Monday 9 May 2011

Bird is the Word Sun/Sunshine Challenge {An Irish Blessing}

Yesterday Bird is the Word posted a new word challenge - Sun or Sunshine.  One of these words needs to appear anywhere on your page, in your title, journaling, or even on an embellishment.  I have the words "Sweet Sunshine" on the badge in the centre of one of my flowers & the word "sun" also appears in my journaling.



I remembered "An Irish Blessing" & knew that it would be the perfect sentiment for this recent photograph of 3 of my 4 children.  I used the latest Colour Combo from Colour Combos Galore
and the green colour was perfect in context {green being the Irish "lucky" colour/colour of the shamrock/etc, etc...}


 The "Designer's challenge" was to document the best Mother's Day gift I've ever received - or to draw your OWN inspiration from the challenge.  I chose to showcase the very latest photos of my kids (over Easter) (unfortunately my eldest daughter couldn't be with us as she is hundreds of miles away at uni) as my children really are my most precious gift.

I know that one's children are to most people their greatest blessing, but for me they are particularly precious.  I have a sad family history that has left me with only one sister who is permanently ill & permanently in hospital, so I made it "my mission" in life to have a large family of my own making, with four of my own children, and to be to them the mother that I always wanted for myself.


I chose the latest sketch from Creative Scrappers (somehow their sketches always seem to work for me no matter what!)  I've noticed that I like the look of a layout that follows a diagonal line, so I moved the title over to the left-hand side rather than making it a separate element.  I had 3 photos I wanted to use so I fitted the smaller two on the left-hand side in place of some of the square blocks (I just interpreted all those blocks as one whole shape), but I'm sure you can definitely see the sketch in there still!

I haven't done HARDLY ANY blog-hopping this weekend & for that I APOLOGISE!

I fully intend to "make good" on that tomorrow as I owe so many people out there a tonne of love ...

We had an extra two children from Friday to Sunday as friends of ours were invited to a wedding & needed babysitters for the weekend.  We had two brothers the same age as my two boys all weekend & it was hilarious, exhausting, wonderful and MESSY!!!  We ensured that they had a whale of a time but that meant I only got to my layout yesterday evening.

Wishing you all a fantastic week :)




19 comments:

jessica_haley555 said...

Love how you you combined this sketch and color combo. Turned out great!

Jasmine S said...

The yellow is stunning Helen. I love that Irish Blessing too and you have used it perfectly with your gorgeous pics and detail.

Lisa Amiet said...

Helen, this is just gorgeous, love what you said about your family and think that you are 100% right, you've definitely done a wonderful job xoxo

Rene Sharp said...

Another beautiful page Helen. This is really one of my faves, the colours, photos and embellies work so well together!! Have a great week, ours is going to be a bit chaos, we are having our one bathroom completely re-done!!

Yolande (pronounced you-land-a) said...

Superb LO Helen! Beautiful detail and fab photos. :) Have a fantastic week...

Rachael Funnell said...

Those Colors in your LO are just Gorgeous with that SUPER gorgeous photo of your kiddlets!!!!
I love what you have done here......
& I hear you on the blog visits, I was a very bad blogger buddy last week.I didn't visit a lot, Hopefully back to a bit more visiting!!!
LOL..
XXX

Hilde Aaslund aka Scoobie said...

Love all the yellow - it makes the layout so bright and happy! Love tjhe diagonal cluster to . it really adds a focal point to tha layout!
TFS!

Unknown said...

wow very beautiful colors and design Helen
amazing job
Ihope you came visite me i do like your comments

big hugs carla

scrapbookertink said...

Hi Helen, love the way you arranged the pics and the flowers, so hard to design something different, maybe I need a new challenge LOL. Your story about family pulled at my heart strings, I am sure you are the most fantastic mother, cant imagine one of my two going off to university yet, another few years, where is your DD studying? Well have a fantastic week and blog soon, happy scrapping x.

Diana said...

This is much cleaner, simpler and brighter than usual for you. This looks like it could be one of my LOs, actually! lol I love it.
Feeling what you're saying about motherhood... one day you must tell me your story... .

Pearl said...

Love the sunshine yellow & green combo for sure !

Trust you had a fab M

Marelize said...

Beautiful Helen!! Love the gorgeous sunny colours and you've done great combining 3 challenges into one layout! :)

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

Wowwwwwwwwwwww! This is GORGEOUS! I loveeeeeeeeeee the colors, the photos...and loving the clutter of flowers in the middle!! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Chantal Vandenberg said...

Oh I love this!!!

Lynette Jacobs said...

You always manage to "nail" the colour challenges...I am in awe.

Bernadine said...

Love your layout. Very different to what I am used to seeing from you. :)

Alison said...

The yellow and green work really well together and are perfect for the 'Irish Blessing'. My alpha banners were actually from a 'pet' kit from Bella Boulevard -the 'Tail Waggers and Cat Nap' collection...and they only spelled out 'LOYAL'!
Alison xx

Kirsty Vittetoe said...

Love the happy colors, bright and cheery, perfect LO for your children!

Eila Sandberg said...

You just worked this palette to perfection darling! In a way I was lucky to have those houseguests come gate crashing or else I would have been in a pickle with the green. On your question if I don't scrap after work during weekdays, nope can no do. I commute 2 hours to/fro work and am totally knackered when I get home. Also with the two kittens, everything has to be stored in containers with lids or else they burglar it and play with, i.e. chew on, my stuff LOL. That's why I have to work really intensively during weekends. Hope all's well with you darling, I'm finally back to normal after weeks of intensive work for a massive launch of new corporate identity. Imagine 3000 staff in a humungus party tent, guess how thirsty they are .... Have a good week! xx