Behind the Art with Felecia

Greetings, my friends!

Today I'm posting my last project from Inside Out's True Story kit. 

For my final project, I reflected on a question asked by my nine-year old son - What is my big dream. 

I found it disturbing, because I had no answer.

So, I thought for right now, it would be really good to document the fact that at this stage of my life, there is no big dream in my works.

I started with the white cardstock because I felt like this deserved some messy mists. I used two of Heidi Swapp's mists from my stash to set up my background. 

The words on this My Minds Eye journal card spoke precisely the words I needed into my thoughts about not having a big dream.

As I said in my Behind the Art post for my Be Moved project, I find the butterfly a common image I use in projects about growth or metamorphosis...And this certainly seemed like the right place.

I've apparently grown out of some of the dreams I had earlier in my life and I'm transitioning to new things...

The journal cards make perfect tuck-behinds, so I cut them up and slipped them in where they seemed to go.

Before I went on to the butterflies, I used the distress marker to outline my page. 

My particular rub on set included the perfect title phrase...this is all about my true story right here and right now...I also broke one up to use in the top and bottom corners to draw your eye across the page at an angle.

The die-cute butterflies are so amazing. I like to make them appear as though they are lifting off the page, heading into flight. To do this, I put a triangle of dimensional adhesive under each wing, but adhere the center to my page with quick drying adhesive.

As a final project, this feels so right, to set a course for big dreams and new things to add to my story. Perhaps its time for me to work on the next direction of my trajectory...

Peace, ya'll.

Behind the Art with Felecia

Hey, everyone!!!  I hope this post is finding everyone working on your own True Story.

For my next project from Inside Out's True Story kit, I focused on using the Just Add Color papers from Bella Blvd. I LOVE black and white papers and how adding just one color can really pop every single paper and pattern in the project.

My project is about my sweet sister Kellie...we've lived at least 1/2 way across the country from one another all our adult lives.  BUT she recently moved just 30 minutes down the road from me and we've been having a great time writing a new chapter to our story - one where we have family dinners and lots of phone calls and sharing special moments.

This picture was one we took on a recent trip to California...a moment of huge fun I pray we have a lot more of!!

I wanted to put as many patterns into this as possible...to reflect the extreme fun.

I've been doing quite a lot of layering behind my photos using a cut-by-hand technique I learned from Ashli Oliver. I am very timid when it comes to layering, especially in a messy way. I'm much better with neat and tidy square arrangements, but I've not felt satisfied with that technique lately. So, I've been experimenting with alternatives. Gettting a little bit messy and unsquare...its more like my REAL life...and the art should reflect real life, don't you think?

The bits and pieces in this kit are so amazing. This little ticket was just the perfect addition to my silly selfie. 

I love having a new chapter in my story with my sister - a funner and more involved chapter...

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Felecia

For my second project from Inside Out's True Story kit, I really wanted to focus on the "story" part...

It seems to me that the best parts of my own story have nothing to do with big deal stuff...its in the little parts, the small moments. 

I kept looking at those amazing My Minds Eye letters and how striking they were all together. I really wanted to save the letters for my other projects, but I loved how they looked together so much that I decided to punch them out and use the left over chipboard as a background. 

Letters are the small parts of words, moments are the small part of time...words and time make up our stories...maybe that only makes sense to me, but I love how the symbolism speaks to me. 

So...as I was considering how to use chipboard sheet my letters came from, I decided to paint over them. My original paint job was a bit to bright. So I used some white mist and toned it down a little bit.

The great super narrow tape reminded me of ribbon, so I wrapped it around several times, like a tie around a journal.

The mat for the photos is meant to look like a file folder and I used the MME typewriter paper (of course!!) to hint at my "story" theme.

I properly labeled my "file folder" and gave it a tab on top using a journal card, some die cut bits and the amazing letters!

And of course the little hashtag sayings properly identified my moments and my over all story!!!

LOVING where this kit is taking me in my exploration....

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Felecia

Hello!  Welcome to my first True Story project post!

Have I mentioned before that I'm not so much into pink? Wellllllll...this kit might be the one that pushes me into the liking and maybe even LOVING pink category.

I started by thinking about my own true story, my faith is a huge part of it. I often pray for big huge mountains to be moved...or for God to show me the way around them, through them, over them...whatever. But in my study and learning, I have found that sometimes I'm the big mountain...and I hope that my story includes those moments when I have enough courage to BE moved by God as appropriate.

For some people, I think this flexibility is quite easy. I cannot necessarily say the same. I'm quite dedicated to my way of doing things and thus I sometimes find myself stubbornly holding onto things I have outgrown, that are holding me back, that are causing me pain, or are just plain old not working.

