Pieces Of You...

I spend quite a lot of time looking through blogs and on Pinterest, and one of the things that has inspired me the most on that website is layouts.  It's been so long since I do layouts and I even forgot why I stopped; I think it had to do with the fact that I got into a huge card-making kick!

[click on photos to enlarge]

If you follow my pins you'd know that one of my largest boards is titled "LAYOUTS" (over 500 pins), with so many different styles and colors there to inspire me.  This week, as I looked through my pins (because I wanted to create a layout using the new Pink Paislee "London Market" Collection), I found one particular layout that made me smile a little extra.  It inspired me to do something very similar; a "scrap-lift", if you will.

A very talented lady by the name of Gabrielle Pollacco was kind enough to email me a couple of days ago in response to a comment I left on her blog.  It was in regards to these particular butterflies she uses on her layouts.  So soft and life-like.  The email came with a sweet message and she even shared the file to those butterflies.  I thought that was the nicest thing of her to do.  I'm a stranger to her.  A new blog follower and new fan.  So why was she so kind to do this for me?  I hadn't even asked her for the it.

[here is a photo of the gorgeous layout that inspired today's project share]

In any case, being inspired by Gabrielle's blog, her layouts and her kind nature I felt compelled to do something extra nice for someone.  My intention (when I started to work on this project) was to keep it for me and hang it on my wall.  But what warm feeling would that bring to the person I'm scrapping about?  Instead, I decided to add more photos (because the original layout only showed one), and make it into a special birthday gift for my niece Amanda.  Her 21st birthday is not until May, so I have more than enough time to buy a frame, wrap it up with pretty bows and ship it to her, but I was so happy with how it came out that I couldn't wait until May to share this with you.  I don't think Amanda reads my blogs, so she will still be surprised to receive the package.

[This is a piece of ephemera from the London Market collection,
that I distressed and tucked behind the photo.
In the back is a little note I wrote to her... the continuation of "Pieces Of You..."]

I'm so grateful for everyone I've come across in this crafty community.  Everyone is so kind, warm and real.  I am blessed by God to have the gift of creativity and what better way to multiply my talent than by using my skills to learn, grow and share with the world.  I'm thankful for all of you blog followers and youtube followers who leave me comments and always support my creativity.  Your words inspire me to do more, and it is because of you that I continually strive to get better and practice in order to share with you what I love doing.

I hope I did Gabrielle's layout justice.  I hope Amanda loves her gift.  [And incidentally, she's also a scrapper... she likes doing scrapbook pages so I think she'll be able to appreciate it.]  Even more-so, I hope to get your creative juices flowing.  Stop worrying about how good or bad it might or might not look.  Don't think about not having enough supplies or enough skill.  Eventually you will build on all those things.  If you have the desire, then do it!  It's a piece of art that your family, friends and children will (years from now) look back on and smile.

x0, Damaris

SUPPLIES
* Pink Paislee - London Market Collection
* Pink Paisee - London Market clear stamps
* Perfect Pearls - Platinum
* www.2CreativeChics.com - beige pearls & pearl spray
* Prima flowers
* Recollections flowers & leaves, eyelets, expresso glitter, shabby resin corners
* Diecut chipboard key
* Daisy D's rub-on title
* American Crafts Thickers - glitter alphabets
* www.CreatedByMartha.etsy.com - brown lace trim
* Hemp twine.
* Fiskars 1/2 circle punch
* Martha Stewart monogram butterfly punch & postage small punch
* White doily.
* Tattered Angels - vintage photo, cherub pink & turquoise blue
* Making Memories - specialty glaze sea foam 
* Kaisercraft paper
* MFT dienamics - vine flourish
* My Mind's Eye - L&F Market Street "Adore" clear stamp set
* Pink Paislee "Parisian Anthology" tickets - buy them at www.StudioDBoutique.etsy.com
* Cricut cartridge "Home Accents"
* Distress ink - walnut stain
* Faux rhinestone buckle & 10mm flatback pearl (ebay)
* Sizzix postage die
* Tim Holtz distress tool
* Archival ink - coffee