New layouts

I have been plugging away at a few layouts, spending a lot of time on them to add the details I like. Here's the first:

I used this week's Sketchy Thursdays sketch for it:

The photo is one I love, taken in Idaho when we went to Derick's mom's funeral. Though the photo was lovely, it was a wee bit fuzzy, so to mask that, I added a few grunge layers take from Fudge Graphics. I also added some flourishes just because. The effect reminds me a little of an Andrew Wyeth painting, especially the barn in the back. Makes me feel like home. The journaling is a little haiku-ish--no great meaning behind the page, just I love the feelings his photo evokes.

The next is this month's Project 12 layout, using Studio Calico's June kit:

Here's the sketch:

Just in case the blog cuts off the right side, you can see the whole sketch here.
I added more photos for it, using the 4x6 template for 2.5 inch square photos. I think it works well. (An interesting note: I just got a new camera, and I had a little trouble with the second picture: the camera kept telling me I wanted to focus on Dominic's face in the lower right and set it on portrait mode, which made it a little fuzzy except his face. Sometimes smart cameras are a little too smart.)

Finally, I did last week's challenge at the Color Room a little late. Here it is:

I took some of my "journaling" from some random thoughts and Facebook posts. A fun idea for what to do with Facebook postings, I think. I also relish getting some good use out of those number brads: how long have I had them? Job well done when old supplies can be used, I think.

Thanks for looking! I had a lot of fun making these pages, different in story as they all were.