Keep Calm and Scrap On- A Flair For Buttons helps me get over over-thinking

HIYA FOLKS!

Michelle here!

I have a page I'm SO EXCITED to share!

I managed to wrestle this down despite a HUGE  creative block caused by the mess in my scrap space.

I've been "cleaning and organizing" my scrap space since the first week of January.

Mostly I've been walking in and running out again.

Life has taught me a hard lesson- I need to get better at cleaning up after I scrap.

I also need to find a better filing system for all the little bits and bobs I like to save after I cut a page up.

Here's the page:

Choosing paper to cut, fussy cutting time, hunting down red Basic Grey alphas, deciding what flair buttons to use, adding spaltters when I thought the background was too simple, writing up some meaningful journaling, choosing a photo- 2 hours. Extra time for stitching the ampersand.

 

I only had about 2 hours to come up with something.

I'm the Mom of a 3 year old- two uninterrupted hours are a LUXURY.

I wanted my page to be bright and impactful- I wanted it to be "unique".

I had nothing.

NOTHING!

So I cut word bubbles out the FABULOUS new Crate Paper DYI collection print and stuck them down around this portrait of me taken by the incomperable Louise Nelson.

Wait- you don't know Louise?

Check out her blog- she's my hero. (She'll be embarrased I wrote that- she's modest and somewhat private. Sorry Lou! ) 

Anyway the Basic Grey alphas went on next closely followed by the paper strips because I can't STAND to throw anything yellow or mint green away.

All the while my brain is babbling away:

Wait- is this going to be ok stuck here?

Wait- don't you need more layers?

Wait- how about some triangles?

Wait- isn't this sooo boring?

I decided my scrap persona is a complete nutjob and ignored that inner voice.

My scrap kryptonite? Over thinking my decisions. I decided this would be a great subject to scrap. I've been thinking about my "creative life" a lot lately- how to take it more seriously- how to grow. So I decided to date this page as well- something I rarely do. I'll look back on this later and remember this turning point.

Right before I photographed this page I added the stitched ampersand using the new Amy Tangerine stitching stencil. I love it- lots.

That tiny American Crafts sticker was cute but I decided I needed to go big. I promptly lost my way in the stitching. It happens every single time!!! I even used the stencil to keep strack! Next time I'll trace the shape on the back of the paper- that just occurred to me right the very now.

 In about 2 hours I had a page I loved.

And then this:

I meant to have THREE "Stay Calm" pack buttons on this page!

Proof!

This danged button fell off right before I shot my layout photo! I just found it under my chair. Can you say hot mess? Yeesh!

Thank for swinging by!

Michelle