Just checking in. Journals, and timelines, and courses, oh my!

I finally made a video! Sharing some of my current journal, a virus timeline printable to include in your journals, and journals from some of the courses I've taken lately.
This video contains NO sponsored products or courses and all opinions shared are my own.
Reuse old calendars (find like years):
calendarhome.com/calculate/fi...
Coronavirus Timeline Printable:
www.persnicketyprints.com/fre...
James Burke KZbin Channel and Teachable Courses:
/ jamesburkecreative
jlbcreative.teachable.com/
The Art Beat Club: www.theartbeatclub.com/
Mindy Lacefield: www.mindylacefieldart.com/
My Amazon* Storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/melaniesu...
My Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/texasfreckles
Instagram: / melanietexasfreckles
*I am an Amazon affiliate and earn a small commission from Amazon if you buy products through my links. This happens at NO cost to you.

[@iHanna]

Your random videos are my favorites, getting to see a few of the many journals you are working in at the same time is so inspiring to me. I'd love to see a flip- through of your previous Nanami-journals as well, if you care to share them. Take care, /another youtuber / art journaler

[@ajsinspiredlife665]

💗💗💗💥💥💥love everything you create!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!!

[@melodykeogh]

Yuss! Great to see you again. Love that you are random. Love that you just do your thing. Love that you are you. Your journals are just the best ever and you are my absolute favourite because you just get on with whatever you love doing which is just perfectly inspiring. Love it when you make a new video.. and so so glad when you just reach up and press the record button. xx

[@MelanieSullivan]

Thanks, Melody. Honest truth here, your recent comment is what's been driving me to get back at it. You have no idea how encouraging and meaningful your kind words are. I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

[@melodykeogh]

​@@MelanieSullivan Thank you too Melanie. I appreciate you. xx.

[@NolaTheAlamoChiliQueen]

I'm so glad you posted a new video, I was a bit concerned because we'd not heard from you in a while.

[@BeautifulBlueHeart]

We miss you Melanie! Please make a new video soon! You have been such an inspiration! Hope all is well. Sending you love and hugs 😊💙🌻🌼🌹💻📚📒📕📖📙📘📗📚📄📑🏷🔖📚

[@butterflymagicwithhottea9291]

Just found your channel today and enjoying your style of videos. They are great for simple, engaging ideas when I run groups. I look for ideas that adults of all skills can produce something within about 30 minutes because we have 1 hour time blocks, including instruction and clean up.

[@joanb456]

Great video, I was searching for weaving with paper and was lead to you. I’m inspired by you and literally pulled out my already painted pages for a journal and got started again! Thank you

[@stephaniestephenson6662]

Wow I loved this video. Thanks for sharing. I am a journal addict and also love different journals. Would love to see more xx

[@pearlann5995]

Enjoy your videos. Look forward to the next one.

[@lovealynette]

I love watching your videos! I was rewatching this video and remembered that I forgot to share this with you. FYI: when you want to scan the page. Place a piece of black paper behind the image you are scanning. It helps hide most of the writing/drawings from showing through the other side of the page, on your scans.

[@MelanieSullivan]

I've never hear that trick, but I'm going to try it next time I scan. THANK YOU for the tip! And for watching. 😀

[@annikagaard3758]

I could just watch your videos aaaaaaaall day long 😍

[@robertadzeima5132]

Your voice is so soothing. Thank you.

[@craftyirina]

Just got a chance to sit and enjoy this video from you! 💕 You’ve been a creative busy bee! Love it! So inspiring! Awesome works of Art! Love seeing your channel grow! We all learn so much from you ... keep it coming! Hugzzzz😘

[@SandiMo77]

I greatly enjoy your videos, Melanie. Not only is your artwork inspiring, but it's just nice to hear you talking about what's been working for you and what hasn't. I feel kind of like we're sitting down over coffee, and you're just sharing what you've been doing with a little show and tell. Very fun!

[@Freckles439]

I love your art! I love that you journal so much. I am also an introvert with social anxiety and I find so much benefit from watching you tubers do creative journaling and trying it out myself. Making small art helps me so much with my anxiety that I just put up a channel name with thoughts of *maybe* making some videos.

