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Set your goals - make the plans - artfully create your life - live it beautifully. Grab the good chocolate and find your muse.

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Home » January: Week 3 The Road Not Taken – Include Poems and Stories in your Layouts

January: Week 3 The Road Not Taken – Include Poems and Stories in your Layouts

January 18, 2018 1 Comment

Road Not Taken – How to Include Poems into your Pages

I’ve never written many poems. The Haikus in literature classes in college and high school were about it for me. Maybe I am too wordy or I don’t feel strong enough in my word variances, but I never got into writing poems. Not saying that I wouldn’t like it, but I tend to use inspiring words from others in my creations.

One thing I do enjoy is I’ll make up a story in my mind relating to the image in my journal. For instance, I made up a story about the people on the airplane viewing out the window like on my January Welcome page going on an exciting trip.

In October’s apple orchard spread, I imagined a family going to pick apples and they would look at the wooden signs to find which way to go. On the hello November welcome page, I imagined walking in solitude through a forest enjoying the sunlight streaming through the empty branches and the leaves crunching under my feet.

Poems and Story Telling – Car on a moonshine run?

When I created the car for this week’s spread, I decided that it was a car (maybe on a moonshine run – who knows?) but the route was not their familiar path and they were on a journey of a lifetime. This story in my mind made me think of Robert Frost’s poem so that’s why I decided to include it perhaps I will include some of Atticus’ poetry on a future page.

But the question is: how to include the poem? Just writing it out on the side of my journal seemed boring and didn’t fit with the theme. I decided it would make a great texture for the road so I sketched it in and it fit really well. This month’s theme has not only been about transportation but making things fit (such as the airplane with the monthly calendar or the bicycle as a weekly log).

The Process – How To

I looked up the poem online and started sketching out the words. It doesn’t look long when you read on the website, but when I started writing it onto my page, I realized how long it really was. For a little while, I was afraid that I would run out of room and not include the most important line of the whole poem: “I took the one less traveled by and that made all the difference”.

It Made All the Difference

One thing that made all the difference including this poem on the page is making it part of the design. The car looks like it has just passed over the words, which I think gives significance to them. It is like the car has taken ‘the road not traveled’ and is telling a story that it has now on the course that Robert Frost referred to in his poem “The Road Not Taken”

I am glad I sketched it out with a pencil first, not only for placement but also because I gained a sense of how thin my lines needed to be. I was tempted to leave it in pencil, but I knew how pencil tends to smudge. When I started with the main body of the poem, I chose the smallest pen nib I had – the Micron 005 which is .2 mm and razor thin. I treat this pen very carefully as the least amount of stress on that nib could push it in and destroy your pen. I am happy to announce that I was successful.

Include Poems and Stories in your Bullet Journal Layouts for additional character "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost

Watch the Process Video Below Writing out the Words & Painting the Car

This video is compiled from a live paint with me/plan with me YouTube session. It’s a little longer and I explain my process in more detail. Plus you get to see my plate palette!

The Car & a New Font

The car in the picture was intended to be a Volkswagon Beatle from the 70’s but I could not get the shape to look just right – so I let it morph into an old-timey convertible car with hooded wheels and a long, slanted trunk. This was one of my absolute favorites to paint.

It’s not typical watercolor, this is another watercolor with Crayola SuperTip Markers. So many things I love about that technique. Two big reasons are that I can erase the pencil marks once I’m done painting. Another reason is that I can write over the image if I need to with any pen – unlike regular watercolor.

I’ve been practicing a font to use when I’m not using cursive or brush lettering. The “meals” sign is one thing I am really pleased with. I love the color and the shape of the signs and the font (I think) came out nicely.

Question:

What is your favorite poem or line of poetry? I’ve also been obsessed with Atticus – love her wild.

Remember to plan your life so you live beautifully and don’t be afraid to find your inner muse.

