I love it when things accidentally work out!

Once in a great while, all the planets align and I create a layout that I absolutely adore. And that happened to me this week...though it wasn't the way I expected.

Some background. I entered a two-step challenge on the Paper Popsicles board. The first step was to upload at least one recent summer photo that hadn't been scrapped yet. So I posted this photo of my girls playing in the sprinklers in our backyard.


Not my favorite photo of all time, but I thought it had potential, and it was a great summer memory. Then the second step of the challenge was revealed. It was to create a layout using the selected photo that also included:

• yellow, blue and brown cardstock
• 3 buttons
• 4 different patterned papers
• Journaling
• The word blast in the title (using die cut, sticker or rub-on letters)
• 3 stickers

The thing that freaked me out the most in that list of requirements was the colors of cardstock. When I looked at the photo, I never would've chosen those colors to put with it. But I didn't give up. I sat down at my scrap table and started pulling out papers. And lo and behold, I found a combination that not only didn't look horrid, but actually worked really well!

So, without further ado...here's the finished layout:



I made this flower by cutting a circle of paper into a spiral and rolling it back up.


I'm loving how bright a fun it turned out. And to think...had I not had all those challenge requirements, I would've taken this a completely different direction!