New Pokémon Snap inspired design theme.
Since I've been enjoying the New Pokémon Snap game, I decided to reference the Pokémon in the first few levels for my June journal design theme.
NOTE: While the pages are like those who setup their Bullet Journals (BuJo), I use this journal more as a memory keeper/diary. The BuJo-inspired pages encourage me to make note of the good things in life, even on the worst days.
The Design Theme
For my May 2021 Journal Design, I setup a bingo page to celebrate the month of my birthday. I admit that I 'rigged' it so it would be nearly impossible to win a cover all because I'm too cheap (even if I were employed and earning a decent salary) to buy much of anything I don't need.
However, I completed a straight bingo and bought myself the New Pokémon Snap game for the Nintendo Switch. I've enjoyed the game and beautiful graphics. I decided to use it as my inspiration for June's journal design theme.
Instead of incorporating my favorite Pokémon, I decided to only add Pokémon that make an appearance in the first few levels of the Florio Nature Park. After all, it was my introduction to the game and gameplay features.
Title
For the title page, I sketched the welcome sign scene at the start of the day and night Florio Nature Park levels. I used an archival pen to outline and watercolor paints to color my sketch.
Pichu is standing on the ground wearing a floral crown. Grookey is doing a handstand on the wooden sign. These two Pokémon are the first ones I saw when I first started playing the game. I got used to seeing them as I played to max the various Florio Nature Park levels.
Scorbunny appears towards the top kicking a fiery flame with his foot. I consider this Pokémon a stalker because it appears often in the game, not just in the Florio Nature Park.
Even though I thought I was just making a rough sketch, or doodle as I like to call it, this page took me a couple hours to complete. I don't know if this is because I'm a beginner painter or if this is common when painting artwork that includes more than just a character or two.
Calendar Overview
The calendar overview is where I note important dates I want to document in my journal.
The larger calendar fills much of both pages. I note events such as birthdays, appointments, and holidays within the appropriate block that represents a day in the month.
During the month, I'll make a short note of something that happened. For example, in May I noted the day I surprised Mom with a visit after I was finally fully vaccinated. Fortunately, she didn't get upset. Like me, she doesn't really like surprises, but she was pleased on Mother's Day.
On the left, I have a mini calendar for next month and another box where I'll note next month's events coming soon. I like being able to visually see ahead to things I may need to be aware of before those days come.
Bidoof is standing in its completed dam above the mini calendar. Caterpie (times three) appears above and behind the Sun and Mon columns towards the top of the left page.
Along the bottom from left to right is Ducklett, a fluffruit, and Magicarp on a rock. Why is Magicarp on a rock and not in the water? Obviously because it's an odd Pokémon. It could also be because it's avoiding Frillish waiting to capture it undersea.
Highlights and Trackers
Every night, I write a line of text highlighting one good thing about that day on my highlights page. Usually, I write about a simple thing that made me happy. Even on the worst days, I try to think about a highlight of that day to write down. This page is intentionally left blank since I'll fill it in throughout the month.
On the trackers page, I note when I complete my favorite hobbies. While many journal enthusiasts track their habits, tracking my favorite hobbies reminds me to dedicate time for myself and happiness. The hobbies I track are:
arts + crafts,
writing,
gaming, and
workout.
My dogs' care and happiness are equally important. I track the following for my dogs:
when they go for a joy ride,
when I've cared for their coat with a brush, leave-in shampoo, or bath,
when they received teeth care with brush chews or teeth brushing,
when they participated in extended, extra, or hyper playtime, and
when something unusual happens with my senior dog.
Emolga is soaring happily towards the top of the highlights page. Combee hovers on the trackers page.
Along the bottom from left to right is a fluffruit, Wurmple, and a Crystabloom flower.
Mood and Bingo!
I treat my mood tracker page as a coloring page of sorts. Each night, I'll color-in something that represents my overall mood for that day: awesome, meh, bad/sad, or sick.
Instead of filling the page with large shapes to fill-in each day, I wanted Meganium to fill much of the page. I drew small, round circles surrounding the Pokémon that I'll color in each day in June.
I decided to create a bingo page again in June. I noted tasks and wishes within the bingo blocks. I wrote down prizes I'd treat myself to if I completed one straight and a cover all. I admit that I 'rigged' it again so it would be nearly impossible to win a cover all. My chances of hugging a cat or holding a bunny rabbit are slim.
Taillow is perched in place of the traditional free space. At the bottom of the page is Tangrowth staring into my soul. This Pokémon is creepy because it seems like it's always watching me.
My Thoughts
When I look back on this design in the future, I'll be reminded that I had a Pokémon fascination for a while around June of 2021.
I'm not a huge Pokémon fan, but I do enjoy the game. I never played the first version of the game that was released over twenty years ago. However, this game reminded me of an old nineties computer game I played as a young teen called Dinosaur Safari. In a way, this game reminds me of the joy I had taking nature and research photographs of dinosaurs once upon a time.
What's Next?
I only have enough pages left in this journal for a few journal/diary entries in June. Check back closer to the end of June to see how I setup a brand-new journal in addition to my July journal design theme.
Have you setup your June journal design? Login and Sign up to share what theme you went with and what materials you used to create it.
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Thanks, and have a great day!
Simply Jelly Jam
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