You're My Miracle Layout Berry71Bleu November Challenge

The November challenge at Berry71Bleu couldn't have fallen at a more perfect time!   The challenge for November was 'Early Birthday'--to create a project about yourself, your children, a member of your family, or a special someone - an early year birthday celebration!  As it turns out, November is my son's birthday month.  So I based this layout on my little guy turning the big '2'.  

I've already made it into a sort of tradition for him to pose on his birthday with a large wooden number representing his birthday.  I decorate the number based on the outfit he'll be wearing & it's been working out really nice.  So I think I'll keep this tradition until he's old enough to roll his eyes & say 'that's lame mom--I'll pass on the number'.  Then I'll have to come up with some other 'cooler' version of my tradition. :-)

For the design of my layout I turned to yet another fabulous sketch from Page Drafts.  This sketch jumped at me the moment I saw it & knew it'd work out perfectly for the photos of my son.

What I liked best about this sketch was that on page pocket at the top.  Turns out one can insert many little tid bits into a pocket such as this & I think I'll be using more hidden pockets like this in my future projects.  The black tag seen in the background tucked into my pocket is where I stored my journaling.  I can't have a page without some sort of journaling; is my theory!

The papers I've used are from the 'Oliver' collection by Basic Grey.  I've had these papers in my stash for many years--am glad I found the right occasion to use them.

This time I followed the sketch fairly closely because I really liked the elements that were part of the sketch.  So I added string behind my photos which is what I interpreted the swirly lines behind the photos in the sketch to be.

Using a date stamp, I stamped my son's birth date randomly onto the background of my page--so you can see a subtle date all along the background.

Supplies: Paper - Basic Grey, Stencil - Um Wow Studio, Chipboard - Um Wow Studio, Paper Punches - EK Success, Fiskars, Stampin' Up, Flowers - Michaels, Kaisercraft, Wild Orchid Crafts, Flair Button: Panda Eight Designs, Other - String, Molding Paste, Spiral Clips, Mini Flocked Teddy Bear

Thanks for stopping by & en joy the rest of the week!