Behind the Art with Melissa

Hi everyone!

I am here today sharing more about the last page I created using the January kit FORWARD. I thought it fitting to record a page focused on my word for the year. I love choosing a word as my focus. It usually takes me awhile to come up with something. After pondering all that happened the previous year, sometimes it's a word that would come naturally. Such is the case with my word for 2015... SOAR.

2014 was filled with transition and some ups and downs. I chose the word DREAM for that year because I didn't want to give up vision. Instead of allowing my soul to wallow, I wanted to push myself to DREAM of the impossible... and, heck, even the possible!

The latter half of 2014 has been amazing and I feel like I'm launching into 2015. It's a pretty sweet feeling! So much goodness right now. I kept having a picture of an eagle soaring in the sky. Unafraid. Looking for it's next perch. Enjoying the freedom of open wing and flying into the unknown. SOAR. It's a powerful word, in my opinion. It doesn't just mean I'm flying... or floating... it means I have my arms outstretched, trusting in the one who is guiding me... I'm relaxed... I'm free... but able to choose the destination I want to go. Power.

The reason I chose to record my word using the theme of FORWARD is because that is the direction I'm choosing to travel. Sure, looking back can be a positive experience. I don't want to forget. I definitely want to treasure the memories and lessons. But one cannot gain ground or MOVE... if they don't move forward with their life. So, while I'm soaring, I'm not looking back or flying backwards. I have my face forward... moving forward... excited for the next adventure.

Have you chosen a word for the year? I encourage you to create a page about it! Record your thoughts and goals and then, hang it on your wall somewhere. Let it be a reminder for you through out the year! 

Behind the Art with Felecia

When first I saw this amazing piece of paper form the Maggie Holmes Open Book Collection, I kept thinking about the fabulous character of Edna Mode. She is one of my most favorite characters because she has the greatest lines.

And this one came RIGHT to mind...truly we cannot look FORWARD if we are looking BACK. 

But its such a very small quote and such a large piece for a project...

So...I once again "loved" my papers and built up some layers by distressing, folding, tearing, bending, crinkling just generally not allowing them to be smooth.

I pulled out that lovely shimmer mist, plus the beautiful Fireworks mist from the Energy Kit, and some red and gold that I had on hand. 

Truly this was just a chance for me to play with the idea of Edna and this quote. Don't look back...be in the now. 

Once everything was dry, I began layering and messing until something seemed to work for me. The idea of moving FORWARD is very refreshing for me. I've lived in a bit of a spin cycle for the last few years...two small children and a crazy job have a way of doing that to a person. 

But sometimes, I give myself permission to just play around and see what happens.

I think maybe I should give myself permission more often!!!

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Melissa

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Today I'm sharing with you more about this page...

Last week I shared a page with a similar take on Forward. And while they are definitely similar, I want to point out how they differ, as far as where my mind and emotions were at, at the time of creating.

While both are capturing a "full steam ahead". This one is more contemplative. Have you ever watched a movie when the character is driving away from a location and they look in the rearview mirror of their car? Then, tears begin to stream down their face as they gain composure and face forward. That is kind of where I was at, at the time of creating this. I didn't journal about my thoughts (the glancing in the rearview mirror part...) for a reason. 

I am determined to face forward. I know there is something on the horizon and every time I let my mind and heart FEEL that anticipation, I get excited. I love the possibilities that the future holds. And, in this exact moment, that is what I wanted to cling to. I didn't want to think about what I could have done differently in the past. 

How about you? Have you decided to let the past be the past, face forward and face your future with excitement and anticipation? I'd love to hear about it!

Behind the Art with Felecia

Hello, my wonderful friends!  I am well entrenched in January and really getting some focus around how I want this year to shape up. I don't always start this process in December because I sort of like to wallow in the Holiday season and don't put a tremendous effort into starting the year with any bangs. For me at least, purposeful steps toward change make more progress than trying to change everything all at once. 

I'm a planner...sometimes to such an extent that I find myself in bondage to it, but THAT is not what this post is about! 

I love planning...I like to know what there is to do in a vacation spot, what sort of meals I should buy groceries for, how to dress for a particular day and when I need to work from home so that I can be at a school event or something.

I love lists...they make me happy. Especially the part where I get to put a check box next to one of my items and call it DONE.

I also like planning in a more vague way...goal setting, if you will, except that proper goal setting involves a date and usually mini-goals. 

But I like to put some  things out there...I want them in front of me...that way I have a direction to point myself in when the planning doesn't pan out...

So, for my second layout using Inside Out's FORWARD kit, I chose to document my list of "things to do" in 2015.

I ADORE these celebratory, multi-colored bubbles. They make me HAPPY!  I'm also experimenting with some dimension (don't everybody faint at that admission!) I want to try lifting and layering in a way that works for me and my style.

