Tee-hee. Don't know why I chose that title for today's post. Except that it reminds me of Youngest Son who is constantly trying to "get me" by saying "Mom, what's up"? If I say, "what?", he screams "CHICKEN BUTT"!!!!!! So, over the years (yes, YEARS), I've learned never to answer with "what". He's unbearable to live with if he "gets me", let's just leave it at that. This can happen upwards to 10 times a day, so I've got to be on my toes constantly.
Such a busy weeked. Friday was the Women's Open and then a graduation open house after that. Saturday included watching my son march in a parade and having my FIL over for smoked shredded pork sandwiches (yummy). The best day of all was yesterday, when Hubby and I decided to road trip 20 miles or so to Northfield. Northfield is a quaint little town with darling shops. We had such a nice, relaxing time roaming through the shops hanging out together. My favorite shop of the day was a place called Digs. Every inch of it inspired my senses. The basement level of the store was filled with Amy Butler fabrics, among others. The upstairs was filled with amazing ribbon, adorable unusual buttons, and fabulous cards, aprons, candles, etc.
Many of you know I've been suffering the loss of my mojo lately. I'm not just "saying" that. Truely, every card I've made has been an incredible struggle for me to finish. Not one thing I've pumped out in the past month has been easy. I can't figure out why I'm having such a hard time, either. Part of me thinks I am "freezing up" because every card I see on my favorite blogs is better, fancier and more amazing than the last one. I can't keep up, nor do I want to (that's the honest to God truth). That's the main reason I got out of scrapbooking all those years ago....I couldn't keep up with the direction scrapbooking was taking; in other words, it was getting over the top. Too much. Part of me feels like that's the direction card making is taking. While every card is AMAZING (please don't get me wrong, I want to see beautiful cards), I don't really have the time to devote to making each and every one of my cards beautiful in an over the top sort of way. I am a simple, tried and true sort of girl. I'm not on the cutting edge of new techniques, or feel the need to create new amazing card designs at every turn. I gravitate toward layouts I've used time and time again. But because there is this disconnect in what I see out in blogland and what I feel right doing, my brain is shutting down. I think.
Back now to Digs, the store yesterday that inspired my senses. Lately, I've been wanting to make an inspiration journal where I can record sketches that I design myself or borrow from others, record quotes, etc. 
At Digs, I came across this BEAUTIFUL recycled journal that I fell in love with instantly. Unfortunately, we left with me not buying it because it was a little expensive for a journal. I couldn't stop thinking about it the rest of the day. So, on our way back to the car, I walked back into the store and bought the journal. I KNEW without a doubt, this journal would inspire me to use it! So I plopped what seemed like a small fortune ($15) down on the counter and turned and walked away, with a smile on my face and not one ounce of guilt in my heart. I could barely stop looking at it the whole way home! I wasn't home more than 20 minutes before the first sketch was recorded in my new inspiration journal! This morning, I have a total of 12 sketches in my book! Woo-hoo! This journal will be the starting off point for every card I make from here on out. My internal mojo feels a hundred times better just knowing I have this beautiful little journal to fall back on in tough times. I am relieved. I should have done this weeks ago. NOTE TO ALL: If you too are suffering loss of mojo, consider finding yourself a beautiful journal that can become your "inspiration" for all things cards. Just don't grab something drab like your kids spiral notebook leftover from the school year. Make it beautiful so you'll want to spend time with it! You won't be sorry!
Well, I've rambled long enough. I will try and post a card later today if I can drag myself away from my beautiful journal for minute or two!
Hugs,
Amy
p.s. Inside the journal, where I draw the sketches, I make sure to write down who's sketch it is and where I found it, that way, I can be sure to give credit where credit is due:)!
p.s.s. Don't you love my disasterous stamping area? Yikes! It's no wonder my mojo is missing...it's hidden under all the crap!
Monday, June 30, 2008
What's Up Chicken Butt?
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Big hugs...I totally can relate to what you are saying. Needless to say that when it comes to scrapbooking I'm not even going to attempt to be as creative as all the stuff I see out there! I like simple layouts and I don't mind seeing the same ones used over and over again. Some of the best stampers use the same layouts again and again. So I wouldn't worry about that. Just do what you love, don't worry about keeping up with the latest trends. That's and impossible job to to, especially when one is not getting paid to do it.
ReplyDeleteThat journal just screams "Amy". I'm so glad you picked it up for yourself, even if it was a splurge. I totally agree with what you're saying. I too started stamping when I quit scrapbooking and although I love looking at cards like you describe - I know that I will never make cards like that. I too have refused to "keep up" - there are just more important things in life. (((HUGS))) my friend.
ReplyDeleteI got caught up in that too and it has killed my creativity. I am so afraid my card won't be awesome enough that I don't even want to start.
ReplyDeleteSo... I deleted all those "over the top" blogs from my reader. Sad thing is, many of them were my favorite blogs before they got carried away with "creativity."
I also noticed that when my customers look at card samples, they comment more about the "ordinary" cards than they do those "over the top" cards.
And look at the lovely cards that are created by bloggers such as silke and stampin' kub.
Do what you love and don't worry about what everyone else is doing.
