On Creating | 2017

Hey there!

I'm glad you found this blog!

If you found it - either you found it because you love crafting or you found it by mistake! Either way, I hope you follow me, you stay for a while, and you get to learn why I love to inspire and create.

I first started crafting in 2014, back when smash books where the thing you ran to Michaels for. I never once filled in a smash book. Never. At first, I thought it was the aesthetic. I found crafting through Youtube. I can't remember who it was, but I remember seeing an entire smash book filled with photos and stories and I wanted that. I wanted that filled book.

That filled smash book never arrived, and I ended up selling the books I had online. I moved onto another project - card making. I went back to my trusty Youtube search bar and I typed in "crafting."

Let me take a step back for a minute. Why did I want to craft? Why did smash books call my attention? What did scrapbooking find me? 

I have always been creative. I used to have hundreds of notebooks filled with thoughts and stickers I picked up from the dollar store. I used to draw on little canvas, even though I knew I couldn't draw, and for some reason I was watching a random video on Youtube one day, probably about a cat playing on a keyboard and scrapbooking found me.

I found card making through the amazing Kristina Werner and Jennifer McGuire. If you don't know who they are just go visit the magical Youtube search bar, type their name, and stare in awe .. and maybe take a break after watching their videos for a few hours! Grab a snack and some water, then come back!

Card making was not for me though. I don't send cards. I applaud those that do though because they are time consuming. I still have over 100 cards I made, and I still hoard though Lawn Fawn and Mama Elephant stamps because in my heart I feel as if one day I will use them. Lawn Fawn holds a special place in my heart.. too special to let go. Yet, as I said before .. I don't mail out cards - just to my mom and grandmother and some during Christmas so I knew it wasn't for me.

One day, Jennifer McGuire posted a video called "SIMPLE PLANNER ORGANIZATION". That was one of the best videos she could ever post for me. I bought the same planner she used, on a student budget I might add, and since then I have been hooked on planning. Sticker kits + Washi Tape are my jam! That is creativity in its own spiral bound book! To this day, I plan each week. I even have my own sticker shop and a Youtube channel based on planner. There is a catch though. I associate a planner with just that - planning. It's my to do list, my grocery list, my ideas, my journal. It IS a creative outlet, but it is NOT a memory keeper. It is NOT a photo album. It is not a place for me to scrap.

Do not get me wrong. I know people combine their planner and memory keeping together, but that is not for me. I still wanted that filled in smash book. I wanted to be able to touch and feel and put two pieces of paper together and creative and as I said earlier, scrapbooking for me. 

This is the closest thing I found on Instagram of when I started Project Life. I've been documenting my life weekly though Project Life since 2014. I discovered the amazing Ali Edwards in early 2014 and I have been participating in here projects: Week in the Life, One Little Word, Day in the Life, and December Daily since then. It was the best decision I could ever make, because it was what I wanted, and committing to Project Life since then has made me happy and have gotten my creativity flowing. 

A few things have changed since then - I no longer have a Studio Calico subscription. I do still create weekly layouts with Project Life except sometimes I do get behind and I keep my supplies to more of a minimum, especially since my studio is bursting Studio Calico everywhere. 

2017 is the year of creating for me, personally! My goal is to make around 100 layouts this year. I'm giving myself a deadline and I plan to keep it. I have been purchasing collections this year and I am ready because I love creating. Scrapbooking and Project life give me joy. They fill my heart! 

Here are my creative goals for 2017:

1. Embrace your One Little Word OPEN and commit to the monthly projects! 

2. Take your time, but get to a goal of 100 scrapbook layouts! 

3. Complete Project Life 2017, and contribute to another year of Week in the Life, Day in the Life, and December Daily. 

4. Create 6 mini albums! You did it last year, you can do it again! 

5. Contribute to your blog. Speak your voice. 

6. Think outside of the box when it comes to layouts. Be creative! 

7. Get feedback, work hard, and earn a guest designer spot! 

8. Be simple. Be creative. Fill your heart with creativity! 

That's it for now! I think this blog post is long enough! I have a list of goals that can go on and on forever, and I plan to keep them even if obstacles get in the way! 

Until next time,