MY HOME JOURNAL

January. The Christmas decorations come down. New Resolutions are made. And then you take a look around the house and just want to go back to bed. Right? So why do we think we that this is the month to get the house organized? Good intentions, but really, why overload yourself with big project hopes so early in the year? Why not ease into the New Year with a fun and simple project? A House Journal. A cleaver little book that keeps all your house secrets in one tiny little space. A reference. Plans. Dreams. Records. And you don't have to clean out the basement first to get started. You will be amazed by how great you feel once you get started. The best New Year Organizational project EVER.

This is what you will need to get started-

My House Journal, To buy... Link Here.

Drawing Paper

Tracing Paper

A Soft Lead Pencil

A Sharp Point Pencil

Straight Edge

Black Pen (More about this later)

This is the journal I used. It is beautiful and perfect. Made by hand. The journal is a keepsake. The link to buy is in the "what you will need" list above. One of the nicest artist ever to work with.

Start by downloading these house thumbnail sketches. Or you could make your own designs.

Photo copy the thumbnails.

With your soft lead pencil, trace over the lines of the sketch.

Place one sheet of tracing paper over the sketch.

Trace over the sketch with your sharp fine point pencil.

Remove the tracing paper.  There will be a light pencil line that has been transferred to the paper.

I used this permanent marker. This marker can be purchased at office supply stores. It is important to test your marker first before you use it on your journal. Some markers "bleed" through the paper. Sharpie brand markers will run right through to the other side of the paper and ruin everything.

With your pen, or pencil, trace back over the transferred lines of the thumbnail. You can use a straight edge if you like a cleaner look. Gently erase any pencil lines.

With the straight edge, make a border line around each page.

Here are a few of the rooms I added to pages. I copied and included a floor plan to each page.

Include a few pages for the exterior.

The single best information you can gather is paint colors. For each room, interior or exterior elements, this could be a life saver for you. When you go looking for that can of paint to touch up or repaint, you realize that the can was tossed out long ago. No record. How smart to have the color number at your fingertips. Even if you change paint colors, it is nice to have a record of the different house colors over the years. I added a few fabric swatches to some of the pages.

Photos are nice.

Anything you feel to keep a record. This isn't very exciting, but you could even keep record of major care of heating, cooling, roof, repairs, etc. Adding photos, sketches or dates of additions like a deck, patio or sun porch is nice to include too.

This little journal can fit nicely in a tote and can come in handy with matching colors when shopping.

Leave the cleaning of the garage or organizing the basement for someone else. Stay in bed a little longer. A house journal is the best way to start the new year. Happy sketching!