Behind the Art with Melissa

Hello everyone,

I would like to be your living testament to what it's like to make your dream reality. Is there something burning deep inside of you that you've wanted to do? Perhaps you've caught yourself daydreaming about a certain possibility and just haven't taken the next step.

Well ladies (and gents if you're out there), I'd like to push you off the cliff of daydreams and longings. Just go for it! Don't let fear stop you. Don't let others voices of negativity hold you back. You know yourself better than anybody and if you've got a dream that just isn't leaving you alone then you best be trusting that gut and following through.

I am living proof that doing so is the most exhilarating and character growing action one can make. 

Well yeah Melissa, you say, but what if I do that and it all falls flat. 

Then it does.

What, you say, are you serious? My life will be over!

No it won't.

Whatever lady, you say.

Listen, let me tell you a little bit more about my perspective with this - life is too short to not take that first step. 

Will it always end up exactly how you envisioned it? Nope. 

Are you going to get some scraps and bruises along the way? Quite possibly.

But, the beautiful part of it is that you will gain confidence. You will become stronger. You've got to choose that, though. It's all a matter of how you choose to handle it!

For me? I finally learned to grow. Sure my dreams may have not lived up to my expectations. Sure, I may have been ready to give up almost as quickly as I put them into motion. Sure, I had people tell me I was crazy or not giving it enough thought. But, you know what gosh darnit? I tried and learned and grew as a woman. And that's a pretty beautiful thing!

I love this kit Live Your Dream. 

LIVE YOUR DREAM. Live it! Don't just imagine it. Freaking live it woman! You totally can.

I loved this photo I found with the feet next to the cliff. How scary, right? Have you ever gone cliff jumping? It's so scary but, the adrenaline and feelings of conquering something huge are sooooo much bigger than the fear. That few seconds of fear dissolve so fast after the jump is complete. 

Can you think of any dreams you want to set in motion? Grab a kit, use our prompts and imagery to record those dreams. But, don't just leave it on the page.

Go out and make it your reality!

Behind the Art with Melissa

 It's happened numerous times.

"Wow, Melissa. You are really brave!"

In the past, when I have heard that, I scoff and deny.

"No way... I'm just doing what I'm suppose to be doing."

Well, there came a point in life where that switched for me. No more denying! Yes. I am brave. I've made some tough decisions in life. I've taken risks. Sure I was nervous and a little afraid but, the fact that I took those steps anyway definitely makes me brave!

Fear doesn't hold me back. Life is just too dang short to not take gutsy steps because I'm afraid.

And my life is all the more richer!

I love the shields as symbolism in this kit. I don't see them as something cowardly. If you are a coward, or afraid, you run. People in battle prepare themselves for the fight. They wear the right armor and carry the shield. So, when I think of the brave things I've done in my life, I like to think I was holding an imaginary shield that warded off all the negativity. Thus, allowing me to see and experience the positive and wonderful things that were a result of my gutsy choices.

Can you say you are brave? 

I dare you.

Behind the Art with Melissa

Sometimes there is a kit that just hits me in the gut and it was this one.

The name along - RESTORE - should be a perfect indicator as to the journey my heart would be going on as I recorded my pages.

The first page I am sharing is one that records WHAT things or living objects restore my soul. What can I count on, physically around me, to continually be a source for soul restoration... the place I go to feel peace and healing. To quiet my raging mind and heart and listen to the words God wants to whisper to me.

Naturally, I had to record about where I live. I absolutely love the Pacific Northwest. I love where my little hamlet is nestled. You see those islands out there? That is the tip of the San Juan Islands. Yep... that's my back yard. I am one blessed chica! It is beautiful on a clear day! There are some amazing parks and, one in particular, that I frequent. I can't even begin to describe the overwhelming peace that flows over me when I walk out by the water.

I used a lot of the "natural" elements from the kit for this page. Browns... earthy colors... and a lot of the cork. I think, from a design perspective, it plays off nicely with my photo. And from a symbolic perspective, I love the nitty gritty it provides. Because when we do REAL restoration of our souls, you gotta strip stuff away... prime it... and make it beautiful. 

A mix of earthy, blingy and stitching... it all goes together, don't you think?

Behind the Art with Melissa

Hi everyone!

Today I am sharing more about this page:

I want to preface everything with saying that this layout, design wise, was completely out of my comfort zone. I hate black. Paint is fun but, it scares me. And I have a hard time making purple look good.

