"Happy Birthday, Sarah!"

The Story:

My niece, Miss Sarah Elizabeth, is turning one. I can hardly believe it! Last year I flew to Tennessee to hold her when she was just 24 hours old. I love buying pink everything. I carried with me a suitcase filled with girlie clothes, blankets, shoes, bows, hats -- there was hardly any room for my own stuff! I have five nephews and she my one sweet baby girl. When my sister-in-law, Dawn, asked me to make the invitations I could not refuse. Anything for my Miss Sarah!

The Layout:

I almost never make cards, but I do regularly make invitations. This one was a bit of a challenge. The theme of the party is Sesame Street with an emphasis on Elmo and Big Bird. I could not find any Sesame Street paper or stickers in any of my local craft and scrapbook stores. While I was in at Simply Scrapbooks one of the fabulous gals suggested I try Party City. (I'd like to give her credit, but I'm sorry I don't know her name yet.) At Party City I found a set of thin "Look and Find Elmo" books that came four in a package. They were meant to be party favors, but I took them and cut them apart and used the pages for the background paper.

Elmo was downloaded from Google Images. I printed him on photo paper, 2X3 - 9 to a sheet, and cut out each one. I used foam pop-dots to make him 3D.

I loved this invitation because it challenged my thinking. I didn't have paper and stickers to rely on. I had to really look at what was available and make it work for me.

"Bright Eyes"

The Story:

The first thing most people notice about Alex are his huge, brown eyes. They catch attention in photographs. He can work those eyes through the full range of emotions: joy, despair, thoughtfulness, hilarity, fascination, irritation, indignation, peacefulness, . . . He's growing into them, but they will always be the trademark of a boy that I love with all my heart.

“I have looked into your eyes with my eyes. I have put my heart near your heart.”
-- Pope John XXIII

The Layout:

I bought some Sassafrass Lass Paper Whimsies awhile back and have been itching to use them. They form the border along the side and top. I love the Sassafrass Vintage Yummy line. The paper and embellishments are so cool and retro. Their ecclectic look grabs my attention whenever I spy it in the store.

I used some old We Are Memory Keepers brushed brass letters for the word "BRIGHT" and I just pulled a mix of smaller letters out of my stash for "EYES."

I stitched red embroidery floss around the layout to tie together the printed paper and the lettering.

The brads and buttons are from Pink Paislee and Sassafrass, but I also pulled some from stash.

"Heather and Tom"

The Story:
I have known Heather for 13 years. Her mother, the fabulous Delani Bair, and I taught next door to each other for eight years. Delani went through three pregnancies, tons of laughter, and a few tears in that time with me. I am one of her greatest admirers. All these years later, her daughter, Heather and I found ourselves teaching at the same school. She in fifth and I in first. I have prayed for Heather that God would direct her to a mate that would appreciate her flamboyant and colorful personality and sweet and sensitive nature. . . Finally, the desire of her heart is realized. His name is Tom. On July 18th our Heather will be marrying and moving 2500 miles away. She will be missed more than you can possibly imagine, but knowing she will be with her true love makes it a tiny bit easier.

The Layout:
I made an 8X8 album for Heather to put candids from the wedding in. I used the Making Memories Wedding Line. The colors are black, white, and silver.

I added pictures of two of my favorite elements. The silver bird is an embossed bird from Ashley's NSBW Mini Album. (No, I did not get my book completed! Shame on me!) It went perfectly with this album. I used a couple of Ashley's Mini Album ideas in this book. (Thanks, Ashley!)

The other element is some hanging baubles. I used thread, metal tags (Making Memories,) and beads to hang these embellishments from the crocheted lace.

The album is an old SEI album that I covered with paper. It was a creme colored album with an odd argyle design down one side. I have had it forever and had always hoped I'd have an occassion to cover it and use it as a gift for a friend.



I am hoping to be a little more faithful to my blog this summer. I have had a fast a furious end to the school year and start to my time off. Things have settled down now and I am ready to swim, sun, and scrap.

"Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." ~Henry James

P.S. I won't be posting this to Facebook because I don't want Heather to see it before the shower on Wednesday. Shhhh!