Behind the Art with Melissa

Hi everyone!

Are you ready for Christmas? 

As of right now, I am in my hometown in the state of Washington, enjoying some lovely holiday time with friends and family. While I adore Chicago, I do miss and adore my home state as well. 

Speaking of friends... it seems fitting to share more about this layout I created using the December kit - TRUST.  Since moving to Chicago, it has been SO difficult to establish good friendships. I've come to the conclusion that there are several factors contributing to this:

- The older one gets the tougher it is to establish new friendships.

- I've got some deep friendships that I've developed over the years and it's hard to start over.

- I compare people to my friends. (not good.)

- It is hard to break into groups here. Just going to be honest! 

- I'm lazy about instigating coffee dates and get togethers. (not good.)

- Time is a whole new ball park living in a big city with no car.

So there are a few things on that list that I could be more intentional about. The others are things that, I think, will work out over time. I know I don't have to let go of friendships but it is nice to have friends close by to hang out with. You know... that one (or two) friend that is willing to meet up for a cocktail to hash out the day. 

Well... I had to create a layout, when it comes to TRUST, about these two ladies:

Created using the TRUST kit from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out.

These are my "girls night out" friends. The ones that I feel completely comfortable being myself. No holding back. No apologies. We are free to be. It's so refreshing and relaxing. I am so looking forward to being with them and laughing and hugging and talking. 

I used lots of elements from this kit to exude the feelings that bubble up when I think about these two. The heart, of course. 

Handwriting to make it personal. Florals to soften it up. Wood embellishments to exude the strength, just like a tree. 

Creating this layout leaves me feeling thankful. Even though I have some lonely moments here in the big city, I'm thankful for Skype. I'm thankful for planes. I'm thankful for technology and the ability to still stay in touch. I'm thankful that these friendships have primed me for new ones. And I'm thankful that I am left with a positive feeling! 

Behind the Art with Melissa

As I've worked with children over the years, I've been reminded of a lot of things.

First, children still don't know a lot about the world. We assume they should and even discipline as such but, the truth is, they only know as much as we've allowed them to see.

Second, children know more than we think. I've had a few chuckles as I've heard students chattering on about something that didn't make complete sense only to realize, they were interpreting a conversation they overheard from adults. 

Third, children trust us. We are the grown ups. We can convince them our way is the only way. We have a lot of power in shaping the minds of children in our care. 

I remember, growing up, how much trust I placed in the adults around me. Especially my parents. Many things, like going to church, when we ate dinner, holiday traditions... are things I thought everyone in the world did. 

Sometimes I miss having that trust in others. It's good to question and check out facts but, I think that my suspicions get the best of me now. Because I've hesitated, I've missed out on some cool moments.

How cute am I??? I was three years old in that photo. I loved having my picture taken. I was always looking for a reason to pose and I'm still a ham. ;) 

The TRUST kit from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out is so beautiful. I love that the symbolism and materials are already there and ready for me to put on my journaling page. 

I'm finding that I'm able to take a step back when my guard goes up. Sometimes it's necessary and sometimes it's not. I know I can't trust everyone but I can give people a chance. 

And... how awesome is that Encyclopedia collection behind me in that photo??? Yes... I was alive before Google. :) 

Behind the Art with Kiki

What an absolutely stunning kit to work with this month! December's Trust kit is the perfect blend of soft muted tones, feminine prints and symbolism.

When it came time to thinking about trust, and how I gave my trust, how I receive trust, how it impacts my life, I automatically think of my husband. Finding this quote about trust really nailed the concept down for me. It's easy to think externally when it comes to the word trust. We think of people we trust, but what did it say of me?

This quote really said a lot to me about what trust was, particularly when it comes from me. While I often thought externally when I thought of trust, that is, who I trusted, or what I trusted, I decided to think about what it said of me. What existed within me to give that trust? How did that trust impact my life? And the kit really helped me think about that, with its symbolic border sticker/patterned paper, the sentiments on the word art, all of it. Being alone with my husband I can trust myself to be myself, because our commitment to each other runs that deep. After all, that's who we fell in love with - the real him and the real me. Why would I feel a need to be different around him otherwise?

December's Trust kit from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out

Being together makes me truly happy, and maybe that's because I trust him so much. That trust removes any additional weight I may have had to bear at work, or in the public, when I might have to show professionalism, or be more patient than I would have liked. I might have had a hard day just being what I thought I needed to be in particular moments, rather than just being myself. 

Maybe that's why I decided to edge with black this month, because it's a reflection of what's being kept on the outside - the bad day, the bad feelings. And I realized that I don't give my trust easily, but when I do, it can be soft, beautiful and give me so much happiness.

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Behind the Art with Lori

Hi again!
Are you enjoying your December?
As you know, this month we are exploring
TRUST.

Here's some insight into this layout:

I wanted to showcase these very different, but so beautiful pictures of God's creation:
a snowy mountain cabin, a Florida sunset, the fall in Tennessee,
and a random rainbow right outside my office.
This quote really spoke to me.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said,
 "All that I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen."
Isn't that just the essence of faith?
This is a great reminder to look around and notice the
beauty that is everywhere.
I hope you get a chance to experience some beautiful surroundings this month!

A kit or subscription would be a fantastic gift for yourself or someone you love this holiday season!

Get the TRUST kit here.

Our inspiration page is fantastic!

Join us on the forums for challenges and chatter.

Make sure to check out the gallery!

And like us on facebook to keep up with all the latest!

xo

Lori

The TRUST Kit - Give Yourself the Perfect Gift This Holiday Season!

