Blog-spiration - week of 10/27

Blog-spiration - week of 10/27

This past week around the web I found lots of inspiration.  Here are my top ten that I hope to implement in some way this coming week:

1. Burlap trees – Top This Top That This also got me thinking about other burlap projects maybe cutting out a tree and stuffing it with plastic bags – paint before?
2. Art Journal Every Day - Julie Fei-Fan Balzer
3. Over at Get It Scrapped Tami Taylor has posted a page round up from the last three years.  I want to do this to look back on a single event and the changes over the years (think weight, hair color, kids)
4. Border Punches with Decorative Tape by Tegan Skwiat on Shimelle’s Blog
5. Books to read – Over on Shimelle's Blog there is a guest post on Scrapbooking with Vintage Books by Martha Bonneau
6. Mixed Media Monday - Packing Tape image transfer tutorial from Paper Crafters Corner
7. Priorities Discussion from Fitting It All In series on Purplemailbox.com

                  God, Family and Everything else…where do I breakdown “everything else?”

8. Cathy Zielske kicked off this week with a great iPhoto tip.  I would also like to try a digital project life page.  Not sure if I want to go digital in 2014 with project life or go back and do 2013 Week in the Life as digital?  Or both? Or neither?  But I do want to give it a go!  **Also really liked the typeface used on Nichol Magouirk’s page here
9. Cathy has also kicked off her 30 Days of Thankful Album Project…I think we are going to do this as a family.  This morning Caroline was thankful for the monkey (the sock monkey she took for show and tell today, that is). But you know, I am thankful that when I asked what she was thankful for she asked if we were going to pray.  We did.  I am thankful I have a daughter that thinks to pray when she is thankful. 
10. Lots of talk about December Daily by Ali Edwards I am really getting excited about Christmas but certainly do not want to overlook November and this “season of gratitude” we are given IF we take the time to reflect. 

 

The Usual’s:

PaperClipping – Member video, Multiply your Color Mediums – Relationship Class Sneak Peek

Challenges: Simon Says Stamp –Anything Goes and Paper Crafter’s Corner – Magazine Challenge

One to Watch:

Katie Scott has 30 days of Scrapbooking Videos –

A list from 2012

I was looking back though my list of blog posts and found this list from 2012.  Its funny because I guess it is from at or around the same time last year:

8 Things for Today:

1. Celebrate W Birthday
2. Clean the House
3. Cr8 Something
4. Make a wish list (house makeover or scrapbooking)
5. Play with the kiddos
6. Pay Bills
7. Make phone calls 
8. PACK!


It is funny to me that most of these items should be on my list for today too...
1. W Birthday is THIS weekend
2. This should always be on the list but even more so today! 
3. I actually have 3 pages in the works as we speak! 
4. I finally stopped making a list and just started DOING.  It feels good.  Current "project" is making over an old dresser.
5. Always want to make more time for my kiddos.
6. Always.
7. I don't know who I was calling?  I really should call my bestie!
8. I have another week and a half to pack.  Last year we were going to the Auburn Kickoff Game.  This year we will watch it at home with the kiddos. 

Funny how the list could be so similar from year to year.  I have always thought it would be intersting to do the 5 Year Journal Project.  Maybe I will begin that. 

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