Ancestry Organization

If you have followed me here or on any of my social media platforms for any amount of time, you have learned that I enjoy researching my family genealogy.  For the past year and a half, I have worked towards a system of organizing my research that marries my love of mixed media and traveler’s notebooks.

There is no ONE way to organize your genealogy research as each system is as unique as the person (and their family) compiling it.  Whether you choose to keep your records in a digital database (i.e. Ancestry or Family Search) or in a paper file, there are a few fundamentals that will help you collect information.

Start with your parents and grandparents, while they are living.  The obvious information to record is

• name;
• birthdate and location;
• parents names;
• spouse and children

Using a notebook or my Family Record Booklet, identify what you already know about your family.  Be sure to capture the family stories that could die with them.  

Once you have interviewed your closest living relatives, you will need to decide what information you do not have and you want to learn about your ancestors. 

Using forms provided by your digital genealogy database or my Ancestor Research Booklet, select an ancestor to learn about and begin organizing your records.

Decide what you want to learn.  Begin with ONE question?  Trust me when I say, without a clearly defined search objective, you could climb up and down your family tree looking (and finding) information and be left with a pile of paperwork that can leave you frustrated and with more questions than you started with.  What do you want to find?

Once you have identified what you want to look for, identify why do you want/need to know this information?  Having the answers to these two questions will help you in your search.  Often while looking for the answer to your the first question you will discover new questions to ask.  Write them down.  Create a list of research questions.  Do not get distracted with the new questions…again, trust me on this point.  Your ancestors are not going anywhere.  Once you have answered the first question, you can look for information to answer the next, and next…you are bound to discover lots of questions to ask in your research.  

Finally, prepare a research log.  Knowing where you have previously looked for information will save you untold hours and headaches. 

Are you new to researching your family history or have you been tracking down clues for years?  How do you organize your material?  I would love to know how you organize your research.  Find me on FaceBook and Instagram and share your tips and photos with the hashtag #TheOrganizedMiss

 

 

 

Life is an EXPERIMENT …

In keeping with my goal of providing FREE printables for you to use in your creative endeavors, planning or as little encouragers to give to others (as I do with my monthly mailers)…I have designed this card for the month of August.

I had a lot of fun painting the original piece.   If you have followed me and my journey for any amount of time, you have learned that I LOVE creating art, especially mixed media using recycled materials.

This image is not exception.  I have been obssessed with saving junk mail envelopes to repurpose in my art projects.

I recently grabbed a larger envelope that had been delivered to my mailbox containing advertising specialty items.  And spent a relaxing evening plopping paint all over the ourtside of it.

Then, I uploaded the artwork to the computer to continue creating digitally.  By the time I had finished, I had created several elements to use as a digital kit for a junk journal class I am teaching.

This is a page from the inside of the book.  The cover was created using the large painted envelope cut down to a 6″x9″ size. The pages inside were made from paper I had left over from previous projects, and recycled materials, as well as the digital elements I created on the computer from the painted envelope.  The above photo shows a page in the junk journal that showcases some of the repurposed items, (scrapbook paper, old book page, clothing tag, and painted art).

I have challenged myself to find multiple uses for the art I created.  As ususal, I used the art for my monthly birthday card mailers and then sat down to work on more digital items to include in the kit I am designing for another upcoming class.

The resulting image is a 3″x4″ journal card you can download for personal use.

In addition to printing as a journal card, the image can be resized and printed as postcards (I PRINT 4 TO A PAGE AND SET THE PRINTER TO FULL BLEED).

I would love to see what you are making…and how you incorporate this design in your art, creative spaces or planning.  Please tag me on social media an show me how you are using it.  I can be found online at:

 

Deanna – The Organized Miss

@theorganizedmiss

@theorganizedmiss

It’s time for One Book July !!

HIP HIP HOORAY!!  If you are not cheering along, it may be because you have no idea what I am talking about…Read this history of One Book July that will get you up to speed with this year.

Allow me to be the first, or the first of many, to welcome and introduce you to this wonderful, one month experiment that will help you organize, categorize, calendarize and all around improve productivity!

 

I will be sharing my journey, using a #bilateralplanning approach, along the way.

Whether you are already well ensconced in a system that works for you, or your system is made up of a thousand pieces of paper and post it notes, I believe One Book July will teach you something new about yourself and your planning routine!

I am excited to see what I learn through the experiement of One Book July this year!

Are you planning on participating?  Please find me on social media and tag me, I would love to see what you are doing!

Deanna – The Organized Miss

@theorganizedmiss

@theorganizedmiss

Journal/Postcards | Free Printable

Every month, I like to sit down and design a new postcard image to use for the Birthday Card Ministry at my church.

The current image I am working on utilizes the “junk journal” style of art, which happens to be my favorite form of art, right now.  I recently created a couple of journal cards to use in tuck spots in my junk journal and quickly realized I would like to use them as postcards.

I used some older digital printables I had lying around in a stack of paper as the background pieces.  I added bits of ephemera that I had cut out of recycled magazines, old sheet music and even packaging from my butter!  Nothing is off limits when creating junk journal art.  And let’s not forget the textiles, here I added bits of burlap and a doily.  Of course not all items are junk, some are simply being repurposed from their original use.

