Have you ever had to make a really tough decision? One that really tested your ability to “adult” and to be responsible? Well, I recently had to make a really hard decision…

I made the decision to go back to work outside of the home.

In a recent blog post about my first year as an entrepreneur, I talked about the difficult decision I made to return back to work after a series of  unplanned and unforeseen financial issues struck my family. The stress was mounting and something needed to be done.

As luck would have it, I was offered a semi full-time job with my daughter’s school that really checked all of the boxes: supplemental income, reasonable hours (I only work 6 hours a day, 30 hours per week for 10 months out of the year), reduced tuition for my kid, and peace of mind knowing that I can stop worrying about my cash flow and pour my energies into growing my business at a steady pace.  Returning to work was met with a lot of hesitation on my part. Honestly, there is nothing worse than doing a totally amazing thing like starting a business and struggling to make ends meet.

I decided to document this moment in my journey as an entrepreneur because one day I am going to look back and say that the sacrifices were worth it. My first year in business proved to be a lesson in humility and I acknowledge that I have so much more to learn about running a business and being my own boss. I am glad that I have the time and the opportunity to take a few steps back, reevaluate, and create a plan that is focused on growth and success.

Always keep your head up!

For this challenge I used a Victoria Marie Designs sketch and materials from the June 2017 Hip Kit Club kit. This FREE sketch was featured on the Victoria Marie Facebook Group as a scrappy challenge. To download this sketch, click HERE!

To begin, I selected a diagonal design patten paper by Pink Paislee. You can replicate this design by using two coordinating pieces of pattern paper. I printed two (2) 4×6 photos in black and white so that the colors from the paper and embellishments would stand out prominently on the layout.

As a layering element behind my photos, I created two (2) tabbed layers of pattern paper using my We-R-Memory Keepers Tab Punch Board. This neat little tool was so fun to use!

Once the photos were in place, I created embellishment clusters using die cuts from the Vicki Boutin Collection, chipboard phrase stickers by Thickers, enamel dots by Shimelle Laine, and exclusive wood framed flare by the Hip Kit Club. The title “Hustle Everyday” was created using two Thickers fonts (“Chipboard Phrase Stickers” and “Bright”) and exclusive orange letter stickers by the Hip Kit Club. To finish the layout I added two phrase stickers from the Heidi Swapp Vintage Chic Word Jumbles Collection (from my stash) on the top and bottom punched tabs and journaling strips under the title.

While it is great to scrapbook about happy memories, I am a firm believer in documenting the ebbs and flows of life. Things aren’t always perfect and as humans we are constantly growing and changing. It’s good to have evidence of this in our storytelling.

Check out the process video for this layout on the Victoria Marie YouTube channel! And don’t forget to give the FREE Victoria Marie Designs sketch a try!