a beautiful life

I created this layout for the May MemoryWorks challenge, Beauty in Bloom. We were challenged to create a layout that depicted beauty and included blooms. It took me a while to decide on the photo. I kept going back to the idea that beauty and life were connected. I finally decided that beauty is found in a well-lived life. This photo of my mother & father in law surrounded by their grandchildren, two grandsons by marriage and two granddaughters is proof that their lives are full and blessed.

I started with some of my favorite colors, blue and green, featured in this Basic Grey Marjolaine line. I used journaling pieces and pops from the Marjolaine accessories and Sassafrass glitter alphas. I started with layering a solid piece of cardstock on top of the patterned paper and then free-handed some flowers. I pierced holes and then pulled out needle and floss and sewed the flowers into the background. Once I hadded the matted photo I layered in the journaling shapes and popped up some of the flower stickers to finish off the layout. I really like how this layout turned out, and how it celebrates beauty.

new class

I am so excited to share this new class with you. I'll be teaching at Creative Inkling in Peddler's Village on May 21st, 10am-12pm. This two page layout features patterned papers from Sassafras, BoBunny & October Afternoon and die cuts using those papers and creating burlap flower embellishments. The cost for this class is only $15.00. Call Creative Inkling @ 215.794.1477 to register today.

I loved playing with the papers from Sassafras. I like the vintage feel I get from them and I like how the colors work so well with this layout. You'll learn how to match patterns and colors as well as how to make the most of that paper using your die cut machine, whether it's old school or latest technology.

Enjoy!

my little tennis champ

I didn't scrap for a month or more, other than for classes or crops. My scrap room was more of a crap room, all the holiday wrapping, trash, boxes, stuff just piled up everywhere. One Monday afternoon I finally got up the nerve to clean out the closet in the room, planning to spend a couple days over the weekend to clean out the room itself. A couple of snow and ice storms hit that week and I actually spent most of four days getting it all put back together. I love my new space. I moved bookcases around, picked up three paper racks and reorganized.

With all my paper on display I now can see it and get layouts done faster. I found this paper in my racks and put this layout together in just about an hour. The papers are from different manufacturers but look really good together. Paper from an old K&Co paper pad, Sassafrass Lass, and solid paper from my stash got me started. I made a pennant from some Jenni Bowlin flags and alphas, pieced together with dew drops.
My granddaughter played in a tennis tournament and this layout recognizes that she has the heart of a champ, even though she didn't win the trophy. She won her first round of matches but when she went up against an older, more mature player, she struggled. The scores were very close, but she got knocked out of the tournament. As she gets older and matures I know she'll be a force to be reckoned with.