I don’t normally do layouts unless I am making a whole scrapbook album for someone. My first adventures into layouts was back in 2004, when I made an album for my father’s 70th birthday. I did it over a period of about a month, collecting pictures from his childhood, trying to corral my siblings into taking pictures with their children in certain poses (to match the dimensional stickers I had purchased at my local craft store–yes, I know @!#% crazy), and laying out each page. It was truly a labor of love, and my father (and mother) loved it, but it wore me out.\u00a0 I didn’t try another album until I got married in 2008.<\/p>\n

Those wedding albums were also LABORS of love. I made one for my hubby and me, my in-laws, my parents, my grandmother-in-law, and for my friend who performed the wedding ceremony for us (and whose daughters “baby-sat” the kids who attended the wedding). Again, these were wonderful to make, reliving one of the most happiest days of my life, but after the fourth album, I was knackered.<\/p>\n

Then last year when I started crafting again, I started doing one-off layouts of my dogs. Now, I thought, I can do this forever! Each page had a theme and, of course, the best models dog loaf and treats could buy. I won’t bore you with all the detailed pictures, but I will say I have enjoyed this one-off passion-driven layout making the best. No pressure for completing a whole book, just enjoying the process (and the results)!<\/p>\n

The following is a YT video where I compare my old style of layout making with my more recent free-flowing style (HINT: using Project Life cards was a great way to simplify journaling):<\/p>\n