Discovering Love - Guest Designer at Bird is the Word

I was lucky enough to be the randomly chosen Guest Designer at Bird is the Word for my entry for the "Wonder" challenge. Today, I get to reveal my layout for the February 26 challenge word - which is "Discover"; and, seeing as it is February, I decided to do a Valentine's day layout! The photos of my son for this layout are from this Valentine's day (2012). I used the February 15 sketch from Get Creative as the inspiration for the layout. When I first saw the sketch, I thought "this is not my style" and wasn't going to play along; however, I decided to challenge myself and give it a shot. I am not normally a pink hearts and cutesy cupids sort of person either - but I am so happy with how this layout turned out.

The grid pattern of the sketch reminded me of a game board - so I used games as the theme for the layout; I've included playing cards, tic-tac-toe, bingo, and a score card! I've used patterned papers, Whatnot (Winner Score Card) and Peek-a-Boo (Tic Tac Toe board) elements from Glitz Design's Love Games collection for this layout. I used two pieces of patterned paper as the base for the layout. I used a Fiskar's tear edger tool for the second layer of patterned paper and I tool-distressed the edges of both paper layers. I added a few random  border punches around the edge of the base page as well. I then layered a large square doily on top of the patterened papers. I created the quadrants of the layout by criss-crossing two border strips of Xs and Os by K&Company -- perfect for the game theme and Valentine's Day! Tucked in all around the layout are bits of ephemera from the K&Company Valentine Ephemera Die Cut Cardstock collection - lots of hearts, flowers and cupids.

I cut the "LOVE" title on my Silhouette and added the word "discovering" using some inexpensive letter stickers I had in my stash. The tickets are from another border strip that I ripped into sections and stapled using an EK Success Fastener and XOXO staple.

I layered the "Winner" Whatnot card with four Aces from an inexpensive deck of cards I picked up a Michael's and then added a small red heart doily as the mat for the photo and tucked in a small embellishment that says "I adore thee" to the left of the picture.

I used the Tic-Tac-Toe peek-a-boo from the Glitz Designs Love Games collection and layered it on top of some cream-coloured paper so it would really stand out and so I could tuck some things in behind it. I added a heart and flower to the game card using 3D foam adhesive. I tucked a cupid in behind the game card as well as a print of a playing-card themed Vintage Valentine that I found online. Here is a close-up of the journalling on the back of the Valentine, which reads:

For William: Each day I discover a new depth of love and am stirred by the feeling you inspire in me. Words are inadequate to express how I feel. The love I have for you moves me beyond myself. Love, Mummy

For the final quadrant, I layered a Jenni Bowlin Bingo Card under another small red heart doily as the mat for the second photo and added a few more pieces of ephemera to finish off the section.

That's all for today - but stay tuned for my first layout for The Paper Mixing Bowl challenge blog - we're kicking things off on March 1!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Materials Used:
Patterned Papers: Glitz Design Love Games Collection - Score Card, Poppies, Damask; Glitz Design Love Games Whatnot - Winner Card; Glitz Design Love Games Peek-a-Boos - Tic-Tac-Toe Game Card; Pink Cardstock from Stash; Large Square Doily by Amscan; K&Company Adhesive Borders; K&Company Valentine Ephemera Die Cut Cardstock; Celebrate It Playing Cards; Jenni Bowlin Studio Mini Bingo Card "Lucky"; Small Red Heart Doilies by Regal Lace; Vintage Valentine found online; Black Letter Stickers from stash; Martha Stewart Edge Punch; Fiskars Edge Tearer; EK Success Fastener and Staple; EK Success Corner Rounder; Keepsakes Memories Adhesive Foam Dots; Memory Taper Runner XL; Glue Dots - Memory Book