I thought today would be a good day to share my layout from the Winter issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today (I'll tell you why it's a good day at the end of the post). I shared a layout back in December, where I mentioned that I had used Echo Park's The Story of Christmas collection for an assignment, and I then used my leftovers for a second layout. This is the assignment/layout I was referring too.
When I received the assignment in my inbox, I remember making a comment about how they either knew that I disliked scrapping Christmas and wanted to challenge me - or they had seen that I was challenging myself to scrap all of our Christmases and wanted to help me knock another one off my list. Lol. I would normally create just a two page spread about the holiday and include our photos on that spread. But for this assignment, I decided it was just easier to scrap our family photos we took that day. These photos were from 2014, which is actually a Christmas I haven't scrapped yet.
This collection was perfect for me, as the colors worked perfectly with our Christmas photos. These colors would actually go well with so many years of Christmas photos. And while I'm not necessarily a huge fan of off-white, cream, or anything beige, it just worked better with these patterned papers than the normal white cardstock I would turn too. I had a strip of this embossed, dotted cardstock from Core'dinations that was just the right size for what I needed.
I printed two photos, one at 3x4" and one at 4x6", and then added a 3x4" card from the collection in between the photos. And since things in my little world don't usually like to go as planned, my photos actually printed a tad bit smaller than what they should have (even after picking "borderless printing"), so I had a little gap in between the photos and the "december 25" card. I simple took a sheet of coordinating patterned paper, used my scalloped border punch on a few strips, and adhered those to cover the gap. Problem solved.
I always lean towards the simpler patterned papers in collections, and picked out a few polka dotted patterns, some tone-on-tone patterns, and the woodgrain and poinsettia pattern since I wanted more of the dark browns on the page.
For part of my assignment, I was also asked to incorporate some shadowed title work. Totally not a problem for me, as I love to use a shadow effect on my die cut titles. I used a cut file from Kerri Bradford for my title, and I was able to cut both layers for my title from three 6x6" papers from the paper pad in the collection. I love using those smaller pads of paper, as the patterns are scaled smaller and good for die cutting and also cards.
So, back to why I thought it was a good time to share this layout. Technically, it's one of the last layouts I created for Scrapbook & Cards Today, as a part of their design team (I think my last one was really the 2016 planner layout). They just announced the 2016 team yesterday, which you can see HERE. After three years of being on that design team announcement image, it was a little sad not to be a part of it this time around. But that decision was all me.
After much consideration, and going back and forth with myself over it (and maybe a friend or two as well), I made the hard decision to step down from the S&CT team at the end of December. I have LOVED being a part of such a talented and amazing group of designers, and I just can't say enough kind things about Catherine, the editors, and everyone else behind the scenes. I spent three years on the Creating Keepsakes Dream Team, and then went straight into three wonderful years on the S&CT design team, and loved every year along the way.
But, with that being said, I just felt like it was time to step down - and in a sense, step away from the magazine side of things a bit. Part of it is a time thing. I don't have as much time for creating as I used to have, and for the last year I've spent a huge majority of my weekends feeling like I was cranking out assignments and meeting deadlines. Something had to give and this made the most sense. Which leads me to the other part, which is with my girls getting so much older, I feel like it's getting harder for me to work with a lot of assignments. I've found myself creating more layouts that aren't genuine, as I'm re-scrapping photos/stories I've already scrapped just to fit an assignment, or borrowing photos from friends because I just don't have the photos I need. I've chatted a bit about this stuff before, so it's not a new realization. It was just time to make a change that would help with both of those things - time limitations and re-focusing the time that I DO have into layouts that truly mean something to me and my family.
I am still one of S&CT's biggest fans, and am excited to watch what their team does this year. They really do put out an amazing publication, as I'm sure so many of you would agree. And if you haven't been checking them out, I hope you do!
Awesome LO Laura (as they always are!) TFS girl
Posted by: Dolly | January 28, 2016 at 06:28 AM
LOVE this textured beautiful page!
Posted by: Diana | January 28, 2016 at 01:01 PM
Such a beautiful page. I'm so proud of you for putting yourself first and making the tough decision to step down. I have a feeling you will find yourself falling in love with scrapbooking again when you can create more with photos you love & can tell stories you want to document with no guidelines or requirements--That love is bound to shine through your pages. I can't wait to see what you dream up and hope you enjoy a little rest. Big hugs! :)
Posted by: Mendi Yoshikawa | January 28, 2016 at 11:07 PM
Love this page! Never would have known about the gap between photos, great cover-up!
Posted by: Carolyn E | January 30, 2016 at 07:32 AM
I.LOVE.THIS!!! Awesome holiday page Laura!!
Posted by: Tracey | January 31, 2016 at 05:54 PM