Swap-bot Time: March 19, 2024 1:47 am
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JOURNAL JAR

Launch gallery slideshow

Swap Coordinator:melzenitram (contact)
Swap categories: Challenges  Whimsey Jars 
Number of people in swap:21
Location:Regional - USA
Type:Type 3: Package or craft
Last day to signup/drop:August 16, 2010
Date items must be sent by:August 31, 2010
Number of swap partners:1
Description:

Making a journal jar is a creative way to encourage someone to start slowly keeping a journal. Whether you're a person who already likes to journal, you're not really interested, or you find it too time consuming, a journal jar lets you attempt to journal in small doses. I know I have good intentions and would love to journal every day just so I can remember something about these days that go by so fast. The days all blend into one and before you know it, all the memories are just one big blur.

The idea behind a journaling jar is that you take out one prompt a day, glue it to your journal page and write a response to that prompt. Here's how it's done:

First you find a jar (any size will work). You can keep it plain, putting a label on the outside that says, "Journal Jar" or you can decorate it with patterned paper, fabric or anything else you want.

Pick 100 journaling prompts

Type them and print them out on cute fonts on paper and cut them into strips with decorative scissors. (You can also use regular scissors, but the decorative are prettier.) OR You could also write the prompts yourself with different colored markers or a black pen.

Then fold them up and put them into the decorated jar.

I WILL THEN RUN JOURNAL JAR SWAP PART TWO IN WHICH A COMPOSITION BOOK IS NEEDED, YOU WILL GLUE THE PROMPTS ONTO EACH PAGE (SINCE A STANDARD COMPOSITION BOOK IS 100 PAGES) AND ANSWER THE PROMPTS!) YOU CAN EITHER ENTER BOTH OR JUST PART ONE!

Discussion

craftychick 07/20/2010 #

Mel, Love this idea. I'm in.

aidenromantic 07/20/2010 #

So basically. We send off the jar with the prompts and then take the prompts we receive and put them in a composition book? Sorry if I got that wrong.

Gofeen 07/20/2010 #

I LOVE this idea but I live in U.K. Anyone up for doing a private swap for just the first part? I would be so happy if there is anyone to do this. PM me please, pretty please? I can't do the second part because we don't have composition books. (but we do have lots of pretty notebooks) Josephine

LesleyKnitsPretty 07/20/2010 #

This is great! Someone should run one for Canadians too :)

annstanley 07/20/2010 #

Gofeen - I'd be happy to do a private swap. I'll pm you - Shirley

melzenitram 07/20/2010 #

it doesn't have to be a composition book...just a journal with at least 100 pages. @aidenromantic there will be a second swap so that you can take the prompts you received and create a journal with them and send them to your new partner. OR do you guys think you should just resend the prompts to the person you got them from? anyone wanting to an international swap should GO FOR IT!!!! it would be awesome!!! I have to keep postage down..got too many swaps going on and coming up. sorry guys :o)

mmbrunet 07/21/2010 #

Yes!!! Please make an International swap for this one too!! Maybe for the International version we can make an envelope with the words inside? Not a jar? That way we can keep postage down.

I'd start the International swap with @melzenitram 's permission, but I'm still in the newbie stage and am not allowed. (Note: Already sent out 7 swaps this month, just waiting for them to arrive and get rated... I just discovered Swap-Bot and loving it!)

chrissi2286 07/21/2010 #

i was wondering if i could start a regional version of this for the aussie girls on swap bot? :-)

melzenitram 07/21/2010 #

do it chrissi!

