Balance Prima style

I am back. It's still upsetting to think that I will never be able to see my uncle again in person when I visit my family there, but I know I will see him the stories we share and the memories I have. We didn't have a service but a celebration of his life. It was amazing to see the police being represented from the surrounding communities as he was a police officer for many years before going to Boeing. He was an Eagle Scout, retired Air Froce and police officer, father, son, uncle, brother and so much more. He and I were the only red heads in the family and for many years when I was much younger people would think I was his daughter. Thank you for ya'lls prayers and thoughts while I was gone.

I wanted to share this project that was posted over at Your Memories Here. My OLW for 2011 is "balance" and I thought it would be nice to have a pretty reminder. The frame was created from a wooden frame that got the edges painted with black paint and the front covered in some yummy Prima paper fround at YMH. The letters were some random chipboard alphas I had that I painted in turquoise and then added a layer of Glossy Accent to make them shiny. I added a black "mat" that was dry brushed with white on the inside to distinquish it from the picture and the black strip was crinkled and then dry brushed with white paint to give it some texture. To balance the word I added several Prima flowers (LOVE these flowers). I used Lilliput Roses - Lemon, Lilliput Roses - Turquoise, Mini Rose - Bright Turquoise, and Mini Rose - Sunrise Yellow. Since the mini flowers come on wire steams I used those steams to add some texture to the flowers and act like leaves. After the flowers were glued down I discovered an opening that looked off in the bunch so I added some Prima half pearls in a creamy yellow to act as filler. LOVED how quick and esay this all came together and now I have a beautiful reminder sitting on my classroom desk as a gentle reminder of my 2011 OLW.

My DH took the picture of me standing againt a black cloth I use for photographing my white projects. I decided I wanted to represent a scale. In PSE I softened the picture and worked each layer to give it a B/W effect while having my turquiose shirt pop just a tad. Then I added the words of what I am trying to find a balance in/with this year. I have this same photo printed, with the definition and a scripture verse added, to my bathroom mirror as a reminder each morning and evening.

I hope to have something for ya'll Friday, but since I just got back and my youngest is not sleeping well at night I can not promise just yet.