Strugglin’ with the UDS contest thing again this week. So far I’ve scrapped one photo that I was completely intimidated by before and one AAM LO that I think I actually captured a little piece of me and recorded it somewhat creatively. So as of now I’ve done 2 pages that had I not moved on to the next round I’d still be so glad that I competed because I ended up with a couple LOs that I really like. Trust me, that’s an accomplishment lately. LOL
So now the challenge for week three is to scrap 3 or more photos in a LO that contains journaling over 40% of the page. That’s almost HALF the page. If you were to look through my gallery the only pages you’ll find with more than 2 or 3 sentences (at MOST) are the LOs where I included an entire songs’ lyrics. You’ll also find that even those short 2 or 3 sentences of journaling found here or there that I really ran out of things to say by the end of the first sentence.
Sooo, I’m trying to decide what sort of LO I could do and come up with enough to say to fill 40% of the page. Maybe if I ‘write’ really really big? But no, I think these judges are pretty sharp, they’ll likely catch on to that. Mom suggested a story about me being the oldest of 4 sisters and one brother. Sorta story of my life. Very sweet mom (and I love that I got all excited about having so many posts on my blog last night and half of them were from my mom). :) But really I’m not feelin’ aNOTHER all-about me page for this contest unless forced to do one. LOL Plus, that would mean rumaging through boxes of photos to find THREE that are usable for a contest LO. Mom knows I spent a fair amount of time searching not all that long ago and really didn’t come up with much. Although I MAY be able to count that gradeschool picture of me with the reflection of my side profile up in the corner as 2 photos rather than one. You know the set-up. Black background, one photo of you looking at the camera and in the upper right corner another photo taken from the side. Very 1983. Pretty sure I saw some hanging on the living room wall in Napolean Dynamite. Anyway, I think that would count for 2. I’ll have to tuck that idea away as a back-up plan. :)
The other idea I had was to do a LO about our Wednesday afternoon lunches with my mom and sisters. It’s been ages since we’ve had one and we’re doing it tomorrow so between some photos that I’ve already taken the last time and maybe taking a few more tomorrow I think I could come up with 3, probably more. I think I might be able to journal enough about that. For some reason though, restaurant photos can be tough to scrap. Not sure I’m up to the challenge given that I haven’t even started and I’ve only got two days left but it’s an option.
And then I’d just purchased the papers to go with an element pack I had of Jen’s from quite awhile back. When I bought these papers I thought they’d be perfect for a baby Jacob LO.
Aside from redoing some of my early Jacob LOs I haven’t done a new page for his album in quite some time and I’ve been really wanting to do more pages with journaling rather than just song lyrics so who knows, maybe this challenge was just the push I needed. I was also listening to the latest Rascal Flatts song the other day on the way home and part of the lyrics seemed perfect at least as a starting point for some journaling. 
Maybe another little nudge? I dunno. I’ve got a few photos picked out. The one with me looking at the camera I’ve not scrapped because it’s really not a flattering photo of me. Unfortunately for all the photos that we have of Jacob I only have a few of me holding him. So, puffy eyed or not, I know I eventually want to scrap each one to remember as much as possible what it was like to hold him.
I hesitate to do a LO about Jacob specifically for a contest for a number of reasons but at the same time, if I come away with a LO for his album that I’m happy with then it sure would make it less disappointing if I didn’t make it through to the next round.
I’m off to bed. Gotta be up early for work in the morning and then lunch with the sisters. I’ll have to remember to take the camera along since I’m still undecided. Tomorrow afternoon I’ll be finishing a wedding album that I’m working on with Nina and then hopefully tomorrow night I can make a decision and get started on a LO.
Happy Wednesday everyone!
I gotta say, when I saw this week’s challenge, my thought for you was to scrap Jacob. I think because I know you can tell the story with photos and because there is much to be said in journaling. I actually envisioned the photos and the story. Email me if you need a nudge but otherwise, I’ll leave you to your own creativity because you certainly don’t need me mucking it up. ; ) I know you’ll do something phenomenal. I’ve never seen anything less from you!
I too, like Shannon, immediately thought you need to do a Baby Jacob LO! I think it is a story that you do so well speaking from your heart on and it is not about you and you have great photos and what not! And that kit by Jen is phenomenal!!! I say go for it sister and I have faith that you are making it into the next round no matter what you do!
Oh man…where to even start. I’ve been struggling with the layout to do for this contest too. I know which one I should do, the layout I’ve put off doing since I started scrapping because it’s just too painful. Then you had that song playing this morning…the tears start to fall and I know it’s definitely more than a ‘nudge’!! :) I know it’s a page I’ll love no matter what the outcome of this contest round…and I’m sure that the same would be true for you if you do one of Jacob. So if you need another little nudge (or shove), let me know! :) Thanks for your entry today, Shawn.
No matter what, I can’t wait to see your LO for the challenge. Wishing you well on your decision what topic should be the focus of the LO for this round.
Well sweet Shawny,
You already know how much I love your first two pages for the challenge, so I won’t waste my breath telling you again that you are completely inspiring. Nope, won’t tell you that I am in total awe at every creation you make. If I could just have a teesy little smidge of that creative talent…hmmmmm…let’s just say it would make my life so much easier. You ROCK!!!!!
And…you already know my opinion on what you should scrap. That RF song just pushed the coincidences right over the edge. :)
Love ya to pieces.
I would like to make a small observation that applies to you and your friends here:
There are plenty of ‘cute’ looking layouts. Pictures of kids/spouses with nice quotes wrapped around them and fancy things. These layouts made me smile.
Then there are the layouts written out of inner emotion or thoughts. Example would be your last layout and I saw another good one from somebody else in the galleries (remember, I don’t sleep). These types of layouts ‘capture’ your audience.
Think of a Monet. Extremely beautiful paintings. They make you smile and admire the talent. Think of a Van Gough. These paintings are more intriguing than beautiful and they definitly cause the audience to think.
The question you need ask yourself is do you want the judges to smile or do you want them to be captured?
When I race my mountain bike, I don’t waste to much energy in the first 10 to 15 miles. I am giving 100% but nothing more. This part of the race is based on training alone. In the last 5 to 8 miles, the true competition heats up. Racing is no longer based on training, it’s based on inner strength.
My point is that there are not too many competitions you can win without laying out your heart.
I understand your hesistance to use Baby Jacob, but it does not get any closer to the heart than that.
Guppie.
(this post was will self-destruct in 5..4…3..2..)
a jacob layout was the first to come to my mind too and for the same reasons that shannon mentioned. you do have a lot to say about how life was while he was here, yours and his. and i distinctly remember a section of layouts in your gallery (which i thought was a good idea) that had more than two or three sentences that were not lyrics. the email layouts. i loved reading those, and the way they were done were perfect. here’s another idea…everyone who knows you knows you love music. do a layout about what you love! um, the problem with that would be the pics, hmmmm ….scratch that.
i know whatever you decide will be great because you are just soooo creative and every layout you make is fabulous! i would love to have just an ounce of your talent! can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Everyone already thought my idea up. :P
love, me <>
Whatever you come up with will be fab for sure. I’ve never seen you do a less then perfect layout and prolly never will! The comment about the 1983 picture just cracks me up cuz I soooo know exactly what your talking about!!