dear diary...

 
My little girl loves to write...she has always loved to do so in her own unique way.  It started a few years ago when she got her hands on my journal....things clicked in her little mind, and she grabbed a handful of crayons and drew straight lines in every color imaginable across each page...mimicking my writing.  The straight lines changes into letters, ABC's, stick figures and so forth as a year or so went by, and now in her own journal, she draws maps of Nevada (she loves to study maps, just like her daddy), she names the cities surrounding us and stars our own, she writes stories, songs, etc....she writes, and writes, and writes.  I absolutely adore this about her and hope that she continues her love for journaling throughout her life....

 I've been working on this album for Tattered Angels for a few days now, and finally have enough to share with you....I decided to create a journal just for Sierra to record what she knows and remembers about her life so far....it's so fun listening to what she does remember....why not capture it now when the memories are so fresh in her mind?   I really got after the cover on this....had so much fun with it.  I first sprayed it with Rose Tea and Creme de Cocoa Glimmer Mist and then smeared it around mixing the two colors.  Then I layered on off-white acrylic paint...wiped a lot of that off, and then sprayed it again with the Glimmer Mist colors....smearing it again, basically creating my own custom color.  While the album cover was a bit damp, I sanded the edges which  made the layering come off very heavily and easily.  I then distressed all of the edges with distress ink, stamped on some polka dots and then embellished the rest with paper, tea-stained trim, tulle, Glimmer Chips, glitter, etc.

I used Tattered Angels Decorative Corners Glimmer Screens and Regal Classic Accent Stamps throughout the album...these are so beautiful layered together.  
 
Then....layered on goodies throughout the inside including beautiful Melissa Frances paper, glitter chipboard, and cardstock stickers.  The Tattered Angels Creme de Rouge Regal Glimmer Chips coordinated perfectly with my color scheme, so I used these on each page as well.  

 

She sat beside me and chose the pictures she wanted to start off with....these are some I can't bear to look at without getting all teary....the sweetest days of my existence I tell you.  
The album of course would not be complete without pictures of Mr. Melissa as well....my sweet friend Ali in Ireland refers to him as such and I love it....this man is his little girl's hero....it all began this day. 

     
 
 
   
  I wanted to be sure there was a specific place for my little girl to do her writing, so I added in pages from a Melissa Frances die cut baby album...they worked perfectly to provide a journaling spot on each page.  She's already started her writing....pink sparkly pen and all....love her.

I'm excited to tuck this away for her...when it's filled with everything Sierra..something she and I and daddy will enjoy taking out and pouring over.

Night.

Melis
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Comments

[mamdaray@bigpond.com]

this is really beautiful...what a lovely keepsake for your little girl...xxx

[Godelieve]

Such a gorgeous piece Melissa! So many lovely details to look at, over and over again. It's fabulous!

[Evgenia]

like all your works without exception)

[Linda Modderman]

What a wonderfull piece Melissa! Really gorgeous! It's a beautifull way to keep all the memory's in it.
Love the romantic colors and details!
Hugs, Linda.

[Rachel Greig]

What a gorgeous book for Sierra to write in! It's great that she's so interested in writing from such a young age!!!

[Alison Behan]

Oh my WORD!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE that!!! **sigh** I just want to do one of them SO badly but really just don't know where to start. So, here is a question: Please do an online class with soemthing like that in it. I would love to do one for Darcey, perhaps to give to her when she recieves the Sacrament of Holy Communion in May. It's a big day for her and heaven knows, I have 6 Gazillion pics of her as a baby. Oh Purdy Please Miss Melissa??????

Glad to see that Mr. Melissa is included in this post:-). I feel like an idiot calling him that in my emails and on cards but he HAS to be included - he is Daddy Bear after all! LOL.

Hey Mr Melissa :-) **waving**

K, now I'm giggling so better go!LOL.

Ax

[Victoria Resh]

LOVERLY :) as always!

[Danisha]

AHHHH, so sweet and GEORGOUS!!!!

[Christi Snow]

This album is amazing, Melissa!! smiles...

[Kathy W]

So beautiful, and so special that your little one has a place to write anything and everything about herself and her family. Later all of you will treasure these photos, but her words of right now as well. I love pulling out my son's stories, poems, random thoughts of kindergarten and first grade. Now that he is about to graduate from college, it is fun to see that personality peeking through in his childhood work. Thanks for sharing.

[Jocelyne]

OMG!! This is soooo adorable!! I love all the frilly things and butterflies. It's so dainty and and and and.....no more words except AWESOME

[Debbie Marcinkiewicz]

As always, SIMPLY STUNNING! Thanks for sharing your designs for inspiration to us all :)

[Patty M]

So beautiful, Melissa. I love journals and books, they are my most favorite thing to make right now. They carry so much love tucked inside the pages. Just finished one for my SIL and can't wait to give it to her this week. I know Sierra will treasure hers forever.

[Paula]

what a beautiful piece of history you have just made - I hope that your grandchildren and their children will cherish this as much as your daughter will clearly do. I love the theme and colour scheme you have followed, it really is a stunning piece of work.

Thank you for sharing and inspiring.

Paula xx

[Bonnie]

Breathtakingly beautiful! What a lovely and loving way to capture memories.

[Gabriela (Gabi With An Eye)]

What a beautiful heirloom this will be when Sierra is all grown up. This is just another testament to the love and the bond that unites you three. It's exquisitely done!

[Stella]

Melissa; I am speechless. Beautiful! And what a lovely idea to create such an adorable album for Sierra! A perfect way to treasure precious memories. When I looked at the pictures I could feel the love. Baby pictures are always lovely to look at. I enjoy looking back at the baby pictures of my sons.
You are such an inspriration; thanks for the beautiful post!I never made an album before but after this post I must say that you gave me so much inspiration that I am thinking to give it a try!

[Grabka]

What a beautiful album!

[dalayney]

That is one of the most precious little albums I've ever seen. So light and girly. Love love love it. :)

[Debbie Mercer]

That is such a beautiful album and a beautiful idea. I am sure all of you will cherish it forever especially with your daughter's own writing in it!

[karen q]

That journal is simply gorgeous. How wonderful that your sweet daughter can start her family memories at such a young age.

[Karla]

**SIGH***!!!!! blown away!! how beautiful!! i'm expecting my first baby soon! first week of march and its a girl :) i must make her an album too!!

[Elise]

Breathtaking and such a lovely sweet idea to allow her to write her own journal.

[DebraD]

I am....... well..... speechless and teary eyed. What a beautiful journal you've created for your daughter - everything about it is breathtaking!

How do you do it - how do you create such beautiful pieces time and time again? I don't know if I can stand any more inspiration this week! ;) I think I'll just spend the next few days looking at this book over and over again and appreciating every detail.

[lorena]

Melissa this book will be treasured by your little girl! I love it as all of your creatuions of course.