Cross the Line

I chose to become a member of the Spellbinders Blog Team as I share with them a similar desire to explore beyond and remove the arbitrary divisions that exist among creative groups. I am a firm believer in inclusivity and feel lucky to have the opportunity to spread that word.

Wednesdays on my blog are typically saved for posting blog tutorials that show how I integrate products from Spellbinders, which are traditionally associated with card makers and scrapbookers, into my own mixed media style. Today though, I am posting the first in a series of personal stories from other people who have explored beyond, crossed a line, and broken the boundaries. Perhaps these stories will inspire you to do the same!

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Rachel Whetzel

"Hello. My name is Rachel Whetzel. I'm thrilled to be coming to you as a guest here on The Altered Page. I'm 37 years old, and mom to three boys, ages 19, 13 and 9. We recently moved to the country and I have discovered that I was MADE to be a country girl. I dabble in a million things. One of these things has been scrapbooking. I have been a scrapbooker since I was about 21 years old. Recently, I have drifted toward art journaling. Now I float between the two...because now I believe they are one in the same. This is the story of my journey.

I started out as a pretty traditional scrapbooker.

In 2006, Emily Falconbridge started an art journaling project called deck of ME. The idea was to create an art journal page on a playing card each week for a year. I was instantly hooked. I loved the idea of using images like I would on a scrapbook page but using them in new ways.

I found my subject matter and the things I wanted to do in my scrapbooking changing. I hated being limited by the "rules" of scrapbooking. Why did scrapbook pages have to be happy? What about scrapbooking memories of things I didn't have pictures for? I felt constricted by the limitations the art journaling and scrapbooking worlds put on what was and wasn't allowed. I didn't see any reason for the two to be separated. Before I knew it I was spending more and more time creating things that I wanted to, and worrying less and less about what rules I might be breaking.

I now see how those lines that scrapbookers and art journal artists draw between themselves are only imaginary. They are only self imposed. The two actually live in the same space. They are interchangeable and NOT exclusive of each other. Still when Seth asked me if I scrapbooked, I hesitated - even though I long ago decided that what I do IS scrapbooking. Silly of me, I know. Yet I did. Even after all this time. The reaction is the reason for my sharing here with you.

I want to encourage you. Whether you are a scrapbooker or an art journaler. Step to the other side of the line you see drawn. Join the dark side. Be a rule breaker. Try making your art journal a bit more scrappy. Try scrapbooking with a touch of paint or a touch of angst...whatever the line is that you face. Step over it! Don't hesitate."

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Thanks Rachel for sharing your thoughts and experiences. If you want to learn more about Rachel and see more of her artwork, you can visit her at her website or blog.