Meet the Family...

Today I worked on a picture I've had of Jon and Paige for almost exactly a year now.  I picked out the paper I was going to put with this picture at least 6 months ago.  Just today I finally had the moxie to sit down and just try it.  When surveying other artist's work, I always love checking out the style of shabby and chic.  I've admired scrappers who are willing to rip into their papers...rough them up...embrace messy.  See, while I may be shabby, I'm certainly not chic.  And messy?  Forget it!  (Remember, we're not talking about my house here, we're talking about my scrapping style!)
So, I finally decided just to go for it.  I'm getting to the point where I'm realizing it's not the end of the world if I create a layout I don't love.  The picture can be reprinted.  With the adhesive I use, most things can be pulled back off.  It's freeing to just attempt something without knowing for sure if I will match the picture in my mind.  Sometimes, it matches.  Sometimes it looks crummy.  Sometimes, it looks better than I ever expected!
Without further ado...

This is my beloved daughter Paige, and my handsome husband, Jon.  I know this picture was taken on July 20, 2009 because it was my younger daughter's fourth birthday, and they were sitting across the booth from us at Applebee's.  I absolutely adore how Paige is leaning into Jon and the look in his eyes.  Paige did the journaling for me here, "When I'm with Daddy, I love it.  I feel like I'm at home.  He makes the sun shine.  He makes everything feel exciting."  Awww...now if that doesn't warm your heart...

On the technical side of the layout, I know everything looks a little crooked, but in real life it's okay.  I really wanted to have some brown buttons in the corners to frame it out, but I had NONE in my stash.  Can you believe it?  But, I did have some transparent buttons.  So I used my special glue and some brown patterned paper (that matches his shirt!) to create my own brown buttons.  It looks like I've stitched on this, but I actually faked it with a template, my paper piercer and a brown marker.  I don't yet own a sewing machine, but I'd really love one....  Did you hear that, Santa? 

Throw in some paper tearing (Paige was a little freaked out watching me rip it up!), some Tim Holtz tickets and journaling spot, a Jenni Bowlin bingo card, and a Webster's bloomer, and you have a perfectly shabby LO.  It's nothing like the girly stuff I usually specialize in, and I love it!

Stay tuned for an Erin layout, and every dog should have his day, so I'll show off one of my Alex puppy too.  (Not so much a puppy anymore at 11 1/2 years old, but that's another story.)  Enjoy your weekend!  :)  Wendy