Better Living Through Scrapbooking September Newsletter

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The newsletter features (among other wonderful things), a really fun challenge and everyone is welcome (and encouraged) to participate too!

“Baby, You’re the Greatest” challenge

Create a baby layout about you, using the oldest photo you have of yourself.
Choose at least 2 of the following:
1. Scan the original photo and print it using your home printer or photo printing service, or take the photo to your local copy shop and have them make a color copy of the photo so that you can scrap the photo and save the original.
2. Use no pastels or “baby colors” on the page (no light pinks, blues or pastel yellows)
3. Frame the photo on your page in an unusual way.
4. Use words/letters as “art”. Cut letters and words from old magazines, junk mail, newspapers, packaging, etc. and use them in an artistic way on your page. Use them as a title, journaling, or just as embellishments on your page.
5. Use lace or ribbon on your page.

And my take on the challenge...

Whoa, now this photograph is a blast from the past for sure! Waaaay back in 1962 when I was but a wee lassie of just one year! I really had to blow the dust off this oldie before I could get any glue to stick to it. Well, okay, maybe I exaggerate, but you get the idea…it’s an old photo that COULD have had dust on it, had I not had it packed away in a Zip Lock bag (ah, the wonders of Zip Lock!).


Okay, now for the challenge I decided to scan the old picture and then scrap the copy (one of the additional parts of the challenge that we could select). I also used ribbon/lace on the page, and I didn’t really use any traditional “baby colors” like pastel blue or pink … although the muted tones of this beauiful Graphic 45 paper certainly lent itself well to a baby layout. However, I recognize that some may consider the colors pastel…but I figured since I did pick the other two additions to the Challenge, I could just use this one as an extra and let you all decided whether the layout features ”baby colors” or not!

After I scanned the photo I warmed it up in Photoshop (with a photo filter) wanting it to have a bit more yellow in it than it actually had (believe it or not! LOL), to match the design more closely. I left my journal entry for the layout very simple and decided to add it in my own handwriting for a more personal touch, it reads, “Elizabeth A. Moore, March 1962, 1 year old.”

I couldn’t resist the chance to create a little wordplay with the title too… “Baby Me.”

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Supplies Used:
Patterned Paper: Steampunk Debutante, Le’ Romantique Collection (Graphic 45)
Cardstock: Natural Smooth (Discount Cardstock)
Fibers: Ribbon (Martha Stewart), Lace (Ellen Hutson Freebie), Alabaster Splendid Ribbon (Artsy.licious)
Embellishments: Brads (Making Memories), Flower (Prima Marketing), Journaling Card, Sparklers (Webster’s Pages)
Other Tools: Cricut Expression, Cindi Loo, Fabulous Finds and Tags, Bags, Boxes and More cartridges (ProvoCraft)