LOC And I Love You

today it would have been my Father's 70 th birthday...and I am celebrtating his life!  The theme for this weeks Creative Card Crew is CELEBRATION, so in a different kind of way, this fits.  This year it was the ninth anniversary of my Father's passing away and I wanted to do something special in his memory. this photo is of him when he was 18 years old and he was dating my Mum. I have always loved this photo and decided to use it for a Layout.

I have discovered I like using DP for Layouts rather than start with a blank page. I chose this Stampin' Up one and went from there! I used the Layers of Color  Garden Borders stamp to made a border panel, I stamped this three times and coloured it with chalks and lightly added Kindy Glitz (I bet you knew I was going to say that!! LOL) It was then sponged around the edges and layered it on to torn black CS. I then added some Tim Holtz Grunge Board which had been inked with Tim Holtz Distressing Inks - I have to say, I am a Tim Holtz fan, his stuff is amazing!! I used old gold brads to attach these hinges.

The photo is layered onto white CS and sponged around the edges with Distressing Ink, I have used the top part of a spiral water colour pad to give a vintage look and feel - I love this effect and will be keeping my eyes open for more! The sentiment is typed on the computer, cut around and then inked with the distressing ink. The crosses are from the Layers of Color Gothic Crosses set.

There was something lacking but I didn't want to fill the page up anymore, I wanted it to reflect my Dad as well and he was not all about frills and 'fancy smancy', he was a 'mans man' so I decided to tear the DP in a couple of places and ink the torn edges, adding another DP underneath! I love this effect. The underneath DP has also been stamped with an image from the Layers of Color set Happy Birdday

It has been with mixed feelings that I made this page - we have talked about Dad a lot this year, especially with my Mum and sister being here. You know, even as adults we just don't think we will ever lose a parent, but no one is bullet proof and we do lose loved ones - so make sure you tell those you love that you love them - how sad would it be to have regrets! The last time I talked with my Dad was Fathers Day - which is the first Sunday in September here - and the last words I said to him were 'I love you Dad!' AND I DO - always!!

Thank you for looking and for the fabulous comments you leave me - I appreciate each one and love knowing that you have been - it makes my day! Don't forget - spread a little love around, especially to your 'nearest and dearest! God bless you!