Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Life is Like a Camera Layout.... A Tribute to my Pop

Hello... hello!

I can't believe it.... two layouts in one week!  In addition to the CSI Challenge of the week, I also wanted to enter the Once Upon a Sketch Challenge for October... and I must say, I am super proud of this one!!  This month's theme was a little ironic for me... I have really been struggling to take better photos of my work, and I think I succeeded in getting a great picture of this layout!

To begin with, OUAS provided a... yes... sketch!!  Quite lovely, and it was really fun to see all the different incarnations the designers came up with...
 
 
Great job with the sketch, Nadia Cannizzo!  OUAS also provided another guidline... a quote that needed to be incorporated in some way into the layout:
 
great life quote.
 
When I saw this quote, I immediately thought of my Pop... he was my maternal grandfather, and he and my Nana (maternal grandmother) were largely responsible for raising myself and two of my siblings.  I remembered a picture from (I think...) around 1968 or so of my Pop with his new Poloroid camera taking a picture of himself taking a picture of himself in a mirror.  No, that's not a misprint!  He always thought it was funny, and so do I!
Here is my interpretation of the sketch and quote:
 


 
This layout is chock full of details and techniques, but I am really proud of the journaling... I love taking a simple picture and telling a story about it, and I really feel like I succeeded here:
 
       My maternal grandfather’s name was William Beatty, but to me, he was Paw-Paw when I was little, and Pop as I got older.  Whenever I think of good times, I always think about my Pop.  My Pop was all about good times… I will always remember his sense of humor-he was one of the funniest people I’ve ever met.  He always had funny little sayings and songs, and would keep us entertained with the “Twin Oaks Shuffle”… a dance he made up when he and my Nana owned a small grocery store named Twin Oaks.  Sometimes he would get laughing so hard, his dentures would cause him to drool, which made all of us laugh even harder.  Even this picture was indicative of his sense of humor… he thought it would be funny to take a picture of himself taking a picture of himself.  Say that five times fast!
    Although I never saw it until the end of Pop’s life, I am sure there were many negatives in his life that helped to shape him and who he was.  His parents divorced when he was young, and his father died at an early age.  Pop was a paratrooper in WWII, and he saw terrible things during the war.  He also had many different careers in his life.  I don’t really know who he was before I met him, but I am certain that the positive experiences as well as the negative ones helped him gain insight and knowledge that shaped him into the person I knew… compassionate, funny and a totally awesome person.
  Pop’s life ended tragically, but I can’t say I ever thought he gave up.  Looking back on his very interesting life, it seem to me that he was sort of the “King” of “taking another shot.”  While he may not have been a rich man, he was always his own man… he and my Nana owned their own business and were their own bosses for much of their lives, and although I’m sure it wasn’t easy, he wouldn’t have achieved all he did by not taking another shot.
    Pop left me, my mom, my brother and sister a lasting legacy– He was a wonderful father and grandfather who kept us laughing and made us fell loved.  And no matter the circumstance, he always was, and always will be my hero.
 
 
      So, I began by choosing my photo, and then writing my journaling.  I always try to write honestly and from the heart... I think that is what makes journaling more meaningful.  I wanted to print my journaling directly onto my patterned paper, and I have now added this "how to" to my list of tutorials to post at a later date. Look for it soon!


The paper is used is by Bo Bunny... their Mama-Razzi collection.
 

 
   I took the quote from OUAS, and printed it on my computer... then I rubbed ink on it (Tim Holtz Distress Ink- Old Paper) to tone down the white lettering, and finally covered the whole quote with embossing ink and UTEE (Ultra thick embossing enamel).  Then I distressed the edges, inked them, and mounted it on one of the motifs from the paper.  I am particularly proud of the angel wings... I thought the were particularly important since my Pop is gone from this world, but I am sure he is watching over his family.  I went into the jewelry findings department of my local craft store, and found these cool metal angel wings.  I then used embossing ink and Stampendous's new Shabby Embossing Enamel (I LOVE this stuff.... just ordered a whole bunch more colors... very vintage looking) in Shabby Blue and just barely sprinkled it on the wings, then heated it.  I think it came out SO cool... then I glued a little Tim Holtz gear on it and Voila! a custom embellishment for this page!
 
 
    Another interesting thing I did was the large gears... I cut and embossed them from gold (not shiny though...) cardstock with the Spellbinders Gears die.  I lightly sprayed them with two different colors of Tattered Angels glimmer mist... can't remember the specific color names at the moment, but they were a dark brown, and teal green color... them I inked the edges with the new Mixed Media Ink (in Leather color) from Michael's.  I think they look pretty good!  The smaller ones at the top of the layout are layered and also have some of the small metal Tim Holtz gears on them as well... Did you spot the little gears also as the flower centers?  The enamel "46" plaque is also Tim Holtz...
 
 
Here's some more details... I love the little blue chip stamps... they remind me of my childhood!
 
 
 
    I did a lot of paper tearing and distressing on this layout... here is the big tear at the bottom of the page, and I filled the hole with a blue chip stamp and small gear...
 


    And lastly, another fun, subtle detail for adding texture to your layout can be something like this clear photo frame ribbon (Tim Holtz).  I have been looking for just the right project to use this on, and this fits in perfectly!

     I hope you have enjoyed this layout... it was so much fun to make, and really got my creative juices flowing!

                        Shelley
 
 



 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

12 comments:

  1. Gorgeous page!!! Love your vintage approach and the bold dark colours! Your clusters are a big asset to it! Thank you for playing with us at OUAS!

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    1. Thank you, Melena for your lovely comment on my blog.... i really appreciate it!

      Shelley

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  2. Stunning layout with so many wonderful details!!! Thank you so much for playing along with us at OUAS!

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    1. Thank you Efi... I really appreciate your positive feedback!

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  3. I am in love with this page!! Love everything about it...the heartwarming tribute to your grandfather...all your attention to detail and your wonderful journaling. I can tell you put much effort and love into this page--simply beautiful. Thank you for sharing your talent with us at OUAS!

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    1. I did out a lot of love into this page.... Thank you for your comments! I really appreciate it!

      Shelley

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  4. Great page.And what a unique idea to use the quote on your layout!Good work!
    Thank you for joining us at OUAS.

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    1. Hi Elena... I love quotes and writing poetry, and I thought this quote was pretty cool! Thanks so much for your positive comments and thanks for stopping by my blog!

      Shelley

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  5. elegantly beautiful - - thanks so much for playing along at OUAS!

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    1. Thank you for your comment, Vicky! I love doing challenges, and OUAS is one of my faves!

      Shelley

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  6. Just such a wonderful picture you have painted her of your Pop! Beautifully designed and embellished~

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    1. Hi Renea... Thanks so much for your positive comments... I really do try to journal honestly and from the heart, and I am so glad I conveyed how wonderful a man my Pop was... Thanks again!

      Shelley

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