Legacy and Losses

Well, these two recent pages reflect both past AND future, ironically enough. And I love them both, for their significance to ME. That got me thinking. Lately I've been doing a lot of scrapbooking to impress other people, and that's NOT what it's about. But it wasn't until I completed these two pages that I realized I am giving these gifts of remembrance not only to my children, but to enable myself to feel emotion AND have the outlet to capture it on "paper". Set in stone, if you will.

The first is with my daughter, who just turned 3 last week. I see in her myself, obviously, but also of that typical "I want the best for her" - thingy ;-) Watching her grow up, being all girlie-girl, I realize that she is totally NOT me, having been a tomboy, and growing up an avid hockey and football fan!!! I see in her the potential to have a daughter of her own...and thus, my legacy.

I also finally compelled myself to compose a layout remembering my grandparents...but not how they used to be, how they used to look or how they used to "live". I chose, rather, to honour the fact that they are "GONE"...and my emotions attached to said fact. The photo in the layout are the corner pieces of each of their caskets, of their final resting places. I ache that my grandmother, who so verily believed I was a boy, in utero, that she'd bought all blue baby stuff, never saw that I had a daughter of my own, after two boys. I ache that neither were able to drop a jaw to learn that I was carrying not one, but TWO little lives in my womb...my grandfather was supposed to have met the twins but two weeks after his passing. I miss them terribly, I still grieve at their loss...but know in my heart that their blood runs through the legacy they've left FORWARD, not behind.

Challenge me this.....

PHEW. Seriously, working under pressure can have it's advantages, but after the week 'o' snafu I've just gotten over...well...MAN!! I was up for a "game" of sorts at Lovebug, but when you've got a deadline and it's the final hour....I'm pretty stoked with what I came up with!! LOL

Actually, these are the two of my better ones...the last I just DON'T accept...I'll fix it later ;-)

Dirt and divas....

I friggin LOVE taking pictures of my kids!!! :-) seriously, to do a layout of, say, a flower? unheard of!! LOL one day I'll surprise you, I promise!!!

So another all-day crop yielded wonderful results...I was ON the game, I tell ya!! Finally dug out my BG "Archaic" and actually USED it...I love this stuff....fibres, chipboard stickers....PERFECT with having two littles "Things" that highlight it's FUN!!!

And I took a trip outside the box and played with my new Heidi Swapp goodies...pink and black? I think it turned out well!! I layered the birds in the bottom left-hand corner...hand cut the largest, the second is a transparency and the last is a little PINK mirror bird!!! I also layered the title, I've never done that before...I could be addicted already ;-) The "sassy" is Heidi Swapp bling over her foam alphas that co-ordinate with the paper line...

Lastly, I got to do a couple of single pages....one of Thing 2 lookin' all devious...little cutie!!!

And of Hannah stopping to "smell the roses"....which, in this case is a weed...dandelion ;-)

Looking forward to this week...I'm going to try to learn how to scan my images, instead of almost tossing my camera out the door!! :-)

Conspiracy Theory

One of the best things about having twins, I'm finding, is the amount of trouble they get into. Well, maybe "trouble" is the wrong word...how about "conspiracies"? or "kunundrums"...or....

I swear, they plan this stuff, I'm certain of it!! Got your eye off your Diet Coke for ONE second, and Thing 2 has given himself a bath in it. Got a chair? Thing 2 is up on the dining room table. I have no more chairs in my dining room, and my computer tower is blocked by a baby gate...just waiting for them to figure out their fingers can poke through and STILL turn it off!!!

I just noticed Thing 2 can reach the doorknobs.

Perfect.

It's ON!!!

Officially a guest designer for the month of June for Lovebug Scrapbooking....this forum ROCKS!!! http://www.lovebugscrapbooking.com/ You need to check it out! The best part? They have a store AND forum AND gallery!!

Anyhoooooo...got my kit on Friday...The Little Yellow Bicycle "Delightful" series...YUMMY!! :-) Still have some on the go with some wicked Maya Road goodies...but of course...OF COURSE...I dislocated my finger yesterday dealing with offspring chaos....but that's another story.

For this layout, I had Stephane write the journalling himself!!! Although it seems a more "girly" line, it works just fine for the lads!!!

I wish my camera would take better pictures!!! LOL...or, of course, if I could ;-) but you get the idea, I hope!!!

I have a ton more stuff to get done....off I go, and hopefully the offspring will comply....otherwise perhaps some duct tape and brandy? ;-)

Sassy...

My daughter is QUITE the little miss, full of sass and cheeky comments. I snapped this pic as she was pointing to me "no scrapbooking!!"

Hmmmm...wonder if I snap too many pictures to scrapbook? Can't imagine ;-)

I cut the flowers from the Cricut machine...stamped over the die cuts with the Baroque wheel from Stampin' Up! (it was just plain pink), then layered them to give it texture.

I need another...

I need another retreat. Already. Only been to one, only 3 months ago...and it's time. Overdue, in fact. So I'm hoping a few of my gal pals will set one up for us the beginning of October!!!!!!!!

This page was inspired by my first EVER scrapbooking retreat, which had been hosted by Tomorrow's Treasures...and featured...VICKI BOUTIN!!!! Seriously, I know we all have our persons of inspiration, but she was one of the first (although in no way limited to) sources of scrapbooking inspiration for me when I first began. I scraplifted in secret (only cuz I thought that was a bad thing!!!), and I followed her blog religiously.

So. To meet her in person? Kid in a candy store, I tell you....S-W-E-E-T!!!!!!!!!!! She is so down to earth and funny!!! Anyways, that weekend was a highlight not only in my scrapbooking endeavours, but also on a personal front. I didn't have to clean. I didn't have to cook. I could go to bed when I wanted, and wake up when I wanted. A good friend of mine told me my voice tone dropped about 15 levels, I was so relaxed. It was the best sleep I'd had in EONS. I could shower without rushing!! Who knew that level of existing...well...existed?!?!? ;-)