But, there is a reason I stepped out of my comfort zone. I wanted to address the word INTENSE. It has a lot to do with Energy. In fact, we have a journaling prompt about it. Check it out:

Intensity: Some of us are more intense and driven than others, and our drive changes based on our circumstances and our challenges at any given time. Are there areas in your life where you show a real intensity, and how do others react to it – are you ever ‘too’ intense? Are there both benefits and costs to being driven, and what have you given up because of your drive? Would you change anything about those choices looking back?

I have never considered myself an intense person. One thing I am learning, however, is that this is not how others view me. Necessarily. As I get older, and have more conversations, I am slowly gaining perspective on how others view me. And it's all verrrrrrrrrrrry interesting. INTENSE has never been a word that someone has described me as. However... the word PASSIONATE has crossed lips.

When I created this layout, I wanted to exude intensity. I chose the black background because it is such a strong color. By painting with white all over the background, there was no turning back with the boldness it portrayed. Add in the bold colors... here we go.

I love using layers for design purposes but I also love the symbolism they add. Our personality can be compared to an onion. Yeah? Okay so go with me here. As you peel back the layers, our character is revealed more and more. As people get to know me better, they realize that I do have an intense side of me. And, as my journaling tells you, it has to do with my faith.

If you ask me about my faith, I will go full throttle with you. Full. Throttle. I will turn red because I get excited to share my story. It's... well... intense.

It felt good to record this page for more than one reason. 1) Because I stepped out of my comfort zone in order to exude and energetic and intense layout. 2) I learned more about myself... I am intense when it comes to certain areas of my life. 3) In answer to the prompt, I don't find that people get turned off by my intensity. In fact, the opposite seems to happen. I get asked questions. Which keeps me talking. And I definitely think that's the opposite of being turned off. :)

Want more inspiration? Visit our Inspiration Page here!

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Are you ready to dive in? Grab a kit, while supplies last, here

How High Are Your Ambitions?

When I think of high hopes, I always start humming a little song from my youth.  Here, I'll let you watch what I'm talking about:

 Laverne & Shirley sing "High Hopes"

With that lovely little ditty to inspire us, let's look at our first challenge for this month's topic: Ambition. 

How High? 

What are the things you wish for that are way outside your comfort zone - pie in the sky kind of ambitions?  Are they really unreachable?  If so, what keeps your mind on those wishes or ambitions?

For an extra challenge - use this design twist:  use the top edge of your layout to show how high you wish you could go.

We'd love to see what you aspire to.  Please share with us in our community's gallery!

Journaling: Vent Session

vent¹

vent/

verb

1. 1.

   give free expression to (a strong emotion).

   "he had come to vent his rage and despair"

   synonyms:

   release, air, give vent to, give free rein to, let out, pour out, express,give expression to, voice, give voice to, verbalize, ventilate, discuss,talk over, communicate More

Sometimes it feels good to let it all out.

It's healthy too. Just think about volcanoes. It's good that they puff out steam every once in awhile. Otherwise, all that steam and such is going to keep boiling and boiling. Then, what will happen?  A huge explosion that will affect more than just the immediate surroundings.

While we should probably be careful about who we vent to and we should take care not to confuse venting with taking our frustration out on others, it's good to have a good journaling sesh.
Let the tears flow.

Let the tension ease.

It's good!

I love how our Guest Designer Stacey Michaud put this to practice. Her take on Ambition is an interesting one with this layout. While the photo is of her children and their own ambitions, if you read between the lines, you can see that Stacey used this opportunity to vent. "Just Get Along!"

If you are a mama, maybe you can relate???

For my layout, I vented in a round about way. Something that I'm getting so tired of is my laziness. No motivation. Just sheer laziness. Literally. Laziness. And I've had it! So, what better kit to let it out and make that thought public than by journaling it out on a layout.

It felt good, I tell ya! And now you all know and will hold me accountable, right?

Journaling is so therapeutic. 

Use it with the product and symbolism in our kits and you've got yourself the best visual journaling page just for YOU. 

Now... go let it all out!

Journaling: Enchantment Style

Hi everyone!

It has been way too long since our last post about journaling.

Here are the links to past posts that had us stepping into the world of adding lots of journaling to our Inside Out Layouts:

Journaling: Where to Begin
Journaling: After the Rough Draft
Journaling: The Power of the Pen

For this post we're going to go back in time. We're going to showcase how journaling plays into the emotion each month. This month, we explore Enchantment. Did anyone else suddenly find themselves going through a time warp to years past?

