Laura Vegas

i've always said that one thing that can inspire me the most is amazing photos. when i'm lucky enough to capture what i feel is that "perfect shot" … i can't wait to print it out and scrap it. and honestly, sometimes i see other people's photos and think … "ahh, the things i could do with that photo".

i stumbled across megan cristello's blog well over a year ago … no idea how i got there … but i have checked in daily ever since. simply some of the most amazing photos i have ever seen. so when she commented on my blog one day and mentioned that she doesn't scrapbook … i told her i would totally scrap some of her photos for her … just for fun. i think she thought i was kidding at first … but i was so excited when she agreed to share some photos with me. these photos of her son adler were the first ones that i thought of. not only are they cute photos … but i loved the story behind them.

here is the story in megan's words … right off her blog. "about two weeks ago, adler came home with a dixie cup with a tiny sprout in it. he was SO excited about his plant and couldn't wait to show everyone who walked into the house. not only did they get to see the plant, but they also got a full blown lesson on how it is that plants grow. he explained that he put a lima bean in the soil, watered it, and gave it plenty of sunshine … and LOVE … you have to give it love he would say. well, we put it on the table. i thought we'd keep it a few days, he'd forget about it … and i'd pitch it. not the case. he watered it daily … and it grew … and grew … and grew. i'll admit, i was tired of looking at it … and wanted to trash it. but every time i asked if he was done with it … always the same reply … he wanted it. so there it sat … on the middle of the dinner table. it eventually grew so tall that it started to droop, and the roots were out growing the little cup … and i could see the end was near FINALLY! i had to leave town for a competition with the girls … and when i returned … i saw that little beanstalk standing tall. my mother-in-law repotted it for him and put a stake in it. SO … it still sits on our dinner table, we still water it daily and we still hear how it needs water, sunlight … and of course LOVE!".

and i mean … how cute is that?!?!?   

so the layout. i decided to go with basic grey pattern papers for these layouts … simple, subtle patterns. and i wanted to use some envelopes from the april KOTM … to hold the journaling. i wanted the photos to really be the focus on these. i thought the envelope would be a fun way to include the journaling … but also be a fun decorative element on the page. when it came time to add my embellishments … i knew i'd pretty much stick with making memories products … since they're my favorites. the chipboard letters and the felt stars and shapes are from the MM animal crackers collection … and then the mini brads from my vast brad collection. i did add on some magic mesh too … wanted to add some extra texture to the envelope.

i had so much fun with this … just love the colors. and if you go visit megan's blog and get lost in all her gorgeous photos … you will learn that she also has 3 adorable daughters. i couldn't stand to choose just one … or leave anyone out (you know how girls are!) … so i have a layout for each of them. which means 3 more layouts to share … in the next 3 days.

sorry. i gotta spread them out … since i have nothing else i can share right now. lol! plus, you have no idea how long that just took me to type up (seriously, an hour and a half people!). so to type up a few layouts at a time … i'd be here all night long. but hopefully, you noticed the links … and hopefully, they work. i have to thank stephanie for letting me in on the new way to link. i knew it had to be something simple that i wasn't seeing … and it was. still not loving the new typepad … but do love that i can link again!