I was sitting here

trying to decide what to write and I was drawing a blank because I really had nothing to say. I kept leaving it and leaving it and hoping something would come to me. I had no layouts I could share and I figured nobody really wanted to listen to me whining about feeling ill. Then something interesting happened I checked my email, and I found that the new releases at The Digichick were already up, which means… you get a blog post because *insert sing song voice right about here* now I can share my layouts. I have a grand total of 3 brand new ones and 1 that’s a combination of both and an old layout and a new one, trust me it will make sense when you see it I promise. Maybe I should start with showing you the kit I was working with first. It’s a collaboration between Jane Shaver (Little Red Scraps) and Ale Parades (Madame Wing) and it’s called April Showers. I was worried when I first saw it because it seemed a little bit too pastel for me and I couldn’t think of any photos I had to use. Then I remembered two things, firstly I am an idiot and secondly, I have a baby boy who is usually dressed in pastel blue! Here’s the preview for the kit you can buy it at Digi Scraps Drive In or The Digi Chick.

If you buy it this week you get the cardstocks set for free, and Jane has this cute addon available for free on her blog here

None of these layouts were created for challenges, I just scrapped them with Cindy’s template sets that I just had to have. I am going to show you them in the order I scrapped them. The first layout was made entirely with the kit and one of Cindy’s templates (Set 44, Template 3).

Credits: Layered template (Cindy's Templates Set 44, Template 3) by Cindy Schneider, April Showers by Jane Shaver (Little Red Scraps) and Ale Paredes (Madame Wing), April Showers Cardstock by Jane Shaver (Little Red Scraps), String Styles by Miriam Lima and Coloured Krafts 2 Styles by Megan Farrow (Flergs). Fonts are AL Post Master and CK Constitution.

Journalling reads: After we were done with his doctors appointment, Lukas was picked up by Lisa. He was going to Jambinos with her and Ella. Since we had nothing better to do we decided to do a bit of shopping before we went home. We spent a lot of time in Boots and Tesco looking at different foods for you to try. We thought that Heinz Biscotti would be a good choice. Before we went home we stopped to pick up some dinner for Lukas from one of his favourite take-aways. While we were waiting you started moaning. I offered you the bottle, not interested, I offered you toys, not interested, offered you a biscuit, result you stopped crying. You were a bit confused at first, but you soon got the hang of it. This was the first time you had eaten food in your pushchair and the first time you had tasted a biscuit. You chewed on it a bit, then waved it about a bit, chewed on it a bit more then threw it on the floor. You were not at all happy that you had dropped it. I think you did really well for a first attempt. Clever boy!

Enabling: Cindy’s Templates Set 44 by Cindy Schneider available here, April Showers by Jane Shaver (Little Red Scraps) and Ale Parades (Madame Wing) available here or here, April Showers Cardstock by Jane Shaver (Little Red Scraps) currently available free with the kit here or here, Coloured Krafts 2 Styles by Megan Farrow (Flergs) available here, AL Post Master Font available here and CK Constitution font available here. I am not sure if Miriam Lima is even selling anymore sorry.

The second one was made using the kit and one of Jane’s alphas I have been dying to use since I saw it and another of Cindy’s templates (Set 37, Template 4)

Credits: Layered template (Cindy's Templates Set 37, Template 4) by Cindy Schneider, April Showers by Jane Shaver (Little Red Scraps) and Ale Parades (Madame Wing), April Showers Cardstock and Basic Alpha - Stunningly Silver by Jane Shaver (Little Red Scraps), My Day My Life by Ale Parades (Madame Wing) and Glitter Styles by Megan Farrow (Flergs). Fonts are Dirty Headline, Bead Chain and DJB Miss Liz by Darcy Baldwin.

Journalling reads: It always seems that whenever we have to get Lukas from school, it’s either pouring down with rain or blowing some kind of mini gale. That means I am forced to struggle and put the raincover on the pushchair. Some days you really couldn’t care less and you seem to enjoy scratching at the plastic, but there are other days when you despise the raincover with a passion and scream the entire trip to school. Unfortunately little man it’s one of those things you just have to put up with. Stupid unpredictable weather.

