July Flip Through

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After my pokemon theme in June, I got nostalgic. Not even going to lie about it. I continued on that kick of 90s awesomeness in July with the Legend of Zelda! This July flip through shows the love for this classic game.  Now I’m not a huge gamer but I have such good memories of my brother and I playing this together as kids that I just really wanted to use it as a theme.

Choosing what to draw was such a challenge since the legend of Zelda has so many games and styles in the saga. I started trying to draw this elaborate landscape of Hyrule but then I had to be honest with myself; I’m not there yet in terms of my drawing skill. Instead, I chose to do more of the cartoon style of Windwaker and Ocarina of Time.

Planning

For prep coming into this theme I made a pinterest board (of course) and I found pictures of my favourite characters. After going through I found that I really liked a lot of the female characters in the game and decided to do a very consistent layout throughout the month. I would draw the character and then add a quote that was relevant from the game. I loosely based which character I was using chronologically from the Ocarina timeline and used two game fonts for most of my quotes and headings.

The Spreads

I stuck with the mini calendar with the tasks and goals underneath since I really liked the visual in June. It told me when I had stuff going on at a glance then I put all the details in the ryder calender on the left page. I also put my habit tracker here like usual. To introduce the theme I added in some note worthy items from Ocarina of Time.

My first character was Link (duh). I stuck him on my gratitude page to start out the month (game) and added a great quote “Courage need not be remembered, for it is never forgotten”.

The first character to be introduced on Link’s journey is Saria so here she is for my first week ready to play a song with Link and remind him of his inner greatness.

The first goal page introduces Malon and, more importantly, Epona who is in every Zelda game.

I think that Epona (the horse) turned out really well! This spread was one of the ones that gave me some confidence to try out some of my coming themes. I can draw horses but people are still illusive.

After Link meets Epona he comes across the titular Princess Zelda. His partner in world saving and love interest (?).

There was not really a major goron character so next up was Ruti, the Zora princess.

I read an article saying that Navi, Link’s fairy companion, was one of video games’ most annoying characters for her constant phrase: Hey! Listen! as she tried to give Link advice. I didn’t feel this way and there was no way I could exclude her from her rightful place as a female Zelda character in this theme.

The Gerudo women in Zelda are bad asses. This one was the perfect character to end my spread with, and what a fitting quote.

For the last 2 days of the month made a layout with some of the major symbols for the game a goals page that would continue into the first half week of August.

Thoughts

This theme was, again, so much fun to make! I really think that drawing things you like and that make you happy are musts for keeping up with your journal. At the beginning of your theme really try and think of something that will have you excited to do your next layout.

I liked the consistency week to week with this layout as well. Everything was always in the same spot so duplicating the spacing was really easy.

I also really liked the quotes! I like to see those inspirational reminders in my journal or just little quips to make me smile.

Next month I’ll be putting the quotes in there again for sure. I’m going to try and branch out with my drawing but will still have some cartoony stuff.

*You might notice some slight blurring on a few of the spreads, this is because I blurred out the names of some of my clients to protect their privacy. Thanks for understanding!

*Supplies used*

– there may be affiliate links, which means I would earn a small commission at no cost to you if you decided to purchase a product that I used in the above pictures. 

Bullet Journal

Dual Tip Brush Pens

Floral Washi Tape – this is not an exact match but it’s the closest one I could find 

Fineliners

Wonderful Black Pens These are my favourite for everyday use