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Sunday, January 15, 2012

Lasting Memories Challenge - "Happy New Year!"

It's that time of the week again for a "Lasting Memories" Challenge!
The challenge this week is "Happy New Year!"

Now, first of all, I am no exception to scrapper's block, and I waited until what I thought was last minute before I realized I had one more day left...LOL! This was a really tough challenge for me at first because I haven't scrapped pictures of myself since 2007. After that I took a few years off and completely lost my scrapping mojo until my daughter was a few months old. Ever since then, all layouts have been of and for her. I avoided my desk all week and racked my brain with ideas and surfed the web for hours... So at first I wanted to use a play on words for a resolution or something and still sneak in a layout of my daughter but then I said go for it.... You're going to want pictures of yourself some day to remember YOU, and I give complete credit to the challenge this week for my renewed mojo of scrapping photos of myself and other family members from over the years. My last scrapbook goes up to 2005.. I got stalled after our Mexican cruise in 2006 and all pictures since then have been collecting dust. Thank you Lasting Memories! ;)

Anyways, long story short, don't forget about yourself! One day you will wake up and look back at your scrapbooks and not have any memories from the little moments in your life before the big stuff happened.. At least that's how it almost was for me! Maybe there is someone out there that got stuck in a rut like I did. I was so focused on the biggest thing in my life right now that I neglected old memories that needed to get recorded on paper and out of the trap I call my computer! Lol.


For my layout, I chose pictures of last year's new year's eve for 2011. 
I loved the countdowns that I seen on some other layouts and I really wanted to use it on mine. All the numbers are cut from the Alphalicious Cricut cartridge. Photo mats are K&Company paper and polka dot glitter paper is Best Creation Inc. I also used TH walnut stain distressing ink on the edge of the whole layout and around the flags and photo mats. I threw some tiny staples in there too using TH tiny attacher, simply because it's new :) They are on the ends of the banner and on the ends of the paper strips.



This flower is made form the same paper as the photo mats and polka dot paper, I cut out circles of each and glued them together back to back and used this tutorial on how to make it. I LOVE how it came out! Did I mention I LOVE it!? You will definitely see these more often :) I have very rarely made my own embellishments for my pages and I am hooked! I want more ideas for handmade flowers and other embellishments, If you know of any please PLEASE leave me a comment or link and I will be sure to check it out! 



For my clock face I printed a clock mask off the internet onto printer paper and used a razorblade to cut out the numerals. Then I used it as a mask like any other plastic or chipboard mask. I made my own mister with TH distressing ink refill in Chipped Sapphire and some water in an empty mister by Ranger. I then used Tsuniko shimmer spritz in silver on top of the TH to add shimmer. The game spinners are also TH, set at midnight. I used Enamel Accents in white to accent each number of the countdown and in the corner of this photo I used MS edge punch for the polka dot paper in Doily Lace.



I used Momenta puffy stickers for "HAPPY NEW YEAR!" And Recollections stamp set for the "2011"



Twine in Charcoal is from the Twinery. I used a circle punch and folded it over the twine and glued shut. I'm really falling for banners ;)


I am entering this into the following challenges:
Whimsical Designs - Use an edge punch 
Alphabet Challenge - "Y" for You can choose (Anything goes)
My Sheri Crafts - Time for change (Use a clock)
I used Sketchy Thursdays' sketch and I'm so sad to say that this will be their last one. :( I moved some things around but I have all the basic elements in there :)



This week Haven over at Haven's Haven is sponsoring this challenge. If you play along over at Lasting Memories you will have one entry for this amazing prize!! Today is her birthday so if you go visit her be sure to wish her a happy birthday! :)

birthday



ANDDDDD if you use Lasting Memories' sketch by Ashley Horton you will earn a SECOND entry into this week's challenge! Doesn't that sound awesome!!?? Here is her sketch for this week:


Join us and show us your new year's resolutions or how you celebrated bringing in the new year! You have until next Saturday, January 21st to link up your layouts!

Now get your butt over there and join us in this super fun challenge!!!

 And make sure you visit "Lasting Memories" tomorrow for the rest of the design teams inspirational layouts for this weeks challenge!

Happy Scrappin'!



26 comments:

TeenaBugg38 said...

Ok the banner stole my heart :) I LOVEEE Banners and this page is awesome Michelle (I remembeedr the double "L" go me!!) The misting ROCKS!! And I think you created the PERFECT New year page!!!

Haven_mom4 said...

Definately going to have to try misting on one of my projects. It looks so neat.

Stacia Brandt said...

Great layout! Love all of your misting! You did an awesome job!!!

Connie said...

Love the countdown and the clock on your layout!

Sandra H said...

All very nice:) Sandra H

Amanda said...

OMG Michelle, your layout is fabulous!!! I love all the misting and you beautiful flower..