Enabling: Cindy’s Templates Set 37 by Cindy Schneider available here, April Showers by Jane Shaver (Little Red Scraps) and Ale Parades (Madame Wing) available here or here, April Showers Cardstock by Jane Shaver (Little Red Scraps) currently available free with the kit here or here, Basic Alpha – Stunningly Silver by Jane Shaver is available here or as part of this bundle here, Glitter Styles by Megan Farrow (Flergs) available in her store here, Dirty Headline Font available here, Bead Chain Font available here and DJB Miss Liz Font by Darcy Baldwin available here. My Day My Life by Ale Parades (Madame Wing) is now retired sorry.

The third one was built around the photos, the colours in it matched the kit perfectly, I ended up using the kit, the addon, Jane’s alpha again, another of Cindy’s templates (Set 43, Template 1) and a few other bits and pieces like Miss Tiina’s felt, Holly McCaig’s glass styles (it’s a blue glass style) and my own glass styles (a pink glass style and a yellow glass style). I think this one is my favourite out of all of them. It took a while to get the journalling sounding right.

Credits: Layered template (Cindy's Templates Set 43, Template 1) by Cindy Schneider, April Showers by Jane Shaver (Little Red Scraps) and Ale Parades (Madame Wing), April Showers Cardstock, April Showers Addon and Basic Alpha - Stunningly Silver by Jane Shaver (Little Red Scraps), Felt Sheets Pastel by Miss Tiina, Glass Styles by Holly McCaig and Glass Styles by me. Fonts are DJB Judy T by Darcy Baldwin.

Journalling reads: I really love this photograph of Nannie Freda and Joshua. I took it when he was staying with us for the weekend. Joshua looked so adorable in the outfit I had bought for him, I couldn’t resist getting out the camera and taking some photographs. I was able to capture this photograph of Joshua and Nannie Freda having a cuddle on the sofa. This photo is special, Nannie Freda never really liked to have her picture taken when she was alive. I used to have to take the odd one here and there when she wasn’t looking or she thought I was just snapping pictures of you or Josh or Hayley. I ended up with quite a collection of random pictures. None of them were great quality but they were better than nothing. When Nannie Freda died, almost everyone was worried that they didn’t have any photographs to remember her by. It took me a lot of time and effort to gather together everything I had, and fix them enough so they could be printed. Everyone was really grateful to have some photos to remember her with. It was the first time I have really appreciated how important taking photos really and truly is.

Enabling: Cindy’s Templates Set 43 by Cindy Schneider available here, April Showers by Jane Shaver (Little Red Scraps) and Ale Parades (Madame Wing) available here or here, April Showers Cardstock by Jane Shaver (Little Red Scraps) currently available free with the kit here or here, Basic Alpha – Stunningly Silver by Jane Shaver is available here or as part of this bundle here, April Showers Addon available for free on Jane’s blog here. DJB Judy T Font by Darcy Baldwin seems to have been retired as I can’t find it in Darcy’s store and Holly McCaig’s glass styles no longer seem to be available. The Felt Sheets Pastel by Miss Tiina I got as part of her GIA Club membership, if you are interested in reading about that details are here. If you would like my glass styles let me know I will be happy to share them.

The fourth and final one is the one that needs a little bit of explanation. I read a thread over at DST and I linked up my original layout you can see below in it. The only problem was when I looked at this layout again, I saw things I didn’t really like anymore like the drop shadows and how washed out the colours were. Still liked the template I used though and the placement of the colours. I updated it a little bit with the kit, changed a few elements and fonts.

Credits: Layered template by Bree Clarkson (inspired by Karen, template 2) and Yesteryear: Baby Collection by Julie Billingsley. Fonts are DJB Nicole DJB My Dear Marsha, and DJB A Bit Of Flaire by Darcy Baldwin, Gigi, Mr. Wade, Shelley-Volante Script and Scriptina.

