1 Layout - 2 Challenges

This is the first time I've ever done this.  I combined two separate challenges and made one layout.

The first challenge was from The Studio Challenges Blog.  The Challenge is "Childhood Memories" which meant to find an old childhood photo with a story behind it.

The second challenge I participated in was for Stuck Sketches Blog.    I am participating in the December 15th sketch:

This sketch is totally "me".  It has a lot of white space, tight layers, and tons of room for embellishing.

He is my take on the fabulous sketch:

As you can see, I stuck pretty closely with the sketch.  I added a few additional layers to create more dimension and crammed in a bunch of embellishments including: rub-ons, emphera, wood veneer, stamping, doilies, puffy stickers, resin stars, and gray ink splatters.  

Lets go over the photos, shall we?  The challenge was for "Childhood Memories" photos with a story behind it.  The photos were taken by my mom on Christmas Morning 1989.  The photos actually show two very important Christmas Memories:  

#1: The pajamas:  My mom always picked out the most festive Christmas PJ's which we opened Christmas Eve Night.  It was always something I looked forward to as a child, and she actually did this up until I moved out of the house in my 20's.  I try and pass on this tradition to my son every year. 

#2 The stocking: "Santa" was the King when it came to my family's stocking stuffers. We always had candy and little gifts wrapped up individually like: lotions, toothbrushes, toothpaste, nail files, make-up, little toys, PEZ dispensers, and basically anything that would fit in the stocking.  I also try to pass this tradition on to my son and his christmas stocking.

Want are some of your childhood memories that you pass on in your life today?

Stuck?! Scrapbook Sketch and a GDT Call

Have you ever checked out Stuck?! Challenge Blog?

I've used their sketches in the past, but never actually participated in their challenges.

Until now.........

Here is the sketch:

Isn't that an amazing sketch?  

I love how they colored each element to make it pop off the page.

It gave me so much inspiration to work with.

Here is my creation:

I kept with the main layout of the sketch and added my own twist.  For instance, I used 2 photos instead of 4 and added more embellishment clusters than the original sketch has.  

The photos are from my third birthday party.  Though I don't remember this particular party, I do remember that my mother always made every party feel so special to me.  She always ordered a large sheet cake, tons of balloons, pretty party hats, and decorations to match.  She sent out invitations and had little goodie bags ready for all the guests.  Her party planning skills are something I try to mimic for my son's parties.  She really could have ran a successful party planning business.  

This sketch challenge was also a GDT Call.  Check out all the details in THIS POST.

Do you remember any of your childhood birthday parties?  What made them feel special?