Friday 10 May 2013

Onwards and Upwards Blog Hop

It's the weekend!  A special welcome if you are hopping as part of Jennifer's Onwards and Upwards blog event. Details of the hop and the giveaway etc can be found at the bottom of this post.

Up until a week ago I had no idea what my post was going to be about for this event.  I had lots of bits of ideas and I definitely wanted it to be about sharing positive messages but I had nothing concrete.  Until Thursday morning.  It was a crazy day going from place to place but I felt the need to pop home mid morning and I'm so glad I did.  There was an e-mail from Shimelle about being a guest artist on her blog event for National Scrapooking Day on Saturday.  I leaped off of my chair and squealed.  Then I panicked.  Then I scrapped.  Then I changed my mind.  Then I scrapped again.  Then I went back to my computer and double checked and triple checked the message in case it was a fake.  Then I sent my husband a text telling him my exciting news.  But he doesn't understand creativity.  Then I picked up my 6 year old son from school and he jumped up and down and "Wow, Shimelle's blog?  Really?  Wow!" which was more the sort of reaction that I was feeling myself.  I felt really positive about my scrapping and I would love for other people to feel that too.  We just need to tell them :-)


Very few people can say that scrapbooking is their job but Shimelle can and I admire her for that.  I also admire her style and her passion for the story.  I have followed her since I met her when I started scrapbooking at Scrap-a-Mia exactly 3 years ago.  Good grief what a baptism of fire that was!  Since then I have had ups and downs with technique, style and general ability and had days where I liked my layouts and days when I wondered why I bothered to even try.  

About 18 months ago I applied for a Design Team place with S J Crafts in a moment of "why not?" and I was over the moon to be chosen.  Seizing that mad moment of thinking I might be good enough to be on a DT was one of the best decisions I have ever made.  Being selected restored my confidence in my ability as a scrapbooker.  Someone else liked what I did.  About a year ago someone asked me to make an album for a colleague as a commission, completely out of the blue.  A few weeks ago I won a competition with Echo Park papers.  This week I've been featured on a website that I would have never thought possible.  I am never going to make a living from crafting but in the words of a very wise 6 year old "Its not about the money Mummy".  So what is it about?  Its about feeling positive about something you've made.  


We need more layout love in this cold hard world that we live in.  We need to tell people when we like what they do.  Hearing from other people about things we have made makes it all worthwhile, whether it is a cup of tea, a bowl of soup, a card, a layout, a tutorial or a wedding dress.  If you've been enthused to create something, tell the person that inspired you.    If you've entered one of the many many challenges from last weekend, tell them why.   Make someone's heart swell and face beam like mine did this week.  Share the love people :-)


So... my challenge (all open until Sunday night) was to create a double layout.  In a hurry.  I scraplifted myself by choosing the first double I came to in a random album I picked up with no deliberations over "what about this one or that one".  It was this layout that was originally a quadrant design for a 6x6 paper pad and I mirrored the placement and then tweaked the embellishments to suit the larger structure.   Choosing the layout gave me a strict plan for the photos and I did the same thing again - choosing the first batch that fit the orientation, style and number.  Same with the papers.  Studio Calico Snippets was to hand (being obtained recently) and it was ideal so I didn't try and find anything possibly more ideal.  I spend far too much time trying to find something even better when actually it just makes me go around in circles!

  
The photos are from Ta Prohm in Angkor, Cambodia, about 10 years ago on our Round The World Trip.  We often wonder how much more damage has been done by the invasive roots but they can't stop them because they are all that is holding it up!  Such a tough battle of man versus nature but it does make a wonderfully atmospheric temple.


It makes me laugh when I look back and think of us shooting a whole reel of black and white film there and then a whole reel of colour, with no idea how any of them would turn out.  The children can't get their heads around the idea of waiting for film to be exposed and not seeing the photo instantly on the screen.  How things have changed since then.  Onwards and upwards eh?!


If you comment on all the blogs in the hop, finishing at Jennifer's to let her know you've been all the way around, then you'll be in with a chance to win a prize pack of cheerful Glitz Designs Color Me Happy and Simple Stories 24/7, worth over £25! 


All entries must be received by Monday the 13th of May at 10.59pm BST. 

Your next stop along the hop is Julie. Have fun!

Bye for now
xx

32 comments:

  1. So we have met then cos I was at that same event 3 years ago. Gosh it feels like longer actually. I was just wondering today how someone gets chosen by Shimelle to gust post, I'd love to do that one day. Congrats.
    I love your beautiful layout. It is perfect,
    Jo xxx

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  2. All I can say is WOW on that layout. Your saying, "Broken but Beautiful" goes so perfectly with the pictures. And I just love those black and white pictures. You did a good job.

    Julie
    I Create Purty Thangs

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  3. gosh that was so beautifully written and I totally got everything you were saying and I am so glad you gave your history of scrapping and your obvious love for it is so apparent. I think I would have jumped up and down like your 6 year old!! I was really inspired by yr guest post and made a double page Lo which I rarely do and I think I might just scraplift this one as I am loving scrapping with quadrant type designs at the moment! Also I may be brave and apply for DT position some time as you have given me a bit more confidence so thank you xxx

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  4. What a great post! I haven't been doing much scrapping lately, but I've been doing a lot of photography and recently posted an album of a day at my son's baseball game. I got sooo much love and feedback on it, that it gave me the same thrill you described.
    Happy hopping,
    Rinda

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  5. Yes, I'm all for sharing the scrapping love. Beautifully written post and fab layout.