HGoodbrad 07/21/2010 #

Can we put the promts that we send in a comp book for the next swap? I would like to keep my journal jar intact!

melzenitram 07/21/2010 #

well that's what i'm thinking for the next swap @hgoodbrad for the next swap to answer the prompts we get but either do a whole new swap or just send them back to the original journal jar sender...what do you think??? you don't have to glue in the prompts i guess if you want to keep them..you could just write them down. good idea! but you would have to identify the swap of course. just not sure as to do a whole new swap or not. does that even make sense? LOL

HGoodbrad 07/21/2010 #

I Would be ok with wrighting them down in the Comp book or Journal. So When we get our Jar do we then write the journal and send it back to our partner? :)

hoosiergirl 07/21/2010 #

I love this idea - the jar part anyway. Just reading the responses it appears some are thinking this swap includes the comp book or journal. To clarify (for my own feeble mind) THIS swap is for the jar of prompts only - correct? :0)

I'm gonna start on it this evening - can't wait to decorate my jar!

mylittleangel2007 07/21/2010 #

Are newbies welcome? I would love to join!

melzenitram 07/21/2010 #

yes newbies are welcome. what do u guys think? return the journal back to the person who sent you the prompts??

greenadore 07/21/2010 #

i love the journal jar swap idea but am a little lost with the journal swap - isnt a journal for your own thoughts and nonsense? ;) i wouldnt necessarily care to read how the person responded to my prompts (not trying to sound rude sorry if it did!) I am just saying, why would we need to swap the journal back.. I would totaly want to keep it! :)

melzenitram 07/21/2010 #

hahahahhahahah @ greenadore point taken

HGoodbrad 07/22/2010 #

I agree with Greenadore! I greedy, I want the journal!!

heidijo 07/22/2010 #

do i really have to send a jar?that sounds slightly spendy,i am on a budget.would a envelope work?

melzenitram 07/22/2010 #

i dunno about you guys but what fun would a journal envelope be? i want to decorate a jar ....lol and receive a jar. remember...you can find a lightweight and SMALL jar that won't be expensive to mail at all...maybe under five dollars! don't think huge and heavy!

HGoodbrad 07/22/2010 #

I want a Jar too!! I've done a whimsey jar for a swap and did not get a "Jar" in return but somthing else, I wanted a jar. Could we do jars :)

RainyC 07/22/2010 #

I was in a Journal Jar swap before. Its really not that pricey for mailing. We sent a Journal jar with the prompts, and the journal, I liked that idea because I could match my journal to my papers.. anyone interested in seeing what I made can PM would love to share it. Rain.. not sure on joining this.. for just a jar.. but I'll watch it for a bit..

greenadore 07/24/2010 #

i do like the idea of sending a blank journal AND the jar of prompts - you could decorate the journal to match the jar! ;)

pumpkinniki 07/24/2010 #

I wonder if 100 little slips could fit in a babyfood jar? That is what I plan to use. I would only be interested in the second swap (sending the journal) if it is required to be an art journal. I love seeing what people create, but I don't want to just stare at pages of just words...

~ANKH :)

melzenitram 07/26/2010 #

@PUMPKINNIKI they probably could fit in a baby food jar...the ones that are bigger that 4 ounces. i didn't think about that. good idea. i also like the idea of sending a journal decorated to match the jar. you could send back to match the prompts in any which way you see fit meaning words, text, collage...etc. WHAT DO U GUYS THINK OF THAT??

bookwormAL 07/26/2010 #

I think I am getting very confused. So many ideas and comments. Most of them sound great. But what does this swap now require? Help! my old brain is on overload.

pumpkinniki 07/26/2010 #

I don't really like the idea of sending a journal with it since that means a bigger box than what will just fit a babyfood jar. Plus, If I decide not to join the second half, I don't want to feel obligated to.

...just my opinion... ~ANKH

PS: If the journal is to be sent back to the sender of the jar, there will be no way of rating the person as a no send if they don't send back. I feel like that should be either left completely optional or as a second swap altogether.

melzenitram 07/28/2010 #

agreed pumpkinniki....i think it should be an optional second swap.

greenadore 08/ 1/2010 #

optional second swap sounds sweet!

hoosiergirl 10/15/2010 #

Hope everyone enjoyed - i got flaked :0(

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