Do it afraid!

For the longest time, I have felt the nudge to begin creating process videos.  I have had many people request them and many friends and family encourage me to begin making them.  Although I had the desire to inspire and teach people the art of scrapbooking and story telling, I lacked the confidence.  

During this pandemic/quarantine I have felt God nudging me more and more to stop being a consumer and to become a producer.  I love watching other people create! It is relaxing and inspiring.  However, it was not fulfilling me. I knew God wanted me to help others, not just watch others.

While studying my Bible one moring, I came across the parable of the talents given to the servants. (Matthew 25:14–30) The master expected the servants to use the talents he had given them to increase.  In short, the servant who was afraid to use the talent given to him, the master took it away and gave it to the servant with the most talents.  He even called the servant wicked and lazy.  The servants excuse that he was afraid, didn't impress or change the masters mind.  I decided right then and there, I don't want to be that servant.  God has a purpose for each of us and has given each of us gifts and talents.  He expects us to use them.  Fear is no excuse for a child of God. 

Long story short, this layout and process video is an act of obedience.  I was nervous.  I was scared to put myself out there.  I don't like the way my voice sounds.  I could go on and on with all the lies the enemy tried to feed me, before I hit that submit button.  However, I did it anyway.  I know God is proud of me and expects me to keep on going.  So, I will.  

I hope that this encourages you and inspires you to use your talents.  Do it even when you are afraid.  God is for you and has a purpose for you.  <3  

Hugs and Love! 

Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.  --Leo Buscaglia

Together

A new layout of my sweet sister, nephew, and niece using January Hip Kit and Mid January Stuck Sketch.  I struggled with the slanted photo cluster, so I just made it straight!  I love how versatile sketches are and how you can make them your own!

Here is the January 15 Sketch inspiration: 

LOVE

I have been absent from the blog world for quite a while!  HELLO, after an extended absence!  I wanted to share a new layout I created using the January sketch from Stuck! Sketches.  I adore this wedding photo of my daughter and her new husband!  They are a beautiful couple!  I was a little intimidated when I first started this layout, because weddings seem so "fancy" a thing to scrapbook, but using the January Hip Kit + the Stuck Sketch, made this layout MUCH easier to pull together.  I am pleased with the outcome! 

Here is the sketch I used! LOVE it! :)

Thanks for stopping by!  

Yummy!

After MUCH deliberation, I decided to join a monthly scrapbook kit club!  I knew I wanted to join a kit club, but the hard part was deciding which one.  I decided on Hip Kit Club, mainly because of all the awesome scrappy video inspiration from design team members like Irit Landgraf and Ashley Laura.  I love their style and get so inspired watching their process videos!  I also love the mix of papers and embellishments in the Hip Kits... they are very versatile.  I received the November kit a couple of days ago. Although, it is a Christmas themed, the mix of supplies is versatile enough to fit many different scrappy themes.  

Here is my very first layout using the November Hip Kit.  I adore this mix of colors and they were perfect for my cupcake photo session with Ms. Priss.  

Thanks for reading!  Have a lovely Sunday!

Baking Cupcakes

My sweetie pie, decided we should make PINKALICIOUS cupcakes, after reading her favorite book by the same title.  She was so excited about helping! She made sure to tell everyone "I cooked the cupcakes!" I have lots of photos from this occasion and many more to scrap. 

In this layout, I challenged myself to use up some of my embellishments and supplies.  This layout took me a LONG time to finish.  It didn't come together easily, but I am really happy with the end result.  I love the layers and touches of gold.   I feel like I am getting my scrappy muse back!  Yeah!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Come Here, Horsey!

It has become a tradition, when Emery visits, to hang out by the fence and call for the neighbors horse.  We have been doing this for months!  Emery coo's at him, yells at him, pleads with him to come over!  Usually, he just ignores us. One day, much to our surprise, "horsey" actually came over and allowed us to pet him! We were both so excited!  I guess, Little Miss Priss's persistence finally paid off! 

So, of course, I had to document this momentous occasion! :) 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Creative Scrappers - Sketch Challenge #280

Oh, how this little stinker cracks me up!  We were playing outside and I asked her to stand still for a second, so I could get a picture.  Without skipping a beat, she stops and strikes this pose.  I could not quit laughing!  She is so full a energy and sass!  

I used the latest sketch at Creative Scrappers as inspiration for this layout.  I have been a big fan of the CS sketches for a long time!  This was a fun one to work with.  I am still feeling a little rusty, but still enjoying the process.

Thanks for stopping by!

Soul Sisters

I feel like I am getting back into my scrapbook groove... with a twist.  I am adding many more mixed media elements in my layouts which feels... just right.  I have been sticking to my "not buying any stash" resolution and using what I have on hand.  This is forcing me to be more creative and I am really enjoying this challenge.  

Anyway, this is my newest layout inspired by my sweet, long-time friend, Michelle.  We are truly kindred spirits. I love her like a sister and so enjoy her company.  This is a picture we took on our summer trip to Ruidoso, NM.  

The color palette and elements were inspired by the current challenge at Scrap Around the World.  This is my first time to participate in one of their challenges, but as inspiring as the mood board was (see below), I am sure it won't be my last.  

Scrap Around the World- October Mood Board

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a blessed and relaxing Sunday!

Fall Tag Trio

Frosted designs issued a challenge to create a fall project using fall colors, ink, and bling.  Here is what I came up with.  I must say I LOVE how these turned out and so enjoyed creating them!  It really puts me in the mood for the season, even though here in West Texas it still feels a lot like summer!  

Once Upon a Sketch Challenge

I haven't participated in a sketch challenge in a long time!  I love the current sketch/journaling challenge issued by Once Upon a Sketch challenge blog, so I had to enter! This sketch is great and so open to interpretation!  The journaling is hidden behind the photo. It's all about how much I love this little girl and how happy she makes my life.