[@MelanieSullivan]

Well, I'm your second subscriber and I can't wait to see what you upload! 😃

[@Freckles439]

@@MelanieSullivan Well thank you! Now I'm going to have to make a video.

[@daydreamingtocreate]

So glad you made this video! I love this laid back chit chat show us what you are working on kind of video! You inspire me so much to just be creative and not think so much about what I am doing. I need to look into taking some classes I've never taken any and am a little intimated by them. I just need to do it!! Thanks for all your inspiration!

[@gaildonofrio9090]

Melanie, I have been binging all your old streams these last 4 days. I am beyond excited

[@momof2minionsmd310]

Hi! So glad to see you!

[@princessteach]

I take classes with James and Mindy - love them!!!

[@Dana-fn5zt]

I love your idea for the composition books!! New subscriber here! Greetings from Pasadena, CA. It's so hard to be motivated during this time.

[@conniefullmer7824]

So excited to see a new video. I've been watching all of your old videos. I'm working on my second soft spine journal. My favorite way to make journals now!!

[@tessreisman1281]

Because of you I discovered the remarkable Red River paper. Thank you so much!

[@lijinparmentier9274]

Wow! They are perfect!! Love them!

[@donnaseeton3568]

What a nice Sunday surprise! We’ve missed you. I love looking at your journals and that wrecked journal is off the charts. I’ve been in a creative slump, but still collecting goodies to make more journals.....❤️❤️

[@helensalo9810]

Great to see (hear) you again. Looking forward to you going thru the other journals etc.know you don’t need to be anxious we all love you and you really are talented and need to share your knowledge. ❤️❤️

[@vickimaddox6028]

Your videos always inspire. Also I love seeing that I'm not the only one with stacks of journals. TFS

[@jansimpson3831]

SO glad to see your video today! Missed them. My son plays Independent Professional Baseball for a team in Chicago and they were in town all week last week to scrimmage Railroaders so I was making the trip from Richardson out to Cleburne everyday. I thought of you every time we went thru Ft Worth!

[@henkesarah7147]

Wow, Melanie! That’s a ton of work you’ve been doing - so inspiring to get my butt in gear! I love that you’re taking all those classes, doing all those journals and getting to see all your creativity - I love this video! Thanks for sharing!

[@CreatedbyCatherine]

Lovely to see you. Great to catch up with your lovely projects x Catherine xx

[@marilyn.healey]

Thank you for the video!! I look forward to more :)

[@susannaeasdale1162]

Hello Melanie it was lovely catching up with you, l think lm going to have a look at the Mindy Lacefield course l love the colours you used. Tfs Hugs Susanna xx 😄 ♥️

[@marthalowery4211]

Love the hair--what I saw of it!

[@karendale9926]

Love that you’re baaaaaack! (No pressure heh heh). Truly enjoyed the review of your class journals - wonder why I never thought of keeping my notes, etc. in such a beautiful fun way?!. Me too: total introvert with social anxiety. Random, imperfect, whatever, you did it and we fans are so glad you did. More of this kind please? (I love your slow stitching art too, but don’t do it myself. ). xoxo

[@kimvonende505]

I always look forward to your videos Melanie. We have so many similar interests and I’m always inspired 😻

[@spottedfawn639]

Good to see you! :)

[@karlaglessner6382]

I love, love, love your video content. So inspiring. It's like a review of classes and ideas and other people to view to find what we like to "art". So many are reviewing product these days, it's hard to find videos that utilizes the products I already have. You have done the research for us. Keep doing what you're doing! Btw, my 10yo daughter and I are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our (2) "Wreck this Journal". Ordered yesterday and should be arriving any moment. I just wanted to say thank you and God Bless.

[@annettebo3355]

Wow you are so active. Love your videos

[@colleenmorrison312]

Hi Melanie, I just discovered you this evening! I love what I have seen so far! One of the things I saw while browsing you videos was a journal cover you made using pieces of an old quilt, 40 lbs watercolor paper & the snap closer. I tried to find a video that showed how you made the cover but couldn't find one. Would it be possible for you to email me the measurements, scoring lines for the folds for the spine & covers. Also when & how you attached the snap closure. I would so much appreciate your helping me with this project. I just love it. I will continue looking through all your videos! Thank you so much in advance for sharing the instructions with me or everyone else who would like them.

