One of my favorite ways to use scrapbooking as a tool for self-awarenesss and self discovery is “truth telling.” It’s the reason I started scrapbooking in the first place: I wanted to have an outlet that would give me the freedom to go from writing about my feelings in a journal to expressing my feelings in a scrapbook. Scrapbooking gives me a way to express my feelings in a cohesive and meaningful way that helps me feel lighter and, yes, better!
We may love many parts of our lives, but (to tell the truth) at times we all have ways in which we doubt ourselves, who we are, or our path. Sometimes these layouts aren’t for public consumption—but why not do them anyway? If you kept a diary as a kid, or a journal as an adult, you will most likely find great relief in expressing your truth.
Our Scrapbooking from the Inside Out (SFTIO) Design Team created some very real and moving layouts on the subject of our June kit, Truth. Pay special attention to the self-portraits our artists used…they tell a good part of each story.
Be True to You by Melissa Elsner for Scrapbooking from the Inside Out.
Design Team Coordinator Melissa Elsner reminds herself to”be true to you” in this lovely layout about her struggles (and the universal struggle) to accept ourselves for who we are. See how instead of only journaling that it’s okay to be herself, she also admits how difficult it is at times? That’s truth telling.
Sometimes by Nicole Martel for Scrapbooking from the Inside Out.
Nicole Martel shares her “sometimes” thoughts—those doubts that crop up in all our minds—and the title is so appropriate, don’t you think? Luckily, life doesn’t hand us doubt or difficulty all the time, but it’s so very human to have these feelings.
Be True to You by Jen Matott for Scrapbooking from the Inside Out.
Jen Matott gets deep and confronts the little lies in her head that stop her from always acknowledging her beautiful self. She ends with her dream for herself: being comfortable in her own skin—wonderful!
What truth would you like to tell and get off your chest now, and how could you scrapbook it? Comment here by Monday, June 4, at 9:00 am (MDT), and you might win our newest kit, Truth. This great kit, filled with soft, clear colors, denim, burlap, and more, is ready to help you to tell your truths.
Truth kit from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out
Come join us online to learn more about our kit and to get our free inspiration page to help your creative heart and hands flow. And be sure to stay tuned! Our SFTIO design team is expanding in July, and we look forward to inspiring you with even more layouts that give you permission to tell your truth every day. We would love to welcome you and join you on your journey to explore your inner world!
—Rachel Kaufman, Scrapbooking from the Inside Out
Congratulations to our winner, RamonaP: I think I would want to talk about motherhood and how I struggle to still sometimes be me and not mommy.
To claim your prize, watch for an email from Creating Keepsakes.
I am trying to do a lot more of this type of journaling. I believe it’ws important to be true to ourselves and not only scrap the happy moments but the sad ones too. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse my mind is pretty cluttered with all sorts of negative thoughts and I think this sort of scrapping/journaling would go further towards healing than any therapy I could ever pay money to sit thru
Thanks for a chance to win!
This is gorgeous!!! It might be your best kit yet!!! Truth is very important to me. I wear it on my sleeve. There are some truths, though, that ARE hard to express. I believe in the power of scrapbooking to help with your troubles. I am still reluctant to tell my deepest truths. Thanks for a chance to win!!!!
What a gorgeous kit! I love the colors of the yellow and blue together. Thanks for once again challenging us to get deep!
Love this kit… reminds me of a deep ocean. This challenge reminds me of postsecret.com where you draw/write/create a postcard with your secret.
Love this kit…the colors are amazing!
My big truth is I want another baby…I’ve been trying to convince hubby.
Wow, your dt is so brave to put their pages out there. They are awesome layouts and really make me what to journal more. What a fabulous idea to scrap about. I’ll keep my truths to myself though
My truth is that I don’t scrapbook my feelings — I scrapbook my experiences. It’s a great kit though, and I’d love to win it. Thanks for the opportunity.
Karen
I’d love to journal about my frustrations in being a woman, wife, mother.
My truth: I am completely powerless against chocolate. I can not have it in the house or I will eat it till it is all gone.
Carol B
ciaoitalia2007(at)gmail(dot)com
Ah- what a novel idea! I wouldn’t have thought of doing this on my own, but now that you’ve mentioned it, I think its a fantastic idea! While I am on the same page as @Melanie C, my biggest truth would be convincing myself, then believing, that I’m a good mother to my beautiful set of twins!!
My truth, to admit I can’t handle my depression alone. And though I scrapbook, I am usually too scared to put my real feelings down on paper, because that will make them seem even more real.
Gorgeous kit!!!
My truth is that I struggle to see myself past my imperfections. I want to find peace with my entire self.
