Back in June this year, I went to the amazing blogging conference that is 'Blogtacular' and am still processing everything that I learnt there. I feel a bit guilty I haven't posted a single blog since then but I have my reasons. Which I will explain another time.
Going to Blogtacular was so affirming for me in more ways than one. Not only that I felt so at home with fellow creatives and makers that just 'got' me. But also what I'd been seeing and feeling in terms of where the world is heading.
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So if you've had a go at the scrapbooking tutorial then this one follows on. It's a continuation of using cut outs from a magazine but for a different purpose.
On my Facebook page, I wanted to make a big thing of the fact it is National Stationery Week. Which ties in nicely for this tutorial. If you're ready to pluck up the courage to send someone a full blown letter, using pen and paper, then this is for you! For those who want to be more creative, take this idea on board and go for it! Take any magazine and literally 'cut out and keep' the visuals that really speak to you. Whether that's beautiful floral prints, bright colours, zany patterns or monochromes from the fashion pages. Whether it's something quirky that was actually from an advert. An article that you think you'd like to remember and come back to. A little snippet of a review of a product that you think 'oh, I like that. Must check it out'. Just browse and let the things you love jump out at you.
Saw Muse at the O2 in London on Sunday. Their opening interlude was 'Drones' and they put the lyrics up on one of the screens. One line really struck me 'we live our lives between our fingers and thumbs'. Just as I was pondering on this, someone in front of me pulled their phone out and started filming. The irony certainly wasn't lost on me!
Personally, I'm old school. I will succumb to the odd photo at a gig but tend to refrain from a full on video. I truly believe you should just be present at these things and not spend too much time trying to record it. Although it has now become something of a tradition to take a few selfies on the train on the way to said gig! I may try to limit myself with technology but I try not to be a complete troglodyte! Before the advent of smart phones and readily available technology that gives us 24 hour access to news and topical debate... For me, there was The Daily Mail's 'You' magazine. A Sunday supplement magazine. I'd forever get my knowledge on the latest topical subject from here. 'Oh yes, I read an article recently in the You magazine about that. Did you know...'. Whilst living at home with the 'rents, we'd get this delivered every week. I used to really look forward to it. After moving out many years ago, I had a break from it. In my current family, we don't bother with the Sunday papers. I recently went back to it and was surprised by how much it had changed. I guess, with all things, it had to 'move with the times'. It used to be a lot more wordy. It makes sense it's now more visual because that is currently the world we live in. I have now got used to the new look, it takes me a little while to embrace change. Now, I actually drafted this blog in March 2016! So, two years later, I have no doubt that the magazine has probably changed again! This is testament to the fact that the world now moves too fast for me to keep up! I can only apologise if my info is not correct! Up to this point, in 2016, it still had all the old elements, fashion, beauty, agony aunt Zelda, Liz Jones' diary, recipes, health and interspersed with topical articles. But I miss the first page essay that a different author/celeb would contribute each week. I miss Mimi Spencer with her personal column on fashion. They even had a poetry page way back! I guess we just don't have the time/full attention for the old format anymore. This new world is so exciting with all the visual information and knowledge at our fingertips. The fact that it's no wonder millennials have so much creativity. They grew up with this visual feast! For my generation or older, we had to imagine things for ourselves. We didn't have all these screens with information, photos, memes, etc. We had books, magazines, newspapers, the TV, radio/music and the great outdoors for our inspiration. Our lives are so busy now, we are constantly distracted. My main worry with this is, are we losing the ability to really get deep? Is it all just surface, skim read, move onto the next thing? Only time will tell. We are an adaptable species so I can only assume that's what we'll do! My pen pal, Petra, from The Netherlands has recently started a blog titled ‘How to think smarter’ which can be found here: http://www.howtothinksmarter.com/about/. She explores the modern problem of distraction and how we can train our minds to focus better. Back to the magazine. One of the things I do love about the new look is the 'Emotional Ties' feature. This is also spot on with where we're all at. A while ago, I wrote this long essay for a blog titled 'Emotional Hoarding vs Social Media'. I was pretty chuffed with it, if I do say so myself. But I certainly learnt my lesson in that I didn't save it! I lost it all when my laptop decided to crash!! Devastated wasn't even the word! It was basically my thoughts and debate on whether people just keep a record of their lives on social media. Or, keep up with physical photo albums, scrapbooking, journals etc.
So the 'Emotional Ties' feature is evidence that, yes, we do still have an attachment to the physical. I am the biggest emotional hoarder going! Every wedding I've been to, blimey! I love keeping my name place card, the favours (if not edible, although I have been known to keep the edible ones too!), pressing the flowers, all sorts. Personally I love to have a physical reminder of my memories. Because don't forget, memory is selective! Being able to have a sneak peak at someone else's precious items and the sentiment behind them is lovely. It's now most definitely, my favourite feature of the magazine. In embracing the change and also the need to hoard the physical, these days I love to just pull it apart and scrapbook my faves! Of which you can read my diy tutorial on scrapbooking here: https://www.justcreativejulia.co.uk/blog/how-to-start-scrapbooking. I have to say, mostly, the topical articles that are offered currently don't really float my boat. I'm not a fan of autobiographical non-fiction when I read books. And this transpires for the articles of late. I'm just not able to connect with a soppy personal story. This particular edition, 31st January 2016, had an article with advice about divorce. Very informative for those going through it but far removed from my situation. That's not to say I don't threaten to fly off to Australia when the going gets tough because I do! As much as I may think I want out sometimes, divorce, which I hope it is for those who go through it, would be an absolute, last resort. The You magazine will always be special to me, hence why I still get pleasure out if it now but in a different way. When change comes, we can either reject it and lose out. Or we can let go of the old and embrace what is ahead of us. Mother's Day is tomorrow! Eek! Of course I am forever the last minute queen so here's a quick last minute craft DIY for your lovely Mum.
You will need:
After all those 'Tasty' videos being shown on Facebook, they inspired me to make one of my own using some left over ingredients in my fridge. A yummy kale, bacon and spring onion enchilada recipe with honey, bbq, cheese, salsa and mayo. You Will Need
So here we are again, another year, another Valentine's. After being with my hubby for 7 years now (5 years of marriage) I find myself this year only looking forward to Vals because we'll get an excuse for some extra babysitting! Now we have a son and life has more responsibilities, it's not the great fluttery event it once used to be. All the more reason to use it for quality time whilst the 'rents look after the boy, hurrah!
Every year I find it harder to come up with a theme. I like to make my husband's card if I can. Previous themes have been 'you're my cup of tea', 'you have the key to my heart' and last year, quite aptly, I did a Superman card! I've been on something of a journey trying to find a business idea that will work for me. Having my own business has been a dream for as long as I can remember. From my creative Mum talking about owning our own cafe when I was a little girl. Her passion and imagination firmly planted that entrepreneurial seed then and there!
It's now February and here I am catching up with some new year encouragement. 2016 will be a year of restoration and more interestingly, refurbishment. What does the word mean? Restoring something to its former beauty and perhaps adding something of a new design or fresh feautures.
In my faith in God, these are also words I am hearing personally through my home Church, Southend Christian Fellowship. Words of newness, freshness, a new season, fresh annointing. And if you don't know God as I do, maybe now is the time to find out! |
Hello there!I'm Julia, Just Creative Julia, jolly pleased to meet you! Welcome to my creative lifestyle blog, established 2014. My creative journey in discovering my authentic self as a neurodivergent woman.
Embracing the Neuro Spicy! Here you will find many different topics centring around creativity, deep thoughts, mental health, food and more. Archives
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