I started with black cardstock and played with a couple of mists - Heidi Swapp Gold and a very old Studio Calico white, creating a little background.

I then used several layers of the My Minds Eye paper to frame my picture so that it had some dimension and movement.

Butterflies are a motif I often use when I'm documenting change, movement, or metamorphosis in my own life - those moments I can identify with certainty are "becoming" moments. So...I definitely wanted to use the gorgeous My Minds Eye butterfly paper.

I'm not entirely sure that I could say that a butterfly is "my" symbol, but I can most certainly say that I use this symbol in a lot of my projects about my own growth.

Ok, ok,  ok...I sort of wished there two sheets of this so I could use the words on the flip side for one project and the butterflies for another...BUT...I chose the butterflies...they just spoke so much to me! 

I played with the layout a bunch of ways, but in the end opted to fussy cut thebutterflies and the phrases out so I could make my own arrangement.

The end result is supposed to be me being moved by all these gossamer butterflies with encouraging words...

It feels right...

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Felecia

Its time for my final project from the Inside Out Inner Child kit...I'm sort of sad to see this kit go.

Its been amazing for me to get back in touch with that little scamp...I'm a very serious person who has a very difficult time joking around about myself, so this month's projects have been freeing and touching and have kept me smiling from ear to ear!

For the final project, I wanted to remind that little one that no matter what, she is so loved...loved beyond reason, loved no matter what. 

Not long ago, I re-discovered a box of photos of me when I was a child. I have been thoroughly enjoying rediscovering these shots of me...and the memories that go along with them.

These two spoke to me...spoke to what I feel like my inner child would look like if she could manifest herself for real. 

The Authentique paper with hearts is just so much fun!  And I love the striped paper as a background. I used some journaling cards and a couple of the die cuts to get a bit of layering done to frame the photos. 

I used the Faber Castell brush pen to freehand some border lines for dimension and color. 

The Fancy Pants mixed alphas are perfectly playful for a title like this. It makes me think of the newpaper / magazine cut out pictures I used to make when I was a kid. 

As is my habit, I cut of the chalkboard label into to pieces to add to both the top and bottom and provide some grounding. for the rest. 

My journaling is a simple reminder to myself...you are loved. Be at peace.

As a final project, this is probably my favorite. It definitely speaks to my heart.

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Felecia

Greetings, fellow explorers!!! Felecia here with my third project from the Inner Child kit...

This time I'm tackling my ever present dream of being a ballerina.

True to my whole modern woman I can do all things mentality, I wanted to be both a astronaut and a ballerina when I was a child.

Fatefully, my body betrayed me in both arenas...poor eyesight coupled with a very non-ballerina body means I'm neither a space explorer nor a prima.

STILL...these sorts of visions continue to occupy my mind even now. 

I LOVE the ballet...I know, I know, I know...modern ballet is treacherous, filled with individuals damaged both in body and mind due to the rigorous training and whip thin physique that is required. 

But watching those dancers soar is like nothing else on this world with the possible exception of space travel...so...

My inner child remains an amazing ballerina. 

She can do EVERY move...which, of course, makes me a PERFECT arm chair judge of So You Think You Can Dance and other assorted youtube videos. 

My approach to this particular project was fueled by finding some lovely cut out images on the web. 

I found them so lovely...so...I used them with my Cricut to cut from the beautiful Fancy Pants Flutter papers...

Then I went on a search for some old photos I knew I had of me and my sister dancing in our grandmother's living room. 

I built some color pools using a good amount of water and gelatos and then let them drip down the page as a "curtain" or backdrop.

The entire rest of the project is hand cut...no paper trimmer needed. With these projects, I really really really wanted to hand cut as much as possible so that the projects felt as though an actual child was building the layers. 

My inner child will always be a ballerina and will always be fascinated with the beauty of dance. I never want to forget this dream...not because it will ever be my reality, but because it keeps me focused on beauty and grace, on discipline and hard work, on the sometimes painful things we must endure to be our very best.

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Felecia

As I worked with the amazing Inner Child kit, I realized I probably owe my inner child an apology for shushing her all the time...

And I kind of wondered if I'm the only person who does that...It seems like the world is full of very serious people...so I can't believe I'm the only one who tells my inner child to sit down and be quiet.

I figured I owed her an apology.

I've got a bunch of old photos that my mom gave me some time ago...I recently discovered the stash and really wanted to use some of them...

My inner child looks just like that little pig-tailed blonde girl...and she is NOT allowed to stand on suitcases very often!

