Creating more layouts by utilizing Top Page Layout kits by Inspired Inc: Part 2

     Hello friends and family.  This will take a while for me complete, but I am working diligently to play 'catch up' on postings of my projects from 2014-2015.
     Below are 2 pages completed with one of the Inspired Inc Top Page layout kits, followed by a companion page that I created in order to include more of the fun photos from an afternoon of family play time in our home town.  The colors of this kit fit really well with the colors of our clothing as well as the BEAUTIFUL blooming tree which is part of the mini golf course.  I used part of another Top Page Layout kit, specifically the rainbow portions, to pull the colors from the prior two pages into the companion page.

     As you can see, I had to alter the layout suggested to fit my photo orientations, number and sizes, but the colors really helped to pull the pages together.
          

       Wesley joined Cub Scouts this year, and their only fund raiser is their annual popcorn sale which takes place in front of the local hardware store where the scout leader works...brilliant!  When combined with the fees each cub scout pays annually, this fund raiser covers the expenses of some of their activities.   Our favorite popcorn that they sold is the dark and white chocolate popcorn which Wesley is holding in one of the photos... a very popular seller.

    This layout kit featured brown tones along with orange and green accents, which worked well with our annual outdoor chores or activities.  Wesley has been learning to drive our lawn mower on his own, actually enjoying some of the outdoor chores since he's been allowed to drive.  Sometimes Michael lets him just zoom around the yard for fun.... typical kid at this age range.

 

A rare family visit. Remembering some summer fun...and cuteness!

   It has been approximately 7 years since my oldest nephew and his wife flew out from California to see our family.  Their older daughter, now 7, was only a few months old at the time.  They had a second daughter who will turn 2 this September, so there were four of them flying this time.  They were lucky that both girls didn't really mind the flights.
      My oldest brother (grandpa to these two girls) hosted a Gleason-Leohr family picnic while they were here, and they also celebrated with my sister-in-law's family as well during their 2 week stay.
    This trip was full of 'firsts' for the two girls.  I can't believe it, but they had NEVER seen FIREWORKS before!  They also went to Lake Michigan for the first time as well.  Of course, it was the younger niece's first plane trip as well, and although they had a layover in Denver, both girls seemed to enjoy the trip, like an adventure.
    When I found out that we had not only one, but TWO baby girls to be born in 2012, I was immediately spurred to create baby girl albums.  I gave both mothers their albums during this visit and the family picnic.  I am also creating copies for all us aunts and grandmothers as well.

 Skylar, granddaughter of my brother Robert.

 Walking off (not) into the sunset... Jordan's girlfriend Marci, Skylar, and Robert.

Robert's daughter Jennifer with her daughter Skylar, the first grandniece born in 2012.  Skylar is a VERY girly-girl, & her nursery was done in a baby animal theme, so her album is made of not only the pink & green, feminine items as on the cover, but also contains several animal prints.

     I created Gleason Girl albums for the ladies of our family as well. Aunt Pat's is seen above. Rather than concentrating on the two youngest girls, I included bits of each of us in order of age.  If I did not have a newborn photo, I used the photo at the youngest age available.  I included a more current photo of them when available, & included wedding photos of myself & adult niece Sarah.

     Aunt Pat ended up crying TWICE, first when I gave her the ORIGINAL (& only copy?) of her brother's (my Uncle's) senior album, seen below.  She wasn't expecting either of these gifts, and I think she really appreciates them!

     My cousin Marvie (Marvin Jr.) was one of many relatives on this side of the family, who I have not seen in several years, so that was a special treat.  There were also a lot of new family members who I had NEVER met!  Needless to say, I took LOTS of photos & am trying to share them with as many as possible.

Step by step photos for my most recent two-page layouts.

   Here is the link to my folder of step by step photos I took while creating "Just Saying Hello" 2 page layout.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=oa.863878460308215&type=1

    Photos of step by step progress for my "Reach for the sky" 2 page layout

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.863832516979476&type=1

Following a sketch, learning Lightroom 5, and more...

     Recently, 3 Birds Design posted an August sketch and asked for their followers to post their 'takes' on it.  My first project that I had in mind did not work well with the diagonal portions of their sketch, but two of the following 4 pages that I created (each a part of a 2 page spread), worked rather well.
                      http://3birdsdesign.com/2014/08/04/august-scrapbook-sketch/

     Love...through the lens.  I often take photos of Dakota interacting with the plants, floral arrangements, bugs, and critters that we see during our walks.  I love to make pages using black and white to highlight her gorgeous, fluffy coat.  Since this layout didn't work as well with the sketch as I had hoped, I tried again.

     Reach for the sky....Up, up & away.  The first page above works fairly well with the sketch, but since I had other shots that I knew I wanted to use, I turned this into a two page spread.  I worked in some older 3 Birds products, specifically the chipboard "Up, up & away" and hot air balloon, from an older Sticky Sparkly kit or two.  I have been 'collecting' 3 Birds scrapbooking and paper crafting products for at least 5 years.

     

     Just saying hello...  These next pages are reflections of our experiences during the local fair this year.  We all enjoy the 4H animals as well as any time that a wildlife/petting zoo exhibit attends.

 

     

       I used the diagonal item in the beginning of the first page, but that's the only aspect I really used here.  I felt the urge to distress the matting below the 2nd photo, and raise it slightly, along with several other items throughout the two pages.  I knew I could use parts of the Farmhouse Collection for these interaction photos.  You can't go wrong with photos of kids and/or animals!

 

    On another topic, I've been learning Lightroom, specifically Lightroom 5, after learning that we can RENT Photoshop & Lightroom TOGETHER for only $9.99 per month.  That means that I can be using the latest version with all current upgrades of both programs for about HALF the cost of buying it.  The cost of purchasing Photoshop is why I have only upgraded every few years in the past.  Lightroom is SO much faster than Photoshop and allows us to BATCH PROCESS several photos at the same time!  What a time saver for me.



     The other day I told my husband that I can't believe that our son will be back in school in less than two weeks.  His response was 'the summer that never happened'... very appropriate.  School ran an extra 10 days into summer this year because we had 13 snow days this past winter.  Add to that the fact that our summer has been much colder than normal, approximately 10 degrees colder in fact. PLUS because of Labor Day falling on a Monday, Wesley goes back to school on Tuesday, September 2nd this year... wow!

        I am hopeful that I can manage to continue blogging here, once again working out the kinks of our computers' versions of Windows and Java, and working with Blogger.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.