Dreams

What a long blogging break I've been on! I expect it will continue for a bit longer. We did find a house to buy and we will close and move into it in mid-July. In the meantime, I have been busy packing up our house and getting everything ready to move.

I wanted to finally share a project I made for Mother's Day. I made three variations of this layout (for me, my mom, and my sister) that features a sweet photo of Lily Munchkin sound asleep.

I used beautiful patterned paper from Sassafras and embellished with all sorts of bits and bobs.

I added Maya Road chipboard wings that I coated in glossy white enamel paint from Ranger.

She looks so sweet and angelic. Lily Munchkin couldn't understand why she had wings, so she was told "because she didn't have horns to put on you instead!" :)
 

Love

I am following along with Sugar Lump Studios' 14 Days of Love this February, and trying to share as many projects as I can.

I've been busy in my craft room, trying to squeeze in the projects before I have to pack it all up later this month.

I took this photo of Husband and Lily Munchkin when she visited for Christmas. I knew I wanted to create a layout that was simpler and more masculine than I normally would with Lily Munchkin's photos.

Here is what I came up with:

I cut text from various papers and supplemented with computer-typed text where needed. It says: In the entire world, throughout all time, I will never love anyone as much as I love the two of you.

 

2 Cute 4 Words

I was worried that we might get snow in Texas, because I've actually completed several layouts already this year! Last year's total stood at an abysmal one layout completed. To date, I've already completed five!

Here is a look at one that I made in response to this week's Swirlydoos Design Team Challenge - paper layering and distressing. I ended up submitting a different layout for the challenge that I liked better.

I used papers from Pink Paislee and My Little Shoebox that were starting to collect dust in my stash. The smaller papers are from SEI (text) and Crate Paper (yellow). I added photos of Lily Munchkin acting silly. I added a series of words to describe her below the photos.

 

Joyful

I made yet another layout of my niece. I printed out a pile of some of my favorite photos and used them for inspiration. Funny thing, only one photo was of the husband and me - all the rest were of my Lily Munchkin.

Without further ado, here she is:

I used Prima paper from my stash and then layered on the embellishments: lace, buttons, flowers - vintage, handmade, Prima, and Recollections. I added a little Melissa Frances frame that I backed with vintage fabric and typed a tiny title on my old typewriter. I added some old paper - doily, sheet music, poetry - behind the photo. I tucked a little Prima resin bird into the flower branch.

State Fair

We spent the day at the State Fair of Texas. We got there early, before it was hot and crowded. If you're not familiar with the State Fair of Texas, let me say it is big, fried, and definitely Texan. My favorite part is the children's petting zoo. I love seeing the baby goats. This year, we had a set of triplets that were six days old when we visited.

We ate fried foods - deep fried pineapple upside down cake, fried pumpkin harvest pie, and fried bubblegum (below). I think the bubblegum was our favorite - it's really marshmallows flavored like bubblegum and then fried.

Of course, the real reason we went to the fair was to see my scrapbooking projects on display in the Creative Arts building. I won Honorable Mention for both of my projects. Here are the other scrapbooking projects that won. (I apologize for the photos - the projects are behind glass, with all kinds of glare.)

12x12 double layout 1st place:

12x12 double layout 2nd place:

12x12 double layout 3rd place:

And my Honorable Mention:

Here's a better look at the layout:

Apparently, the judges did not appreciate my handmade paper rosettes and pinwheels, or layers of coordinating patterned paper, or my vintage 3-dimensional embellishments, or my photo editing skills. Sigh.

On to the 8.5 x 11 layouts.

1st place:

2nd place:

3rd place:

Oh wait. The judges didn't bother to award a 3rd Place ribbon. Instead, they gave the Honorable Mention to me.

Here's a better look at the layout, with vintage sheet music, handmade paper flowers, and coordinating embellishments:

Was I glad I entered? Of course. Will I enter again next year? Nope. Am I disappointed that my ribbons don't even have the big ribbon rosettes? You betcha!

  

I'll share photos of some of my favorite projects from the fair tomorrow - most of them didn't place either.

