I have been thinking about self portraits and how to document me and my life the last month or so. I guess it’s because my 35th birthday is coming up next month (and this blog will be 7 years in the making, believe it or not), plus there is a lot of focus around self based projects and lists etc. in the blogospher. So when I saw that this month’s crusade with the Street Team is about creating an evidence page around ourselves I knew I would dive in head first.
Michelle calls this crusade Forensic Self Portrait, and she’s even posted an awesome printable sheet of labels and tags! I love free printables, I even have a inspiration board at Pinterest that is called Printables (the other ones right now consists of Owls, Embroidery and Art Journaling).
My art journal right now has pretty watercolour papers that I like to draw or sketch on, plus this kind of documentation feels a bit scrapbooky to me… So I decided to make a little mini book for this project, and I’m calling it The Forensic Report! I guess the word “forensic” is relating to the use of science or technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law: a forensic laboratory. The word is from Latin forēnsis, public, of a forum.
Within the mini journal there will be “binding evidence” of my existence, though I have yet to fill it with journaling and words. I didn’t have time to do it this weekend! The red labels that I’ve used throughout the pages is from a set of free journaling cards from Avital. It was when i saw those that I decided to make am mini book using brown paper, and attaching everything with the help of my sewing machine!
I see: Swedish craft and Dalecarlian horses for some reason.
Wish list page, for making big and small wishes.
I know: a lot of things that I sometimes forget that I know…
I hear: bird song (not much) and the smattering of the keyboard in use as I write this.
Favorite things: pretty owls (stamps from an envelope) and craft supplies. I don’t even own a typewriter though I wish I did, and if I ever see one like this I will buy it for sure.
Another favorite thing: book shelves full of books!
Room for more journaling about me-me-me.
The last page will be a list of my interests, and then on the back cover the corner of the envelope as a pocket to keep the “extras” or maybe I will take the time to write a letter to myself?
I was going to stitch the spine with pink book binding thread but then I tried running all of it through the sewing machine and ta-da! It worked and was very quick.
The last page of The Forensic Report has a pink photo and another of the crusade labels with the text “me me me”, because the most important person in my life is… me! ;-) Be sure to check out the inspiring post of crusade #49 Forensic Self Portrait and if you’re here from the crusade, check out my DIY Postcard Swap and sign up if you feel so inclined. Thanks for your visit!
This is amazing! I have been stuck on the crusade- I love the idea of a little book! You are always so creative! Love the stitching and colors! Awesome!
Very, very cool mini-book, Hanna ! I love that Michelle’s stamps make a visit there too. A great little document for where you are today.
I love how you sew together your own books! That’s a really interesting way to keep a journal. The whole thing looks so interesting, and sort of vintage!
hanna! how clever! it looks like a passport!!
love how you stitched together the booklet.
love how you made pages to document all your many facets.
love how you used the printables – glad they were useful ;)
fantastic idea! thanks for sharing your forensic report with the team!
no doubt you will motivate fellow crusaders to jump in!
I love love love the owl stamps.
Hanna,
I love this, I had not looked at the crusade yet but now I will. It looks like so much fun.
Kate
Great interpretation Hanna. I love the idea of a book about you and all of your interests, etc. A great keepsake for you to look back on. This would be great to update at different times in our lives to see how we have changed. The free printouts are great too and the owl stamps are so cute
Lee:)
This is fantastic, Hanna! I love it! So inspiring, as usual.
Hi…love that you’re documenting you in such a creative and fun way! I clicked over from Creativity Prompt and am enjoying your work!
LOVE this – I would really like to do something similar and this inspires me to move on it….I think a whole journal of evidence is an awesome idea.
That is so very very cute! I love the owls and I love the colors, and I love the idea. All together awesome!
This is a brilliant idea! I tried to fit everything on the two pages of my journal spread, and this little book you’ve made is a fabulous idea! I love it that you’ve left space for your lists and making sure you put lots of YOU in it. I love this idea.
As for her labels… I printed out several pages! I’ll be using those soon on the older challenges I’m planning to do (there wasn’t room on that spread that I tried to fit everything on-HA). And don’t think I won’t use your little booklet idea! I may stitch the whole book into my journal!
Thanks for a fun post, Hanna.
xo
That looks so awesome to fill out. I think I have a strange fixation with things I can fill out.
That little evidence book is a great idea!
Fantastic…love this!
