A summer challenge for you

As the school year was winding down and my family was thinking about summer plans, I made a summer bucket list. It wasn't long. It didn't include everything I hoped I'd do this summer, but it did include the things that were really important to me. (I did add one more item after this photo).

I made the list in June when I started making my summer plans. As we do all of our adventuring this summer, I’m recording memories and taking photos, and then in the fall, I’ll create a layout or three or maybe a mini-album!

Here's a photo of me and my cute nephew Henry - one item on the bucket list accomplished! 

I challenge you to do the same. Create a bucket list - even now partway through your summer - and then make your summer memories! When you’ve made your memories and printed your photos, create a layout about one of your summer adventures or your whole bucket list!

Share your list, your photos or your layouts on my Facebook page. There will be prizes this fall!

Beach Baby

We have just returned from a week at the beach. This trip has been our family tradition for seven years - more summers than my youngest has been alive. This year we reminisced about his first trip, and he didn't remember the stories. When we got home, I dug out some photos from that year and put together a layout to capture these memories for him.

I found the photos with a whole stash of old beach products. I don't always organize by theme, but it sure made this layout quick and easy!

To fit with the beach photos I used three different types of distressing as you can see below:

• on the kraft paper I used the ink pad directly on the paper
• on the blue pattern paper, I applied the ink with a sponge
• on the Bamboo cardstock I sanded the edge to reveal the white core.

The journaling isn't fancy, but it captures the highlights of his first beach trip.

He was excited when I showed it to him this morning. Memory captured (six years later), story preserved. Scrapbook win!