Remembering the Good Times...

We just came back from one of the best family vacations I have ever been on.  It started out with a long road trip, where we played the alphabet game, sang songs, napped, talked about anything and everything, and stopped at convenience stores and produce stands; and it ended in Florida on a beach with white sand, gentle waves, and beautiful turquoise water.  We didn't do anything particularly special once we got there, but that's exactly what made our vacation so wonderful.  We relaxed.  We played on the beach.  We spent time together.  And we didn't rush anywhere - not once.

Of course, a vacation means pictures, and I still managed to take lots (and lots and lots) of them.  For my first layout using my vacation photos, I chose to go with Heidi Swapp's Sugar Chic Collection.  I had just finished using it for another layout, one that didn't use beach pics.  I still had the papers out and being the completely lazy innovative person that I am, I decided they would do quite nicely for my beach-themed photos, too!

I used a punch to make my flowers - so simple and so pretty!  The small journaling tags were actually from October Afternoon's 9 to 5 Collection, but they matched perfectly so I decided to use them.

If one layer is good, five is better.  Add a little paint and some stitching, and it's practically perfect (in every way)!

I wanted to get Hunter's impressions and thoughts from our vacation, so I conducted a quick interview and typed out her answers.  I fashioned a pocket from the paper behind the pictures, and I made a simple little booklet to place in it, with a picture on the outside and my daughter's answers to my questions inside. 

Vacation may be over, but we have those wonderful memories filed away - just waiting for us to pull out and read (and remember) in the years to come.

Happy Summer, and Happy Fourth of July!

Practical Scrappers Wednesday

(Note:  If you are here for the Lori Whitlock Blog Hop, click HERE - or just scroll down to the entry right before this one.)

Today is water-themed layout day over at Practical Scrappers.  And because I am currently vacationing on a beach in sunny Florida, I thought it only appropriate that my layout should include a beach picture.  I love this picture of Sweet Little Lula and her friend running into the waves at the beach.  Although you can't see their faces, you can just feel the excitement they were experiencing!

I used American Crafts and Pebbles papers for this layout.  And even though I didn't use beach-themed papers, I primarily used blues and browns and other soft, faded colors to help provide my beach feel.  I think it works, don't you?

A close-up  of the cluster in the corner of my layout.  And simple, handwritten journaling was all that was needed.

Of course, I just HAD to add a banner.  And I really enjoyed cutting out a few of the hexagons and adding popdots behind them to add a little subtle dimension to my layout!

I am loving using these Mister Huey's masks!!!  Have you tried them yet?  They are so much fun, and I love the look they give my layouts!

That's it for me today.  Hope this has inspired you to celebrate summer and create your own water-themed layout!