Journalling reads: I used to think my heart had been broken before, but I soon realised that before you everything was just cosmetic damage, minor scratches on my soul. But you, were the first one to break my heart into a million pieces and use the shards to rip my very existence into confetti. I remember the exact moment that you did it you now, and no matter what else came after you were the first and the first cut is always the deepest. I shouldn't blame you, I mean you were dead you couldn't have done anything to help me but in my mind it was your fault and for a while I hated you for it. When they told me I didn't cry you know, I was determined they wouldn't have that power over me but before it was all said and done they didn't just see my tears sometimes they saw the shattered remains of my heart spread out for them to examine, to pass judgement on. Nobody will ever understand why I cried so hard for the loss of you. But then no-one else knows my secrets do they, no-one else knew how much you were my hope for the future. There was no cloud over you there wasn't any doubts that you might be part monster because you were definitely not created by force you were made with 100% love. You were supposed to make everything better, but you almost destroyed me. I know you made my soul unbreakable, nothing could ever hurt me as much after you. I wouldn't have gotten through losing Leo without you. But I still wish every single day that I never had to hear those words, I never had to endure that pain, I never had to learn those lessons. Every single day I miss you and the part of me that you took with you. I wish i'd gotten to know you as more than just being my heartbreak. I loved you then I love you still, always did and I always will. Gaiebraille Charlett Blake.

Pink Tag: It's hard to say goodbye before you even have a chance to say hello. Unknown. 17th Feb 2003.

Blue Tag: Given wings to soar but never far from our hearts.

Enabling: I can only link you up to the fonts since Bree Clarkson is no longer selling and Yesteryear: Baby Collection by Julie Billingsley has been retired. So DJB Nicole and DJB A Bit Of Flaire Fonts by Darcy Baldwin available here, here and here, Gigi Font available here, Mr. Wade Font available here, Shelley-Volante Script Font available here and Scriptina Font available here. DJB My Dear Marsha Font by Darcy Baldwin seems to have been retired sorry.

This is the finished version of the remake. I like this one so much better than the original.

Credits: Layered template by Bree Clarkson (inspired by Karen, template 2), Yesteryear: Baby Collection by Julie Billingsley, Precious Angel Memories by Kim Brodelet, April Showers by Jane Shaver (Little Red Scraps) and Ale Parades (Madame Wing), April Showers Cardstock by Jane Shaver (Little Red Scraps) and Embossing Powder Styles by Miss Tiina. Fonts are DJB Nicole and DJB My Dear Marsha by Darcy Baldwin, 2Peas Fancy Free, 2Peas Tattered Lace, Scriptina, Vladimir Script, Good Vibrations ROB and Mr Wade.

Journalling reads: I used to think my heart had been broken before, but I soon realised that before you everything was just cosmetic damage, minor scratches on my soul. But you, were the first one to break my heart into a million pieces and use the shards to rip my very existence into confetti. I remember the exact moment that you did it you now, and no matter what else came after you were the first and the first cut is always the deepest. I shouldn't blame you, I mean you were dead you couldn't have done anything to help me but in my mind it was your fault and for a while I hated you for it. When they told me I didn't cry you know, I was determined they wouldn't have that power over me but before it was all said and done they didn't just see my tears sometimes they saw the shattered remains of my heart spread out for them to examine, to pass judgement on. Nobody will ever understand why I cried so hard for the loss of you. But then no-one else knows my secrets do they, no-one else knew how much you were my hope for the future. There was no cloud over you there wasn't any doubts that you might be part monster because you were definitely not created by force you were made with 100% love. You were supposed to make everything better, but you almost destroyed me. I know you made my soul unbreakable, nothing could ever hurt me as much after you. I wouldn't have gotten through losing Leo without you. But I still wish every single day that I never had to hear those words, I never had to endure that pain, I never had to learn those lessons. Every single day I miss you and the part of me that you took with you. I wish I'd gotten to know you as more than just being my heartbreak. I loved you then I love you still, always did and I always will. Gaiebraille Charlett Blake.

Pink Tag: It's hard to say goodbye before you even have a chance to say hello. Unknown. 17th Feb 2003.

Blue Tag: Given wings to soar but never far from our hearts.

Enabling: Precious Angel Memories by Kim Brodelet available here, April Showers by Jane Shaver (Little Red Scraps) and Ale Parades (Madame Wing) available here and here, April Showers Cardstock by Jane Shaver (Little Red Scraps) currently available free with the kit here and here, DJB Nicole Font by Darcy Baldwin available here and here, Scriptina Font available here, Vladimir Script Font available here, Good Vibrations ROB Font available here and Mr Wade Font available here, the Embossing Powder styles were also downloaded from the GIA Club membership linked above. DJB My Dear Marsha Font by Darcy Baldwin seems to have been retired and I can’t seem to find the 2Peas Fancy Free or 2Peas Tattered Lace fonts sorry.