it takes courage....

it takes courage to grow up and become who you really are....

so, at last i completed this layout - the layout with the photos of my 44th "birthday party" with my really good friends Corlia and Julie...  

well, it was not really on my birthday - i spent this birthday at the airport after a grueling 3 week journey around South Africa with our first Secret Scrapbook Event. but these two amazing ladies would NOT take no for an answer the following Saturday and drove all the way through to JBay again to take me for breakfast.

i am so blessed to have friends like these two (and lots of other ones).

i knew i wanted to scrap the photos. the right papers arrived at the shop late 2016 - awesome 49 & Market papers as well as their STUNNING matching flowers.  the Prima Marketing Stencil that i used arrived at about the same time.

i started this page in November last year just after Finn and Cari's visit - and all i did was cut the paper and do the stencil work with Finn's White Crackle Texture Paste.  i chose the flowers and that was it.  it had to be pushed to the back because of work commitments. but when i cleaned my scrap table this week, the project found its way onto my CLEAN table.  and i promised myself that i would not touch anything else until this was done.

so, today, after teaching at the shop, i came home and switched off my phone and the computer, sat with the doggies for a while, went for a walk and started - slowly, actually ENJOYING the process, not having to rush for a deadline...  and i love the outcome!

i don't really care if anyone likes it - i love everything on the page.  i love the colours.  i love the paper, the flowers, the stencil wording and the look of the crackle up close.  i love the subtle shimmer of the amazing Brilliance Lighting Black ink on the corners, the stamped sentiment, the leaves, the "celebrate" element and the splats... i love my beaded "masterpiece" little element on the side.... LOL - yes, i can do that if i want to - and i LOVE the Vintaj Patina'd cheap plastic elements that now look expensive - well, to me at least!!!!!  i love the stitching using what i had available and i love the little row of Webster's Pages balloons... the journaling is intensely personal but the stencil quote says it all - i never knew that i could just BE who i really am and be OK with that...

i have always been a people pleaser - but i have realised that i will NEVER be able to please people and that i should not want to please people...  the only PERSON that i should want to please is a HOLY God - my heavenly Father.  and i know there are people reading this thinking here she goes again - but you know, this is who i am and this is what matters to me most...  and it took a lot of courage to grow up and really be me.

so, here i am.

hello world 

lots of love

xxxxx