.... I remember I was going to explain the guilt I discovered when I was processing the guilty feelings of not having scrapbooked for several months.....
This newly discovered guilty feeling I believe is what will keep me on track - taking photos, writing stories that explain those photos and in that process I will be able to indulge in pretty papers, paints and all manner of crafting things, and put part of me into every layout I create.
This guilt is best described as - if I dont tell the stories of the photos then who will.
For many years I have sole parented my children, they dont have contact with their biological fathers, all grandparents, save for one grandmother who chooses not to stay in touch, have passed away. There is no one who can pick up their baby photo albums, their childhood photo albums and explain why that day was important, or why that photo was taken, or who those other people in the photo are..... no one..... only me ..... so if I dont take the time, make the effort, who will?
All those photos will still exist but they will seem one dimensional to my children, they wont seem as important or special or significant if they dont hear and read the details.
As I scrapped my first few layouts after having so much time away from this papercrafting that I love, I realised how much time has gone by and how I may struggle to remember the details even if it has only been a year or so. And then I felt the deepest, saddest emotion of...... guilt ...... and the lightbulb moment of why I scrapbooked in the first place.... so that my children will have more, much more that just photo albums, they will have stories and details that they wouldn't otherwise read, hear or know.
And I will do my best so that they, and their children and their children will have insights into the lives of those that have gone before them.
And they will be in the form of photos, stories and lots of paper!
Scrapbooks.....
And lots of them!
Friday, August 31, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
Change of plan.....
I have finished my second layout.... that's 2 completed in 4 days.... talk about one extreme to the other - barely a handful in the past year or so and now very much on track to completing 3 per week.
Perhaps in time I will complete more per week but for now the entire process is taking a few hours, maybe more. Of course, this scrapbooking time is fitting around my normal work and home duties.
Yesterday I selected my 'kit' for the layout and I must be a tad colour blind because I thought the Teresa Collins line "Tell Your Story" was teal, orange, white and grey - I got the teal and orange part right but the grey was much more like a taupe (grey with some brown thrown in), the white was more an off white. The grey cardstock I had selected just didnt go, I also had to re think the embellishments as some were a stark white and some grey/silver.
The inspiration for the background of the photo mat came from my all time favourite card maker Kristina Werner. Kristina does a video every Friday called "Finally Friday" and her most recent one was called "NEW Card Sketchbook". you can see it here where she uses strips of 2.5cm/1" paper strips cut from a 6x6 paper pad. I used some 6x6 paper pad sheets for the 'collage' behind the photo and this allowed me to save the Teresa Collins "Tell Your Story" journalling cards small and large for embellishments. It turned out to be a good Plan B when the original selections didn't co-ordinate.
I very much enjoyed making this layout and will certainly be scrapping lots of black and white photos in the future. I loved the freedom of choosing a colour palette without worrying whether it would clash.
The title and journalling were added after I took the photos for personal reasons. I can share that this was my dd very first Mothers Day and her 21st birthday all on the same day.
Perhaps in time I will complete more per week but for now the entire process is taking a few hours, maybe more. Of course, this scrapbooking time is fitting around my normal work and home duties.
Yesterday I selected my 'kit' for the layout and I must be a tad colour blind because I thought the Teresa Collins line "Tell Your Story" was teal, orange, white and grey - I got the teal and orange part right but the grey was much more like a taupe (grey with some brown thrown in), the white was more an off white. The grey cardstock I had selected just didnt go, I also had to re think the embellishments as some were a stark white and some grey/silver.
The inspiration for the background of the photo mat came from my all time favourite card maker Kristina Werner. Kristina does a video every Friday called "Finally Friday" and her most recent one was called "NEW Card Sketchbook". you can see it here where she uses strips of 2.5cm/1" paper strips cut from a 6x6 paper pad. I used some 6x6 paper pad sheets for the 'collage' behind the photo and this allowed me to save the Teresa Collins "Tell Your Story" journalling cards small and large for embellishments. It turned out to be a good Plan B when the original selections didn't co-ordinate.
