What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 491

Hello Everyone,

Happy last day of October - so sad to see the best month of Autumn gone. I hope you are enjoying the same weather we are here - typically autumnal, chilly, blue sky and a low sun - making it another perfect day for joining in over at Julia's What's On Your Desk - where there will be, as usual, a lot more interesting desks on view then this one of mine.

I found it difficult to get a good shot this morning despite that low sun, and it hasn't improved much even yet, but I hope you can still see the mess on my desk well enough. That teetering pile is of paper, stamps and some speciality glittery sticky-backed film which I've been cutting out for snowflakes. I'd forgotten I had it but after watching this Jennifer McGuires video - prompted by Shaz's seriously distracting WOYWW post last week that ended with me viewing several more of Jennifer's very instructional videos -  I remembered I had just the right supply for glittery snowflakes. I got the two cards at the back made - well almost two, the pink one needs a greeting attached. That's the snowflake dies I used in front, just waiting to be put back in their packaging. On the far left is a Lonely Planet note book and behind it a book on bullet journaling - more later.

Here's the completed card. The glittery sticky-backed film was attached to some thin cardstock to make it easier to die cut but it took several passes through my machine to cut it well enough, even after adding a couple of pieces of card as a shim. I also used wax paper in the die - that did make it easier to release the snowflake. These thin dies aren't always the easiest to cut with.

Now to the book bit. One I have read, the other I've listened to. Both are about Bullet Journaling, or BuJo as it seems to be known as in the crafting world.

First up is the book I read,  'How to Bullet Plan: A Practical Guide' by Rachel Wilkerson Miller.  I've always, from as far back as I can remember kept a diary and/or a journal and also more recently a planner and a 'to-do' list. Not to mention even more recently the various digital systems I've tried out - never successful because I prefer the act of putting pen to paper! The idea of single notebook in which to write it all down appeals. However, it all seems a bit complicated and I'm thinking that there must be an easier way. I'd like to say this book makes it so, Ms Miller writes in a very readable way, taking the reader through various processes to create a journal as simple or as elaborate as wished, but when finished reading I wasn't still sure it was for me.

Which is why I got this audio book.

 'The Bullet Journal Method' by Ryder Carroll. It seems that Mr Carroll is, in fact, the creator of bullet journaling. His personal story, and why he came to develop this organisational system, is interesting. Like me, he has tried everything to get organised - countless apps, systems, planners, you name it. Nothing really worked for him. Until, that is, he created  his own simple system that required only pen and paper, which, like me, he found much more to his liking. 'He shared his method with a few friends, and before long he had a worldwide viral movement. Hundreds of thousands of Bullet Journal fans now spread the word ...'. (Quote from Amazon.) A comprehensive PDF file comes with the audiobook - it's 62 pages long and I'm still reading my way through it.

I'm still trying to work out how to adapt the system to my needs. I'm retired and I'm no longer juggling the demands of family and work, so much of what both authors describe does not apply to me. My life seems so much simpler in comparison until I think about what I need to do and, indeed, what I want to do. I still have appointments, a wish list, a to-do list, and a diary to keep so I'm hoping I can devise something very uncomplicated - it has to be uncomplicated to make the effort worthwhile - by taking ideas from both these books.  I'll give it a try and I'll let you know how I get on.

If you haven't participated in What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday before but fancy joining in the fun do pop over to the Stamping Ground where you can find all the information you need here. It's really too easy, post a photo of your desk, tidy or messy it doesn't matter, and add your link to all the others. It's fun, you'll see.

In the meantime, have a very happy WOYWW and a great week ahead.