Demons....Play Ball!

(click on photo for larger photo)

This week for my design team layout for All About Me Challenge Blog, I went a little dark...

Challenge #22 is all about....Demons.

As always, the rest of the DT had very different takes....some lighthearted and funny and some seriously dark...do with it as you wish!

And for this prompt you can WIN A PRIZE!  Up for grabs is a bunch of Core'dinations Cardstock provided by Melissa!  How sweet!

SO, if you need some extra motivations.....THERE YOU GO!

This was a little of a struggle for me.  Demons.  I'm a very optimistic and positive person, but I do have my demons.  I thought it would be interesting to delve into that side of me that I don't usually think about.

A version of me that used to be.

The title of my layout is "i love the way you lie" which I took from a song by Eminem featuring Rihanna.  It was difficult for me to really journal my mood.  This song really seemed to have that dark feel to it, so I journaled the lyrics and as a whole, it seems to reflect a "me" about 10 years ago.

She wasn't always nice, honest, caring, and kind.

In fact, she was mean, selfish, hurtful, violent, jealous and vengeful.

Seriously.....Sad....

But, it was a part of me I had to get through and learn from.

I don't think I'd want to be that way again, but it was an important step to becoming the person I've grown into today, so I guess if I was given an option to change that part of my life...I don't think I would have.

Here are the lyrics I used as journaling:

"Just gonna stand there

And watch me burn

But that's alright

Because I like

The way it hurts

Just gonna stand there

And hear me cry

But that's alright

Because I love

The way you lie

I love the way you lie...."

Here's the song if ya wanna listen...but be aware that there is some profanity in the lyrics:

I really love this layout though!  It's so raw and real!  I don't know how this all came about...but it did in one sitting.  I love how I used vellum strips to journal on and then used it as a cage.

I think I've created some of my best work using dark prompts.

I love the mirrored teardrop, the stamping, the glitter around my eye, the hue of the photo and the sewing I did on the layout.  I also did some fun embossing using a woodgrain stamped pattern.

Now I have to say, I've never had a violent relationship like the one depicted in this song.  It's just a reflection of what I felt inside.  I swear, sometimes I did things because I honestly didn't care about myself at times.  And I did things to others because they hurt me and I wanted to hurt them back.

I didn't respect myself and I think I even dated men who I knew I wouldn't respect, just so I new I could walk away whenever I wanted.  And several times I walked away without a word, phone call, explanation.  I just didn't really care about anyone...not even myself.

And knowing what I know now, I was just dealing with demons then that even reached as far back as my young childhood.  Finally, after being hurt so many times by those I cared for, I think I snapped.

I don't know why I did the things I did, but I'm glad I eventually made peace with myself enough to begin to enjoy my life again.  And that's the Mo you all probably know.

Let's now move on to some fun!

High School was a pretty fun time in my life, though.

That's where the Pink Ninja Prompt layout comes in...

Prompt #42: Play Ball

Bust out all those sports pictures you know you all have been waiting to scrap!

I know, I know...here we go again with that Pink Ninja Addicts Accidentally Kelly Kit....I KNOW!

More of my beautiful papers put to good use.

I was on the tennis team!  I loved it!  I had some of my best memories on the tennis team playing with some of my best friends!

I did some fun hand stitching here and then attached the pieces to my layout.  I loved that "report card"!  I tucked it into a pocket I created.  The back is meant for some journaling (which I didn't do yet).

It was fun and therapeutic doing all the reminiscing I did working on these two pages.

Now it's YOUR turn to play!

Hope your week has been going well!

Hugs,

Mo

I'm NO pushover!

Here's another ME page!  Boy, this is pretty good therapy!

This challenge is from All About Me called Pigeon-holed. 

Here's details on the prompt:

Do you ever feel as though you've been pigeon-holed? Categorised? Labelled? Misunderstood? As though you've changed, but no-one else sees it? Who does everyone think you are? Who do you really think you are? Are they the same?

There's also a sketch to help you along!

This layout is just about me griping about how I'm labeled as a pushover...and I HATE THAT! I may be nice...but I'm NOT someone ANYONE should take lightly nor think would do anything for anyone just to please them....SOOO NOT ME!

I operate on the idea that you should treat people the way you wish to be treated. I had alot to say, so I had to write it on a journaling/library card and tucked it behind my photo where I created a pocket...see the blue flower? Tug on that, and you'll find my hidden journaling...much the same way I hide my true feelings

Not to say I'm a deceptive person...but I react instantly and emotionally and I can jump to conclusions...so I sit back, bite my tongue and watch...and a lot of times I change my initial opinion! I balance my quick temper, impatience and emotional nature with respect (which is due to everyone except those who are disrespectful), quiet contemplation and giving someone the benefit of the doubt....and I'll turn a negative opinion about a person or situation around...and sometimes even start to REALLY like someone who initially TURNED ME OFF...and in turn...can also...NOT LIKE someone who I initially THOUGHT was fun or interesting.  I'm APPROACHABLE not a pushover and I do things for people out of kindness.  No one takes advantage of me.

