Behind the Art with Melissa

Can you believe it is already the end of the year? Forget end of the month... in just a short amount of time, we're going to beginning a brand new year. Mind boggling.

Before we close out the month, I've got one more page to share with you using the Authentic kit.

This page is all about recording how refreshing it is to have friends in my life who I can be my true, authentic self around. In fact, they bring it out in me. That's legit friendship right there.

 I wanted lots of linear strength for this page. When I read the title, I think about rap music and how it's "in yo face". My friendships can be summed up like that. We're real. Usually up to no good. But, more importantly, it's legit. There is no wishy washy, are you really my friend business.

So this layout is very clean. Very bold. Straightforward.

Just like my friendships.

The heart stencil in the kit, I truly loved. But, I decided to do something with it I've not done before. I traced it and then it became a physical part of my page. There is a bit of symbolism with that, too, I suppose. I know I won't be able to use that stencil again but, it's permanently part of a layout that packs a punch for me. Making friends didn't always come easy to me and now, the ones I find legit, are the ones I cling to. They hold a piece of my heart. And I wanted to literally attach that stencil to my page to symbolize that.

Thanks for swinging by today! 

Get ready because it's just about that time for a new visual journaling kit! I'm excited for you all to see it and learn about it!

Behind the Art with Melissa

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas week!

I am trying not to stress too much about all that needs to get done but, I am definitely staying busy. That's for sure!

Today I'm sharing more about this journaling page:

When I think of Authentic... I think of something that is one of a kind. It cannot be replicated. It's the Real Deal. And so, I wanted to create a page that focused on who I am, when it comes to being one of a kind.

During the teen years of my life, I didn't want to be authentic. I think many of us can relate to that time of life... we wanted to be cool, accepted and have lots of friends. So, that usually meant observing what others were doing, wearing and copying that.

Well, thankfully, as I've grown into adulthood and have worked through those identity issues, I love embracing the REAL ME.

Some of the symbolism I brought into this page were the polaroid cut files. I used pattern papers from the kit to matte the polaroid frames. I love the colorful patterns and how they capture my personality. Colorful. Fun. One of a kind. I used some doilies from my stash because I love the feminine quality they portray. They aren't included in the kit but, are something you can still easily add or make on a die cut machine.

I also included the resin camera piece on this page. It kind of goes with the polaroid and "capture" aspect. We like to capture visual memories with a camera and so, I wanted to use that as a way to express wanting to visually capture this thought I have about being my authentic self.

Thanks for swinging by today! 

Make sure to stop by our kit page if you are ready to buy your own visual journaling kit. What better time to begin? Give yourself a gift this holiday season and explore your inner world with us.

Behind the Art with Jen

Jen here with one of my December pages using the "Authentic" kit!  When I thought about the word "authentic", I had to think of this photo of me reflected in the window of a building from the early 1900's.  There is a historic collection of buildings in Hamilton, NY that I visit each year while at a scrapbooking crop at White Eagle Conference Center.  It's sad and gorgeous all at once.  The buildings have been moved here and they are arranged in a town-like setting.  It's like a piece of history that has been abandoned. Remnants of life is still present... curtains, wallpaper, kitchen items, toilets, carved initials and other items left in the buildings. It like when our bodies become older with all their cracks and chipped paint but with traces of our lives left behind.

 The word authentic means: true to one's personality, spirit, or character.   I think that is why I love old buildings ... they still have their character and personality even when restored they hold all the charm they held so many years ago (unless the restoration was more like a renovation).

 I used some watered down Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos on a craft mat and pressed the woodgrain cardstock into the puddles for a background.    The pen was used on the mat too with water added and flicked on the page for droplets.

 I think we are a lot like buildings who age.. maybe we should look past the cracked paint and see the story of the life lived and character of the person within.  Judging something based on how we look is deceiving. I try to be as authentic as possible but it's strange to see changes in my looks as I age and each line tells a story in my journey of life. 

 What does your facade say about you?  What stories do hold within?

Behind the Art with Melissa

To me, being Authentic means you be your true self 100%. 

There is no one else quite like you.

You embrace the characteristics of your personality. Your mannerisms. Your opinions. Your faith. Your likes and dislikes. Your quirks.

We're all one of a kind. 

Back in my school days, I took issue with that. I didn't want to be one of a kind. I wanted to fit in. So, I adapted to other personality types. That included what I believed it. I experimented. I said I believed in certain things to fit in.

Now that I'm all grown up and have lived through those crazy years, I don't care about fitting in when it comes to my faith. 

For me, seeing the result of my life thus far, makes it easy to not apologize for what I believe in. I won't hold back. I won't keep silent.

I might lose friends. (Yeah... that hurts deep down...)
I might create debates.  (I actually enjoy those.)
I might be admired.

And I think, because I've reached this conclusion of not apologizing or trying to "fit in", it enhances my authenticity.

When it comes to the design aspect of this page, I really love layering and combining patterns. It doesn't always take on a symbolic role for me. And I don't think it has to. Sometimes I just like to play with colors that I like to create a pretty page. This page is one that I wanted to have fun with. There is almost a snarkiness to it as I declare "NO APOLOGIES". 

