Behind the Art with Melissa

Hi everyone,

Today I am here to share the fourth and final page using the June kit I Am.  I have loved this kit so much. It's been liberating to use the topic of I Am to declare certain areas of who... well, I am!

This final one... I decided I wanted to create a layout that took on the characteristics of a manifesto. Inspired by the "I Am" stickers, I pictured in my head, listing out different descriptive words that would declare who I think I am. I wanted to own them and then, live them out.

So here it is... My Manifesto...

One of the many reasons I love our kits is that I can create pages for my private album and I can also create pages, like this one, that I'll hang on my bedroom wall. It will be up where I can see it everyday and remember all the things I am.

Thank you for joining me this month! July is right around the corner and I'm looking forward to sharing more with you then! 

Behind the Art with Melissa

Hello everyone and happy Tuesday!

Since the beginning of March I've been on a bit of a health revolution. Basically, I got tired of feeling like crap. I got tired of being fat and feeling like a glutton. I felt lazy and like time was just passing me by. I do not want to live life that way!

So, on March 1 I, along with a few friends, did the Whole30. I began to exercise more, walk with purpose, lift weights and worked on strengthening my core. I learned more about food and how my body reacts to certain foods. I learned that feeling healthy and amazing is more important than losing inches.

The photo on this page is from my very first 5K. While it's not a huge distance to some, it was a big deal for me. Where I live, we've got lots of hills and rough neighborhood roads.

I did it, though. And I felt so good when I finished. I still remember the emotion that came over me when I saw the "Finish Line" sign. Holy cow.

Since that time, I've continued eating the same way and my body loves  me for it. I've watched inches disappear and so many other good things happen. The latest was jean shopping and buying TWO sizes smaller than the size I was wearing. WHA???

I used the diction and word stickers to do my journaling. I love the look and I love how they exude exactly what I want to say.  I grabbed a doily from my stash to back the journaling. 

I am on a journey to health and loving every minute of it!

Behind the Art with Melissa

Happy Tuesday!

Melissa here with a page using the June kit I AM.

Lately, I've been writing a lot about identity. I have the honor of teaching women at my church and it's a joy to walk with them as they embrace who they are and who they were created to be.

This has had me recalling moments in my life where I struggled with who I was. Because I was having a hard time, I experimented with all sorts of labels and even embraced labelling myself based on some bad things that happened to me. The past several years have been a time of much growth and healing. I'm happy to say that those things in my past, do not define me. They don't make me who I am. Because of my faith, I've got something bigger and more amazing to cling to.

I had to incorporate hearts (self-care) and the butterfly (could there BE any better symbolism?)

I wanted the letters on top to be large and bold as a way to declare how I interpret my identity.
The bottom has lots of flowy movement... almost to mimic the pattern in the paper on the right side.

I love all the little details in this kit that helped me complete my page. From the glittery arrows to the hearts and pearls... I loved using the icons that did such an amazing job symbolizing me and recording my heart. 

I always feel like I took myself through a wonderful therapy session when creating my pages. There is something symbolic when it comes to taking out what is in my head and putting it out there on paper. With ink. Glued. To stand the test of time.

Grab your own kit by visiting us at Inside Out!

Behind the Art with Melissa

Hello everyone!

If you had the opportunity to move across the country (or world), would you do it?

What if you had nothing holding you where you currently are? With or without a spouse or children... everyone was mobile and on board.

Would you do it?

What if you were single. Pretty content. Maybe feeling a little restless.

Would you do it?

I did.

And now that I've been back home for the past 9 months, it's slowly sinking in how big of a deal it was that I did it.

I mean, I left a secure job. Sold half of my belongings. Uprooted my entire life and moved to a land I had only visited.

CRAY.

Be Bold. Be Brave. Be Me.

I found that sentiment on Pinterest and loved it immediately.  By being myself, 100%, the boldness and bravery come naturally. I find that as I become more confident who God created me to be... I can completely trust my gut when it tells me to move.

Be Bold.

Be Brave.

Be Me.