I very much enjoyed making this layout and will certainly be scrapping lots of black and white photos in the future. I loved the freedom of choosing a colour palette without worrying whether it would clash.
The title and journalling were added after I took the photos for personal reasons. I can share that this was my dd very first Mothers Day and her 21st birthday all on the same day.
and some close ups
Next, I am scrapping a page that is part of the "Blogging for Scrapbookers" course I am doing, if you are interested you can find the details here - best $15 USD (yes less than $15 AUD!) I have ever spent!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Finally...... finished
Finished, done and in the album..... I just don't cross the finish line in a hurry, in fact I am inclined to think this is the longest part of completing a layout for me...... the stumbling block on this layout was I just didn't like the look of handwritten journalling on display so I have saved that for the tag that is tucked under the photo (on the left with twine through it and buttons on top).
I also didnt like the placement of the cluster of cardstock attached with a red heart brad.
So.... a few changes from my 'in progress' photo of yesterday, nonetheless I am now officially calling it done!
I intend to use my copic markers in the Blue Green family - most likely BG10 BG15 and BG23, shall decide once this layout is well underway.
Bye for now,
Michelle.
I also didnt like the placement of the cluster of cardstock attached with a red heart brad.
So.... a few changes from my 'in progress' photo of yesterday, nonetheless I am now officially calling it done!
A few close ups - I like to see these on other crafters blogs -
I am 99% happy with this page.... given that I haven't scrapped in so long..... my next project is a black and white photo of my dd (dear daughter) and gg (gorgeous grandson) using Teresa Collins Tell Your Story small and large journaling cards..... here is a few pics of what I have pulled together to get started with -
For the title, I am waiting on the DIY American Craft Thickers that I saw for the first time here- an informative and unbiased demonstration by Glitter Girl, Shimelle Laine.
Bye for now,
Michelle.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Finally.......
Today finally saw me achieve something of the scrapbooking variety.... having dealt with the guilt of not having done much in the way of scrapbooking for many months now.... as a result of purchasing The Stamp Spot, an online stamp specialist store www.thestampspot.com.au and a huge list of other distractions/tasks/obligations ... well...... I achieved a 90% completed page today!
Not everything is stuck down yet and typically of me I have decided the current 12x12 backing sheet will be trimmed down and will be matted onto a black 12x12... I think. There is just too much grey for my liking and I like to work in threes and at this point there are 2 solid black elements - the photo has black in the background and in shadows and the letters are black felt thickers - yes there is black and white checks in the photo and I have teamed that up with 2 placements of bakers twine (in black and white). Oh.... I have just realised I have left off the second bakers twine embellishment from the photo - a white paperclip with twine looped through it - it will go with the top right hand corners cluster of embellishments.
I also have the journalling to complete but the tag that I will be writing on is in place, Other than that I am going to call it done.
Its also just a snapshot for this blog post - I needed to take the photo quickly as daylight is fading fast in my part of the world ..... so yes ..... they are floor tiles underneath the page!
A few times during the creation process I sought reassurance from any of the many videos expertly put together by Shimelle, Glitter Girl at Two Peas in a Bucket www.twopeasinabucket.com to no avail, their server has been down for most of today. As a result, ironically, I stayed on track, I kept focused on completing as much of this page as I could.
I simply wanted to complete as much as I possibly could in the timeframe I had allocated.
However.....I discovered another type of guilt during this process....... more on that tomorrow.
Not everything is stuck down yet and typically of me I have decided the current 12x12 backing sheet will be trimmed down and will be matted onto a black 12x12... I think. There is just too much grey for my liking and I like to work in threes and at this point there are 2 solid black elements - the photo has black in the background and in shadows and the letters are black felt thickers - yes there is black and white checks in the photo and I have teamed that up with 2 placements of bakers twine (in black and white). Oh.... I have just realised I have left off the second bakers twine embellishment from the photo - a white paperclip with twine looped through it - it will go with the top right hand corners cluster of embellishments.
I also have the journalling to complete but the tag that I will be writing on is in place, Other than that I am going to call it done.
