I felt it appropriate to start a new thread for this layout. I just didn't feel it was right to combine the post below with the following topic. I spend a great deal of time in the evening scrapbooking (when I have energy). It's "my" time. Emotionally, it's the most difficult time of the day for me. It was "our" time when Eric was alive and well. Instead of two of us in the office, there's now only me. I'm growing used to it. The quiet evenings no longer feel empty like they used to. I'm filling them in with things that bring me joy. Last night, I finished this layout about my niece, who can't help but be "silly" all the time. She always makes me laugh. A few weekends ago, I had an opportunity to spend some time with my sister and her girls. I grabbed some photos while there and this was one of the photos I captured of my niece. Acting silly. Here are a few close-ups:
I used digital papers on this layout. I bought them at Two Peas and printed them up on white cardstock. You can find them here & here. I'm not lucky enought to have a 12" x 12" printer, so I had to print them up at 8.5" x 11". It worked out fine..I cropped them to suit the size of the paper.
The butterfly images on the circles were created from a Heidi Swapp butterfly mask. I placed the butterfly mask where I thought it looked best on the circle and painted over the mask with "ivory" color acrylic paint. I then outlined them with a light pink Sakura Souffle pen, added the dots around the outline, and colored in the outline with a darker pink American Crafts marker. I inked the edges of each circle with a light tan VersaMagic Chalk ink pad. Gave them a pink/peach border and adhered them to the layout as shown.
I actually brought out my sewing machine for this layout. This is the first time I've attempted to sew on a layout..it was a bit tricky, but I think I did ok. I'm used to sewing with fabric..not paper. Laugh. It's actually quite challenging. Think I'll get used to it..will definitely do it again.
Speaking of sewing, I used to be a quilter a few years ago. I have a long history of combining patterns. I've brought that with me into scrapbooking. I can't do a layout without pulling twenty + pattern sheets of paper from my collection. Laugh. I enjoy the process of mixing and blending patterns. I could spend hours doing it. For example, take a peek at the pile of paper below..These were options for the layout above:
How does one choose? I would love to use all of them on one layout, but then I'd run out of room. Laugh. For me, it's a source of inspiration. A starting point at which I can feel good about moving forward. I use this pile of paper as a reference for pulling matching product. I sort all my scrapbook product by "type" in baskets behind my desk. From my baskets, I'll take out matching rub-ons, letters, label stickers, word stickers, ribbon, buttons, brads, stamps, and more. I create a "kit" before I start working on a layout. Below, are a few pictures of my set-up for when I'm doing a layout:
"The Bin". I use this to keep my chosen supplies organized while I work. Keeps me focused and leaves more room on my desk to create layouts. Word stickers first (along with epoxy stickers), rub-ons second, label stickers third, and letters last (big & small).
I take out matching flowers and create other piles of product around me:
My basics are always near by, including my three tier stand with ink pads, sponges, acrylic blocks and some of my favorite ribbons:
I always keep a bowl on my desk for "smaller elements" to use on my layouts. I have a habit of losing smaller pieces if they sit carelessly on my desk. The bowl keeps misc. items together and is easily reachable:
I leave all these items sitting on my desk for a few days. I'll create a layout or two from the product and return it to it's place when it starts feeling "old". When it no longer inspires me. When the photo & story changes, I'm back picking out pattern paper and the whole process starts over.