Now, get off of here and go do that something that's been tugging at your heart. 

BE BRAVE! BE YOU!

Behind the Art with Melissa

It doesn't happen often but, sometimes I like to create a page without a photo. As I was digging through the kit contents and contemplating the word 'restore', a verse kept popping into my head. I remember saying this in church, as a child, and I thought how awesome would it be to have something to hang on my wall. 

So this page was born.

And then something happened as I created it. I found myself actually stating those words. Not that I'd lost the joy but, it was kind of like a vow renewal. I was affirming something. I won't go into my faith too much here but I will say how meaningful and important it is to me. I'm not ashamed of it nor try to hide it. Instead, because of the joy I have, I love to share it! And creating this page brought so much joy to my heart.

I love spattering the sequins and ink everywhere. I love how creating these pages takes me through an emotional journey. Sometimes it tough but, in cases like this, the tears that form in my eyes are that of joy and assurance of the path I'm on!

How are you restoring your joy?

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

Hi everyone!

November is here! I love this time of year and I'm especially happy to be on the blog with you today. We have our new kit LUCKY available and it is a beauty. So many beautiful papers and elements with the perfect symbolism to express your blessings.

Today I'm sharing a layout that focuses on a couple of blessings in my life. I have a hard time using the word "lucky" because I don't think it was LUCK that brought us together. So I feel blessed.

I chose mostly items in the kit that complimented the focus on friendship. Enter the True Friend collection by Fancy Pants. 

How cute is that tag?

The colors of this collection radiates warmth and that is how I feel when I'm with my gal pals. 

I did lots of layering to create a foundation and sprinkled stars everywhere. The stars are created with a mask, that is included with the kit, and some modeling paste. 

I really wanted to embrace the playfulness and joy that is felt between me and my close friends. We have such a good time together and being with them is refreshing for my soul. 

Thanks for swinging by and I hope that you get a chance to dig deeper and check out our November kit LUCKY. Hurry before they sell out!

Behind the Art with Stacey

The minute I saw the paper with all the funky lines, I knew I wanted to make them a part of my design.  I imagined using arrows to go with the lines, creating a sense of chaos, yet balance.

That is exactly how I feel about my life as a mom.  I get my life energy from my kids.  At the same time, they drain me.  It is ironic.  A cycle that keeps turning.

I like how this page moves around.  It is a bit disorganized, quite like my life.  At the center are my two beautiful children.  That make my life a work in progress and I adore them.  I placed the heart transparency right near my photo to symbolize that they are my heart.

I used the arrows, triangles and circles are repeating elements.  I wanted the eye to bounce around the page.  I decided to make my title, Zap, for when being a mom drains me and, Bam, for when I am filled up again.

I told the story of how they affect my life energy.  Mostly, they fill me up and help me realize my life's purpose.

Behind the Art wtih Stacey

This month is all about energy.  I loved using the prompts to help me think about page ideas.  I decided to scrap about an event that gave me so much energy.  It was a unique experience that my husband and I shared together. 

We went to Sedona, AZ this past spring and it was a one of a kind experience.  We had our best day on the last night of the trip.  I don't think I will ever forget all the cool moments of that afternoon and night.

I decided to use rectangular elements and arrows to create a lot of movement on this page.  It is about the energy of the vortexes.  I think the back and forth of the lines creates a cool vibe.  I hand cut the title from a sheet of paper and grounded it with the arrow sticker.  I used the "Scenic Route" card to match the theme.

I journaled above and below the card, telling the story of the day.  We saw the most amazing sunset.  But the day wasn't about what we saw.  Instead, it was what we felt.  The energy was unbelievable.  We both felt the same sensation that God was with us.  Nature was fierce and amazing.  We were so solid. 

It was a moment that can't be put into words.



Behind the Art with Melissa

Happy Tuesday and second day of Fall (to those of us in the northern hemisphere...)

Today I'm sharing a layout dedicated to close friendships. Those friends who are like siblings... there is a tightness that is unbreakable. And if it ever did break... oooooh the heart ache.

