Wednesday Sponsor Giveaway: Freehand Scraps, Big Picture Scrapbooking, + Paper & Co. Show

Uh, chance to be included in a giveway for Stacy's class? Yes please. :)
As for my leap, last year I decided to go to graduate school in Baltimore while my husband pursues his degree in Atlanta. It's rough, but we'll hopefully only be apart for a year. Finding new friends and living on my own has definitely taken courage.

my latest leap was boy #2... welcomed into the world five short months ago. i can't believe how big he is already!

Thank you for doing this, Ali.
Recently, I took a 3 month hiatus from my photography business. I need to recharge, regroup, refocus, and reclaim my sense of self. I knew this would leave us very scarce on funds. I did it anyway and we are learning so much about what we really *need* to get by. I have learned to do without and in the process have gained so much that money could not buy me. I have reunited with my love of creation (photos for the sake of beauty, not duty- scrapbooking - journaling - I'm even learning how to sew for the first time ever.) It's been a wonderful break.

I am still mid-air in my most recent leap! In October my family and I were forced to cut short our expat experience in Russia and return to New Zealand. This was 2 years earlier than planned and we returned to a country on the edge of recession with no jobs for me or my husband, a house we couldn't move back into until Christmas as we had tenants there on contract, and no idea if our daughter would be able to go back to her previous school. Both my husband and I decided to take the plunge and set up our own businesses - we had wanted to do it for many years but hadn't had the courage to give up our comfortable salaries and lifestyle. Hey, we were in a no risk situation - what else could we lose?!! 3 months on and my husband is snowed under with work and I have 6 clients and working the hours I want to on projects that interest me. I have also been able to take the summer off with my daughter and just be a Mom. We are back in our house and the leap is looking like a good one! But there was a month or two there where we were not sure if the leap we had taken would reach the other side safely or leave us free-falling. I'd love to win one of these prizes but it might be tricky getting myself to Italy in March, much as I would love to! All the best for your new baby's arrival. Ali

Putting myself out there at work and being willing to share my opinion even when it isn't well liked by others. Thinking about committing to a small group cohort to work on my masters in school administration.

I need to make several leaps, but haven't done so yet. Dealing with medical and other issues.

Hi Ali
Thank you for your blog. It's the only one for which i am assiduous...
My most recent "leap" is to organize à travel for my children class without the encourage of my director of school but with the optimism of the parents (and a little bit with YOUR optimism for all of your projects).
Bises
Stéphanie

Oh...great products!
Lots of leaps in this time of my life...husband quitting job...moving to a new town knowing 0(zero) people...not working...back to work now and juggling that with the 3 kids...BIG LEAPS! Love 'em all and I'm "Enjoy"ing all the leaps every day! Thanks Ali!

my most recent big leap was starting the collaborative scrapbook project. It's been hard for me to let something just evolve into what it will be with no influence from me. now if I could just will it to keep moving...

Great giveaways!
My 'little leap' was saying NO to yet another request to volunteer (at the last minute). I seem to always say yes and I have so much on my plate right now, I promised myself to say NO to anything for the rest of the month. After that, I will evaluate.
Its hard to say no and not feel guilty, but I'm working on it! ;)

My leap was to leave the comfort of a night time job I had held for 10 years and switch to part-time days. It meant juggling the kids and schedules more and a cut in pay, but it's worth it to be home every night and get to spend time with them after school.
Jen C

My recent leap is losing my "baby" weight. So far I am down 10 lbs...only 20 more to go! :))

This past summer I suddenly became very ill and was hospitalized. As soon as I was released from the hospital, I immediately jumped into my routine of dueing too much and not always for the right reasons. Once again I had to be hospitalized and the doctors told me that I had to cut back. I had to learn to deligate and say, no. The past five months have been a struggle to do this. Stepping back and saying no to prior committements, so I can focus on my health and getting better has been a daily leap of courage for me.

My most recent leap was signing up for Weight Watchers. As my weight has crept up and up little by little over the past year I've been in denial. A recent photo of me, taken with my Husband and daughters, shocked me into reality and I decided I needed some help to get out of my rut.

A recent leap for me was getting moved from one team to another. I was an editor and knew how to do my job, and now I'm working in a more conceptual role on a team we haven't had before. I like it a lot, but there are even more little daily "leaps" as we feel our way through new ways of working.

My leap is currently... we live in Michigan and my husband is a builder...each day is just hoping and praying things get better, people will not only want to build/remodel, etc...but can and dare to.

Hello and thank you for the giveaway and lovely words of wisdom. My big "leap" is a life changing decisions. I quit my perfectly nice job in LA and moved to the Tuscany area of Italy to be with my love and get married!

Leaps: Well, we did infact just move to a new city 2 weeks ago. Living with boxes and starting a new school for my lovely little DD. I admired her courage!

my most recent leap was deciding to move back home and attend a jr. college after attending a University in Portland. WOW! what a change, but needless to say I needed to come home. great giveaway!

Actually I have 2 big leaps! I am going to be guest designer for my an online store and I am going to teach my coworker and her friend a card class. Considering I obsess over the simpliest layouts and card ideas, I will just do my best.