years. It helps me so much to have a place to be creative yet so completely imperfect and spontaneous... with none of the pressure I feel when I scrap.

[ADBDesign {anita_d}]

great pics, angel, thanks for sharing!

[Lynn]

I really like the idea of smash books so have decided to start one myself. I used Project 365 by Digilicious Designs and have just posted pics in the gallery. I spent yesterday afternoon and evening making this and now want to do February too! I haven't as yet had chance to put anything in it, but I have all year to do that , right ?!!!

[Toiny]

Lynn! That is sooooooooooo awesome. I'm beyond impressed how cool that turned out. I want to lock myself in my office with my completely empty book, computer & printer.

[Lynn]

Well, you can thank Christine of Digilicious Designs for this kit - it is gorgeous and a dream to work with. The problems I now have are that I don't want to write on the pages as they look so good, and I want the other 11 kits as and when they come out!

[DigiliciousDesigns]

Lynn!! I'm totally gobsmacked You have done a fantastically amazing job on this - I LOVE it!!! It makes me want to spend all day making one, in fact, I'm going to go look in the stationary shop later today for a nice little folder or notebook. I love cooking and I've been collecting recipes, tid bits, ideas, tips from mum etc for years and years. They are spread out here, there & everywhere, so I'm thinking I can take this idea one step further, and create a Smash Book that's also a collection of my cooking/food stuff. Something I can stick my recipes into and also scribble ideas etc. I have old handwritten recipes that have been handed down a couple of generations, so this would be a great way to preserve them

Thanks for all the pics - they are so inspirational!!