I sure did! I was thrown back to a time when my imagination would run wild. I would be enchanted by so many things around me. After watching Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty too many times, I would imagine the animals could talk to me and that I lived among the trees. It was definitely a happy time! Carefree. Barefoot. Hair flowing. Tiara in hand. Those were the days.

So... pen to the paper and I began to scribble.

I began to recall staying up late because I thought I heard the jingle bells on Santas sleigh. I was enchanted. 

I began to think about all those times of running through my grandparents apple orchard, pretending to be a maiden being rescued by her prince. I was very enchanted!

Pretending. Laughing. Skipping. New discoveries. 

Then, the other day as I was walking home, something happened.

It was dusk and I saw something flicker out of the corner of my eye. It scared me at first. 

Then, I saw it again... and again.... and again and pretty soon I realized what I was seeing.

FIREFLIES!

Fireflies don't really exist in the pacific northwest so there was never a reason for me to see one. Many people gasp when I make that comment so I retort with, "have you ever seen a bald eagle fly right over your head?" 

I let out a little shriek of glee. "Oh my goooosh!" Is what came out. I skipped and got really excited. 

I really hope no one was peaking outside their window because I'm sure my response was quite comical coming from a grown up. 

The minute I got home I decided to relate my childhood enchantment.... those feelings I recalled... and record the real life moment when those emotions literally resurfaced. It was so exciting! And I'm so thankful for JOURNALING. The process of recording it and now the memory is fresh and preserved. 

How perfect.

So what is the journaling advice hidden within this post? 

Let your mind wander to happy times and allow yourself to experience those moments again. Then, go record them. 

Journaling: The Power of the Pen

When it comes to journaling on our layouts, we all have our own unique approach. After the thoughts come rolling in, after the rough draft happens, it's time to place it on our layout.

Something that I love is seeing handwriting. I think that it adds a beautiful and personal touch to our layouts.
The other day, I found a bunch of letters that my grandma had written to her friends. Something stirred within me when I saw her handwriting. No one else has her handwriting. It is completely her own and, I think, the personal relationship she has with her handwriting, made it so much more meaningful.

Many of the design team showcase their own handwriting on their layouts. I love that!

Layout by Jen Matott

Layout by Lori Wilbanks

Layout by Melissa Elsner

You can see Times New Roman, Calibri and Arial on anything and everything. There is no personality to it! So here is my challenge to you - USE YOUR OWN HANDWRITING! Add some personality. Leave your mark and embrace it. Whether you hate it or love it, there is so much more value when using your own handwriting. Believe me. 

You can do it. 

Transform Yourself with a Challenge...

Our FREE inspiration page is filled with different items to poke you, push you, tickle you and otherwise inspire you.  Today we've got our first Transformation challenge to lay down in front of you.  Are you ready?

Adaptation: Sometimes when change happens around us we have to change too.  What has happened around you, or what new information have you received that caused you to adapt to a new situation and how well did you adapt?  How long did your adaptation take? Do you remember what it was like before the change that caused you to have to adapt? Did you know that change was coming? Were you scared or excited?

Please create a layout depicting a situation when you had to adapt.  For your design twist, fold, twist or otherwise adapt something on your page.

You know, I'm one of those women who never really wanted to be a mother.  So when I met my husband, and his three children, I knew my life was about to change.  Talk about adapting!  Hmmmm... time to go twist something and make a layout... how about you?   Please share your thoughts in the comments below, or link us up to your layout (or better yet, share it in our gallery!)

I'd love to see your creation(s)!

Enquiring Minds...

Maybe I'm dating myself, but an advertisement for the gossip publication "The Enquirer" keeps ringing through my head when I look at our next challenge in the topic Curiosity.  "Enquiring Minds Want to Know..."  Does anyone else out there remember that?  Those articles that always claimed to share a secret, or answer a big question.  Sometimes it was completely fabricated (although I think there are laws against that now, I still think many take great liberties), sometimes it was complete truth but so unbelievable.

