Reject post...

I just finished boxing up the cards that were accepted in this month’s calls and thought I’d devote a blog post to a handful of the rejects. Layouts and cards I thought were pretty cool but just didn’t make the cut for the call I sent them in for…we’ve all got them, right? (Just to clarify...I call them "rejects" in jest. Truly, any work I do that documents the lives and times of my family is invaluable to me.)
Here’s the first reject – the "Shore Thing" page - a labor of love (pun intended). This one was for a call for layouts about love. I have never even scrapped my wedding photos and I don't like to do layouts about myself so this was difficult for me. I worked late into the night on this page. Figuring out my approach was hurdle #1. (I decided to focus on our life on and near the water). Finding the photos was hurdle #2 (I went way way back for that photo with the #484. That is a picture of the main sail on the sailboat where Dan and I met for the first time...in 1987!). The journaling is on the back of the bingo card. (Or at least it will be...)

Reject #2, the "Pony Boy" layout (it's official name is the "stay gold pony boy" layout but I deliberately made the 'stay gold' small to avoid copyright infringement - any Outsiders fans out there?) This one made the top ten in an Ella contest but that is as far as it went. It's one of my faves. I love the photos of Chris and the sun in the upper left corner. I cut the sun with a Silhouette then sewed down the fabric strips.

Reject #3 is a mini album I made last spring. This is one of my all time favorite minis. I love the size, the shape, the colors and most of all the photos inside. The little tag book is Maya Road - it's my favorite blank mini and I have  few of these on hand for future use. They fit wallet sized photos perfectly with just enough room left around them to get creative.

Last, but not least - reject #4 is a Valentine's card...I think I know why this one got the shut down but I still really like it. There's a rule somewhere that says just when you think it looks good, take one thing away. I probably should have done that here.

Well, for the past week I’ve been preoccupied with my parent’s party, making those cookies and misc. family drama so I haven’t had much desk time. While away, though, I’ve been amassing a sizable collection of new product for my stash. All sitting on the desk in a very tempting pile, waiting for my return. There’s an impulse online purchase from 2 Peas (could not resist those ‘new product’ tweets), the Studio Calico Kit and the haul from a quick visit to Scrapper’s Cove on Sunday morning. (Have you seen these new K & Co papers? At least I think they are new. This one has texture. I almost feel like hanging it on the wall it's so pretty.)

I cannot wait to get some time with all that new stuff. There are several design team calls happening now – need to work on a few projects for that. Week 5 of the Ella sketch is up, Cards Blog transparency challenge, Creative Imaginations sketch challenge, American Crafts – all challenges I’d like to work on this week. Lots to do - I'll post as I go...