Inspired By...

Sometimes I know I want to create a layout on certain subject but I need a little inspiration on which direction that layout should take. Thanks to Jennifer McGuire's post featuring her 2009 Christmas card, I found the jumping off point I needed to create a layout about my Christmas tree. (You can see her fabulous card here: http://jennifermcguireink.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/12/merry-christmas.html). Here's my layout:

The layout showcases a family picture taken in front of our tree (something that we haven't gotten around to in the last few years) plus pictures of a few of my favorite or newest ornaments. I have 400+ ornaments so it was hard to choose which ornaments to choose, but the few I selected include the antique tree topper I received from my dear friend, Barbara; the newly acquired ball from Sequoia National Forest; the quilted ornament made lovingly by my niece, Jennifer; a bear decked out in headphones which reminds me of how Mark entered and exited a hotel the year he got an i-pod; Melissa's baby shoe which I spray painted gold thanks to a Martha Stewart tip; and the beehive ornament which replaced the honeybee ornament that shattered the year our tree fell. (Melissa's name means honeybee.)

To create the layout, i first cut out paper scraps with various size punches. I used a different pattern for each size punch so that I would know what punch to use when I ultimately swapped out the scrap for the photo. I created the ornaments from patterned paper and embellishments. Once the tree was completed, I filled in some of the paper with bling and rub-on stars.

I grounded the tree with the 2009 tree base that I cut using my Cricut and a line of journaling which reads: Our ornaments and the memories they hold make our tree perfect every year. The irony of this statement was that I didn't like this tree when we first brought it into the house. It really did become the perfect tree once the ornaments were on it!

Just a note for my scrappy friends: Kathy at The Daily Marker has some fabulous blog candy up for grabs. You can check out the offering and her fabulous creations at: http://thedailymarker.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-blog-candy-giveaway.html.

Supplies

Card stock: American Crafts

Patterned Paper and Stickers: Me and My Big Ideas (Noel)

Brad & Rub-ons: K Company (Christmas Cheer)

Bling: (Michael's)

Tools: Punches (Stampin' Up! assorted circles); Nestabilities (Classic Circles Small and Classic Scallop Circles Large); Cricut Cartridge (Graphically Speaking)

Pen: Stampin Up! (Always Artichoke)