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