After creating the little cards, I upload them to my computer and modified the size and add any digital artwork before printing them out.

Finally, I decide on making each one unique by using stamps and sometimes stickers.  Then a personalized message is included on the back with the address and then it is ready for the post office.

Feel free to download these images, for personal use only.  They make great journal cards or can be mailed to a friend.  Simply right click on the image and save to your computer.

If you would like to know when I upload more printables:

 Subscribe to my    channel

I would love to see how your using them, so please tag me: 

  @theorganizedmiss

And JOIN the conversation in my Facebook group where I advocate, educate and entertain:

 @theorganizedmiss

 

 

How to make a Western-themed, Altered Book Junk Journal

STEP 1 in this series, after deciding on my inspiration pieces was to decide how to alter the book … trust me this was a hard one as it was not the typical book I take apart.  

I like to choose books that are falling apart or have had the pages damaged in some way, however, I could not pass up the title, theme, and condition for a gift that will be given away. 

First, I removed some of the pages and glued them back together creating journalling pockets…I hope to have this video for you soon.

I plan to use the removed pages to create embellishments and journalling spots for the book.  I am excited to try my hand at this style of junk journal as I have never made an altered book.  My preferred style is to remove the entire book block and create signatures.  I may use some of the other books, that I found while out “antique/thrifting” to try some other styles.  Stay tuned for the next installment in the “Western Junk Journal” series!

Digital/Virtual Bible Study – DOTK

This past year brought a lot of healing and a lot of new things.  One of those ‘new things’ was using the computer to create images that I used in my devotions.  The result is a journal that I can use for sermon notes, journaling, Bible study or a springboard of inspiration.

I have been praying about the next steps with this project and have finally felt lead as to the direction to go and recently shared it on my channel.

You can watch the video here …

 

Also, I decided to make the first printable available to download.  My goal is to have one printable as a FREE download with each Digital/Virtual Bible Study video and will have a link in the description box to the download.

Be sure to use the hashtag #TOMDOTK and tag me on social media with how you use the printables in your self-care, devotional, or arts & crafts!

I am @theorganizedmiss on Facebook and Instagram

Thank you for joining me in this new Bible Study devotional series.

Schoolwork Junk Journal

My friend, Katie, shared her dilemma about what to do with all the papers her son brings home from school.  You know the ones. The beautiful works of art and weekly quizzes boasting 100% in red ink across the top.  They invariably find a place of prominence on the refrigerator.

I have a confession.

I have most of my daughter’s graded school work, drawings another other ephemera in storage bins and drawers…she is in college now.

Relating to Katie’s struggle, I decided to pull out my daughter’s papers and create a “Schoolwork” junk journal and I am so glad I did.  Now my treasured bits and pieces are gathered together and displayed on my shelf and I can flip through it anytime I wish, what’s more, I plan to share it with my daughter…one day.

 

Mixed Media Cards

Time to share another FREE printable!

I love making mixed media journal cards and have started creating birthday cards in the same style.  Recently, I was requested to make a video teaching how I make them and it is available on my YouTube channel.

I decided to provide some of my favorites as a printable you can use in your art or Bible journaling, with Project Life, or to write a quick note on and give to a friend.  How you use them is up to you, but they are for personal use only.

Faith, Hope and Love – Journal Cards

Doily Folded TN insert cover

I was inspired by Christy Tomlinson of The Planner Society and a photo she posted on her Instagram “Instastories” that showed a half of a doily cut out of a card that she “franken-plannered” (that’s a word, right?)

I decided I wanted to recreate the look using the digital Halloween kit I had purchased and went to work finding a file that would help me achieve the look.  What I found was a free file from BirdsCards.  I was unable to the original file so I cleaned up the image and uploaded it as print and cut file in Cricut Design Space.  When I selected the image on my canvas I chose “Cut” but you can change the color or add a pattern and print then cut if you desire.

I’d love to see what you create with this file!  Look me up on Instagram @theorganizedmiss or on YouTube as The Organized Miss

The file was saved as a .png so you should have no problems uploading it into whatever machine you use.

 

 

 

October Daily – Junk Journal with Me

In my effort to continue challenging and healing my brain, I have been inspired to participate in an October Daily journal challenge and I had to add my own twist.  

The challenge is to journal daily throughout the month of October (and I hope to video it as well and post it to my YouTube channel).

I have decided to use this journal time to challenge myself to participate in activities that engage the left brain, logic-based activity (i.e. math, science, history, sequencing) on odd number days of the month.

On even number days, I will participate in activities that engage the right brain, creativity based activity (i.e. paint, draw, write, play music, crochet, using your imagination is the key and your only limit).

I created this image as a visual prompt and show you how I will use it in my video.  

Feel free to print it out and use it as you follow along with me on this journey.

If you decide to join me in this challenge, share what you’re doing with the hashtag #odjjwm and tag me on social media.

IG: @theorganizedmiss

Facebook: @theorganizedmiss

YouTube: The Organized Miss