ex(PR)essed

As I’ve been thinking about being creative in this new year and as I’ve found myself feeling incredibly motivated to scrapbook, I’ve also been thinking about the stumbling blocks and distractions that in the past have thrown me off my creative course. Hand’s down the biggest one is time. Or, more specifically, lack thereof.

As important as creating physical space for creative endeavors is carving out time. This is no easy task for most of us. When you’re managing a family, full-time work, church and social activities, a house, and marriage, it can be difficult to set aside 10 minutes, let alone 2 hours, for your hobbies. Yet, in this New Year I’ve really started thinking about scrapbooking in similar terms to how my husband approaches his runing schedule.

Jeff is very disciplined about his running. He knows in advance what his anticipated mileage for the week should be and he plots out the necessary days/lengths of run to accomplish that goal. Sometimes that means spending four hours on a Saturday morning out on the trails or squeezing in a run after dark on a Sunday night. Regardless of the circumstances though, he runs.

I can’t exactly match the hours he spends running with scrapbooking, but I can adopt the same sort of mind frame and discipline. I can work towards being especially efficient when I do have a few moments (or hours) to spend in my craft room. I can gather ideas and jot notes throughout the week. And, I can allow myself to scrapbook guilt-free, meaning recognizing that capturing our family’s history is a meaningful way of contributing to our day-to-day lives. As meaningful and important as clean floors and dust-free tabletops.

So, how am I doing with making time? Well, so far so good! But, our family’s February and March are slated to be quite a bit busier than January, so the challenge will really be on now. I know, however, that I have 1.5 hours every Monday night for crafting — that’s a time when Jeff is bowling and my fellow crafting friend Sandy comes over to hang out with me and Adele. And, I’m committed to relishing that time! I may not always accomplish much in that 90 minutes, but I’m also allowing myself to be ok with leaving a  project incomplete for days at a time or even lowering my expectations for the self-imposed perfection I strive to attain.

I think I’m writing this post because our calendar is so much more full in the coming weeks, and I want to encourage/remind myself to make time for the things I enjoy.

Remember the post about making valentines for the 18,000 people who receive Meals on Wheels in New York City? Well, I was true to my word and hosted a valentine-making party at my house to support that cause.

On Monday night nine ladies and their kiddos came to spend a few hours crafting and jamming to the Motown mix I selected for the night’s activities. (Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, and The Temptations; how can you go wrong?!) By the evening’s end, 44 lovely valentines had been made!

What a fun night! I mostly hung out with the kids once my own was tucked in so that other moms could enjoy crafting. Before you feel bad for me, let me assure you that those kids were especially cute and very well behaved.

On Tuesday night, I made four of my own valentines to add to the collection. Tomorrow I will be lovingly packing these up and preparing to mail them so that our senior friends in NYC can enjoy them on Valentine’s Day.

Last year I took a spiritual gifts inventory. I thought it came back with disappointing results. I had about six gifts all within one point of each other. It didn’t tell me anything about myself or my gifts, I said.

I was wrong.

It told me that my gifts–in a tie for first place–were showing mercy and service. My pastor disputed my skepiticism. And, I started thinking about my years in the church and as a believer and considering the projects and moments in which I felt closest and most useful to God, and it was in moments of service! Yay! My inventory was correct.

Ever since, I’ve been thinking a lot about the spiritual gift of service and what it really looks like for me and my walk with the Lord. I have some ideas, and I’m trying out a new role or two at church this year in hopes of further refining how I can be most effective for the Lord, for his church, and for the lost. I’ll keep you posted.

Anyhow, I was delighted when my sweet friend Laurie called my attention to the Etsy project, Share Your Love. Etsy, a site that sells only handmade goodies, is seeking people to make valentines for the more than 18,000 elderly residents of New York City who receive Meals on Wheels. This project is SO up my alley! What a great way to combine my word of the year — creative — with my spiritual gift — service!

So, friends, stay tuned! I’m hoping to host a card-making party at my house (and perhaps at work too). I’d like to bundle a whole bunch of lovingly made, cheery little Valentines to send to the sweet grandmas and grandpas of NYC. Won’t you join me?

I think part of the reason that I’m feeling more creative and inspired in this new year is because of this awesome space that I’ve carved out for myself in our new house. Fortunately for me, I’m able to have my own crafting room. The space that was available to me in this house for such a purpose exceeded my expectations, and it sat empty and white-walled for quite awhile until I could decide how to paint, arrange, and decorate the room.

I wavered on what color to paint the walls and then finally followed my first (and best!) instinct and went with a shade of green. I’m a girl who loves green. Why try to convince myself otherwise by painting the one room in the house that is completely mine some other color?! Exactly. So, green it is.

I repurposed some furniture from our old house, bought two new pieces for cheap at  Big Lots, and landed an awesome old, red toolbox at an antique store. I really couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

So, here are a few photos in case you need a little inspiration of your own these days.  I’m even sharing a glimpse of my table as I work on a page in Adele’s album. Just being in this room getse my creative juices flowing!