It's those friendships that I KNOW help me thrive in life. I love how the cultivating goes both ways. A good friendship is one where each gives and takes. We both support one another and we both seek out advice, companionship, empathy, etc., etc., etc. A good friend knows when it's time to pour the wine bottle and when it is time to just sit. 

I am so thankful for the few friends I have in my life that have that "status". SO thankful. 

I did a lot of "seasoning" on this page. I wanted to sprinkle bright colors, happy faces and bold words to describe how I feel about these friendships. In my head, I think about seasonings used in cooking. Without them, the food is bland. So... you need some spice. And that's how I used the enamel dots and giant bling and smiley face. The seasoning.

I loved that I got the WOW clip in my bag. It fits perfect with this page because I truly do sit back and say "wow". I am blessed beyond measure by some amazing friendships in my life. 

More "seasoning" with a lovely transparency. Transparencies are such great symbolism to put on a page. Not only do they look great from a design point of view but, they also exude the act of being transparent. That's another quality in a great friendship. No masks. No fronts. It is what it is. The good, the bad and the ugly. 

And here is the whole page after all the close ups. That fab photo was taken the second day I moved back to my hometown.  It was a GREAT night of reminiscing and being at peace with the decision to come back. I did a grid style on the page because I also like the thought of a brick wall.

(Think the Three Little Pigs and the Bible story of the man who built his house upon the rock versus the man who built his house upon the sand.)

Brick is strong. Stable. Sturdy. It can stand the test of time. It will not crumble. It cannot be blown over by a mean old wolf. 

That's what I like to think about when it comes to my friendships.

Do you find that your friendships help you THRIVE in life? Do you feel uplifted? Have you grown as a person? It's a pretty cool feeling isn't it?

Thanks for swinging by today!

Behind the Art with Melissa

Hi everyone,

I love this quote by Katrina Kaif:

Going by my past journey, I am not certain where life will take me, what turns and twists will happen; nobody knows where they will end up. As life changes direction, I'll flow with it.

The journey of life sure is an adventure, isn't it? 

I'm at another crossroads in life and I'm hoping I'm making the right choice when it comes to choosing a direction. I don't think there is a such thing as the "wrong" direction. I think that there are easier ways to get somewhere. I think there are more scenic paths and sometimes we go the way we didn't want to go... but, there are always valuable lessons to be learned. Which, to me, means it's never wrong. 

This page is all about documenting my new crossroads. Two years ago I moved to Chicago because I felt the pull. I loved the city and I was looking forward to the new adventure. I knew there would be challenges and joys along the way. One can never predict exactly what will happen. In fact, we are usually wrong, right??? Or a little off. 

Life is good and I am moving on! I read a quote on a greeting card not too long ago that said, "Sometimes right where you started from, is right where you belong."

I'm going to be honest here, Chicago has kind of lost it's "home" feeling for me. After a visit in December to my hometown, I knew it was time to go back. And lately, Chicago has not been my friend. So, making the move back has gotten to be a very easy choice - for which I'm thankful! 

Regardless of not digging the life here right now, I will say that Chicago will forever hold a special place in my heart. I will defend it. I will still LOVE this city. I will feel part of it. It just won't be my home anymore. I pulled the gold vellum sheet because I love the sentiment of gold. It's valuable. It holds its worth. It shines. It's desirable. And I wanted to symbolize all those things when it came to thinking about my time here.

Geotags are an obvious symbolic icon, I think. They mark where you are or the location you are inquiring about. I used it to mark where I'm at and placed it next to the airplane to showcase my future move.

I had to sneak in a smiley face to showcase my feelings on this upcoming move. It's good. I'm happy. I can't wait to be near my family again!

Other elements of the kit I pulled was the striped paper and the arrow. All exude movement. And the vertical design gives off the feeling of moving up and out. All good things heading my way! 

I love how the kit themes come at the perfect time! Journaling and designing this page was so great to work through and dig deep into what is truly happening in my heart, in regards to this move.