'A Love Story' Strikes again!

I interrupt this post to ask you to pray for my friend Marie's new daughter Emma.  Emma was born Saturday at 26 weeks.  She is 1lb 13 oz and has need of lots of care.  Her life is hanging in the balance.  Please keep her and her parent, Jim and Marie in your prayers as they fight for her life.  Thank you!

Ok, can I just tell you that I've been so excited to share this layout in particular with all of you!  I hope it's not bragging to say that I really love it!

Working exclusively with a kit is kind of new for me since Elle's Studio is my first time being on a paper design team.  But I am LOVING the challenge.

When I got this kit, I fell immediately in love but I also had to find ways to be innovative in order to achieve what I like to achieve in a layout.

I'm kind of a product junkie, meaning that I love to use a ton of different product on my pages.  But when you are working with a kit, you are limited to only those items. Given that, I had to step outside the normal box I live in and make it work.

The first thing that happened is that I fell in love with the stamp.  I knew right away that I wanted to stamp the design on the envelope and use a different color of embossing powder on each stamped design.  Of course, I didn't actually have an idea for the layout yet, but that is how I tend to work, sort of random.

Next, I fell in love with that multi-colored floral and thought it would be perfect for the flap of the envelope.  Sweet!



I decided that I needed to do a page about the love of my life, Jeremy, since this is 'A Love Story'. So I began building my page, knowing that I wanted to incorporate the decorated envelope, the black and red journaling card and another embossed stamp image.



I'm also having great fun with my Silhouette, but I really don't leave things alone so I had to adjust the ticket a bit to get it the way I wanted it.  I love it when designs like this allow me to put a contrasting paper behind the cut-design as I did with the ticket.  I added the word LOVE an it was a perfect fit.



And did you see those amazing handmade flowers?  Oh my, I am so in love with them.  I need more, MORE, Mooooorrre!  They were created as exclusives for this kit by Tara Anderson from 14 different fabrics.  Right up my alley!



Finally, I feel I must tell you that I simply had to enclose a little love note inside that darling envelope for my hubby.  (sorry girls, not sharing that one with you).  The only thing was, I wanted him to be able to see the note but I also wanted the envelope to be closed to show off the pretty decorations to best advantage. However, there weren't any buttons or brads in the kit.

What to do!?

I got out (for the first time ever, slap me later) my I-top Brad maker and covered one of those puppies in that luscious floral print. Then, I was able to tie the envelope closed with twine! I felt like a genius! LOL  It makes me so happy because now I know that I actually love this tool and I'll be using it way more often as a result!

I also used this punch to created the button from cardstock.  This may be another favorite tool.  (and I haven't really used it much before this either!)

Don't you love how this hobby challenges us to find new ways of doing things and to try something different!?

There are still a few kits left so you'd better run over to the shop and pick up yours before they are long gone.  The stamp is exclusive and so are the tags so you don't want to miss out!  And check out the blog for more amazing layouts from the other Elle's Studio Design Team members.

Have a great Monday, I'll see you tomorrow!