About a week ago, on the Creative Scrapbooking Divas site, I posted a challenge during our on-line crop (did you know we are going to host an on-line crop EVERY MONTH...on the last weekend?!) It was a difficult challenge but I had several ladies participate. What was so hard about it? I thought you'd never ask! I had the girls journal! I heard those gasps! It is not that hard to do. OK, we blog, we text, we write emails---but we can't journal?
Starting April 1, I will be hosting the Book of Me and Mini Album room. I think a huge part of my story is, well, the story. I was raised very poor and we didn't have the money to have many pictures taken. There are some, but not about every memory have. And I want to share those memories with my family.
The theme was Lucky...and I picked some wonderful paper from K & Co newer Brenda Walton line. I love the nature inspired paper and die-cuts. I used some older alphabets that are made of cork, to keep with the natural feeling.
I love to "fussy-cut" as my friend Linda at my LSS Creative Cuts & Crafts calls it. I have said before that my exacto knife was my favorite tool....I use it on almost every project I make. On this layout I cut out all the flowers and leaves on the left side. But I used a second piece of paper, not the base page. I think it gives wonderful shadow to the page. And then I pop dotted it, with foam dots. I bought some really cheap foam dots, that are really thin, so some of my flowers were "double-dotted" to give a difference of heights. I am very pleased with how it turned out!
I added some of the little die-cut embellishes in the corner, inking and popping them and layering. I like to use odd numbers of items, it makes things feel unevenly even! So there are 5 bunched up items. I'm just odd that way.
My journaling was printed on some pale green vellum, from a package I bought way way back at the beginning of my scraping journey...from WalMart! It really reflects some of the pain I have been feeling, pain for the world. I know that, coupled with the looming death of a dear friends' brother -in-law, with the removal of some cancer spots around my body, has been what has stifled my creativity this past 2 weeks. Situations beyond my control, but yet deep in my mind. It reads:
So Lucky...
To live in a free country
To have such fabulous children
To have the love of a wonderful man
To live long enough to know my grandchildren
It's Lent while I am creating this journal page, and it always causes my to pause and think...
about life, love, justice...
Last week Japan was hit by the most devastating horror a mother could imagine...earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear threats..And I see the world around me respond, and go on about their lives.
Our perfect lives, where our biggest worries are what to wear, do I have the newest gadget, where shall we go for dinner..
As I'm typing, David Crowder is singing,
"How He loves us"
"And I realize just how beautiful You are and how great your affections are for me."
It reminds me that it's not just me He loves, but it is a song sung by my Lord to each of us Whether we all accept it is not the point the point is He loves us ALL. So, am I lucky, maybe I am. Only if I believe in luck
I will say that instead, I am blessed.
Well I hope I haven't made you too blue on this Monday. It is beautiful outside and the signs of spring are popping up everywhere. Do YOU need a creativity burst? My friends at Paper Secret are hosting a Birthday On-Line crop this weekend. I am hosting a challenge, Luisa is playing Bingo, there are over 10 challenges and games. AND PRIZES!! .Come play with us.
And just as I am Dreamin' of a better life with Him, You keep Dreamin' too.