Traditional Layout of the First Time Claire Saw Snow

I know I've been mia all week, it's been a little busy around here. I had orientation and started my new job this week! By the time I get home at night I spend most of my evening hours crafting, cleaning and doing things I normally would have spent all day doing in just a couple hours of time each night. It's increased my productivity ten-fold but leaves little time for blogging.

The other night I decided to start a project I have been wanting to do for years. A scrapbook documenting my 4 years being Claire's mama. I printed off some pictures last year but never got around to actually doing anything with them because I always have so many other projects going on already! I'm so glad I had the motivation and inspiration to finally begin this week. Claire has been such a blessing in my life and there are few things that bring me pure, unfiltered joy like her affection and loyalty does.

I started with two pictures that I already had on hand, from the first time Claire saw snow. It was the winter of 2009 and she went insane with happiness. She pounced and pranced and rolled in it. I spent a good half hour outside with her one day in the freezing cold as she ran circles around me because I wanted to capture that moment.

About These Layouts:
To make the images the focus of this layout, I used a simple black and white color scheme. Lots of layers using both fabric and paper. I love how much dimension this creates on each page.

The first page was still a little too blank after adding the layers, so I went back and using puffy paint to add black paint splatters to the white card stock background. I love how easy this was using supplies I already had on hand. I thought about buying mist, but I'm always glad to get innovative and use up items from my pre-existing stash.

The black glitter alphas are from Thickers. (Bought at TJ Maxx for only $1.99!) Thickers are seriously amazing. I never understood the hype before I invested in a few packs of them, but let's just say I've totally drank the koolaid now and I completely understand the $4.99 price tag they usually have. They are SO worth it. Each pack comes with so many letters you can easily use them layout after layout and not run out. (Similar here.)

"Together" tag is from Heidi Swapp's Vintage Chic collection. As is the striped heart sticker. You can find them here. I am in love with Heidi's signature handwriting.

About Claire's Album:
Thank goodness for the inspiration I finally gathered to revisit traditional scrap booking. As much as I love it, I find project life to be easier and definitely much more cost effective. This album is actually going to being really interesting. I'm going to use a mix of traditional layouts like these, and project life pages. Off to the store I go, time to print more pictures from this trip to Michigan so I can work on the project life spread that will coordinate with these pages :)

Happy Scrapping!

xoxo, Laura