Hello friends and happy New Year! I've taken quite the long break from my art this month for very good reason, but I had a stretch of free time and wanted to make this winter album for our New Year's challenge at Mini Album Makers. Our sponsor this month, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts, is offering a great prize bundle to the lucky winner, so come play along!
It's taken me a while to find the words to share with you, but on December 4 our youngest daughter Sydney (that's her on the right) was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. We have spent 16 days this December at the hospital and completed four rounds of chemo. We have every confidence that Sydney will be cancer free, though the next two years will be quite the struggle. We truly appreciate your prayers, as this is her senior year of high school and having to pull out of classes and basketball has been really hard. But she has strong faith, great spirit and is a fighter! <3
This idea popped in my head and I just went with it, and am happy with the results. I wanted to make some "Polaroid" style pages to fill with my sweet girl's photos. Her birthday is in January and I thought it would be a thoughtful gift.
I cut four panels from leftover Christmas packaging, aka cardboard and gessoed them with really thick coats. While the gesso was wet on one side I laid cheesecloth into the wet gesso and brushed over it to secure. On the reverse, dried gessoed panels I applied Dusty Concord and Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide directly to the panels (DTP) and spritzed with water to move the color around. I blended with my finger where necessary.
I used the Tim Holtz Rosettes layering stencil with DecoArt Snow-Tex and the Holiday Knit stencil with BoBunny Glitter Paste over my four inside panels.
I used a combination of Tim's Shadow Script dies for the sentiments over my "Polaroid" panels. I cut them to 3x4" from white card and used Tim's 2 1/2" Stitched Square die to cut out the center. I added foam tape on the sides and bottom so I could easily slide the photos inside.
I used a combination of Tim's snowflake dies: Iced Flake and Stacked Snowflakes. The glitter paper was from a gift bag my other daughter gave me for Christmas. I love those sentimental details... <3
On the cover I layered lots of snowflakes from the glitter paper and Metallic Kraft Core. I glued Tim's Flurry #2 snowflake, which I stained with Dusty Concord DOX along the edges. I stained seam binding with Tumbled Glass DI and made a loopy bow. The beautiful charms are from The Funky Junkie Boutique. Thank you Linda!
Over that beautiful Flurry #2, I added a metallic Christmas Small Talk sentiment. Here's a shot of the reverse panels with that beautifully stained cheesecloth. For this side, I mixed my ink with water and brushed it on. I tied the panels together, making sure the strings went out when the book was accordion folded. I used cotton yarn, then glued tiny pom poms to the ends of some of the strings.
I hope you've had fun seeing this project and will pay the Mini Album Makers blog a visit to see our Design Team's beautiful creations for this challenge. Though my posts may be few and far between for a while, I love and appreciate each of you wonderful friends I've made through blogging and will try to catch up with your beautiful work when I can (wifi permitting! ;0) Huge hugs, Autumn
32 comments:
I love the colours and textures of the pages, a beautiful book! Sad to hear of your daughter's illness, it's always tough when a child is sick and it will be tough for her at this time in her life and education. I can only say I hope she gets better as quickly and as painlessly as possible. Hugs, C.
First, your album is stunning! I have been saving the packaging that I get in my stamping supplies and you are inspiring me to play some more with gesso and paint! Love the colors and sparkle!! Second, I wanted to express my deepest sympathy for your daughter's diagnosis. I'm sure you are all devastated but your faith will keep you strong in the weeks and months to come. My husband is a pediatric oncologist so I know all too well what you have begun. If you ever need anything, I hope you know that I will help you! Hugs!! Happy New Year! My thoughts and prayers are with you.
It's a gorgeous album, Autumn! Thanks so much for sharing what's happening in your life these days! I'll be praying for your family!
