Attempting something new..

I haven't created a 8.5" x 11" layout in ages. I started looking through some of my old Ali Edward books and in doing so, was reminded that there's more to scrapbooking than creating 12" x 12" layouts. I'll admit, I'm most comfortable working with 12" x 12" pages. I prefer four equal sides and a large area for placing my photos, paper, and embellishments. I've been scrapbooking this way for years. I think once in a while though, change is good. For the last two days, I've been working on a 8.5" x 11" two page spread. I had a lot of photos that needed to be included with the subject of Ethan and his "Nano Blaster" on this particular layout. Space was essential. In exchange, I sacrificed a lot of detail work. This was particularly hard for me because it's the details that I most enjoy when creating a project. This time around, I simply let them go and just accepted the fact that the project was what it needed to be. The design is symmetrical and clean and the details would only take away from these two obvious features. Here's what resulted:

The row of circles and hand-cut flowers took a long time to come together. I spent half an evening just cutting the circles and preparing them for the layout. I used a 2" circle punch and cut 2" circles from a spotted die-cut sheet by Creative Imaginations. I then cut another set of 2" circles from White cardstock. I adhered the 2" white circles to the back of the 2" dotted die-cut circles. Lastly, I cut 2 1/4" circles from Black cardstock and layered them with the 2" circles from the previous steps. All of these steps, accept a minor size change, apply for the 1" circles also. I layered and combined the circles with hand-cut bright red velour flowers (We R' Memory Keepers). Some of the circles and flowers were adhered to the layout with Foam Dots. This gives the page added dimension and helps to create movement across both pages. It's also reflective of the subject matter. The design has a very "cosmic" like feel to it. Reminds me of all those sci-fi movies my husband used to watch. I love it. Too funny.

I couldn't help but dive into the new Sassafras product. I actually have it separate from the rest of my scrapbook collection. I have drawers labeled for where I store a specific manufacturer's product. It makes working with the product easier. If I need something "Sassafras" related, I just run to my Sassafras drawer to find it. I use large Rubbermade plastic drawers, which can be purchased at any local retail stores (Target, Walmart, etc.). They store my items wonderfully. 

This is a new color combination I thought might be worth trying; Black, Blue, Yellow, and Gold. I've used mostly Sassafras product on this layout, accept for the black strip with cursive lettering, which is from Cosmo Cricket. The pattern papers, chipboard frame, flowers, etc is all Sassafras...including those darn cute green stitched buttons (cause lord knows I would never hand stitch my own buttons..laugh. Something about cotton thread and me don't blend well when I'm scrapbooking..feels too much like sewing, which seems to be all the rage right now. I don't have patience for hand stitching anything. If I have to stitch anything, I'll use my sewing machine instead.).

I really enjoyed putting together this mini collage. I designed the collage to fit within the chipboard frame before adhering it to my page. I carefully traced the inside of the frame to my background. The background is a combination of two elements: large sticker label (blue/cream ledger) and a slice of gingham blue pattern paper.   After cutting the background to size, I stamped a flower onto it using black Staz On Ink. I then added number tile pieces of pattern paper, layered flowers (combination of chipboard, stickers & buttons), and a small "blessings" sticker (Scenic Route) to the background as shown above. Lastly, I adhered the background to the frame and added it to my page.

For those of you that have requested one of my class kits, I'm in the process of ordering more product for both kits. If you've requested a kit, you're name has been added to the list of those wanting one or both.  A newsletter will go out concerning both kits some point in the next two weeks. My hope is start on both albums within a few weeks and to have a sneak peek of some sort to share with you when I send out the newsletter.