Choose Happy

Today I wanted to share the layout I put together when Collin was here filming the videos for the Project pages. 

I haven't had the time to do a lot of actual scrapbooking recently with most of our time going into site stuff and product design. I'm super happy to start finding a rhythm again to be making stuff. 

This is a 2-page, 8.5x11 layout. 

As you might have read in my recent  Around Here post, Anna is learning how to ride her bike and Chris has been spearheading the effort. He comes over in the evening and runs her around and around the cul-de-sac. She laughs, he sweats, and Simon rides circles around them. It's a pretty good time and a really nice little connection for all of us. This is a good example of a layout where I could definitely write more about the story. The only reason I didn't was because I was actually making it as we were filming and what you see here was as much as I could make happen during that time. 

What I'd like to add to this story is how I personally really appreciate the effort that Chris makes in coming over here to teach her. 

I think I could simply just add another strip under "enjoy summer" to get that simple sentence included that's a pretty meaningful piece of the story. 

I used my Silhouette to cut the  "heart life" from some teal cardstock (design available from this set: Hello Heart 3x4 Boxes) and used a Tiny Attacher to keep it in place vs. dealing with some adhesive. If you need some help learning how to trace PNG files to cut with your Silhouette I've got a tutorial on how to do that here

The "choose happy" cork circle worked perfect as a title and as an element that grounds those other 3x4 boxes.

I cut up one of the  Summer Journal Cards you can still pick up over at Studio Calico and paired it with a cork heart. You can also pick up the digital version of these cards here.

I'm still in love with the full-page photos. The other two are 3x4. It's a nice example of simple ways you can incorporate all those 3x4 cards you might be accumulating these days into a traditional scrapbook layout.  

I used a piece of vellum behind the photos, journal card, and silhouette cut because I felt like it needed some kind of frame or backing to separate it from the background pattern paper. I tried it with and without and definitely liked it better with the vellum. I ended up stitching that in place with my sewing machine. 

IDEAS & INSPIRATION

  1. What's a story you can capture that's real in your life right now? Consider telling a story of a time when you simply embraced life as it is without wishing it were different.  
  2. Pair an enlarged photo with 3x4 photos and journal cards outside of Project Life® or simply add an enlarged photo to your Project Life® album. The contrast always looks so cool in there. 

SUPPLIES

Click on the images below to link to the products used in this project. 

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27 thoughts

  1. mtercha says…
    08/26/2014

    It's a beautiful layout and a wonderful and heartfelt story. I love every single embellishment you used and it's just the right touch. Thank you. Michelle t

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. ChrisyC says…
    08/26/2014

    A lovely layout, capturing a really wonderful story.
    Great stuff Ali. xx

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. LouiseP says…
    08/26/2014

    Great timing again Ali! Only hours ago did I take a photo of my 5 year old teaching her nephew how to play a game. It seemed quite poignant as she's been teaching all of us a variety of games recently (and mostly beating us too!) She's at such a great age right now: growing up but not too big!
    I could also capture the state of our house. H is decorating the master bedroom, spare bedroom and landing & stairs (all at the same time! Don't ask!) and so we have bits of our house all over the place, including our mattress in the living room. We've been sleeping downstairs since Saturday... I'm not stressing though as I know it will all be good in the end! :)
    Have a great day Ali and thanks for keeping us inspired!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. debduty says…
    08/26/2014

    This is so simple, yet so beautiful and meaningful. I haven't done two pagers in a long time, but I think it's perfect with the large photo. Definitely need to do that more. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. aprilgreetings says…
    08/26/2014

    I have never used enlarged photos this way but would love to start. Do you mount the photo to a piece of cardstock to make it sturdier to place in your album or just add the photo as is?
    Thanks!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. PamBaldwin says…
    08/26/2014

    Yay! I saw this layout in the videos and felt like I was seeing someone across the room I wanted to know more about :) I really love the perspective of that large photo, and the simple embellishment is perfect! The 3x4 photos/die cut/journaling compliment it so well :) and I love the way the vellum adds another layer without being too distracting. Love this one! I think we'll be friends...

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. jennnash says…
    08/26/2014

    Perfect combination of photos and words and textures. There's something about Dad's and teaching kiddos how to ride bikes. We have my stepdaughter for Summers only and 2 summers ago her dad taught her to ride a bike in a day! This summer we upgraded her to a bigger bike with handle bar brakes and everything.... so he taught her again. There's something special about watching a dad teach his daughter something new. You captured it beautifully.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. ciahansen says…
    08/26/2014

    I agree that the vellum provides a nice way to tie the 3x4 elements together. Awesome idea and love the journaling prompt!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. spagirl says…
    08/26/2014

    great post, great message, great layout (of course!)

