Silhouette Stamping Bundle and a SALE!

I don’t know about you but when CHA comes around I begin combing the internet looking for what is new!  I start making a wish list and eagerly RUN to the store when product becomes available. 

This summer, Silhouette Studio released a stamping kit!  With this kit and the Silhouette Studio Software I can design and cut my own stamps! In early August, I eagerly logged in to www.silhouetteamerica.com and attempted to order this product but they were not in stock.

I am so excited to learn it is in stock and ON SALE TODAY! Use the links below to save you some money and possibly win your own Silhouette Portrait!  

Jessica Sprague, Ali Edwards, and Lori Whitlock are all participating in this promotion.  They are also hosting a giveaway.  You could win your very own Silhouette Portrait!  Please visit their sites to find out more! 

As a bonus, today is One Buck Wednesday on Jessica’s site, Ali has some wonderful Silhouette Studio Tutorials and Lori has bonus freebie file for you!  I love freebies, don’t you?

I am running to order mine today!  I cannot wait to share my first stamp project with you so

Uninspiration, Two Ways to Get Over It

On this week's episode of the Paperclipping Roundtable, Aby Garvey pointed out that if you are busy making stuff you do not spend as much time buying stuff.  WHOA!  That is so true for me. I tend to "go buy a little something to inspire me" instead of just letting my stash inspire me.   

 

This got me thinking…if I am busy using my creativity then I am not so concerned with finding it!  I have been blessed to take several classes and all of them have really sparked my creativity.  However, I have been upset with myself because I am so “behind” in my classes, but couldn't this be a GOOD thing? I have more inspiration waiting for me.

 

I have made more pages, in less time and I think it is because:

1. I am leaving a page on my desk that is "in process."  Typically, the page just needs to be adhered or an embellishment added , but I have found this brings me right back into my groove.

 

2. I take inspiration when it strikes and just "go with it!"  I want to over analyze so many choices on my page.  You know, should I use photo A or B, paper X or Y.  What if I don't like this sticker...I have started just cutting that paper, trying the sticker and placing the brad.  MOST of the time I like it! 

 

I do look forward to making even more pages and “catching up” with my classes but I am going to revel for a while at the fact I am making stuff and it feels good! 

 

Did we just help debunk the “I don’t feel inspired” excuse?

 

More thoughts soon, but for now, I am off to Get My Scrap On!

Magazine Challenge

Each week Paper Crafter's Corner hosts a Magazine Challenge.  I only discovered this unique challenge a few weeks ago.  After several weeks of observation I finally decided to try my hand.  This week's magazine cover inspiration piece:

I was really intrigued by the embellishment in, through, and around the title.  What a neat idea!  As I began thinking of a project for this inspiration another idea hit me.  What if this was a TITLE PAGE?  I NEVER make title pages in my albums. I usually make the album pages, page by page but never return to create a title page.  I certainly do not BEGIN with a title page! 

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out the letters and embellishments.  I am so thankful for the ability to turn on and off the cut feature.  I first created his name and then offset the words for unity. As I added the embellishments I placed and sized them appropriately on screen.  This allowed me to get all my embellishments the right size for my page BEFORE I cut them all out!

 

 

 

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. 

Art Journaling, Journaling, Scrapbooking....where does all this fit together?

I like to take pictures.  A.lot.of.pictures! But like Stacey Julian says, "(I) will never be able to scrap all these pictures."  But I want to be sure to tell all the stories.  So as of today, I have piles of photos, memoribilia and supplies that are waiting for me to take action.  I can become so overwhelmed that I do not even know where to start. So it all sits, cluttered up in our spare bedroom, waiting for me to take some action.

How can I take pictures without guilt, get the memories recorded and get my need for artistc play out of my system?  I need a Plan of Action that will allow me to do just that!

1. An Art Journal will allow me to PLAY!  I think this is where my creativity gets stifled.  I do not just play (see wasting time excuse).  But if I would play I may feel more empowered and capable to try new techniques or work out what is in my minds eye.  The more I play the better I will become, right?

2. I will journal every day.  Here I can tell all the stories I want to tell or at least account for my day.  Altzheimers runs in my family and the thought of forgetting stuff (my life) scares me.  I dont want to forget any memories!  I can tell this is already happening...Curly will say something so funny or be so sweet to G-man and I swear i will not forget it, but before I can find somewhere to scribble down the moment I have forgotten what was said. OR, I forget what I was doing on my way to write said cute memory down....seriously this mommy brain stuff is no joke!

3. Scrapbook it.  Those stories that just have to have a picture will be scrapbooked.  I said in my last post I am making a list of projects to finish.  I will finish those works in progress - mostly cronological albums through G-man's first year but then I will start a Library of Memories approach- People, Places, Things and Us. 

Stacy Julian also said, "(but I do) have exactly enough time to scrap the memories that mean the most."

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

Welcome

Welcome!

I was listening to the Adventures in Arting podcast and realized I suffered from what Julie Fei-Fan Balzer calls "Fear of Failure."  I was stuck in a rut.  Too afraid of trying anything new for fear I would waste time, money or energy that would be better spent elsewhere.  As I work to overcome that I also realized I give up too soon.  I was stopping at good enough when my very best was just around the corner!

I have a PASSION for all things creative and I get a nervous tick when I do not have a "project" in the works.  Yet I avoided creating and I was addicted to Pinterest.  Finally, I realized this was akin to treating a bug bite with poison ivy.  Pinterest is for inspiration and yet it was holding me back because there are so many wonderful ideas out there and I felt lost and not good enough.

I believe there are many people out there paralyzed by a fear of failure.  Stuck in a downward spiral of "not good enough" and "I don't want to try." I hope this blog champions those that are scared of trying, terrified at the possibility of failing, and addicted to all things Pinterest.