My day brightener and heart warmer

The latest challenge word at Bird is the Word is "SMILE".

Here's my take:

You may find the word "SMILE" in my journalling up in the center cloud.  It's actually part of my favorite song...

So sorry for the short write-up.  I am currently doing a chore and blogging at the same time.

Cheers!

BLISS of a first time MOM

My creative mojo is pouring and I feel like doing another project again.  So when I saw the May 2012 challenge of Once Upon A... Sketch, I started creating a layout.

The challenge for this month is to create a layout and interpret the theme "Mum" however you like based on this sketch.

You can journal as little or as much as you like, but your layout must incorporate both the theme and the sketch. 

Ideas for journalling: you as a mother, your role as a working/stay-at-home mum, sacrifices/benefits of being a mum, one day in your life as a mum, how your life has changed since being a mum, a tribute to your own mum, grandmother, guardian or someone you consider as close as your mum, your relationship with your mum or your daughter, one trait you have taken from your mum, your desire to be a mum, your feelings on motherhood, what does it mean to be a mum?, what kind of mum do you want to be?, Mother's Day celebrations/traditions, your favourite Mother's Day gift given/receive etc.

I am also a mother so I decided to create a layout about myself.  Now here's my version on the above sketch entitled "BLISS of a first time MOM".  You'll know why as you go through this post...

I used lots of items from the Webster's Pages particularly from the All About Me Collection.

Posting some details for you to appreciate my work...

The chipboard clock here is from Imaginarium Designs.  I soooooo love them that I hoarded lots and lots of different shapes.  Thanks to my friend who came from Australia!

Well, let me go back to the clock, LOL!  First I covered it with Gesso then painted with a green Acrylic Paint.  Once fully dried, I designed it with golden beads which I bought from a local fabric store.  So cute, right?  Hope you agree with me, haha!

Now, the bricks here are made of mixed Gesso and Coarse Pumice Gel then painted with a mettalic watercolor.  I used the Bricks doodling template from The Crafter's Workshop. 

Again, I added beads on the side and corner to make the layout more dramatic.

I wanted to share my feelings and experiences during my pre and postpartum period.  Hence, I had a lengthy journalling hidden under the title and photo.  The blue and white paper where the "BLISS" word is situated serves as an envelope.

Just pull down the scroll to remove the journal.

My journalling says:

" I was not a radiant preggy - my lips pouted, my nose looked swollen, my skin darkened, pimples grew all over my body and I gained so much weight (Oh yes, from 42 kilos to 53!).

I also experienced a lot of difficulties during pregnancy - there was so much pain in lower back and belly, I had intermittent bleeding and been on bedrest for seven months due to threatened abortion.

That was a very tough experience that I don't want to go through again.

But the moment my baby came out, I felt profound happiness and joy which I couldn't explain.  Maybe it was a PURE LOVE that only a MOTHER can feel.

My little girl is already five years old and I think I'm ready for the next challenge.  My dear hubby and I are planning for a second baby and hopefully, a bouncy baby boy this time."

Unfortunately, my husband left the country last month for a new work assignment and our plan of having a second child was deferred until he comes back in December.  ***Sigh***

You may also notice that there's a quote at the bottom part of the journal which states:

" A mother's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them."
                                                                                                                   - Victor Hugo

Very applicable to my photo...

Thus, I am also entering this project to Berry71 Bleu's May Challenge which is centering on a favorite quote/poem/song about Mothers.

Well, both challenges offer huge set of prizes (just click here and here to check what's up for grab) and I hope my entry will be chosen...  crossed fingers...

Wish me luck!

I hope you'll find time to comment and thanks for dropping by!

Ciao!

I'm back!!!

The past four months have been so challenging for me that I couldn't even find time to post some of my projects.  In the next few days, I will share them either one by one or by batch and I hope you will like them.

Have a blessed Sunday!