Wednesday 10 October 2012

The Circle of Life

...aka "Scrapbooking can be therapeutic"

The layout I want to share with you today is very special to me.

The last year and a half has been very tense for my family. Joy and sorrow mixed. Like a roller coaster. First we found out that my cousin was pregnant - the first of the new generation. Two months later, we found out that her sister was pregnant as well. Really crazy happiness.

But then, their father got ill. In just a few weeks, one year and six days ago, he left us.

Then the first baby was born at the end of January. And the second came along towards the end of March. More tears of happiness.

Ten days ago it was my uncle's memorial. In four days, we celebrate my nephews' christenings.

At the memorial I realised that I cannot see my uncle's photos without getting really, really upset. So I decided I should have a photo of him on my desk.

Then I thought that preparing a layout, actually working with one of his photos, might help even more. I started looking online of inspiration, and I was lucky enough to find what I needed. And here is the layout that I prepared:



(Apologies for the blurred faces, it is my cousin's request and I respect it).

So, the grandfather and his grandchildren... the circle of life. It's the thought that keeps coming to my head this last year. The circle of life.

So I got the inspiration from two challenges: The Studio Challenges - Oct 7 - Family, which inspired me for the theme of the layout - what family means to me this last year.

And although circles are not my favourite elements, as soon as I saw the following sketch from Sketches in Thyme #89, I thought once again the circle of life and I immediately "saw" the three pictures of the three protagonists.



At the beginning it was quite difficult for me to finish the layout. I didn't want any embellishments, nothing. But I did want to add some meaning in the layout. I started it last Sunday and it took me three days to finish it, having achieved what I wanted, and being much more calm. That's why I referred to scrapbooking as being therapeutic.



And a few closeup photos

I teared the vellum paper in circle with the help of a plate. Below the vellum I stamped a number of words, above it I glued more words, all of them related to my uncle, my nephews, or all three of them.

Around the circle I wrote lyrics from the "Circle of Life" from the Lion King.



The journaling expresses what family means to me this last year and a half. I have a second hidden journaling which I have glued behind the title.








Faux stitching with white gel pen around the circle, messy stitching at the top and bottom of the layout (and some more hand stitching to better "glue" the vellum paper on the kraft background, but you cannot see it in the close-up photos!




So, that's all from me today... And here's the song from Lion King:

"It's the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life"




Hugs,
Natasa


Pin It

11 comments:

pysselpetra said...

a prescious page ♥ thanks for playing along at the Studio Challenges /Petra

zenevak said...

A very special page. Happy for you that you managed to scrap it so well and with such heartfelt meaning and love.

Eli said...

Really, really beautiful! Very intense and moving.
Eli (Sketches in Thyme)

Anne said...

I really love this lay out. Not only is it beautiful but it means a lot too. Well done, you did a great job.

Thank you for playing along at SIT

Anne

tiffany said...

what a beautiful layout, the story behind it brought tears to my eyes! a wonderful tribute to your uncle! Thanks for joining us at Sketches In Thyme! =) Tiffany

Joni Parker said...

This is really amazing...The story is heartfelt and emotional and that really comes through on your layout. I love the softness of the vellum with the ruggedness of the messy stitching... lots of contrast. The perfect touch I see is the words UNDER the vellum...that's such an effective touch. I hope you don't mind if I steal that!! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Sketches in Thyme this week!

Lolô Artesanato said...

Amazing!!!
xx and tks for playing along with us at Sketches in Thyme
Leila
:)

Kim said...

What a Beautiful page! Love how you chose to remember. Your page is again just Beautiful love how you did the words under the vellum and the stitching!
Thanks for playing along with us @ SIT:)
~DT Kimberly

Kat said...

what a beautiful layout and a touching way to honor your family.

thanks for playing along with the studio.

wendipooh13 said...

what a great themed page!!!! LOVE your black spots and wording!!! thanks sooo much for joining us at Sketches In Thyme!!!!!

Jinny Newlin said...

What a beautiful and priceless memory for you and your family, Anastasia! LOVE that fabulous, vellum circle, and the pops of black are so fitting! Thanks so much for playing along with us this month at Sketches in Thyme! And a HUGE congrats on your Top Three win!

Post a Comment