There are no Words, when your Journaling says it all....

This month over at Once Upon A Sketch, the challenge is to journal the reason why you scrapped this photo. 

I came across a picture of when my eldest son was born, and fondly remembered how precious that moment was and I have not quite been able to scrap that picture for some time, a miriad of reasons, but in a nutshell just too many emotions..... I am sure that there are many of you out there who have had a sick child at birth who required intensive care...and well if you are one of them you will totally understand where I am coming from.

I took a step forward in my healing .... I found the picture, followed by the perfect piece of paper, frame, flowers swirls.... they all just fell into place.... it was time, I sat down to write a few feelings to include in the journaling and as I was writing I felt a calm peace....that I have finally come to terms with the grief, and pain of it all, and just look back with absolute blessings that my precious little man is still with us.

When I got up to print the journaling on the computer, there was a feather on the floor behind me, and in my belief just another confirmation that no matter what happens we always have an angel on our shoulder.

So this brings me back to the post title, when the journaling needs to say it all. As the type is a little small in the picture, here is how I captured the way I felt on the day this picture was taken.

There are no words.....

to describe how I felt on this day, you were finally out of the Neonatal unit & exclusively with me, I found the separation unbearable, it was hard to see you connected with tubes and wires, when all I craved was to hold you, hold you close & feel your warmth, your scent, your heart beat, your innocence, & remember how very special it was to carry you inside my body & have you with me all day for 36 cherished weeks.

Our prayers were answered when the angel was gifted from heaven. Our precious baby boy, we will love, adore & cherish you always xx

You may notice from the picture a ribbon pull right at the top, in here I have created a little pocket with a journal led tag explaining to my son,  what I want him to know.... & detailed how it took me so long to scrap the photo.

Time really does heal :)

None of us are alone in grief. XX 

Circa 1930's

Well what a week it has been here in Sunny South Australia (or not I should say!), winter is definatly on its way, it was only 10deg  last night, and 18deg  today brrr, time to put the heating on.
  
School Holidays, Easter & Anzac Day, my 13th Wedding Anniversary ! where does the time go, anyhow its about to get really really mad for me in the next 5 days, so I though I would give you a quick share of a page almost complete (title still to be added and some titivation). But if I dont blog it now, it just might never get blogged ! it will get put into that gotta do pile, that never seems to get done, just like my ironing ! which I am pleased to say I cracked last night, but now have another 4 loads on the line awaiting my attention grrrr ! lol

I have had a  damn good play with the Kaisercraft Timeless range here, added some Distress Ink and technique wonder, created an embellishment for the corner that just seemed appropriate for the time period, throw in a bit of Tim Holtz Tissue Tape & VOILA  Pam & Pat Circa 1930's!

I only acquired these pictures of my Great Aunt's a few days ago and excited was an understatement, they were Black and White's but I though for a change I would redo in Sepia, I was quite pleased with the way they developed.  Here's a few close ups to get a better view. Cant say they are the best shots as it is now almost 2 am and the lighting isn't exactly what you would call 'Natural' :)

Thanks for looking ! 

Simone who also become's a little bit nutty at this time of night ! hehehe

All those Odd Photos

Do you ever find that you have an assortment of odd photos lying around, and you just not sure what to do with them? they don't really warrant a whole page all to themselves, or perhaps you have already scrapped a version of them in one way or another.

I have gathered up all those oddments and placed them into this multiple photo layout.

I just love this collage press cloud background paper, I have used it on a number of occasions on my layout's, it just seems so dreamy and a touch heavenly ! 
Consequently I am having a play at recreating it , changing it slightly so that all my pages are different, with this one, I crackled the edges with Tim Holtz distress crackle paint in picket fence.   I stitched a circle in the center and then tore the paper to reveal a different backround, aka vintage book paper and material scraps. If you haven't guessed by now, you may notice that I actually like using up all the oddments!
Waste not want not :)

The circle embellishment and the buttons are  made up of some scraps of Calico I had hanging around, stamped and inked, gives them a new life !
I will be teaching a version of this at Album Memories Port Elliott, in June / July.