I am absolutely in love with the Authentique papers this month...the bright colors and graphic patterns just speak to my more playful side.

I really wanted to use them ALL together,,,annnnnnnnddddd....so I did! :-)

The pennant pieces are among the great cardstock die cuts...there are ton of great possibilities to use on your projects.

Several layouts are always framed on the wall of my office / studio...I think this one needs to be included in the frames so I don't forget to let my inner child have some time!

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Felecia

I am SO in love with this new Inner Child Kit from Inside Out.  Its absolutely in my sweet spot - both colors and theme....

My first project is a picture-less paper piecing project.

I tried very hard to find a photo of my grandparents farm - a place I spent many a summer day as a child. This is a place of very powerful and very happy memories of my childhood...and something my inner child clings to tightly.

There are lots of things I remember, but the most prominent memory is the red barn. Since I couldn't find a decent pic, I hand cut my own...

I used the  beautiful blue pen to loosely color some blue sky and built the barn on top in layers. In my mind the sky was always blue blue blue and the barn was always big. 

Sometimes its cathartic to hand cut and hand piece an image. There is not a straight line on this project...and I like it that way. I let my inner child have a little fun just cutting and pasting...seriously a very freeing process!

My inner child remembers the sweetness of summer. Now, I'm more of a spring / autumn girl these days, but I remember summer tasting and feeling so amazing.

When my imagination runs to that place, its larger than life and hits a note in my heart that can't be reached any other way...

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Felecia

I've got one final layout to share from the Inside Out Live Your Dream kit. 

This time, I addressed a dream I only get to indulge in once in a while, but that I hope to indulge in more as time goes on - the beach.

I LOVE THE BEACH.

Its not for everyone - I get that. Some people are mountain people and some people are desert people and some people are city people. But I love the sand and the sound of water in waves and the smell of salt in the air. 

I pray to one day have a house on the water, where I can just throw open the windows and listen to the waves.

The Pinkfresh Studio paper is just awesome..I love this line!

I tried out my new layering technique again and really liked how the papers all stacked up to make some dimension.

Once again, the letters included in the kit are the PERFECT size and shape, but didn't pop for my layout...so I colored them with a teal pen and got just what I was looking for. 

I ended by splattering a little gold mist and adding some washi from my stash to make "waves" and "sand".

This one dream I hope to be living more sooner rather than later!!!

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Felecia

Hello, fellow artists!! How is everyone faring with their Live Your Dream kit???

As I explore the idea of living my dream, I have to say that I am living dreams now that I didn't even have an awareness of not so long ago.

If those who knew me 20 years ago could never have imagined me a mom who cooks and loves just being a family person.

As life has unfolded with my husband and two boys, its clear that life with these three other people is certainly living a dream...but until they came along, I wouldn't have called it my dream.

And its so amazing, because having them has unfolded other dreams, deep desires, I have...to be a good cook, to live in a way that supports their uniqueness, to be the "stay at home mom" (which is TRULY not a dream I ever expected!), to see them succeed and fail and laugh and grow and discover..all these things were never part of my original plan!

May layout is EXTRAORDINARILY simple...pictures and journaling, a title. I loved the images on this paper, and couldn't bear to hide them behind pictures, so I just cut out those that were behind my photos and popped them up with some dimensional adhesive.

I used the amazing gold pen to outline my pictures and underline my journaling to give it a bit of pop. 

I wonder if you've got any dreams that have unexpectedly unfolded before you. Have you awakened one morning to find that you are really in the midst of a dream unfolding and it is not at all where you anticipated being?

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Felecia

One of my most exciting dreams that I have the incredible blessing to live is designing for Inside Out. I have to say that there would be a LOT less of me in my own pages without this amazing company. 

And I also have to say that the monthly themes get a lot more of ME onto the page. I really enjoy thinking through each one and determining what is important to me about each topic. They stretch my creativity too because the products are not products I would normally purchase for myself. (Lets face it...my world is filled with boys and most of my scrapbook work is about them!) 

So...THIS is most certainly living a dream for me - a creative dream that stretches me, fills my soul, breathes new life into my art and helps me to get me in those pages...I couldn't ask for a more rewarding opportunity!

I really just wanted to showcase this amazing paper...so I just painted a bit of white paint to mute the background.

I've been learning and experimenting with a more free-form layering technique and gave it a shot here with both the A and B sides of the Webster's Pages papers plus a little bit of cardstock. I LOVE how it turned out - dimension and color that still fits into my pretty clean style. A little paper clip form the kit draws your eye to the picture.

