Scrapbook Page - Dear World

I felt a need to scrapbook today. I've had a thought growing in my mind for a little over a week and needed to get it out.

As most of you know, my son,Zach, is autistic. I stay in the loop of what's going on in the world when it comes to autism. I believe in not only advocating for my own son, but also for others just like him. One of my passions is to make the world aware.

After reading stories in the past week of what families like mine are going through, along with living in our own world of autism, it made me want to write an open letter to the world. That's what this whole page is about.

Before I share the journaling, though, I thought I'd walk you through my creative process. (You can click on any of the pictures for a larger view)

Lately, I've been playing with my paints. They got put aside for a few months, but I've brought them back out since they work so well with my recent obsession with chipboard. Now that I've been playing in my paint box, I want to take out some of those HUGE canvases I have hiding in my closet that are begging for paint.

I used a piece of Bazzill textured cardstock for my base page. I found a piece of green patterned cardstock (from the Old World Stack by Die Cuts with a View) that brought out some of the colors in my photo and used a large bowl to trace a partial circle on it. I cut that out and mounted it on my cardstock. But....before I did that, I used some white Gesso paint and a stiff brush to paint around the edges of the blue cardstock and the green cardstock. I wanted to bring out some of the brown from the river bed, so I used a scrap of Basic Grey paper I had (from the Motifica collection) to partially mat my photo (which was also painted around the edges with Gesso paint). Who says you have to fully mat a photo?

The words, "Dear" and "AND," at the top and bottom corners of the page were done by sponging brown acrylic paint onto some large alphabet stamps (Well Worn Alphabet set from Stampin' Up!) and stamping them onto the page.

Those weren't the only stamps I used on this page. I also customized my chipboard embellishments with stamps!

I started out by painting my chipboard with acrylic paint (white paint for the word, "world," and red paint for the large heart). I then stamped on top of the chipboard (after it dried, of course) with the smaller flourish image from the Doodle This stamp set (from Stampin' UP).  I stamped with Close to Cocoa ink on my letter chipboard pieces and I used Whisper White craft ink on top of the red heart. I also sponged around the heart edges with Chocolate Chip ink.

My journaling was done on the computer and I printed it on Kraft cardstock and Ruby Red cardstock (for the larger and more descriptive words). I cut my journaling apart in blocks and then swiped around the edges with my Whisper White craft pad. The two large black commas on my page were done by hand with a Slick Writer.

I used a large pewter finish star brad (from Creative Impressions) on each of my Ruby Red words. Before I put the brads in the cardstock, though, I lightly touched them to my Whisper White craft pad and then dried the ink with my embossing gun.

After I completed my page, I realized what a happy surprise I had staring back at me. My journaling is a letter to the world and the large partial green patterned cardstock circle that I had created at the beginning of my page looked like a view of the earth from against the blue sky. I totally had NOT planned that. I had picked the cardstock out because the colors drew from the colors in my photo. I chose the circular pattern so that it would soften things up, knowing that I was going to use a lot of straight angles with my journaling. I hadn't planned it, but it was obviously meant to be.

My journaling is from the heart. I don't sugar coat anything.  It reads:

Dear World,

There's some things about autism that I want you to know.

In spite of what you think, our kids aren't contagious. They're
not something you need to be afraid of. They're not the boogie man. Different doesn't automatically equal bad.

You say you want us to explain, but it's complicated and you seem to be disinterested after a while.

You say you want to embrace diversity but when you don't understand something, you fear it and push it away.

You say you want to hear what we have to say, but you seem to plug your ears when you get too uncomfortable.

You say you want to see what we go through but when you don't like what you see, you turn away or put blinders on.

When we share our world with you, we're not looking to make excuses. We're just looking for a little bit of the Patience, Understanding and Compassion that you’re always talking about.

Love,
a mom and her autistic son

Happy Creating!

-Stampin' Mama

Comments

[Julie]

I like your letter to the world, your page, your blog, everything you do...

[Christina Fischer]

I'm always blown away by your scrapbook pages. Your heart, your creativity and your soul are on each one. Thanks so much for sharing your talent with us -- your cards, projects and pages are always fantastic!

[Carol]

I understand, I care, and I love how you present the subject of autism to the world through your amazing work. You are one incredible, inspiring Mom, and I LOVE what you do!! Bless you!!!

[Menda Hayden]

This one lead to a tear shed. As the aunt of an autistic child I know alittle bout it. Thanks for all you do to help with the fight for our kids. Again a beautiful page. I send my blessings to you too. And hug him for me.

[Juli Smith]

Beautiful Erika- the page and the journaling! But the pic of Zach is the most amazing! How do you catch such great pictures? Thank you for sharing your mission of autism awareness, as well as your wonderful paper-crafting talents. May God continue to bless you and your family one hundred-fold.

[Bee]

I LOVE that page, You know how much it talks to me!♥ What you wrote there is so true, and so sad...
We really need to work on that book, once I start scrapbooking my little guy also, LOL! ;-)

[Amy B]

Wow, the journaling says it all! Your words are very touching and yet so true! What a beautiful page!!!

[Celly]

Beautiful !! Love that page ! Thanks for sharing your great talent with us !

[Betty]

What an absolutely beautiful page. You inspire me with your creativity and your heart.

Thank You for sharing.

Betty

[Marie-Josée]

Thank You Erika for that layout. My heart is touched because my 15 years old son is autistic.

[Susanna]

Erika, this is amazing! You were the Runner UP for Scrapbook Saturday over at www.CardoftheWeek.com. You can check out the post at http://www.cardoftheweek.com/2008/06/scrapbook-page.html

I don't know how you do it all, but I'm sure glad that you do!

[Erin]

Wow Erika,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and bringing awareness to the "world"!
Love the layout and your son is a cutie!

Erin Mueller

[Mel M. M. M.]

Beautiful post and project. I love your use of gesso. Brilliant! :0)

[Wendi]

From one Autism Mom to another, thank you for sharing your story. The more we talk the more others listen.

[Cyndi]

Wow, very well said. Autism is very complicated, & yet for the person who knows one: it can be very easy. However, to live with one: I suppose it could be very complicated & not easy to deal with. My friend her grandson has Autism, & people are truly amazed @ what he can do, when they know he has autism. So, there may be various degree's in which these children are affected: some more, some less: but none the less those with it have those symptoms.

My friends grandson wasn't born with this: but got it later in life due to 9 shots @ one time & ever since then, his life has been affected by Autism. Some do not believe this to be so, however this young man is living proof of what I say.

Cyndi