First Ever Blog Hop!

Ok ladies here goes with my first ever blog hop!

Well actually it's Karen's blog hop but as part of the new DT for 'Lasting Memories Layouts' I get to participate in the hop. First let me share the deets with you all. There are 6 members on the new design team (and 1 guest designer for July/August) - all taking part in the blog hop to launch Karen's new scrap booking challenge blog .

PLUS there is blog candy up for grabs so you don't want to miss out!

Below is a list of all the other DT gals participating in the hop and if you are reading this then you should've come to me via Priscilla and the next stop on your hop after me is Lasting Memories so be sure to stop there and leave a comment for the blog candy entry. You gotta be in it to win it right! If you have lost your way (or have come here first) you can go back to the beginning at Kelli's blog.

PLUS if you leave a comment on each of the blogs in the hop you just might be the winner of some mystery blog candy too!

Kelli

Kristi (Guest DT)

Mandy

Melly

Nancy

Priscilla

Suezie (me)

Lasting Memories (Karen)

And finally here is my page design for the hop. We were challenged to create a layout using red, white and blue. My first thoughts turned to the American flag, 4th July and then finally pictures of Idaho since we have so many photos from over the years. Yes ladies - I too have a major backlog of unscrapped photos!

I couldn't narrow my photos down to just a couple so I decided to do a 2 page spread. When I think 'Americana' I always think 'patchwork' and 'folk art' so I decided to piece my photos and 'scraps' together in a technique known as 'blocking'. My title was spread out across the pages and reads 'Home is a Place in the Heart'.

I stitched around each 'scrap' for added detail and then used my scissors to distress up the edges - couldn't lay my hands on my distressing thingy so scissors worked just as well. I decided to use some WM stamps to add stars plus the heart stamp in the lower right corner too (see below).

These photos were taken a few years back around August time so the sky was an incredible blue every day of our visit and made for great photos. I take pictures of lots of weird stuff like road signs and even make hubby double back or park across the street so I can get a better shot. Good job he loves me!

The letters are made using good ol' fashioned Sizzix dies and the photo anchors using a Quickutz die. These days I use my Big Shot for nestabilities mostly but I try to drag it out now and then for other things too.

Be sure to stop by the other blogs to see what the new DT have come up with. Hopefully you'll be inspired to do a page yourself. Now I'm off to see what they've done too!