Autumn I have known of your struggles these last few weeks and you and your daughter have been so much in my thoughts. So I know how hard it must have been to put this little book together, but your amazingly strong faith shines through in this gorgeously created mini album which both you and your daughter will treasure especially because of the love you have poured into it. As always prayers, hugs and thoughts are always with you all x
Autumn, so sorry to hear about your daughter’s diagnosis. Prayers for her and your family as you go through this. I know your faith in God will be strengthened and He will help you all because He promised to be with us. He is Good, He is Near and He is Powerful. Blessings to you all. I love your creativity; thanks for sharing with us.
Autumn, it warms my heart today to see your blog post and to read the motivation behind your beautiful album. The colors are just up my alley and I am loving the texture from the textiles. The glitter paper from your daughter's gift bag is the perfect sentimental touch and one of the meaningful details I adore about your work. I know this is a treasure Sydney will hold dear to her heart! Happy New Year, my friend! Sending hugs!
Oh, Autumn, my heart goes out to you and your family.... and I'm thankful that your faith is strong in a God who loves and cares for us and is THE source of our healing. I pray for wisdom for you all and for the doctors. I pray that God would guide the doctors even when they aren't looking for His direction. I pray that your faith does not waiver and that your eyes stay Fixed on Him no matter what is going on. I pray that you each come out stronger on the other side of this ready to walk out your lives sharing His glory and all He has done for you.
Your book is gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sure she will love it!!!!
Autumn, I am sure that Sydney draws her strength from you too, I feel you have coped admirably with the devastating news and I hope and pray that the treatment does the trick for Sydney, she is a very beautiful young lady, as is her sister. Keep strong my friend.
Your album is beautiful and such a wonderful and thoughtful gift and I am sure she will treasure it. The cover is stunning and I just love the beautiful pages you created. I am thinking of you all through this difficult time.
Big hugs, Anne xxx
Thank you for sharing both your gorgeous album and your personal story. I will be keeping your daughter along with the medical professionals who will be helping her through this journey in my prayers. I have no doubt that she will come out the other end a strong, healthy young woman and her lovely Mom will be right there with her. Sending hugs!
Such great details you've added to this amazing photo book. And loving the color scheme! the little pom-poms are so cute too, just beautiful all around!
I am so sorry to hear about your daughter's illness. Thinking of you and keeping your family in my prayers!
A glorious colour scheme - so striking - and a beautiful mini album, not least because of the reason you made it.
My heart goes out to you and I'll add Sidney to my prayers... we both know that God CAN heal her and my prayer is that he WILL!
Praying that God will wrap his arms around you as you go through her treatment together.
Cath x
Dear Autumn, I have just read about your daughter’s disease :-( I’m with you and I will think of you! I wish you and your beautiful daughter strength to defeat the leukemia! I wish all the best for you in 2019! The mini book is beautiful! Big hugs
Autumn, first off I would like to tell you that your daughter and you will be in my prayers. With God everything is possible and as usual, I love everything you do. Peace, love and good health to you and yours in this new year.
Prayers for Sydney to make a full recovery! Your album is gorgeous and I love the colors, I am sure she will love it too. <3 xoxo
Autumn, I am praying for Sydney and her treatment. I am praying with you to see God’s work in this situation.
Amen to the truth in this verse. Indeed to Him nothing is impossible, He is the one true living God and He can heal Sydney completely.
I am thankful for you and for your faith in Him.
Your album is beautiful! Thank you for sharing it with us.
A beautiful mini album in glorious colours. Know that I am praying for Sydney and for your entire family, as you continue to face the difficult days ahead. Sending light and love and healing your way along with a crate of hugs xx
What a beautiful mini album for Sydney and she'll love it. Your "polaroid" pics are adorable and a great idea. I'm so sorry to hear about Sydney's diagnosis and have all of you in my thoughts and prayers. She's lucky to have a wonderful family to help her through this. Hugs to all of you!
