Simple Pleasures

 

Another re-do, this time featuring a photo taken in the Summer of 1951. From left to right, my sister Jean, cousins Jane and Mary Kay Kehoe, and a pigtailed me on the end. We were in my grandmother's back yard, with her beautiful rock garden behind us.

I used the sketch that came in My Creative Scrapbook’s August LE kit as my roadmap, keeping pretty close to the design. I wanted to make my photo stand out, so I chose the less busy “B” side of the Blossom Sprinkle paper for my base. The “A” side of the Growing Wild sheet is a perfect match; I cut off enough to fit and flipped it on its side. I used a frame from the Die Cut package, adhering to the bottom of my photo and then to the Growing Wild piece. Next, I did a little trial and error to select the surrounding items. I wanted to use a part of the red polka dot file card from the Die Cuts; I cut off just enough to fit and put the remainder back for later. I selected one of the tags from the package to place on the bottom right. The other two tags were made with what I had left from the large matting piece – trimmed, punched and embellished with some jute from my stash. Next, I added a few of the journaling pieces to form my title and a piece for that sweet bird to rest on. A few pieces from the Little Birdie package and some splats and I was done!

 

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*****Supplies*****

***Paper***

49 & Market – Nature’s Haven Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – Blossom Sprinkle #JNH-33076

49 & Market – Nature’s Haven Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – Growing Wild #JNH-33090

***Embellishments***

49 & Market – Nature’s Haven Collection – Die Cuts – Elements #JNH-33199

49 & Market – Nature’s Haven Collection – Laser Cuts – Elements #JNH-33175

Little Birdie – Handmade Flowers – Arcadia Collection – Cardinal Red #CR92851

American Crafts – Jute Basics #89424

***Mediums***

Ranger – Tim Holtz – Distress Ink Pad – Ground Espresso

Ranger – Tim Holtz – Distress Oxide Spray – Lumberjack Plaid

***Other***

Beacon – Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive

Scrapbook.com – Artis Craft Glue

***Tools***

EK Success – Cutter Bee Scissors

We R Makers – Crop-A-Dile Big Bite

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As always, I want to thank you for peeking into my blog; your visits mean a lot to me.

 

Happiness Is...

I scrapped this photo four years ago; the Nature’s Haven collection from 49 and Market inspired this “re-do”. Behind the house where I grew up there was an arbor leading to a flower garden. In early Spring, most of the garden was bare, save for a few perennials as the ground was turned and planted in preparation for the beautiful varieties that grew in the Summer. By then, the vines around and over the arbor itself would have sprouted leaves and sweet tea roses, creating a shady refuge from the sun.
I have so many wonderful childhood memories of playing house there with my sister; we would bring out our dolls and blankets and our toy dishes and such and set up for a day of domestic fun. As I grew older, those benches provided the perfect spot for curing up with a book, surrounded with the fragrance of the flowers and the chirping of birds all around. I decided to scrap this latter memory of soft, slow summer days and the pleasures I had reading.

I started by cutting into the K and Company paper 2” from the edge all around to give me a border piece and an 8” square to use for matting. Next, I trimmed the Berry Delight sheet by ¼” all around. I distressed the edges and adhered it to the border piece.

I cut out a piece of the remaining K and Company paper slightly larger than my photo and distressed the edges; I gave my photo the same treatment. These were glued together with several pieces of cardboard underneath to give my piece some dimension.

Next, I selected bits from the die cuts and laser cuts. After inking the edges, I started to arrange my layout. Once I was satisfied – but before gluing – I applied some rub-ons here and there around the page.

I assembled my pieces, adding bits of cardboard behind some of the embellishments to add a bit of “pop”.

 A few closeups:

Piles and piles of books to be read, some pretty blooms and an adorable froggy to keep me company...

 

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*****Supplies*****

***Paper***

49 & Market – Nature’s Haven Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – Berry Delight #JNH-33113

K and Company – Antique Garden Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – Tiny Wildflowers #30000075

***Embellishments***

49 & Market – Nature’s Haven Collection – Die Cuts – Elements #JNH-33199

49 & Market – Nature’s Haven Collection – Laser Cuts – Elements #JNH-33175

Simple Stories – Simple Vintage Essentials – Rub-Ons – Butterflies #20426

***Mediums***

Ranger – Tim Holtz – Distress Ink Pad – Ground Espresso

***Other***

Beacon – Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive

Craft Country – Aleene’s All-Purpose Tacky Glue

Scrapbook.com – Artis Craft Glue

***Tools***

EK Success – Cutter Bee Scissors

Tonic Studios – Tim Holtz – Tiny Distress Tool

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As always, I want to thank you for peeking into my blog; your visits mean a lot to me.