A List of Excuses

I love the idea of creating beautiful things!  I love the idea of completed scrapbook albums, furniture makeovers, room makeovers, quilts, outfits for my daughter, and cutsie gifts for friends, baby showers, weddings etc...

I recently discovered Art Journaling and decided I want to be a mixed media artist when I grow up! 

The problem is I rarely make these things a reality (see I said "idea" above) They are only ideas swimming and taking up a lot of space both my worn out mommy brain and my spare bedroom.  So I am going to start blogging to hold me accountable.  I want to work out my thoughts, list my goals and display my progress.  Progress not only towards completed projects but also the growth of my skills along the way. 

First things first, you need to know what you have!  Although my DH has never called me a hoarder, his eyes certainly raise in a funny manner anytime I (mistakenly) mention I might have "too much stuff!"  Oh, and you should hear the funny cough he develops when I watch "Hoarders Buried Alive" on TLC.  This show really motivates me to get cleaning.  Although I never actually CLEAN so much as I do tidy - alas....

So I will first tidy my scrap room *Studio and complete the following UFO worksheet for each project.  I will then pick a plan of completion (see this post...) and start towards COMPLETING A PROJECT.  This works out perfectly because my friend KW just happens to be having a scrapbooking weekend at her house next weekend!  Whoo-hoo...

I no longer want to make excuses for myself.  So I am ready to identify some of my favorite excuses:

• I don't have time
• But the kids....
• I am too tired
• I don't have any creative juices
• The house isn't clean - I have this weird thing that I cant do fun stuff if my chores aren't done
• I cant find xyz in the few minutes I have available

And if I am REALLY honest with myself here are a few more excuses:

• I don't want to waste...(time or money)
• I don't want to screw it up
• I am too scared (or lazy) to try
• It wont look as good as my scrapbooking crushes do
• I don't want to be embarrassed
• What if I fail?

Beginning Goals:

1. By the 5th of each month I will import, star, edit, back up and order my photos of the previous month
2. By the 15th of each month I will import, rename and save the videos of the previous month.
3. Each week I want to complete a two page layout and play in my Art Journal

2013 Goals:

1. Complete 12 currently unfinished projects this year
2. Develop a system for memory keeping: from stories, to photo processing to the finished page/album....
3. Be part of the creative community
4. Attend CHA!

Remember: I don't need more inspiration, I need more perspiration because success is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration!

"Creativity is a discipline" - from Adventures in Arting Podcast, Points of Two