Monday, May 20, 2013

No More Excuses - A Giveaway!

As some of you know, I am a big fan of Gina Armfield's No More Excuses method and I am happy to announce my participation in her upcoming book, No Excuses Art Journaling, due out in December 2013! This method has literally changed my creativity and productivity into a daily practice. Gina helps you create a daily practice of working in a calendar as a journal, with prompts and inspiration to keep the creativity flowing. NME gives you the structure, and then you get to make it your own! My calendar journals have become home to memories and tidbits, lettering samples, quotes, watercolor, illustration and photography. Bit by bit, I watch my journal grow and by the end of the year I have a potent, creative record of the journey.

If you haven't started your NME journal yet, now is the time! Gina is releasing 2 DVDs to accompany her book, demonstrating just how to incorporate drawing & watercolor as well as mixed-media collage into your work! And I am giving away Gina's Mixed-Media Collage DVD to get you started! Just post a comment stating what you love or are looking forward to about the No Excuses Approach and I will randomly select a winner at the end of the week!

Please take a closer look at the No Excuses Art Journaling site, where you can catch Gina's interview, clips of her DVD's, ordering info, as well as updates on her workshops and book release. For a deeper glimpse into Gina's artwork take a look here!

Be sure to check out the rest of the Blog Release Party for more giveaways and inspiration:

May 20 - Dion Dior
May 22 - Serena Barton
May 23 - Chris Kalina
May 24 - Kelly Kilmer
May 28 - Pam Garrison
May 29 - Jennifer Joanou
May 30 - Tracie Huskamp
May 31 - Leslie Riley



54 comments:

  1. this looks and sounds wonderful! so nice to hear that it has had such a wonderful impact on your artful experience. thank you for sharing.

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  2. Love your work! I am particularly intrigued by the top left photo of your 4. Would you please talk to me about the tabs. Homemade? Color-coded? They just look luscious!!

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    1. I swear, the tabs are my favorite part! They are typically the first thing I add, one for each month. The book on the left has japanese sticker tabs, although Iv'e found some cute ones at The Container Store and office supple stores. The pink book has tabs that I cut out from an old, unused planner and taped into the new one. These books get really full and the tabs help to find your place as well as being fun!

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  3. Beautiful work! Thanks for sharing.

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  4. "Yippee!!"
    **count me in... Love all the inspiring artwork & fun blog-hopping!! :)

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  5. I need this book ...thanks for the opportunity

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  6. So do you use an actual calendar? What I would love is the impetus to just do it! :)

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    1. Yep, I use a calendar as the journal. Trust me, this process really builds upon itself. You start with small, daily tasks and the books sort of fills itself. Some weeks I am more spare, and others I put in more time. This process and Gina's book are a great place to start. She lays the foundation and it makes it really easy to work in this format. It's a great place for all the odds and ends and to-do's of my life.

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  7. I think I need this book. I want to see her daily approach. I want to change things up a little in what I do in my own Daily. I look for inspiration wherever I go. And I look forward to seeing the way Gina does things. :)

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    1. I highly recommend it. It's a lot of fun and I have been surprised at how a book like this really allows you to drop in and out of it. You always know where to start, and the daily, weekly, etc parameters help a lot.

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  8. I had not heard of the No Excuses approach before now, but it looks interesting and I look forward to learning all about it!

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  9. Wow, I haven't heard of this method before but the pictures are so great. I really want to find out more!

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    1. Congratulations! You have won the giveaway! Please email me your name and mailing address to jessicaeherman@hotmail.com.

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    2. Hi, I need your name and mailing address in order to send you the DVD! Please notify me ASAP, so that I can send it out to you. I will need to hear from you by the end f the week or I will have to do another drawing. Thanks!

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  10. I'm a great one for excuses - sounds like she wrote the book just for me. My biggest excuse is that "I'm not a real artist" so I can't have an "art" journal.

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    1. We are all artists and this process helps simplify things. You will be surprised at what you can do and what parts you end up loving the most and building upon. Plus, it is fun and meant to be no pressure. We all need a no pressure place to create.

