Farm Life - Live Like Someone Left the Gate Open

Here is another layout of our time at The Amish Farm in Lancaster. It always amazes me to see how the kids react to different experiences. Caleb and Alyssia really enjoyed the animals at the farm! We had purchased each kid a bag of animal feed when we paid our entrance fee, and these animals knew what to look for! Zach was not feeling the love and quickly gave his feed to the first animal. Caleb and Alyssia took their time, spread out the feed, and pet each animal that came close. It was fun to watch them. However, I feel the same way Zach does . . . I kept my distance.

Scrapbooking Tips:

As I mentioned in my last post, I was inspired by Amish quilts for the layouts I planned to create after our visit to The Amish Farm. I was also choosing to keep my paper selection limited to Simple Stories Homegrown collection. I find limiting my options actually inspires me to be more creative.

I had another Scrapbook Generation sketch that featured a background pieced together with squares. I altered it some to fit my vision and so I could use these adorable, preprinted squares from the paper collection featuring goats, chickens, and animal expressions. The rest of the squares I cut from my scraps of the previous layout I had done. I absolutely love when I can use up scraps.

I also like when I can use up the photos I print! I sometimes get carried away when I order photos and then when I sit down to scrapbook a trip, I can't possibly add them all. I had some animal photos that I just couldn't work into any layout, except when I realized that I could cut them down to a 2x2" square and incorporate them into my background. These pictures worked particularly well because of the way the animals were facing, I could use them to create a visual triangle and draw your eye around the page. The top photo just cracks me up because you can't see the alpaca's eyes under his shaggy hair and it looks like he's smiling!

Another thing I did to incorporate more photos is I created a flap out of a journaling card. I had a hard time narrowing down my photos, and rather than cut them all a little smaller, I was able to hide one.

I cut two 1/2x1" scraps of paper and scored them in the middle. I put adhesive on the back side and then carefully laid the top part of the "hinge" on the back of the journaling card. I then folded back the card so I could see the writing and pressed it down onto the spot I had left open on my layout. The bottom half of the 1/2 x 1" strips adhered to the base page.

I then flipped it open and adhered my photo down on top of the strips which helped anchor the journaling card to the page.

In order to make the page interactive I used the Peek-a-Boo Rectangle die set from The Stamps of Life to create this tag. I love that it actually says, "Lift". There's no question what you are supposed to do!

Making a simple interactive flap is a fun way to hide journaling and/or fit extra photos on your layout - and it's very simple to do! I'm planning on finding more ways to incorporate into my layouts

Supplies Used:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Pattern Paper & Stickers: Simple Stories

Dies: The Stamps of Life