Harvest Lane Mini and Layout

Lucky Me! Simple Stories is quickly becoming one of my favorite paper companies.  I first discovered them in the Scrapdoodles yard sale (thank you mystery person who discarded that yummy paper for next to nothing!).  Then, when I went into Scrapdoodles to pick up some goodies for Design Team, I was told to look at the new fall line, Harvest Lane, from Simple Stories.  Hot diggity dog!  I LOVE these rich colors, distressed feel, and how easy it is to put together layouts and projects with this coordinating line. My mini came together in no time as did this simple layout.  On this layout, the only non-Simple Stories elements are my photos, a metal bracket and brads (Stampin'Up) and some white thread.  It's fun to layer the coordinating elements.  I really love the little words and images on the sticker sheet and added some dimension to my cluster by backing a few pieces with foam tape.

This line is full of small and large elements that are perfect for layering, which inspired my layered mini album.  I designed it with pages that flip open to reveal more photos and more of the paper's sweet elements.  I love the little bingo cards!

Open once,

Open twice,

and flip open again!

Want to see that again?

Open once,

Open twice,

And flip open again!

I may just have to go back to Scrapdoodles and pick up more of this line...and maybe check out their Christmas line, too!

50th Anniversary Party Decorations

My friend Cheryl and I were honored to style a 50th Anniversary party for Ed & Ginny - a wonderful, sweet, inspiring, delightful couple at our church.  We wanted the party to be casual, yet elegant, with a vintage feel.  We used lots of burlap, book pages, and touches of cream and gold.  We couldn't have been more thrilled with how it all came together. 

Our wall treatments really transformed this church basement!  We hung floor to ceiling 60-inch wide burlap panels gathered in the middle with wide ribbon and a small bouquet of flowers and grasses.  In between were sheer curtains and in some areas we hung 8x10 photo canvases of the bride and groom's wedding.

Our bride's wedding dress was displayed at the party in a place of honor, framed by burlap panels and some strands of sewn paper hearts. 

Parts of her dress had been made into a baptismal gown for her children, so we also displayed that.  A vintage leather suitcase dressed up with a simple banner served as our card box.

A guest sign in area featured a banner and the bride's wedding apron, and of course more burlap.

Our tablescape came together with more burlap (a 40 inch square) and lots of beautiful touches. A sweet bouquet in a sand-filled vase sitting on a mirror.  One of our favorite elements are these adorable burlap pockets for the utensils.

Behind the cake table we created these wonderful window photo displays.  A burlap-wrapped wreath with a book page flower hung on the largest window and photos were hung across the windows with jute and tiny clothespins.

Above each table, glittered table numbers hung from either paper lanterns or paper heart "chandeliers" that moved happily in the breeze.  You can't really tell from the photos, but we also covered the harsh flourescent lights with burlap, which diffused the light and created a wonderfully warm atmosphere.

Overall, we couldn't have been happier with the way everything turned out - even better than our vision!  It truly was a joy to plan this party and to do this for a dear couple.  50 years definitely deserves to be celebrated!