Failure/Chasing Pavements - Lay It Out!

Whew!  Where did October go?!  Kai, here, zooming on by to toss out one of our challenges to anyone out there willing to take it on.  How about laying it out for Achievement, or ... rather... lack of achievement?  Here's what we're tossing out, throwing the gauntlet down, so to speak...

Failure: Is there such a thing as failing, or are you a believer that every failure is just a step on your path to a different success? Is failure a sign that you’ve actually tried difficult things? Are you quick to rebound after a failure or are you slower to recover. Has there ever been a time when you’ve closed your ears to the voices of others telling you that your failures meant it was time to stop trying? Have you ever looked back at a past failure and seen the meaning in it from the long view? What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

Please create a layout about a past failure that taught you an important lesson - either about your limits or perseverance.

For the design twist, let's explore the song by Adele: Chasing Pavements. Use anything from the song OR song imagery in your LO:

http://youtu.be/Wdtz0GRqKng

I've made up my mind, don't need to think it over
If I'm wrong I am right, don't need to look no further
This ain't lust, I know this is love

But if I tell the world, I'll never say enough
'Cause it was not said to you
And that's exactly what I need to do if I'd end up with you

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?
Or would it be a waste even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there?
Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?

I build myself up and fly around in circles
Wait then as my heart drops and my back begins to tingle
Finally could this be it?

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?
Or would it be a waste even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there?
Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?
Or would it be a waste even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there?
Should I give up or should I just keep on chasing pavements
Should I just keep on chasing pavements?

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?
Or would it be a waste even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there?
Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere? 

Are you willing to take up this challenge?  If so, let's see your result!  Post it in our challenges gallery.  While you're over there, check out our other challenges and see what tickles your creative bones.   Hey, you might even win some goodies for your effort!

Weekend Layout Inspiration - Back to School

Happy Friday! It's a lovely day here in Santa Monica, a perfect 70 degrees, but there are signs of autumn. Nippy nights where you snuggle under the blankets are upon us and I'm feeling moved to break out the down comforter that's been in storage all summer. And maybe a new duvet?

This is on sale at West Elm and I'm thinking this would work beautifully - time for a little renewal...

Even though our bed has a chocolate finish, the modern lines and green wall should meld nicely.  This is a stock photo, but you get the idea.

 This is the paint color - still love it after 10 years! It's a bit darker in person.

I do tend to use a lot of the same colors in my favorite layouts...do you? These home decor color appear in our latest kit, ACHIEVEMENT.

And yes, leaves do fall in Southern California. Proof:

Bigleaf Maple is native to the Pacific coast from SoCal to the Pacific NW. This is on my street! Right next to a lot of California Fan Palms.

Just makes me feel like all the best memories of fall. I remember the excitement of new clothes for back-to-school, the sound of crunching leaves under my feet, and all the possibility that was ahead.

So many more layouts, and three new ACHIEVEMENT challenges are up on our gorgeous brand new website...come see! Scrap about what you've already achieved and what is in your plans.

Enjoy this beautiful fall weekend and all there is to achieve in your future.

Love,

My Bartie-Boy as a baby - he loved fall too!

Lay It Out! - Fulfillment/Distance

Ready for another challenge?  Let's swing on back to the topic of the month: Achievement.  Join us with this first challenge.  Scrap your thoughts, use a self-portrait or a stock photo (or no photo!), incorporate the design twist and then post it in the community gallery at Inside Out for a chance to win some goodies!

Ready?  Here's your first Achievement challenge:

Fulfillment: What makes you feel fulfilled in your life? Do you create goals to achieve that are different in your personal life and your life outside the home? Do the two conflict with each other or are they symbiotic? Are you someone who longs for something different than what you already have? Does fulfillment in your life depend on acquiring something or someone, or are you at peace with what you have?

For our first challenge -

Please create a LO about your level of fulfillment. Are you in possession of that which you need to be fulfilled, or is it far from you?

For the design twist, please surround yourself with your fulfillment or separate yourself from it. 

I sure hope you play with us.  Sign up (it's free) to our message boards to gain access to the gallery and show us your interpretation... just lay it out!

Goal Setting in your Layouts - and a Chance to Win ACHIEVEMENT

As your week draws to a close, do you feel that you accomplished everything you set out to do in the past seven days? How about the past month, or year? We all set goals for ourselves in different areas of our lives. And if you’re like me, you struggle with reaching all your goals because there are so many great things to create, so much you can become, and so little time.

My new blog post is up over at the Creating Keepsakes Blog today. It's about goals reached and opportunities missed...and how to be gentle with yourself about where you are in relation to your goals and dreams, loving yourself as you are right now. 

