OLIVE MIDORI TRAVELER'S NOTEBOOK

Oh, I've been waiting for the arrival of this beauty ever since I saw its announcement. My favourite colour has always been green and when Midori decided to pull this one out of the bag, I knew I had to have it. They're currently out of stock from Notemaker, but never fear, word is, they'll be back for sale in May! Do sign up for their notifications so you'll know when to get your hands on it. The ballpoint pen accessory is still available for sale though (you'll get a look at it in the pictures below).

I have a love affair with Midori's packaging for the Traveler's Notebook, and I love that they've customised the opening sheet in olive green to match the TN inside. It came with the usual dust bag and extra string, but once it's opened, here's how it looks like:

I tried to make the picture as true to the colour of the TN as possible, but alas, there's something about the camera and the olive colour that does not seem to work! Do check out Notemaker's photos to get a better depiction of the actual colour. What I can say about it though is that it's luscious. 'Inspired by the dense old-growth of forests', as described by MTN, the Olive really is one of a kind. I can tell that it will age nicely with time, and there's just something about the colour that makes me want to venture out far and wide with it.

Here are a few styled shots (which I must admit, made the MTN look more brown than olive) that I took at sunset:

Like its brothers, the Olive is fully customisable. The olive pen holder and ballpoint pen came separately, but because I had to have the matching pair, in my cart they went!

If you're a MTN fan like I am, you have to get your hands on the Olive. It will be a great addition to the collection, and you definitely won't regret the colour!

LIFE IN PICTURES

I keep telling myself to update this place, but alas, 3 weeks has gone by without a peep. Sorry. To be fair, I have been on the creative rut lately. I haven't been taking too many pictures daily (which is disastrous, in my mind), but life seems to be repeating itself over and over again with most of my days spent working (to the point where Drs I only see in the hallways asks whether I'm there 24/7. Hah). So really, you're not missing much. I guess I shouldn't use that as an excuse, but when you're spending 6 days of your week at work, you tend to cherish that one day off, in which I spend most of it catching up on my thoughts. I have been documenting some of my days in a notebook, and to be fair, I think it's going quite well. So in order to give you an update of my life and a peak into my notebook, here are some pictures to tell the story:

Hope everyone's been well
xx

MIDORI TRAVELER'S NOTEBOOK: UPDATE

I don't think you'll be surprised to know that I haven't actually stuck to one documenting style in my Midori in the past few weeks. I've kept up with some weeks of my MTN diary, but nothing too concrete. If you follow my Instagram (@lettersinnovember), you would have seen the variety of pages / spreads done up but never really followed through. So instead of creating multiple posts regarding all the projects I've done in my MTN, here are some pictures and notes on some of them:

In regards to my MTN diary, I've done just two extra pages since the last post (which isn't great, I know). I missed out most of September, and have only started it up again for design team projects. So don't be surprised if it dies out again right after:

I started a Chronodex booklet when October began, needing something dated in my life for once. Initially, my (not too great) bookbinding abilities led me to put away my Chronodex booklet, but after letting it sit on my desk for a while, I decided to pick it up again and start in it. Because the booklet started from the end of June, I had half a booklet of empty pages to waste. So instead of keeping it blank, I decided to fill it with memories collected from my days in October, and here's a look at some of the pages I've created in it:

When it comes to creating pages in regular notebooks, I've done some here and there with nothing absolute solid:

I'm still in the process of creating a notebook for my trip to Paris in November, but because I haven't decided which notebook (grid / plain / kraft?!) to use yet, it's still in the works.