Here's the journaling:

Just because I smile and keep quiet doesn't mean I don't bite my tongue, form opinions, and file away important observations. I'm the one who sits quietly and learns from what I see and hear....and when I finally have something to say, people listen. I'M the one you DON'T EVER want to piss off.

I did some stamping on this layout!  Wahooooo!  I also busted out my alcohol inks.  I wanted to use some type of pp with newspaper print, but the one I had had this design of a scuba helmet (can you see it above?)..the old looking kind made of metal.  So I took about 3 brownish colors and dabbed and dabbed.  But that didn't seem like enough, so I took my cool stamp and stamped it repeatedly using embossing ink (VersaMark).  I then heat embossed with white.  Way too fun!!!

So the next prompt is ALREADY UP...A turning point in your life!  If you haven't checked out AAM yet, head on over! 

I used a lot of items from my Studio Calico Kit: Soday Fountain (thanks Dani)!

If you'd like a supply list, CLICK HERE.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to stop by today!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Are you ready for Halloween?????

Mwahahahah!!!!!

If you missed the NASTY BOYS post.....CLICK HERE to see the current YUMMYnees in the category The Villains for the November 2nd Mo's Man of the Week!

I'm hoping to convince my brother-in-law to come by next Wednesday to shoot some pics of me and the kids in Halloween costumes....so that we don't have to worry about it on Halloween night!  Plus, we'll have some daylight (I hope) for good photos!  We'll see!

Hugs,

Mo

I am Wonder Woman

Here's another SUPER COMBO layout!  It's soooo cool when you realize you can combine challenges!  I did FOUR with this one!
1)  Sketchy Thursdays Sketch 
2)  Point Blank Period  (Get Over It.)
3)  Pink Ninjas (Which cartoon character would you be?)
4) Scrap that Poetry (inspo was Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou)

Here's the sketch:

BooHoo...this is the second to the last sketch I get to play with!  I haven't done the last layout...cuz I think I'm too sad...he he!  But I got some new scrappy stuff in the mail yesterday and so I may just muster up the MoJo I need to GO OUT WITH A BANG!

The inspirational poem over at Scrap That Poetry was "Phenomenal Woman" by Maya Angelou.  What a perfect choice!  I've always loved this poem!  I chose to journal the section above because I felt it sounded the most like me.

This layout is more of a way to be my own cheerleader.  I've said it before, I have challenges with feeling like a good Mother and person.  Maybe it's because there's so many things I want to do but I end up cutting some things out of my "to do" list.  And maybe it's because I really idolize my mother and see her as a strong woman...a selfless woman.  And I see myself very different from her and I'm realizing as I type this....that I believe she's the best mother anyone could ever have and I'm very different...so that must mean, I'm the opposite.  That's it!  Do you know how long I've been thinking about this?

So, I did created this page to remind me that I do have some great qualities, and although I feel like I could be a better person, that doesn't mean I suck as a Mom.

I know my job is difficult on my body as well as my mind (emotionally).  I've seen life coming into the world and life leaving it. I've seen young people who's lives have been cut short because of poor choices (drug addicts) and people who have dedicted their lives to saving people who contract cancer and die because of their jobs (a Firefighter).   As a Nurse, I've taken care of people I admire....honest to good people...and evil people (murderers and child molesters).  But you have to treat them equally and care for them all.  And I've done that.  I've been praised and I've been insulted, I've been hugged and slapped and punched.  Yet MOST days I still love my job.  And the bad DOES outweigh the good, even though sometimes there are more bad things happening, the good counts more in your mind.

I also love that I'm not afraid to tell my kids a thousand times a day that I love them and I hug them and tell them how special they are.  I try to encourage them to think and learn and also play and create.  I teach them responsibility yet try to remind them not to take things too seriously.  I'm lucky I have the time to spend with them and I'm glad I made the decision to enter a career in Nursing so I could work part-time and stay home with the kids and live a content life.  I'm proud I choose to skimp on the fancy and splurge on necessity.  And I sure picked a good man to marry.

So, I guess I do classify myself as a Phenomenal Woman

just like Wonder Woman!

I'm sooooooo over feeling like I come up short.

I'm awesome just the way I am!

I'm strong, I'm beautiful, and I'm THE BOSS!

CLICK HERE for a supply list.

Hugs,

Mo

Alone.....

I've been waiting for the first challenge at Scrap That Poetry ALL WEEK! I loved how my page turned out.

The inspiration poem is "If" by Rudyard Kipling. See the entire poem HERE.

As I read the poem, I was reminded of some not-so-great years in college. Most people might look back and enjoy this time. I didn't.

