"Out With The Old Me...In With The New"- Doodlebug Design Layout

(Update 1/9/12:  I've added instructions for the background at the bottom of the post.)

About two years ago I was inspired by Robyn of "My Pink Stamper" to change my life and become healthier.  I've always wanted to be in better shape, but never knew how.  Robyn shares her story of getting into shape on her blog under the link "My Pink Loser", and I knew that if she could do it, I could do it too.

It took me another year and a half to convince myself that I was worth the effort and that I could, if I decided to, make myself into whatever I wanted to be.  Earlier this year, a couple of months before turning 30, I decided that "now's the time" and that I would just try for 2 months and see what happened.  I put my heart and soul into becoming the person I'd always wanted to be.

It was so much more for me, though, than just losing weight.  It was also about becoming more confident, less insecure, and healthier.  I know what my family history has in store for me, so I want to be as healthy as I can to help prevent some of those things from happening to me.

I did it.

I reached my goal in 7 weeks of losing 20 pounds.  I learned how good it felt to exercise every day and eat healthier, and when I was given the assignment from Doodlebug Design to create a project with the theme of "Out With The Old, In With The New" I thought it was the perfect topic for me.

  This is the first layout I've ever done about myself.

I've always done layouts about me and my family, or me and my friends.... but never about just me.

The journaling reads:

This year I turned 30

and I decided to change my life

I tried things I’ve never tried before

I made myself more important in my life

I made tough decisions

I fought for what I wanted

I decided life was too short

I became more confident

I finally understood how important it was

to take care of myself

I lost 20 pounds

because I made up my mind that I could

and that I was worth it

I went outside my comfort zone

broke down my barriers

I found myself.

No more insecurity

No more doubt

I can do anything I put my mind to

I will not live another day with regret

I will reach and fight for every dream I have

I will love myself, and love others

I am confident, beautiful….

I am proud to be me

Out With The Old Me...In With The New

Reaching any goal takes a lot of hard work, but more importantly, it takes the decision that the goal is worth it, and the decision that you are worth it.  It takes a lot of patience, and perservenence, but if you decide you want it bad enough, reach for it.  Follow your dreams.  What better time is there than right now?

Take whatever goals you have for the New Year and go for them.

Supplies: Cardstock- Doodlebug Design Classic Collection

Doodlebug Design black, silver, and white flocked and sugar coated cardstocks

Doodlebug Design Classic Collection Icons Stickers

DoodlePops Sticker- Lily

Edited to add instructions 1/9/12
I received a comment asking how I did the background.
Here's the steps (I should have photographed each step as I went):

You'll need 2 12x12 pieces of paper, one to cut up and one to glue your triangles onto.
You'll also need lots of different patterned papers, I used the "Classic Collection" by Doodlebug Design as well as several other Doodlebug black, silver, and white cardstocks.

I took one 12x12 scrap piece of paper and used a grid mat and a long ruler to draw the intersecting lines onto the paper.  The grid mat is a rubber self-healing mat with a grid on it (mine's a huge grey one by Martha Stewart Crafts).  Then I did it again, exactly the same, on another 12x12 piece of paper that would be used as my base for my pieces.  At this point, both pieces of 12x12 paper should look exactly the same.

One at a time I cut out each triangle from the first 12x12 page using an X-acto knife and a metal ruler and used them as a template to cut out the black and white patterned papers.  I layed the triangle onto the patterned paper along the edge and used the X-acto knife and the metal ruler again to cut out each piece.  After cutting one out, I adhered it onto the second 12x12 piece of paper (the base for my page) in the exact same spot.  To keep track of which triangle goes where, I numbered them as I went, and I did them one at a time.  It took a couple of hours to make both templates, cut out each triangle and adhere them all.  Hope that helps.  I can clarify if I didn't make sense.

Thanks so much!

-Tiffany