Enjoy the Journey -- April Lets Scrap Sketch

This is a layout created from a sketch by Cheri O'Neill from Let's Scrap. This sketch was exclusively posted over at the Memorable Seasons message board. It's a really great sketch and was very easy to customize to fit my photos and products.

Click here for the link to the sketch itself.

Click here for the link to the MS message board to see the sketch and everyone's layouts.

Here's my layout I created....

I created the decorative edge on the layout by folding a strip of paper in half and tracing a curve onto it, then cutting it out. Then I traced the curved edge onto the back of the floral paper. For the corners and sides, I just matched up the cut strip with the curve I had already traced along the top. To create the bigger pink mat for this curve shape, I used a pencil and sketched out the curve, leaving a 1/4" border, then I cut it out. Both the floral layer and the pink layer have sponged edges, so it hides any imperfections in my cutting.

To create the title, I used some gold Blingz paint on the printed chipboard letters and dried it with a heat gun. This gave a soft shading to the letters and they are so shimmery...but that didn't photograph well. Just trust me, they are BEAUTIFUL! :) I did trace around the chipboard letters with a brown marker so they showed up more against the white floral background.

For the rest of the title, I used some of the tiny alphabet stickers to spell out the word "the" and I used a stamp to create the word "journey". I punched a photo label from the pink pattern paper sheet I used with the buttons, then turned it over to use the solid blue side. I sponged the edge of the label and stamped the word "journey" onto it with versamark ink, then embossed it with white embossing powder. To make the label pop a little more, I outlined the shape with a brown marker and then attached it to the layout with foam tape. I also included some brown pen stitching around the floral paper on the pink mat.

To create the buttons, I used a 1" circle punch and glued those circles to the back of the clear buttons with glossy accents adhesive. After the buttons were dry, I punched the holes with a paper piercer and threaded brown crochet thread through the holes to give them a stitched look. The buttons were attached to the layout with more of the glossy accents. I really like how it holds my embellishments on my projects and it dries clear. I also punched another small photo label so I could include the date at the bottom of the layout. One other thing you will notice in the photo below are the words "enjoy the journey" on a white background. These were from the coordinating rub-on sheet that goes with the papers I used on this layout. It was a white label with a brown border, but I didn't want to have it cover up my photo, so I cut it to the width of the ribbon and applied it directly to the ribbon. I will use the other curvy parts of the white label on another project...be sure to watch for it!

My journaling was written along the bottom of the layout just under the blue pattern paper. I wanted to keep it streamlined and simple so the photos would stand out more. I also tied a ribbon into a bow and then wrapped the long ends around the blue pattern strip before I glued it down to the layout. I love how it's a clean bow with no tails to worry about. :)  You can also see the white faux stitching I did around the yellow paper with a white pen.

The last detail I wanted to share was the tone-on-tone stamping I did on the brown background before the layout was assembled. I used a stamp from Tim Holtz that had the words all lined up on top of each other. It says "Time is a companion that goes with us on the journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we lived". I loved that saying and I was thrilled how it turned out when I stamped it with the versamark inkpad. Looks just like a watermark. You can see a photo of that detail below...

Supplies used on this layout:

American Crafts Letterbox Collection of Papers--
*Madam Embossed paper
*Adieu paper
*Respectfully paper
*Letterbox Mini Post Phrases Rubons
*American Crafts Thickers: Coral Criss Cross Pattern
*Shimmerz Blingz: Gold Glimmer
Tim Holtz-Stamper's Anonymous: Going Somewhere stamp set (purchased previously from Memorable Seasons)
Technique Tuesday "journey" word stamp
Versamark Inkpad, white embossing powder
Ranger Distress Inkpads: Brushed Corduroy, Spun Sugar
Making Memories Tiny alpha stickers
EK Success Punches: 1" circle, Photo Labels
Autumn Leaves clear buttons
Bazzill Basics brown gingham ribbon
Brown, pink and yellow cardstock
WeR Memory Keepers Corner Chomper
Brown Zig Marker, Ranger Inkssentials white Pen
Hand-cut template for curvy edge*Products I received as a member of the Memorable Seasons Design Team to use on my monthly projects.