This year I'm bound and determined to journal my way through England.  Last year, I took a few hundred photos to remember Draw's and my travels but, unfortunately, when I got to day six or seven in my blogging about it, I pooped out.  I was trying to recreate the trip using the photos and then Draw moved the photos into a new gallery and poof.  All the exciting and fun and funny things we'd done became one big lump of exciting/fun/funny with no rhyme nor reason to it.

This year is going to be different.  This year we're ALL going to journal.  Meaning me... and Draw and Sheila and Jo and "Just William" (who will probably assist us all with our day's events - particularly those that have to do with him).

And you.  You're going to journal, too.  Or at least I'm going to attempt to entice you into journaling your adventures this summer.  And tempt you with the pièce de résistance in the world of journals, the epitome... the journal of all journals:  MOLESKINE. 

I know, I know... you never thought to own one, you may not even know what one is for that matter, but I am here to tell you that if you're going to spend some time writing about your summer adventures, you must treat yourself to at least one Moleskine journal.

First, let's say it together:
MOLE - SKEEN.
How's that sound rolling off the tongue?  Pretty cool?  Not half as cool, not a fraction as cool as holding one of these babies in your hands.  This is the journal that lays flat no matter where you are with your adventure - beginning, middle or end.  Quality, baby.  And there are several varieties of Moleskine.  Did I mention that Van Gogh, Picasso and Hemingway all loved this notebook?  Oh, but they did.  When you own a Moleskine you are hobnobbing with the best of them.



Now, that's not to say that other journals are not going to fit the bill - in fact, if you wander over to the shoppe and take a peek in Les nécessités you're going to find a few others.  But wouldn't it be nice to join the legions of artists and writers who will use nothing less than the best when they put pen, brush, pencil to paper?

Who is this wee little lass?  If you were to wander over to the Collage Sheet page of my shoppe you'd see that she is called "Sheet 133". 

And this tiny solemn lad, below, with the expressive eyes sitting quietly with hands folded.  You would find that his name is "Sheet 120".




And this lovely face... the one who started it all.  This vision of loveliness is called... Sheet 001.                                                   

It's not like I'm not a romantic - I am.  Really.  But back in the day when I first started creating my line of collage sheets I, oddly enough, just started numbering them.  I know it's boring.  It is.  All those pretty faces and pretty bits relegated to a number system totally devoid of any whimsy or magic.


Every month starting May 1st we... er, you... are going to name 20 collage sheets, starting with that pretty lass above, our beloved Sheet 001.  Is her name Amanda?  Or Bonnie... or Donna?  What about Sheet 002, or Sheet 003... do you have a favorite name for either of those? 

I am looking for 20 perfect names for sheets 1-20 during the month of May.  For June it will be sheets 21-40; July will be sheets 41-60, and so on until each and every sheet has been given a proper name.  That's Part I.  Which means there's a Part II...

Part II - I am also in search of art.  Fabulous, glorious art.  For May I am looking for art using the images from sheets 1-20.  Not all in one piece, mind, but 20 pieces, one for each sheet.  In June I will be looking for art using images from sheets 21-40.  July it will be sheets 41-60, and so on and so on until every sheet has a companion piece of art.

You can submit names or art as many times as you wish.  You can submit a name and art or just a name or just art. 

• If you submit a name - please tell me why you've chosen that name. 
  
• If you submit art - please tell me why that particular image speaks to you.

At the end of May - I will select my favorite names and my favorite art - for sheets 1-20.  If your art or your name have been selected you will receive that sheet free, and the name or art you've submitted will be featured in my website in the shoppe.  And of course, you will be credited... in flashing neon lights - or maybe in bold with a bit of color. 

And so it will continue - eight full months of fun and games as we finally put the WHIMSY into the collage sheet line.

There will be a special topic set up in the PaperWhimsy Art Forum for your names and art or you can email your names/art to me at info@paperwhimsy.com.  If emailing, please put "Name Game - Sheet #___" in the subject line so your submission doesn't get lost in my inbox.

There are 156+ little faces and pretty bits counting on YOU to rescue them from the anonymity of numberhood.  Won't you please do your part?      

***

Spring has sprung, the grass has riz, I wonder where the flowers iz...

The PaperWhimsy shoppe is blooming with new flowers!  Prima is at it again with new gorgeous blooms and blossoms.  These here are a silk flower in lovely soft cinnamon.  Perfect for any kind of art that speaks of spring or summer!






And who can resist PINK!  These frosted confections are made of paper and come in several color palettes.  Oh joy, oh joy!



























And something brand spanking new from Prima - clear stamps!  I particularly love these corner stamps at the amazing price of $1.90 each.  Can that possibly be true?  Yarp.