What is a Psycho Mom?
My Baby is Graduating
Warning - this post may cause tears. Grab tissues before reading further...
This month has been super emotional for me. Brittany my oldest is graduating from high school on June 1, and there are so many emotions running around inside me. I am so happy with the woman that she has become. She has been taught everything she needs to know to soar, but sad that she will stretch those wings and leave the nest.
Last week I took her Cap & Gown pictures and I believe that was when it hit me. She's growing up she will soon embark on a new beginning. I know she will be around, but she takes that step into adulthood and a step closer to her independence. She's super talented, smart, fun, and dependable so I know the world will embrace her.
Through all of these emotions, I started thinking about creating a layout for the "posed" photos that are often not so fun to play with. I didn't want to use the typical "graduation" theme paper, so I settled on Prima's Printery Collection. It has a lot of elements that you will find in your daily high school life: clocks, keys, script/text, and words like "memories". The neutral colors lend themselves to any direction or theme.
Prima: Printery Paper, Valentine Vine White, Printery Masks, Printery Chipboard, Say It In Pearls & Lace boarder, wooden clock, wooden banner, Printery canvas key, Shabby Chic resin piece - bridge. Tattered Angels: Glimmer Mist - Jack Frost. My Favorite Things: doily die Melissa Frances: ornate frame, Golden:Texture Paste Maya Road: wooden ruler Misc. Lace, script vellum envelope, 2012 confetti, twine, dictionary page.
To spruce up the background, I decided to use some stencils and texture paste, I used the brick stencil in the left corner, and a number stencil in the upper right and bottom left, and a Prima Rose stencil to frame the center of the layout. Then I spritzed the layout with Jack Frost Glimmer Mist to add the blue to compliment her cap and gown.
The bridge is symbolic of her cross over into another phase of her life. I found a dictionary page with the word "jazz" and used the Printery chipboard pieces for Song and Chorus - since those words seem to define her high school interests. The clock symbolizes her time of passage. The 2012 is a piece of confetti I got from a party store, and it represents her class year. The Prima sprays offer the softness and purity. The Key is to her future, and I hope she has the faith to unlock her dreams. Her photo was framed in this beautiful ornate frame from Melissa Frances.
The hidden journaling includes a quote from a Mark Harris song - "Find Your Wings" the quote is...."I'll have tears as you take off, but I'll cheer as you fly."
12 Years Ago...
Twelve years ago we were scrapbooking with stickers, using dictionary definitions on EVERYTHING, most layouts were "blocked", No one had ever heard of layering, flowers, or even Prima! GASP! How on Earth did we survive?
My daughter graduates this month from high school, and I've been walking down memory lane, and thought I would take you guys on the journey with me this week.
This is a layout I did of my daughter with her kindergarten graduation photos. Her Kindergarten teacher was the BEST - Mrs. Murphy, and her favorite quote was from "All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" by Robert Fulghum.
It is so much fun to look back at the older layouts. Actually sometimes I find it refreshing when I see how clean they were. It was a simpler time for scrapbooking.
The 3D styled elements on this page were printed on the DaisyD stickers. The wire and "ABC" on the left of the title - printed. The buttons on the photo frame - printed. When I tell you this layout was flat - it is FLAT! The most advanced element for the time on this page were the snaps on the definition page. I didn't know it then, but this page was actually hybrid. The title, teacher's name, and definition were all printed on my computer. The Jolee's stickers were all the rage and the trendy thing to add to every layout.
This week I created this layout of my daugther in her senior cap & gown photos. And let me tell you some tears were shed over this one.
It was fun to compare the two layouts side by side and see how much my style had changed. I still prefer 1 photo to a layout, however, notice how this layout has more texture, and dimension. Gone are the days of the DaisyD stickers, and yes, Prima is front and center of the current "Must Haves" list.
I heard someone say the other day that they wanted to redo some of their older layouts. I say "no way". When a layout is created, it is not just a reflection of the memory that you are sharing, but also of the creator (at the time) and the styles of the day. You are creating the looks that our children will embrace as "vintage". Only look back to remember the journey - never to recreate.
I wonder what names and styles will be around when she graduates from college?
Cosmo Mini
 Recently I purchased some of the Tim Holtz binder rings and thought little minis would be a cute item for me to make for RAKs and gifts. My challenge was to use up things that I've had in my stash for more than 6 months. I accomplished that with the Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday paper collection, Prima packaging, Prima hydrangeas, scrap paper, ribbon remnants, Bloomers, Cardstock, and beads. Nothing in this album except the binding rings was new - NOTHING.
I decided to use Cosmo Cricket's Girl Friday collection because of its bright colors and ledger styled "B sides".
On the cover, I bound the book with cardstock, and used 4x6 panels of the paper collection to decorate. I used Pink Paislee packaging to die cut the book plate, and hand wrote "A Story". Butterflies were punched from scraps and Prima Hydrangea flowers were used with buttons as centers. Webster's Pages Bloomers and eyelet lace soften the spine. I used two mini binder clips from an office supply store, and attached charms and a chain for the perfect closure.
Prima packaging was used to make a double pocket. For extra notes, I ripped some paper from a small notebook, and placed it in the pocket. I included 2 small tags in the upper pocket. On the right the banner at the bottom was printed on the bottom strip of the paper collection. Remember to look for embellishments on this strip that is often tossed.
On this page, the mini page with the tag, is Prima packaging that I sewed together to make a pocket. I love that this paper collection matches the ledger style packaging so well.
Again Prima Packaging was used to create the pocket on this page.
I used a glassine bag as a pocket on this page, and used the strips at the bottom of the paper collection as an embellishment.
On this page I used washi tape on the left page. To mimic the same look on the right I used some of the Pink Paislee Packaging cut in the same style on the right.
I always buy buy buy when the products are new, I'm so excited when I get home. Then I place them in a drawer where they are horded forever. I'm trying really hard to use the items that I have purchased, and it seems that I'm falling in love all over again.
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This video is a Step by Step processes where I talk you through making this tea party tag for a swap on Artsy Attics.
Friendship
"He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend." ~ Proverbs 22:11
"...the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel." ~ Proverbs 27:9
"If one falls down, his friend
can help him up." ~ Ecclesiastes 4:10
Bereavement
"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted" Matthew 5:4
Family / Love
"We Love because he first Loved us." ~ 1 John 4:19
"So you my child be strong in the grace that is Christ Jesus." ~ 2 Timothy 2:1
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." ~ Psalms 139:14
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." - Joshua 24:15
Newborn
"I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him." - 1 Samual 1:27
Strength
"The joy of the Lord is our Strength" - Nehemiah 8:10
"I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me" - Philippians 4:13
>>More Verses
"The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless." ~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau
"Of two sisters one is always the watcher and the other the dancer."
inside of card:"You are always my dancer. Dance to your own music."
"Never regret anything that made you laugh"
"Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them."
~ FDR
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." ~ Thomas Paine
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For while KNOWLEDGE defines all we currently know and understand, imagination leads us to all we might yet DISCOVER and CREATE."
"In a world of possibilities, imagine yourself as one." ~ unknown
"And the day came when the Risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." ~ Anais Nin
>> MORE
Marion Smith has asked me to become a blog author for Artsy Addicts. My posts will be available on Fridays. Please follow my posts on the blog and don't forget to join the Facebook group.
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Yippy - I'm published!
