Q&A and a layout

I've been asked where we went camping a few weeks ago, because it looks like a good spot. It WAS a good spot. An excellent spot! This is our third year in this spot! And because it is such a little gem, I am going to share where I went, as long as you leave some spots open when I want to go there next time, lol. I could write a novella about how fabulous this area is, but I won't because 2 of the 3 people who read this blog do not live in Oregon. But if you want any details, send me an email and I'll be happy to share.

The campground info can be found here.

3 years ago we decided to go camping on a whim, and called just about every campground on the coast, looking for an opening. This was the only placed that had room. It has turned out to be the diamond in the rough, and we love it there! As I said, 2009 was our third year at this spot. We were there 5 days this time, but next year we plan to go for a week.

While camping I actually dreamed about making the following layout. Perhaps I was thinking of the big mess I had left behind in my scrapbook room and was searching for a way to utilize some of my scraps, lol.

My girls and I play Go Fish ALL the time before bed time. A few weeks ago I thought it was a perfect time to try and sneak in the camera, and, crossing my fingers that they'd continue to play rather than disperse the minute the Canon made it's entrance, I got lucky and managed to capture the game.

Supplies:
Cosmo Cricket Snorkel patterned paper / chipboard
American Crafts poolside alphas
Fiskars Boundary Waters, and Scallop Sentiment punch

This layout was very easy to put together. I simply trimmed about 3/4 of an inch off the width of my fishy paper, punched a scallop from another pattern, waves from cardstock, and layered them at the bottom of my layout. I like to trim the width of my paper sometimes because I like the look of the base paper or cardstock as a frame to my layout. I then stitched the perimeter and added my submarine.

I was also asked a question regarding journaling and where I make the decision to use typed journaling over my handwriting. This is what I think: Sometimes I have a lot to say, and by typing it all out, it fits in a smaller space. While my layouts are about the memories, I still want a clean design, and if I write it all out, the journaling might take up more room than I'd like. In this particular case, I had a lot to say, but I was also wanting to say it on a busy piece of patterned paper. I needed the light cardstock simply because you wouldn't be able to read my writing on that fish paper.

In short, if I can write it and you can read it clearly, and it doesn't interfere too much with the design of the layout, I'll use my handwriting. But if I have a lot to say or the spot I've chosen to journal at is covered with a busy or dark patterned paper, I'll use my computer, and most often, I'll use Vanilla cardstock from American Crafts. I swear I'm addicted. If I don't have Bazzill kraft cardstock and Vanilla cardstock from AC in my stash, I feel lost. I use them both on just about everything.

Have a great day! I'm going to be busy doing my Project 12 layout for July. Well, that's the plan, but I put bathrooms on my list of things to do today, so I guess I'd better get that done first.

What are you up to today? Davinie