All Because Two People Fell In Love LO

Hi! Today is my day to Guest Design over at She's A Sassy Lady!!

I am so happy that my mojo came back!!!  January was a rough month for me.  We made the decision not to go on our annual family vacation with my two brothers and their families.  My brother has a work conflict.  We have been going for 13 years and this year was going to be our last one.  Not meant to be.  

Then my Uncle passed away.  He lives alone and was home by himself when he passed.  His good friends went looking for him a few days later.  Uncle Howie was the black sheep of our family ~ different from us.  He lived by himself on the river.  He had a simple life and as we went through his things it seemed to me that he had a great life.  I never really felt that way when he was alive because I kept comparing him to his siblings.

My mom (his oldest sister) died 23 years ago next month.  I was 20.  It was awful and I was angry for a long time.  She would have been an awesome grandma, but it was not meant to be.....  I grieved for over 5 years before it seemed to get better.  That scab was ripped open a bit when we went through Uncle Howie's photos and momentos.  I put together a board for his memorial which was held Saturday at his favorite watering hole ~ perfect place if you ask me!  

As I went through the photos, I came across one of a young couple and thought the man was my Uncle Mark (mom's other brother).  It was my grandpa and grandma.  They were sitting at a picnic table with a music box (their version of an ipod with speakers) and it looks like my grandma is playfully biting my grandpa's ear.  Not at all how she acted when I was around!!!  This got me thinking that if they had never met at the cafe where she worked as a waitress, I would not be here!!!  And just like that my mojo came back and the scab started to heal once again!

I started with the photo and some paper.

I saw a card on Pinterest that had the word LOVE on a mini banner and liked that idea.  I made a 2 Layer banner from Birthday Bash sized at 1.77 inches.  I got the font for "all because" from Art Philosophy and sized the letters to .85 inches.  I got the font for "two people fell in" from Nursery Rhyme and sized it to 1.15 inches.  I got the font for "Love" from Calligraphy Collection and sized it to 1.35 inches.

I cut out the scalloped flag in burgundy patterned cardstock, the top flag layer and "all because" in gold metallic paper, and the rest in black cardstock.

I used this shape from Lacy Labels at 10.38 inches.  I cut this out with sheet music paper that I found at Michaels.  This shape can also be found on many other cartridges.

I cut out a lacy mat for my photo that I found on Sophie (my grandma's name) at 4 inches.  The lace border is from Sophisticated.  I welded two together and sized them to .88 inches.  The swirls are from Heritage sized at .88.

Here is one of the mats with the cuts on it.

In order to make my title look straight and evenly spaced, I use the negative piece from my cuts as a template.

I adhere the letters and then slowly peel back the template ~ perfect every time!

Here is a close up of the burgundy patterned cardstock.  I punched out three circles, crinkled and inked them up and created a flower.  

I stuck a pearl to the center and used some black glittered chipboard flowers to accent it.

Here is my Love Banner all put together.

I curved the "all because" around the burgundy circle I added to the background.

Here is my completed layout of my Grandparents when they were young and first in love.  I am grateful they were!!  I am also grateful they jump started my mojo!!