Behind the Art with Melissa and some news

Hello everyone and happy Tuesday,

I have a fun page to share with you all today. It's one that encapsulates how I embrace my inner-child today.  There was a time when I would have had some bad feelings when thinking about my childhood. Yes, I had fun but, it also was a time of my life when some not so good things happened to me. So, it has affected me.

Up until several years ago.

After going through an amazing time of healing, I can finally embrace the good parts of my inner child. I can be a freak and do silly things and have FUN! I can break rules and "learn through my play". I've also learned the "child like" doesn't have to equal immature. I think there is a certain amount of wisdom when it comes to tapping into your inner-child. Laughter and being willing to learn and grow takes maturity and wisdom.

And that's how I want to live my life. Carefree. Being ME and not worrying about what others think. Being a wild child. Getting dirty and walking barefoot in the grass. And, yes, even breaking the rules from time to time.

I did a fun design with this page to create lots of movement and texture. I wanted it to almost be overstimulating but, not quite. And, the photo of me was perfect to include because that was a super fun moment with my Aunt. Two grown women... breaking the rules! (We didn't really stand or lean over...)

I also have some news to share. 

If you didn't know already, I have been part of the Inside Out family since July 2010. It has been an amazing 5 years of growth, creativity, building beautiful relationships and empowering others to utilize the tools of the scrapbooking trade to better their lives. I have and will always be a HUGE supporter of this approach and I absolutely love the direction Inside Out is taking. It's truly exciting.

As with life, though, things can suddenly take a different turn than expected. While I thought this would be a place I'd never, ever leave, there have been some new roles in my personal life and I'm afraid I have to let some things go. It saddens and excites me all at the same time!

So, this is my last post here for Inside Out. Thank you Rachel for being an amazing boss! I have so loved learning from you and being inspired by you. It has been an honor to be your Lead Artist and Social Media gal. I'm so glad that stepping down from this role does NOT mean I'm leaving entirely. I'll still be around social media sharing my creations and finding out the latest and greatest in this crazy industry. I'll also remain in our members group because, again, I'm completely 100% supportive of this approach and I love to be part of it and encouraging others in their journey.

Signing out,

Melissa

Behind the Art with Melissa

My main, full-time job is a Pre-Kindergarten teacher. It's a challenging job but this has got to be my most favorite age. I love when my students discover and learn about new things. It has placed me in a situation where I am constantly thinking back to my glory days. Because of that, I am always remembering to pause and play. It's okay to have fun and be excited about the simplest of things. It's okay to love with all abandon and think that every single thing is the best invention ever.

I also love that I have an excuse to play and paint and be silly. What a fantastic release of energy for me! And for my kiddos!

I think, sometimes, us grown-ups think we have to always work, work, work. But, is that really satisfying? I've decided to work AND play. To discover new things and allow my inner-child to experience new things. It keeps life interesting!

Like the other day... I skipped instead of walked down the sidewalk. It was thrilling. You should try it too.

Grab yourself an Inner Child kit by clicking on the image to the right. Let your spirit run wild and free!

Behind the Art with Melissa

I'm going to vent for a minute... 

I am so tired of people thinking that if someone is quiet, demure, poised or soft-spoken then they are so very mature. 

If you are loud, goofy, a bit of a slouch (because you kind of don't care), and maybe forget to say please then, that means you are immature.

Grrr...

Okay so, here is the deal.. I went through a period of time when I was a personality test junky. It started with the Myers-Briggs test and went from there. When I received my result (ENFP), and read the description, I was floored. And so very excited! 

Do you want to know why?

It revolutionized how I view myself. 

Yes, I'm loud. Yes, I'm a bit of a goof. Yes, I don't always sit up in my chair. NO, I really don't like to wear dresses but will if I have to. No, I don't like to be alone and yes, I love being the center of attention!

But, according to the ENFP personality profile, that is exactly how I should be and I am not immature. 

So there! Nyah. Bleh. Poo on you!

(Yeah, okay that was immature.)

