Authentique Frosted Memories Winter Layout: It’s a Wonderful Life
Hello, Friends! The inspiration for this Authentique Frosted Memories Winter Layout started with a photo of the home I grew up in. My parents bought this home on the hill in Central Vermont in 1956, 10 days before I was born. To call it a “fixer upper” is to be an optimist. The yard was nothing but dirt, the wrap around porch was rotting and falling apart and the interior plaster walls were cracked with age. But Mom had a vision, a strong work ethic, and incredible creative skills. By the time I was old enough to recognize the house as “home” it was easily the prettiest one on the hill. It was surrounded by a white picket fence, the porch (repaired by my dad) was a wonderful place to play on a rainy day, and flower gardens filled every corner of the yard. The walls had been beautified with paint and wallpaper. Windows sparkled. It was a wonderful life.
Many years have gone by since I lived in that humble home. Imagine my surprise when I spotted this photo in my Facebook feed. One of my childhood friends had posted it…and there was no caption…but my heart immediately recognized that bend in the road and that frosted home perched on the top of the hill. I could instantly smell the freshness of the snow and the pines, feel the bite of the icy winter air on my cheeks, hear the squeak of the snow beneath my boots and remember the joy of walking through that door to smell Mom’s bread coming out of the oven. Although I rarely create 12″ x 12″ layouts, I knew I had to scrap this photo to display in my studio to remind me that it really is a wonderful life.
Authentique Frosted Memories Winter Layout: A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words
Lucky for me, I had Authentique Paper’s gorgeous Frosted Collection Kit in the house. I can’t think of any papers that would work better for this photo. So here’s how I created this layout, layer by layer.
This is the original photo, and while it looks great online, it printed out very dark and blurry. So I began this project by cleaning up the photo in my editing program. I decided to remove the telephone poles, streetlight and wires because these things were not installed when I was growing up “on the hill.” Once I had the photo cleaned up, I got down to the fun part of creating this 12″ x 12″ layout.
Authentique Frosted Memories Winter Layout: Layer by Layer
- First, mat a 11 3/4″ x 11 3/4″ square of Light Blue Linen Cardstock on a 12″ x 12″ piece of Blue Denim Linen Cardstock.
- Next, trim Frosted Three to measure 11 5/8″ and stitch the three layers together on a sewing machine. (All the edges are lightly distressed and inked with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink.) Leave the threads long in the upper left hand corner so you can tie a little silver charm there.
- Now cut an 11 1/4″ x 9 1/4″ panel of Frosted Two and mat on slightly larger panels of the same Light Blue and Blue Denim Linen Cardstock. Stitch around the edges once again. Center and adhere to the main panel.
- The next step is to cut an 11″ x 3 1/2″ panel of Frosted Five. Mat this as before. Before you adhere this to the page, die cut 4 sets of white snowflakes using Tim Holtz “Snow Flurries” On the Edge Die. Adhere the snowflake borders above and below the panel, then adhere to the page.
- Now cut a 5 1/2″ x 11″ panel of Frosted One and mat as before. Adhere as seen in the photo.
- My photo is printed 4 3/4″ x 5 1/2″. For stability, I backed it with a layer of chipboard, then adhere it to the snowflake panel.
Authentique Frosted Memories Winter Layout: Adding the Details
- Create embellishments by fussy cutting images and sentiments from Frosted Six. Back these with dimensionals to make them pop. Add sentiments from Frosted “Elements” Die Cuts.
- Die cut mittens from Frosted Three and Four. with a Spellbinders Smitten Mitten Steel Contour Die. To create the contrasting cuffs, cut along the cuff line of the die and adhere as seen in the photo. Join the mittens together with an eyelet and bit of ribbon. Place dimensionals between the mittens and adhere as seen in the photo.
- Die cut custom flowers from Frosted Four and One using Tammy Tutterow’s Shabby Posy Dies. Add vintage buttons or purple stamens to the centers and adhere in the corners of the photo.
Cheerio,
kathy
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Love the idea of capturing family home memories with this card, Kathy. Thanks for sharing your story and this truly lovely creation. I’m already thinking a “family home picture card” for next year! Happy Holiday! Hugs.
What a beautiful memory and lovely way you captured it in your lovely blue layout with a great photo! I wanted to stop by and wish you the merriest Christmas and a wonderful New Year to you and your family!
Ahh, the sweet memories you’ve shared and recorded on this treasured layout warm my heart! I love that photo and how you have edited it–genius! The papers you’ve used to display it are so sweet and I love the image of the girl sledding. How fun! Of course your details like the stitching, buttons, flowers and charms all bring these wonderful layers to life! Gorgeous page, my friend! Wishing you and your family a wonderful memory filled Christmas and many blessings in the New Year! Hugs!
Kathy this is glorious. The story, the picture of your house but most of all your wonderful memories. You always manage to bring such a warm glowing feeling from your your childhood. Love how you’ve managed to capture this all on your scrapbook page xx
I found the picture of my family home, taken in the early ’60’s. My Dad on the porch waiting for us to come home for Christmas from 500 miles away.
/Users/joyce/Desktop/Screen Shot 2018-12-20 at 12.02.18 PM.png.. Doesn’t look as if I can drag it unto here.
This sure is a fun LO….love the photo and papers. Hugs
ohh kathy that is so beautiful..and what a wonderful gift of memory to see your old home……i love the papers and how you cut out the little boy on the sled…what a treasured memory….i have been wishing for old time snow and christmas feelings…
i hope you and your family have a blessed holiday
sending love and ladybug hugs
lynn
I’m just in awe of how you cleaned up the photo and removed things… I need that software.
Nice to see a scrapbook layout. Beautiful.
Kcunnigham@aol.com
What a beautiful way to capture the house you grew up in with these Authentique papers. I love their images and designs! They have such a vintage appeal to them… just like that picture of your house. Beautifully done! May you and your sweet family be blessed this Christmas and the coming year.
Wow, that looks just like the house I grew up in. Will try to dig out a picture of it. great memories. Joyce
The colours really work don’t they. Even tho’ my house growing up didn’t look like this, the road reminds me of one that we used to sled down on in the snow, back when we got snow. lol Lovely piece Kathy, as usual 🙂
Wonderful memories and great layout of this photo.
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! You are such a fantastic storyteller . . . not to mention papercrafter!! You already know I am a total fan . .. but also want to wish you and yours a blessed Christmas! Janice in California
What a lovely layout. It’s another fantastic project but it has memories attached to it. A smaller version should be your Christmas Card next year.
Happy Holidays!
Just beautiful. Nice to see a 12×12 layout. These papers are stunning.
Love your memories from days gone by…it’s fun to go back in time, and sometimes wish things were still like that! But we make our own memories. You must have inherited your mom’s creativeness! Thank you for your memories!
Kathy, that layout is simply breathtaking! Your description of the house and growing up there was beautiful! I love everything about this layout. The photo of the house, the little girl on the sled, it all tells a wonderful story! And what a sweet saying about snowflakes. This paper collection is so perfect for telling your story. It will make a beautiful addition to your studio! Thank you for sharing a piece of your past with us. Hugs!
Hey Kathy,
What a lovely lay-out and You share the photo wher You are growing up!!
Love iT,wish You and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy Newjear ful from healthy and Happinez. Mvg gina Belgium
PS. Some Words are wrong hope You understanding me