Dear Autumn, I am so very sorry to read of Sydney's diagnosis. I will be keeping you all in my thoughts and sending very regular cyber hugs! As everyone has said the times ahead will be very tough, especially during these tender years, but Sydney will emerge strong and healthy.
Your album needless to say is beautiful and I've no doubt Sydney will treaure it, and YOU!
Sending my warmest, caring thoughts your way. Love Nicola x
I was so happy to see you post again, Autumn, but then my happiness quickly turned to sadness when I read about Sydney. I'm so sorry that she and the whole family has to go through this. I trust that the treatment has worked and you can all look forward to a good year and put all this behind you. The album is a great reminder for her that she is precious and surrounded by a loving family. Wishing you all the best from the bottom of my heart. xx
Thank you for the wonderful step by steps on your amazing and beautiful creation x. Sending love, hugs and positive thoughts at this difficult time x
What a glorious creation Autumn! I love all the clever techniques you used and the colors are perfect (wintry and girly)! I'm going to steal your method for the 'Polaroid' frames! Your daughter will totally love this. Keeping you in my thoughts.
~ Heather
Happy New Year to you and your family.
Your creation is awesome as always and I can use all the steps to make a creation for myself. This is truly something I'm very interested in for the 2019 year. Prayers and positive thoughts for all of you.
Hugs~Lois
Your album is stunning, Autumn! I absolutely love the colors that you have chosen in conjunction with the silver snowflakes. It makes it more whimsical than wintry.
I am so sorry to hear about your daughter's fight with cancer. I have tears in my eyes while reading your post. I cannot imagine watching one of my children suffer through a life threatening illness and not being able to fix it. I wish I could offer words of encouragement but I have not been through this. So all I can say is, I will pray for your family and healing for your sweet daughter.
Hugs,
Kate
Dearest (((Autumn))) I came looking for you as I had not seen you post for a while and am so saddened to see what you write. Thinking your absence may have been due to spending time with family over the seasonal period your words have taken on a whole new meaning. I am so sorry to read about your Darling Daughter, as I Mother my heart and hopes go out to you.
Stay strong for those that may not be able to around you. You are all in my daily prayers.
May the beauty of your artwork help you through this difficult time my dear blogging friend.
Biggest of Hugs and warmest of blessings Tracey xx
Beautiful work as always Autumn ... I am keeping you and the family in my heart ... big hugs
I've got tears in my eyes from this post, Autumn. I can feel all the love and hope you poured into this amazing album for your daughter. She will cherish it always. I will definitely add Sydney to my prayer list that she comes through this fully and completely and lives a long, successful, and happy life! It's a terrible time to be struck down, bless her, but she looks like a warrior who will beat cancer's butt totally! Hugs, Darnell
You and your family have been in our thoughts and prayers since I heard. My love and hugs to you, sweet Autumn. And we will be lifting you and your family up in prayer daily.
Oh Autumn - I missed this post - my heart goes out to you and yours, and you all will be in my prayers.
Maxine
Dear Autumn, I am so sorry to hear about your daughter's illness. My heart goes out to all of you and please know that I will be praying for her, and for all of your family, in the difficult days ahead.
Your album is so beautiful. I love the colours and all the wonderful details.
May God Bless you all and keep you strong. love and hugs. xx
God bless you all and keep you strong during the difficult months to come. I’m so very sorry to read your sad news but believe your strength and faith will guide you and show you the way through.
Despite your trials you have still found time to create a beautiful keepsake for your daughter which will mean so much more because of the love encompassed within it’s pages. Keep your faith and strength sweetie. You will all be in my prayers. Love and hugs to you xxx
Hi again Autumn, so sad to hear about your daughter. I don't know why but last year was not good for my family or friends and it would seem that it wasn't good for you either but hopefully this year will be much better. I am sending you the biggest hugs and hope all goes well. Angela xxx
Prayers for your beautiful daughter. I hope she has a speedy recovery!
This album is fabulous!! Thank you for sharing your creativity with us!
Post a Comment