PICKING A THEME FOR YOUR CIRCLE JOURNAL
You may pick any theme you would like for your circle journal. I have seen a lot of different themes in the Peas Gallery, so you can look there to get ideas. Once you have your theme, you need to pick a journal. I am not going to specify a size for your journal so please choose whatever size you would like to work in, or feel comfortable with. Just remember, it has to be mailed around, and the larger it is, the more the mailing will cost. I would also suggest a journal that is spiral bound, as these are easier to work in, but whatever is your preference. Please be sure that your theme is stated, and explained if necessary, somewhere in or with your book. This will alleviate any doubts.

THE CIRCLE JOURNAL PROCESS
Once I have everyone’s snail-mail address and e-mail, I will forward a mailing list. We will mail our books out by a set date each month. In other words, you will work in your book and then by the set date, you will mail it to the person below your name on the mailing list. You will then receive another book, work in that, and mail it on the next set date. (Yes, you CAN mail a book out earlier if you’re finished with your spread.) You will always be mailing to the same person. I apologize if I sound like I am instructing children, I just want everyone to understand, and I’m not sure everyone has participated in one of these before.

YOUR JOURNAL
The Cover – some folks love to do the cover of the book. That’s fine if you are going to paint it, cover it with decorative paper, and stamp it. It is best to put buttons, beads, dangles, baubles, dominoes, dice, scrabble letters or anything that sticks up when your journal returns to you. Every journal that has come to me with something like this on the cover almost always falls off and it makes it hard for other players to work in your book. Even the strongest of glues are no match for the postal service.

Take care when mailing your journal and everyone elses journal. Respect the players and their journals. Use a box, as padded bags often get ripped and many mail carriers will bend, smoosh and manipulate a package to fit in a small place not intended for a book. Use bubble wrap around the book and put the book into a big zip lock bag. Put other padding such as: peanut, shredded paper, newspaper around the book in the box and then mail. Now that book is as safe as it can be. You have done your best to get it to the next person in line in tact.

Print or write out the addresses big and clear and double check them when you mail the package and adhere to any guidelines the host set forth. I prefer to use Priority mail with confirmation so you know the journal gets to the person you are sending it to, or you can track it. If you live somewhere where using UPS is better than just let the host know. Check also with whom you are mailing to so they know how it will be arriving to them. Never hurts to double-check about that stuff before hand.

IDENTIFICATION
Make sure you put your name and address somewhere in the book. The inside of the back cover is the best place. That way if the package becomes damaged the PO can return it to you. You can do this as creatively as you choose. Just make sure it stays on the page.

GUIDELINES
Please stick to the person’s theme. If you have a question about it, please ask them before making any decisions on your own.

DOING YOUR SPREADS
It is considered not good etiquette to mail out a book without adding some of your own artwork first.

SIMPLE ETIQUETTE ISSUES
When working in others books be respectful of their books. When you are not working in them keep them in a safe place. You don’t want the dog or puppy or kitten to get at them, or small hands. If you do smoke, store them in a baggie and put them in an area of the house where it is less likely to absorb the odor. Some people are very allergic to it. Don’t take that as an insult to you. It is just a respectable thing to do. It is not personal. Make sure, if you plan on showing the book to others be careful, don’t lose the book. It has happened. You will feel awful, and so will they. It is an accident but one you want to avoid. Contact your host and the books owner if a book comes to you damaged. It happens, it’s no one’s fault, but let him or her know. If something happens to you and you find you cannot complete the journal let your host know. She will often think of something you may not have and it will work out. Hosts really want to help but you have to tell them. If other issues arise when in doubt ask your host. They are always willing to help you.

Once all groups are established I will set up a Yahoo! Group specifically/solely for the purpose of communication among members.

Communication is everything. ~ ~ Most of all have FUN!

IDEAS / INSPIRATION
Here are some ideas that I’ve compiled from a variety of posts (I’ve also thrown in a few of my own). These are only ideas – you may CERTAINLY come up with your own that has nothing to do with any of these:

JOY (things/people that bring you joy)
MOTIVATION (what motivates you)
FAMILY RECIPES
MUSIC (that motivates you, that you love, that reminds you of something, etc.)
FAVORITE COLOR
FAVORITE VACATION SPOT
SIMPLE PLEASURES
LIFE LESSONS
LOVE LESSONS
FRIENDSHIPS
HOW YOU SPEND YOUR TIME
BEING A GIRL
THE 5 SENSES (my favorite smell, taste, texture, sight, sound..)
FAVORITE SEASON
WHO YOU’D LIKE TO MEET, ALIVE OR DEAD
QUOTES THAT MOVE ME
TRAVEL
TIPS & TECHNIQUES
WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY
GIRL TALK
THE GIRL IN THE MIRROR
MONOCHROMATIC
DETOURS
MY GIFTS
WORDS TO LIVE BY
THINGS I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW
FAVORITE BOOKS
WHY I LIKE BEING A GIRL
DREAMS
WHAT FONT ARE YOU?
MY HERO
INSPIRATIONAL TEACHERS
MY FAVORITE THINGS
FAVORITE ANIMALS
PROUD MOMENTS
SELF PORTRAIT
MY HOMETOWN
HOMETOWN TRAVEL GUIDE
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT
WHAT MAKES ME GIGGLE
A-Z ABOUT ME
FINDING YOUR INNER STRENGTH
MY CIRCLE OF FRIENDS (about or among)
GRATITUDE
WHERE I’D LIKE TO TRAVEL
WHAT MAKES ME BLUSH
ALL ABOUT ME
CLASSIC ADS OF DAYS GONE BY
IF (questions for the game of life – each participant chooses a different question)
IF I WERE QUEEN FOR A DAY
IF I COULD GO ANYWHERE
INSPIRATION (quotes, stories, photos, etc.)
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW (things that most people don’t know about you)
WHERE I COME FROM
MY FIRST DREAM COME TRUE
MY PET PEEVE (lighthearted)
YOUR FAVORITE BOOK PASSAGE
HOBBIES
OBSTACLES
I AM, YOU ARE, WE ARE AMERICANS.
FLOWERS
POETRY
LULLABIES
FABLES
POCKETS (what’s in them)
WOMEN/PEOPLE/PERSON WHO’VE INFLUENCED YOU
YOUR FAVORITE PHOTO
GAL PALS
MY MOST PRIZED POSSESSION
MY COLLECTION(S)
MY FAVORITE TEXTURE(S)
MY FAVORITE JOKE
THINGS I WANT TO DO BEFORE I DIE
INFLUENCE
MY NAME
POTPOURRI
POT LUCK (you can let everyone come up with their own idea for a page, or specify certain things about their page such as they must use only certain colors, must use a certain type of embellishment, etc. but leave the rest up to them