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  6. I am rubbish at doing double page layouts but I want to do more multi picture layouts and I think this is the way forward.

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  7. your post is written with such feeling. I get it and understand perfectly. I too remember the days of shooting in b&w. When i first started scrapping 14 years ago(gosh!) I was told to make sure I shot a reel of B&W every year. So I did. These photos are something else, your title is wonderful - I do enjoy it when you share photos from your travels x

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  8. Wow! you have a LOT going on - well done you! Love the layout and the photos too :o)

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  9. This is my first visit to your blog Lisa-Jane and I am so glad I took part in this hop and found you. This was so beautifully written and wow!! I can imagine your sheer amazement and joy at being invited to be a guest on Shimelle's blog. A big congratulations!! You obviously have a natural talent and I love your story telling and beautiful pages.

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  10. Amazing post, can hear your excitement coming through lol! I'm not sure my 6 year old knows who Shimelle is though, I must educate my kids further!

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  11. A fantastic post that has really made me smile. I always love your work so I'm not surprised that you had an email from Shimelle :) xx

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  12. Beautiful I love to see double page inspiration

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  13. I guested on Shimelle's blog a couple of years ago....so completely understand your excitement....it was definately the most exciting scrapbooking related thing that has ever happened to me!!!
    I love your layout....and the absolutely perfect title.

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  14. I totally understand your excitement for your guest layout! I was just on her blog today and was able to show ways of using sequins on layouts. The email came last wednesay but I told no one. I showed my husband the post on shimelle's blog this morning. He just said 'ok, nice.' and finished his breakfast.... MEN! xxx

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  15. Love your layout and I would have jumped up and down for you about being a guest on Shimelle's blog :-)

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  16. A fab post ... and you mentioned that your decison to apply for the DT was one of your best decisions .... selecting you was also one of my best decisions .... I am honoured to have been able to get to know you and become friends and to share your scrapping journey with you. I am so, so proud of what you've acheived and guesting for Shimelle is just the start!! xx

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  17. That looks a really amazing place, very beautiful. Love how you have used the 6x6 papers for the double layout - very effective

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  18. I really like this - the atmospheric photos and mixture of patterns is such a good combo. Glad to have found you and delighted to hear you have such a cultured and wise 6 year old :)

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  19. Fantastic layout Lisa-Jane! I love the arrows, and the beaded pins, and the bright colours contrasting with the B&W photos. I could never ever scrap a double-page layout quickly, it was a great idea to scraplift yourself to speed things up!

    I try to comment as much as possible, but I can't always keep up. Sometimes it's months before I make it back to a blog I love, and then there's lots to catch up on. But I quite like reading that way, I can sit for an hour or two reading back through posts and it's like reading an awesome book! So if I don't comment here enough, please know it's not that I don't like your work, it's just that I haven't got time for that sit-down right now... but I will eventually! I love your projects! Well done on your guest spot at Shimelle's - well deserved!

    I also loved Ta Prohm. I was travelling with my hubby (fiance at the time) about 7 years ago, and he only wanted a 3 day pass to the temples, but I got a 6 day pass. I hired a driver of a motorbike and he took me round loads of temples but Ta Prohm was my favourite, I sat there all day one day and sketched and took photos. And then it started to rain and I fell over in the mud but it just made me laugh. One of the best days ever!

    Thanks so much for joining in with my Onwards and Upwards blog hop! x

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  20. Great job using so many patterned papers.

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  21. Yes, you have done really well and it was so brilliant to see you on Shimelle's blog :) I love your theme for this topic and you have tempted me to join in the blog hop!
    Have a good weekend. xx

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  22. Fantastic Double layout and gorgeous photos :)

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  23. Hear hear to all those wonderful thoughts about this crafty world we would so love to spend most of our time in!! I ADORE your photos and the story behind them.....a fabulous double pager (something I never do!!) I am thrilled to be finding all these scrapping Brits along the way.....more lovely inspiration to follow :0)

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  24. What a wonderfully honest and relatable-to (new word) post for your take on the theme. I think we all have those creative ups and downs and it's great to just come right out and say - today I don't think I can do it! But then of course it all comes together again and we think maybe it's all right after all. Your post today is certainly a lot more than "alright" !

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  25. What super layouts!!!I seem toi have to do lots of double layouts and getting them to look different is always a challenge!!!

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  26. I can feel the excitement from the words you have written - how amazing that your 6 year-old son "got" it!!!

    A lovely double page of a fantastic location. ACE!

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  27. Love your post and also scraplifted your DLO last weekend, so thank you for the inspiration! Sometimes it takes me a while to get motivated/inspired but I saw your LO and knew exactly what to do!

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  28. Spreading the love certainly does work. I love your double page and well done on your "onward and upward" movements in the scrapbooking world :)

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  29. I so enjoyed your post,it was honest & true :) and I loved it.

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  30. I love the color blocking you did! And your story is fantastic...

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  31. Such a lovely message in this post, we can all afford to give and receive a bit more positive reinforcement, I think!

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  32. This is fantastic!!! I have this paper pad and this gives me such great ideas of how to use it, thank you!
    Lisa

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Hi there! Thanks for leaving me a message! It always makes me smile when someone stops by and says hello :-)