~Tricia

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Chocolate Musings by Tricia Murdock

Chocolate Musings by Tricia Murdock
YouTube Video UCefWa0NWVt5a_q9LWofOWhw_yIQ4ggBQBsg From the Archives: Fun & Whimsical Bullet Journal Set Up - Ideas and Plants - Loose floral wreaths
Lots of spring-inspired doodles with pastel colors. I changed it up this month with horizontal weekly layouts.


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Brain Dump Names: https://chocolatemusings.com/different-names-brain-dump/

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Website: http://ChocolateMusings.com
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____________________


Products I Used: 
Daniel Smith Watercolor: https://amzn.to/3Ip8xbD
Princeton Velvetouch Paint Brushes: https://amzn.to/42IVnPQ
Archer & Olive A5 Dot Grid Notebook: https://archerandolive.refr.cc/triciam
Helix Circle Maker Tool: https://amzn.to/49kx5xY
Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen: https://amzn.to/42MogKR



Video Set-Up:

Photography Lights (I use these for my everyday drawing). They're amazing https://amzn.to/2shdb4j
Canon PowerShot G7x Mark III Digital Camera https://amzn.to/3yt2lb4
Blue Yeti - USB Microphone https://amzn.to/2SNwb6a
Scissor Arm Mic Stand https://amzn.to/2CcGgm0






Contains affiliate links - if you use them, I may receive a small commission at no charge to you.
00:00 Introduction
00:12 Sneak Peek
00:33 Welcome Page
01:26 Monthly Calendar
02:42 Brain Dump
03:34 Weeklies
05:35 Journal
06:17 Habit Tracker
06:55 Flip Through
From the Archives: Fun & Whimsical Bullet Journal Set Up - Ideas and Plants - Loose floral wreaths
Lots of spring-inspired doodles with pastel colors. I changed it up this month with horizontal weekly layouts.


____________________

Brain Dump Names: https://chocolatemusings.com/different-names-brain-dump/

Social Links - Let's be Friends!
Website: http://ChocolateMusings.com
Shop: https://chocolatemusings.com/shop/
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChocolateMusings
Instagram: http://Instagram.com/chocolatemusingscreates
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ChocolateMusings/

____________________


Products I Used: 
Daniel Smith Watercolor: https://amzn.to/3Ip8xbD
Princeton Velvetouch Paint Brushes: https://amzn.to/42IVnPQ
Archer & Olive A5 Dot Grid Notebook: https://archerandolive.refr.cc/triciam
Helix Circle Maker Tool: https://amzn.to/49kx5xY
Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen: https://amzn.to/42MogKR



Video Set-Up:

Photography Lights (I use these for my everyday drawing). They're amazing https://amzn.to/2shdb4j
Canon PowerShot G7x Mark III Digital Camera https://amzn.to/3yt2lb4
Blue Yeti - USB Microphone https://amzn.to/2SNwb6a
Scissor Arm Mic Stand https://amzn.to/2CcGgm0






Contains affiliate links - if you use them, I may receive a small commission at no charge to you.
00:00 Introduction
00:12 Sneak Peek
00:33 Welcome Page
01:26 Monthly Calendar
02:42 Brain Dump
03:34 Weeklies
05:35 Journal
06:17 Habit Tracker
06:55 Flip Through
From the Archives: Fun & Whimsical Bullet Journal Set Up - Experimenting with Watercolor Leaves in my Bullet Journal. Featuring 2-to-a-spread weeklies and a loosely painted watercolor theme - I hope this planning session inspires you to paint or to try something new.


00:00 Introduction
00:15 Welcome Page Wreath
01:41 Monthly Calendar Page
03:04 Habit Tracker & Monthly To Do Pages
05:47 Gratitude + Week 1
06:35 Weeklies
06:52 Brain Dump
07:15 Journal
07:42 Whoops! Adding a Page
09:06 Final Flip Through


____________________

Social Links - Let's be Friends!
Website: http://ChocolateMusings.com
Shop: https://chocolatemusings.com/shop/
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChocolateMusings
Instagram: http://Instagram.com/chocolatemusingscreates
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ChocolateMusings/