Thank you for sharing. Your mini book is a wonderful idea :]
it’s fabulous this little ‘me-book’…and of course I love the owls…so happy you recycled them!!!! Thanks for sharing all your little magic ideas!
I love the book! So creative. I always wish I had a sewing machine when I see such wonderful work that used one.
I love the brown paper you used, it makes an interesting effect.
I love this idea! It’s good to reflect on who we are and where we are, at certain times in life, such as major birthdays. I can see this project being a regular thing, perhaps every few years? So you can see how you’ve changed etc. I also like the idea of sewing brown paper together into a book…might have to steal that!
~ Sara
Seven years? Impressive. Very impressive. And thirty-five too? Happy Birthday to you (for next month).
This is amazing Hanna! So love the way you have used the printables and designed your album. I’ve not come across Crusade until now. Was directed by Creativity Prompt. So glad…. it was lovely to see your work! Thank you for sharing.
Looks awesome! Happy early birthday, congratulations on 7 years of a wonderful blog, thanks for sharing! Would love a link to your pintrest sites.
Interesting project, thanks.
The brown paper style reminded me of some of the utility documents I’ve seen from World War II. An example would be my mother’s ration book!
Sewn books are so much fun! I want to try this project too. It has been too long since I rolled up my sleeves and got into some serious creative project making!
Hanna – girl, you can make a paper bag look like an evening gown!!
You are amazing. The mini-format was an excellent idea!! xxx tj
I love this! I just started a project for myself to celebrate my upcoming 49th birthday … 49 by 49 … little postcard paintings of the guardians, spirits and guides operating within my life. Guess it is more of a X Files kind of self portrait project?
:) Lis
BTW, does anybody else notice how darn cute Hanna’s nails always are? Sorry what a strange comment but I totally see your sweet colors and wonder how you manage to make all this art AND keep your manicure up!
Nice book, Hanna! I like Michelle’s comment that it looks like a passport. I love the “see”, “hear”, “feel” etc. labels, but for some reason I can’t get them to save to my computer. I like seeing how you incorporate stitching into your paper arts.
TJ, wanna know a secret? I have never had a manicure in my entire life. Sad, huh? Have you? If you look close it’s cheap but wonderfully blue nail polish, not covering all of my thumb as it is wearing of as we speak… ;-) But thanks, I do love me some colours!
Thanks everyone for lovely comments!
Oh, Hannah, This is wonderfull! I’m looking forward to see it full of your swedish words! Love, Nathalie
great little book and great ideas!! i love owls and shelves full of books too! :)
Maybe the bonus of being so creative is that you’re a super good painter and don’t “need” anybody else to paint your nails. Clearly I’ve just gotta get brave and buy some sassy colors…!!
This is just SO cool. I especially like the stitching. And the passport idea!!!
all I can say is wOW! btw: your nails look great, too.
Hi
I love the little book you have gotten all ready for your I am sure ‘fun facts!’
looking forward to seeing them!
Karen
Already so many comments on this wonderful post.
I think that you had a great idea of turning this Crusade into a mini book. I love that you kept it simple to start with. The use of the printables is a great touch (and thanks for the link to the red labels!)
I hope you’ll have fun filling in the pages and learning more about yourself.
Hugs,
Sophie
I love that you sewed all the pages together; it looks awesome. Funny that someone else mentioned your nails. I was thinking your nails matched the wee metallic blue spots on the title page :-)
I love the stitching on your mini book.
Beautiful !!
Your report really catching my eyes.
Love the size , about passport size.
i LOVE this, hanna! such a great idea!
Wow, what a great little book — lots of inspiration here for a new journal-maker like me! Thanks for the link to Creativity Prompts, too!
A Whole book! Amazing. Love the stitching details.
Loved the book you created. Great idea. I checked out your old knitting post, I am on Ravelry there as well. I just signed up for your newsletter and was sorry to miss out on the postcard swap. I hope to join next time.
Oh my gosh I love this, and your blog which I found through carina’s craft blog. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hanna,
I really love your little “Evidence” book. I will try to make one soon, hope it will be at least half as much fun and interesting as yours.
The only thing stopping me from starting it now is that I need to clean and tidy up my craft room. I have several unfinished projects going on and all the “stuff I am using for them is cluttering up my work space. Maybe, I should journal about that, huh? Anyone with any suggestions on how not to get too much going at once?
:) Just discovered – we had the same direction. Love your report!
Love this concept. So fun. Thanks for sharing the whole thing.