SO proud of this

sometimes when i scrapbook and i finish a layout that took me MONTHS to put together (from coming up with the sketch to being unsure how to go about executing it), i'm reminded of just how happy it makes me to create something. there is such a sheer thrill in being able to say "i made this. me. it was my idea and i did it!" that i almost feel like a little kid again, and i love it. it's the best feeling in the world.

recently, i had that feeling when i finished this layout:


i had been stuck on it for weeks (and it looked a lot plainer than it does now during that time) until lucy encouraged a few SISters to use embellishments... and lots of them! to say the least, that gave me the push i needed to really bring this layout into fruition and i am so happy with how it turned out that i can barely describe.

i took those photos of my cat, lil buddy, in october, and didn't get a chance to scrap them till about january, so this layout has been on my mind for that long. usually, i get distracted or frustrated and move on to other projects and leave what i'm not wholly satisfied with unfinished, but in this case, i knew this layout had the potential to be great and become my favorite (which it very much is), so i didn't want to give up. sis saves the day again!

next on my agenda... i don't know. i still want to paint but i've been itching to get outside and take some photographs lately, too. that's my life! i always jump the gun and get ambitious about wanting to do everything at once.

on another note, debee campos's blog is probably one of the most inspiring i've ever come across. that girl can scrap.

i'm also really thinking about creating my own "line" of embellishments and going at it experimentally because i have a lot of means to create them but not a whole lot of money to buy them at the moment... plus, talk about artistic endeavor and experience! you can't go wrong with either of those.

i'm really doing it this time. i'm sticking with a blog, i swear!

my greatest creative achievement as of late has been finishing an altered altoid tin in about two days. it's been a while since i got something done that fast, and i'm pretty sure this was the mojo boost i needed. also, i find it incredibly hard to get motivated when it's dreary outside, and lately the days have been sunny, so that's helping things, too.



the inside of the tin is filled with bits and pieces i've collected and stored in shoe boxes... at this point, i feel like it's time to scrap these things (or at least paste them in glue books), so i started with this tin. these were some of my favorite bits from the past few years. i'm ocd about collecting things like ticket stubs and receipts!

in other news, i think telerobotic needs an overhaul and redesign. i've got some ideas, but it's a matter of sitting down and figuring everything out. always the hardest part! i don't want anything too flashy (no flash... literally) because i like the diy, homemade look of portfolios. the idea that simpler is better has really been sticking with me lately, and i think it's because i'm not as interested in web design as i used to be -- it's more about graphic design and imagery and highlighting work rather than all the bells and whistles that can embellish it. i do love the wonders of css, though, and how easy it is to customize a design with a single stylesheet.

let's see what i come up with.

also, this is a reminder to myself to paint more. i can't remember the last painting i finished (other than homemade patterned paper for scrapbooking), and that's really bothering me! it's so relaxing to brush paint over something.