Under the Influence

As a part of a recently taught second grade lesson about expository writing, I was asked to model how I would compose an informative paragraph. My co-teacher turned and asked me to tell her all the reasons I scrapbook. Being that it was expository writing, I needed to give only the facts, no opinions or judgments. It was difficult to not express my great passion or love for the hobby when it was my turn to speak. I objectively shared that I scrapbook mainly because I am a storyteller. Recording family history and telling tales means that my memories will live on far beyond my years.

Being a storyteller, I often look for topics that allow me to write ample amounts. That brings me to the topic of this article. A fabulous topic for a page involves journaling about a person who has been of great influence. Each story will be unique and descriptive in nature. So, who or what has made a great impression on your life? So much that you could freely sit down, pen or keyboard in hand and share the details.

The artists below introduced and described each of their influences. These stories let you get to know the one who was important as well as the woman that was influenced.

Miss You by Mayumi Akamine Ishii

Supplies: Paper: Paper Intelligence, Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper, Grungeboard: Tim Holtz, Flowers: Prima Marketing, Fonts: Brush Script MT, Masks: Tim Holtz, Other: sewing machine, transparency, ribbon, buttons, charms.

Design Notes: I always make my layouts with lots of love, and this in particular instant, I made with much love when my father died...The music of this layout is from a song, Gostava tanto de você, Tim Maia. I can’t get out of my head, the song is about longing, love, goodbye without saying goodbye. I printed the song in transparency and I used masks to highlight more elements on the page.

Journaling: Everything that happening in my head...since the childhood games with my dad, I was a teenager watching baseball games with him and then taking my son to play with him. A wonderful father and grandpa.

Grandma by Trina Jones

Digital Supplies: Kit: Captured Romance Collab by ScrapMatters Designers, Template: Blooming Add On by Queen of Hearts (both from MScraps.com), Mask: Faded Masks by Scrapping with Liz (Scrap Orchard), Software: Adobe Photoshop CS5, Font: Century Gothic.

Design Notes: To blend the 'love' paper with the background paper I reversed the mask from Scrapping with Liz and clipped the paper to it and reduced the opacity of it. I also created a work path for the part of the journaling around the circle by clicking on the thumbnail of the circle in the layers palette and going to the paths palette and clicking 'make work path.'

Journaling: I miss you so much ... A grandma is warm hugs and sweet memories. She remembers all of your accomplishments and forgets all of your mistakes. She is someone you can tell your secrets and worries to, and she hopes and prays that all your dreams come true. She always loves you, no matter what. She can see past temper tantrums and bad moods, and makes it clear that they don't affect how precious you are to her. She is an encouraging word and a tender touch. She is full of proud smiles. She is the one person in the world who loves you with all her heart, who remembers the child you were and cherishes the person you've become. ~Barbara Cage

My Other Half by Cindy Stevens

Supplies: Paper: Studio Calico, My Mind's Eye, My Little Shoebox , Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper, Chipboard: Maya Road, Alphabet Stickers: Making Memories, BasicGrey, Flowers: Sassafras Lass, Stickers: My Little Shoebox, Crate Paper, Buttons: Michael's Crafts, Pens: Zig Writer (Kuretake), Thread: DMC, Masks: Heidi Swapp, Specialty Ink: Maya Road.

Design Notes: I made my journaling lines from black embroidery floss and just eyeballed the placement.

Journaling: I have always admired your sense of humor, quick wit & the way you really know how to go after something you want & make it happen. I have learned to not stress as much about what I can't control from you. Thank you for all that you have brought to my life.