becoming LOST: Layout for AFSC

There is another challenge up over at Another Freaking Scrappy that you might enjoy. It's a sketch, so you can run with it any which way you might like. I chose to rotate it and run the banners in a portrait format. Love all the flowers that Anne has on this sketch. Very lovely.

The subject of my page is rather introspective. 

Have you ever gotten going with something and realized a while later that you had actually gotten off course with what you really wanted to accomplish?

When I started blogging about scrapbooking, I was mainly trying to connect & have fun. We had just moved and left a little group of creative girls who liked the same things I liked. Interestingly enough, that is still my main goal. I am not looking to become a famous blogger or scrapper or anything like that. ;-)

I have a day job that is, well a job! Plus that other job which is being a Mum as they call it in Australia. 

Right before leaving to go off to Peru, I felt like I had gotten wound up into too many obligations on the scrapping side of things, plus work had gotten really crazy due to a huge project that we got roped into doing. I felt like I was dropping the ball right and left with everything.

Thankfully my family understood. THE MAN has had his fair share of work craziness and just helped pick up the slack. I work for a small company and not getting the work done is not an option as they will ask some other sub contracting firm to do the work leaving a slew of people with jobs but no work which eventually means no jobs. Not a good option. 

My parents told me I was going to Peru with them and leaving the phone and computers AT HOME. I think they saw the writing on the wall as I was nearly heading into self destruct mode. 

In the airport getting ready to take off on our international flight to Peru I got an e-mail from a scrappy boss that kicked almost her entire team to the curb for not helping her out when she was having trouble herself. I felt horrible for letting someone I didn't even know personally down.

As we lifted off the runway, I wrote myself a note in a journal I had brought with me.

It said simply:  

Priorities 1)  Home

                2) Work 

and nothing about blogging or scrapping 'cause that is the frosting on my cupcake of life and should never ever make me feel badly. 

Was it bad form of the scrappy boss to send that e-mail on the very day I was leaving? I'd like to think it wasn't deliberate, but regardless, it was a good life lesson for me for me on over committing. 

I can tell that the last six months has changed me a lot. My scrappy style seems to have gotten cleaner and less complicated. And if I don't have time to get something done, it just won't get done. 

One of my favorite things on this page is from a fellow scrapper Lizzy Hill from Australia who sent me this Manner House bloom to ink up. She is a rock star scrapper and someone I'm glad I connected with. 

The dyed gauze and gold glitter on the little metal frame I made for the word "LOST" came from Helen. She gave me the idea for the gauze ages and ages ago and I've used it for many pages. The the gold glitter spray came in a package from her! It looks quite pretty on the frame, better than in a photo. I am glad I met her too, as I have gotten tons of ideas from her scrappin!

And last but not least, my little quote by Billy Joel that I used on a scenic photo from Peru:  I am no longer afraid of becoming lost, because the journey back always reveals something new, and that is ultimately good for the artist.

And Anne the Scrappy Boss of AFSC? Thanks for having me on your challenge blog and for being super cool. 

Hugs! 

Mitra