Olympic Gold, Another Reason To Be Proud To Be Canadian
By Tammy M
Yesterday you may have heard my country do a collective CHEER. I
know we were jumping up and down as we watched Alexandre Bilodeau
win our first ever Gold medal of the 2010 Olympic games. He also
has the honor of winning the first Gold Medal for Canada on
Canadian soil. It was thrilling.
His story is very inspirational as he speaks of the impact his
brother has had on him personally and in his sport.
And yes this was my picture of the day.
Remembering
By Tracy E
Today we remember. We remember those brave men and women
who fight for freedom around the world today and in years
past. My great uncle was one who fought during WWII and
thankfully he is still around today to be thanked in
person...
Summer Memories to Scrapbook
By Tracy EScrapbook Journaling Papers
By Tracy ERecently, I scrapbooked a page about my children when they became Canadian citizens. I wanted a unique way to journal about it so I Googled "Canada maple leaf" and printed the size of picture I wanted. Once I knew it would work in size, I printed it again on the back side of some lined patterned paper I had. I'm really happy with the results - you can see it in the photo I've posted. The internet is an easy resource to find clip art and other shapes for journaling blocks.
Scrapbooking Nicknames
By Tracy EThe other idea for everyday things is making a layout about each of the kids' little quirks. For my son, it would include the fact that he gets the hiccups whenever he has a good belly laugh - and has done this ever since infancy. My daughter - well where do I begin?! She has a shoe fetish beyond belief. If she knows only one thing about you it will be what shoes you wear. There are so many more quirks as I think about about it longer so I think the best way to journal is list style with a nice single enlarged photo of each child. I'll post a pictures when the pages are done.
Using Emotion in Your Scrapbook Journaling
By Tracy EI try to write something about either how the event depicted in the photos made me feel at the time or even now as I remember the event. Sometimes the photo and layout is just about one person in a portrait style photograph. In that case I try to get down on paper the feelings I have about that person or what that particular photo means to me.
Sometimes it's a great idea to get emotions from other people too. Ask your family or friends who were involved in the event or pictures to comment on how they felt and feel now about it. Compare and contrast the current emotions with the previous ones for an interesting take on the event.
Bringing emotion into your scrapbook is the perfect way to allow others to get to know the real you.
Scrapbooking As Therapy
By Tammy MAs I am sitting in a conference in Saskatoon, I am reminded of the theraputic properties associated with scrapbooking. I have been reflecting on some of my own past experiences and some have asked "how did you do it?" "how did you get through those tough times?".
One of the things that comes to mind is how through my separation and divorce many years ago, journalling was my outlet. When I was sad or angry, I wrote; when I was happy and relieved, I wrote and added photos. Getting through the many situations my family found themselves, in a healthy, whole manner was my priority. My children needed a mom who felt real feelings, giving them the freedom to acknowledge their own deep emotions.
Along with great therapy and not being afraid to ask for help, I
found journaling and scrapbooking was one of the ways to help me
process all the emotions and thoughts running through
me.
Even though those tough days are far behind me, I still find scrapbooking and journaling theraputic in the way I can express myself to myself. That may sound silly, but I still have to remind myself to be open and let myself really feel.
Using your scrapbooking as therapy doesn't mean you have to have gone through something as difficult as divorce or the passing of a loved one. Just surviving your children's toddler or teenage years is enough to make you rethink your sanity. Journaling and recording the events and emotions connected to them is important, if for no other reason then to help yourself.
I encourage you to dig deep!
Warmly,
Tammy Morales
Your Scrapbook Coach
Publisher, www.ScrapbookersInnerCircle.com
Scrapbook Journaling Ideas
By Tracy EShe sat down on a chair next to me, my travel mug in her hands, and promptly moved into imagination mode. She suddenly was a mother having coffee with a friend and they were discussing their children and other "adult" type conversations. She did that for about 15 minutes and then she was off running errands in her "car" (the swing set) of course carrying my mug the whole time. Whenever I wanted a drink she was quite reluctant to give the mug up unless I assured her it would only be for a second and she could have it back.
A child's imagination is a wonderful thing - intriguing to watch. Suddenly it dawned on me to take a picture of her and then scrapbook about her imagination. Unfortunately I thought of this near the end of the playact so I only got one bad quality picture out of it. But nevermind that, it's the story I'm after so I immediately wrote it down on paper so I would not forget.
I need a good titile - something to do with how one simple object can spark so much imagination in a child's mind. Any ideas?
Picture Memories, Inspire Me to Journal on My Scrapbook Layouts
By Tracy EMany times, this reminiscing leads to my next layout idea. It just seems to come to me as to what I want to do for a layout by simply being reminded of emotions, events or something said via looking at a picture. It's true - a picture speaks a thousand words. My task? Get at least some of those words onto the layout in the form of journalling.
Sometime just sit down with an old photo album or stack of photos and see where it takes you. It may be to your next layout idea!
Scrapbook Journaling, See it Through the Eyes of Your Child
By Tammy MAs you know I am a big proponent of scrapbooking about yourself. What you believe, what you do and how you see things is so important to understanding you! It would a shame for that not to be shared.
But I often wonder why it is so hard for us to do it? Why do we need to be reminded? Why doesn't it come naturally for many of us?
We don't seem to have a problem telling the story of our family, but when it comes to ourselves at a personal level, we struggle.
Now I don't have the stats, but I am curious to know if those scrapbookers that have always been sure to include themselves, their story, their thoughts and feelings; were given an example. Were they encouraged to keep a diary, share their perspective and explore their feelings? Did their mother, father or maybe even grandparents keep a personal journal or diary about their thoughts and beliefs?
As humans we function from a place of familiarity.
We teach our children by example! So how can you help your kids understand the importance of sharing their own very personal story, thoughts and beliefs?
Well there are two things I would encourage you to do:
1. Get personal! Share your thoughts, beliefs, feelings and personal experiences in your scrapbook layouts. I remember being completely moved by a woman who shared very candidly her thoughts and feelings about being ill and how she struggled to focus on caring for herself and torn about how to care for her family at the same time. When you share at that level, you become real, transparent and others can truly see you.
2. Create layouts from your child's perspective or have them create some pages themselves. Can you look at the situation through the eyes of your toddler? When they are old enough to articulate their thoughts and feelings, be sure to use that information. By doing so you will help foster in your child the importance of being conscious of their feelings.
The ripple effect is your children will understand the importance of sharing 'their' story.
You set the example and encourage them to share. You will be rewarded with albums full of EVERYONES thoughts and perspectives. But it starts with you!