____________________


Products I Used: 
Daniel Smith Watercolor: https://amzn.to/3Ip8xbD
Princeton Velvetouch Paint Brushes: https://amzn.to/42IVnPQ
Archer & Olive A5 Dot Grid Notebook: https://archerandolive.refr.cc/triciam
Helix Circle Maker Tool: https://amzn.to/49kx5xY
Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen: https://amzn.to/42MogKR



Video Set-Up:

Photography Lights (I use these for my everyday drawing). They're amazing https://amzn.to/2shdb4j
Canon PowerShot G7x Mark III Digital Camera https://amzn.to/3yt2lb4
Blue Yeti - USB Microphone https://amzn.to/2SNwb6a
Scissor Arm Mic Stand https://amzn.to/2CcGgm0






Contains affiliate links - if you use them, I may receive a small commission at no charge to you.
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chocolatemusingscreates

Here's another #minimal #weeklylayout idea - use t Here's another #minimal #weeklylayout idea - use these cute day-of-the-week stickers, add the dates, and VIOLA! Your weekly setup is d.o.n.e.⁠ ✔️⁠
⁠
If you are feeling overwhelmed by all the creativity and additions to your planner or bullet journal, take a breath.😮‍💨 Use a minimal approach to your planner - it's ok if it needs to be ONLY functional.⁠
⁠
⁠
Check out the link in my profile to these stickers. I also sell timeline strips if you hate writing the numbers over and over again. ⁠
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1373695869/⁠
⁠
#minimalplanning⁠ #planner #bulletjournal #bujo #bulletjournalinspiration #bujoinspo #journal #journaling #bulletjournalstickers #bujostickers #etsy #smallbusiness⁠
#minimalplanner⁠ #simpleplanning #simplebulletjournal #bulletjournalcollections #bulletjournalingcommunity #bulletjournaltracker #bulletjournallayout #bulletjournaldailylog #bulletjournalph #bulletjournallife #bulletjournalsystem⁠
⁠
⁠
Looking back at this February calendar page 📅 S Looking back at this February calendar page 📅 Sometimes simple is best!
Here's an easy-peasy heart layout. Add some paint Here's an easy-peasy heart layout. Add some paint splatters for extra color and fun!⁠
⁠
🥰🥰🥰🥰 ❤️ 💗 💖 💘 💝 💟
I can never spell this one right. 🤦‍♀️😆⁠
⁠
Music: Walk⁠
Musician: @iksonmusic
What is your "Go to" word for lettering? Many peop What is your "Go to" word for lettering? Many people write "hi" or "hello". Love is the word I choose! 💗💖💗💗💖

#valentines
#valentinesday 
#love
#lettering
#moderncalligraphy
#procreatelettering
#calligraphylettering
#calligraphylettering 
#lovequotes 
#lovewins
Happy Valentine's Day! To celebrate here are some Happy Valentine's Day! To celebrate here are some lovely strawberries and a pun 😅
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Filed Under: Blog, Bullet Journal, Get Creative, Get Organized & Start Planning, Plan With Me, Plan With Me 2018, Planner Spreads Tagged: #BuJo, adding a poem, Bullet Journal, bullet journaling, car, handlettering, lettering, painting, plan with me, robert frost, storytelling, the road not take, watercolr, weekly, weekly bullet journal layout, weekly bullet journal spread, Weekly Layout

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About Me


Hi! I'm Tricia, the creative behind ChocolateMusings.com, I know how it feels to lose your inner muse. After years of darkness (which I call the dark ages of my life), I found my inner muse hiding in the forgotten corners of my soul, I vowed never to lose sight of her again.

Bullet journaling helped reignite the passion for art and living life again while organizing my days. I also discovered modern calligraphy and watercolor. Since then, my use of the bullet journal system has evlolved and I call it 'creative planning'. Here on the blog, I show you how to use your planner to ignite your inner muse and explore creativity and art while staying beautifully organized and living a joyful life.

I invite you to grab some good chocolate and dive into my musings. Let’s ignite your inner muse.

Read more on the about me page. You can also find my policies and disclosures here.

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