Be brave, be strong ...

Nick -You don't always have to be so brave, you know.

 Liz - Oh, but I do, actually...

from the film 'Parent Trap'

Why do we have to be brave all the time?  Why do we show the world we are coping when deep inside we are crying, longing or searching?

My friend Bernice was very brave and showed her vulnerability in her blog post which she has kindly given me permission to share

http://newlycreative.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/one-little-word.html

Why do we see showing our inner feelings as a weakness?  We see it as a flaw and hide it - even from ourselves sometimes.  So many people are hurting and the world has no idea.  Even funny men Robin Williams and Stephen Fry suffer in silence but when they let people know "the newspapers splash it about as though it's entertainment" (Pretty Women).

Recently a friend posted on FaceBook that she was consumed with guilt  - her friend had committed suicide due to depression which she was unaware of.  How could she possibly know.  We a taught from an early age that achieving and self respect are all important.  How can we possibly open up and let the world know we can't live up to these self restraints.

Hopefully society and media will stop selling us the impossible dream and help us face reality. Then we can all come clean about depression and encourage more support and self-help so we are not so reliant on secrecy and medication.

If we’re not creating something, there’s a good chance we’ll start destroying something.

"If we’re not creating something, there’s a good chance we’ll start destroying something." Ed Cyzewski

I read this today Creating Space: The Case for Everyday Creativity  and it really spoke to me.  I'm currently going through a weird journey - self discovery or mid life crisis?  I've no idea where I'm heading but it appears I am rekindling my faith, joy of life, readdressing my art output and deepening my family relationships.  Everything is changing and growing. 

Today I had so many revelations through FaceBook and two friends who I have not seen in years (thank you Carolyn and Bernice). 

“I seek distractions in order to avoid the struggle of creating. Creating is hard. Distracting myself is really, really easy.

This phrase spoke to me as I honestly feel that the depression I have been suffering from stems from me finding distractions so I have an 'easier' life.  These distractions however are slowly destroying me.  So often I am frustrated and seeking something.  Creativity is a gift I've been avoiding as I always strive for perfection and feel I have inadequate knowledge to do it justice.  Not creating takes away this need for perfection but is obviously destroying my soul.  Also filling my life with distractions is taking me away from my family, faith, creativity and even myself. 

I'm on a new journey - I may share some of this with you and hopefully I won't be distracted or too scared to walk this new path.

ATDML Cybercrop

Some LOs I made during the ATDML Cybercrop.  This first is virtually a copy of one of Mel's classes - I bought the kit and loved what she had done with it so I just amended it slightly.  All the photos were taken at a Venture photoshoot.

I also managed another double spread using background papers I've had for ages.  The strips were from my scrap boxes and the extra bits and bobs were from Studio Calico kits.  I still have loads of LOs I want to do from the crop and another Mel kit still unopened to play with.

Happy Birthday

My little man is 10 years old today!  As he was born on D Day we nearly called him Lewis (as in D Day Lewis i.e. Daniel Day Lewis - I was a big fan) but having changed my daughter's name 3 days after she was born I didn't want to change my mind again so we stuck to my maiden name of Thomas.

Two challenges with one Layout

Double Whammy as this layout fits two challenges I wanted to do.  On UKScrappers we had to use a colour scheme which this photo matched brilliantly.  Also on the Counterfit Kit Challenge we had to use tone on tone.  This was perfect for me as I was struggling to find a way to add the text without detracting from the photo and embelishments.  The peach on peach creates just the right effect :). 

I wish I had come across this affect before as it would have been really effective on my Thomas and the Thistle layout.  Well you live and learn.  So enjoying being back in scrapping world.

Blogtastic :)

After adding 3 posts and getting no comments I remembered why I gave up blogging.  Then the old grey cells started rebooting and I remembered I need to allow comments to be published  - lo-and-behold 9 comments awaiting authorisation!  ooops. 

So one happy bunny here - feeling the love. 

Cal it's great to hear from you ...  if you can call me old - it would be rude not to return the favour :)  Hope to attend your crop soon and really get my scrapping juices flowing.

Thomas & the Thistle

My first LO using my June kit.  I'm rather pleased with it.  As I was mostly filling the page with photos plus I haven't put many full pieces of patterned paper in my kit - I decided to decorate my card stock to create my own background.  Although it has made the page rather busy I'm quiet pleased with it.  The large swirl is chipboard painted with perfect pearls.  This proved challenging to paint last night as I couldn't see the thin edge I had no chance of seeing if it was covered in paint.  In the end I resorted to using Stu's old glasses - time for an eye test I think.

The title was created in Photoshop - I picked up the blue from Thomas' top to create the background colour.  The glitter pens pick up the shiny theme of the perfect pearls.  

June Counterfeit Kit

This is the bulk of my Counterfeit Kit.  I started with the cardstock to match the bold colours in the  Scrapbook Circle Kit.  From there I picked papers which matched, as didn't have any orange papers as I went with the peach ones and threw in a saying sheet which seemed to go with them.  I don't really do orange or peach so I hope this will inspire me to use them.  Most of the yellow shade papers are 4x4 pages my Mum gave me from New Zealand and I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to use them.   The bold pink and black brings me to the black papers I added.  The Counterfeit Kit challenge site mentions lots of black so I dug out all the other

black and white papers that were in the kit with this bold pink one.  I've had them for years and really don't know what to do with them.  I'm hoping this challenge will help me use them up.  Finally I dug out some ribbons.  I then thought it all looked a little too bold so I threw in the Susan Hurley stash I bought recently and again don't know what to do with it.  This probably because it's mainly peach based and just a little too pastely for me.  Hopefully the combination of bold and subtle will work.  The extra elements include Washi tape, a first for me, a couple of stamps of feathers and arrows, feather and arrow wood and gold pieces plus a arrom stencil.  I also threw in some orange heart brads.

I put some green ribbon in to pick up the colour in the sayings sheet and to add some contrast.  I also added some chipboard swirls that I have been hoarding because I'm too scared to use it as it's too good to make a mess off!!

Lot of stash and far too much for a kit but I got carried away.  As long I as use some of it I'll be happy.  I'm going to try and stick to this kit only this month although I have a kit arriving from Wear Crafts soon. 

Time flies ...

I can't believe it's been 3.5 years since I posted.  I was 'nagged' last week by an 'old' friend to update and I thought NOoooo, too much going on, Facebook is fine , blah blah blah, excuses excuses .... I waste so much time surfing and reading other peoples blogs I don't have time for mine.  Then I came accross the Counterfeit Kit Challenge and bingo a very good reason to get going again.  I've no idea how long it will last but if I don't have a go I'll never find out.  Hopefully this site along with going back to UKScrappers will get my mojo going again and I'll start doing proper layouts again rather than scraplifting and sticking to Project Life.

June's kit which we need to copy comes from Scrapbook Circle May Kit.  I'm off to trawl through my long neglected stash to make up a kit which I'll post later.

Somewhere to craft

I finally have my own space. I have a desk and bookcase which is given over solely to crafting. It's not large or beautiful but it's mine and not the dinning table! So often I'm frustrated that I have to clear everything away whilst I'm in the middle of a project. If I have a few minutes to spare during my hectic day they are gone whilst I dig out all the things I need. I'm hoping I'll now be able to finish more things as I can leave them out in my crafting space.