I have had a lot to say and no place to get my thoughts out for over a week. I had a virus and had to let my laptop go in for a fix and check up. After shelling out $$$ I didn't plan to spend and having to comb my apartment for discs I "put away" long ago to reload to my computer I am almost ready to share again. I say almost because I still haven't found my Photoshop Elements 8 disk and I can't afford 10 right now. In the words of Cathy the cartoon - "Aaaaarrrrgggggghhhhhhhh!!!!!!"
Below is the post I planned to share on the 8th. There is more to share but I will catch up after my PC starts to feel like mine again instead of a stranger.
I spent years thinking I had a handle on my issues and was pretty sure commitment was not on the list. Seriously, I am a mom above and beyond everything else and there is no bigger commitment. Considering all that my “angel” (and I use that term loosely) puts me through daily I can’t imagine being any more committed. When I set my mind to learning something I go in 100%. Every job I have had is proof of that. Hell I spent weeks studying shoes and watching sports just to be a Footlocker manager (and make crazy commission). I wanted to scrapbook and jumped in with both feet and taught myself stamping and various other crafty things. So why is it when I spend too much on idea books I devour them in the door then they sit and are slowly shifted to the back as more ‘cool’ books come in. Rarely reviewed twice or referred to at all after they are read I watch my art library out-growing very limited space. Why have I not been as committed to using, seizing the inspiration from these resources as I have been with purchasing it? One of my big weaknesses is the weekly/monthly challenge dare technique guide idea book. I love them and buy them fully intending to use them for the on-going inspiration they can provide but it hasn’t happened. At first I figured if I was doing the challenges with someone that would keep me on task but I have had a few friends agree to begin until life steps in and well, here I am – the proud owner of unused inspiration. So I pulled 3 of my scrapbooking challenge books, made a little baggie with numbers to pull from and I am off and fully committed to completing a year of challenges. The first week, ending on the 11th, is a little challenge heavy but I had to include the first 5 weeks of the year. Would it be more fun to do this within a group or with a friend? Absolutely! But since I am not as social as I used to be I can/will ‘make do’ with just me. If anyone cares to join me - jump in. I didn’t burden the idea down with a lot of rules, as I can sometimes do, but kept it easy. After all it’s all about being inspired so all I have to do is create something, anything and I can use as many or as few challenges a project as long as they are all used by week end. For 2012 I selected 52 Scrapbooking Challenges by Elsie Flannigan, 52 more Scrapbooking Challenges by Elizabeth Kartchner and We Dare You: Scrapbook Challenges about Real Life by Kristina Contes, Meghan Dymock, Nisa Fiin and Genevieve Simmonds. There are only 39 challenges in We Dare You so there will be some weeks of 2 challenges instead of 3. As I grow more confident in my mixed media skills and artistic talents I will tackle the Mixed Media Art Journaling books in 2013.
Happy Black History Month
I'll always love you, Whitney
