3 Easy Projects To Try For Documenting Your 2026

Here are 3 projects I'm trying this year to add easy ways to create each month and document 2026 with. I wanted to share them with you in case they resonate or give you some ideas for creating art and preserving your memories this year!

I was anticipating a busier 2026 and wanted to lower the barrier to entry when it comes to making art by setting up the framework / canvas now--then all I have to do is add a little bit each month.

I love a slow project that builds over time--it takes patience but there is something really satisfying about it and the idea of capturing different moments in time as well as different versions of you. 

These 3 projects also help me be more present and to notice the things around me, to find joy in both the exciting and mundane, and to reflect and visually document how this year unfolds.

Below are more details on my Joy Bingo Card, Monthly Mantras, and Monthly Memories Print!

A few notes:

  • It's never too late to start! You can go back on months you've missed or start your year with the current/next month. 
  • Feel free to make modifications so that the project works for you.
  • I created 2 of these in my sketchbook so it's in one place and easy for me to store. You can use loose paper instead of having it in a sketchbook if you'd like. Cardstock and drawing paper work if you won't be using wet mediums otherwise I suggest using watercolor or mixed media paper--which is what my sketchbook* is.)

JOY BINGO CARD

I used brush lettering for the title and created a grid with 15 boxes by sewing embroidery floss onto the sketchbook page. Next I penciled in things that bring me joy that I would love to do this year. The idea is to glue a photo / memento from that activity in each section as I complete them (so the writing in pencil will be covered.)

I gave myself a free spot in the center that I added holographic washi tape to and I may think of a reward if I get a 3 or 5 section bingo (although I feel like the reward is getting to do these things!) :) 

I just heard on a podcast how someone has a goal of trying 50 different hot dogs this year! So just wanted to throw that out there that your joy items can look like whatever you want--foods you want to try, places you want to go, new things to try, things you want to see, a mix of everything, etc!

The first item I was able to check off was live music (which I LOVE!! There is just something so special about this experience--being immersed in beautiful sound, the energy in the space!) I saw Cat Power at the Paramount Theater--it was for the anniversary of "The Greatest" album. I decided to print out a little picture of the album cover and added some gold flakes to the image. I can't wait to get more items from this bingo card!

(If you haven't heard her before, Good Woman almost made me cry and Lived in Bars and The Greatest are two of my favorites!)

MONTHLY MANTRAS

This project is a version of the monthly mantras art I did last year. I loved having this practice and picking words that resonated with me for the month--it was inspiring and also provided a compass and anchor to ground me. Once I had my mantra, quote, affirmation, I created a piece of art to go along with it.

To make it more doable in less time, this year I created smaller sections to work with. I attached an extra piece of sketchbook paper to the page so that it can fold out and fit all 12 months. I added tape to where the writing will go then each month I’ll create some abstract art to go with the words I picked, remove the tape, and write the words. 

Here's how January and February are looking:

Flow like water was inspired by the idea of letting go of what we can't control and flowing with things that come our way. At the same time, flowing water is also so powerful (waterfalls, waves crashing on the beach). It can also be still, calm, and peaceful (lakes and ponds). I want to go into this year remembering the different states of water and embracing them in my own life. 
  
I used watercolor and water soluble crayons and finished it off with some splatters.
  
The way we choose to see the world creates the world we want to see. These words really resonated with me and reminds me to live our beliefs, to try to leave this place better than when we found it, and to keep fighting for equality and love.
  
I used a dry brush to apply gold leaf adhesive and I love that you can see the lines from the brush. February was Lunar New Year and it's the Year of the Horse so I had the image of horses galloping and forward movement in mind when I was brushing the glue on. 
  

MONTHLY MEMORIES PRINT

The project is also based on a previous project I did before that was on a bigger scale, my 2023 Year of Marks. I wanted to make it more doable so created this smaller version.
This monthly memories print was also the January project from my mail club, the Creative Spark Club! If you'd like to purchase this print template to fill in, it's available in my shop.
Every month I’m filling in a section inspired by something I did, what I experienced, or something that caught my eye. At the end of the year I’ll have a visual representation of memories from all 12 months. 

For January, I wanted to document my Taiwan trip. I had SO much to add so created an accordion fold base to give me some more surface area :) Then I created a collage using different things I collected throughout the trip--stickers, ticket stubs, maps, etc. I wanted the paper to lay flat and added embroidery floss to tie it up.
  
You can fill your box with anything you'd like--it can be a single item, a collage, a piece that folds out. 
  

Which project do you connect with and would want to try? I'd love to hear and hope this post gives you some ideas! :)

*This is an affiliate link of something I love and use all the time! If you purchase through this link I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support! You can find a list of my favorite supplies (including the watercolors and gold leaf kit I used above) and where to buy them in this post and on my Amazon page.

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