Yankee Doodlebugs (Layout Share)

{Please pardon the poor quality of these photos; I am unable to work with my usual equipment right now!}

One of the things that I love about teaching scrapbooking is that it encourages me to get layouts made! This layout is based on the "Transfigure" sketch from the CTMH Magic how-to guide, and I taught it at my recent scrapbook club/class. We used the Fanfare paper pack and the July stamp of the month, American Celebration. In addition to basic stamping, we also learned how to paper piece an image (American flag), how to cut out stamped images as accents, how to use a punch, and how to make a pocket to hide journaling or extra photos.

I really have to thank Stacy Julian and her Library of Memories/Photo Freedom philosophy and classes for this layout idea! She encourages her followers and students NOT to worry about scrapbooking chronologically but rather based on more important connections. If it weren't for her, I probably never would have thought to combine patriotic baby photos from my girls (in 1998 and 2001) with an adorable photo of my nephews (from 2008). Doesn't they work well together though? The visible journaling on the far right of the right page reads "Doesn't Uncle Sam have the cutest nieces and nephews?"

For my hidden journaling, I wrote about how fast the kids are growing and that I hope they will grow up to be patriotic Americans. The title came last and is a play on my older nephew's nickname, Doodlebug. That led to the skinnier journaling tag where I share each of the kids' baby/childhood nicknames (Pooh, Piglet, Doodlebug, and Scooter). I am so glad that I am able to scrapbook non-chronologically and even share an extra little tidbit about these sweet babies (who are now 13, 10, 4, and 3!).

God bless the USA and scrapbooking! (If you have any questions about anything here, leave it in the comments, and I'll get back to you.)

Thank you to Scrap Our Stash for featuring my layout in their "red, white, & blue" challenge!

{Layout 2011 #51}