Inspiration Elevator: Challenge 7

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 Katherine Sutton.  She is a very talented designer and we are excited to be working with her!  You can see more of her work on her blog, Fruits of my Scraps.

This month, our challenger was the super talented Cathy Harper. Here is her challenge, in her words: 

"I have been thinking about my challenge for months now. This is such an amazing team, I am thrilled and humbled to be a part of IE...each of you are amazing designers. I often wonder what I am doing here amongst you.

I scrapbook for the joy of it, the creativity part of it, the love of paper part of it....I hardly ever bare any of my feelings in any of my work! I often tell my kids that they can make up there own stories to their pages..I am that terrible about journaling. I guess it is a bit superficial or a whole lot superficial.

So here is my challenge:  

I want you to create a page about REGRET.

“No regrets”…they say we should live our lives without regrets… if it were only that easy, right? Most of us hold onto 1 or 2 (or a mountain full) of things we feel regretful for in our lifetimes. A lost love, those words you WISH you had said, the weight you wish you had lost….you know them, right?

I encourage you to confront them….take those suckers on and scrap about them… or just one.  This can be something superficial to something serious and painful… it’s up to you how far you want to dig. I DO encourage you to use this as an opportunity to really stretch yourself. Journaling is very powerful and you might be surprised by how you feel afterward.

This is going to be super tough for me (I may already regret it, lol )...as I am one who lives with a mountain of regrets and know in my head that I should move on, let it go. I am hoping this challenge will help me actually "let go" of some of these things. Maybe by putting in down in 12x12 form, creating it, seeing it and feeling it, that I can put some of it to rest! It's worth a shot! Pictures, no pictures...that is all up to you!"

Cathy's challenge gave me pause... I have always prided myself in living life without regrets.  I am a big believer in Fate and that all things happen for a reason, to lead our lives in a certain direction.  Of course, there have been decisions made that sometimes make me wonder, "What if...?"

One of the biggest ones was my decision to turn down a job with Club Med.  I had just graduated with my French degree and had not been accepted into teacher's college yet.  Gary and I both applied to Club Med and were both granted interviews after a long application process, which included headshots, police clearances and a letter stating why we wanted to work for Club Med.  We traveled to Montreal for the interviews and a few days later, I received a letter saying that I had been accepted!

However,  Gary had not, and my placement wasn't until the next term, which was six months off.  So I graciously declined.  And I sometimes wonder how my life would be different had I accepted and had gone to Australia (my first choice)...

Supplies used:  Bazzill Basics cardstock; Graphic 45 patterned papers, chipboard, journaling tags and alpha stickers; Cheery Lyn doily die; Ranger Distress ink; Creaxions punch; KaiserCraft rhinestones; Recollections washi tape, Scrapbooks Adhesives foam adhesive; Offray ribbon.

(Note:  The entire story above didn't fit on the bitty journaling card, so I added it to the back of the layout...)

I also just noticed that I missed a brad on the butterfly tag... sigh.  That's what happens when you  scrapbook at 4am at a crop (or try to!), while planning a kidnapping... ;)

Oh, and can I tell you how many people asked me if the layout was about me regretting my big hair?? LOL!  Gotta love the 90's...

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

Cathy Harper
Sue Sykes
Lisa Spiegel
Joanne Burton
Christa Uttley
Laura Whitaker
Audrey Yeager
Lisa Moen
Laurel Seabrook
Ann Jobes
Katherine Sutton, Guest Designer

We would love to see what you are inspired to create.   Add a comment below and link your project up using Linky Tools - we will be sure to drop by and say hello!

Cheers,