From Paris to Today

Matt and I have traveled together dozens of times. But the first ever trip we took together was to Paris in 2009. We were living in London at the time, so it was a quick weekend getaway. It was his first visit, so we got in all of the highlights: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame. 

These few photos are pretty much the only ones we took. I was more intent on spending time with him than taking tons of photos. And I think that's totally ok sometimes! And I love these photos so much too, they feel very touristy and old school European holiday.

The story here is all about how far we've come in the seven years that we've been together. When we were in Paris in 2009, neither one of us had any clue what the future held or even when we'd next be seeing each other. It was a very uncertain time. Fast forward to today, when we definitely have much more security about our careers, lives and each other.

I used a Simple Scrapper sketch from the November collection as the starting point for this page. I love the look of a double page 8 1/2 x 11 and was so excited to see this sketch in the collection. For my fellow Simple Scrappers, this is sketch No. 276.

I recently purchased Ashli Oliver's The Softer Side class. I'm such a fan of Ashli's work and her amazing style. This page was my interpretation of her style, with the softer color scheme (all papers Gramercy Road from Gossamer Blue). I will definitely be incorporating more of her techniques into (or should it be onto....) my pages. Check it out if you haven't already! 

cheers & besos,

Starter Trip

Guys, I know we all say this from time to time. And I know I do it often. But I seriously think this is one of my most favorite pages I've ever made! It came together so quickly thanks to a Shimelle sketch and my stash diving.

Actually Shimelle was really influential for both the design and concept of the layout. 

Sunday, I was super tired and completely lacking in mojo. Around 5:00pm I finished up a page I'd been waffling over since Saturday and didn't know what to work on next nor was I inspired to try. So instead, I sat in the living room and organized a box of printed photos. 

As I was going through the box, I pulled a few vertical photos that I thought could work for this sketch. And then I came across these photos from my first trip abroad. 

I knew instantly what I wanted to do thanks to this week's Glitter Girl Adventure. I often write more than the what/when/how but after watching the video, that idea was still percolating in my brain. When I came across the photos, I knew exactly what I wanted to write about.

Journaling Reads:

"Whenever people ask about the places I’ve visited, they always want to know where it started. I was blessed with an awesome travel experience when I was just 16, a wonderful adventure in France with Mama and our friend Karen. That first trip completely expanded my worldview. Literally! I loved the feel of the unfamiliar city, was intrigued by the Parisians' lifestyle and their unhurried pace. I loved exploring this city, so very different from my own. Most of all, I loved that I could be anyone I wanted in this new city, a newer and better version of myself. I still love that about traveling. It’s what keeps me discovering, more of the world and more about myself."

I went stash diving for these supplies & have to say, I think this is why I love the page so much. I've loved these products for forever and am so glad they made their way onto my page & into my scrapbook.

Absolutely everything is from several releases ago. Well except for those green letter stickers but we'll let that slide.

I pulled in a lot of Studio Calico Abroad, some original Amy Tangerine, Basic Grey Wanderer and a sheet of the new defunct Girls' Paperie.

I also pulled a few of my favorite travel quotes (compiled courtesy of my Pinterest craft inspiration board) for this page, something I've been wanting to do for awhile.

Can I gush again about how much I love this page? Because I seriously do!

Happy Monday yall!

cheers & besos,

Paris 2003

Dear Mama,

I know traveling isn’t your thing. But I’m so proud of you for setting aside your misgivings and making the effort to step out of your comfort (and time) zone. I hope you’ve enjoyed the places you’ve seen. I’m glad you got to visit the Eiffel Tower, to hear Big Ben chime and to see the Coliseum in Rome. I know, in some small way, I was a part of that.

Thank you for helping to mold and shape me into the person that I am today. That girl with such a thirst for experiences and such a strong desire to see new places. I wouldn’t have become that girl without you.

-Chubs

I’ve finally finished a gift to my Mama! Last year, I started a set of layouts to decorate her guest room wall. They’re black and white photos of her travels throughout Europe.

I love my mama, but we couldn’t be any less alike. She’s fun and friendly, always making new friends, and talking and giggling constantly. I’m much more quiet and reserved, less sociable and decidedly not as giggly. I love to visit new places, she’s happy just staying close to home. But as different as we are, I’m convinced it’s the reason why we’re so close. Where I lack, she excels and vice versa. She’s the ying to my yang, the cheese to my cracker and all that good jazz. I love her to pieces!

After all this time, I’ve finally finished this 3-piece set. They coordinate with a set of canvases she bought from Hobby Lobby. They’re black canvases with white line drawings of Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower and the Coliseum, all 3 places that we’ve visited together. I thought it’d be cute to also have photos of her at these places, to include on the guest room walls. Those walls, btw, are this lovely pumpkin-y orange; hence the black and white and orange theme to the layouts.

The Paris layout was the last in the set because I couldn’t find this photo! It’s an old photo, one from 2003, before the days of the digital camera. I searched high and low for that photo, which back in the day I had for some reason decided to cut! Who knows? But at least I have the image still. I scanned it into my computer and printed off a new copy. The thing of it is, that scanned image wasn’t so great. It’s got all kind of scratches and lines and the colors are all off. But it doesn’t matter to me. The image of the two of us together, there in Paris in front of the Eiffel Tower is all that matters to me.

I’m so blessed to have seen the things I’ve seen and visited the places I’ve visited and got to experience those things with someone I love so much. I truly am such a lucky girl.

xxbesos