What I'm trying to get at is, I feel empowered with who I am and can confidently get past others when they tell me to grow up. 

I am grown up. I have a job. Live on my own. Pay my bills. Drive myself where I need to go. Have moved away twice and did some big things on my own. I can have a deep conversation and I love sharing what I have learned from life. 

I chose to do a tilted design to showcase my defiance and love to stir things up. :) I also chose a lot of different patterns together and the alpha was too perfect.

Are you confident with your personality and who you are? Can you relate at all? Sometimes us ENFP's are so very misunderstood, aren't we?

Behind the Art with Melissa

Hello and happy Tuesday!

When I first dug into the Inner Child kit, I knew I wanted to do some exploration of my faith. There is a verse that I've heard many times, over the years, and I thought it perfect for some things I'm going through right now.

The verse essentially says to have faith like a child. This spurs on some question for me:

What is the difference between a child-like faith and an adult faith?
Does this mean I have to become naive again?
So, does this make it wrong when I want to learn more and become more knowledgeable about my faith?

The answer, for me, was simple (and I think it was simple because I'm around children five days a week) - to have a child-like faith means that I am eager to learn, eager to love and be loved, and trust with all abandon.

The stencil in this kit was so perfect for what I wanted to exude. I love the female silhouete with all the script inside. I used a pen to trace it and, let me tell you, that took forEVER. There comes a point in creating when I just want to be done. But, it's those projects that take foreeeever that usually become a favorite.

Butterflies have got to be the most well-rounded images of symbolism, ever. For this page, I fussy cut out some of the butterflies from the Flutter collection papers to portray playfulness and wonder. 

After creating this, I have newfound appreciation for my inner child when it comes to my faith. Instead of squashing it... I definitely want to tap into that because, now I see why it's so important.

Thanks for swinging by today! Make sure you grab our INNER CHILD kit by clicking on the image to the right. It's such a fun theme to explore this month!

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

Hello and happy Tuesday!

Melissa here with a page using the August kit Live Your Dream. 

This page is about a very specific dream that I had. It had been on my heart to start an online ministry. One that geared towards empowering women to share their story. It seemed like something too big for me and it took several months of talking with friends and spending lots of time in prayer before I felt confident enough to step out in faith.

And that, to me, is what living your dream is all about. Stepping out in faith. If you believe in a higher power then, it's about trusting that power to hold you through and guide you. If you don't then, it's about believing in yourself and trusting your gut. 

Sometimes, we step out and those dreams come crashing down around us. It's up to me, at that point, to decide whether I'm going to become recluse and hide from the world OR dust myself off and keep trying. 

This particular dream that I've put into reality hasn't been easy. There have been times I've thought about throwing in the towel but, each time I think about giving up, it just doesn't sit well with me. Which, leads me to believe I've got to keep at it. 

Hearts have the central focus of this page. 

Why? Because I am a firm believer that our dreams and acts of faith are a matter of the heart. Yes, the brain is involved but, man... dreaming those big dreams and feeling that "juju" deep inside... well, that's always been the heart for me. I am a heart thinker. That means emotion has a major role in what I set out to do. You better believer there have been lots of tears through this journey. Tears of pain, joy, sadness, grief, excitement, overwhelming peace, etc., etc. Good and soul-growing stuff!

I love using the paper clip on this page. A normal paper clip is what you use to keep papers together. They aren't stapled so, you can easily take out, add, etc. But, they are held firmly together, nonetheless. I like using the cute paper clip on this page because I hold my dreams tightly - especially this one. But, I live it out in such a way that has me prepared for any changes down the road. Life is an ever changing journey. Passions change and seasons chance. Dreams change. I don't want to lose sight of the big picture but, I also want to cling to what is right in front of me too - in this moment. 

I'm thankful for dreams turned into reality. 

There is a lot to be said about a person when that happens. 

Are you stepping out in faith and confidence today?

Make those dreams happen girl!

Behind the Art with Melissa

A dream was placed in my heart several years ago. My restless heart that always has to be on the go! I had visited Chicago multiple times and, each time I left, a little piece of me stayed.

