I mentioned last week that I had taken two vacation days from my adorable, but exhausting, daycare kiddos. I managed to get 4 new layouts created in those two days, and I still have 3 of them to share. This layout here came about very randomly. As do a lot of my layout, if I'm being honest.
I happen to be ordering a few photo enlargements from Costco, and had a 6x12" photo collage that I had to order, since I don't have a large format printer. I had room on the sheet for another long collage, so I started digging around for photos that I could use. I came across these photos of Alyssa and Zachary (my cousin's son, but also one of my previous daycare kiddos), taken this past Christmas, and decided to use them. I used a storyboard template from Kerri Bradford's recent Photo Strips #1 kit to create my collage.
I've had the collage laying around for a while, and would randomly add pieces to go along with it. The black text patterned paper (from Simple Stories) has gotten a lot of use. I received one sheet of it for an assignment, and used pieces of the paper on that layout. I've also used strips on THIS layout, and THESE cards. And I still have pieces left over.
The circle die cut background piece was something I had cut for another layout. I had sprayed it with silver misting spray to completely cover it. At some point, I realized how well it would work on this page, so I swiped it from it's intended layout.
I just love the "I love music" shape from the Silhouette store (found HERE). In fact, one of Alyssa's shirts from TriM club at school has a very similar shape on the back. And she has said that if she were to ever get a tattoo, this is what she would want to get. Random tidbit for you there :)
I also found my "Music" title in the Silhouette store. I have always loved the look of the outlined title words. I cut the outline part from that same black text patterned paper, and the block part from a tone-on-tone red dotted patterned paper. For adhering those thin outlined pieces, I usually just run them thru one of my Xyron create-a-sticker machines. I have them in varying sizes, and use them for the majority of my die cut pieces.
I searched high and low in my stash for some music note patterned paper. I did find two, but one had too much cream to it (I'm not a cream person) and the other was more cutesy, with girly colors. Not quite what I was looking for on this page. I did however, have this fabric sort of "paper" that was black and white, but a bit sheer at the same time. I honestly didn't want to cut into it, but since I couldn't find anything else, I had to do it.
I felt like the circle die cut piece needed a little something, and dug out some super old metal rimmed tags from Making Memories. I know the middle one in the photo above looks kind of green, but I promise you, it's black. I choose a few silver, a few black, and a few silver glittered tags. These were the metal rimmed tags that you would use in the MM Tag Maker, a little hand held tool that would flatten out the rims after you placed something inside the tags (patterned paper, photos, etc). I used to use them all the time just like this. Nothing added in the middle. Just the flattened rims.
I had two openings in the storyboard template that I didn't have photos for, so I had filled them with some black digital chalkboard patterned paper before having it printed. If I had planned ahead a little more, I would have added my journaling directly onto the collage as well. It could have all printed together. But I don't usually plan that well in advance, so I printed out my journaling as white text on a black background.
I love that music means so much to Alyssa. It's so hard to know at 17, when you're making college decisions, what you want to do with your life. She's still deciding on what her exact plan is, but I'm fairly certain that music will be a big part of her college experience, one way or the other.
Absolutely gorgeous ! It's not an usual color palette for you but you rocked it ! You're really one of my favorite scrapper. Thanks for sharing !
Posted by: Isbaha | March 19, 2014 at 02:41 AM
What a beautiful page!! I just love this!!
Posted by: Tracey | March 19, 2014 at 05:38 AM
This is such a great page, Laura! (I like Alyssa's shirt too!) :)
Posted by: Rachel V | March 19, 2014 at 07:05 AM
Wow! I love this page. I too have all sizes of the Xyron, but I actually decided against buying that tag maker. Now I wish I had. Lol!
Posted by: SandraA | March 19, 2014 at 09:59 AM
It was driving me nuts that the treble clef was upside down, so glad you shared the shirt, I hadn't seen that yet! LOL
Love that the circle cut background almost looks like music floating around and the mm tag idea is so cool! I love seeing all the stuff you've been creating now days!
Posted by: Wendy A | March 19, 2014 at 11:11 AM
I absolutely love it!! The silver mist on the die cut circles with the metal rim circles on top - VERY cool - dimension without the bulk :)
Posted by: Leslie | March 19, 2014 at 11:57 AM
LOVE this layout! Music is a huge part of all 3 of my kids high school and middle school experiences (less so in college) and I have so many pictures to scrap, thanks for the great idea. Definitely going to look for the shape and title in the silhouette store during the sale.
Posted by: Brenda | March 19, 2014 at 02:47 PM
really loving all the detailed cuts on this WONDERFUL layout Laura--FANTASTIC!!
Posted by: Diana Waite | March 19, 2014 at 03:31 PM
Loved it on Instagram. Loved it here on your blog even more! It has even more details than I thought - amazing!
Posted by: Raiza | March 19, 2014 at 10:21 PM
The layout is great...really like it! And like the subject matter...two of my favorite people. That was a sweet moment at Christmas, glad you did this layout!
Posted by: Sandy | March 19, 2014 at 10:22 PM
I love how you used the die cuts! Everything is just the right shape! The papers you chose are wonderful and I love that the music note design is fabric! The stitching is fabulous and I love seeing your daughter with her clarinet!
I have to say that while the heart image is clever, it bothers me that the treble clef sign is upside down, goofy me!
Thanks so much for sharing! I can't wait to see the other projects you finished up during your days off! I have so say that I expect this one will be my favorite, though!
Posted by: Ruth G | March 20, 2014 at 02:53 PM