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Thursday 12 May 2011

Moving Along With Brenda Brown

BuonGiornoInghilterra
Hopefully that says ' Good Day England' as I should be at this minute somewhere in Italy testing lots of gorgeous Italian wine, food (especially ice cream) and shops! My lovely Husband has whisked me off on a mini break with a group of 10 friends and hopefully I'm having a brilliant time!

It's Thursday again already and that means DT time for me over at 
and this week the fantabulous Brenda Brown has given us her initials to play with BB so that could mean anything you choose - buttons - bows - bling - brads - blue - butterflies etc as long has it has two B's on it we want to see it.
We are sponsored this week by the lovely Crafty Emma's Store
 And this fabulous prize is up for grabs
 Today I want to share with you a Birthday Book I made for a friends Daughter. This is the 7th of these that I have made (I'm now working on the 8th) The first one was for my eldest Son's 21st and that one led to all the others! There are quite a few pictures I hope you stay till the end!
I started with a Bo Bunny My Word Album which I covered with my favourite Making Memories Cosmopolitan paper, and sanded and distressed all the edges. Out of the 7 I have made 6 have been made with this paper in either the blue or pink., (I have had 3 12x12 pads of this hoarded away for years) lol
Each two page spread has been done in matching patterned paper and all the photographs were taken into Photoshop, the colour removed and then recoloured with just a hint of brown and pink to make them blend in with the background
All the photo's were double matted to give them a stronger definition and some of the chipboard letters had to be painted or chalked.

Some of the quotes were cut from a Quikcutz alphabet. Each book is only as good as the photo's you put in it and fortunately there were lots of lovely pictures of Layla for me to choose from.


Each page is decorated with mainly Prima blooms and flat back pearls or gems & buttons. American Crafts ribbon matched this colour combo perfectly, I tied it around the letter pages into knots.

I have used different fonts in different sizes and colours. Apparently Layla cried when she received this from her parents!



Any memorabilia that you have can be used to decorate each page like tickets or charms. I try to make the quotes interesting, funny and relative to the photo's on that page. I have used the 'baby to babe' quote 3 times now - the parents can relate to it!



I also use rub on's when I can, in this case I have used 'Happy and Birthday in a rub on and the 18 is American Crafts Thickers. I didn't take a photo of the back but I printed out a text square blank in the middle for the person giving it to write in
I made one for my Mum for her 80th birthday with the word 'Family' and I also made a 'Friend' one for my Nephews girlfriend to give to her friend.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
Crafty Catz - Give Us a Quote
Scrappy Frogs - Anything Goes
One Stop Craft Challenge  - Birthdays
Secret Crafter  - Dust Off Your Stash
Simon Says Stamp And Show  - Anything Goes
Divas By Design  - Anything Goes (2nd Entry)
Fab'n'Funky  - Buttons and Bows
By The Cute And Girly  - Anything Goes

I hope your still here and that you like my little creation. Thank you for looking and to those that do for commenting.

Don't forget to head over to the main challenge blog to see what the fabulous DT have made for your inspiration and I will come and visit when I get back to see what BB you have come up with for this fabulous challenge.
arrivederci
Love 'n' Hugs Laurie

25 comments:

Lisa Jane said...

me again lol... that was me above lol... not you !! confused ..i am !!
Lisa xx

Mary J said...

Wow, that must have taken some planning! Absolutely gorgeous Laurie!!!

Curly said...

OMGosh super book, beautiful design and layout and fabulous colour theme,

Thank you so much for joining us at Crafty Catz A Challenge Quote/ Sentiment,.

Good Luck,
Hugs Bridget Crafty Catz DT :0)x

Sue B said...

Hi Laurie!

Hope you are having fun and a well earned rest in Italy!!! This Birthday Book is absolutely cracking gorgeous!!! I keep coming back to look at it, it's so beautiful!! I love the way you've toned the photos to match - fabulous! Gorgeous papers and decorations, just perfect!

Love
Sue xx

Nancy said...

Your book is wonderful!!!
Thank you for joining us at the Simon Says Stamp & Show Challenge!

