Inspiration Elevator - Challenge 6

You may recall from last month's challenge that the purpose of this challenge group was to take our scrapbooking to the next level, to stretch our creative process and to grow as artists by embracing challenges that make us think, work and grow.  You can view all of the challenges on my blog here.

Please join me in welcoming Denise Morrison.  Denise's blog is aptly named Life is Yummy and so is her art!

This month, our challenger was the very talented Ann Jobes. Her challenge to us is as follows: 

This month's challenge is a journalling prompt. I realize some of us do not journal much on our pages, and if we're truthful, we mostly scrapbook for ourselves - it gives us joy, a creative outlet, etc. But we do hope that someone is going to page through these albums sometime in the future, right? For this month's challenge, I'd like you to think about some of those values or beliefs that are important to you. 

There is no "right way" to do this. Spend some time thinking about this. It's your chance to share with future generations something that is important to you and makes you who you are. Take some time to collect some verses, quotes or sayings that speak to your soul. Choose one that you think is a "life verse" - something that really communicates the essence of you.

Use whatever photo(s) you think will suit your message. Enjoy putting a meaningful page together using your favourite techniques, style, papers - whatever makes it "you".
I know this is going to be difficult. I'm asking you to reverse your process and put the message first when we so often put our message/journalling last, as an afterthought, if at all.

As soon as I read this challenge, I knew what I was going to do.  The quote I decided to use is one that I have always loved, and even feature it on my blog's sidebar.  You may recall that I even have a stamped tile from my friend, Lori Mancini, with this quote.

The reason I love it so much is that it truly describes the philosophy after which  I have tried to model my life.  It expresses my belief that life is meant to be thoroughly enjoyed, no holds barred.  That you shouldn't let something like your size or education or other people decide what you can or more importantly, CANNOT do.

Life is meant to be enthusiastically lived.  Go and do so!

I completed most of my layout, which is photoless, at ScrapFest this past weekend, but had to add some last minute stitching and my computer journaling (which was such a pain that I have sworn off it almost entirely).  Here it is:

Supplies used:  Bazzill cardstock; Stampin' Up! patterned papers (Fan Fair series) and stamps (Postage Due); Tim Holtz (Ranger) and Ingvilde Bolme (Prima) inks; EK Success punch, KaiserCraft pearls; Stampin' Up! piercing template;  QuicKutz alpha die (Holly); Glossy Accents; American Crafts, Stampin' Up! and Reminisce markers; Scrapbook Adhesives foam adhesive.

Here are some close-ups:

I fussy cut some of the paper elements from a second sheet of paper and attached, using foam adhesive. The flowers were punched from coordinating paper and shaped using the rounded end of my paper piercer and since I couldn't find my mousepad in the mounds of product I brought with me, I used my soft package of wipes! :)

The journaling was typed into Microsoft Word into a text box, sized to the dimensions required.  I printed it out onto plain copy paper first and then attached a small piece of cardstock, using repositionable adhesive.  

Just a tip - before printing the first time, place a small X at the top of your page, noting where it sits in the paper tray.  Then when the paper comes out and you attach your cardstock, you will know which way to place it into the tray!

The journaling reads:

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intentions of arriving safely in an attractive, well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand... strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO!"

See? Words to live by... :)

The title was a sort of happy accident.  I originally cut the title, using the Holly alpha set, from a coordinating colour.  But it didn't show well, so I outlined it in a grey marker.  But it didn't really sit well with me so I tried to outline it again with Liquid Pearls.  That was a disaster so I wiped it off and peeled the diecut letters off and filled in the outline with Glossy Accents.  Success!

And because balance is everything in my little world, I added a small collage of bits to the upper right corner.

I hope you will stop by and see what the designers on this adventure have created:

Ann Jobes

Cathy Harper

Sue Sykes <--that's me!

Lisa Spiegel

Joanne Burton

Christa Uttley

Laura Whitaker

Audrey Yeager

Lisa Moen

Laurel Seabrook

Denise Morrison, Guest Designer

We would love to see what you are inspired to create.   Add a comment and a link below and we will be sure to drop by and say hello.

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog (deadlines in brackets):

It's a Sketchy Challenge (Oct 31/12)

Leave Your Legacy (Nov 30/12)