Behind the Art with Jen

Another layout to share this month... The word honesty is one that had me thinking about all the ways that I portray my life.  Marriage is usually portrayed either with warm and fuzzy affection or broken, sad distance.  It's complicated. I would like to think our marriage looks perfect and happy on the outside but the truth is:  it's difficult!  Marriage takes a lot of hard work... patience, honesty, forgiveness.

 

 I love these photobooth photos of my hubby and I at his company holiday party!  It is sweet, pretty and warm, but the truth is that we were probably arguing not 5 minutes before the photo was taken.  You don't see that in the photo, but anyone that has been married knows that a marriage ebbs and flows with a combination of arguments, hugs, annoyances, kisses, and lots of words in between.  It's not a pretty picture all the time.

 Here is a picture of my journaling.  In minimal words, I wrote about how it's hard to be understanding and know each other for better or worse.

 A favorite product of mine is texture paste. My favorite is Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft® Textural Accents Whipped Spackle. I use it on most of my projects!  It's perfect to use with the stencil or masks.  I used it with the stencil here to create some fun shapes that are raised a bit.

Just use a palette knife or popsicle stick to spread it over the stencil and then pull the stencil up and off.  It leaves the shapes raised and when dry, it can be colored, sprayed on, or left white!

I used a stamp to create more texture.  I had a handwritten text stamp and used it while the spackle was moist but not wet.

I added some of the Distress marker on it and added water to create a wash of color.   I colored on a craft mat with the marker and added water with a brush.  I used the brush to transfer the color to some areas of the work.

 

We all portray our relationships in an ideal way with photos but it doesn't tell the entire honest story.  Only our private lives know the complexity of those relationships. There are just some things that remain between the two who own them.

Behind the Art with Melissa

When it comes to honest conversations and moments where it's time to get real, I have no problem being real.  It is a pet peeve of mine when people beat around the bush.

Just say how you feel!

But, I also understand how that can be easier for some and more difficult than others. We all have different stories and personalities. I haven't always been able to be so open. There was a time where I felt lots of shame and embarrassment for a portion of my story. Over the years, I've been through therapy and, thanks to my faith, I've been able to be more open and share why I have this confidence now.

Now that I'm at this point in my life, I've come up with some rules for when it's time to get real. Especially when you are having a conversation with me. :) Here they are: Don't sugarcoat. Don't glamorize and say what you mean! 

That goes for just about anything in life. Whether it's sharing with me about your life or even something as simple as a policy at work. It just drives me nuts when people don't shoot straight with me! 

I used the graphic paper and speech bubbles for this layout because being real involves lots of talking. Right? Or lots of writing if you have to do that before speaking. Speak straight from the heart (wood hearts showcase that symbolism, as well as, the strip of paper at the bottom) and I added the metal arrow clips to show direction to the heart. 

After recording these thoughts, I'm glad to have it down on paper now. If anyone ever wants to question how I receive information... just know I need the truth and I'll give it right back. :) 

Behind the Art with Melissa

 Hi everyone!

I hope that you have had a chance to browse our Inspiration Page this month. So much to help you get started with our theme this month - Honesty.

The layout I'm sharing with you today chronicles the thought that we don't have to share everything. It's okay to have some secrets. Sometimes, I like being a mystery and there are enough things about me that only I know.

And I don't plan to share with anyone else anytime soon. :)

I chose the darker background for this layout because I wanted it to be as simple as possible but with plenty of small details. The details, in a way, symbolize how there is so much that makes us who we are. Sometimes they are the obvious, sometimes they are the things we want and are willing to share and then... there are those things that just need to stay hushed. 

I love the contrast of colors when popped on the dark background. They seem to exude LIFE and BEAUTY. Secrets and all! 

I almost feel a bit mischievous revealing that I have secrets. So, I wanted to add my own little touch of glitter. Using the papers from the kit, I created a flower that I love to create and, added a glittery brad from my stash. 

I added the banner up top for mostly composition reasons. 

So, do you have secrets too? Go ahead... keep them! Honesty can also mean just admitting you have things you don't want to, or even NEED to share. 

Behind the Art with Jen

Hi again!  It's time for me to share another of my pages this month.  This was my last page that I created but it turned out to be my favorite!  My idea for this layout was to convey my shaky confidence at times. We all have those moments where we put on a happy face even though we feel insecure inside. 

 

 I loved this paper  but needed to add some drama to it.  I used Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos® in Metallic Mint and some spray inks. I also used Gesso and Chalk Board Paint to splatter and drip. 

