Does
the pain of losing a loved one ever really go away? My dad had been sick for
some time and my mom needed a short break from taking care of him, so we
decided he would come spend the week with me and my family. My dad had been
here for four days when I awoke on the fifth day to my husband yelling in the
phone to 911, “I have someone in my house who’s not breathing!” My husband and
I pulled my dad from his bed and began CPR, but to no avail. He had passed away
in his sleep. The remainder of the day was somewhat of a blur due to the fact
that I was in shock. Here was this man that had been my hero, lying on my
living room floor, dead. I was supposed to be taking care of him for my mom. I
had let her down, I let myself down, but most importantly, I let my dad down.
The pain was unbearable. It feels like it was just yesterday, but it wasn’t. My
dad passed away ten years ago.
I
remember the pain of that day. I remember thinking to myself, “If one more
person says to me that the pain will go away with time” I’m going to scream or
even worse, I’m going to hit someone. How is a simple thing like the passage of
time, ever going to heal the pain in my heart? And not just the pain, but what
about the guilt I felt. Is that ever going to go away?
Well,
here it is ten years later and even though I will never forget the events of
that day, I can say that day no longer occupies my thoughts every second of
every day any more. I don’t carry around the weight of that guilt any more
either. Although I still miss my dad all the time, I have learned new ways to
honor and remember him. I have taken all of my pain and channeled it into my
love of crafting by creating wonderful projects that allow me to remember my
love for my dad and his life. Not the pain and heartbreak from his death.
That
is exactly what I did when I created this project that I am sharing with you
today. But instead of creating a scrapbook page that would be placed in an
album, I wanted to create a project that could be placed on a table and viewed
by everyone who entered my house. Now when I see it I don’t think about the day
my dad passed away, I think about the day the picture was taken of the two of
us, how happy we were that day and how much I loved him then, now and always.
If
you’re looking for a project to create to remember someone you love, consider
using your scrapbook supplies out of the scrapbook album. This project was
created using all of my scrapbook supplies but instead of leaving it on a 12”x
12” paper, I adhered the scrapbook papers to two 9” x 12” art canvases. By
adding the clock works to the project, it not only creates a wonderful
remembrance of your loved one, but also a working clock to any of your home’s
table tops.
Thank you for joining me. Until
next time…
Crafty hugs,
Lisa
Stampin’ Queen Creations
Give The Queen A Call!!!
Memories of My
Father
SUPPLIES
Fredrix
Archival Watercolor Canvas 9” x 12”
Delta
Ceramcoat Acrylic Paint- Mellow Yellow
Loew-Cornell
1” Wash paint brush
Paper
Adventures Tan Striped paper
White,
Tan, Brown and Rust card stock
Manila
tag 4 3/4” W x 2 ½”H
My
Mind’s Eye paper frame
K
& Company 3D stickers
Ranger
Distress inkpads- Old Paper, Vintage Photo & Tea Dye
Fresco
Chalk Finish inkpad- Vesuvian Ash
Black
permanent inkpad
Magic
Mesh- tan
Eye
Monocle and gold chain
Westrim
Crafts Scrabble Letters, Metal Letters and Metal Key
Walnut
Hollow Clock works
4
Bronze eyelets and 1 mini gold brad
Gold
hinges
Assorted
fibers
Straw
ribbon
Computer
font- Adler
Family
Treasures Slotted Paper Punch
Eyelet
setter & Hole punch ¼”
Xyron
Machine 510 with Permanent Adhesive
Beacon
Adhesives Zip Dry Paper Glue
Beacon
Adhesives Glass, Metal & More Glue
Rubber
Stamps-
Watch
Face #H 960 by Stamp It!
Nostalgic
Pocket Watch #A2528D by Rubber Stampede
Sybil
#P2-923 by Acey Duecy
Large
Picture Frame # R 158 by Close to My Heart
INSTRUCTIONS
1)
Using
a 1” wash paint brush, paint both canvases with Mellow Yellow acrylic paint. Randomly
stamp small and large watches on both canvases using Ranger Distress inkpads.
Stamp “Sybil” once using Fresco Chalk Finish inkpad. See picture for placement
Designer
Tip: To make stamping on canvas easier, place a book under the canvas before you
begin stamping. This will give you a firmer base to stamp on.
2)
Using
the picture as a guide, tear tan striped paper and adhere to the canvas with
Zip Dry glue.
Designer
Tip: Because the paper is thinner than card stock, I backed the paper with a
tan card stock after I tore the edges. This will help with the paper buckling
in high humidity areas. Use a brayer to spread the glue and work quickly.
3)
Print
wording out on computer using white card stock. Cut all card stock as follows;
for “In Memory of” white card stock- 3”W x ½”H Tan card stock- 3 ¼”W x ¾”H Rust
card stock- 3 ½”W x 1”H. For the Name, White card stock- 4 ¼”W x 1 ¾”H Tan card
stock-4 ½”W x 2”H Rust card stock- 4 ¾”W x 2 ¼”H. For “Only Time…” White card
stock 3 ½”W x 1 ½”H Rust card stock-4”W x 2”H Manila Tag- 4 ¾”W x 2 ½”H.
4)
Sponge
ink onto word images on using a sponge and the Ranger Distress inkpads. Layer
all word images and adhere together with Zip Dry glue. Use picture for
placement if needed. For the manila tag, punch holes around four edges with
slotted punch. Slid word image into slots. Punch hole and add fibers.
5)
For
large picture frame, cut stock as follows; Rust card stock-2 ¾’W x 3 7/8”H Tan
card stock-3 ¼”W x 5”H. Layer card stocks together with picture and large
picture frame. Adhere with Zip Dry glue. Lay picture frame down on canvas.
Punch holes in four corners of frame. Adhere bronze eyelets with eyelet setter
following directions from manufacturer.
6)
Cut
straw ribbon into three pieces, one 10”, one 3 ½” and one 2”. Run ribbon
through Xyron machine. Adhere ribbon to canvas. Adhere “My Hero” on ribbon with
Glass, Metal & More glue. To finish left side of canvas, adhere word images
and 3D stickers with Zip Dry glue. Add fibers to key and adhere to canvas with
Glass, Metal & More glue. Use picture for placement if needed.
7)
To
finish right side of canvas, punch small hole in upper right hand corner for
clock works. Assemble clock works following manufacturer directions. Sponge
clock face with tea dye inkpad. Adhere to canvas.
8)
Lay
Magic Mesh onto canvas, press firmly. NOTE: Magic Mesh is self adhesive.
No need for further glues. Punch small hole in manila tag to attach monocle and
chain. Lay tag on mesh and adhere with Zip Dry glue. Attach monocle to canvas
with miniature gold brad.
9)
For small picture frame, stamp with black
inkpad on brown card stock. Cut out center for picture. Cut Rust card stock- 2 ¼”W x 3 ¼”H and
Tan card stock 3 ¼”W x 3 ¾”H. Layer and adhere to picture frame with Zip Dry
glue. Lay on canvas and adhere with glue. Adhere metal letters to canvas with
Glass, Metal and More glue. Adhere ribbon and 3D stickers to canvas.