Case in point.  When I was a young twenty-something, my boyfriend's brother was in an unbelievable accident.  He was driving onto a highway when a tractor-trailer clipped him.  His car flipped 90-degrees so that his driver's side was pinned up against the front of the tractor-trailer and the truck was still barreling down the highway at 55-miles per hour.  The truck drove on for another mile or so, before passing cars flagged him down and he slowed to a stop.  My boyfriend's brother was 100% UNHARMED.  His car's tires were worn down to the rims and the rims also burned away from being pushed along the highway, but that was it.  This incredible story later got picked up by the very publication I mention above, "The Enquirer".  It was written in such a way, and the images provided (characatures of the car, truck and my boyfriend's brother) made the story too incredible to be believed.  But I knew the truth and after that, I have always wondered... how much truth is in all of those "incredible" stories in those oh-so unreliable "newspapers"?

Ah, but I digress... let's look at our next challenge for this month:

Big Question/Headline

Secrets: If you could ask someone in your life a BIG question, what would it be? Whom would you you address, and what are the chances you'd get your answer? Would this person be surprised, flattered or disappointed by your question? Is there something you don't want others to be curious about in YOUR world?
Please create a layout about a question you'd love to have answered for you, and for the design twist, what would you imagine your curiosity-based question to reveal in a newspaper or magazine headline?
Style your LO like a serious news outlet, a rag sheet or a women's magazine.

I hope you share with us!  Ready?  Set.  Go!

Journaling: After the Rough Draft

Hello there!

Last month we took a moment to focus on journaling and where to begin. We discussed removing the fear of being grammatically correct. That might make some of you cringe but, in all honesty, it's something you need to let go.

The next piece of advice I am sharing this month is to allow yourself to "go there". If you have ever sat in a therapy session, your therapist has probably recommended keeping a journal. There is something freeing about letting out what is inside your head and translating it into the written word.

The same can happen with your "INSIDE OUT" layout or art journal page. GO THERE.

Layout by Melissa Elsner

I cannot tell you how many times I have ended up in a blubbering mess after spewing out all I had to say in writing. Even though I was a blubbering mess, I felt freedom. I felt healing. I felt satisfaction. I had a new perspective on the situation or the thoughts I had.

Layout by Lori Wilbanks

So here is an exercise you can do this month:

Think about the emotion of the kit you are working with. 

Get your pen and notebook ready. Or your word processor. 

As the thoughts come, let them out. Don't hold back. 

Pretend no one is ever going to see them except you. 

Of course, you probably ARE going to be the only one unless you are brave enough to share. Which I strongly encourage you to do someday. The lives you can touch and encourage by doing so is amazing and wonderful.

If you feel the emotion coming to the surface, let it. 

Joy. Sadness. Grief. Celebration. 

Layout by Nicole Martel

Wherever you are in your walk of life, I can tell you from experience, that journaling can and will be one of the most rewarding and healing things you can do. Why not begin the process using the prompts on our site? Get a kit. Use your own supplies. We're happy to support you in your journey.

Layout by Melissa Elsner

Are You A Snooper? Redact That!

The first time I ever heard someone use the term "redacted", I was clueless as to what he was implying.  Finally, after the third use of the word, I said, "do you mean 'retract'?"  He kind-of paused, and finally realized that he'd been speaking a foreign language to me.  "No," he said.  "Redacting is editing a document so that it can be viewed by the public without revealing sensitive information to the wrong people."  Or something like that.  I don't really remember word-for-word. 

I have to say, now that I know what redact means, my thirst for knowing what is under that black mark is nearly unquenchable.  As you would suspect, I often go on without any further knowledge, but on occasion, when I get lucky, I am able to snoop far enough to find out what it says.

This brings us to our first challenge of the month.  Are you the type of person who Must Know?  Does Curiosity drive you to find the answers and if the answers are readily available to you give up or do you dig in deeper and try to find a way to get the answer?  Or are you the type of person who prefers not to know... allowing that to be "redacted" and blacked out for you?

Here's our first challenge:

I don't want to know: Are there things that you'd rather stay in the dark about -where you might be curious but are afraid of what you might learn? Did curiosity really kill the cat...can you (or have you been) too curious and gotten in trouble? Perhaps a little internet snooping...anyone? Be honest...
Please create a layout, mixed media creation or art journal page about a situation where you've searched for something you'd rather not have, or something you don't want to know about...and for the design twist black something out FBI style.

I would LOVE to see what you come up with... that is, if you don't mind me snooping into your thoughts.  :)  Please share it with us in our gallery or link it up in the comments below to your blog or photo sharing site!

Happy snooping (or redacting)!

Is it... Destiny?