HERO ARTS BLOG HOP

Hello hello and welcome to the Hero Arts blog hop! I'm super excited to bring this fun blog post to you filled with all things planner and stamping! There are lots of new stamps in this release by Hero Arts and Kelly Purkey and I'll be giving you an overview of how I use them in this post. All of the stamps used here are available now in the Hero Arts store, which you can purchase here. And if you stay till the end, there'll even be a chance for you to win a little something something! So without further adieu, lets get to the fun part of using these stamps! I decided to use all of the Kelly Purkey Planner stamps in my Traveler's Notebook diary. I love love love that there's such a great variety of planner stamps that's suitable for anyone and everyone:

Here's an up close look:

Here's a list of all the stamps I used in this spread:
- Kelly's Everyday Sticky Notes
- Kelly's TV Planner
- Kelly's Winter Planner
- Kelly's Girl Talk Planner
- Kelly's Adventure Planner
- Kelly's Reading Planner
- Kelly's Shopping Planner
- Kelly's Take Note
- Kelly's Flags Stamp + Cut
- Kelly's Coffee and Donuts
- Kelly's Travel Day
- Kelly's Outdoor Inks
- Kelly's Urban Inks
- Kelly's Fashion Inks

And now to the most important bit! Hero Arts will be giving away three $25 shopping sprees drawn just from the comments left across all the blogs in this blog hop. Comment by Wednesday, October 19, 11:59PM PT and the winners will be announced next week!

Next on the hop is the amazingly talented Kari Stiles. Be sure to check out her blog as there'll definitely be more inspiration coming your way! You can also find the links to all the designers on the Hero Arts blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

MTN: CHRONODEX

At the start of October, I decided to take the plunge and use a Chronodex. This system was created by Patrick Ng, and you can check it all out here. I needed something dated in my life, and since I didn't want to buy something that I'll probably only use for a month, I decided to go cheap and create my own booklet. It took a whole lot of getting used to as I didn't actually like my handmade book at first, but it grew on me, and I'm glad it did. Seeing I've only used it for a week and a bit, there aren't too many pages to show around here, but nevertheless, here are the ones I've done so far:

See, the thing with me is, I tend to overthink things. I decide over the layout of my page longer than needed, causing me to not create a page eventually. I'm trying my hardest not to let my Chronodex be the same and actually updating the pages as the day goes by. I'm still ending up with a bit of catching up by the end of the week, but there's always next week! And here's hoping it's not going to lose its lustre after a month of usage!

MTN DIARY #3

I'm starting to develop that itch again where I lose interest in one project and feel the need to start another. I'm still up to date with my MTN diary, however, my style has changed a little since I started it and I'm hoping this will allow me to create more freely and keep at it. Either way, here's a look at the past two weeks' MTN layouts:

I didn't in fact finish the first MTN layout above (because I ran out of time / couldn't be bothered etc), so I made up for it on the next week when I included my first picture in the MTN diary. I'm liking how it turned out though, and I'll possibly aim for more pictures in the coming week to scrap the monotony of my layouts.

TUTORIAL: VINTAGE PASSPORT MTN FOLDER

Recently, I decided to spruce up my Passport MTN kraft folder, and because I'm into all things vintage, I decided to pull out my ephemera to put together a simple antique-feel folder. Here's how it turned out:

I've been asked how I put this folder together on Instagram, so I thought I might write up a little post on it. It really is simple, and all you need are the right tools to create one of your own:

Supplies:
- Wax seal + wax
- Classiky Wax Paper
- Kaisercraft Script stamp
- Brown stamp pad
- Pressed leaf
- Green thread + needle
- Old stamp

Method:
1- The first thing to do is stamp out the vintage script directly onto the kraft folder. Do it on just one side or cover the entire folder - it is entirely up to you
2- Get the Classiky wax paper, and scrunch it up. You'll be able to create the imperfect lines across the entire wax paper as seen in the picture. Stick it on the bottom half of the kraft folder
3- Stick a vintage stamp on the top left
4- Grab your needle and thread and poke a hole on the bottom of the kraft folder. Tie a knot at the end so the thread doesnt slip through the hole and go round the kraft folder
5- Choose your pressed leaf and arrange it onto your kraft folder as desired
6- Heat some wax up and drip it onto the stem of the leaf and the wax paper
7- Stamp the wax with a wax seal stamp and you're done!

It's super simple and doesn't take too long to do either! Try one out for yourself!

