I scrap because it make ME happy!

So often I get the question asking why I decided to start doing paper scrapbook layouts, considering that I don't have children, don't have a legacy to leave to anyone, especially since I've been doing digital scrapbooking for over 7 years. While it's true that I don't have adorable baby pictures, or pictures of events I want to remember years from now, my every day moments are just as important to scrapbook. I recently read an article by a woman who is obviously wise beyond her years who addressed the issue of creating scrapbooks for yourself. Not your children, your family, but you. And it really resonated with me. So I decided that instead of scrapbooking my fave photos of my dog, or my cats, or my husband, it was time I showed up on the page, and not feel guilty about it.

This weekend, I did just that, and I scrapped a large 4X6 headshot of myself. Yikes! Seeing my face, that large, staring back at me from the page was intimidating. I thought others might think it vain to use this photo. But I did it anyway. And I love it! Really love it!

And of course, since I had the stencils and modelling paste out, I couldn't resist creating an art journal page on a 12 inch piece of cardstock. I love how it turned out, given that I didn't bring a lot of my art journalling materials with me to the crop.

I guess what I'm saying in this post, is that sometimes, even if you DO have children and family that you share your scrapbooks with, do a few pages every now and then that are just for you. It's very liberating, and gives you permission to try things that you've never done, without worrying about having the pages judged by others.

Now, I know I promised you photos of the mixed media journal I did at the Prima workshop, but I'm going to reserve posting them just yet. I still want to finish up the cover, and complete the journal before I post more about it.

Have an amazing weekend everyone and for those of you that are in the path of Frankenstorm, stay safe!!

Serious fun this weekend with Prima!

This weekend was such great fun! Some wild and crazy women got together at Auntie Em's Scrapbook and Beading shop in Cornwall, Ontario for a fun-filled weekend with Cari Fennell. I have to say that personally I make it my mission to attend each and every Prima workshop that is within my area if I can. They have some of the best educators for scrapbooking and mixed media. Cari is a special treat though, throwing her own flavour and excitement into every class.

We worked with the gorgeous Firefly collection from Prima, and I had no doubt that I would love that class on Saturday. I have a love of all these soft and dreamy, especially watercolour-like papers. If you haven't seen this collection, you have to see it in person. No pictures I've seen online do it justice. We worked on two layouts on Saturday, and for the first time, I scrapbooked layouts without pictures. Eeek! Totally out of my comfort zone, since I usually work with picture first, and then select my papers, embellies, etc. But they did turn out quite wonderfully I think. Here are the layouts, waiting for just the right pictures.

I was in flower cluster heaven! A picture should cover the cut journal scalloped card.

Yummy layers!

I admit to being bow challenged.

Such juicy layers!

Even though I have been scrapbooking for a while, I learned so much in this course. Use those beautiful journal cards to create more dimension on your page. Cut them up and use them on the edges of your layouts for a little cluster yumminess. I also learned that no matter how ugly your bows are (and mine are definitely lacking in romance), your layouts can still be beautiful.

I cannot wait to find the right pictures for these layouts!

I'll be back later this week to share more from the weekend, including the Donna Downey Mixed Media canvas journal we worked on, so stay tuned. There was plenty of madness, and a whole lot of fun this weekend at Emma's. I'm looking forward to more.

Sometimes the weekend doesn't get off to a great start

I should have known enough to leave the housework alone on Friday, given that I was home sick and not feeling well at all. I had to do the dishes because, well, they didn't get done because I wasn't up to it. So why did I think I'd be up to it on Friday? I chalk it up to a lapse in judgement, stupidity. No, I wasn't running with scissors! I'm a crafter, yes, but I know better than that.

The lack of judgement came when I decided to wash the knives. Three soaked paper towels and an emergency phone call to hubby minutes later, and I was on my way to the hospital to get stitches in my thumb. I'm right-handed, and yes, that's my right thumb. It's going to be an interesting week. (On a positive note, I got treated by a doctor right away at the hospital when we were expecting a huge wait time.)

So what did I decide to do this morning, after feeling sorry for myself (of course) Friday night and Saturday? I did an art journal page. I haven't art journalled in what seems like forever, and this seemed like a good occasion.

The stitches are supposed to stay in for 7-10 days, which means I'll still have them when I go to Auntie Em's Scrapbooking store in Cornwall next weekend. By then I should be able to hold things properly without too much difficulty. I'm looking forward to next weekend...Prima workshops with Cari and having no more pain in my hand.

So next time you do the dishes, be careful with those knives people. You never know when one might decide to flip up and getcha!

Look who'll be rocking the sketches!

I can't help but be excited about this news. I told you that it would be coming and now I can reveal all....hmmm, reveal. Sound familiar? Like a Creative Scrappers Sketch Reveal maybe?

I am so excited about this news! The new Creative Scrappers team will be rocking new sketches from the new sketch designers and I'm one of them! Wow! I really never thought I'd have seen this one coming. But I met some great friends who encouraged me to apply to the call, and much to my surprise this group of women with mad skills will be using my sketches! Be sure to head over to the Creative Scrappers blog so that you can check out their blogs and congratulate them!

Go on! Layer It!

This week wasn't your typical work week. I got great news, upgraded my iPhone, and had a short work week, but the work week seemed to go on forever.

First off, my creative life has taken on a life of its own, and I'm thankful for that. Not only was I recently added to the Creative Scrappers team, but this week, I discovered much to my delight, that I'm one of the newest members of the design team at Tina's Scrapbooking Creations. I'm so looking forward to working with a local group of talented scrappers. We all bring something different to the table and I'm looking forward to learning more from these gals.

And, much to my delight, I'll be combining my two passions, teaching and art journaling, at Tina's store. My first class, called Layer It! Mixed Media Canvas, is open for registrations for the November 21st class. Those of you that know me understand just how exciting this is for me...primarily because I love to share my process when I create. And I have a real passion for teaching as well. Watching students when they have that "ah ha!" moment makes all the work worth it. So register for the class. Registration is limited and that means more discussion and feedback so that we both enjoy the class. It's only $30 and you'll walk away with your own mixed media canvas that you'll be proud to show off.

Other classes will follow, including an introduction to art journaling course.

So this week had its ups...and its downs. I didn't expect this week to be that difficult. But generally speaking, aren't the weeks before long weekends longer than we think? And with all this positive news I was itching to get home and be creative! Well, with that in mind, you can imagine how long my week was, because not only is it a 3-day weekend this week, but it was my first week back to work after vacation. Originally I thought it would be good timing, but it was truly a "semaine des quatre jeudi", or in English a "week of four Thursdays". But now the weekend is here, and I'm ready to get journaling, creating, and completing my travel journal/scrapbook.

There's lots more news to come very shortly on my blog, but I can't tell you just yet. Aren't I a terrible tease?!

I hope that you have a great weekend, no matter how long it is, and enjoy every single moment of it!