Lest We Forget...I Scrapbook Too!

It's been a long time since I have shared a scrapbook layout on the blog. And there's two reasons for that. First, I have been making many more cards than layouts lately and if I wasn't making cards, then Hallmark would be getting rich. The second reason comes down to the basics. I just find it easier to photograph a card than I do a layout. So often, I get a glare from the photos that streaks across the page making a photo less than ideal to post. Guess I just have to become more knowledgeable about using Photoshop.

Anyway, today's layout highlights a very special story around my Mom's 80th birthday. My sisters, brother and I had planned a small surprise party for her with family and very dear friends. However, due to final exam schedules, the party was planned for the week after her birthday. Since her birthday fell on a Saturday, I didn't want her to be alone so I decided to give her a surprise outing. The only hint I gave her ahead of the day was to tell her she needed to wear comfortable clothes. When she arrived at my house, I presented her with a hand-made card (of course!) that revealed the secret. We were going to spend the day in New York City where I was going to take her to lunch and for a ride on a jet boat. What made this more special was that a year earlier, when she was on a cruise to the Caribbean, she was signed up for a jet boat ride as one of her shore excursions. However, something went wrong and the shore excursion was cancelled. My mom had really looked forward to that ride (she is an adventurer at heart) and was really disappointed when the tour operator cancelled it. I was so happy to give her this special gift of an outing. Here's my layout:

The layout uses papers and embellishments from Pebbles Hip Hip Hooray collection which I was lucky enough to have won during a CHA sneak last year. I only added a few things: American craft cardstock, word stickers from October Afternoon's Cakewalk collection, and some stamping. Here's a closer look at the title:

The journaling reads: Going on a jet boat ride was something you always talked about doing. Your 80th birthday seemed like the perfect day to surprise you with a ride on the Beast!

To create the banner, I strung a piece of twine across each of the two pages and added a mixture of the Pebbles Glitter Flag banners to it. I only put adhesive on the backs of the banners. I tied each end in a bow and anchored it on the ends with a dab of Glossy Accents.

As for the the October Afternoon stickers, they matched the layout perfectly. Here's a closer look:

If you are every in New York City, I highly recommend a trip on the Beast!

Supplies:
Cardstock: American Crafts;
Patterned Paper, Letter Stickers and Embellishments: Pebbles (Hip Hip Hooray);
Stickers: October Afternoon (Cakewalk);
Stamps: Technique Tuesday
Ink: Jenni Bowlin (Cough Syrup);
Twine: Martha Stewart