My Baby Sister

If you missed the first several layouts from my All About Me album you can see them here.  Just a few short years after I was born along came my sister.  This event is the first real memory I have.

This is the last layout I completed at my weekend crop.  So my blog posting may slow down a bit.  :)

Once again I got my layout inspiration from Write.Click.Scrapbook.  Love, love, love those girls!  Since I wanted to make this a two pager I drew my divinding line down the middle, flipped the sides, and journaled to the right instead of beneath the blocks.

Once again I scanned in my pics.  I think using the corner rounder gave them a very seventies look though.

Since, as I said earlier, this is my first real memory the title "I remember..." seemed very fitting.

I made my own tabs for the photos.  While I loved the bracket tabs on the inspiration layout I was determined to do at least one spread with no brackets!  :)

I knew that I had a lot to say in my journaling for this layout.  After I had attached the pics and papers it occurred to me that since this was 8.5x11 I could actually print directly on the paper.  I sat debating for awhile and then decided to try it.  I actually ran my page through the printer with the pics and papers already attached.  THANKFULLY nothing fell off in my printer or got ruined.  I think next time I'll print the journaling PRIOR to adding on the pictures and papers!

I wanted to be authentic with my story and the reality is my relationship with my sister has not always been rosy.  I needed the journaling to reflect my honest memories and also to acknowledge how I treated her growing up.  The journaling reads:

I remember...

* watching Mom and Dad drive away leaving me with Grandma and Grandpa.

* being mad that they LEFT me!

* when Dad came back to pick me up so I could meet my new sister.

* buying a teddy bear to give her as a gift.

* getting to the hospital, standing outside the nursery window and seeing a BIG wrapped gift.

* opening a new box of blocks.

* getting to stand on the box of blocks to see my new sister.

* being more impressed with the blocks than the baby.  Hey, I was 3…give me a break!

* getting to hold my new baby sister and being a bit nervous about that.

* that when Beth learned to walk she WOULD NOT walk to me, and that upset me.

* that I was not the best big sister as a child. 

* how glad I am that we have moved past that stage to become wonderful friends.

   * That I love my sister more than I can say!

I know that not all my memories will be happy ones and I want this album to reflect my real life, not a glossed over version.  This was my first opportunity to dip my toes into that type of scrapbooking.  I think it's so important to be honest without being hurtful, although that is easier when the one I have to be honest about is me.  :)  I can't wait to dive back into my history and scrap another layout all about me!