Not all of it was bad...but let's just say, women can be mean and I discovered some enemies I never knew I had.

I will never understand why a person can decide NOT to like someone "just because" but that happened to me. And it happened several times.




Here's the part of the poem I used in my journaling:

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you; But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting; Or, being lied about, don't deal in the lies, Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;


No matter what I did, I felt it would backfire....and things did. If I looked nice, I was talked about. If I dressed down there were whispers. If I talked to a guy friend, I was accused of flirting with someones man. In the end I just gave up and walked away. But I can't say I was the bigger person, because when you hurt...sometimes you hurt back.

So that's the reason for the title. I felt very alone during this time in my life. I gradually changed the people I hung around with and slowly I started to enjoy myself. But in the process I tried to do the right thing, but didn't always succeed. Hate is such a self-destructive thing....and I think it even lead to some self-hate. But I worked through it and realize I wouldn't be the person I am today with all the hurt and pain and the mistakes I made then.

My feelings transferred onto the layout as I created. The hurt, patched by lots of prettiness. I added bling with the torn edges and everything held together with stitching....to create a facade: underneath the pretty papers I layered some Walnut ink over some Kraft card stock to give it a dark feel. I projected strength but inside I was torn and wounded. I masked the hurt with bitterness. I didn't like the person I became. And I was lost for awhile. Other things in my life were leaving scars. Scars of unworthy people I let into my life and bad decisions I had made. I was lost for a long long time.

Here you can see the torn edges and stitching. I love how imperfect this page is. I love the upturned and ripped edges.

Lots of dark colors are blended with red...fire...anger. Parts of the real me are sprinkled throughout the layout...the turquoise, the bling.
But if you look closely, it's not really me.

Here's the title. See the crystals? Think salt on wounds.
Hurt.

Pain.

Screams.

Loss.

ALONE.

And there's my fiery red flower. All by it's lonesome. The key locking away the pain.

The scraps are crumpled and distressed as well.

I love all the texture in this layout. The rips and tears.

Luckily, I climbed up out of that hole I was in. I found myself again. And the sun was shinging. And I was happy. I found Faith again. And I loved myself again. Really loved myself. And I found love too. By then it was 2001 and my life was about to change big time. I was ready for what life had in store for me.

For this layout, I used the September Kit - Gypsy from Simply Obsessed. I loved all the Bo Bunny papers together. The colors are so spicy...and passionate.

This is absolutely my most expressive layout. It's become my favorite one too. Weird huh? It evokes all these feelings and parts of me from a time I don't like to remember...but I love it because of the honesty in it.

THANKS SCRAP THAT POETRY! This was an amazing poem and I can't wait to see the other submissions! Thanks everyone for reading my deep dark secrets! He he!

For a supply listing CLICK HERE.

Have you tried scrapping to poetry? Do you like it?

****I've got some fun in the works....he he. Want a hint? Check out the vote box above! That's right! Cast your vote for the Man of the Week of October 19th! The poll is in the sidebar*****

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I will be busy working till Tuesday afternoon so I will blog visit ya'll Wednesday!!!!

Hugs,

Mo

The Goofiness That Is Mo

I've been wanting to get DOWN AND DIRTY for the longest time!!!! With paints, that is! I'd been planning a layout in my mind...you know, the ones where you know there's something special brewing so you kind of hold off and see what surfaces.

It started the day I got the Shimmerz in the mail. I won them at Vintage Plum, and it had been so long ago, that I don't know what for! It was a drawing for the product, I believe! Anyway, I wanted to do some masking with all those die cuts I've been making for my MoMoStamper Etsy Shop! I've been playing with techniques so that I could come up with some cute examples to post in the store.

Well, I was surfing the blogosphere and there was mention about The Dares, and I'd been wanting to check that place out for awhile now. It's really intriguing over there! Wouldn't you know it, the dare involved getting messy! I could finally put something together...this was my cue! Messy...like PAINT kindof messy...not really my style! I don't mean that I don't like it, but it's not something I usually do in my layouts....though I've admired MANY layouts just like this!

So this page was born after Dare 143. Basically it's getting messy with ink, paint and masks!
I got to do some real playing around on this one! I felt like I was in grade school again!!! I used my die cuts as masks and sprayed on some Shimmerz in 2 colors to create the effect on lighter cardstock. First I sprayed on the blue/green color and when it dried, I removed the masks and sprayed again with the pink color Shimmerz. I love how this layout is kinda off centered....kinda GOOFY looking!

