Back from the burn out! My one little word...

Hi!

 

It has been such a looooong time!
I have no excuses to give.  I just really started to experience a major burn out. 

(feel free to scroll down to the pics because I have wrote a book here)


All of a sudden I was given several awesome opportunities all at once, and since it was such an honor I didn't hesitate accepting them!.  Unfortunately, I bit off more than I could chew.  I went from designing 3 projects a month to up to 10 projects on some months.  I know this isn't anything for some of you (because man some of you are layout makin' machines!!!), but for me it became a bit overwhelming.  Especially when I was experiencing some fairly large changes in my personal life as well.

 

 All of a sudden I had no time for scrapping forums like scrapbook.com, then I struggled getting to everyone's blogs, and then finally I became horrible about keeping up with my own blog (as if you couldn't tell???)  Plus, I found myself dreading going to my scrap room.  I was definitely not having any fun anymore.  So I regretfully started resigning from design teams one by one as each term ended.  This was tough because I loved the teams that I was on!  I made some great friends through each experience.  I knew though, that if  I kept going at this rate,  I was going to start forcing out projects that were less than my best...and each team I was on deserved more than that.

 

So if you hadn't  noticed my sidebar is a little more bare, but I'm down to 3 projects a month, and I'm starting to enjoy creating again!  Plus, now that I have extra time, I get to try my hand at making some video tutorials.  This also free's up time so that  I can finally get in on some challenges over at C.S.I.,  and some of the new sketch sites I've been noticing. 
 

This does not mean that I won't be trying out for teams in the future.  It just means that when I do, I will be sure that I'm not overextending myself, and I'm going to have to be "head over heals" in love with the products (like my love for scrap fx).

I just can't spend as much time as I once did in forums and blogging for that matter.  It kind of hit me that I was really slacking off in the mommy/wife department, and when I realized it I couldn't continue on the same path I had been going.  My babies have been growing up way to fast. 
Its crazy to think that when payton was a preschooler I had so much time to teach him and get him prepared for kindergarten.  I worked so hard with him that he is reading at a 2nd grade level while in Kindergarten.  My sweet daughter that was born only a year or so before I started scrapping had turned 4 and still didn't know all of her alphabet by sight.
You could say that it has nothing to do with scrapping, but since I've started spending more time (physically, and mentally) with her during the day, she has already made HUGE strides.  I have no doubt that she will be reading small words within the next couple of months!

Plus, since August, I've had 2 of my nieces living with us, so I am officially taking over mom duties for 4 preschool/elementary aged kiddo's that I love.  I don't mind it at all, but it has required to make sure that I know where my priorities are!!!

 

However, while I love my family, I also think that its important to have some time for myself as well.
  You know...so that I can appreciate them more. ;)

So all of that brings me to my next subject....

my "One little Word"

BALANCE!

I NEED this creative outlet!!! However, I can't let it consume the time that I should be spending with with my family. When I first found my love for scrapbooking and mixed media art, I was obsessed with hanging out in forums...and unfortunately, my family was put on the back burner too often.

It just so happens that my "me" time is most fulfilled when I'm able to create!

So Balance is my ultimate goal this year!

Oh btw, this also means that I have time to take Christy Tomlinson's "Living Canvas" class that I signed up and paid for about 6 months ago!!!
 Funny thing is that the main focus of the class is about finding balance in our lives!

So this is my goal for 2013!!!



If you actually read all of that, thanks!  I am a horrible writer.  I think I lost any skills that I had in that area after having kids.  I used to be a great speller too...now...not so much! lol

Here I leave you with some projects that I've neglected to blog:

The page above and page below were results of my burnout! lol
(not feeling too great about them,but I think I eventually worked through it)

Scrap Fx goodies on both of these....

and a canvas I made using the swing tree silouhettes...

A wreath I made the flower using Scrap Fx's cog stencil and then hung the adorable "merry Christmas" bulb chippy.

Here is an altered composition notebook I used for Decembers Steampunk release at Scrap Fx...MY ALL TIME FAVORITE realease!

More steamp punk grunge!

I've used real clock faces and watch parts including some watch bands...

 

I have more to share, but I think that this is it for today!

 

Thanks for sticking with me through my ramblings.

 

Hope your all having a wonderful week!

 

Thanks for stopping by....