Scrapbook Page - You make me love you

I think most of you know by now that I'm not one to sugar-coat anything in my scrapbooks. I don't hide much at all. I show it like it is.
This page is no exception.

If you're realistic about relationships, you know that it has its highs and lows. You know that there are times when things are great and time when things are not. Being in a committed relationship takes work, whether its a best friend, a husband, a partner, etc.

We just celebrated 11 years of marriage. Earlier this year, I wanted to make a page that reflected the last 12 years (we met in January of 1996 and married the next year). It may not be the most flawless relationship, but it's definitely the most imperfectly perfect one for the two of us. This page shows the inner workings of our relationship (and I'm sure he could make a page that brings out my flaws, as well - haha). Flaws and all.....I wouldn't have it any other way.

I adore this picture of my Davycakes. It's one of my favorites. It was taken last spring, but not much has changed. He's still just as handsome and always will be. It's kind of ironic that this is one of my favorites, considering that when this picture was taken, he had just cut off the shoulder length hair that I loved so much. I was so sad when he made the decision to get it cut but LOVED the result. I felt that the picture needed a page of its own. And the reason behind the picture has a hidden meaning in the journaling, as well.

You can click on any of the pictures in this post for a much larger and detailed view.

I can't help myself but I'm in love with the Old World stack of papers from DCWV. The colors are so rich, but muted at the same time. Every time I look at one of the papers, I think that it would make the most glorious wallpaper. Perhaps what I need to do is just wallpaper my house with my scrapbook pages instead.

I mounted my 5 x 7 inch photo with brushed silver finish photo corners on top of a piece of patterned paper that I tore along the edge. I found the baroque style ribbon in the dollar bin at a craft store and ran it through a resin charm that I found (in a pack of 6) at my dollar store. It's amazing what you can find in your dollar store or the sale/dollar/clearance bills that can work on your scrapbook pages. This just goes to show that you can create beautiful pages for reasonable amounts of money. Who said scrapbooking has to put you in the poor house?

I used a lot of different fonts and embellishments to spell out my journaling. The word, "You," started out as naked chipboard. I covered it with a scrap of patterned paper that I had from the Old World stack. You can check out a tutorial that I did on this technique.....it's really easy to cover chipboard ---> Covering Chipboard Tutorial (this tutorial shows you two different options....solid pieces of chipboard and pieces that needed to be trimmed). The words, "make me," were done with mosaic tiles. The six descriptive words on the left side of the photo were done with the "Simple Type" alphabet set (Stampin' Up - now retired) and stamped on Barely Banana cardstock. I mounted those on top of some scrap patterned paper. I added pewter finished brads next to each word (from Creative Impressions).

I hand wrote the words, "but most of all...," with a black Slick Writer. The words, "you," in the last part of the journaling, were done with the Simple Type alphabet and embossed with gold powder. The word, "make," was done with tiny bottle caps (Li'l Davis Designs) and the "me" was done with mosaic tiles.

The word, "love," was done with patterned chipboard pieces that I got from K & Company. The little heart is a glass heart that I found in the mosaic section of a craft store years ago. I've finally used up all of these cute little hearts and haven't been able to find any since. I love them and wish I had more but I'm glad that I stopped hoarding them and started showcasing them on my albums.

If you look closely, you can see some white swirly details in the upper right and lower left corners of this layout. These were done with some of Stampin' Up's awesome rub-ons. These are so easy to apply and they look like they're a part of the paper.

So, my challenge to you? If you're a scrapbooker, I challenge you to create a layout that focuses on one of your relationships. And if you don't scrapbook, why not have this be your first scrapbook page that you create? I can pretty much guarantee that you'll be hooked!

Happy Creating!

-Stampin' Mama

Comments

[Menda Hayden]

Gurl, you did it again. This is wonderful and I feel the love. What a great picture to work with too:) I love the gold emboss on the word love and then the you. Thanks again for sharing all you do.

[Amy B]

What a beautiful scrapbook page!

[Carol]

You've managed to make another powerful and realistic view of life in your fabulous page!! All the deets are incredible and so eye-appealing. The picture of your DH captured a great expression! It must have been strange to see him with short hair after having worn it long. Now maybe you could do a before-and-after for comparison:) Nice job, TFS!

[Jodi Galland]

Erika,
Beautiful page and a great picture of DH. Give me a bad boy anyday. Scratch that. Give me a guy who LOOKS like a bad boy anyday. :) I love what you said about "imperfectly perfect". That is M and me through and through. Nobody else would be as right for me.

[Lisa]

Thanks for being such a brave woman that you are. Sometimes we can't help but not introduce ourselves into the world because of our inhibitions. You have utmostly (sp?) done that- Z's autism, Girly girl's wonders and your love for your husband. I think that we want to speak out only of the somber, lonely things but, when it comes down to it, we need to SHOUT out the beautiful things! AND the things that maybe we need to take a look at! It is SUCH a wondrous world and you make it easy on the eyes to look at it. Our souls are touched and our lives are enrichened. We can take your interpretations and create wonders of our own. Be soooo proud! You are lovely! Gooooood work, Girly "Z" MOM!!

[Patty W]

Wow... very expressive and heartfelt. It's a great photo of hubby! Great page as always! You are so very good at expressing the way you feel!

[LuvLee]

Erika.........it truly is a masterpiece and a beautiful tribute to your hubby!!!! That photo is seriously amazing!!! As is the whole page and the incredible meaning!!! Thank you so much for sharing this!!

[Michele]

Sounds like a great guy! Love this page, so eclectic and personal! I just created a page a week or so ago about our 15 years of marriage together....

[Dee]

Absolutely Gorgeous Layout!!
I do love ALL the elements
of this page! TFS

[Mary C. Anderson]

I love this scarap page Erika. I really like that you used different fonts and textures to make the words that described how you feel.I love the picture of Dave. He is *very* handsome. I would love to know what it was he was thinking when you toook that picture of him. :)

Mary

[Jenny Mick]

I love this page! The honesty, the colors, the layout, the pictures (he is a cutey!!) are work perfectly together. Thanks so much for the inspiration!

[emilymomto3boys]

Great page - and honest, but totally true! We celebrate our 10th anniv next month and I can say I feel all those things too! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

[Sarah Anderson]

I LOVE this page!!! It truly embodies all that there is to being married! Thanks for the inspiration once again!

[Susanna]

People are going to think that I'm on the payroll. What an absolutely awesome page! You were the Runner Up for Scrapbook Saturday over at Card of the Week.com.

You can check out the original post at http://www.cardoftheweek.com/2008/06/scrapbook-sat-1.html