I included the transparency in my layering because I actually do like the symbolic nature it brings. Because I won't hide my beliefs... there is definitely a transparency there. 

I added the doilies from my own stash because I just love the femininity and softness they add. It was the perfect addition to help balance out this bold, somewhat sassy page.

Is there a piece of YOUR authentic self that you are not apologetic about? Grab a kit and express yourself on a visual journaling page! 

Behind the Art with Felecia

Hey, everyone!

Today I'm sharing my first layout from the amazing December AUTHENTIC kit from Inside Out. 

Let me BE authentic and say...when I first opened up my December kit, I thought, "This thing is gorgeous..and I NEVER use these colors...what am I going to DO with this?" 

See, I scrapbook BOYS in the majority of my layouts...heavy on the blue and orange and red. Its my sweet spot. Maybe not so much because those are the colors I love, but because they make my scrapbooking very very easy with all those boy pictures.

But here...here I have this AMAZING pallet of pink and aqua and yellow and this fantastic green and light gray...and oh, my its so stunning and , oh, my, I was so overwhelmed. 

So, talking to myself, I said, sort of under my breath, "Authentic...what does authentic mean to me?"

And one of those BOYS (the older one who is a smarty pants) says, "Its the REAL DEAL, Mom!" 

The real deal...the real deal...I turned that phrase over and over in my head for a bit...and thought, I have a lot of "the real deal" in my life...and it isn't pink, aqua, yellow, and green...where do I go with that?  

And honestly, the same smarty pants boy told me to him the "real deal" was his good friends. 

Me too. 

I have but a handful of "real deal" friends, though I attempt to surround myself with "real deal" people on a consistent basis...

These two...they just love me and my family for exactly who we are...our authentic selves. 

I unabashedly LOVE those circles! As you have well figured out by now, my art is not fussy. So to fussy cut all those circles..that has to be love right?  

Plus I was watching an episode of NCIS and cutting circles seemed like a great thing to do while I watched my episode.

These beautiful women are always there for me, any day of the week, thick or thin, no matter what I have going on. 

The layers of circles, these represent my life...and those beautiful pink splashes of mist (from the Fireworks mist included in the ENERGY kit) are perfectly messy.

To add to the feeling the title, picture and journaling are all askew...sort of like me!  HAHA!

I love how this kit challenged me to think outside the boxes I've created for myself in my art. It forced me to really think about authenticity and how much I avoid things (like colors) that are not easy for me.

That's some good stuff!!

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Melissa

Hi everyone,

I'm sharing with you my first page created using the December kit AUTHENTIC.

It's such a beautiful kit and I just loved exploring that word and how it applies to my identity. I swear I learn so much about myself each month. That is the beauty of our approach here at Inside Out.

I love layering. I love taking different patterns and colors and piling them on top of each other. I love the symbolism it exudes, as well. Like that old metaphor of peeling back the layers of an onion... so is the same about the layers of our soul and who we are. I like my layers to be bright and colorful! Not to distract but to entertain and provide enjoyment.

The journaling on this page is short but definitely reflective. I definitely do care what people think about me but, it doesn't hinder me from being the true me. I am goofy. Spirited. I let my dork flag fly. And I'm not afraid to use dorky photos of myself on these pages.

Because it is who. I. Am. And I hope, that later in life as I share these pages with friends and family, they can have a giggle and knowing nod as they read about me.

I used the days of the week stickers by WRMK on this page because I want to be the real me everyday. It's such a weird and conflicting thought process as I wonder what others think of me... and still not caring... in a way. 

For this page, as I recorded this aspect of Authentic, I just wanted it to be simple and to the point. I'm a goof. I want to make sure you know I'm a goof. And that's just the way it's going to be. I'll wonder what folks think of me. I'll want them to like me. And it will bother me for a few seconds if they don't. Because I've worked really hard on myself over the years and I love that I'm in this place of caring... but really not caring. 

I know... it's a strange thought but I hope someone out there can relate. :) 

Welcome to Authentic You

It is December and we are ready to reveal the latest visual journaling kit.

http://www.scrapbookingfromtheinsideout.com/inspiration/kits/authentic/

This kit is all about recording the real you. Words that come to mind are genuine, real, one of a kind and legit. Through out the month we will explore how you find yourself authentic; what characteristics do you feel you possess that make you genuine. Embrace the true YOU because YOU are valuable. 

We've got lots of wonderful, latest and greatest, product in this kit:

Select papers from Jubilee Sherbet by My Minds Eye and It Factor by We R Memory Keepers.

Embellishments from It Factor and Jubilee Sherbet and so much more!

Take a look at a few pages from our very talented pool of Contributing Artists:

Contributing Artist: Felecia Krech

Contributing Artist: Jen Matott

Lead Contributing Artist: Melissa Elsner

Contributing Artist: Stacey Michaud

We hope you join us this month as we explore our inner worlds together. Grab your kit today while they last!