Bad me.
My foray into the world of greeting cards really turned into a dive off the deep end. I decided that if I could make one, then I could make more. Turns out my strength is in a technique called masking. It's a process where you create a mask and then ink around it to create an effect or, as shown, a scene. The masks that I made for these cards were simply torn card stock. By the time I had made 14 or so cards, they were a bit tattered. I need to draw them out and cut them from acetate so they'll last a bit longer, so that's on the drawing board. Sorry about the quality of the photos - they were quickies before mailing them out.
I did manage to complete a year long project using G45's gorgeous papers from A Place In Time. Each month I made 2 scrapbook pages - one with the calendar for the month and a list of important dates, and then a page with a photo (or photos) that represented an event during the month. It was the easiest commitment I ever made, surprisingly. These are the last two pages, representing December.
To add a bit of stress to my already high level, I decided to overhaul what I like to call my studio. It's still a work in progress but suffice it to say I've already hauled out about 50 pounds of pure garbage. In a room that's 14' x 12', I still ended up working on my little Murphy desk in the closet with generally only a 12" x 12" clear space. Photos to come after it's finished, but this is what prompted it.
This just proves that having a dedicated room and great organization tools doesn't work unless you commit to a. actually using your supplies, b. organizing, c. cleaning up the mess you make, and last but not least - not keeping every single scrap of paper and ephemera. I had triplicate copies of every single concert program that Chris ever played. Why? I never used them in the first place. Now there's just one copy and I'm going back through the scrapbooks, adding a "pocket" on the back of the pages, and slipping those little gems in there. If you don't use it, then for heaven sakes lose it!
It's a new year. I've decided to not be afraid to cut that piece of paper that there's only one piece of. I'm not going to be afraid to experiment. I'm not going to be afraid that people won't like my artwork because the only person I have to satisfy is myself.
And I'm going to finish cleaning up this mess!
Have fun and make something - life's too short to not be creative!
