This morning I woke up, grabbed my coffee, sat down in my big comfy chair, & started surfing some of my favorite blogs. I actually haven’t done this in quite a while. I don’t want to go into a lot of detail, because I prefer to keep this blog light and full of craftiness…but I want to be honest and open just in case there are others out there who are maybe struggling with the same thing. I have spent the last several months moving into what I call a downward spiral of depression. I am finally beginning to work through it all now and there are lots and lots of reasons why it came about…

But the important thing is, I finally admitted to myself that is was what it was and I needed the help and support of my family and friends and when I finally realized that and reached out to them then I began to see the light! Unfortunately, my art, my saving grace…my passion…the one thing that seems to keep me sane…well it ended up taking a back seat for a while. But now I’m ready to begin again and start fresh, and that is exactly what I plan to do!

So back to this morning already right? The first blog I checked was Balzer Designs. I love and truly admire Julie’s work and her blog posts and of course as soon as I saw her post on Artistic Resolutions, I jumped up and grabbed my own pen and notebook and got to work writing my own. Ironically, some of them were very similar to what she had listed for 2012. I actually set some of these for myself last year as well, but then a lot of things just got in the way and life just has a way of doing that so I have no choice but to pick myself up and carry on with the plan!

{News Flash 2013}

* This morning I made this layout and it was just for me! Not a DT, not to submit…although I guess I might submit it at some point, but I didn’t make it specifically to submit, I made it because it made me happy! I used all the supplies that my heart desired – old and new – who cares if it’s popular – I like it and that’s what counts!

One of the things I have a lot of trouble with is committing to way to much or saying yes to a lot of things because I think I should do them, or it would be a good opportunity for me, however in the end I just end up stressing myself out and losing out on all that time when I could be creating something or doing something to make myself happy. Here is what’s really crazy, I feel like I do my best work when I am doing it for myself.  Now I’m not saying I don’t like being on my DT’s – Of course I do! I adore them and feel so honored to have been chosen to work with all the talented designers on them. I’m just saying, sometimes I have trouble finding that happy balance of making art for others and then making sure to leave time in there for myself so I can play and experiment on my own. I’m going to work on that this year…

* I used STAEDTLER watercolor crayons to create the background for my layout. After that I laid a wet  Studio Calico mask on top of it, that had been used previously on another background, and it was coated in Dylusions Ink Spray from Ranger.The “News Flash” stamp is from Pink Paislee, and the Butterfly packaging is from Studio Calico!

* My mom made the super cool canvas badge for me! She used the “Follow Art” stamp from Stampendous on canvas and then covered it with Ice Resin!! It rocks doesn’t it? And check out the super cool bling tape I found from Industrial Chic. It comes on a roll and there are two other super cool washi/photo tapes that come in the package with it. I found it at Michaels.

* Ever since I saw this idea on Pinterest I have been searching for one of these hangers! I finally found one last month at a flea market for $4 and I thought I would show you why this is so cool.

Tada!! Can you say Washi Awesomeness!
Now I can see them all, and I have quick and easy access to them. Do you see the two fat cool looking rolls on the very top row all the way on the right? Those are the other two that came with the Industrial Chic bling tape…Yeah I know so cool!

Luckily I found another hanger a week later so now I can start a new one because this one is already full and I’m pretty sure I will still continue collecting washi tape. I know I know… it looks like I have more than I need already, but what can I say, I am addicted to it and at least I actually use it so there’s that.

Creatively Yours,
April