Carta Bella

Change of Address

~ dddesignz ~ 2 Comments

As 2023 draws to a close, it’s that time of year when we begin to take stock of our accomplishments. While the list can be long, few will stand out as a life event. This year has been full of life events for my son and his wife. And while these life events were all challenging in their own right, causing much discomfort and soul-searching, they all had a happy ending! This layout celebrates purchasing their first home – a real milestone in any couple’s relationship!

The cut files for this layout come from Jennifer Edwardson Creative. They are named Moving Cut File Bundle. I chose three cut files (For Sale, SOLD, and Change of Address) within this bundle to create this page. Most patterned papers and embellishments come from Carta Bella, primarily the Gather at Home collection. The Paired with Plaid patterned paper provided the background for this page.

I cut the For Sale sign from a soft grey cardstock. The white weather wood pattern paper was just the look I was seeking. Once created, I adhered it to the background paper using Scrapbook Adhesives Crafty Foam Tape. This dimension helped provide an illusion of movement in the hanging sign. I cut the letters for the SOLD sign using a coordinating patterned paper called Pitcher Perfect from the Gather at Home collection. The completed cut file was also adhered to the background using foam adhesive, enhancing the effect of resting on the top of the For Sale sign. The final cut file I used from this bundle was the Change of Address. I used a dark coordinating patterned paper in the Gather at Home collection to cut the letters. I adhered these letters to grey cardstock that matched the For Sale sign. 

In creating the left-hand side of this page, I used four coordinating patterned papers from the Gather at Home collection. They included Fresh Floral (top and bottom) and the back side of the following: 3×4 Journaling Cards,  4×4 Journaling Cards, and Time for Dinner. Each paper was cut 4″ in width and then randomly placed down the page at different lengths. I hand-stitched using two coordinating DMC embroidery flosses (black & 564) to ease the transition between papers. The two stickers in this section belong to Carta Bella’s Home Again collection. They were a perfect fit and matched with the Gather at Home collection. In completing the left-hand side of the page, I added the coordinating Home is Where Your Story Begins strip. This strip helps provide a soft transition to the main section of the layout.

I adore this photo of Sean, Tanis and their dog Lillie. I don’t know about you, but I think the dog has the biggest smile in the picture! You can see and feel the excitement in each of them. I placed the word HAPPY from the coordinating Home Again Chipboard Accents on the photo. I used Doodlebug Designs Alphabet Soup Puffy Stickers to add the date. 

I am so glad to have this milestone documented for posterity. I know that as the years progress and they look back at this moment, they will marvel at all the changes they’ve made to their new home. Let the fun begin!

Thanks for joining me today. I hope I’ve nudged you to document this year’s accomplishments and milestones! Until next time, stay safe, stay well, and Happy Scrapping!

Everyday Moments

~ dddesignz ~ 2 Comments

Even though we’ve been living through a pandemic for well over fifteen months now, it’s still easy to find joy in everyday moments. My daughter is so good at sending me random pictures of our grandchildren, and she knows every picture brings a huge smile to my face. Back in May 2019, she sent me this picture of herself and her youngest, Ben. I was overjoyed to see her beautiful face in this photo. Her two oldest children were in online school at the time, and nothing special was going on. It was just a perfect moment to capture Mom and baby in a photo for prosperity. This picture just fills me with love and joy!

I used Carta Bella’s Flora No 3 collection pack for all of the patterned papers in this layout. I love the soft feel of this paper line and it coordinated beautifully with the shirts Ben and Lindsay were wearing. The background paper is the reverse side of Elegant Stems patterned paper. The layout frame and matching cutouts for the title and floral cluster came from the Elegant Large Floral patterned paper. The photo was matted using the backside of two coordinating patterned papers from the collection called Elegant Small Floral and Elegant Journaling Cards.

I chose two cut files from Peartree Cutfiles for this layout. The title cut file Everyday Moments was cut from white cardstock first. It’s such a versatile cut file and was one of the free weekly cut files from the Peartree Cutfiles Facebook Group. Usually, I offset the cutout letters and back fill the title, but for this layout, I decided to keep them the same size as the original title. First, they were cut from coordinating patterned paper and then they were backed with Taylored Expressions Foam Sticky Strips to provide the texture and dimension.

I altered the second cut file called Floral Bunny Ears to suit my needs for this layout. By using the knife tool in Silhouette Studio Design Software, I was able to separate the bunny ears from the gorgeous floral cluster. This technique is also a great way to stretch some of your cut files. Once the floral cluster was sized properly, it was also cut from white cardstock. I used the Silhouette Studio software and the Fill Pattern function to plan out which coordinating patterned papers would be cut to back the cut file. I use this function often when backing an intricate cut file.

The final touches on the floral cluster were adding a few acrylic dots from various collections. The date was added to the left of the photo using rose-coloured thickers from American Crafts, called Happy Life.

I’m so pleased with the delicate feel of this layout. It helped me preserve a very precious moment in time between Mother and Son. If you’ve hesitated scrapbooking day to day moments, jump in! Our scrapbooks should be filled with memories of everyday moments, good and bad, in addition to the highlights like birthdays and vacations. What will you work on next? Until next time, stay safe, stay well, and Happy Scrapping!