PASSPORT VS REGULAR MTN

Oh, we've had this debate before, but admittedly, I have always been a little biased towards the regular MTN in the past. However, now that I've broken out the Passport, gave it a chance with some customisation and started writing in it, I'm starting to wonder why it took me so long to get into it. This weekend saw me creating two spreads, both with the same picture, in the two different sized MTNs to test how each went. Here's how it turned out:

As you can see, both spreads have their own little unique edge to them. On the one hand, the Passport size is able to focus on an event in a two-page facing spread, encompassing both writing and photo in one, while on the other, the regular size is able to encompass all of the previous with white space to spare! I guess it really depends what 'look' you're going for too.

In a way, I love the compact size of the Passport MTN; I can slip it into my back pocket at work no problem, and rather than writing notes on pieces of paper, I can now pull out my MTN and write straight into it. So the passport really is great for random notes / lists. On the other hand, I love how much the regular MTN can fit. I love its size and just the general feel of holding one. Without a doubt, the regular size is the best fit for travels and documentation. So it all depends on the final aim of your 'project'. Is it meant to be portable? Is it meant to fit lots of ephemera? Is it to document, or is it for scribbles? It all depends on you. So although I can debate to lengths of which MTN is the best, it all comes down to what you need!

MTN DIARY #2

I've been experimenting with my Passport MTN (and having so much fun with it) lately that I'm fearing that my regular sized MTN will slowly fade away (and so will my diary projects). I can't seem to stick with one thing this year, always wanting to try out different things but never really completing it wholly. I'm going to try to stick with my diary projects, so here's what's been happening in the past two weeks:

It seems like my spreads are taking a repetitive turn, don't you think? I need to embrace different styles in my diary documenting, and this week was probably one of my 'trial' runs where I embrace the space and pull an 'incomplete but complete' look. I'm aiming to have bigger diagrams in my spreads (such as the pie chart) so the eyes will have something to focus on, and hopefully that will bring some variety over to my pages.

BPC: TRAVELER'S NOTEBOOK | DOCUMENTING EVERYDAY

Guess what guys? I'm teaching a class over at Big Picture Classes on Monday and it's going to be filled with all things Traveler's Notebook! It's going to be super exciting, and you'll finally be able to access full length tutorials on how I create all my spreads! Here are a few sneak photos that will be in the class:

Make sure you sign up for a two week trials so you can check my class (and all the others) out! Looking forward to seeing you there!

MTN DIARY #1

I'm thoroughly enjoying documenting in a vertical format in my Midori diary, and if you follow me on my Instagram (@lettersinnovember), you'll probably know that's old news. I've included the last three spreads I've done for the month of July and can't wait to document more in the next following weeks!

I love that each week holds its own story through the decorations I put in and ephemera I document. It's also quite amazing how much you can fit in each of the columns there despite it looking so small! I'm definitely looking forward to completing a notebook to see the uniqueness of each spread

MTN WEEKLY 2.0

I've been experimenting a little with my newest project for the second half of the year (!!) since the start of July, and I think it's coming up great (for now). I'm on track for it, and although there is still that pressure to get it perfect like all the other posts I see out there, I think I'll loosen up once I get into the groove of things. But what is this project, I'm mentioning? Well, this:

I managed to get my hands on the undated MTN weekly diary spread onto two pages from Bookbinders Online on the first day of July and got straight into it. I never seemed to like this format until I saw their use on some of my fav Instagram accounts. Now I see why it's another great way of documentation.

This may very well be the next 'MTN Weekly' post that will be featured on my blog, so there are definitely exciting times ahead! Stay tuned!

MTN WEEKLY 2016 #12

I've been doing a lot of trialling this year, and none of them have really stuck; unfortunately this has included my MTN weekly. So until I pick something up again (and don't worry, it will be very soon), this will be my last MTN weekly post. I've included all the weeks of MTN spreads that I have done but haven't posted on my blog yet, though, so savour it while it lasts!

WEEK 12:

WEEK 13:

WEEK 14:

WEEK 15:

As usual, I've used everything and anything that fitted my spreads, from watercolour to stamps, to cool napkins found at work. There is no shortage of supplies when it comes to building up my MTN spreads.

