Friday, November 11

A very special project

A year and a half ago, when I was oh so very pregnant, I got a whim to create a mini album from a pile of pictures I had of my Grandparents when they were first married and all the special days of their 50+ years together.  My grandparents not only helped raise me when I was very small and my father was navigating the trials of being a single dad, but they were also the single most defining presence in how I hoped my life would turn out.  They had decades of love and commitment under their belt, 6 fantastic children with 6 equally as fantastic son/daughter-laws, 9 grandchildren, a few bonus grandchildren as some of us married and 3 beautiful great-grandchildren.  We were spread from one end of the country to the other, but when Grandma called and said there would be a party (there was always a reason for a party with Grandma!) we all knew better than to not be there.

The day after I printed these photos and less than a month from the day I was due to give birth, my grandmother unexpectedly passed away.  It is the single most devastating loss I've experienced in my 32 years.  Every time I tried to pull out the pictures since, I've been overwhelmed with the loss all over again as I try to wrap my head around the fact that my youngest, Allie, will never have the bond with my grandmother that my other two babies can always cherish.  Then a few days ago I received a very special package in the mail.  I'd won a give-a-way sponsored by OohLaLa Vintage Treasures  and when I opened the HUGE package of goodies, out spilled a beautiful little pin that reminded me of a piece of jewelry that my grandmother passed down to me.  I just KNEW that this was the push I needed to pull out these pictures again and start work on this very special-to-me mini album!  A few of the pieces are also from an embellishment explosion of a package from my friend Tanya just sent me!  :)

I'd like to share 3 pages so far that I've completed.  The cover was inspired by the DT project at Paper Hoarders.  It is to scrap something you are thankful for.  Thankful doesn't begin to cover how I feel towards my grandparents for showing me just how good life can be if you stay committed to nourishing family bonds.  This is a new look for me, I've never worked with vintage/shabby chic scrappy supplies and still not entirely sure I'm pulling it off LMBO!

The next page was inspired by sketch #180 at Creative Scrappers.  I really ran with the sketch so hopefully it's close enough to still count.  I was working with 6x6 size instead of 12x12 so I had to trade the big circle elements with smaller embellishment clusters and I didn't have room for a title at all.  Plus I gave glimmer mist a big ole' workout on this one!!!

The third page (there are more to come in the next few days) was inspired by sketch #58 at Sketchabilities.  I tried to add a few more of the fun details I see in the vintagey layouts online, but not sure I've got the knack of it quite yet.  I'm getting there though!!! :)  I'm also sharing this one with the StuckOnUSketches diecut challenge of the week: Leaves!  The leaf tucked into the cluster is cut out of green mulberry paper from my Cindy Loo cricut cart.  





16 comments:

  1. How vintage and romantic!!! I love them!!!Good luck with the challenges!!!

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  2. What a sweet story about your grandparents... and I am sorry to hear that she passed away... I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee the pages you have made so far, they are GORGEOUS! :):):):):):):):):):):)

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  3. Aww.. you did a FAB job on those lay outs!!! I am soo glad you are enjoying the goodies I sent you. The stick pin.. I made it!!!! Yep.. I totally hoped you liked it but wasn't sure!! I am so glad you have pulled these photos out. Thank you for all you do and for being a Paper Hoarder!!!
    Hugs,
    Tanya

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  4. These are all just GORGEOUS! LOVE those photos!

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  5. Wonderful treasure for your grandparents! Cyber hugs.......Mama LoveBug

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  6. Christina they are beautiful!!!! And this is exactly why we scrapbook, to preserve photos and memories for future generations. Yo put so much of your heart an soul into this.....it's sure to be treasured family heirloom!!!

    Love ya!!

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  7. Great pages, Christina! Love that you are getting these 2 people scrapped who are such a part of your history. Awesome leaves .. I need to use that cart more! Thanks for playing along with SOUS!

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  8. You have done a wonderful job with these layouts! I don't really believe there's any right/wrong way to partake in a particular style, so I think you've already mastered the shabby chic look. :-) And what a lovely thing to let an item that reminds you of your grandmother help you break through your grief and be inspired to memorialize your grandparents' love and legacy.

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  9. I know how you feel about having a loved one pass away, I lost my grandmother 6 yrs ago to Ovarian Cancer at the age of 83 and she went quick.. She was my best friend and I miss her daily.. I still have a hard time looking at her photos, always bringing a tear to my eye.. but, It does get easier with time..
    I think you've done an amazing job with these layouts and I know she would of loved them.. I also strongly feel that there is no right or wrong way to scrap, you scrap with your heart..
    so, with that said..Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful layouts with us girls over at Stuck On U Sketches :)
    hugs
    Nanné

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  10. Christina, your layouts are absolutely beautiful! Great details and I'm so glad you got the courage to get through the sadness and to make something so memorable for your kids to have.

    Many blessings,
    Zeni
    www.scrappyzeni.com

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  11. I'm so sorry for your loss. These photos are defintely a treasure!!! Your layouts are gorgeous! Your transitioned into the shabby/vintage very smoothly!! Your grandmother would be proud!!!!!
    Thank you for leaving such a lovely comment on my blog! It really means alot to me!!!

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  12. Thank you for sharing these special pages :)

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  13. Gorgeous layouts! I love all of these. Thanks for joining us at SOUS!

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  14. Oh my goodness! Ok, I thought I wouldn't be able to read
    because of the tears that threatened to spill...but I made it
    and am so glad!
    These pages are very, very special!
    I didn't know my grandparents so my kiddo's knowing theirs
    is so incredibly important to me.
    I'm really glad you shared all this with us and hope scrapping
    these treasures will help you heal if just a bit...

    SO glad you linked up at SOUS!
    Hugs, Leah

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  15. Glad to see you are back to posting on your blog. I have shifted gears from scrapping to stuff for a DT I am on until March. Am still three years behind on the kids, but will get caught up by the time they are adults...LOL. Beautiful pages, Christina!

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