75 CSI Challenge - Key to my Heart

Absolutely love the soft and dreamy colours this week. I thought the journal prompts were perfect for a celebration, so I chose our wedding photo from a few decades ago.

For a change, my papers are fairly new, but some of the Prima elements have been hoarded for a while.  

I lashed out and bought a new die, having seen my friend Heather use the leaves so beautifully. 

A close up so you can see the glimmer in the bird's wing

Love that Cheery Lyn Die and the Spellbinder one too.

I tried to make the page, soft and tradional; in keeping with the era. 

EVIDENCE

Lace - the lacy die cut doily 

Flowers

Distressing

Jewels

Ruffles

Door Accent - the key

Gold - tiny circle on the key

TESTIMONY

I chose to write about our wedding.

We thought we were in love, but had no idea what that really meant, or how to make a relationship work. I came from a family of girls and my fiance had three brothers, so neither of us had much experience of the opposite sex.

Our wedding was in my local church on a blisteringly hot summer’s afternoon.  The morning started early when my Sister came to do my hair. My Mother and her friends were catering for 170 guests and we all helped to transport the food and set up the hall.

When the photographer came to the house, I started to get nervous about the ceremony. For better for worse.....but what if it got worse?  Dad noticed me shaking and said, “Here, get this into you”.  The stiff dose of brandy didn’t do much to quell my nerves.  As we walked to the church, only a block away, Dad said “It’s not too late to back out, you know”.  They were wise words, allowing me to feel as though I still had a choice.

Should I cut and run? Choir singing, organ playing, flower girl looking angelic, and me with a jack hammer in my chest.  Do I really know this bloke?  I remember Mum saying “You don’t really get to know someone until you live with them”. 

Standing at the altar. He turns to greet me and he’s shaking too.  The priest says, “Come on you two, it’s really not that bad”.  And of course it wasn’t.  But back then, when people didn’t live together before marriage, and good Catholic girls didn’t experiment, it felt like I was setting off for another country without a compass, a map, or any provisions. 

We learned together, my love and I; with the occasional boggy patch and rocky climb to negotiate.  There were days of mediocrity too, whilst working hard to pay off a mortgage.  We also experienced great joy at the birth of our children, wonderful adventures on holidays and crippling fear during acute illness. By fighting fair, maintaining respect and making time to nurture our relationship, I can honestly say I now know what love is.

MATERIALS

Carta Bella - paper, “Forever Friends cards” (reverse)

Prima - Lifetime Collection “Blue bayou” (reverse)

Prima - Packaging (the taupe)

Kaisercraft - Bundle of Joy, “Rattle’

Prima - Large Heart

Prima - Invilde Bolme, shabby chic treasure (resin bird)

Prima - Flowers

Prima - Gem Stones

Prima - Vintage Trinket (key)

Simple Stories - “Vintage bliss” Brad

Basic Grey - Brad

Spotlight - White ruffled lace

Cheery Lyn Die - 

Cottage Cutz Die - Leaf

Spellbinders Die - Fancy tags

Tattered Angels Glimmermist - Creme de Cocoa