 

 

 The photo frames in the kit are awesome!  I wanted to use them to frame the photo of myself without distracting too much.  I loved the prints on them but after playing around with placement, I decided to turn them over and use the white side!  It was perfect and worked with this layout.  I know the prints would have worked on a quieter background but for this layout it didn't work.   I layered a few of them on the printed side but most were white.

I used the wooden tag that says "Love" and the sticker that says "my life" as a title. I do love my life but sometimes I doubt my abilities and if I'm honest, I am afraid I can't follow through with the talent I know I have.  It's hard to be confident all the time... we all have doubts and tell ourselves lies that aren't based in fact but rather fear.

Behind the Art with Jen Matott

 Hello there... Jen Matott here to share one of my layouts this month with the "Honesty" kit.  This was the first one I made this month.  I have to say that this kit challenged me a lot.  Not just with the theme but with the colors, shapes, and how to tell my story with it all.  I love each piece and even though this month's layouts didn't flow from me as easily as usual, I am happy with what came forth.  When I think about being honest on my pages, I sometimes freeze up.  Maybe it's this endless cold spell and wintery weather, but I was just not motivated this month.  It took some deep soul searching to really decide what I wanted to say.  I thought about how my mouth can get me in trouble with those I care about as well as people outside my family. 

 

 I really have a hard time filtering my thoughts... it's a curse and a blessing that I have so much fire inside me that it seems to overflow out of my mouth when I'm mad or passionate about a topic.  There are a few things that get me being honest to the point of defensive... school/ education, collective bargaining teams (unions), Art, and pet peeves (such as: people who use disrespectful names for people, leaving turn signals on, stupidity in public, and the horrors of Wal-Mart :),  guns, and crimes against women.  I can easily get very worked up about these topics and sometimes do not let others speak their mind without it turning into an argument.  I just can't help myself.  It's not all bad. I stand up for myself and my beliefs but it also makes it hard for me to listen and identify with those that argue with me.

 I have a lot of symbolism in this page.  The paper with the speech bubbles was perfect for this idea.  I liked all the different sizes and colors to surround my photo with.  My photo also was a symbol of trying to silence my brutal honesty at times.  I added the hashtag #honest because I do tend to vent on social media sites even though I know it may be to my detriment.

It has been a sore spot with my family about our differences in views on politics and business in general.  I am part of a profession that relies on unions to protect job duties, pay, working conditions, and evaluation.  As a teacher, I am protective of the complexity that is my career.  My family and some friends are part of private business and we do not always see eye to eye.  Many heated debates  have turned into arguments that end in me feeling like I should have kept my mouth shut for the sake of peace.  It's hard to keep my feelings inside when they are being attacked by ignorance or a well meaning comment.  With certain people I can't be honest because it turns into arguments because neither of us are willing to stand down from our opinion.

It's hard to know when to hold your tongue and when to defend your views.  It's never easy to find the line between defensiveness and honesty.  Apparently, I need to work on it still.

Behind the Art with Melissa

Hi everyone!

I absolutely love our kit this month! The topic is something that really challenged me. Mostly because I've just felt like I'm in a blah place. Trying to open and candid just didn't come naturally for me.

And that's okay!

Even as I type this I'm just not feeling like going deep. I'm tired. Irritated with this long winter. In desperate need of more than two days off from work. 

How's that for honesty? 

But, I'm also here to share with you one of my layouts, created with the HONESTY kit.

I recently made a decision to move back to my hometown. The move isn't taking place until the end of June but, time goes by quickly. This layout records the freedom I felt after deciding to let my boss know I'm leaving. At first, I was going to wait but, circumstances and conversation let it happen naturally. 

In hindsight, I'm so glad I went ahead and said something. I don't think I would have lied necessarily. This particular situation just shows me that it's okay, at times, to reveal certain things in life. Especially when it's positive. For some. :) 

I went with a fun banner composition to symbolize the freedom and lightness that being honest can bring. I used a lot of the natural colors from the kit because part of my sharing so early at work, reminds me that I'm grounded and being honest really can just be an act of being true to who you are.

I played with the title work of this layout too. Adding the hashtag #documented as part of the title is kind of a tongue-in-cheek for me. Since I'm on social media so often, and the whole hash tag craze has gone out of control, I thought that added to the light hearted-ness of this layout.

It seems like a simple thing to do. But, for me, this was something that I feared sharing so early because I wasn't sure how my coworkers would react. And opening up so early also means I have to live with their reactions longer. So far, so good! :)