Beautiful journal. I too could use some simpler sketches to emulate. I remember your Triumph Tuesdays. Maybe you and I need to get back to that. I can't remember what my Tuesday goal was to be.
ReplyDeleteLove that bright and happy Journal. I have all my sketches on random sheets of paper - your idea is soooo much better. Gee imagine that, a way to organize and I didn't think of it myself. ha ha - yup, I love organized things but haven't got that "gene" in my blood I guess. My room looks worse than yours so actually you're doing good. LOL
ReplyDeleteWhen I read your post it was like I was speaking! I am so on your level right now. I think I am going to go out tonight and do the exact same thing that you are doing. I hope this brings your mojo back. Thank you for being such an inspiration to a fellow mojoless stamper! :)
ReplyDeleteI seem to lose my mojo to make cards too and I am not nearly as talented as you or the blogs I read!!!! I am glad you found inspiration in your new journal...I love it and I am glad you went back in to purchas it! You go girl!!! :) Looking forward to see what cards you make with your new sketches!
ReplyDeleteNow this is a great idea! Thanks for sharing. I'll never be the card maker some of you are but to sketch out and remember to give credit to whom is a great idea. As far as the space ~ isn't that what they're supposed to look like? (((smiles)))
ReplyDeleteIf you think your desk is untidy you should see my dining room table! I start work in there and gradually all my stuff walks into there from the garage! Love your book - I made one to record sketches in by covering a really boring one that had been sitting on my desk at work unused and unloved. I think it was one of Kimmie's challenges to alter something. Keep doing what you are comfortable with - we love to visit.
ReplyDeleteWow..at least I'm not alone! =) I was under crunch time to get a few cards made a couple weeks ago (when school was finishing up and swim lessons were starting and vacation packing needed to be done) and I sat down and just blanked! I stamped and colored my image..loved it..then just could NOT get a single layout to look just right. I finally sighed in frustration and exclaimed that I'd lost all my creativity and I should just sell all my stamp stuff (HA!)...my husband, sitting nearby and watching a movie, had the good sense to look at me like I had lost my mind..and say nothing. ;) Last week I finally went back to my craft corner and finished that card..and made lots of others..and enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteAll that to say I think we all get over-loaded sometimes! =)
BTW, your blog..open & honest..and yes, creative and inspiring..is a blessing to me. Your testimonies encourage my heart..keep up the great work!
D =)
fun journal- bright colors and cheerful looking. Just the thing to brighten up anyone's day.
ReplyDeleteYou might check out this new sketch blog- more stuff for your journal.
http://2sketches4you.blogspot.com/
I'm scared that it sounds like I could have written these words today and relieved that IT'S NOT JUST ME!!!I'm working on doing my personal best and I do my best when I'm relaxed...
ReplyDeleteand here's a good color inspiration blog:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.colourlovers.com/blog/
not all of us like the same thing! all of us like the same thing - i like to make simple clean cards - and that's what i make - doesn't make me less of a stamper...sooooooooo - you don't have to keep up with the "jones" when it comes to stamping - you do what you like to do...this is only paper!!! :^) don't be so hard on yourselves!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your "splurge" has helped recover your mojo! I say, stamp for YOU - do what YOU like - and don't worry about making every card better or fancier than the last. Do what makes you happy - that's what it's all about. Your cards are great, and I enjoy reading your blog!
ReplyDeleteAmy, God made you to be uniquely YOU, so go make cards that make YOU happy, don't worry about everybody else. We're gonna love what you make whether it's "over the top" or sweet and simple. But it's not about us. It's about expressing the creativity God gifted you with. Remember that creating is an act of worship of our God who is the ultimate Creator. He loves it when you use what He's given you, and He doesn't want you to get bogged down in being "perfect" or pleasing everybody else. And how do I know this? Because this is the pep talk I have to give myself very frequently when I start to get into "but it's not as good as so-and-so's stuff" mode. (And this is why I love the whole concept of Simple Scrapbooking, too! Revolutionized my scrapping life.)
ReplyDeleteI love your journal, and I'm so glad it's helped you with your mojo! You just keep doing what you love, girlfriend. That's what makes this hobby worthwhile.
Maybe your Mojo just needs a summer vacation. Take a break, work on your tan, garden, play some tennis. You're so talented, it will come back. BTW, love the sketch notebook, I'm starting one *today*!
ReplyDeleteHey Amy!
ReplyDeleteI haven't been able to read blogs in AGES!!! I was looking to make sure you got the watermark and saw this SO AWESOME journal!!!! I LOVE IT...TOO CUTE! I miss you...I need to visit more often again!
OMG! I can totally relate to the Mojo thing. I also am suffering from signing up for too many blogs and I then feel like you do - overwhelmed and undertalented! I am trying to get back to basics, but it is hard. I tend to surf more than I create and I want to stop that. Thanks for sharing your experience. I know that it will all work out for me, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Amy for such wonderful suggestions and words of encouragement. I too feel that every card that I make must be fabulous...I really need to get over that. I'll never be at the same level of creativity as some others that I admire, but that is ok...and I appreciate you reminding me of that! Hugs!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the journal idea Amy!! just what I need - thanks for sharing all your creative ideas!!
ReplyDelete