Behind the Art with Melissa

Hi everyone!

Today I'm going to go on a different journey. I'm going to show you a way to take the opposite of a positive theme and make it become something healing, while focusing on the "not so happy."  It's hard to go there. I don't know about you but, I prefer feeling light hearted and joyful. I don't like feeling sad. However, I have experienced the other side of visiting those emotions.

So... when we first got this kit, as a design team, I was thrilled. I love celebrating. I loved the contents. They exploded with happiness and delight. But, I've been in a bit of a funk lately. I'm exhausted. I'm homesick. I don't enjoy a couple of areas of my life. Celebrating seemed kind of difficult for me when it comes to the here and now.

There is a ton of symbolism on this layout and it was actually pretty easy to pull it from the kit. I chose some of the more calm patterns and deeper colors. 

I chose to cut out the letters for the word "Hard" to symbolize the obvious... it's hard to do that! It's time consuming. But also very therapeutic! :)  

I cut apart the chevron shapes and grouped them going in two different directions.  The chevrons going down have nothing blocking them. (Symbolism: feeling down... pond scum... depression... sadness... stress....)

The chevrons going up are blocked. There is a strip of paper up top and I used staples to symbolize that going up... is much harder. 

Tearing paper is always therapeutic! I chose to tear the paper, instead of cut it, because I wanted to show that angst. Again, I added staples to show the discomfort. When we are in that pit... in that moment of stress or sadness... it feels like we're being held back. Can you agree?

After creating this, it felt good to get it out. I stare at this layout often and I actually smile. I almost feel like the staples on this layout have made those sad emotions stick to the paper and they are no longer part of me. I took all those feelings inside me, and attached them to something else. 

I'm okay. Life is good. But, I'm so thankful for an outlet to record those moments... that we ALL go through... that aren't the happiest or pleasant.

Sometimes it's IS hard to celebrate. I'm thankful that MOST times.... it's fun and easy to celebrate. :) 

Behind the Art with Melissa

Hi everyone!

Today I'm sharing with you a layout that embraces the women in my life that I can always count on. The TRUE friends. The ones that I would invite to my birthday parties for the rest of my life. 

I used a photo for this layout from a birthday dinner that has been a favorite night... a favorite memory... one that still makes me smile and want to relive it. It was a night with women I respect, admire, would do anything for and I gosh darn hope it's reciprocated. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to call them up or take them up on an invite to hand out. 

The "glamper" paper from our kit reminded me of a camping trip with girlfriends. Naturally, this was the paper I was gravitated towards for recording a page with this photo. And I wanted this page to sparkle as much as possible!  Lots of sequins and I used some of the brighter colors from the kit too.

The reason I used the staples on this layout are two-fold. The first reason is for practicality sake. I needed a way to keep the metal embellishments down on the paper and I didn't really want to have the "glue-bleed" look underneath. The second reason is because I like how stapling can symbolize permanence... commitment... togetherness. And that's what I wanted to exude on this page. 

I love these wood pennant embellishments too! The symbolism I grabbed from these was permanence and celebration. Wood has that wonderful symbolic nature of stability and grounded-ness. I also love the pennant shape. 

Arrows give direction for our eyes. They point us in the direction we need or should go. I wanted to direct the attention to the goofiness of the photo. 

Fussy cutting! I love the words on this sign post. I love how they show that no matter what direction you take, fun will ensue! And that is how I feel about this group of ladies. No matter where we go, what we do, stage of life, etc... we'll find ways to have fun, smile and laugh. 

Here's to more fabulous birthday celebrations with these fabulous women!

Behind the Art with Melissa

Hi everyone!

This month we are CELEBRATING at Inside Out and the kit contents we have are so perfect for symbolizing that thought. I wanted to begin the month by sharing with you a layout I created celebrating something exciting in my own personal life.

If you are a sports fan, you can relate with me, I'm sure! The content might seem "surface-y" but, I'm a firm believer in celebrating EVERY celebratory moment of our life. :)

I've been a long time Seattle Seahawks fan so, you can imagine my joy this year. (That's if you keep up with American Football and the Super Bowl... my team WON!)

I can't even tell you how exciting and thrilling it was to watch my beloved team win. It's been a VERY long time coming and I felt proud to be a Washington Native. Not to mention... a TRUE Seahawks Fan. 

Have you ever experienced something like this? It may not have been YOU that won the game. You were not the one actively participating or even a coach. But, somehow, you felt the emotions deep within. I think that a lot of comes from a sense of community. It also comes from a deep connection we have with where we are from, how we identify ourselves and what we are passionate about. 

With this layout I pulled colors that went well with the Seahawks colors of blue and green. Easy peasy. :) I used the wood veneers, that are available to our new subscribers, and sprinkled them around my layout - confetti style. 

This is TOTALLY OUT OF MY ELEMENT. I like things tidy. Simple. Clean. But, I knew I wanted this layout to ooooooooze with happiness and celebration. 

I did some fussy cutting (out my element again) and cut out the pom pom banner from one of the papers by Websters Pages. 

The pops of pink stars help with the celebration and giving a little oomph to the overall design.

I guess the moral of the story with this page could be that we should never give up hope. Always believe. And then celebrate like nobodies business when the goal is accomplished. 

What Do You Treasure Most?

© Hiddenhallow | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

Guess who's here to challenge you to play?  Yep, it's time to dig deep.  Let's look at Fortune from the "treasure" perspective.  Please create a scrapbook page, art journal page, mixed media piece OR... just write some responses down to the challenge below.   Share your heart with us in our community, or below in our comments... or link us up to your blog featuring your creation. 

Ready?  Set?  Go!

Treasure: What do you treasure most in life? Has what you treasure changed through the years? Is what you love most now what you thought you would love or are you surprised? What is the thing you worry most about losing?

For the design twist, please use an image or icon that related to value or currency - maybe the sparkly green coins in the kit or a treasure chest, dollar (or pound, or local currency symbol for you) sign...

My take? 

After pondering the questions above, I had quite an epiphany.  I realize that what I treasure most, right now, is myself.  It has taken a long time to think of myself as valuable... and I certainly am.  I think I'd love to do a layout with pictures of a few other items I value, with an actual dollar sign and amount next to them, but then... a picture of me with the huge title of PRICELESS!  Yep, yep.  I think that's my direction...

Can't wait to see/hear what you come up with!