Finding Inspiration on a Sticker Sheet

Sometimes, the most random things will inspire a layout.  For me, it was the sticker sheets that came with my Glitz Design papers.  Specifically, it was the word stickers included on the sheets that got me thinking about these two fabulous young adults, who each think the other hung the moon:

I want nothing but the very best for them as they make their way in life.  And so, before I knew it, I came up with this:

A pair of 2x3 journaling cards sewn against the paper made a sweet little journaling pocket, the perfect thing to hold a tag containing more personal thoughts...

Of course, a layout is just no fun unless it has some extra little bits of layering and fussy cutting.  These paper chevrons started off as a simple journaling card, and the triangle arrows were part of a pattern on one of my papers.  I love looking at things in a slightly different way; it makes life more interesting, don't you think?

That's it for me this Saturday.  But I would love for you to tell me what inspires (or has inspired) you?

You Are So Loved

Boy does it feel good to be back -  I feel rejuvenated, revitalized, reinvigorated!  Maybe my crafty mojo will decide to stick around for a bit...

I often joke that my youngest is the one who will end up giving me every gray hair on my head.  Lately, those "gray hairs" are caused by worry when I see my daughter struggling.  Being a teenager is hard, much more so today than when I was one way back when.  And being a teenager with severe ADD can make things so much more complicated.  So, this layout was created as a visual reminder - to her, to me, to the world - that no mater what, forever and always, I love her.  (Of course, Bailey-Boo, the Huntress' faithful companion is in the pic, too; because wherever the human one goes, the little furry one follows!)

So, let's talk about this layout.  Mojo gone and left you in a pickle?  Then head over to a good sketch site such as this one by CREATIVE SCRAPPERS.  I used this SKETCH to get started.  This past weekend (after my little scrapbooking hiatus), I literally printed out a couple of photos, grabbed my paper trimmer, scissors and glue, and picked up a bag of scrapbooking goodies I had purchased a month earlier but never even opened before heading over to my BESTIE'S house for a little creative therapy.  Luckily, it contained papers and parts by GLITZ DESIGN, which were pretty much perfect for my layout.  

Wanna see the entire layout?  Here you go...

Yep, this layout has all the ingredients to make it a favorite for me:

Hearts - check.
Stars - check.
Arrows - check.

I found some cool Glitz transparencies (I think from the Color Me Happy Collection).  I really liked a garland of circles included in the pack, but I couldn't get it to "fit" on my layout.  Finally, I just cut several of the circles apart and sewed them individually on my layout.  I outlined the edges of my stars and hearts with a black marker to help keep them from getting lost against the patterned paper.  

I LOVED the You.Are.So.Loved sticker but thought it was too small to use as the title, especially since my layout included rub-on phrases.  So, I sewed it next to my photo instead and then repeated the phrase with my title letters.

And that is it, no extra journaling needed.  "You are so loved" says it all.  No matter what issues we face, no matter the hard times, I love this child fiercely.  And I am humbled that God gave her to me.

A Lovely Way to Use Your Scraps (Practical Scrappers)

It's no secret - I love using little bits and pieces from my scrap stash to complete my layouts. This time, almost all of my embellishments came from my magical scrap stash box - everything from my handmade shabby chic garland...

...to the clusters around my photo

 

 

My papers are from the fantastic CASHMERE DAME COLLECTION BY GLITZ DESIGNS. I don't do shabby-chic too often these days, but when I do, Glitz has some of the most droolworthy papers!

Want to read a little more about my layout? You do?! Well then head on over to PRACTICAL SCRAPPERS and read on!