Picture Perfect Punches

...because HOME is where your story begins

As I thought of the design for this page I knew I wanted to place a large photograph of our home in the center of the layout and photos of our family surrounding it. I decided to use a solid color as the background so it wouldn't be too busy with all of the pictures, it also gave me the opportunity to make some really fun embellishments using different patterned papers and some edge punches. These plaid, striped and floral papers from SEI's Juliette line worked beautifully since they are so homey and warm.

I used the EK Success Fleur de Lis punch on the plaid paper and stacked it on top of the floral paper mostly just to make the effect of the punch stand out. If you have never used one of these punches they are fabulous. They have a guide on them that makes it nearly impossible to end up with anything other than a perfectly punched edge.

I cut several small rectangles of the different papers and manipulated them until I was happy with their placement and I added a small distressed piece of manila paper with the date {hand written} on it. I used the Fiskars Upper Crest edge punch and trimmed it down so that only one {bracket} was on the edge. It was the little something I needed to complete this tab.

These edge punches are a great tool to have in your stash. They are a bit of an investment but they are worth it. Unlike consumable products like paper, inks, paints, buttons and brads that can be used up PUNCHES can be used over and over again. They aren't usually theme specific either. For example this Fleur de Lis will work just as well on an Easter layout as it will on Christmas layout. They make it so easy to create your own embellishments, the possibilities are endless.

Journaling

I love to use hidden journaling on my pages. It is a constant theme throughout my albums. I used the Fiskars Fleur de Lis edge punch again here on the edge of this manila card. I distressed the card with ink and the picture with sand paper around the edges. I added this little "door pull" metal accent to let the viewer know that there was something behind this "door." Once opened it reveals the journal:

I want our home to be peaceful
~so I count to ten {or 100} before losing it.
I want our home to be beautiful
~so I pick out just the right color for the walls.
I want our home to be organized
~so I find just the right spot for everything- and label it.
I want our home to be fun
~so I turn up the music and dance.
I want our home to be welcoming
~so I try to always have enough for guests.
I want our home to be relaxing
~so I picked a comfy sofa.
I want our home to be magical
~so I bring out Dexter, the Elf, every Christmas.
I want our home to reflect who we are
~so I display photographs that do just that.

I want our home to be all of these things because my children mean everything to me and...

their story begins at home.