Its also just a snapshot for this blog post - I needed to take the photo quickly as daylight is fading fast in my part of the world ..... so yes ..... they are floor tiles underneath the page!
A few times during the creation process I sought reassurance from any of the many videos expertly put together by Shimelle, Glitter Girl at Two Peas in a Bucket www.twopeasinabucket.com to no avail, their server has been down for most of today. As a result, ironically, I stayed on track, I kept focused on completing as much of this page as I could.
I simply wanted to complete as much as I possibly could in the timeframe I had allocated.
However.....I discovered another type of guilt during this process....... more on that tomorrow.
Monday, August 20, 2012
5 things
I am putting my spin on one of the prompts in the course I am doing - 'Blogging for Scrapbookers' - it comes as the result of an email I sent Shimelle - the writer of this tutorial - about a bit of a confession I felt the need to make - Confession or Excuse - yesterday if felt like a confession today it feels like an excuse.... here's why.....
Firstly you need to know my confession..... I feel like a fake when it comes to scrapbooking,. Since purchasing an online store in March 2011 I have done very little ... although I do feel very happy and a sense of pride for what I have done it just doesn't seem enough to be taken seriously as a scrapbooker. I felt my main block was because suddenly I was surrounded with all things paper - endless sheets of beautiful 12x12 papers, stamps by the hundreds, sticker sheets, journalling sheets, embellishments seemed wall to wall (funnily enough they are actually wall to wall in the room I have dedicated to stock). So every time I would want to scrap some photos I was simply overwhelmed with choice - some may say "hey dont complain" or "every scrapbookers dream come true" - well it wasn't for me, quite the opposite.... or so I thought.
24 hours after my confession email I got to really thinking about why I haven't/don't scrap and suddenly all sorts of other reasons popped into my head - perhaps the confession has made me accountable - by sharing my thoughts with a talented and dedicated scrapbooker I wondered what Shimelle would think of my email, my confession and was it a good enough reason, not for Shimelle but for me.
No, it simply wasn't. Once that reason was put aside, I discovered plenty more - things like
1. feeling guilty for indulging in such a pleasurable pasttime when there was housework needing to be done
2. feeling guilty that I hadn't yet completed my tax return (end of financial year in Australia is 30 June and its now August 20!) personal and business
3. feeling that I should devote whatever spare time I have to my family
4. feeling that if I did have spare time then I should be spending it on my online business and website
5. feeling guilty that I hadn't baked something special for a few weeks
...... guilty guilty guilty guilty and guilty .....
So... there is 5 of the many reasons I came up with as to why I haven't scrapped for so long.... GUILT.
Which so happens to be a 5 letter word!
Then I decided to make a list, a visual point of reference that would make me feel accountable for all those reasons.....
Well, in the 12 hours since I made that list -
1. housework is up to date (and in front if that's at all possible)
2. both personal and business tax returns are completed and ready to be emailed to my Accountant
3. attended to sales and posting of orders for my online business and devoted 1 hour to tidying up my website
4. dedicated 2 hours to my dear daughter and her sweet baby boy, my grandson
5. baked a decadent chocolate slice creation without following a recipe but added the favourite ingredients of my youngest gorgeous son
It truly is amazing how much you can pack into 12 hours if you put your mind to it.
A little weary and will certainly sleep soundly tonight but this feeling, this smile that is a result of getting rid of guilt is completely and utterly AWESOME.
Guess what is on my TO DO list tomorrow....................
Firstly you need to know my confession..... I feel like a fake when it comes to scrapbooking,. Since purchasing an online store in March 2011 I have done very little ... although I do feel very happy and a sense of pride for what I have done it just doesn't seem enough to be taken seriously as a scrapbooker. I felt my main block was because suddenly I was surrounded with all things paper - endless sheets of beautiful 12x12 papers, stamps by the hundreds, sticker sheets, journalling sheets, embellishments seemed wall to wall (funnily enough they are actually wall to wall in the room I have dedicated to stock). So every time I would want to scrap some photos I was simply overwhelmed with choice - some may say "hey dont complain" or "every scrapbookers dream come true" - well it wasn't for me, quite the opposite.... or so I thought.