Here's the INGREDIENTS:

Flower Embellishments by Prima - Petal Palette Mix #7
Adhesive Felt Borders - Darcy Collection Anna Griffin
Chipboard Stickers - Remarks Series - Thickers by American Crafts
Clear and Mirrored raindrops and circles (manufacturer unknown)
Love & Happiness Rub Ons - black - Stampin' Up!
Rhinestone Brads - Stampin' Up!
Signo Gel Pen in white - UniBall
Stickles - Black - Ranger
Cardstock Stickers - Sassafras
Pigma Micron 03 Journaling Pen - black - Sakura
Shimmerz in 4 Leaf Clover and Bed of Roses
Flowers - Making Memories
Pixie Pink Classic Stampin' Pad - Stampin' Up!
Scallop Edge Punch - Stampin' Up!
Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon - Bermuda Bay - Stampin' Up!
Vintage Butterflies - MoMoStamper Etsy Shop
Vintage Flowers - MoMoStamper Etsy Shop

I outlined the butterflies with some Stickles. The clear adhesive circle came from that pack with the raindrops.....I wish I had MORE! I took a turquoise marker and placed 3 dots down the middle of the butterfly. Then I placed the clear circles on them. To give the butterfly a pink tinge, I just took my Stampin' Up! ink in a shade of pink and pressed the butterfly into it.

Again, I was lacking in the Thickers "E" department, so I used a "3" and thought it went really well with the goofy theme I already had going on!

I used more Stickles to place dots on the left edge where I used my scallop border punch. Okay, story on the photo: This was taken during my sister's Graduation Party....um....after few drinks. I did a goofy pose for the camera. This was the result!

Here I used some of my Vintage Die Cut Flowers. One was used as a mask. I then added a couple die cut flowers in my flower cluster. I thought that big flower needed some definition, so I traced along the outline with a black journaling pen.

Here's a close-up of the raindrops. I love how some of them are mirrored! I thought they were a nice representation of how I love rain. Especially with thunderstorms! You can see how I went in with my gel pen along the scallop edge. I love the imperfection of it!

I added some rub ons and the parts that were on the photo, I outlined again with the Signo Gel Pen. I'm not a good doodler AT ALL. So, this was how I cheated! You can't really tell that it wasn't a freehand doodle! I just traced the rub on!

Here's what the journaling reads:

"silliness is what keeps me going through the good, the bad, and the boring times! i'm sillier now @ 33 than i've EVER been! a direct result of hanging w/ a 2 & 6 yr old!"

I love GOOFY....it keeps me going! To get through a 13 hour day at work I do a lot of goofy talking, dancing, and sometimes even pranks! I sneak up on my co-workers...even some of the docs....either behind them or around a corner! One time one of my big burly guy co-workers went upstairs after closing...when it's dark and deserted...and we were trialing these headphone devices....and I started saying creepy things like..."Are you in the elevator?"...."Remember that scene from The Grudge when the ghost was behind the lady in the elevator?" He didn't say anything at the time, but when he came back down I asked "Did I scare you?" and I was surprised to hear that I FREAKED HIM OUT! I've scared myself a few times...my imagination ALWAYS freaks me out when I find myself in a part of the department alone....in the dark! I work in a Clinic....but HOSPITALS ARE SCARIER! He he he....

Okay, back on track....After I spelled out my name with those turquoise letters....it seemed too plain...so I Stickled around them!

I love this layout because it's sooooooo different from what I usually do! It's one of my FAVES! And it's about MOI~!

Hope you enjoyed my out-of-the-ordinary layout! Have a great weekend Bloggy Gals!

I hope to do more like these!

Hawaiian Style Fun!

Here's a layout I did last week (I think). I believe it was part of the bonus challenge for the Plum Star Search going on at Vintage Plum. My memory is soooo bad!

I miss Hawaii! I need to visit.....but that takes some CA$H....and with 2 kids....YOU KNOW!

I haven't done many layouts on myself...that's something I need to work on! And I am....but now I don't have very PHOTOS of myself because I'm always the one behind the camera!

I found that butterfly on the CLEARANCE rack at Michaels. I got a package for something like $2.49! There were a bunch of other items I got as well....I'm not going to tell you the grand total though!

Recipe:
black card stock, turquoise card stock (manufacturer unknown)
circle striped patterned paper (Me & My Big Ideas)
Circa 12 pt font stamp by Provo Craft
Versamark ink pad and pen
Stampin' Stuff white detail embossing powder by Stampendous
Clusters (pearl) - crystal stickers by Mark Richards
antique buttons (antique button pack purchased at Michael's)
butterfly die cuts by Prima
handmade tag (won during VP crop)
fluid chalk ink pad in charcoal by ColorBox

The words "Hawaiian Style" were made with my Circa stamp using Versamark ink and then embossed with white detail embossing powder! Then for the word "fun" I just wrote the words with my Versamark Pen and embossed that! This is a real quick way to do titles when you don't have any letters available.....or like me...too lazy to pull out the letter stamps or die cut letters...ha ha!

I can't believe this photo was taken about 11 years ago! Time sure flies!