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. carriecolbert says…
    08/26/2014

    Continually impressed with you and Chris, my friend. Maturity in parenting post-divorce is a beautiful thing, that unfortunately is not so common.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. AlizaD says…
    08/26/2014

    It just so happens I recently made a 2 page LO with a large photo, and some smaller 3x4's. It's not my bestest work, since I'm not quite used to the format. But it's good enough. I definitely had your style in mind as I made it, and actually used a digital stamp of yours. So, thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. vicki_dalton says…
    08/26/2014

    I like the part of the story of 'simon rides circles around them' HA!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. AliEdwards says…
      08/26/2014

      Me too!

  13. rachelkrutsch says…
    08/26/2014

    This is darling. Thank you for sharing - AND for highlighting a reality that many of us face. I, too, am a divorced mom. You are SO right to include that sentence on appreciation. DO it. It is the right thing to say and she'll love reading that tiny detail later in life. Good thinkin'.

    I am now remarried to a man who was divorced and we have blended my 3 and his 1. It is chaotic and tough, but so, so rewarding. But it can be a pain to scrapbook. Blended families don't typically get so much scrapbook love because everyone is so worried about hurting feelings (or that's been my experience anyway). Document every piece of love you can - that's what I say. Especially if it shows the children that they were made from love and are STILL loved, exactly in the situation that exists.

    Thank you for sharing this. The kids are certainly growing up!

    Rachel in SD

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. AliEdwards says…
      08/27/2014

      "Document every piece of love you can." I love that. Yes.

  14. churchlady says…
    08/26/2014

    I love big photos - but usually mount them on a 12X12. I like your idea making a 2 page 8.5X11. Thanks for the vellum tip. I love the look of it and am often kind of perplexed on how to use it. Thanks also for the inspiration kickstarter. I've been in kind of a funk lately and really needed to get my brain set in a creative direction. We, too, are in the middle of house repairs: residing the house. The guy told us it would be 3 days. We are now entering our 4th week. I could sure do a LO about THAT. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Scrappyksr says…
    08/26/2014

    Love the heading "Choose Happy". I've been grappling with a decision to home school my 14 year old son who has autism and decided against it. Sent him off to have the "high school" experience and he's been miserable. This was a big wake-up call to me. I would rather he be happy at home than miserable there. I'm sure that wasn't your intention when making the posting but I want to thank you for those two words. Sometimes we need a reminder that what we think is best for our child isn't necessarily so. Love your new site, BTW.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. AliEdwards says…
      08/27/2014

      Sending you love.

  16. YolandaL says…
    08/26/2014

    This is a beautiful spread, but I am more moved by the layers underneath this story. It takes tremendous grace to make space for one's ex, not only in your life, but in your documentation of that life. How easy it would be to write Chris out of the story you tell here, as though he never existed (and I read enough blogs to know that is usually what is done). How easy it would be to have all of fans who love you turning our nose up at him and calling him names. But instead, you recognize him as a partner is reading your children a and a still critical part of the story, just a different story than it was a few years ago. I find this infinitely admirable and downright inspiring. And I really applaud you for publicly living this kind example when I'm certain it's far from easy all the time.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. AliEdwards says…
      08/27/2014

      Thank you.

  17. fgharris says…
    08/27/2014

    Love, love, love this!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. rachelswartley says…
    08/27/2014

    As someone who is new to scrapbooking (using Project Life), I found it really helpful to read some of your thoughts about putting together the layout. And I love the Ideas & Inspiration section!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. AliEdwards says…
      08/27/2014

      Awesome! That's what I'm here for :).

  19. TracyG says…
    08/27/2014

    Hi Ali...I have a question. Do you use an 8.5x11 album or do you add this page to your 12x12 album? Just wondering. Thanks and by the way I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the 2 page spread...the vellum gives the page a great look.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. AliEdwards says…
      08/27/2014

      These go right into my 12x12 albums. I just mix them all together.

    2. TracyG says…
      08/28/2014

      Very cool...I love that idea!! Thanks.

  20. jennfrisco says…
    08/28/2014

    Simple, classy and meaningful....perfect! Thank you, Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies

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