Finding new inspiration

You know, sometimes I have to remind myself that the word "inspiration" has a technical meaning of breathing in. If I am around things that are inspiring, they tend to take my breath away and make me want to take them into myself and create. So if I put myself where they are, I will inevitably begin that joyful process.

One of the cool things that I found recently (thanks to my awesome friend Linda!) is the digi designer Fa Maura. If you are afraid to use designers who are not native English speakers, you're going to have to let loose of that worry for a bit and check her out. Her store is in English, and she has both page kits and designer resources. And when I say I love her designs, let me tell you, I REALLY love them. I got several items at her store, and you know I don't just go and get myself digi items. I haven't gotten so much stuff since I won a coupon to Studio Ztampf! a few months ago. :D



As per usual, I have all my credits on my Flickr page, but I want to say how much I enjoy this mix of realistic, drawn, and scribbled items in this birthday kit. But even better than that is the color scheme. I normally enjoy natural colors for my normal layouts, but I really wanted some more bright and colorful ones for my special pages with Joe. Fa Maura really does it, and beautifully.

Ok, I'm really not on her CT, honest! lol I've done several more pages lately, but I have not loaded them onto Flickr because I've mainly been putting them in my gallery at The Digi Scrappers. A lot of them have to do with the Journey in Weight Loss group I am taking part in. It is really going so well. I am so excited with the progress we have all been making. I'm being a bit premature, but I think that this is going to the be time I really start turning around my health. I am having such a good time facing what I need to face, and I'm getting so much accomplished on the inside, it seems obvious that the outside will continue to follow. I'll keep you all updated on how it goes. In the meantime, if you want to join, please do! We have a nice, tight-knit group that is very supportive and loving, and we would enjoy helping you along, as well!

Alright, time to move back into work mode. I need to get some more recipes downloaded for my healthier meal plans. :) Until next time, here's to hoping you are all making your new year's ambitions into realities. Je vous aime, mes chers!

Accomplishment

I don't know if I had mentioned this before, but I was lucky enough to lay my greedy little mitts on a copy of CS5 this holiday season, and I'm loving it! I finally feel like I'm starting to get the basics firmly under my belt, so here shortly, I'm going to have to start learning to get past the basics. The fun thing about this, is the basics I am learning are really the nadir of what I had learned to accomplish already in GIMP, so that means I'll be able to take my scrapping to a whole new level... in less than a month's time! Since I spent an entire *year* initially learning all this, I find this incredibly exciting. I know that it's because of the similarities between the programs, but that doesn't make me any less happy about it.

So, this is my latest creation du jour:



I am almost halfway through catching up with myself in Joe's 2nd year album, so I'm feeling good about that. I know I didn't finish it for the holidays, but at least I'll have it ready for the family reunion. :)

I am taking part in a great program this year, and I am really excited about it. Linda and Carolyn have done it again and come up with another cool idea. This time, it's an art journaling program called "A Journey in Weight Loss."

I have seen some of the material, and I think everyone is going to be really impressed with how well this is made. If you want a few more details, be sure to check out the store! If you want some awesome support on your weight loss journey, I think you'll be glad you did.

Ok, I've gotta hop back into things. I've accomplished so many things today, I'm pretty impressed with myself, but that's no reason to rest on my laurels! Until next time, my dears.