Saturday, April 11, 2009

cleaning pages

We've been working at going through stuff around here and DE-CLUTTERING our lives....clear clear clear it OUT!!!

Anyways, I have come across a number of the pages that have gotten sent back to me after publication over the past couple of years and haven't quite made it into scrapbooks yet...I really need a better system for that cuz they tend to just come home and get a smile from me and the girls and then get set aside for sometime later, tsk tsk to me....sooooo I thought for those of you who maybe don't read CK or for our sweet family out there who love the stories ON these pages and the cute cute little people in the pictures I would post a few of them to share over the next while :)

This first layout above was in June '08 CK and is about the struggles My Tiara faces with her Sensory issues. She calls them her "Tough Days" and the journaling is about how the tough days she is facing will make her into a strong and beautiful woman, how her amazing strength and beautiful love give her wings and will help her to soar through it all while she learns and grows from each step of the journey. I decided to document this in her scrapbook because Tiara's struggles with anxiety and sensory issues were so very real for her right at the time I was making this, as much a part of her story as all of the happy smiley stuff I usually scrap about. I think that the page really captures her feelings and is a great encouragement to her. She kept coming to look at it as I was working on the detail bits, and telling me that it really is how she feels sometimes and that she will get her wings pretty soon too.
I just kept on telling her that she already has them.
sweet girl :)

The page design was inspired by this cool shell chandelier that hangs at My in-laws place. My little hanging bits represent her many tears, and the hearts on the wings represent her love and strength giving her freedom and helping her to fly through those tough days.

Quick technique notes: I painted a few different shades of blue and green with watercolors onto a full sheet of cold press paper, inspired by the chandelier colors of course, then ripped them into tiny pieces and hung them together with small jump rings. The drippy masking tape is the stuff I used on my edges to hold the paper down while I painted, re-enforcing the mood of the layout and providing an exact color match to balance out that bottom right corner of my page.


And the good news, Tiara is not worry free but is doing so much better this year than ever before...her "Tough Days" are much fewer and father between.

15 comments:

annette said...

lovely to catch up on what has been going on in your neck of the woods. i get so inspired by your work and am so glad you share with us. i do remember seeing this layout - its one of my favourites!! Happy week to you and your family. :0)

Anonymous said...

Wow, that page packs a punch! You and your beautiful little girl with wings should consider collaborating on a children's book!

Anna-Marie Still said...

so worth the wait! I never saw that page before - thanks for sharing it - I love how the inspiration translated - beautiful!

Kelli said...

Awesome layout! Love the technique!

listgirl said...

Hi CD! I love to look at your layouts and how original they are. I love the painted look. I can't wait to see what you've created at your art retreat with your friend!

ronjabus said...

Love it!! You inspire me!!

Katie said...

Love this page. So fun and creative.

Traci said...

beautiful page, CD. your little one is so precious and so strong - makes my heart happy to hear she is experiencing better days.

Alexandra said...

I love the layout - your work is very inspirational. I was wondering how you got the type on the photo?

elina.typepad.com said...

Beautiful layout, amazing photos and what a beautiful way to scrap those tough days!!

Christina said...

Cute layouts!! Visit The Original Scrapbox and take a look at their products!

Cheryl said...

What a beautiful, inspirational layout. :-)

Karen Foster said...

Love and miss seeing your work! Where are you .....? Hope all is well 8>

Trina C said...

Wonderful page! What a beautiful way to capture the tough days. You have inspired me to do such a page for my book of me album.

Rawker2 said...

the rawker says... UPDATE YOUR BLOG, WOMAN!