I'm baaaaaaack!  It's time to dig deep with another challenge.  Is it Destiny? 

source

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!

Destiny: Do you think your future destined or planned before you were born? How much control do you believe you have over your future? Are you fated to achieve certain things, or face certain difficulties? What, if anything, do you do to maintain a positive attitude about your future? Has something come your way that felt like it was destined all along…meant to be?
Please create a layout about something that you thought was meant to be. Were you right?
Let us know by using MEANT TO BE in your title with punctuation that tells the story. 

Hmmm... this is a good one.

I once had a psychology professor in college who started his class with a "debate" on free will versus predetermination, or destiny.  This man was quite irritating, by the way... someone whom, to this day, I would be happy if I never crossed paths with.  He was very emphatic in his debate and very strongly argued "for" predetermination.  "You have no choice in life, everything is predetermined."  He would get so forceful in his argument that he made several people heat up and get angry and I witnessed at least one girl crying after he cut her down.  And then, he'd end the lecture with, "but I do believe in free will."

I struggled with the course.  It was a tough one, and he was a hard person to learn from.  Sad for me, I ended up not getting the minimum grade needed in order to count toward my major course of study.  So, I had to retake the class.  HE was the only professor who taught this subject, so I found myself, once again, sitting in his classroom on day 1, listening to him expound on free will versus predetermination.  Beyond irritated at this point, I was ready for this "new" course.   This time I came prepared and I argued against him until we were at an impasse.  He was clearly not "pleased" as he truly enjoyed pounding his argument for predetermination into the ground.  Perhaps he was "studying" our reaction, psychologically speaking.  After all, he was a psychology professor.  Me?  This second time through his course, I spent a lot of time arguing against him, when he would wander off the course topic.  I remember being extremely satisfied once when I made him speechless with some of my retorts.

To this day I often question if he passed me because he didn't want me to return to his classroom again, or if I really did learn the subject.  Regardless, he taught me a lot about free will, and destiny.   And even if I struggled with the subject he taught, that man taught me more about debate, psychology of personal interactions and choice.  Maybe nearly failing his class the first go-round had a purpose.  It was my destiny to re-take the course and really learn from this man who, in general, just irritated the crap out of me.  Was it meant to be?

Looking forward to seeing/hearing your take!

Journaling: Where to begin?

Perhaps one of the most valuable components of our "inside out" layouts is the journaling. We can bring product, symbolism and photos into it all we want but it's the words that add that final piece of value.

Layout by Melissa Elsner

Sometimes, though, I find myself at a loss for words. They are there. Right at the tip of my tongue. I can visualize the pictures but the actual words just won't come out.

What do we do when we have "journaling block"? Well, I'm going to share with you some thoughts, ideas, suggestions and exercises that will, hopefully, help you as much as they have helped me.

Layout by Diana Brodeur

#1: Remove any fear of being grammatically correct.

All you English majors out there, I know this is hard for you. Punctuation and all the other rules of language are very important to you. Good for you! We all have our strengths, right? Well, I am not an English major and I'm sure you have noticed that in this blog post already. 

But seriously, get over the fear of "sounding smart" or having the comma in the appropriate place. It doesn't matter. (No it doesn't English majors!) It is YOUR layout. These pages are your visual journaling pages. 

Layout by Jen Matott

Here is an exercise for you to try: 

Take out a sheet of notebook paper. Look at our emotion for the month - FORTUNE. What comes to mind? 

Write it down. 

Keep going and see where the words lead you. You might be surprised! Then, you can copy what you write or use that notebook paper on your layout. Fold it up and tuck it behind something for some hidden journaling. 

This exercise has helped me tremendously when I think I have "writers block". The pictures and visuals floating around in my head, soon become actual words and I'm able to get it all out. Process it. See it in words and enjoy the process of this sort of therapy.

Layout by Lori Wilbanks

It's amazing what this simple exercise can do. It seems so easy - almost trivial. But I dare you to try it out.

Other tips?

Don't worry about your handwriting. I can tell you that finding old notes that were handwritten by my great-grandmother were such a special find. It was so cool to see how she wrote. I find it so much more personal and personable. Of course, there is truly nothing wrong with typing what you have to say. Sometimes our hands don't move as fast as our brain when it comes to holding a pen to paper. Just don't let that delete button become your best friend. :) 

Oh, and did you notice that there was not a "#2 rule"? That will come next month as we continue to chat about journaling on our Inside Out layouts. 

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!