Hope you've enjoyed my MTN weekly posts in the last few weeks and they've somewhat given you ideas in starting your own. Even though this is the end of my MTN weekly, be sure to stay tuned for upcoming projects!

TUTORIAL: CREATING A TRAVELER'S NOTEBOOK

Ok, before we start, to make things clear, this tutorial is mostly about stringing an already made notebook / passport / boarding pass holder. In this tutorial, I'm using a passport / boarding pass holder from a brand called Labrador and converting it into a MTN just because I know I wouldn't use it either wise. But before I get to it, here's a little background of the items used etc:

If you're like me, you like using original items. And when I mean original, I mean a Midori Traveler's Notebook and not a 'fauxdori'. I hate copies, and I have a strong dislike of handmade items (including my own). So when I got myself a leather boarding pass holder from Stickerrific, I had no plans to covert it to a traveler's notebook - not until I started playing with it today.

This boarding pass / passport holder is made from a brand called Labrador. I got it on the Malaysian Stickerrific site, and after coversion, it turned out to be around AU$80 - which is around the same price as a MTN kit. The only difference was - it has pockets. I wanted it in tan. but unfortunately, as they didn't have it in stock, I settled for a grey - which turned out to be a great choice.

Fast forward to a Sunday afternoon: I love my camel MTN, I really do, but the lure of pockets and the grey of the Labrador passport holder was enough to put me into my DIY mode. I had the strings and hardware needed to create a new TN, and all I really needed was to poke holes into the leather, so I thought why not? What could go wrong, after all?

So off to work I went. There really isn't much you need to create a TN style notebook if you already have one premade to size. If you have an extra MTN lying around (and chances are, you do), I'd recommend you using the holes already made as a template. Because that's basically the easiest thing you can do. Of course you need to measure it out eventually to make sure you're centered, but trust me, you'll take a whole load off if you just copy.

Anyway, here's a step-by-step method of how I went through making one (with pictures, of course!):
1- Get your stuff together: ruler, pencil, poker, needle, elastic, TN hardware

2- Measure / trace out the holes onto your new TN:

3- Poke holes through your marked areas. You'll need 4 holes, two at the top and two at the bottom

4- Thread through your elastic (probably the most difficult stage!):

5- Insert your hardware:

6- Tie a knot at the end:

That's really all you need to do. Here's a look at the end product (with two notebooks inserted):

The only fault I have with this is the weird placement of the pen holder. I am highly tempted to cut it off if only to reduce the bulk, but I think I'll just live with it for now. Apart from that, I'm currently obsessed with it. I never thought I'd replace my MTN with another - especially a home made one - but I love it to the nth degree. You should give it a go if you have the chance. I promise, you wont regret it!

MTN WEEKLY 2016 #11

I've been procrastinating (hard) with my blog these days, but when I do get around to it, I tend to do it all at once, so I guess that evens it out. This time, it's updating my MTN weekly posts. I've been keeping at it for a while now, although I must admit, I have strayed to other projects too. I never seem to be able to stick to one these days, and the only one I seem to keep around is my messy 'everything-in-one' notebook. But I'll save that for another post. This week's MTN spread goes from the 2nd of May to the 9th of May (and that's a long time ago):

It was Star Wars Day on the 4th, so of course I had to include a BB8 stencil in it. Throw in some stamps from Kelly Purkey's shop found here, some alphas, pressed leaves and stamps, you've got a complete layout to go

MTN CAMEL

Yes, it's finally in my needy little hands, and I'm in absolute love. Sometimes I wish I can carry my brown and camel MTN with me everywhere I go, but alas, I'm not that crazy. Anyway, here's all the pictures you're waiting for so feast on them, and drool if you must, because it was definitely worth the wait:

I've reviewed both the brown, black and blue MTN on my blog, so scour for them if you must to learn everything about them. You can get them on pre-order in Bookbinders Online now, or head to Stickerrific to get them straight from Malaysia.