Pack Your Bags & Fly Away: A Layout Share

Just for fun, I decided to scroll thru my blog and find the last time that I created and shared a layout just for fun. Something that wasn't created for an assignment, but that was created simply because I wanted to make it. After scrolling for what seemed like forever, I came across two cards that I made back in June of 2013. I kept scrolling and found another card that I shared back in December of 2012. And then finally, back in October 2012, I found a layout that I created and shared "just for fun". That's kind of sad that basically everything I've created for over a year now, has been because of an assignment. At least I can say that a pretty good percentage of them have also been layouts that I wanted to make as well, and that I truely do love. 

Well, I'm happy to say that I created this layout just for the heck of it! I was working on an assignment last week and cut this fun frame piece (purchased from Studio Calico HERE) on my Silhouette. I didn't end up using it, so I thought it would be a great starting point for making a layout just for fun. I had something totally different in mind than what you're seeing. In fact, I was going to do an all-about-me type layout, with no photos.

I picked out these patterned papers (from Simple Stories) and had this page design in mind. Then I set out to find a title to cut with my Silhouette. While browsing thru my library, I came across the "fly away" and then the "pack your bags", and it reminded me of a layout I've been wanting to do for a while now.  

While traveling last year, teaching at the CKU Conventions, I had collected quite a few photos snapped with my cell phone while doing the actual traveling part of the trips. I always thought it was funny that the only photos I would come home with were ones taken at the airport or on the plane. I guess it's because I'm alone and I get bored. While actually AT the event, things are so busy and hectic that I never thought to take photos. I knew it would be fun to compile some of these photos on a layout, and I'm so glad I finally got around to it.

I think the "pack your bags" title (from Kerri Bradfords Pack Your Bags kit) was the one that I had in mind for this layout from the beginning. But I realized that I could combine the "fly away" title right along with it, since it fit the theme of my photos so well.

I also used an ampersand from one of Kerri's kits, but for the life of me, I can't figure out which kit it's from. I added a few enamel dots to my title pieces, and some number stickers up in the corner for the year.

I left two of the openings in the frame empty so that I could use that area for my journaling. I typed it up and printed it out on the same ruled patterned papers that is at the top of the layout, and matted it on a scrap of the same yellow patterned paper that I cut my ampersand from. And just now, while looking at the photo above, I noticed a word that I left out of the third sentence. Figures. Lol.

I measured out the openings for the photos (once I realized they weren't all exactly the same size) and printed out my photos and adhered them behind the frame. These are all photos taken on my cell phone, and I think I've mentioned before that I'm not lucky enough to have an amazing cell phone. So it's actually good that my photos are about 2 inches in size, since you can't tell their imperfections. I also pulled out some colored thread and randomly added some messy machine stitching to parts of the frame. Just to add some color.

If you happen to follow me on Instagram, you might have seen me share these photos while on my trips. I would always find myself snapping pics while waiting. And when traveling, I find that you do a lot of waiting around. I took that shot of the empty rows of seats on a flight that hardly had anyone on it, as I was hoping that it would stay that way after the layover (since I was staying on the same plane). It didn't work out that way, and the next flight was completely packed.

The photo in the upper corner was taken at my airport. I call it "my airport", since even though I have four airports to choose from within 90 minutes of my house, I will only fly in and out of the Sacramento airport. It's easy to get too and pretty quiet, and I'm super familiar with it. There are two of these HUGE pieces of "art" in the baggage claim area, consisting of suitcases and luggage piled practically up to the ceiling. I think they're pretty cool and had to snap a photo.

I tend to take a "wing shot" on each flight I take. I know they all end up looking pretty much the same. But I still love to take them. And if the flight I'm on is "open seating", meaning we can sit wherever we want, I always seem to sit over the wing. Without even trying too. It's just where I find myself once I sit and look out the window. And I always prefer the window seat, if given the choice. I like having the side of the plane to lean my head against for napping.

And then there's the photos that I try and discreetly take while sitting at the airport or in the plane. You'll never find me taking an actual "selfie", like of my face. I can't take a decent selfie if my life depended on it. I totally remember taking that middle photo on the bottom. It was after finally arriving in Connecticut, after a super LONG day of travel on 3 different planes, only to find out that the car that was supposed to pick me up had been scheduled for the previous day. I ending up having to wait another two hours for someone to come get me, after which I found out that we had to still drive almost 45 minutes to get to the hotel. Let me repeat. LONG DAY.

On one of my trips, we had been talking about airports and I mentioned that at "my airport" we had this ginormous red rabbit flying down thru the terminal. Yes, a bunny rabbit. I'm sure there is something meaningful behind it and/or it represents something about where we live. I'm not really sure. I just think it's kind of funny to see this huge rabbit flying down as you walk through. I had to snap a photo of it the next time I was there.

And just today, my sister who was visiting this weekend from Colorado, was flying home out of this airport and I told her about this rabbit and to watch for it if she was going thru terminal B. Sure enough, I got a text from her saying "your red rabbit said hi". So I pulled up this photo on my phone and texted it right back, asking "you mean THIS rabbit". As if there is another ginormous red rabbit flying around our part of California. Lol.

Comments

[Theresa]

I LOVE this layout! Everything about it!! Thanks for sharing.

[Kathy Martin]

LOVE the way you did your pictures...and the stitching! :)

[Stacey]

Love this page! What size are the pictures? Did you print them that size or cut them down from a larger photo? I have only used 4x6 pictures and would love the smaller square photos. Having trouble finding a place that prints small sizes though.

[Diana Waite]

I REALLY love this page--I really like how you incorporated so many AWESOME cuts to document your travel experience--SWEET!!!

[Mendi Yoshikawa]

What a cool page! Love your treatment of the title and your stitching details! :)

[Rona]

Great layout. I love the way the title turned out. I've never bought any Kerri Bradford stuff, but you might have just converted me! By the way, what font did you use for your journaling?