I’m so glad you are joining us today for our first official Blog Hops With Heart blog hop. When my sweet and super talented friend, Amie Kiger, asked me to be a part of this new blog hop group my immediate answer was YES!  You should have come from Amie’s Blog, but if you’ve started here-No worries! This blog hop is a giant circle, so just click the link at the bottom of my post and you will eventually make your way around to see us all!

This month we are featuring  the CTMH Sangria Paper Packet with a “thankfulness” theme. I knew I wanted to create a scrapbook layout, but other than that I wasn’t really sure where I wanted to start. So I grabbed my Sangria Paper Packet and just started playing around. Here is what I came up with:

If you follow my blog you know that I’ve developed a need for cut files! This is another one of those layouts using the Squared Away Cut File, from The Cut Shoppe Etsy Store, on champagne colored cardstock. (psst…this layout is also linked to The Cut Shoppe Blog November Challenge) I wanted to add a little mixed media just to add some color to the cardstock so I grabbed my gelatos, used the packaging technique, and a lot of blotting to ensure that the colors wouldn’t be too bold. I then backed the cashmere cardstock with a layer of Sangria B&T.

Now onto my photo cluster. It’s a combo of Sangria B&T Duos, some yellowish polka dotted paper that was in my stash, Champagne and Pomegranate Cardstock (both included in the Sangria Paper Packet).  Once I had all of that together I started embellishing. I started by adding a doily behind the photo cluster. The flower cluster is a sticker from Indie Chic and the banner on the left of the photo is from Little Yellow Bicycle. The wood veneer pieces and gold glitter arrow were just a few things I had in my stash. The “Grateful” title, is cut on another piece of Sangria B&T, is a freebie cut file from Paper Issues and I used pop dots to add dimension to the title.

Journaling…oh, journaling, I always struggle with journaling. I struggle with placement, with wording, with ink color, and on and on. Even though it’s probably my least favorite thing on a scrapbook page, next to the photo it is the most important part of the layout. Years from now it’s important that whoever is looking at my layouts know what is happening. Without journaling the photos and details on the layouts would be the same as finding a box of photos with no dates, no names, and no explanations. I’ve been that person looking through that box of photos from generations past and no one knows the details. We are only left with creative guessing and puzzle piecing the details together. I don’t want my memories or the memories of my family to be lost and forgotten so even though I struggle with journaling I force myself to include it on my layouts. I decided that I would create a visual triangle. I started in the right top hand corner using a Heidi Swapp Date Stamp and my Black Exclusive Ink™. Then in the middle I used an Amy Tangerine roller stamp and then placed my journaling in the bottom right hand corner.

Well that pretty much wraps things up on my end!  Next up is Becca Whitham!! I have been an admirer of Becca’s artwork for quite some time and I am so excited that she is part of this amazing line up that Amie has put together! I know you will find inspiration on Becca’s blog so head there now!

Thanks for stopping by!
-Kelly