One of Life's Greatest Blessings....

Happy Friday! Wow, I feel like this week has been so long. To be honest, I am tired and cranky. I haven't gotten enough sleep the last two nights. The Sandman has left me hanging... that jerk! ...but the weekend is upon us and I plan on spending most of it in my studio.... my happy place! 

This past week I have spent more time in my studio than I have in awhile, and I forgot how nurturing it is for me. This past week I have created for me. The layouts that I did were for me and what I wanted to do. This sounds so silly, but in the blogging world of scrapbooking, with all the challenges and design team calls, it is easy to lose sight of why you started scrapbooking... and for me, why I started my blog. I started scrapbooking in middle school and was introduced to it by Ms. Tami - She was my 7th Grade Sunday School Teacher, Mentor, and head of the photo ministry team for the youth group. I fell hard and haven't looked back since. I LOVE IT. I am very much a creative soul, but also sentimental, so scrapbooking and I make a perfect pair...

Now fast forward 13 years, or so... and it's 2009... and I am about to start my journey into the blogging world. I decided to start a blog because I love the art of scrapbooking and wanted to share that passion and inspire fellow scrapbookers. Then I got caught up in the challenges, blog hops, design team calls, etc... and it became about creating things that "they" would want & like, changing my style so that it fit "theirs". I started to let not "making it" out there define my talent... and it took some of the joy away. My New Year's Resolution is to get back to the basics. Scrapbook and create for me.... and to share with you the tips, tricks, techniques, etc... that I use, discover, and learn along the way. I want to inspire you and I want to be inspired. 

The love of scrapbooking connects us all. Whether we are close friends, acquaintances, or have never met except through cyber space... we have a bond. There is nothing more exciting then to share with someone who gets it... gets that feeling when you see paper that speaks to you, the excitement of all the new CHA sneak peaks, or the simple joy of just playing with paper, glue, and glitter. So happy New Year Friends. Let's make this one full inspiration, joy, and coloring outside the lines. 

Today I have a layout to share that started off quite a while ago... like months! I did this really cool background and that is where it ended....  it started a little something like this: 

Lots of spray ink... Heidi Swap Color Shine, Ranger Adirondack Color Wash, and if I remember correctly a little Perfect Pearls Mist! I used the Inkessentials Manila Cardstock as my base. I knew I was going to be putting a lot of mixed media on there so I wanted something a lot sturdier than basic cardstock. 

Using a new stencil I had just gotten, (clearance at Michael's... Score!), I mixed modeling paste with paint and smeared it on my layout... when I picked the stencil up is was magic! I then used Inkessentials Enamel Accents in White, and outlined the hearts that were created from my stencil and modeling paste. 

...and then it just sat... 

This past weekend I stumbled across this sketch and heard the angels sing as the inspiration hit! 

...and then it just all came together...

The picture is one from my phone that I edited with Instagram. I am so loving scrapbooking with different size photos and different size layouts... it's like a whole new world! 

This layout started off as a 10 x 10 layout, I then needed a little more room for my banner, so I adhered it to a piece of 12 x 12 acetate. 

Close Up: 

The title is made up of rub-ons, the banner, which was stamped on, and sticker letters. I hand wrote the date. 

The two hearts were stamped and cut out and the banners behind the picture were created with just some scrap paper that I had. The center banner I stamped on using Adirondack Ink in Stream. (this was the same paint color I mixed with my modeling paste). 

All the bling was put on using my I-Rock and the swirls were stickers that I have had forever... Finally got into my stash that sits over there on my Clip-it-Up! 

This layout will have accompanying pages that will have journaling on them... telling about the event and about these awesome ladies. 

Friends... one of life's greatest blessings. I am very blessed to have the friends I do... Another one of my New Year's Resolutions is to make nurturing my friendships a priority... Not letting life get in the way of making time to grab that cup of coffee and catch up... to let them all know how much they mean to me. I LOVE my friends. 

Happy Friday, Happy Weekend, & Happy Creating! 

P.S. I am not as cranky now after spending this time with you... thanks!