CraftyChick is back

I've had an alter ego for a long time-CraftyChick. Its my yahoo email, my Twitter name and ID for several other email lists. Its also an embodiment of who I am and what I love to do. I love to create things-from papercrafts to needlework to fabric to flowers to whatever. I always wanted some artistic talent but I was convinced that it had skipped me. Then I realized that I created art in a different way. Instead of sculpting or drawing or painting, I scrapbook or make cards. I enjoy the process and I love the end results. Maybe I might not be a star scrapbooker but I like how my pages turn out and that's what matters.
I plan on working on my Christmas album this week. I have a lot of ideas floating around in my head, and Hobby Lobby has paper on sale...hmmm this could be dangerous! I also have plans for birthday albums, etc. etc. etc. What I am thinking is that since the paper is on sale, I can get stuff to do my 2010 albums. This way I have everything at the ready, and I can concentrate on the scrapping itself. A lot of the time I find myself a day late and a dollar short. I had the pictures and no ideas or layout designs done. But this time around, I am going to be ready in advance (I can almost hear my husband laughing at me right now, because I go through this little creative bursts a lot it seems).
The number one reason I am doing this is because the Little Man loves looking at the albums I've created. He especially loves the birthday album I made for his 6th birthday (haven't done the 7th birthday album yet) and out of all the books he has for a bedtime story, that is his favorite. How can I argue with that? That is why I scrap.
So for 2010, I've decided to take the Project Life approach. Instead of making complicated embellishments, I am going to just focus on the story. No one is going to really care about the 7 layer paper pieced whatever with glitter and brads. They are going to want to know the story. And I want to keep the story alive because that's how traditions and all get passed on.
With my new approach, I've decided to do at least a 2 page layout for each month (24 pages, easy with all the pictures I take anyway). Then with special events added in-my mother in law and sister in law visiting (Jan) Big Man's birthday (Jan), Little Man's class party (Valentines-Feb), St. Patrick's Day (March), Easter (April), Field Day/Last Day of School (May), Mothers Day, Fathers Day, summer, etc. etc. When I've planned things in advance, I've done some amazing layouts. They are not professional level, but that's ok. I enjoy it and that is what matters.
My crafting to me is a form of meditation. Its a way to give glory to God and thank Him for the talent He's granted me.
I have noticed over the last few months, my faith vessel has been very empty. Not quite sure why, but I haven't had the hallelujuahs that I normally have going on in my life. Add to it, I haven't been to church for a month-all of Advent really. Its not for the lack of trying either, but it makes me feel less whole and complete. I love the connections and the way my cup gets filled there. Big Man and Little Man are not churchy people, and while it disappoints me greatly, I can't get upset over it. I can just keep praying that their hearts will turn. Actually for the Little Man its because Daddy doesn't go, and he wants to be like his Daddy. He's even told me this, so there goes trying to get him to go. I want our home to be faith filled-we say grace before dinner, Little Man says prayers before bed. I do too, the nights I don't collapse into sleep. I read my morning devotions most mornings.
Seeing this in print is glaringly obvious. One of my biggest issues lately is a sloppy spiritual life. If I put half as much effort into my spiritual life as I do with anything else that I do, I'd be golden. But I cut corners on it, and it carries on into other parts of my life. I cut a lot of corners regularly. I look for the easy way out in a lot of areas. Just like with working out, eating healthy, cleaning the house...the corners I cut effect things all across the board. I don't do things the way that I should because I look for the easy way out. However, the easy way out is actually a much more difficult path because I have to figure out a way to not do something, then have the psychic energy of the thing not done dragging at me. Its a losing proposition all the way around. And it all boils down to the whole am I not worth 100%? That's why I struggle. I have a hard time admitting that God loves me unconditionally. I see my faults and flaws and weaknesses and He loves me despite that. Yet I don't really accept this gift, because I feel unworthy...its a self perpetuating cycle. I know the times I've felt very positive and strong in my life, my spiritual life was kicking butt & taking names. It just seems as if parts of my life disappear because I am so scattershot.
Getting back to the topic at hand. I have not been crafting a lot over the last few years because I feel that I don't have the time. I really do have the time, its just planning it out more and shifting from A to B to C. I can clean the house, cook, craft and hang out with my boys all in the same day only if I shift my outlook. I don't scrap because I don't have the time...but if I set aside 15 minutes a day-that's one layout. x 365 days that's a lot of layouts done! Imagine how many bedtime stories that will cover...