Behind the Art with Felecia

Have you ever done a project that you loved...but not really so much?  This is one of those projects...

I love it. I love the color, the layout, the message...but I don't. 

It doesn't feel like my work - and yet it does. 

does that make sense?

Maybe like an outfit that you adore, that feels like your own skin, that is just your best go-to outfit...but its not that flattering. I'm thinking about my hot pink sweats...HAHA!

Its authentic to be authentic about a project but its not really your favorite, right? Well, that's what I'm going with anyway. 

This shot...honestly, I'm in my pjs. I have no idea what I was trying to accomplish. Its a good picture. But not. it shows all the glorious imperfections of my real, pj-wearing, messy hair, smudged makeup self...the one that sits in front of a movie on Friday nights and decompresses. 

I'm no Kim Kardashian when it comes to taking selfies. Selfies are an art form of their own, I think. Its not my art form. 

And the whole idea of selfie's seems to me to be a "here I am" exercise rather than a "who are you?" exercise. I prefer the latter. I want to engage in conversation and debate and transfer ideas. Frankly, you are just much much much more interesting to me than I am. I want to hear you...hear your point of view. 

I suppose in that way, selfies of OTHER people are good for me. but in a way they are NOT that good for me, because I want to know the REAL you...not the perfect you in that selfie that you spent hours trying to get just right. 

While exploring AUTHENTIC, this whole selfie thing was part of my exploration. Are our selfies authentic? and when they are, do we risk criticism and ridicule? Its an interesting phenomenon to think about. What are we trying to accomplish when we take a selfie?

These wonderful little cameras? I ADORE them. They are the cutest little things! and in terms of "selfie" they are a perfect embellishment. 

And truely the the picture does make me smile - for an abundance of reasons. 

I'm quite interested in how you think about selfies. or even IF you think about them? Some people never take them. Some people live for them? Do you think that selfies contribute or detract from our authenticity? I know I'm likely to take them over and over until I get something I think is flattering...how about you?

I'm also interested in the idea that we put our emotions and ideas out there into projects that maybe are not our favorite things... What do you think? 

Peace, ya'll

Behind the Scenes with Jen Matott

Another gorgeous kit with so much inspiration with all the little elements makes it so easy for me to get my mojo going!  Here is one of my layouts from this kit...

 

 This was the first layout I created with this kit.  I knew I wanted to create something on that black cardstock with the American Crafts Galaxy white pen and the stencil!  I started with using the Crafter's Workshop stencil to draw the "captured" word and then drew hatched lines inside the negative space areas between the letters.  I love that is is reminiscent of the blackboard trend popular now.  I also added the camera and the frames. 

   

My favorite paper of this kit was the chevron print!  I also loved the little wooden frame with the heart paper.  Some white ink drips add some artsy touches to the page.

We all take lots of photos of OTHER people... family, friends, events.  But when do you get in the photo?  Selfies have changed all that... If no one is around and I need to document myself, I selfie!  With digital cameras now, it's easy!  I feel pretty silly doing it most times but I love that I have some photos of myself at events that I might have missed being in the pictures.  Don't forget that you are important to document too!  Get those selfies taken and scrapped!  This kit is perfect for the intention to put yourself in those moments too! Have fun with it and I can't wait to see you in those photos!