Throwback Thursday: Family with Florentine

I recently found this layout almost finished. The title was a make and take from a crop. The design was done. The photos were attached. All that was left was the journaling. (Please tell me I am not the only one with layout like this.) The problem was, I didn't remember what my original plan was for the journaling. Here is what I came up with.

Perhaps it is not the original journaling, but at least it is recorded and headed to an album as opposed to an in progress pile.

I do love the stamped sentiment. I think this may have been one of my first rosettes. Perhaps there's another scrapbook page in that story!

Someday - Using Picture My Life Cards on a 12X12 layout

Someday. It is a word full of promise. I recently created a layout about one of my dreams of “someday.” The design was inspired by Shimelle.

The journaling that was the genesis of the layout is brief, but it captures an important dream of mine right now. Since I was documenting my dream, I included a photo of myself. 

I emphasized the time elements that started with the title by not cropping the clock out of my photo and using a pocket scrapbooking card with the months of the year. I used other cards to emphasize my dream of feeling free.

I ended up including six different cards on this one page (five are from CTMH's Avonlea Picture My Life). I cut the cards for the cluster on the bottom of the page which allowed me to use both sides of one card in smaller pieces. I loved combining the cards with papers from Timberline and Balloon Ride.

Models - another layout with Balloon Ride

Today's layout has a lot in common with the one I shared on Tuesday: I used Balloon Ride paper, I included three photos and the story is prominent in the design. There are also a couple of major differences: I focused on the browns in the paper, and I used a one page design.

I emphasized the brown (Saddle) from the paper pack many ways on this layout. I used Saddle cardstock for my base page and chose to feature one of the pattern papers that is a simple pattern in Saddle ink.

I also did all of my stamping using Saddle ink.
* Quick tip: choose one color ink to use throughout a whole layout. It simplifies your stamping and your clean up!

I chose to use these three photos on a single page to emphasize the similarities. The photos work together as a group to tell the story so I wanted them grouped together on the layout.

The story I'm telling is important to me on this layout just as it was on my layout on Tuesday. (As it is on a majority of my layouts, really.) The design emphasizes the story since the journaling is the same size as the photos and is aligned with them.

So there you have it, my two very different takes using three photos and the same paper pack. 

How do you take on a three photo layout? What choices do you make? I'd love to hear about your process!

July Paper Trail - Balloon Ride

Welcome to the paper trail!  This month we are hopping along with the Balloon Ride paper pack. You may have arrived here from Diane's blog or this may be your first stop. Either way, I hope you travel our circular path to see some lovely creations with this paper pack.

Although I've never been in a hot air balloon, I was immediately drawn to the soft colors of this paper pack. Something I appreciate about Close to My Heart paper packs is that themed packs also include papers that coordinate but don't extend the theme. For me this means if I like the colors, I can use the pack no matter what the theme. This month it meant that I could use thus vintage travel themed pack to tell stories about my kids in our own yard.

 My layout this month plays on the blues and pinks in the paper.

It seems I often end up with three photos of an event and then I debate: one page or two? For this layout - design inspired by Cathy Zielske - I spaced the three photos over two pages. This let me showcase the paper and still focus attention on the photos. I also like that this design gives the story the same presence as the photos.

I punched circles from other papers in the pack to accent the layout and included a bit of Metallic Baker's Twine for sparkle.

I had some circles leftover when my layout was finished so I decided to make a coordinating card. (This is one of my favorite quick and easy, supply saving techniques.) Here is the card I came up with:

 

I love the variety in this paper pack. The pinks and browns look so different without the blue. Come back Thursday to see another layout that focuses on the browns! In the mean time, I hope you'll hop on along to Linda's blog to see what she created. 

Happy crafting!