Here is my layout for the challenge:

Here is the beautiful sketch:

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great weekend!

A little bit rusty...

I got struck by the Scrapbooking bug again.  I think it has something to do with my Grandbaby moving to the same town as me!  So many new memories to document, on the horizon!  Plus, I have a ton of pictures from all my summer adventures that I suddenly feel the need to get in albums!  I am inspired, but also feeling a little rusty.  I am not allowing myself to purchase anymore supplies for the time being.  I have lots of old supplies that should work just fine.  It is very tempting to shop for the latest and greatest, but I am really trying to pay off those credit cards... from all my summer adventures.  LOL!  I also feel like using up my stash will force me to be a little more creative.  I kind of got in a rut, which is why the scrapbook bug left me in the first place.  I  was bored.  I have tons of mixed media supplies and plenty of scrapbook products.  I am going to combine those two loves more and see what happens.  Here are my latest layouts:

I was inspired to try out pocket pages to scrap our trip to New Mexico and Colorado in August.  I have so many pictures of our trip, I thought this would be the best way to get them in albums.  I have to say, after doing these pages, pocket pages are not my favorite.  I feel a bit confined using them and they are so structured.  Too much structure doesn't jive with my creative side.  As an elementary teacher, I am soooo structured in my job.  I need an escape now and then.  :)

This is my favorite picture I took all summer.  This little girl makes my wonderful, blessed life, all the more sweeter!  

If you read this far.... you are awesome!  Thanks for taking the time out of your day to get to know me a little better!  I would love to get to know you too!  Leave me a comment, so I can follow your blog!  Have a WONDERFUL day!  

Hugs,

Kelly

Summer Collage Journal + Video

 

 

I was inpsired to create this little "journal" from one of the gurus of art journaling, Teesha Moore.   I started this collage journal with no real outcome in mind.  I used lots of ephemera from my mini summer vacation to Ruidoso, NM. as collage materials. I knew I wanted to add more elements to the journal, but really wasn't sure what.  I let it sit for a few days and inspiration struck!  I had these mini Iphone prints (also from my summer trip) from Social Print Studios sitting on my desk and an idea began to form!  I decided to make my little journal into a collaged summer memory journal.  I have already worked on a couple of pages, as you will see.  This is a work in progress and I still have no real outcome in mind, other than using it to document my memories, so far, of this summer.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this video, please like and subscribe to my channel!  I have more artsy video tutorials coming soon! 

 

Happy Creating!

Finally took the leap!

I did something that was very scary for me!  I filmed my art journaling process and posted it on YouTube for the world to see!  (Eeeekkk!)   I know, I know...there are tons of people out there who do this on a daily basis and it's like no big deal. (Well, they make it seem like that because they are good at it!)  Believe me, I know!  I love watching the process and creativity of others.  I love the artist who share and inspire.  It is great fuel for the muse!  Which is the exact reason why, I have the desire to share my process.  I want to share and not just receive inspiration.  I want to share my journey into what I am passionate and madly in-love with.... and that is the intuitive process of creating art. 

There is a learning curve in filming, editing and publishing.  As with anything else, there will be improvement with practice.  However, I can't let my "newbiness" keep me from trying.  I would love to hear your feedback and suggestions.  If you would subscribe to and like my videos, that would be pretty awesome too!   Now to the videos.   Enjoy! 

Part #1

Part #2

 

 

Finished Page:

 

 

 

Thanks for being here and reading this!  Stay tuned for more videos and artsy tutorials!

Mixed Media Musing

When I saw the new Prima Mixed Media Doll Stamps from Julie Nutting at A Cherry on Top, I instantly fell in love!  These stamps are so fun!  This is my first completed project using them.  I have a couple more projects in the works and will post them later.  

I got the idea for this wall hanging from  LiveLoveScrap (aka Bona) on a YouTube video.  You can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRj4O5Fyq9I   Her videos are awesome!  Be sure to subscribe!

I am entering this wall hanging in the "Anything Goes" challenge over at Simon Says Stamp.

Next up are a couple of  tags.  I made these while I was anxiously awaiting my shipment of Prima Doll Stamps. :)  I love how they turned out and can't wait to give them to someone! :)

I am entering these tags into the Southern Girls Challenge - Leaves

Thank for stopping by and checking out what I have been up to!  Have a great and creative week!

Happy Campers

I created this layout several days ago for the Sketch to Scrapbook challenge on Shimelle's blog.  These are my daughters on a recent camping trip...being silly, as ususal!  Love these two so much! :)

Here is Shimelle's sketch:

Totally Tags...

I have been feeling uninspired.  I haven't wanted to do much of anything.  So... instead of wallowing in it, I just made myself do something creative.  I found a package of tags and a bowl full of embossed raw chipboard elements that I have had forever.  I forced myself get the paint and spray inks out. I told myself I would just mess around and see what happens.  I really figured whatever I made would end up in the trash can.  Negative, I know.  HOWEVER, it freed me in a way.  It took away the expectations to make something "good" or "pretty".  It was okay if whatever I made sucked rocks.  It didn't matter.  I was just going through the motions to see if something sparked.  Well, it did... eventually.  Inspiration struck and a day later I ended up with six tags.  I really enjoyed the process and now I am on a creative roll.  :)

During this time I was surfing the net and saw Simon Says Stamps new Kraft challenge and decided to pull out my sheet of corrugated Kraft cardstock and some kraft labels and stickers... and see if I could somehow incorporate these items.  Here is what I came up with:

So, the moral of the story is:  If you feel uninspired, sometimes just forcing yourself to DO SOMETHING creative with no expectations for the outcome, is just the thing you need to get over that hump!