What Took You So Long?

Marj says, KAYA!

This is my first entry to a challenge. I did not plan on joining but when I was about to do an LO for my older daughter's birth, I remember Donna told me to join and not be scared. I have one or two ephemera I can use for the LO so I did.

What took you so long is an expression of how I almost gave up on having a child. It took seven painful long years of thinking I would never feel a child's embrace. And just like that, she came. Every time I look at her, of how loving and vibrant she is, I think of all those years without her and I realize I could never be without her again. I did not expect to be blessed like this. I have a loving husband and another baby girl who is 4 months old.

Close-up of fabric pouch made from baby's receiving blanket

Inside mini-folder

Journaling Reads:
Francine, I waited for you so long that I almost gave up. You never fail to amaze me since that first time I held you in my arms. A smile from you makes everything your papa and I went through very much worth it.

Materials/Supplies Used:
Bohemia paper(My Mind‘s eye), CS(DCWV), Cricut paper (reds and blacks pad), Cricut machine, Jasmine font cartridge, round metal letters (Making Memories), eyelets (The Paper Studio), mini brads (The Paper Studio), mounting squares, Autumn Leaves clear stamps (Rhonna Farrer), Primas, Swarovski crystals for the flower centers (local hobby store), chipboard (raw), fluid chalk (Colorbox-stack of 6), Lace(LS), purple embroidery floss (DMC)

Ephemera:
- a piece Francine's receiving blanket
- ribbon from her shirt
- hospital bracelet
- ultrasound pics
- tag from going home outfit

Techniques/Process:
Tags are made from raw chipboard then was cut to desired size and shape, then painted with acrylic, sanded then inked. The heart-shaped tag was covered with paper then sanded and inked.

Mini- album holding the "us" pics are made with 2 pieces chipboard then attached with a small piece scored in the middle then painted with black acylic then glued to act as the binder. The top was covered with lace attached with small brads.

The title was made with Cricut using the blackout and regular feature
The four sides of the matted picture were stitched to give it dimension
The fabric pouch was sewn from a piece of the receiving blanket (I think it's better to see it in a LO than being hidden in a closet) which was soaked in coffee to stain it light brown. It holds one of the tags I made with the details of the birth (time, birthweight, height, place, etc.) written in white pen, the hospital bracelet and the tag of the outfit she wore when she went home.

About ME:
Hi! I am marjorie, Marj to most of my friends. A stay-at-home-mom of 2 adorable girls, Francine and Isabella. I got into scrapbooking May 2007 after I saw some of the digital LOs my sister did. I finally took the plunge and been loving it ever since. I am also a self-taught cake decorator but I find it impossible to do baking and decorating with 2 kids clamoring for my attention all the time. Llearn more about me at http://marjvelarde.multiply.com. Happy scrappin'!!!