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Another Bucket List Project Class layout complete. 

This layout originally looked like this and had been stuck that way for years. I could never finish for a few reasons. I didn't know what to say. I struggled what to put on the journaling. Second reason was that I was not in love with the products I was using. I had semi-completed another layout that was from the same trip that used the same products, and I just couldn't get it to work for me.

After sitting in my pages-in-progress pile for years, once I had come across an old class layout, taught by my friend in California, Colleen O'lear, that I had made on my trip to visit old friends and my old stomping ground, I knew with some minor adjustments, would be perfect for the photos and story that I wanted to tell.

I struggle with using memorabilia on my pages, so I was excited to use it for this one! The ticket worked well in place of a large photo. 

Love that the original layout used these Tim Holtz stamps, as well. 

There were a few things I added to the original layout design. In moving some of the photo mats around, I tore the green background paper. In an effort to cover it up, I found a Doodlebug DoodlePop sticker from my SCT sampler kit from some months back whose colors and theme matched perfectly. Layered on a shelf of washi tape. To balance the other side of the journaling block, I stretched the washi to the other side and had a tag with a stamped sentiment from Ali Edwards, a retired set from Technique Tuesday. Repeated the twine from the first page as a finishing touch. 

To cover up hole punches on the photos that I had also cropped down, I added some silver stars sprinkled about to cover them up. Love that it hides the imperfect photos and adds a touch of shine.

Thanks for checking out my layout. So excited to have this story told and a layout that I love! Hope to share more layouts from my Bucket List Project class soon!

First Birthday Party

Today I have a layout to share with you that I actually created quite a while ago. I created this layout back in 2010, if I remember correctly. It features a MyMindsEye collection that was an all time favorite of mine.

The reason I am sharing the layout now, is because it has taken me that long to get journaling on this page. As part of Simple Scrapper's Bucket List Project class, I finally figured out how to get some words on the page! Jennifer Wilson shared a birthday layout of her daughter that used this stamp, "I want to remember", as a jumping off point. I thought it would be an easier way to document this story where so many ideas and areas of focus could be used.

I knew I wanted to use the stamp as a jumping off point but struggled with how to add it to the page since it was complete....well mostly.

Once I decided I would place different journaling spots around the page to add some balance, the next step was to physically add it to the page. 

The next problem I encountered was what color to journal in. The page had no black anywhere and I was afraid to use black that it would be distracting, having too much contrast.

The layout was based on a sketch, but being created so long ago, I don't remember which, but I am guessing from PageMaps.

I decided to go with my old typewriter to type the journaling. Hoping it would create less contrast than my handwriting with a pen or another font on the computer. I also had my journaling prewritten and I was worried if I hand wrote, it wouldn't fit in the space I had left to play with.

Another update I made to this layout was the stamped title. I used the blue ink on the journaling prompt and I wanted to repeat that color other places on the layout so I decided to use the First Story Stamp set from Ali Edwards to complete the title. Using that stamp also allowed for an awkward gap to be filled. Love how it turned out.

One of the techniques I love that I had used was cutting out duplicate lanterns from the patterned paper and popping them up for some added interest and texture without being distracting.

Also loved the pennant die I used with different patterns from this collection, adding the number 1 on some for more repetition.

Last touch was a date label from Elle's Studio with the date stamped.

Thanks for stopping by to check out my layout. Hoping to share another soon!