Of course, I had to throw in some shiney bits - so I just color matched a few sequins here and there to pop the background.

The letters are such a magnificent shape, but the colors didn't pop when I tried the title...so I colored them black with a marker to make them stand out. This actually worked well for me on another layout as well.

Artistic endeavors are soul filling and I'm extraordinarily blessed to get to do this with a company that is really focused on healing, exploring and filling our souls through art...Its a once in a lifetime gift!

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Felecia

I had mentioned in my post from July 23rd. that I was heading to California to do a reunion concert with some folks I sang with many moons ago...

How amazing and timely that we would get the amazing Live Your Dream kit for THIS month so I could document my amazing trip!

I had so many ideas for this kit...I was really bursting at the seams to do some layouts!

So in this one, I just really wanted to get the memory of doing one more show with these guys out on paper. This is something I have thought about often over the years. 

It was AMAZING fun to be with these guys and meet the families they have all grown over the years, to see the kids I've not seen since they were toddlers and to meet the new kids.

I love each and every one of them so much and it was an exciting and heart-filling trip. 

THIS was my dream once...to be a singer in a rock-n-roll band. It still feels very natural after all this time and once I got a few songs down the road, it didn't seem like any time had passed...

Well...except the high notes just aren't what they used to be. 

I really wanted to convey how amazing and fun the event was!  The colors from this kit are just out of this world and it was EXACTLY what I needed for these pics. There were a lot of pictures, but not enough to really do a double page layout any justice, so I printed them all in the three inch range and clustered them together for effect. 

The horizontal bands of color give focus and organization to the pictures and the journaling without diminishing the fun and exuberance. 

Not to mention the journal card sentiments and the stickers...oh! Just perfect! I cut the sentiment out of one and anchored my title with it. 

A friend told me when I was contemplating this reunion that sometimes you just can't go back. I think in many ways, he's right...but THIS was not so much a going back as a moving forward with new peace and love for the people I did this with once upon a time.

Sometimes Living a Dream means giving an old dream new life in a new form and with a new heart and new eyes.

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Felecia

Sometimes you just have to remind yourself in the darkness to hang  your own twinkle lights...

This Webster's pages Stargazing paper from the Happy collection really made me want to be IN it...under the twinkle lights, the hanging mason jars, in a beautiful blue sky...

it just so happens that the Shine kits layouts were being done in a time that wasn't feeling all that bright and beautiful for me. 

So, the idea of being under the twinkling lights in my moments of being overwhelmed and feeling like I was never going to reach the end of my challenge seemed really appealing. 

I just knew I wanted to use this paper to do a project without really doing much to the paper. 

I found a journaling card with three more little jars, so I gave them some dimension

And a few fireflies...

I added some Stickles to the twinkle lights and voila...

My own peaceful starry night...

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Felecia

As you read this, I will be on the west coast, soaking up the sunshine and participating in a long planned reunion of some of my old music friends.

I am so excited for the opportunity to get to sing with the folks who were really my first foray into singing the way I dreamed - as a rock singer.

Singing is something that always made me feel like shooting star - even if it was in the dingy rehearsal room at the back of a old building in a little old suburb San Bernardino, CA. 

Something else that has always made me feel like bright and amazing is being weird.

I don't know that I necessarily flew my weird proudly most of my life...I've always KNOWN I was not quite like the other kids...

And I've been fairly comfortable with that most of my life...

But in all honesty, being my own unique self is something I've gotten happier to put out there more recently...I've gotten braver about being authentically weird and geeky.

I sort of stumbled upon Andrea Balt in my internet browsing...Pinterest click here, link click there, and suddenly I'm on a site about art and writing and glorious shining creative weird vulnerability...and I was in love. 

She inspires me to shed the expectations of others and really drill into who I was made to be. Its awesome.

I found this poem on her site and I'm perilously in love with it. 

What if...what if truely being a shining light, a city on a hill, a lamp to others means embracing that nothing is wrong with me. RADICAL.

Absolutely loved finding a pic that was "weird" for this one...and setting it up on the gorgeous Bokeh paper was just perfect for the theme. 

I did a few different things with this layout. Firstly, I used the tear off portions of the paper for border strips on the bottom. Love using up the little bits.

I did a letter / die cut title mix up. That's not my usual style, but these letters are so amazing...and I had to use the gold transparent "beautiful." 

Finally, I used pieces of the packaging in the layers...it fit the color scheme so beautifully, and the shape fit what I wanted, so in it went!!

I sort of embraced the things that my design brain said "no don't do that" to...and it worked out in such a great way!

Peace, ya'll!