Gratitude

Please join me and the ladies of Scrap That Poetry in their latest challenge here. I am so honored to be their Guest Designer for their November 15th challenge: "Prayer for the Great Family" by Gary Snyder.

Yes, "Gratitude" is indeed an apt title because I am truly thankful to Scrap That Poetry for my guest DT stint in their blog, and to Webster's Pages for my recent win.

So how did I create my layout and interpret Gary Snyder's poem (below) for it?

First, the photo. I chose this photo of a green grassy area with tiny yellow flowers because my idea is to emphasize the importance of blessings, however small they may be.

Photo credit: John Michael B. Limbo
Second, the title and journaling. I chose "Gratitude" because the poem is all about showing gratitude to God's creations: Mother Earth, plants, air, among others. My journaling is also about defining Gratitude as "being happy for even the littlest of things."


Last, but not the least, the overall look of the layout. I chose Webster's Pages' Garden Gala and Nature's Storybook collections to complement my photo and interpretation of Snyder's poem. :)

Some close-ups and details:
Hand-cut the branches and lanterns. Attached gold DMC thread on the lanterns and used double-sided foam tape for added dimension.



I love these Prima Innoscence flowers because you can alter it to whatever catches your fancy. I applied Ranger distressed stickles (tarnished brass) in the middle and Jo Sonja opal dust on the petals. Lovely! :)


I truly enjoyed creating this layout, as well as being the Guest DT!

Hope you like my creation and TFL! :)


PRAYER FOR THE GREAT FAMILY
by Gary Snyder

Gratitude to Mother Earth, sailing through night and day--
and to her soil: rich, rare, and sweet
in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to Plants, the sun-facing light-changing leaf
and fine root-hairs; standing still through wind
and rain; their dance is in the flowing spiral grain
in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to Air, bearing the soaring Swift and the silent
Owl at dawn. Breath of our song
clear spirit breeze
in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to Wild Beings, our brothers, teaching secrets,
freedoms and ways; who share with us their milk;
self-complete, brave, and aware
in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to Water: clouds, lakes rivers, glaciers;
holding or releasing; streaming through all
our bodies salty seas
in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to the Sun: blinding pulsing light through
trunks of trees, through mists, warming caves where
bears and snakes sleep--he who wakes us--
in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to the Great Sky
who holds billions of stars--and goes yet beyond that--
beyond all powers, and thoughts
and yet is within us--
Grandfather Space.
The Mind is his Wife

so be it.

-- after a Mohawk prayer.


---o0o---

Materials used on "Gratitude" LO: WEBSTER'S PAGES - patterned papers & die-cut cardstock sticker. DCWV cardstock. PRIMA Innoscence flowers. AMERICAN CRAFTS thickers felt alphas. RANGER distress stickles (tarnished brass). TIM HOLTZ distress ink. JO SONJA opal dust. TATTERED ANGELS - mist. MAYA ROAD - mist. MAKING MEMORIES - metal key. MARTHA STEWART edge punch. Others - gold pins, DMC gold thread, lace.