Two Page Scrapbook layout - "Zacchaeus' Sycamore Tree"

Today, I have another Israel layout to share with you. I'm about half way through sharing my layouts. I'm very happy that all the photos are scrapped and memories are in tact for future generations and not just sitting on a Scan Disk where nobody can enjoy them.

 Jericho is in Palestinian territory, so we didn't stay long. We never felt like we were in danger, but we could tell when our tour guides got a little "antsy" that we needed to hurry along.

 In the middle of scrapping all our Israel pictures, I felt like I was running out of embellishment ideas. Here I used travel washi, some wood arrows that I colored with markers, and some photo corners on a few of the pictures, making a rectangle. I'd have to say this one is not my favorite Israel layout, but it's done and the memories have been captured.

Nobody is sure if this is the EXACT tree that Zacchaeus climbed, but we do know it is in the general area and that this sycamore tree is hundreds of years old.

Two Page Scrapbook Layout - "Giant Trees..."

Here's my second and last layout of the Sequoia National Forest. I really make myself pick the very, very best photos so that I'm not doing an entire album for a really special one day event. It's hard, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who struggles to not scrap every single great picture.

 Which photos tell your story the best? For this layout, I picked the photos of the biggest tallest trees with the best lighting, and if possible with people in the picture to show just how huge the trees really are. I quite often print several pictures in wallet size so that I can put more on a page. I didn't do that for this photo, but I did use True Digital size which is a little smaller than 4x6.  This really helps when you're trying to maximize the number of photos on a layout.

 Why do I limit myself? Have you ever had a close friend or family member who went through ALL of their trip photos with you one by one by one? It can be painful as you pretend to remain interested. I try to keep that in mind when I'm scrapbooking my own photos. My albums are for me and my loved ones to cherish, but nobody will want to look at them if there are too many layouts of the same event...they won't even know where to start, and they'll just get bored. It's sad, but true! These are the things I think about when I scrapbook, but I know others like to scrap every picture, so please do whatever you have time to finish, and what makes you happy. I try to be realistic with myself...scrap the event, not every photo, so that the album can actually get done and be shared. It's one of the many beautiful things about digital photos, you only print the best.

Now I'll step down off my soapbox. ;) The paper is Heidi Swapp's "Forever" and Paper Pizzaz (barnwood). I used Simple Stories "Snap" little alpha stickers and the title font is Cricut's "Jubilee - Runt". I used marker on the little StampinUp! wood elements to give them a little more definition. The banner at the top was made from a piece of scrap that I had on hand and my SU bitty banner punch.

I'd love to hear how you decide which photos to scrap. Do you limit yourself? Thanks for stopping by my blog today. Hope you are able to enjoy some scrappy time really soon.

Two Page Scrapbook Layout - "Happy Father's Day"

Next week is Father's Day!!! I hope you are able to celebrate with your Dad or another father figure in your life. Father's are the unsung heroes of the family.

 When Mom and Dad work together as a team, it's a beautiful blessing designed by God. My hubby is the love of my life, and he is an amazing Dad to our two boys even though they are now grown. He raised them to be strong, faithful, dependable and to love their future wives unconditionally, to treat them like a Princess of great value. My husband does that for me, and most of the time I don't deserve it. Neither of us are perfect, but we never give up on each other in those tough times. Now my oldest boy is also a Daddy of two precious little ones. I watched him take on the role of husband at a young age, and now he is an amazing Dad who loves his family well.

 Father's are such a critical person in our lives. I lost my Dad a few years back (about two months after these pictures were taken) and it's such a feeling of isolation. Once we're grown, we think we don't depend on them as much anymore, but you realize when they're gone, the sense of security, continuity and safety that is lost. He was always there for me and now he's not. When my father-in-law passed away, I remember my husband and I asking each other, "Who is going to pray for us every day, now?"

Now I'm getting all sappy and wiping away the tears, but that's how it is when we remember somebody we loved dearly. So let me distract myself by telling you about the supplies I used on this layout. The paper is MME Kraft Fun Day and the pictures are matted in Bramble. The title is cut with Cricut's Father's Day cartridge. The wood accents are from Bo Bunny.

Enjoy your family today and make some fond memories together.