Her are some sneaks of the LOs you'll see. Make sure to head over to the CK blog for your chance to win the ACHIEVEMENT kit.

For more ways to win, come over to our beautiful new site and go the Community drop down to sign up on the Message Board. We've got meaningful, thought-provoking challenges all month with more chances to win great scrappy prizes.

What are your cherished goals?

Love,

The ACHIEVEMENT Kit is LIVE

(in case you're wondering where the monthly post is with last month's content...it's not here...it's on our BRAND NEW SITE! Click here to access what you need to keep working on BALANCE...and shortly, all our previous themes will be there. Stay tuned!)

And now...

Welcome to October and ACHIEVEMENT!

Our October kit, ACHIEVEMENT, is all about reaching for the stars, becoming who you are meant to be and working hard to have all you dream of. How do you measure success? Is it internal or defined by external approval? What are your proudest accomplishments, what defeats have you overcome and what would you like to master?

This kit has a great back-to-school vibe that's modern, symbolic and fun. Explore your childhood, those slumber party memories, late night study sessions and more. Plan for your future and set up steps toward your cherished goals.

We’ve included paper from Basic Grey’s Oxford line, filled with autumnal and fashionable plaids with a whimsical touch of nerdy fun and My Mind’s Eye’s quirky Lime Twist. You’ll fall for the warm, cozy color palette of burgundy, sage, oatmeal and brown.

Embellishments galore bring in rich florals, stitching and metal. Wide ribbon trim, a regal wax seal and a layered bow tie are fun ways to go back in time while staying current! Lily Bee’s sought after Memorandum journaling cards, lots of buttons, fabric brads, label stickers and titles let you express yourself with honesty.

Go for the gold, attain your desires and believe in what you can become.

Join us and Explore Your Inner World.

Click here to go to our BRAND NEW easy to use Buy Page. Our subscriptions start at $39.99 for a perfect kit, no sneaky add-ons needed, and fabulous free gifts with your order.

10 Sheets Double Sided Patterned Paper:

• My Mind’s Eye Lime Twist Out Of The Blue Boy Spots           
• My Mind’s Eye Lime Twist Out Of The Blue Playful Number           
• My Mind’s Eye Lime Twist Out Of The Blue Remember Argyle           
• Basic Grey Oxford Ivy League           
• Basic Grey Oxford Rowing           
• Basic Grey Oxford Fencing           
• Basic Grey Oxford Deans List           
• Basic Grey Oxford Study Hall           
• Basic Grey Oxford Preppie Plaid           
• Basic Grey Oxford Debate Team

2 Sheets Specialty Paper: 

• American Crafts Nightfall Night Owl (Chalkboard Finish)
• My Mind’s Eye Lime Twist Out Of The Blue Remember Dots (Die-Cut)

Embellishments:

• American Crafts Thickers Maple Chocolate           
• Basic Grey Oxford Alpha Stickers           
• My Mind’s Eye Lime Twist Out Of The Blue Remember Title           
• My Mind’s Eye Lime Twist Out Of The Blue Smile           
• Basic Grey Oxford Buttons, 10-11 Pcs
• Basic Grey Oxford Stitched Brads, 1/3 Package
• Basic Grey Oxford Small Details, 1/3 Package
• My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found 2 Rosy Ordinary Label Stickers           
• Lily Bee Memorandum Index Journal Cards,            3 Cards
• American Crafts Basic Ribbon Spools Stitched Grosgrain Green 1/2", ½ Yd
• American Crafts Basic Ribbon Spools Stitched Grosgrain Brown 1", ½ Yd
• Prima Flaxence Flower, Oasis, 1 Flower
• Prima Carlotta Flower, Parrot, 1 Flower
• Prima Vermont Felt Leaf, 2 Leaves
• Global Solutions Wax Seal, Fleur De Lys 3/4 Round, Harvest Gold           
• Basic Grey Oxford Bowties, 1 Bowtie

Cardstock:

• American Crafts Pomegranate           
• American Crafts Vanilla           
• American Crafts Olive           
• American Crafts Truffle

Color:

American Crafts Metallic Blue Medium Marker

Make sure to come by and join us on our message board for inspiring challenges, fun and camaraderie!

Love,

The Brand New SFTIO!

I could not be more proud to celebrate the launch of our fantastic, beautiful and easily navigable new site! 

Our New Site

There's so much more excitement to share soon...including the reveal of our October kit:

Achievement 

Come on by and say hello!

Much love,

Rachel