I used some gold twine from my stash and a couple of aged gold doilies. I also ran some gold mist over the beautiful numbers. 

Each layer was treated to a nice massage - some bending and edging and tearing and inking - to help create dimension and a nice platform for my goals. I really thought about these and wanted my bits and pieces to reflect that I "touched" them a lot...

My list also reflects my word for the year - simplicity. One or two words, a direction to go in, a place to focus my attention for making my life a healthier and more peaceful place to be.

Peace, ya'll!

Behind the Art with Melissa {Plus Giveaway WINNER announced}

Happy Tuesday everyone!

To get things started I'm going to announce the winner from my birthday giveaway last week.

Congratulations Heather!
Will you please email me at melissasftio [at] gmail [dot] com by Thursday, January 15th to claim your awesome prize?

Now onto the page I'm sharing with you all today, using the January kit FORWARD.

I did a couple of pages about looking forward to the coming year but, each have their own little differences in the thoughts I was wanting to capture.

At the time of creating this page, I was in a moment of pure joy. It was at that moment I realized how amazingly awesome life is for me right now and it feels like it's a result of years of patience, pain, growth, frustration, joy, tears and laughter. While I tend to fall back on my knee-jerk reactions like... "life just isn't fair!" or "this isn't going my way" and... "wah wah wah"... I have, lately and quickly, snapped out of that silly emotional ditch and reminded myself that HEY... look around you woman! Look at the things you're doing. Ponder what you've been through and how that has prepared for right now. Ya ain't got nothin' to complain about sister!

And it makes me SO excited about the future. This year is going to be UH-mazing.

It's full steam ahead for this chica... 

I don't have time to worry or fret. I don't want to waste my time with jealousy or greediness. 

I look at my life now... and notice a whole bunch of goodness has come to fruition and I'm going to keep on moving forward with what I've been called to do with JOY and THANKFULNESS!

Because life is good right now. And I need to bask in that and let my soul rest in that. As we all know, life isn't easy. It's got it's road blocks, valleys and the like... so when those moments come up again, I want to know that I truly did enjoy this awesome moment I'm experiencing.

How about you? Go creatively journal about it and hang it on your wall! Celebrate with me!

Behind the Art with Melissa {PLUS a GIVEAWAY!}

Happy Birthday!!!

Wait.

What?

Yes, you read that right. Happy Birthday to ME! I love celebrating my birthdays. I've reached a point where I'm trying not to get wrapped up in the number but, instead, celebrate the year previous and anticipate the goodness that is to come. Count my blessings and move forward in life. I think you could do the same! Right?

Sure you can!

Well, I'm not only here to share more about one of my pages BUT, I am sneaking in a GIVEAWAY! I like to give away things on my birthday. :)

Stay tuned at the bottom of this page for more about the giveaway. In the meantime, let's take a closer look at this page I made, using the January kit FORWARD.

When I think about Forward, I think about movement. Keepin' on keepin' on.

But... I think that it is okay to ponder the past too. For example, my page is documenting the thought of everything I have been through this past year - the good and the bad. The exciting and the painful. And I look at it all with optimistic eyes. Each moment of this past year was a learning opportunity. I grew, I was molded and can see the better within as I type this.

Some of the kit contents I pulled for this page were quite intentional. I used the paper that looks like darts because I like the idea of having a bullseye... a target for my future. Something to work towards this coming year and using what I have learned from the previous.

The wood because it reminds me of being raw and real. When you chop down a tree, the inside of the log reveals the trees age. I like the thought of wood symbolizing me revealing what is going on inside my head and heart. 

The mask because of the words. That's pretty literal.

And a heart because, honestly, we have to love ourselves in order to truly take care of ourselves. 

I'm so excited for this coming year! I'm excited to recall events, thoughts and feelings from 2014 and see how they relate to what is coming up. 

And with all this birthday excitement, I want to give you a gift.

The AUTHENTIC kit...

If you are not a subscriber yet nor someone who has checked out our kits, I want you to experience the amazing and liberating feeling that comes with creating from the inside out! 

This lovely gift will go to one lucky commenter who will celebrate my birthday with me! 

How to be eligible? 

I'm going to make it simple for you...

Simply leave a comment telling me one thing you are looking forward to this year. It can be anything. Make it short and sweet or tell me a story. Make sure to leave me a way to contact you (email) should you be the winner!

Bonus points for sharing this giveaway OR our current kit FORWARD on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter. Just let me know in the comments that you did that and I'll add another little notch next to your name. 

The giveaway will close on Monday, January 12th, 9 p.m. PST, and the winner will be announced with my next Behind the Art post on Tuesday, January 13th.