My truth is that I wish I was more self assured. I am not as confident as I might seem and I wish I looked more like I did before I had kids. In terms of hwo to scrap it, I’m not sure. I think there would be a lot of journaling, and maybe some before and after pictures, and then photos of my kids that show that they’re OK and they’re worth the changes in me.
I would love to use the papers to make a mini-album about me, about my faith, about who I truly am as a person! We always need the opportunity to be authentic and share who we are! Thanks! =)
I love the colours of this kit. The truth I’d tell would be about how much I’ve grown by being a parent! It’s the hardest and most rewarding job ever!
Beautiful! Such awesome projects.
my truth… I can’t wait until the kids are grown up!
I really like Jen Metott’s layout zig zags. The colors are great, too. Thanks for the chance to win a great prize!
I have believed almost my entire life that I am not creative. Now I am discovering, that yes, I am! and I want to explore and develop that because that is a huge major truth for me. I am also learning that creativity requires practice — and lots of it — just like any other skill. My favorite color is blue, so that the Truth kit would be a perfect way to explore the truth. Thanks for a chance to win!
I read this entry early this morning and have thought about several times today.Just wouldn’t leave me alone-which I found unsettling.I have always been the “clown”.I make people laugh-but not far from the surface is always a pervading sense of sadness.And I’m not real sure how I would I scrap that.
Love those layouts and this beautiful kit. A truth that I haven’t scrapped or talked about is resentment I still have over my fathers care before he died. I think it would hurt feelings to write it. Maybe some hidden journaling….
My truth–I would like to change careers and be a professional scrapbooker, but I know that I just can’t since I am the primary earner in the household. I sometimes have feelings of resentment, frustration at work, and the urge to be more creative than I am. I learn to relish my moments of creativity. I would scrap this with hidden journaling about the frustration, and publicly celebrate the moments I get to do what I love.
I would like to scrap the truth that I really wasn’t cared for during childhood and adolescence.
Love the kit. I would scrap about my husband and if I had the chance to do over again, I probably would not marry him and that is the truth.
I would say that while some of the things that I have gone through have been very hard, my truth is that I am much stronger because of all of those trials. It makes it easier to deal with the trials that come up now.
My truth, to have more time to scrapbook. Love this kit!
I think I would want to talk about motherhood and how I struggle to still sometimes be me and not mommy.
My truth would be not giving myself enough credit or believing in myself.
My truth is that I think about scrapbooking all the time…wish i had more time!
I want to scrapbook the good and bad and my feelings of being a “mom”. Looks like a great kit, thanks for a chance to win.
There are actually a great many truths that I keep to myself because I really do not believe that they should all be shared and known by all! I guess my biggest Truth and the most difficult thing for me to talk about is the lifelong struggle I have had with love of food and obesity and how discouraged I feel about doing something about it at this stage of my life. And how would I scrapbook about it? Maybe a full length photo of me and some heartfelf journaling?
I need to revisit the struggles we had with conceiving and how my body finally came thru for us! I feel I’ve just passed thru this miracle event in our lives because of the bustle of life. And what I really need to do is sit and be still with it for a moment. Journaling and scrapping it would be perfect.
My truth is that since I lost my job 2 years ago, I am scared to death of applying to full-time jobs that I know I can do because I’m so unsure of myself now. My self-confidence is about level 2 (10 being the highest); I really don’t know how to scrapbook these kinds of feelings.
Over 15 years ago, I made a bad choice and I have lived with the guilt since. I know that although it was a bad choice, the results have lead to many positive changes for my spouse and my children – changes that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. The week before Christmas past, a person who knew the truth chose to send newspaper clippings and a letter to our newspaper and my boss – the result was that I had no choice but to tell my truth to many who had no idea. I have spent 15 years reliving the choice I made and living with the guilt – and many who now know have told me it is in the past – but the truth is, it feels like yesterday. I believe that I could use this kit to scrapbook this ‘truth’ and perhaps let it go as something in the past – that I am no longer that person – and leave it for future generations to show that while people make mistakes – they can change. Another truth, as much as I try to believe this – it is hard work daily to not get mired down with what others ‘might’ be thinking and change the negative self-talk – I still have so far to go. Thanks for the opportunity – and last truth – this is the most I have ever written about this. It is scary to think what you must think – and I don’t even know you!
Ladies, I am as always so honored by your sharing! Thank you for your honesty…and your kind words about the kit and our designers…come by and see us soon!
I’d scrapbook about how desperately I want to change my life…I’m not at a happy point in my life, and I’m looking for a new outlook….
Wow, so many comments from people who could pop over to SFTIO and get a lot out of the challenges, you don’t have to have the kit to do them, and youdon’t have to have the journalling on display. The Truth Will Out. Just do it.
I enjoyed reading all of these and wish you would all come join our community so you do not feel so alone! hugs.