Scrapbook Page - Comfortable in my own Skin

A few months ago, I cut out the title of an article in a Weight Watchers magazine. I honestly don't even remember what the article was about and I don't remember if I even read it or not. I just know that the title is what struck me, so I cut it out and I've had it sitting on my desk since then. I knew then that it was something I was coming to terms with and it was something I wanted to use one day as the theme of a scrapbook page.

(click on any of the pictures to see a larger view)

I've been trying to figure out what photo I wanted to use for this page and when I was looking through the pictures that I've printed out that I wanted to use for my "Me Album," I decided on this one. It wasn't the one that I originally thought of using, but for some reason, it seemed to fit what I wanted to say.

Speaking of what I wanted to say.....journaling is really important to me. Especially on the pages that I'm putting into my "Me Album." This album is a constant work in progress. Something that I want to hand down to my kids and grandkids (and beyond) as a legacy of who I was. I want them to someday understand who I was, the things that went through my head (as bizarre as they might be).....everything about me. I often wish that I had albums like this of my ancestors.

And speaking of journaling, that's what my new Stampin' Mama Journaling 101 Online Scrapbook Course is all about. It's about unlocking the stories that your photos are holding. There's still time to register and get one of only 20 spots that are available in this course.

For this page, I used a gray tone piece of cardstock at my base and tore a piece of patterned paper from the Basic Grey Motifica line (yes, I do have other patterned papers at my disposal.....I'm a paper hoarder.....but I'm so in love with the Basic Grey line right now) and mounted it on my cardstock. I sanded the torn edge after I mounted the paper.

I've been having so much fun with my acrylic paints and I've found a new love in using them on my scrapbook pages, as well as on my actual photos. I'm also loving using it with my stamps. I painted some periwinkle blue paint around the edges of the cardstock and patterned paper. I also did the same thing around three edges of the photo (the photo is 5 x 7).

I used a sponge brush to dab some cream acrylic paint onto the rubber of the three-flower image from the True Friend stamp set (Stampin' UP) and stamped it around the top and right side of the cardstock, right over the blue edges. I wasn't perfect with sponging the paint onto the stamp because I wanted the images to look a little distressed. I also stamped the flower image around the top and right side edges of my photo to match the main page.

I used the same cream acrylic paint to paint the large chipboard "C" (from the Simon Lower chipboard alphabet from Stampin' UP). I stamped the three-flower image on the chipboard with Basic Black ink, but it ended up looking a little dark-purplish.

The stencil chipboard tiles are from ProvoCraft. The red "in" tiles were found at the dollar store (love that place!). The "MY" stickers are alphabet tiles that look like Scrabble pieces.....from Making Memories. The "own" stickers are from the Basic Grey Motifica line. The "Skin" rub-ons are from Creative Imaginations (I found these at the dollar store, too, and was amazed!).

I typed my journaling in my word program and then printed it out on Mellow Moss cardstock. I cut the journaling into strips and inked up the edges with my Whisper White Craft pad. When I do my journaling this way, I print onto computer paper and hold it up to the page to make sure that it's all going to fit. If I need to adjust the font size, I tweak it a bit and then print out again on scrap paper and hold it up to the page to make sure it's just what I want. When I have it the way I want it, then I print it onto my cardstock.

My journaling reads:

I grew up thinking my body was normal.

I had no respect for my body in my mid to
later teens.

I was made to feel ashamed of my body in my
late teens.

I was expected to hide my body under frumpy
and unflattering skirts and dresses.

My body gave birth to two children 13 ½
months apart.

My body has gone through miscarriage.

My body will never carry another child, will
never give birth again,
will never nurse again.


My body has had its brush with two lumps on my breasts.

My body is not perfect according to the world’s
standards.

In spite of what today’s media may tell me, it’s
not what’s from my eyes down that counts.
It’s what’s inside.

It doesn’t matter to me if the world is not comfortable
with the skin I’m in.

What matters is that
I’m comfortable in my own skin.

I can say now that I finally am.

Have a lovely evening!

Happy Creating!

-Stampin' Mama

Comments

[Danita (Moberkitty)]

Wow, Erika, that's powerful. And beautiful. Thank you for sharing such wonderful insight into you.

[Shawn K]

Lovely page and beautiful insights! Thanks for sharing. I can hardly wait to start your scrapbooking course in August! Really looking forward to the challenge.

Shawn K.

[Dee]

A very well thought out layout...
very meaningful!! You are very..
Wise beyond your years!!
I can relate to many of your thoughts.
Wonderful..inspiring..Thanks for sharing!!

[Alison Snow]

Another gorgeous page - I'd love to have an hour or two with your albums to see all of your creations together - have you ever thought of putting them all in one place, like Flikr?

Just wondering about the acrylic paint, dollar-store tiles, etc. Do you only buy archival stuff? Or do you not worry about that at all?

Thanks for sharing!

Alison

[Robb_eeie]

You always *touch* me with your thoughts using words, which is beyond a **Gift**. Your ME book will certainly be treasured when we are all long and gone ~ but your talented legacy will continue :)

[Susanna]

Your scrapbook page is AWESOME! I can't wait to start the Journaling 101 class!

You got a shout out for Scrapbook Saturday, over at Card of the Week.com. You can check out the original post at http://www.cardoftheweek.com/2008/07/scrapbook-satur.html

If you would like an "I was featured on" badge for your blog, please email me at barefootstamper.com and I will send you the code. The link will take you back to your feature article.

[diane mcvey]

Good for you! I could go on forever on how I was made to feel so many years ago...it affects us our entire lives.
I applaud your honesty and am happy YOU are happy. That's all that matters! :D

[Danyelle]

I'm a big fan of your scrap layouts and your gifted journaling. I don't always comment, but I do visit frequently and this post floored me. I'm feeling a little more comfortable in mine because of your words. Beautiful!