Further Challenges

The challenges continued on our weekend away and another was to create a layout without a photograph!  This threw me for a bit but then remembered that my lovely husband (he did really well in 2012 for presents - can't wait to see how he tops them for 2013!!!) took me to Cliveden Hotel for my birthday as a surprise (Cliveden is in Berkshire and the stunning grounds are owned by the National Trust and my husband and I frequently visit and always promise ourselves a stay in the beautiful hotel one day!).  I was told that we were just going out to dinner and so I hadn't bothered taking my camera and hadn't even bothered taking my phone - my husband had his - and as it was August I only had on a sundress that had no pockets and as I didn't intend paying for dinner I didn't have my handbag to put it in either!

Anyway to cut a long story short we stayed in a beautiful hotel for the night and had a stunning room and it was a fabulous experience but I have no photos!  My husband took some on his phone but a little while later his phone broke and we even lost those so it just wasn't meant to be.  I did, however, want to remember this really special occasion and had lots of memorabilia from the hotel (no dressing gowns or towels honest!) - menus, welcome letters etc - and so this occasion fitted the challenge perfectly and this is what I created.

 'Best Kept Secret' by Kate Holliday

I used the beautiful 'Country Garden' range of papers from Bo Bunny and also a sheet of cream cardstock.  Using various stamps from the IndigoBlu 'Wild Meadow Stamp Set' I stamped on to the background cardstock to give a delicate background and then created a large pocket on the front and used a small strip at the top.  I used a border punch to add a bit of interest.  From one of the patterned papers I cut the butterflies out, curled them and stuck them on using Silicone Adhesive so that they have a 3D effect. 

The flower was created using a Tim Holtz Die I have in my stash.  Using a piece of left-over patterned paper I created a journaling card which I stamped lines onto and 'The Story' at the top using the Technique Tuesday Stamp Set 'Today You by Ali Edwards' which gives me somewhere to journal.  As you will see from the photo below the large pocket allows plenty of room to fit all the memorabilia in that I collected from our stay which would normally lay getting creased and damaged at the bottom of a drawer.

I was so overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of my husband and the effort he had gone to in keeping the stay a secret (down to packing a bag and hiding it in the boot of his car and buying me a new toothbrush so I wouldn't suspect when mine was missing!!!) that now I feel I have done it justice by having created something special to remember it all by.

Have you created layouts without photos?  I would love it if you shared them with us.

Have a great day.

Kate xx