Finally, my 1st LO for the year! "Note to Self!"

I saw a challenge that was able to push me to make a LO. Prima has this Frugal Scrapper Challenge, asking scrappers to use Prima packaging for a LO. In the beginning, I had my doubts as to whether or not I could actually do it. And lo and behold, I was able to come up with something that I was truly proud of!

I used 3 different Prima packaging materials. I used the Prima Transparencies packaging, noting that it was made of strong brown kraft paper. I figured it was good to use as my base so I cut it into 12 x12, then tore the edges off. Since I distressed the paper and rolled it at the edges, the design on the back also showed where it was rolled. The paper was also strong enough to take crackle paint, bringing much needed light in the middle of the LO. I left the words "Prima Transparencies" on the left side for interest, to make it appear more ephemeral. I also inked the sides of the paper with walnut ink, further making the LO more distressed than ever. I also added a vintage-looking silver-grey lace to add texture, and through the keyhole punch already there in the paper, I inserted an old pink ribbon.

I used half a Prima Flower Brad board package, the one with the black and white background. I pasted this in the lower corner of the LO. This became the base for the photo I wanted to put emphasis on.

I then cut the back page of the Prima Build a Frame Collection II Clear Stamp Package. The sample frames at the back of the package were perfect frames in themselves! I used one of them to decorate my photo, and used a Sizzix Flower Diecut to make flowers from the other frames. Then, I sprayed Glimmer Mist Olive Vine on the flowers, and both Olive Vine and Merlot on the frame. Because the paper was glossy, they all soaked up the spray really well.

I also used the same paper flowers to mask and spray onto the crackle paint, giving a hint of flowers with the olive vine mist. Then, I added pink sequin flowers from Carolina's. I also added Prima Flower Brads (especially now that I've used the packaging!), a Prima Clear Stamp The Sweet Life 42 Cents (not sure what it's called). I added my Thickers alphas, made the journal, then doodled leaf vines around the photo. I also used an olive green glaze pen to color parts of the leaves for more interest.

Now, I'm quite happy with how it turned out. I didn't think I could do it, but I realized I really can be frugal, if necessary. Of course, it really doesn't turn out to be such a frugal LO with so many elements that I've added. LOL!

The photo shows Arn and I before Galo came into our lives. This was when we would regularly visit the Photo Me Booth of SM Mega for our yearly anniversary pics. Just goes to prove that before kids, wala kaming magawang matino bilang mag-asawa! LOL! Journal reads: 1. Look back and remember. 2. Keep Faith. 3. Keep Love. 4. Keep Life.

Materials Used: Prima Transparencies Package, Prima Build a Frame Collection II Package, Prima Belle Fleur Gold Embossed Flowers packaging, Prima Belle G=Fleur Gold Embossed Flowers, Prima Clear Stamps The Sweet Life 42 Cents, Distress Crackle Paint Tattered Rose, Tsukineko Walnut Ink, Glimmer Mist (Olive Vine & Merlot), StazOn Black, AC Thickers Sprinkles Black, miscellaneous old pink ribbon, Carolina's silver-grey lace, Carolina's pink sequin flowers lace (cut-up), Pigma Micron 03 black, Sakura Glaze Olive Green. Diecut: Sizzix Flower.

Techniques used: paper-tearing & rolling, inking sides of LO with walnut ink, masking, spraying glimmer mist, diecutting flower, crackle painting, stamping and doodling.