[@MelanieSullivan]

Hi Colleen, and welcome! I don't think I have a video for that journal, but if I'm making a video to do list as I go through my KZbin comments, so I'll add that one to the list.

[@amandagraceable]

I’m so in love with your journaling style!! Beautiful stuff! ❤️P.S. I’d also love to hear more about your Sabrina Ward Harrison classes if you ever have the time 👍

[@katsmith8263]

Love your videos! You showed how you prep your new comp. journal -you made a cover-could you please show how you prep your pages in it? You put acrylic paint on them or watercolor paint or how do you approach them? And what do you write with over those pages? I found out that not every pen writes over painted pages?!?? PLEASE!!!!!🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰❤️👍❤️👍

[@MelanieSullivan]

Honestly, Kat, the best pen to write on top of acrylic paint is a good, old-fashioned ballpoint. I love the thicker line fo the Bic Cristal pens on top of paint. My other favorite pen on top of acrylic is fountain pens. I try to avoid felt tips on top of acrylic, I think it might tear up the tip. Gel rollers would be a good option too.

[@katsmith8263]

@@MelanieSullivan 👍👍👍

[@eddielucero998]

Yeah your back at least for a while. Thank you Louise

[@updatedjustnow271]

♥️

[@mariannechalstrom3254]

I enjoy all your videos. Thanks for putting me on to Lynda Barry in earlier videos! Where did you get those wonderful A5 journals? Thanks

[@MelanieSullivan]

Hi Marianne, I'm using A5 notebooks from Nanami Paper Co and The Galen Leather Co. They both contain the same paper, Tomoe River, as what's used in the Hobonichi if you're familiar with those.

[@suzanneproulx8768]

Love this video I’ve missed you! Looking for a watercolor fun course like these you have mentioned any recommendations!

[@karenw8481]

I like that you use your journals. How much time to you spend writing in your journal? shortest? longest time?

[@Maggie321]

Do you have a video on how you make your covers shiny?

[@MelanieSullivan]

Hi Maggie. I use Liquitex Gloss Varnish. It's mostly used to varnish acrylic paintings and can be found with the painting mediums and paints. It's a milky white color in the bottle, but it dries completely clear. Apply it liberally and don't worry about brush strokes as it will level itself out as it dries if you have enough on the surface. I hope that helps!

[@jenniferedwards6238]

You mentioned not knowing how the washi will last. I use my journals much like yours...to record my life ... and I’ve thought the exact same thing. I’ve also wondered about masking tape and duct tape. By the way .... I’ve missed your videos!!!

[@jenniferschaaf3299]

Glue 2 pages together so you can have a blank page on the reverse of your drawing but no blank pages in your book. Did that make any sense at all??

[@imperfect_pages5331]

What do you use for the background colors on your pages?! I’m working in a composition book now, and I want to add more color to my pages!

[@MelanieSullivan]

Often, I just use craft acrylic that I apply with an old gift card. Ballpoint pens and pencils write on acrylic pretty easily, but it's too abrasive for many of my nice markers. Sometimes I use watercolor too. I'll weigh down my comp book under a big stack of books to get the watercolored pages to lay flat.

[@mysummertouch]

Waiting for a new video!😂

[@brendafalk5162]

Any current stitchery videos?

[@MelanieSullivan]

Not recently, Brenda, but I'm trying to get back at it! Thanks for checking in!

[@mollymatheny5434]

Can you link the brown journal you were using?

[@MelanieSullivan]

Hi Molly, the journal in the beginning of the video is the Crossfield from Nanami Paper Co. They do have some in stock right now! www.nanamipaper.com/products/seven-seas-crossfield-a5-grid-journal-6th-edition.html

[@clc3897]

No, I cannot believe it!!! I think telepathy was the only reason you made this video cause I swear I wanted to email you and check on you. This whole week all I was thinking was “what is Melanie up to?” Okay.... now I’m going to watch your video.