A Special Layout

All of you mothers of teenage daughters will surely understand the thought and sentamentality that is behind this layout, though at first glance the photo may seem more humorous than heartfelt.


This weekend my 12 year old daughter participated in a regional academic competition. She was heartbroken that she did not place high enough to advance to state. Later, when discussing it with her, we discovered that what REALLY hurt her feelings most was that she wanted to go, not because of the honor, but because her older brother had advanced to state twice while during middle school. It came out in conversation that she wanted to be "like" him.


That broke my heart. I realized that she doesn't understand just how special and unique she really is. That brought out the poet in me and THAT helped me create this layout.

I had this sketech from the Page Maps Blog and this wonderful Sweet Pea designer paper that I knew would perfectly highlight the photo and the poem that I wrote for her. The last 2 lines of the poem are "uniquely YOU", so I stamped the word uniquely using Rose Red ink and then inked chipboard letters with Taken With Teal ink to create the word you.

You can't really tell from this photograph, but I actually cut sections from the circle patterned paper, inked the edges, and then put them back in their original spot using Dimensionals to add some height, lifting them off the paper.

Here's a closeup to give you a better view.

The full poem reads:

You are your own person,

Uniquely YOU.

Stubbornly doing things your own way

Independent thinker.

Not afraid to wear two different shoes.

Organizing your bag in piles and clumps,

Rather than nice neat folders.

You are your own person,

Uniquely YOU.

Intelligent,

But not realizing just how much.

Creative,

In thought and in deed.

Kindly making cards and gifts,

Just when someone needs it most.

You are your own person,

Uniquely YOU.

It's fine to admire your brother

Or someone else at school.

Look up to them

And see their traits

As ones you want to emulate

But remember-

You are your own person,

Uniquely YOU.