Mary J said...

Hi Laurie - me again! Just to say well done on your win over at the All That Scraps Magnolia challenge!! Beautiful card!

DesignerDiva said...

Hey Laurie .. its amazing what you can do with a mobbile phone.. from Italy lol.. Your post is now published lol
And a fabulous post at that !! I just love the Birthday Book - a real personal keepsake that will be treausured i am sure .Having Met Layla when i was down i know she loved it !
Hope you enjoy the rest of your mini break .. you deserve a rest
Have fun.. and stop worrying now lol

Lisa xx

ps your son owes me !! another go on the candy floss machine will do lol

DesignerDiva said...

Oh Laurie this is stunning I know I would cry at something as fab as this too! Hope you are having an amzing break you lucky thing enjy the gelate! Hugs Rebekah xx

DesignerDiva said...

Wow, that must have taken some planning! Absolutely gorgeous Laurie!!!
Mary J

DesignerDiva said...

ooh wow fabulous creation, looks gorgeous,perfect for our challenge at Craftycatz this week, x carol

DesignerDiva said...

oh wow this is super and just perfect for our challenge this week at crafty catz hugs linda x

DesignerDiva said...

wow Laurie this is fab!
Love all the detail and it is sure to be treasured forever!
Hope the trip is a good one.
TTFN
{{Debs}} xx

DesignerDiva said...

Well Laurie - this is B***dy Brilliant - I love books and albums and this is a real stunner, anyone would be over the moon with it. I hope you are going to enter it into my Blog Candy Challenge Give-Away when you get back.
Oooh I am so jealous of you being in Italy - I hope you are having the time of your life and plenty of ice-cream and alcohol. Have fun.
luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

DesignerDiva said...

OMG Laurie this is amazing!! What a wonderful keepsake, these are wonderful things to give to people. It must have taken you ages!! Hope you are having a fabulous time, I love Italy!! Speak soon honey. Pami x

DesignerDiva said...

Thanks for joining our "Dust off your stash" challenge on SECRET CRAFTER SATURDAY CHALLENGE :)

Hugs Jane x

DesignerDiva said...

This is absolutely fabulous book I sure this be treasured forever,

Thank you so much for joining us at Crafty Catz A Challenge Quote/ Sentiment,.

Good Luck,
Hugs Bridget Crafty Catz DT :0)x

DesignerDiva said...

WOW Laurie this is amazing what a fabby gift. Ohh hope you are having a great time. Love Hazelxoxo

xxxtglxxx said...

Im sure you are having a fabby time :)

Now, this project is just WOW!! I love this.

Great letter book, its incredibly special and full of gorgeous details. A real keepsake and something to treasure forever.

hugs

xxalisonxx

kaz said...

Hi Crafty Kaz here thank you for the lovely Message ab out my Blog and my Oldie but a Goodie Card, I did put the Picture of my Card plus the link but for some strange reason it had dissapeared. I have put the link back with my card, thankyou for pointing this out to me.
Kaz.
Love your blog and really love your Happy card.

andrea said...

Simply stunning,beautiful detail thankyou for joining us at fab'n'funky
andrea

Sue B said...

Hi Laurie, it's me again! I've come for another look! This book is SO gorgeous!!!! Thanks for your comment! I am feeling heaps better now, just building up strength, must eat some spinach!!! I hope Italy was fab! and you are going to Greece, you lucky thing - yes I'm sure you will have some fab Mamma Mia moments - "you can dance, you can jive, whooa having the time of your life ...."
Hugs
Sue xx

Sue B said...

Hi Laurie, me yet again, LOL. Would just like to say thanks for letting me know about Brenda's B's Challenge. I hadn't seen that and it's perfect for my card!

Hugs Sue xx

Anita said...

Absolutely beautiful book. thanks for joining in the Divas by design challenge.

Sharon said...

This is fantastic.
Thanks for joining us at Fab 'n' Funky this week, hope to see you again soon.
Hugs Sharon x

Lisa Jane said...

oops .. me again.. Thanks for joining us at BTC&G this month
Good luck
Lisa xxxx