Everybody loves Photo Books. They are sentimental. They are easy. There are endless templates on Snapfish and Shutterfly and Walmart to make them look professional. You're not going to get glue all over your fingers and spend hundreds of dollars on fancy stickers - which is what the die-hard scrap-bookers do, and frankly - a Photo book might look nicer.

For Mother's day, I took a poem my momma wrote that I always loved. Yep, she is a closet poet. I got a photo from each of my sibs to illustrate the pages. The result was a beautiful book with sentimental photos from all around the country - each from a different kid. I have seven siblings - so I got my material from them and just put it together. You could use a poem from someone a bit more famous, or even a favorite story, and then illustrate it with your own or perhaps your own kid's photography (I am amazed at the photos my 9-year-old brother takes). Below is the result :).

Photo by Joey - Age 14 - Squaw Valley, CA

“I want to leave to a lonely place
where the mountains touch the sky,”

“with no other soul to see my face
and no one would here me cry”

“A quick escape to a quiet retreat
with wild things for my company,”

“soft meadow grass beneath my feet,
no one there to make little of me”

“I want to rest on nature’s breast
freely choose to laugh or scream”

“only replied from a meadowlark’s nest,
a drone of a bee, or a rush of a stream”

“I want to go to a hidden spot
with a cabin build for one alone,”

“where the breeze is cool and the sun shines hot.
The doorbell’s missing and there won’t be a phone”

“ I won’t need a mirror out in God’s beauty
for I’ll feel strong and connected and wise,”

“no acting for others, no pressure or duty,
I’ll sleep when I want to, I’ll rise when I rise. ”

Pretty, huh? I love that poem, and the pics. It made for a fun and sentimental mother's day gift.

Brenda Fleming Graphic Design