Designing Woman

It's funny because, I spend so much time scrapbooking but, I very rarely post any of what I've done on the blog. I just recently got chosen to be a guest designer for the next 3 months on www.scrapbookeronline.com. I get a super cool design team kit that I use to design at least one page once a week. These two here are my favorite designs from the kit. Both of them display the new trend in scrapbooking: "Free Style". There's a new book about this technique that I'm dying to get my hands on. I have "issues" with my handwriting and my drawing abilities in general. I am in awe of people who can see something and then translate it into an art form. I envy people who can see one thing and translate what they see into a bunch of different things. I am in constant struggle with the right and left side of my brain. I want to design a layout that looks balanced and pleasing but, at the same time artsy and emotional. I want to record the memory but, make it look awesome at the same time.

Can you tell I am obsessed with this? I know some people may think this is just a hobby. But, I find myself totally enchanted by this craft. I wonder if people who love to cook or garden feel like this. You can be amazed at how some people treat this very seriously. I find that I'm sort of straddling the fence. I want to be acknowledged and published but, I also don't want to lose sight of why I am doing this. When my mom died, I had very little to remember her by. I know she loved me with all her heart and she worked hard until the day she died to give me the best life she could. She didn't have the time or the luxury to sit down and write something down. Because Matt works, I have that luxury and I am so grateful to him for it. I don't know how long this is going to last. So, I spend as much spare time as I can trying to record these things so that Henry and Sam will have something to remember our family at this time. Now. Anything else I get publications, honorable mentions, design teams are all just cake.

Anyway, aside from my duties as a designer on Scrapbookeronline I've been busy doing "Dares". There is this awesome group of women on another blog at The Dares who each week give you a starting point for a layout. These women are amazingly talented and I'm a little intimidated by their creativity. A few weeks ago, I found the courage to finally dare. The theme was "Real Women." It was fun doing a layout about myself for a change. At the end of the week they pick their favorites and post them on the blog. Now, totally contradicting myself from what I said earlier - I'm terrible but, I so want to be chosen! I've been scrapping my little heart out trying to get "picked". It's ridiculous. At least I have been able to do some really great layouts - at least in my opinion.