Let's get lost...

Papers: Pink Paislee - Atlas; Shimelle - True Stories
Wood Veneer: Prima - hearts; Shimelle - clouds, camera button; Studio Calico - you + me 
Bow clip - Illustrated Faith

On our trip last summer, the hubby and I went on a hot-air balloon ride for the first time.  We normally do something "adventurous" on our vacations - ocean kayaking in Mendocino, California; helicopter ride to a glacier in Alaska; repelling off a cliff at Valley of Fire State Park near Las Vegas... All thanks to the hubby insisting on "adventure".  For someone who doesn't like heights, or deep water, or you know, being in situations that increase the likelihood of serious harm or death, I have enjoyed almost every single one of our adventures.  (Blocking out the repelling incident. *shudders*) I can honestly say, this balloon ride was my most favorite! Added bonus, the flight was from Trim, Ireland.  Trim has a castle.  Trim is green.  I live in California.  We just don't have castles.  Or green. *cries*

This "once in a lifetime" event (though if I have my way, this won't be the last time) deserved a special layout.  Hot air balloon and cloud motifs, obvs.  And there certainly is no shortage of either in my stash! But mostly, I wanted it to capture the airy, carefree, almost magical feeling of our ride. 

By chance I came across in my stash this Shimelle vellum from her True Stories line and knew it was "the one".  It fits right in with the deep greens and orangy-reds (plus a bit of navy) that I'm using throughout my Ireland layouts and the transparent nature of vellum carries that airy feel.  At first I was stuck as to how to showcase it.  Just plopping it on cardstock makes it look like the print is simply on regular paper.  I even requested help on the Scrapbook like a Superhero FB group. A couple people suggested using the vellum with a cardstock border, keeping the middle transparent, but I don't like the idea of the following layout showing through.  Pattern paper with clouds was also suggested, but again there was no distinction in the vellum.  In the end I found this word print which echos the idea of exploring and adventure that I wanted for my title, and I cut the vellum to only fill the top half.  This way the background peeks through the clouds, but it's clear that it's a vellum layer.

Originally I die-cut the balloon and title, but I really hated how it covered so much up.  I turned to the stitching that's become so popular.  I'm a quilter.  And a cross-stitcher/embroiderer.  I LOVE hand stitching.  So how is it that I'd never done it on paper before?  It's so much harder than on fabric, that's for sure.  But the results are divine! 

Last year I'd eyed the Pinkfresh Studio half-colored wood shapes, but they'd been sold out. They came to mind here, so I added some embossing in green to some whitewashed hearts I have from Prima.  I kid you not, right after I finished this layout I came across a package of the Pinkfresh I'd bought at another time and forgot! *facepalm*  But I love the way mine turned out anyway.  The embossing adds more texture, and I have two shades of green instead of one!

This is possibly my most favorite layout ever.  It might never make it into the album and might just stay hanging up on my wall!