A layout to share

The last week has been quite a productive one craft-wise and it was all prompted by the fact that we were switching IPs and we had no Internet!  It has proved to me just how much of my spare time is wasted on the Internet.  In the last week I have completed 5 layouts (3 if you count that 2 were double pages) and a total of 20 cards (10 were for a challenge and 6 were invites so these were all the same designs respectively).
The first of these I will share is a single layout.  I needed something to kick start my creativity so I delved into my boxes of photos looking for some that 'spoke' to me.  I came across the photos we took when we visited Sovereign Hill late last year.  Back then I had downloaded a trial of Lightroom from Adobe and used it to alter the effects of the photos.  I love the rustic look of the photos - which really goes with the theme of Sovereign Hill - being set in the 1850's gold rush era.  I wanted my page to also reflect that, so I kept it minimal and used an Oatmeal 12x12 cardstock as the base.  I then sewed on some of my bargain buy from last week - 2 oddments bags of lace and edgings for $3 ea at my local Spotlight store - I think I must have gotten over 20 meters of various sized, patterned and coloured laces for a total of $6. Sweet!  I then stuck down the photos with strips of DStape along the long sides making a pocket behind each for the map (and tickets) and under the other is some family history about farming.  Each of the photos was edged with a distressing tool, then blended with Vintage Photo distress ink - mainly around the edges but some lightly over patches of the photos too.  I continued this around the edge of the page too.  I like that the ink blending tool gives a nice smooth blend of ink that you can't get straight from the pad.  I kept the embellishing simple, with one chipboard shape that I covered in paints and some of the new Kaszazz pearls that I rubbed with some of the Vintage Photo distress ink to take away their whiteness.  Lastly I finished the page with one of my handmade pins.

Volunteers Needed!!!
I need 5 more people to trial my new handmade pins before I start up selling them.  I will need feedback as to what you like about it, what you aren't that fond of, and a picture of how you use the pin you are sent, that I can then use on the new blog (page, card or other project).  The feedback will need to be emailed to me by the end of the month, which should give you at least 2 weeks to use the pin and take a picture - just bear this in mind if you are applying.   If you are interested in getting one free to trial, email me at rachel.witthaus@gmail.com with your name and address so I can send it to you.  Feel free to share this with anyone you think may be interested.  First 5 to apply only.