Share your trusting heart with us this month...from faith to betrayal, confidence to suspicion, there are so many places to dig deep with the beautiful TRUST kit. 

Trust your instincts and come explore with us! 

Husband Forwarding Button :)

Let him know you'd love a six month subscription and our December Special Gift - the beautiful SFTIO Canvas Tote with a Bonus Surprise Gift inside.

Or TRUST your instincts and get this gift for yourself. 

You deserve it...join us for the fun, creativity and joy that comes from knowing and embracing the real you!

Kit Details

Patterned Paper:

American Crafts Dear Lizzie Polka Dot Party Picture Perfect 

American Crafts Dear Lizzie Polka Dot Party Giddy Guests      

American Crafts Dear Lizzie Polka Dot Party Grand Garland   

American Crafts Dear Lizzie Polka Dot Party Dazzling Décor  

American Crafts Dear Lizzie Polka Dot Party Polka Dot Plates              

Carta Bella Hello Again Typewriters        

Carta Bella Hello Again Words  

Carta Bella Hello Again Take Note          

Carta Bella Hello Again Small Floral        

Carta Bella Hello Again Friends Forever  

Embellishments:

American Crafts Thickers Dear Lizzy Cordial - Parakeet       

Pink Paislee Sentiment Series Pink Alpha Stickers       

Prima Anna Marie Heart Sugar Dots, 1/4 sheet

American Crafts Dear Lizzie Polka Dot Party Wood Veneer Shapes, 3-4 pcs.  

American Crafts Dear Lizzie Polka Dot Party Sticker book, 2 sheets

Carta Bella Hello Again 12 X 12 Element Sticker  

Prima Wood Icons Words, 5 pcs.

Websters Pages Pink Always Believe cameo, 1 pc.

Websters Pages Bluebird cameo, 1 pc.

Basic Grey Capture Attach Me Stickers - Gray/White, 4 pcs.

Maya Road Wood Wings & Hearts, 3 pcs.

American Crafts Dear Lizzie Polka Dot Part, XL tags  3 pcs.

Carta Bella Hello Again  4x6 Journaling cards

Carta Bella Hello Again  3x4 Journaling cards 

Color:  

Faber-Castell Gelatos White and black

Cardstock:

American Crafts Peony   

American Crafts White   

American Crafts Parfait  

American Crafts Surf       

American Crafts Fountain   

Weekend Warmup - Trust Yourself and a Challenge

Do you trust yourself?

I've struggled with this concept for a long time.

I actually can't think of many poor choices that I've made. Even the ones that seemed like a miss at the time ended up being choices that led me to better future outcomes.

So why am I so hard on myself? Why are WE so hard on ourselves?

Oprah had this to say back in 2011.

And this.

And it begs the question, why don't we as women pay more attention to the still, small voice inside - our intuition, our gut?

I don't have the answer, but I do have a suggestion:

Find just one thing in 2013 that you feel really good about - and not something external. Think about just one choice you made that resulted in a great outcome. Maybe it was an easy choice for you; maybe it was a painful one. 

Take that choice and celebrate it - celebrate YOU and your ability to choose wisely and let it inform your heart that YOU can be trusted by the most important woman in your life - YOU.

You can create a super simple LO, art journal page, atc, canvas...whatever, about that ONE choice and how it will remind you to TRUST in you.

Want more support?

Buy our TRUST kit and you'll have everything you need to tell your story your way. Click the pic below to grab your kit featuring Dear Lizzy Polka Dot Party and Carta Bella Hello Again, tons of gorgeous wood veneer, Faber-Castell Gelatos and more:

And if you like musical reminders, check out this oldie and goodie from one of my early folk music heroines (don't let the album title scare you...this song is an ode to trusting the inner you...) 

Enjoy!

December Guest Designer: Andrea Ratcliff

We are so excited to have one of our Teen designers, Andrea Ratcliff, designing with the December kit TRUST. Here is more about Andrea and a couple of her layouts. 

Visit Andrea's blog HERE.

Here are a couple of layouts that Andrea created:

We love that Andrea shared these fun photos of herself. They go so perfectly with her journaling. And wouldn't you agree... trusting ourselves seems to leave us feeling unstoppable! 

I bet if we all thought about it, we have observed a wonderful expression of trust by someone in our life. Whether it was bestowed upon us or upon someone else. We love how Andrea is showing us how to include others in our lives and reflecting on how it makes us feel. 

We will share a couple more layouts by Andrea before the month is over. In the meantime, come join us on our Facebook page to stay up to date on all the happenings. We'll also be sharing more design team layouts over there soon. 

Behind the Art with Lori

Hello! How's your December going?
By now you know that this month we are exploring
TRUST.
I wanted to start off by sharing some insight into this layout:

I loved the mix of the black and white and turquoise..to me it looks serene, even though the subject matter isn't always so calm and peaceful.
 This quote by Mila Bron says,
" I'm learning to trust the journey, even when I don't understand it."
This is sooo true for me. I have to trust that my
life, my experiences, my triumphs, my disappointments,
are all part of the becoming. The journey includes all of the above.
I have to trust that, even when I don't understand it,
even when it is NOT turning out the way I planned, or wanted it to,
it's all ok...it's not my plan, it's God's.
I've gotta just trust.
This is not an easy lesson to learn!

I hope you will play along with us this month!

Get your kit here.

Our inspiration page is just brimming with good stuff. 

Join us on the forums for challenges and chatter.

Make sure to check out the gallery!

And like us on facebook to keep up with all the latest!

xo

Lori