Mom & Addie - Scrapbook Circle

Next to my laptop is the layout I'm sharing today, and I just noticed the arrows. One points across, moving on. Two more point downward, focusing attention on the important parts of the page:

What's that phrase about life imitating art? I'm having one of those weeks with arrows pointing in all directions. No corner of my life has been left untouched by both blessings and challenges in the past few days. While feeling especially stressed out yesterday, I received news that my grandpa had passed away. In the chaos I paused, prayed for my family, and regrouped my thoughts. Life on this earth comes to an end. Time - my one little word - is precious. I can choose to spend my time grumbling about needing a new roof and cleaning up the leak in my kitchen, or I can be grateful for my house, for the rain we so desperately need, and for the people helping us. I can spend time stressing out over circumstances beyond my control at work, or I can channel that energy into positive thoughts and actions. Life is going to be a combination of ups and downs and sideways no matter what I do, so I choose to spend my time wisely.

Today, that means sharing this bright and happy layout. It's inspired by the January Trend Challenge at Scrapbook Circle, which you can find (and play along with!) here.

The challenge is to create a page with a "ransom note" style title or sub-title. I used the Seven Paper washi tape included in the Fresh Start kit:

I shared one of these photos on instagram and told the story behind it already, but this was the morning I left for CHA a couple weeks ago. After we were dressed, I noticed that we were both wearing charcoal gray shirts that said "home". I swear I don't dress us like twins on purpose! But it was a fun mother-daughter moment to capture :).

Hug your loved ones. Spend time doing something good for your soul today. And be sure to stop by Scrapbook Circle :). Have a good one! Tessa

Let's Do Something New - The Studio Challenges

Hello! Happy Sunday. I hope your weekend has been a good one. Today I am sharing a layout that I created for the latest challenge at The Studio:

I have been taking Studio Calico's Color Theory class, taught by Wilna Furstenberg, and this page was inspired by the second lesson. I followed the basic design of Wilna's page as I worked with complimentary colors (purple and yellow). I used a Glitz design woodgrain roller stamp to try the lesson's technique of stamping in wet paint. I love the result!

The challenge at The Studio is to use older product from your stash. I started this layout with just paint, so I didn't have any particular papers in mind. When I went hunting for purple and yellow, it was hard to find purple, not to mention the right purple. Purple is just not a color we really use as scrapbookers, is it? I did, however, find my package of the Soleil collection by Basic Grey. It came out summer of 2012. I fell in love with it all over again while I was putting this page together!

I added paper to the top and bottom of the page, and cut apart a garland to add the arrows on the page. The alphas are also Soleil.

The layout is about the new pixie style I am working on. I cut it asymmetrically, and I am still growing out the long side a bit more. :)

To play along at The Studio, join us here. Thanks for visiting and have a great day! Tessa