Tet - Lunar New Year {a scrapbook layout}

The other night, I finally sat down and made a list of all the layouts I need to complete for our 2011 family album.  Let's just say that I still have a lot to do.  So you are hereby forewarned that we might be having some flashbacks with my pages for the next couple of...well, forever (because I doubt that I will ever actually catch up).  :)

For this week's Sketchy Thursday challenge, I scrapped some photos from this year's Tet celebration.  Tet is the Vietnamese Lunar New Year and is, hands down, my favorite holiday of the year.  It's a time for the ENTIRE family to get together, eat, celebrate, remember our elders, and try our new luck gambling!  So here is the layout...

And here is the sketch that this layout is based on...

For the larger photo, I created a black and white photo collage.  There were just too many memories to choose from.  The black and white collage also allowed the smaller color photo of me and Charlotte to stand out.  

I also wanted to include some heritage inspired elements.  So, I added a die cut of the branch with the hanging lanterns along the top.  This image reminds me of the gorgeous yellow apricot blossoms that would fill the house during Tet.  Using my Imaginese irock, I added little gemstones to make the flowers stand out a bit.  I also sprayed a little bit of glimmer mist to create a subtle shadow. 

On the tag, to signify that this was the year of the rabbit, I added another die cut image.

Most of the papers are from the My Mind's Eye So Sophie collection.  The tag is from Studio Calico and the letter stickers are from American Crafts and October Afternoon.  As always, thanks for stopping by!