Well, that dream finally became a reality in 2012. I sold my car and all my furniture. Packed the rest of my life into 4 boxes and 3 pieces of luggage and moved across the country. I didn't have a job but, did have a place to live. 

I still can't believe it happened.

During the months leading up to the move, I created many pages about my thoughts. I'm sure people were getting annoyed with how much I talked and created about Chicago. 

Chicago. Chicago. Chicago.

But, it was that big of a deal to me at the time. HUGE in fact. And, a big move is a pretty significant life turning point. 

I survived the big city for two years. I lived in a neighborhood called Logan Square and worked downtown. I walked among the skyscrapers, ate Chicago pizza and became a local. I mastered the Chicago Transit system and got annoyed with people who said they lived in Chicago but, actually lived in a suburb. (No, it's not the same thing!) I lived through major storms and even experienced a few tornado warnings. I learned the Chicagoans do not deal with the rain quite as relaxed as I do and cab drivers are crazy. I became a Blackhawks fan and will remain one as long as I like hockey.

It was an amazing time as a dream of mine became reality.

I was definitely living my dream.

I loved the mask included with this kit! I love the arrows and directional symbolism they give the layout. I liked using them for bits of journal type words and to show how actually getting off your tushy and moving is what makes your dreams come true.

I will say, sometimes the reality of our dreams are not how we envision them. Chicago ended up blowing my mind. I grew in my character and found out how much more I'm capable of. I still love that city and am so thankful for the experience.

However, sometimes dreams and reality shift. I've been back in my pacific northwest hometown for a little over a year now. I'm so happy to be back and have some incredible memories to ponder from my two years as a big city girl. 

What about you? What dreams are you or have you made reality? Why not grab our current kit LIVE YOUR DREAM and create about it! Your heart and soul will thank you.

Behind the Art with Melissa

I am very aware that I'm a dreamer. I'm constantly living in a state of visualizing my future or dreaming up ideals of scenarios that could or should happen. It's part of who I am. In the past, it was an escape. Now, I use it to catapult myself and launch into stepping out and making those dreams reality. 

It can be lots of fun.

It can be extremely frustrating.

But, it's me and I've learned to embrace it and value it.

I really wanted to use this kit to it's full potential. When I saw the patterns from the Pinkfresh Studio papers, I loved all the movement. It reminded me of my dreams and how random and chaotic they can be. But, strangely enough, in the midst of that chaos, there is order too.

I grabbed the paper with the large lines and used that for the backdrop. Sure, it adds a bit of chaos but, to me, lines symbolize stability and direction. Then, I added the layer of circles. I cut strips of them from the pattern paper to layer behind my photo. Circles remind me of bubbles and bouncy balls. They are all over the place. But, someone usually catches one. Right? The same with my dreams... and how I make them reality.

Stars were a fun element to bring into this page. Something I've really grabbed onto is that my dreams are part of who I am. And I've gained confidence in myself so, the natural thing to do is SHINE. (Hey! Like our kit last month!) Plus, don't you think of the stars and the moon and all kinds of dreamy nightscapes when it comes to the theme of DREAM? 

So, am I livin' the dream right now? I think I'm living a dream that I couldn't have come up with on my own. My life is pretty awesome right now and I'm enjoying every minute of it. It far exceeds my dreams. 

Grab an August LIVE YOUR DREAM kit, from Inside Out Visual Journaling, today! Explore and express your inner thoughts, dreams, hopes, desires and loves. It's easy. It's amazing. It's healing. 

Behind the Art with Melissa

Hello everyone and happy Tuesday!

I am here, sharing with you another page created with the beautiful SHINE kit.

If there is one thing about my personality that I embrace, it's the optimistic side of me. I can always see the glass half full. I'm constantly seeing the good in people and I have a positive perspective on almost every situation.

I think, because of this characteristic, I truly enjoy brightening someone elses day. If I have a friend who is feeling blue or if someone is exuding negative juju... I love challenging that...

Lemme bring a little sunSHINE into your life.

