you & me

For my final post for 2011, I completed one of my favorite layouts of this year.  It's not fancy, but came together quickly and turned out better than I hoped.  Here's my layout based on the Scrapbook Steals sketch for this week, modified by turning the sketch on it's side to accommodate a vertical picture.

This layout started with one of my favorite staples, kraft paper.  Then I added lots of fun patterned papers from My Mind's Eye and added some pleated ribbon and trim.  My favorite part of this layout was making the title.  A few weeks back, I picked up some burlap fabric remnants at JoAnns and I decided to work it into my layout.  I cut out a large "&" on my cricut to use as a pattern and traced it on the reverse side of the material.  I hand cut around my shape, being careful not to unravel the fabric too much.  I adhered it with glue dots and added some thickers to complete my title.

For years I avoided scrapping photos of myself.  With two super cute kiddos, I have plenty of photos and reason to scrap.  Only recently, I've made my scrapbooking more personal.  I realized that I scrapbook to preserve memories and tell our story.  Our story really does include me, and that means getting on the other end of the camera and putting myself out there.    Even if I'm not always happy with how I look, I realize that my kiddos will value having pictures of mom, at every stage of life.  I'm not a super model and never will be.  But I am real and normal and worthy of being included in these memories.  And with this in mind, I've posed for more pictures this year than ever before, I've handed over the camera to the kids and occasionally my husband, and I've created several layouts featuring yours truly.  And I'm happy to say that I'm looking forward to capturing more family memories, including ALL members of our family. 

I'm pleased with how I've grown as a scrapper over the past year.  I started blogging, posting my work in on-line galleries,  entering contests, and am part of an amazing group of scrappy friends that I've "met" online.  My scrapping style has changed and improved,  I've won oodles of free goodies and scrapbook swag, and I was chosen to be part of a design team (as a fresh face designer at Practical Scrappers).  I am excited to continue pursuing my passion and I'm looking forward to 2012!