Kraft+ Design Team for May - Always in my heart

Hello again Scrappy Friends, welcome to Kraft+ in May, 

where I'm sharing a post using a different shaped photo. 

The challenge is NOT to use square or rectangular photos.

Interested?  Click here to see what the rest of the team have created to inspire you.

When I was sifting through my photos for ideas, I came across the photo of my dear Mother, Mary.  I wondered what shape would reflect her personality and a diamond came instantly into my mind. With Mother's Day just around the corner, I reflected on my random good fortune to have Mary as my Mother, Teacher, Mentor and Friend.

First I thought I'd add random diamond shapes, but the page evolved with a mind of it's own and I managed to created a floral M, but cutting away the Kraft and inserting floral paper underneath.  Pretty excited with the way it turned out.

The floral paper is an older one from Maja, "Romantic Lunch", I thought the muted tones worked well with the vintage photo and my Mother's love of flowers.

The floral stamp is from Unity Stamp - Summertime Bouquet.

The little flourish is an older Rhona Farrer stamp.

I added a few little blooms and the little metal heart from my stash.

 I stitched around the edge of the page, a nod to my Mother's expert sewing skills.

The thank you stamp is from Stamping' Up and I coloured the stamped 

and embossed flowers with gelatos.

The journalling is on the back of the page and it reads:-

Mary, my darling Mother was born during the first world war.  She grew up on a farm and left school after obtaining her Q.C.   Years ago, most girls were encouraged to leave school after Grade seven (Qualifying Certificate).  Education was for Boys, as Girls would eventually marry and stay at home to raise a family!  Mum didn't have a choice but to stay on the farm to help her Parents. She cooked, cleaned, washed and Mothered her seven younger siblings; a daily drudgery for which she received little thanks.   Her dream was to become a teacher, but that choice was denied her by the societal norms of the time.  Her Mother taught her to cook, knit, crochet and tat.   She had her own garden and raised poultry to sell.  Later, after she married and long before computers and You Tube, she taught herself to sew ball gowns, to smock, create hats, weave baskets and decorate cakes to supplement our meagre income.  She was a kind and patient Mother who encouraged us to make the most of our education.  Supremely competent at all she attempted, she was calm and stoic when adversity struck;  she just got on with it, no matter what chaos was happening around her.  Like a diamond, she was multi faceted, strong, wise and generous to a fault.  She also had a great sense of humour, a sparkle in her eye, a love of Irish music and dance. Her empathy for the underdog meant she was forever helping lame dogs over stiles.  My words don't do her justice really, but I am forever grateful that she was my Mother, a constant source of unconditional love right throughout her long life.  Journalling, on her Birthday, 28th April.   

I enjoy reading your comments and appreciate you leaving them.  Thank you.