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!

We Are Finally There {a scrapbook layout}

For those that have been following this blog, you know that we recently completed a cross country adventure from San Diego, California to Newport, Rhode Island with a two week stop over in Dahlgren, Virginia.  The photo in this layout was shot minutes after we unloaded our car and checked into our hotel.  This hotel room would be our home for two weeks and we were so excited to finally be done (for at least a little bit).  Just like the little sticker says, "Smiles All Around!"

Since this layout commemorates our trip across the United States, it's my play on stars (see that blue star paper) and {chevron} stripes.  But I do know that there is a lot going on that probably needs some explanation (for better or for worse). 

First, I used this amazing sketch from the 10.27 Sketch Thursday Challenge as my starting point.  I've watched a LOT of amazing scrapbookers play along each week.  I finally took the plunge and decided to play along too.

Second, the title.  "...we are finally there."  I swear I speak good English.  :)  

It's a response on the age-old whiny road trip question: "are we there yet?"  Every time Charlotte got fussy or angry during our drive, I imagined that if she could talk, she would be screaming:  "GET ME THERE ALREADY!" 

Third, check out this banner. 

I used map paper from the American Crafts Amy Tangerine collection.  Amazingly enough, the paper actually includes a large chunk of the route we drove through Arizona to Virginia.  The little blue brads are actually placed to mark some of the cities we stopped to visit (like Albuquerque, Amarillo, Memphis...)

The bottom of the layout includes another portion of the map tracking some additional cities we visited through Virginia (highlighted in the orange brads). 

What I initially hoped was to create a layered look of banner pennants.  However, the map pennants effectively covered the bottom layer of kraft pennats that I stamped with Lawn Fawn Teeny Tiny Backdrops.  Since they were so cute, I wanted to show you anyways.

Fourth, I added some hand stitching to incorporate more of that orange color.

And finally, for the journaling, I used Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type to write out the following along the perimeter of the layout: 

"We left San Diego bright and early on September 20.  After 9 states, 14 days of travelling, over 2800 miles of driving and only 1 mommy meltdown...we are finally there."

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Update 11/3:  Thanks for all the lovely comments!   Happy to say that this layout was chosen as a Sketchy Thursday Fave!  Aw...it's the little things that totally make my day.  :)