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  11. Jessica...like all of us....I am an #ExcuseMaker...and LOVE the NME method...but LOL I need the DVD's...p.s. Can Brethren enter to win??? tee her love your NME journals...so lush...like you! xoxo

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    1. Of course you can enter! I love this method too, and I can't wait to see the book and DVD's. Always something to learn, some new way of working. You are so awesome and lush yourself!!! I love you!

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  12. Well I can totally relate to Theresa Merkling's comment about excuses. The NME way of making time for little bits of art every day sounds like an awesome idea. I am always happier when I'm busy creating something.

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  13. I would really like to get in the habit of doing this on a daily basis, sounds like Gina's book is just what I need!

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  14. I have been the queen of excuses, time for a change. i really love the idea of this book and dvd's, it sounds absolutely inspiring. thanks for the chance to win. xoxo

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  15. excuses are my favorites!!! hope sometime to start doing art every day!

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  16. I need anything to encourage me to use my journal more often. I have good intentions, nut do not carry through.

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  17. Looking forward to just learning a potential technique to gain me a little more journaling time each week. Would love to win the DVD to get started! Thanks for having this give away!

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  18. Great giveaway! Love Gina's work and I hope I win so I can learn more about NME

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  19. I love the idea of using a calendar to spur my journaling practice forward.

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  20. I've been eyeing this workshop for a while. I'd LOVE to win!!! Thanks!

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  21. I'd love to learn how she makes it a daily practice.

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  22. I don't keep and art journal yet I want to that's why I would love to win so I can learn more about it and it looks like a lot of fun!

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  23. I'm so glad I jumped on this blog hop - hadn't heard of NME nor your blog - so already a winner. But could really use this book/dvd. I use my page a day planner to doodle in and some days it's almost art journal, but the time excuse usually gets in the way. Sure would like to find a way to bust that excuse. My goal for the year is to develop a daily practice. Slow going, but won't give up!

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  24. what an interesting project - please count me in for your drawing!

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  25. would love to learn how to carve some time out for journaling.

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  26. I am new to art journaling and would love to know more about it.

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  27. One of the best things about this giveaway is the "introduction" to so many talented bloggers and journal-creaters. What an inspiration!! Thank you for your generous giveaway.

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  28. Ooo, this looks so cool! Must set aside the time to check out all these great blogs too! Anything that can help me make time for creativity would be great.

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  29. I began learning art journaling a few months ago and want to learn more! Thanks for the opportunity to possibly win this inspiring DVD.

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  30. LOVE more journaling ideas. And no excuses... just the permission I need!!! ~Hobby

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  31. Love the idea of this "no excuses" bought the drawing and watercolor download and can't wait to dive in!

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  32. I have a desperate need for a "no excuses" method because I'm full of them; always complaining that I don't have enough time or energy to sit down and make something. Please help!!

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  33. I am looking forward to the book and I would totally love to win this DVD!!! Thanks for the chance!!!

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  34. I' looking forward to seeing if the no excuses DVD would help me journal more often!

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  35. I would love to view the DVD and pick up a few more tips! I do believe that there are no excuses for journaling. I've been doing it since i was a young girl.

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  36. I would love to find something that will help motivate me to do a little art journaling every day!

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  37. I would love to win this DVD to help me with my daily art journaling.

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  38. I would love to overcome blank page anxiety and end up with gorgeous pgs like yours!

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  39. Blog hops are so awesome to discover other artists... I'm definitely interested in a method that helps your journal everyday. I draw and paint but I don't really journal.

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  40. Just start to learn sketch, hopefully I can put some in my journal. AY (monster05@gmail.com)

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  41. Thanks everyone! I will close the giveaway May 25th at midnight and announce the winner tomorrow!

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  42. Hey Jessie, I debated on entering your giveaway because I wasn't sure I would use it if I won, but after reading your comment about how you actively use the calenders that u art journal in it made me think maybe it would open up an opportunity to be creative. I love your journals (and photographs) and I figured the process was time consuming, but maybe not... Jules
    My active email mrs.cornish@yahoo.com

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  43. No more comments will be able to enter the giveaway after this one. Off to choose a winner!

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  44. The giveaway is closed and the winner is CJD! Thank you all for participating, it was a blast for me. Please come back and be ready for more art and future giveaways!

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