This is an invitation to create a go-to tool of touchstones to support yourself and lift your spirits on down days
for the Down Days
a creative journaling email course
01
overview + supplies
when you SIGN UP for this creative EMAIL COURSE, I'll send you a descriptive overview of the down days journal along with a list of recommended supplies (and ideas for using what you have on hand). if you choose to upgrade your registration, I'll send you a curated package of collaging supplies.
02
prompts, pdfS, + IDEA PAGES
YOUr DAILY emails will include prompts and ideas to CONNECT WITH yourself and begin collecting materials and inspiration to create the pages of your down days journal.
03
CREATE A TOOL + DISCOVER A PRACTICE
THE SERIES WILL CONCLUDE WITH A FINAL SET OF INSPIRATIONAL IDEA PAGES SO THAT YOU CAN START CREATING YOUR DOWN DAYS JOURNAL AND CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH IT AS A HEALING CREATIVE PRACTICE
you'll walk away with
A PERSONALIZED JOURNAL FOR COMFORT AND HOPE FOR THE DOWN DAYS
By participating in this email course, you'll have the beginnings of a beautifully crafted, meaningful journal, starting to be filled with pages of colors, textures, and words that will serve as touchstones on hard days.
tips for art JOURNALING TECHNIQUES to try and A PLETHORA OF INSPIRATION
You'll be introduced to various creative methods and ideas for combining visuals, textures, art, and written reflections to create a cohesive, expressive journal that supports your well-being.
AN INSPIRED CREATIVE PRACTICE TO CONTINUE THAT WILL GROUND AND UPLIFT YOU
You'll discover a regular, life-giving practice that you can continue to turn to that will soothe and inspire you when life feels heavy and you feel down.
sound good?
$47
get access to the email series and create your down days journal at your own page, on your own time
FAQ
WHAT FORMAT IS THE COURSE?
The Down Days Creative Journaling Course includes 7 emails with written guidance and PDF resources. Please note: There is no video or live component with this email course.
HOW WILL I ACCESS THE COURSE?
The Down Days Creative Journaling Course will be delivered straight to your inbox via a week-long series of emails. You'll receive a total of 7 emails, delivered daily. Add [email protected] to your email contacts and be sure to check your spam folders. If you do not receive your emails, please reach out to Kristin at the email address above.
HOW DO I KNOW IF THIS IS RIGHT FOR ME?
This email course is for anyone who has ever felt the weight of a hard season (no matter how brief or lasting)—whether it’s grief, bouts of depression, or simply the heaviness of life. If you’re longing for a gentle, creative way to stay tethered to hope, hold yourself in light, and create something meaningful to support your future self, this is right for you.
WHAT IF I DON’T CONSIDER MYSELF ARTISTIC OR A WRITER?
No worries! This course is about exploration and expression, not talent or perfection. Whether you consider yourself artistic or not or a writer or not, this course and journal are designed to meet you where you are and help you engage with creativity as a healing practice.
WHEN WILL I START RECEIVING THE EMAILS?
You'll receive an email confirmation within a couple of hours of signing up. The Down Days Creative Journaling Course emails will start being delivered the day after you sign up. I recommend carving out time in your calendar to participate in the email course in real-time, setting aside anywhere from 5-30 minutes each day for one week. On day 7, or a day when you have extended time, set aside 1-2 hours to create the pages in your journal. Treat it like a date! Try to complete the course within 1-2 weeks of signing up so you don't forget.
WHAT MATERIALS WILL I NEED?
You'll need a journal and art supplies. When you register, you'll receive a supply list that goes over everything you might want to use – gathering your supplies will be part of the course assignments. If you're limited in time, ideas, or supplies, you can upgrade your registration to include a curated collage supply kit delivered straight to your door.
I WORK FULL TIME/I ALREADY FEEL OVERWHELMED. CAN I FIT THIS INTO MY BUSY SCHEDULE?
This course is designed to be a life-giving pause, not another task on your to-do list. It’s a sacred opportunity to breathe, reflect, and reconnect with and support your self through a healing creative practice. You won't be required to watch any videos, and you can spend as much or as little time invested in the daily emails as you find helpful. This can be a practice you build into your current rhythms or set aside for special creative healing time to nurture yourself.
about
Kristin Vanderlip
I am passionate about using creativity and writing as tools for healing and hope. As a bereaved mother, veteran military spouse, former English teacher, and oil pastel artist, I draw from my own journey to serve others as a writer, certified writing coach, and founder of the Pen & Mend Collective.
I hold degrees in English and education from the University of Illinois and have pursued additional studies in theology and writing at Yale and Stanford. I am the author of two faith-based journals, Rest: A Journal for Lament and Rise: A Journal for Perseverance, and have contributed to various collaborative writing projects.
Through hands-on creative workshops, journaling practices, and visual art, I guide others to create meaningful, tangible tools for comfort and hope. My goal is to help participants find resilience, connection, and renewal through the transformative power of words, art, and reflection.
Do you feel the same way?
On your hardest days, do you ever feel overwhelmed by sadness, anxiety, or grief, unsure how to be present to your life? Maybe you’ve longed for a way to feel grounded again or connect with what you believe to be true about yourself, but what you've known feels out of reach? You long for a quick but meaningful touchpoint to help you tangibly reconnect with the beauty of your self and your life and encounter reminders of hope that can carry you through. Perhaps you start to forget or it feels hard to know what to do or where to start. This creative journaling workshop is here for anyone longing for a gentle, creative way to soothe and buoy their spirit and cultivate a sense of comfort on those Down Days.
email kristin at [email protected] with any questions
That feeling of being drawn to create
—
that’s called intuition.
follow it + create a tool to help yourself hold on to hope on the down days.