24 hours after my confession email I got to really thinking about why I haven't/don't scrap and suddenly all sorts of other reasons popped into my head - perhaps the confession has made me accountable - by sharing my thoughts with a talented and dedicated scrapbooker I wondered what Shimelle would think of my email, my confession and was it a good enough reason, not for Shimelle but for me.
No, it simply wasn't. Once that reason was put aside, I discovered plenty more - things like
1. feeling guilty for indulging in such a pleasurable pasttime when there was housework needing to be done
2. feeling guilty that I hadn't yet completed my tax return (end of financial year in Australia is 30 June and its now August 20!) personal and business
3. feeling that I should devote whatever spare time I have to my family
4. feeling that if I did have spare time then I should be spending it on my online business and website
5. feeling guilty that I hadn't baked something special for a few weeks
...... guilty guilty guilty guilty and guilty .....
So... there is 5 of the many reasons I came up with as to why I haven't scrapped for so long.... GUILT.
Which so happens to be a 5 letter word!
Then I decided to make a list, a visual point of reference that would make me feel accountable for all those reasons.....
Well, in the 12 hours since I made that list -
1. housework is up to date (and in front if that's at all possible)
2. both personal and business tax returns are completed and ready to be emailed to my Accountant
3. attended to sales and posting of orders for my online business and devoted 1 hour to tidying up my website
4. dedicated 2 hours to my dear daughter and her sweet baby boy, my grandson
5. baked a decadent chocolate slice creation without following a recipe but added the favourite ingredients of my youngest gorgeous son
It truly is amazing how much you can pack into 12 hours if you put your mind to it.
A little weary and will certainly sleep soundly tonight but this feeling, this smile that is a result of getting rid of guilt is completely and utterly AWESOME.
Guess what is on my TO DO list tomorrow....................
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Prompt 1
My task for this section of the course is to upload a photo and then detail what we hope to achieve over the next few weeks - I would like to use blogging as a way to record the details of photos I take so that when I come to scrap them I wont struggle to recall the things I want to say and share, I am guilty of having photos sitting in albums and drawers that havent seen the light of day for months, even years and the thought of scrapping them makes me put them back where I found them.
I also wish to achieve confidence in posting here on my personal blog and also on the blog attached to my online store The Stamp Spot - I seriously lack that confidence and ability so blogging regularly here I hope will give me a little confidence .... maybe a lot!
I chose this photo as it represents quite a bit to me, yes its a stock standard lavender bush but everytime I see and pass this bush (which is in a garden closest to my front door so I pass it often) it never looks the same, the foliage changes from grey to green depending on the time of day and whether it has rained or been watered, there is a constant hum around it with many bees, and it is a testament to adversity - something everyone has faced at some point in their lives - no matter how much or how little water, fertilizer, weeding, trimming this plant gets it has survived for at least 4 of the 6 years that I have lived here. It is not in its original location and many a person told me it wouldn't survive being shifted from the back of the house to the front - it did and it has thrived, year after year.
I liken that to life in general, we dont always remain in our original locations - town or city or country of birth, facing little or lots of what life throws at us - health, illness, births, deaths, employment, financial struggles, personal growth or challenges - I for one intend to thrive no matter what.
Yes this humble lavender plant by my front door is more than just a plant to me.
I also wish to achieve confidence in posting here on my personal blog and also on the blog attached to my online store The Stamp Spot - I seriously lack that confidence and ability so blogging regularly here I hope will give me a little confidence .... maybe a lot!
I liken that to life in general, we dont always remain in our original locations - town or city or country of birth, facing little or lots of what life throws at us - health, illness, births, deaths, employment, financial struggles, personal growth or challenges - I for one intend to thrive no matter what.
Yes this humble lavender plant by my front door is more than just a plant to me.
My first Post
Currently undertaking a 'blogging for scrapbookers' course via shimelle.com and this is my very first post - hopefully I have paid enough attention in class to actually get this post up on my blog.
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