Off to tame the 3 monsters as it is school holiday's and boy today they are Troll's ! hehehe

Simone XX

Kraft it Up! KIA

Finally after it sitting staring at me to the side of  my desk for 5 days,  did I manage to finish this months challenge for Kraft It Up.  I have been busy 'creating' for an upcoming tutorial to appear on Abundantias Gold Blog,  and a page for an upcoming class at Album Memories in Port Elliott

I actually had a bit of fun with this one as the criteria was:

• 1 sheet of cardstock 
• 2 photos smaller than 6x4
• 3 different Alpha's
• 4 different patterned papers
• 5 different embellishments

I was having a ball gathering all the bits I might use and made a right old messy pile of goodies, to which one of my cheeky monkeys who's bedroom you can barely walk into for stuff everywhere had the cheek to say "you are really messy mummy!"   lol.... if only he knew !!!!

Anyway before I waffle more here is the page.

I had a good old play with Tim Holtz new release lines, the new Distress Ink dabbers, I actaully have some similar that were made by walnut ink that i bought years ago, but I am liking the fact that they co-ordinate with my favourite Distress Inks, as I am kinda used to the colour range ! :)
I couldnt resist adding some of his new 'Sketchbook" tissue tape, I have to say this is my most favourite yet.

I spritzed the distress ink with water to soften the colour, and deliberately over wet the pp's and tore hole's in them to reveal another PP underneath.
The bodice and photo corner (used both the positive and the negative of this , waste not want not) , was painted with Luminarte Twinkling H20's - I just luuurve these.

The chipboard cotton reels took a small smudge of Vintage Photo Ink, and were wound with natural cotton, and an old needle added for authenticity.
Zoe was inked with the new Distress Ink Dabber, Vintage Photo.  Of course my Sewing Machine made an appearance again! :)

Here is my ingredients list:

Kraft Cardstock
Collections - 6x6 papers
Dusty Attic - Bodice cotton reels and artist title
Tim Holtz - Typewriter charms, sketch book tissue tape.
Graphic 45-  staples chipboard buttons
German Scraps

Thanks for looking everyone, I have another share to add in a day or 2 !

Lest We Forget

White with Olive Green and Twine it is this month over at White with 1.
I had a ball, rummaging through all of my stash looking for Olive Green anything, as it's not a colour I use frequently, I did recall that I had a sheet of Making Memories flocked Olive green paper somewhere (that appears in the background) so went on a hunt to track it down, 5 boxes of papers later and Voila! there it was, and somehow I had had the foresight (or most likely purely by accident! I like to pretend I planned it! hehe) to add another Olive Green paper with it, and that was the script paper in the background 7 Gypsies.


The pictures are from a precious few of WW2 that my late Grandad took whilst fighting in France and such, all bundled together in a forbidden diary he kept amongst the passages of an army issue french phrase book, forbidden incase he became captured by Jerry, but for his taking a chance an invaluable piece of family history.
I studied a fair bit about the First & Second World War, and was lucky enough to visit Flanders Fields in France, a fair amount of War graves for all nationalitie's, field hospitals, Trench Museum's and such, as a result I have some treasured memories of chatting to my Grandad about it all, whom had never 'opened up' about what he had seen / experienced, and marveling at the strength of spirit these brave men had.  Such  warriors of there time, and I thank them everyday for there sacrifice. With my deepest respect, that I hope will pass down many generations to follow, May they all rest peacefully.

Thanks White With 1 for inspiring me to begin to Scrap those precious pictures. So here is my take on this month's challenge.

I will add  a few extra close up's over the coming day's but I had to rush off for school pick up ran out of time!

Here is my Ingredients list:

PP: Making memories Flocked Floral 

PP: 7 Gypsies Avignon : Ecriture 

Cardstock Bazzill Green 

Heidi Swapp Clock Face Stamp 

Kaisercraft Blank Naked Tags & Stamps

Twine 

Prima Marketing Flowers  :- Wild Wood collection - Rosemary 

Vintage Lace & Buttons 

Tim Holtz Ribbon & Reinforcers Stickers 

Sewing Machine & White Cotton

Distress Ink , Forest Moss & Bundled Sage 

Websters Pages green baubles trim 

Paris Clock - Abundantias Gold embellishment

Thanks for looking.  & thanks for all the beautiful comments you have all been leaving. :) 

Simone XXX