Scrappy hugs
Amanda :0)

Suzanne cricutcraftingrammyblogspot.com said...

So many wonderful layouts. Love the flower, the clock and the countdown idea. Great job on the layout.

Sandy Palmer said...

What a fun layout! I especially love that flower! Thanks for sharing it with us at My Sheri Crafts! :)

Michele said...

I'm partial to your countdown on this one!! :-) I just did a "Countdown" layout last week for my other challenge blog. FUN Michelle!! Your misting and folder flower is to die for! I admire the time it probably took you to do all of this. FANTASTIC layout for sure!! And glad you are scrapping other memories too. It's easy to forget.

Aim said...

Absolutely fabulous layout!! I can definitely relate to not scrapbooking myself much... AND to taking a few years off. I love that LM really gets us to think outside the box and get those memories saved... Your flower embellishment turned out beautifully -- I'd recommend some rosettes, but they are awfully addicting (I went a little rosette crazy in 2011... And I feel the urge creeping back now!!).

Thanks so much for sharing your Lasting Memories Talent!! :)

Your LMDT Sister,
Amy :) at www.lovetocrop.com

Karen Wilson said...

Michelle - you are SO very welcome!! You are an inspiration to the DT and I look fwd each week to seeing what's coming next! I LOVE this LO! WOW! Are you kidding me? You came up with this the day BEFORE? WOW!!! I also love what you wrote about not forgetting yourself. I'm right there with ya. I'm going to try and be IN a few more LO's this yr instead of behind the camera all the time. GREAT job this week!

Unknown said...

Michelle,
Your LO caught my eye immediately. The countdown is such a wonderful idea and my mouth is watering over the flower! I am going to have to work on that one!!! I love your writing abut the importance of scrapping about ourselves. You are right it's an important part of what makes our families:)


Elizabeth LMDT
http://visionsofpaper.blogspot.com/

K Clark said...

beautiful page... so much going on... love the misting... the flowers - wow... love everything!!

happyglitzygirl said...

This is gorgeous, great mixed media page, all works very well together, thanks for playing with us at the Alphabet Challenge.Blessings Hilde
Idea: I bought myself a bunch of different flower punches in different sizes and layer them to make my own flowers, little bit of glitter mist, nice papers or an old book... and a button as the center, looks great,try it.

Denise Pustelniak said...

What a beautiful LO! Love the clock and your paper folding and well, everything!

Julie said...

this is just stunning, love the misting and the masking, the countdown element...way cute. Banner = Love so many things about this is awesome

Marge said...

This is a FABULOUS page -- love your countdown to midnight, your masking/misting and that awesome flower!!! Thanks so much for sharing with us @ My Sheri Crafts!!!

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

You have no idea how right you are about photos of yourself... this year will be 4 years since Aleida Franklin (who I worked with on a DT) was killed in a car accident... one month and 6 days before she was killed she wrote on her blog how she was sorry that she didn't take more photos with he kids when they were babies and how she wanted to change that and she vowed to start taking more photos with them... sadly... she never got to since she was killed... since then, I have vowed to take a monthly photo with my kids no matter what I look like at that moment (even if I am in my PJ's... lol!) I have a picture of Aleida and what she wrote on her blog before she died as a reminder... and I will never stop taking my photos with my babies because of her.... she is my inspiration to be better about being in front of the camera! I loveeeeeeeeee your lo!! It is GORGEOUS! Thanks so much for playing along with Sketchy Thursdays! :):):):):):):):):):):)

Sarah said...

What a GREAT layout! Love all your details. Thanks for joining us at My Sheri Crafts!

Lizzie Laine said...

Michelle,
Your layout is fantastic, love how you made your own stencil for the clock-great idea! Looks great!
Thanks for joining us at Paper Cutz Challenge:)

THERESA said...

This is so gorjuss and such a lot of work went into all the fine detail, love it!!
The biggest memory is in the smallest happenings, as you said , we should see that now and not wait, lovely idea!!
That flower is super, will check the tute on it!!
lotsa luv

Diana Fisher said...

Thank you so much for playing along with the last Sketchy Thursdays challenge. I love what you made! :) And great work with the handmade flower!

Amanda Johnson said...

This layout is fabulous! So many great elements and I love the handmade flower! Thanks for playing along with us at Sketchy Thursdays!

Sharon said...

Fantastic layout!!! Love the homemade flower and all of the misting! Thank you so very much for sharing with us at Paper Cutz Challenge!!!! :)

Jennasa~findtimetocreate said...

This is a great layout. I love the flower and the banner. I was intrigued with your misting as my misting has always wound up in the garbage.
All around this layout screams New Years Eve. Thanks for sharing all your work that went onto this.

~Jennasa
findtimetocreate.blogspot.com

Rhonda said...

I just loved what you did with your New Years Eve Photo's . How Beautiful and creative!