 

Adore

Here is another layout of my niece. This one has a fall theme, but without a fall color scheme. I didn't want to use a strict fall color scheme since my niece's outfit is bright pink and turquoise.

I started with a Pink Paislee paper in this great foliage pattern and soft colors.

I kept my embellishments to a minimum, since I didn't want to add spring flowers to a fall layout, or add fall embellishments that would clash with the design. I cut and embossed a couple of leaves, added a patterned tag, and a couple of paper cut outs. 

Isn't she as cute as a Bubble Guppy? : )

Lily Munchkin

I made another layout - with a photo of my niece, of course. This is one of my favorite photos of her. I captured it as she was dancing with her reflection in the store windows in Cape May, NJ. I went through my stash of paper, hunting for the perfect piece for this photo. I found this Sassafras Mix and Mend paper and knew it would be perfect. I printed my photo in sepia tone and added just a few embellishments.

Using this paper was a great way to get a layout completed quickly. It has all the layers of "stuff" that I like to pile on, but I didn't have to make many decisions about embellishments, which was nice.

Silly Lily

I finally made another layout. These papers are in the Crate Paper Restoration collection that I just purchased. I loved the bold colors and funky patterns, and knew they'd be perfect for a layout with photos of my niece, Lily Munchkin, a.k.a. Silly Lily.

I took these photos of her when we had lunch during my birthday celebration in L.A. She usually refuses to smile for the camera, so I had to trick her into getting a good photo - hence the shots of her making silly faces.

After layering the patterned papers, I stitched a border, added the photos, and then layered on the embellishments: Webster's Pages Bloomers trim and butterfly sticker, Crate Paper journaling spot, Stella Rose label stickers, buttons, and various trim, paper, and ribbon scraps. The title alphas are Thickers and October Afternoon.
 

Lily Munchkin just started dance lessons, and I can't wait to get some good photos of her so I can make more layouts. Perhaps a mini book is in order...

Beach Baby

I made another layout! I bought this Sassafras paper at Hobby Lobby, knowing that it's not my usual style. But, I had some boardwalk photos that I planned to scrap and thought it would be a fun background. Then I saw this adorable photo of my niece that I had printed, and wanted to scrap it immediately.

She struck this perfect little pose when we were sitting on the beach. It captures her personality perfectly! I added all kinds of embellishments to add to the "carnival" feeling of the paper - stamped banners (Pink Paislee Soiree), paper flags, a paper pinwheel, vintage ticket and playing card, a few flowers, and a pink tag tucked under the photo.

I added the title with some thickers alphas. I've had that song stuck in my head ever since I started working on this layout!

 

Lily's Baptism

I FINALLY made a layout. I bought some new beautiful Bo Bunny papers for a layout of my niece's baptism.

None of my photos of the baptism came out too well. This one was the best and is completely overexposed. I did some technical adjustments and decided that the brightness added to the ethereal feeling of the occasion.

After layering the patterned papers, I created a paper and lace ruffle for the right side. I found all the "baptism" entries from one of my old dictionaries and found a perfect page from an old hymnal since she was baptized while watching the ocean waves.

Layers of fluffy vintage and Prima flowers accent the photo along with a few paper butterflies.

 

State Fair

OK, I know this isn't a Halloween project, but we spent a (warm) fall day out at the State Fair of Texas. I made a layout for a multi-pic layout challenge. I ended up doing a double page layout to showcase the activities of the day.

I started with two pieces of plain white cardstock and stitched a black border around each.

Then I misted the paper with Black Magic Glimmer Mist - one spray where each of the fabric squares would go.

I went through my fabric stash and found 12 pieces of fabric that didn't match, but fit the theme. The more colorful, the better. I adhered the fabric pieces and then started making a mini collage on each - one or two for each of the activities at the fair.

Using the fabric added a lot of color, but wasn't overwhelming. It also helped ground each of the photos to the layout, which can be a challenge when trying to put 3 or more photos on a page.

The last square gives the who, what, where, and when of the event.