Bella Blvd: These Four

Hey everyone! As many of you know, my blog server Typepad experienced a ton of problems over the last 5-6 days. I'd like to say that's why I haven't posted anything, but it's not. Lol. I just didn't have anything to share until today!

Today we have our "Pinterest Inspired" feature up on the Bella Blvd blog. Each month, I head over to Pinterest and look for fun images that we can use for inspiration. Approximately 2 hours later, I come back with two or three images that we use for the month. Or am I the only one that can spend 2 hours on Pinterest looking for 2-3 things?!?!

{Image Credit: Little Inspiration}

When I choose the images, I almost always have something in mind that I personally would do with them. We usually have three designers assigned to each inspiration image, and it's very rare that anyone ever comes close to doing what I pictured with the image.

Which is exactly the point about inspiration images. They can be interpreted in soooooo many different ways. We are all inspired in different ways or by different things our eyes see in the image. That's the fun of playing along with this feature.

I knew right away that I would create a background to mimic the black chalkboard in the upper portion of the inspiration image and the white table in the bottom portion of the inspiration image. I also knew that I wanted to use the black tone-on-tone star patterned paper from the Lucky Starz collection for the black. I spritzed it with some white misting spray to add a little something-something to it.

I think my original plan (in my head, of course) for the bottom of the page was to leave it plain white cardstock. In cutting the flowers, I had flipped one of the pink patterned papers over and realized that the white/grey days of the week patterned papers would be perfect for the bottom portion of the page. And once I had picked out my photos (one of the last things I did, to be honest), it ended up going perfectly with the theme and journaling of my page. 

The inspiration image had pink and white flowers in fun egg "vases", with touches of green from the leaves showing. I decided to die cut layered flowers, using my Silhouette Cameo, from pink, white, and green star patterned papers, also from the Lucky Starz collection. The Silhouette store has a ton of layered flowers and I love using them.

The shape I chose had 3 layers per flower, plus the leaves, which I die cut from a darker green grid patterned paper. I added foam pop dots in between each layer, to make them more dimensional, and curled up the ends of the petals with my fingers. I finished each flower off with a coordinating threaded button in the center.

I didn't have any photos in mind when I started creating this layout. Even when I decided to die cut the negative strips from Kerri Bradford's Click kit, I didn't have any photos in mind. I knew I needed four photos, since I choose the two-opening negative strip, and somewhere along the way, I realized it would be perfect for scrapping my four main daycare kids.

And that journaling is true. These four do a number on me daily. I wanted to add that I don't necessarily have all four kids for 11 hours a day, and I don't necessarily have all four kids 5 days a week. I have one full-timer. The other three kid's times and days vary, sometimes changing week to week. But I am working, watching kids, 11 hours a day (start to finish), 5 days a week.

I take a deep breathe before opening the door at 7:00am, when the first kid arrives, praying that I'll get through the day in one piece. And I breathe a deep sigh of relief once I shut the door at 6:00pm, after the last kid leaves, being thankful that I did indeed survive the day. Watching four little ones, all so close in age (21 months, 22 months, almost 2.5 years, and one turning 2.5 years next week), is totally draining. Yet totally fun and rewarding at the same time.

Comments

[SandraA]

I love everything about this layout; the frames, the flowers, the colors...and of course the four cuties.

Can you believe I just took out some OLD stash, and they are frames? They weren't in packaging anymore so I don't even know the brand, but I know I got them from one of Lisa Bearnson's QVC shows. Yes, that long ago.

Long story to say thanks for the inspiration. I can now use them in a modern way.

[Isbaha]

Wonderful ! I understand... I have 3 boys (18 mo, 4 and yo).

[Raiza]

Love the contrast & pop of color!

[Gilda]

What a gorgeous page, Laura. I love the bright colours against the dark background and the black and white images of those sweet kiddies.

[Kim M]

Love this layout with the pop of color coming from the flowers. Gorgeous layout!

[Mikki Boyd]

your layouts are beautiful! Love them all. What is the name of the pink Chipboard letters you used on this layout?