Evolution...

I think art is a being that is in constant evolution... Otherwise we get stale, bored, and then it no longer becomes fun.
I was bored, and sick of scrapbooking. It became a chore that I no longer enjoyed. Which is really why I moved to making cards my priority. In talking with a friend she pointed out how much easier it is to work on the small canvas of a card. It really hit home for me. Maybe I just don't like the larger canvas of scrapbooks? Should I stick to mini-albums? Would that keep me happy? ...
I also really hated how long it also took to make a page. It was a rare thing indeed to finish a page in one night. Usually it stretched over a few days before I was really happy. And I have a pile of half finished pages that I will probaby never return too as well.
So many thoughts in my head, the last thing I want to do is give up scrapbooking, but if it's not fun I'm not going to do it.
So this is where I've been for the longest time, stuck in a card making limbo. Which i enjoy, but I miss telling the story's. I miss documenting the fun things in our life..

Ok, now skip to this past weekend. National Scrapbook day.
Wendy Bretz's challenge to skip patterned paper at 2peas, Tina Cockburn's challenge at Studio Calico to embrace white space.... I actually ENJOYED scrapping those pages. Because I went simple. I've always loved simple pages.... always thought about giving it a try, but felt the push to need a "style", and surely simple was not the one for me...

But I loved making these pages, they didn't take me days, probably 1/2hr tops each. And I got a lot of positive feedback which felt nice too. They told the story I wanted to tell, which is really what it's all about right? The story, the pictures, my heart on the page....

Btw, props to you if your still reading this rambling. :)
So this is where my heart is right now.... simple pages, and fun cards. I feel like a weight is off my shoulders when it comes to scrapbooking now. I'm excited. I'm back to thinking about my next pages... I'm using my stuff, and the best part is that I feel more adjusted to life. I don't have to spend all night at my desk and miss out on evenings with my DH. I can put the boys to bed, create for an hour, actually accomplish something then go spend time with my DH, or read a book, or write (my other 'oft pushed aside hobby).

Anyhow, I just wanted to explain my sudden shift towards a more simple style.
I guess It's been in the works for a long time it's just take me this long to pin down what I needed to do.

Here are a few more of my more "simple" pages.



Both pages made with my April Studio Calico Kit.







Thanks for listening to my ramblings... I'm off to re build the bat cave with my boys. Daddy took it apart last night.. mean man ;)