Scraps of Darkness & CSI-79

Have any of you crafters/scrappers/artists out there ever gotten into a creative funk and thought you were going to give it all up? Ever get tired of yourself and your style and the same old inspiration?

Well, I have. Oh BTW when you visit my blog you will hear the "real" truth about me. I don't paint a perfect picture of myself so you are left wondering if you are the only one who ever feels the way you do as I have often been.

I have been in a funk for awhile. Doing the same old thing and getting bored with it and the whole style I have been in. Not to say I am abandoning it completely but it's time I grew and spread my wings. 

I have found the best way to do this is playing challenges. It just gets me to think in a different way and take on things I normally wouldn't do. CSI is one of my favorite challenge sites. I love the combo of color, journaling, embellishments and techniques that they use.

One of my creative fears has been scrapping on a white background. I have tried so many times to use white cardstock as my backdrop and have never been able to do it to my liking. I have FINALLY conquered the fear and something has clicked. I am LOVING the white cardstock and you will be seeing more of this side of me for sure. Also a little more mixed media with cleaner lines and less stuff! Hmmm...we'll see.

Ok enough of my blabbering. On with the challenge.

My inspiration for my page was the word "Freedom" 

I like to think outside the box and although I don't always... I try.

This week I interpreted the "Freedom" into a big a life changing event that is taking place in my life and my oldest daughters life. She is heading to college in the fall. **sniff sniff**

I have included my testimony (journaling at the end of the post)

I used all the items in my June Scraps of Darkness Firecracker Kit for this page. I have also used chipboard hinges, stars and flourishes from Gina's Designs.

For my evidence I used stripes, a transparency, flowers, flourish and rub ons.

I used a stencil in the background and watered down some of the blue lumiere paint that was in our kit this month. Then I outlined it in black marker.

I used a lot of misting in red and green with a number mask. Then I thought it looked really cool to lay the transparency over it.

But then I had to work out how to do the photo. I actually put this page together before the photo was selected because I wasn't sure how I was going to do it. :)

These are star chippies from Gina's. I kept my chipboard raw and just used Walnut Distress Ink and mists on it.

My testimony is in the form of a letter to my daughter. I am going to keep the letter in a sleeve.

***********************************************

Education = Freedom

My Dear Daughter-

I have watched you grow from a beautiful baby, to a sweet thoughtful girl and now a young adult taking flight… Never a moment of trouble… You have been a delight to raise. I am honored to have been selected by God to be your Mom.

Time is funny. When it’s going by year after year it seems so slow and then here we are- 18 years later- and it’s over. Your need for me is less, your time with me is less, your life without me parenting you on a daily basis is less. Yet the time ahead of you is vast ----your freedom and independence stretches into the rest of your life.

At this crossroad – as you head to college- I offer you advice:

Education = Freedom

I regret that I did not further my education, that I never truly found myself and through the choices I have made I have impaired my ability to be independent. I want different for you.

DO WHAT YOU LOVE- whatever it is… Do not fear judgement…Do not let others opinions of what you should do or be interfere with your decision to do something you are passionate about.

Live with intention- Do not meander through life with no purpose or direction

Dream Big- Because if YOU don’t – you will never know what would have happened if you did

Laugh Always- Do not spend your time being angry, bitter, sad and regretful. Life is too short – WAY too short

Finally- Create Memories- In the end that is what you will leave your own children with

Love,

Mom