Breast Cancer Awareness

When I think of breast cancer awareness, I think of my paternal grandmother. She died of the disease when I was less than two months old, but left a lasting impression on me. I hope that by sharing some of my ideas, you too are able to celebrate your loved ones and scrap your support for a cure.

Memorial/In Honor of Layouts

Statistics say that chances are, unfortunately, good that someone you know will be diagnosed with breast cancer and the mortality rate will always be too high. So, how do we remember our loved ones through scrapbooking?

Your layout doesn't have to be complicated - just one that conveys your feelings about the person.

Select a favorite picture of the person and let the picture and the journaling do the talking. Remember his or her contribution to the world, to family, to his or her own causes. Celebrate his or her life, along with his or her courage, endurance, strength, and will to fight and to understand why.

Of course, you don't need to limit your layouts to loved ones who have passed away. If you, a family member or a friend, are breast cancer survivors, you could create a layout documenting your story of survival.

For example, you could build your layout out of one of the many words that are typically associated with breast cancer - strength, love, faith, courage, hope or survivor. The page can feature design elements with the definition of the word or quotes and poems built around the letters in each word, like this example here

Scrapbook Supplies

While using pink ribbon scrapbooking supplies is by no means required, you do have several options to choose from should you decide to go the traditional route.

NOTE: You should be able to find most scrapbook papers/kits in your local scrapbook store, especially in October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month), but I've found the eyelets limited to online stores only.

Most pink ribbon scrapbooking supplies, including paper, stamps, stickers and punches, can be found at the Products for the Cure website, but I also found additional products on the following sites:

• The Pink Ribbon Shop (paper)
• The Eyelet Outlet (eyelets)
• Oriental Trading (stickers and charms)

For the digital scrappers out there, there is currently a kit available at The Digital Scrapbook Place, and Promos4Digiscrappers.com has a benefit kit going on sale October 1.

If you want to keep a pink element in your layout, but are looking for a more fashionable look, select patterned paper that combines pink with another color. As you can see in my layout above, pink and bright green are great complements to each other. In fact, with the exception of yellows and oranges (though I'm sure some can make a case for that combination), pink goes well with most colors.

For something completely different, why not try creating a layout using your honoree's favorite colors? If you use a black-and-white photo, your color palette is unlimited.

The bottom line is that these will be very personal layouts that get right down to the core of people's emotions. As is the case with scrapbooking, there is no right way to do anything. Just the fact that you are capturing your life and those of the loved ones around is perfection in itself.

Happy scrapping and never stop believing in the dream of a cure!