Today is the official Scraps Of Elegance Design Team Reveal for the October Rue Des Rosiers Kit, and I have a couple of projects to share with you today, using that gorgeous kit.
This first project is a layout that features a photo of my Granny. She is holding my Dad in her lap and is surrounded by her other two sons Edward and Ralph. My Granny went on to have 7 children, 15 Grandchildren, and 33 Great Grandchildren before she passed away. She was a major influence in my life, and I miss her everyday. I titled this layout "She Was Love", because for everyone who knew her, that's exactly what she was. I wrote the following poem and gave it to her before she passed and she asked that I read it at her eulogy which I did. I wanted her to know what she meant to me, and I hope that it captured just a small percentage of what I felt for her:
I Want To
Be Like Her
To My Grandmother
Love, Renea Harrison
To My Grandmother
Love, Renea Harrison
The world they may not think so, but to me she is a queen
Whether in her youth or old age, true beauty through her I have seen
I hear her talk of her Jesus with such love in her voice
Between the things of this world and His ways, she has made her choice
She does not wear her faith around her neck like a talisman
Instead she covers her life in the blood of the Lamb, according to His plan
Oh, I want a heart like hers where love it has no bounds
One that beats for joy over the relationship with her Jesus she has found
Whether in her youth or old age, true beauty through her I have seen
I hear her talk of her Jesus with such love in her voice
Between the things of this world and His ways, she has made her choice
She does not wear her faith around her neck like a talisman
Instead she covers her life in the blood of the Lamb, according to His plan
Oh, I want a heart like hers where love it has no bounds
One that beats for joy over the relationship with her Jesus she has found
The world, it may not think so, but to me she is the
greatest soldier on Earth
Whether in her youth or old age, through her true strength I have observed
She has known some hard times, some so tough others would have given up
But she knew for her character to grow she must take from Him her cup
No, she is not perfect, not without sin
But she knows that face down on the floor is where true forgiveness begins
Oh, I want to have strength like hers that doesn’t come from muscle or bone
The kind that comes from the knowledge, that through surrender she will find her way home
The world it may not think so, but to me she is a star
Whether in her youth or old age, no truer faith have I seen so far
She has known great sorrow more than some could bear
But she knew that help would come, when before her King she went on her knees in prayer
Whether in her youth or old age, through her true strength I have observed
She has known some hard times, some so tough others would have given up
But she knew for her character to grow she must take from Him her cup
No, she is not perfect, not without sin
But she knows that face down on the floor is where true forgiveness begins
Oh, I want to have strength like hers that doesn’t come from muscle or bone
The kind that comes from the knowledge, that through surrender she will find her way home
The world it may not think so, but to me she is a star
Whether in her youth or old age, no truer faith have I seen so far
She has known great sorrow more than some could bear
But she knew that help would come, when before her King she went on her knees in prayer
Even when things did not go her way and life seemed so
unfair
She would just bow her head and turn her troubles over to her Savior’s care
Oh, I want a faith like hers that radiates through her life
The kind that comes from knowing that she has a Savior who shelters her,
She would just bow her head and turn her troubles over to her Savior’s care
Oh, I want a faith like hers that radiates through her life
The kind that comes from knowing that she has a Savior who shelters her,
no matter what her strife
I did lots of technique work to create this look~Fussy Cutting, seed beads, paper rolling, inking, puff paint, stenciling with texture medium and painting back over the bricks to add color.
All the paper and fussy cut pieces are from the kit and paper add on. There are flowers from the Floral Add On, and Cheesecloth, feathers, and a set of my Reneabouquets Etsy Butterflies all from the kit.
Here you can see all the dimension of the paper rolling~
And all the texture of the texture medium, painting and puff paint.
And here is a side shot showing all the dimension and texture.
This next project is a mini album that I created from the kit and for a fun example for Kathy (Kathy In Alaska's) Mini Album Challenge she has going on here http://scrapsofdarkness.com/Forum/index.php?topic=3524.0 in the Scraps Of Elegance and Scraps Of Darkness Forums. There is a FABulous RAK being offered up~A special Christmas Paper Collection, and from Melinda Kelly a $30.00 Gift Certificate to the Scraps Of Darkness and Scraps Of Elegance Store. You do not have to be a member or use kits to participate. Everyone is welcome!! So come have some fun with us!!
I used a small acrylic mini album that I had gotten from the SOD/SOE store at one point. I painted the acrylic pages with gesso, then script stamped them in black and then glitter edged the pages, and started piling on pieces from this month's kit and add ons.
The cover features some of the stickers from the Embellishment add on, layers of paper, cheesecloth, feather, trim, a handcrafted butterfly from my Reneabouquets Etsy Shop, a small resin flower and a fussy cut, glitter accented bird from the kit. Flowers from the Floral Add On. I added a Scrapmattts piece , a Prima nest, a rhinestone button and some other trims from my stash.
Here you can see how chunky my album is :)
On the inside I created a sewn pocket with tags created from the papers and hand dyed seam binding. On the opposite page there is space for a small photo or journaling. I loved the feathers in the kit, and added those with some flowers from the Floral Add On, and some lace from my stash.
Here is a close up of the tags, there is also a small tag hanging from the D-rings.
Another pocket with tags and little mini paper clips. The opposite page is actually a sewn, velcro closure pocket for storing treasures.
Some more space for a small photos or journaling and another pocket and tag.
I cut out one of the window shapes from the papers and created a sweet, little double sided tag.
And this is the back of my album.
Thank you so much for allowing me to share my memory of my Granny with you, and for checking out my work with this month's kit. I just love all the Vintage, Old World Romantic elements of this kit, and I hope you have enjoyed your visit! Until next time ~Hugs~Renea
Love the colours & the way you've put your mini together - & I can sooo relate to your Grandmother's Page... I was really close to mine, too - & you've done her proud with this ...that brick work, those paper curls...just gorgeous! I lived with mine for a few years. I wish she was alive now - I would appreciate her soooo much more! She always made me feel so loved - which is a wonderful gift to give a grandchild I think:):)!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow! Your mini is so rich and detailed and your layout so elegant! Your poem was so moving and well written. Such a tribute to your Grandmother and our Lord. Brought tears to my eyes!
ReplyDeleteI say "BRAVO"!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's really a wonderful job!
Hugs from France....... Sandra
OH Renea!! I saw the album @ SB.com but had not seen the l/o
ReplyDeleteof your Granny 'til just now!
OMW! It is stunning! I so love the way the
whole wall starts to 'roll up' and reveal a whole
another layer underneath! (brilliant:)
Thanks for sharing the beautiful poem~
It gives me real glimpse into her heart; as
well as yours~
Beautiful work here on this post~
Simply gorgeous Renea!! Adore all the beautiful layers, textures and details you put into your creations!!
ReplyDeleteOh my, Renea! What a deeply felt post and sweet memorial to your grandmother. Your words are touching. LOVE the LO, especially the photo of your Dad on your grandmother's lap- a treasure. The bricks look amazing. It is always a treat to visit your blog and see your creativity. xo
ReplyDelete