It's A Beautiful Life

Another layout I did using Webster's Pages' "Postcards From Paris" papers.

I embellished it with flowers, laces, crystals and pearls, and also decorated the birdcage with little pearl studs.

Materials used:

Patterned Papers - Webster's Pages - Postcards From Paris Collection - La Boutique De Jardin, Salon Les Fleurs

Flowers - Prima Flutter Vines - Scarlet, Prima Moulin Rouge Collection - Angelique

Leaves - Prima Heirloom Paper Leaves - Pecan

Pearls - Prima Say It In Pearls, Prima Say It In Crystals, Melissa Frances Vintage Attic Treasures, Making Memories Gem And Pearl Stickers - Wedding
Crystals - Making Memories Gem And Pearl Stickers - Wedding, Elements Crystal Stickers

Others - Laces, EK Success 3D Foam Dots, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Frayed Burlap and Weathered Wood

Laugh

Here's a layout I did for Custom Crops.

The photo is of my older daughter, who was having a good laugh at home with her younger sis when this was taken, and the title just came to my mind when I saw the photo. And then I found this very apt quote by Oscar Wilde, who happens to be one of my favorite authors: “Life is too short to be taken seriously.” So appropriate!

I experimented a little with my new bottles of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist for this layout. For a step-by-step "how-to", check out my article on Custom Crops.

BFF

My older DD and one of her BFFs from school. I used paper and vellum from Webster's Pages' Postcards From Paris collection in this layout, and did some distressing and layering for greater texture and dimension.

I tore the edges and lined them with vellum, and also created a little fan-shaped embellishment with the vellum, which I then used to line the bottom of the photo.

I also cut out the peacock and the bird cage from another piece of the same paper and layered it on top of the originals for added dimension. I then decorated the bird cage with some pearl studs.

The title embellishment is created from a K & Co metal frame and AC thickers.

Materials used:
Patterned Papers - Webster's Pages - Postcards From Paris Collection - Belle Rose
Vellum - Webster's Pages - Postcards From Paris Collection
Cardstock - Core'dinations - Starry Night
Flower - Prima
Lace - Prima
Brad - Bo Bunny - "Holly" iCandy Brads
Pearl Flourishes - Prima Say It In Pearls in Cream
Pearl Studs - Making Memories Gem And Pearl Stickers - Wedding Collection
Photo Corner - K & Co - Life's Journey Frames And Corners Metal Art
Metal Frame - K & Co - Life's Journey Metal Art
Alphas - American Crafts Thickers - Glass Slipper Glitter Puffy Letter Stickers in Mulberry
Others - Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Worn Lipstick, EK Success 3D Foam Dots

Prima Product Picks!

Prima has an amazing selection of new products in orange and yellow hues. Aren't these just gorgeous? Check out some of the ways in which you can use these products on their blog - HERE!

Sisters Make The Best Friends

I did this layout using Basic Grey's Indian Summer Collection, embellished with flowers, pearls and laces from Prima. I like that the colours of these papers match the colours in the photo.



For some texture, I distressed and inked the papers, and then applied stickles to the flowers for a bit of sparkle as well. I also stuck the matted photo on using 3D pop-up dots for dimension.



Materials used:
Patterned Papers - Basic Grey - Indian Summer Collection - Dogwood, Brandied Melon, Milkweed, Woodrose
Cardstock - American Crafts
Flowers - Prima Camelot Roses
Laces - Prima
Pearls - Prima Say It In Pearls
Ribbon Slider - Me And My Big Ideas - Soft Spoken Banners - Sisters
Cardstock Strip - Basic Grey - Indian Summer Collection - Element Stickers
Others - Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Aged Mahogany, Ranger Ice Stickles in Crystal Ice, EK Success 3D Foam Dots

Memories

I recently found this photo of my older DD taken a month and a day after she started Primary One, standing all nice and proud in her school uniform, and I just had to scrap it.



I used Making Memories' Vintage Findings papers and embellishments, and added a bit of lace, Prima, and a couple of older MM embellies that I had in my stash. I was in fact so excited about purchasing the Vintage Findings collection that I had started on this layout right away and finished it within one night - quite a record for me!



I just love the music notes on their Music Edges Findings paper, and I distressed and inked the other papers and journaling tag that I used to give the layout an even more vintagey look. I then used 3D pop-up dots of varying thickness to give the layout lots of dimension.



Materials used:
Patterned Papers - Making Memories Vintage Findings Collection - Music Edges Findings, Postcards Findings, Ads Findings
Cardstock - Coredinations - Starry Night
Flowers - Prima
Button - Making Memories Vintage Findings Collection - Copper Buttons
Pin - Making Memories Vintage Hip Trinket Pins
Alphas - Making Memories Vintage Findings Collection - Epoxy Foil Alpha Cream
Butterflies - Making Memories
Pearl Flourishes - Prima Say It In Pearls
Others - Making Memories Vintage Findings Mini Kit - Memories, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black Soot, EK Success 3D Foam Dots, Lace

Butterflies Are Free

Here's my first layout for Custom Crops. Aren't those Prima butterflies gorgeous?

The title of this layout was inspired by a play by Leonard Gershe, who in turn took as inspiration for his title a passage in Charles Dickens' Bleak House: "I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free. Mankind will surely not deny to Harold Skimpole what it concedes to the butterflies."

For step-by-step instructions on how I created this layout, as well as the supplies used, do check out the Custom Crops article here!

Portrait Of Mel As An Artist

Another old photo I found of my younger DD, when she was a toddler. She's always loved drawing and painting and all things art (still does), and here she's having some fun with her paints.

I chose Prima's Tropics paper collection as the colours match the colours on her painting so nicely, and also, the flowers on the Mango Cherries paper remind me of a lovely floral painting, so suitable for a layout on painting.

And I managed to find these matching flowers and vine too!

Materials used:

Patterned Papers - Prima - Tropics Collection - Mango Cherries, Sweet Apple, Waterfall

Flowers - Prima

Vine - Prima Flutter Vine

Alphas - SEI - Puff Alphabet Stickers in Cranberry, American Crafts Thickers - Patchwork Fabric Letter Stickers in Ladybug

Inks - Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Aged Mahogany and Broken China

Others - EK Success 3D Foam Dots