Okay, so I am super-thrilled with how this layout turned out! So if you don’t agree, don’t tell me, haha!
My first layout back felt a little stilted and forced, even though I was reasonably happy with the outcome. But this one came together so much more quickly and easily! I spent <30 min during my daughter’s morning nap pulling supplies out to choose the color scheme, etc., and I actually put together the layout during her afternoon nap (about 1.5 hours), finishing up with the die-cut portion of the title later. So about 2 hours! Yay! I think I like it more for less hemming and hawing!
I used the MME January Challenge sketch for the layout. I looked at it pretty closely, and then walked away to interpret it mentally. While I was working, I was trying to channel Melissa and Shimelle– during my scrapbook hiatus, these ladies were among the designers who inspired me the most. I’d read their posts and watch their videos and just itch to play with paper! I completely and utterly admire their layering skills and I’m hoping to practice what I’ve learned from them as I make more layouts.
I have a hoard of MME “So Sophie” that I pulled out for this challenge. I’ve had this photo printed for a really long time, but for some reason I never got around to putting it on a page. In my head, I’d envisioned a color scheme involving royal blue, but when I pulled out these papers, I realized that the indigo/aqua/olive combination was perfect!
One last little note: Those star-shaped brads have been in my collection since like, forever! Or really, probably something like 2007. When I bought them, I’d pictured using them on my engagement scrapbook layout (still haven’t made that one! Husband proposed in our local planetarium… 
)! I decided to finally break into them for this layout, since my dissertation was an astronomy topic.
Supplies:
patterned paper: My Mind’s Eye “So Sophie” We Are Family- Floral Swirl (A-side), Loop-de-loop (both sides); My Mind’s Eye “So Sophie” Sisters- Peaceful Plum (B-side)
cardstock: Recollections (kraft), American Crafts (white)
alphas: My Mind’s Eye “So Sophie” Clever- Pretty Girl Sticker Alphabet, Silhouette SD (font Wendy Medium)
embellishments: Making Memories (olive plaid brad, white metal ornament), The Paper Studio (star brads), Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher, embroidery floss, paper doily
punches: Fiskars (Apron Lace), Martha Stewart (Bubble Bath), McGill (star shape)
I love that feeling when you totally love the finished product! It’s good to see you playing with paper again! And I’m digging the title of your dissertation!
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