I was immediately drawn to the lemons in this kit. Of course, the quote "when life gives you lemons... you make.." everybody say it!!! "LEMONADE!" And then, you drink it and enjoy it. YUM! This quote is a favorite of mine, for obvious reasons, and I wanted to figure out a way to utilize it on a page.

Then, I found that quote. "Be Someone's Sunshine When Their Skies Are Grey." 

And then we all started to sing... you are my sunshine, my only sunshine...

Bringing the two together and utilizing the citrus-y colors from the kit, I teamed it together with a special photo of me. That photo is me wearing some pink for a dear friend who was battling breast cancer. It was an honor to be on her team. It felt empowering and I loved being there to support my friend during a "grey" time in her life. 

The good news? The cancer is gone! Woooo! 

Being a positive light in someone's life is so encouraging... for both parties. I know I always feel joyful and have a lightness in my step. It's a beautiful thing to be that sunSHINE.

So, SHINE ON! Be someone's sunshine on their grey day. It can make all the difference.

Behind the Art with Melissa

Hi everyone!

Melissa here with you today sharing another page I created using the Shine kit.

Sometimes, I go onto Pinterest and look up quotes that pertain to our monthly themes. I do this when my brain just isn't doing a very good job thinking up good journaling. 100% of the time, a quote jumps out at me. It's exactly what I need to read at the right time.

I found this quote: Dream Big. Sparkle More. Shine Bright.

I love that! I'm such an optimist and dreamer that, after reading that, I got a little giddy and couldn't wait to record my thoughts about it on a page.

My personality is an ENFP. That's from the Myers-Briggs personality test. I've taken it many times in different ways and always get the same result. My personality is one that shines, naturally. It can't be helped. And I love it! I'm an extrovert to the core. I love people and I love being around them. So, it's easy for me to shine around others! 

I decided that this newfound quote was going to become my mantra. Because, let's face it, even though my personality is a positive and exuberant one, we are all human. I still go through moments of depression or angst. And, I can get very dramatic. It goes both ways. The positive and the not so positive. Ha! 

I used a cut file for the backdrop of this page to symbolize sparkle. It reminded me of how the sun sparkles on top of water. 

Hey, did you know we have a Pinterest board each month for our kits? It's a great place to go for some added inspiration. Head over and I hope you can gain some inspiration, like I did, for this journaling page! 

Thanks for joining me here today!

Behind the Art with Melissa

Hi everyone,

Melissa here with you sharing a page I created using the July kit Shine.

The theme of this kit intrigued me. Mostly because there are so many ways one can approach this. So, in my usual ways, I jotted down a bunch of phrases pertaining to shine and my inner world:

- shine from within
- light
- reflection
- brilliance
- radiate

Radiate caught my attention. So, then I began the thought process of, "What is it that I radiate?" "What do I think I should radiate?"

Something I hear, time and time again, is that I'm a joyful person. I'm optimistic and I radiate JOY.

A Ha!

I do tend to agree with that and I love that part of my personality.

I did something quite purposeful with this page. It still makes me nervous but, I'm sticking with it! The title is placed over my face because, I want to symbolize how my JOY is something I want people to notice first. It isn't something blocking me or getting in my way... but, it is something that I embrace about myself and I love sharing WHY I have that joy deep within.

How perfect is the sentiment on that vellum piece? TOO perfect! Right??? 

There is a lot to be joyful about lately and it was fun to record this. The journal is hidden since I had a lot to say but you can read it here...

My journaling is mostly focusing on the moments when I don't feel joyful. I really do know that I'm a positive person, overall but, sometimes those moments of feeling stressed and not so joyful come up. Because, well let's face it, we live in an imperfect world and that's how it is. But, I still here from others how calm and joyful I seem... even while on the inside I'm feeling knots and twists and all kinds of uncomfortable feelings. 

I really do love that! And after thinking about this page some more, I LOVE an embrace this part of my personality!

So, what do YOU radiate? Record it with one of our kits! Grab yours HERE.

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!