Two Cards, Same Five Elements

My godchild Andrei just graduated from Pacific Coast Horseshoeing School, following an intensive 8-week session. It's a good thing I make all my own cards, because good luck finding a "Congrats on Becoming a Farrier!" card at a store. I don't imagine there are a lot of general graduation cards for sale in October, let alone one with a horseshoe on it. 

Here's what I made for Andrei, using the only paper I could find with a horseshoe that didn't have a leprechaun as well. I had to hide a bunch of print that didn't make sense for my card, which is why my sentiment block is so large. 

Yea! You're a Farrier! (affiliate link)

Cards (and other small papercraft projects) are allowed during the BYSS World Series, but you have to make two to count as one project. So I made a birthday card that I'll be sending in a few weeks. 

Together, the two cards count as one grand slam (6 points). Each has 3+ stickers, a cut-apart card, a chipboard element, enamel dots, and an embossed border. It's interesting to me how the two cards share the same five elements, yet look completely different. 

Andrei at 17

Seventeen years making birthday layouts for this kid, who will be an adult before I know it. 

Andrei at 17 (affiliate link)

I loved putting this layout together. Andrei's western-inspired outfit works so well with the plaid patterned paper I used for the background. Working with different neutrals was surprisingly fun and makes the photo totally pop. I ended up putting the descriptive words around the edges of the photo. As always, I love to see how Andrei's personality now compares to what I saw in that tiny toddler, 16+ years ago. Happy (belated) birthday, Andrei!

BYSS World Series 2022: Andrei at 16

 I'm happy to report that my team, the Scrappin' Banshees, won the first game of the BYSS World Series 2022!

For Game 2, we earn a base hit (1 point) for each of the four following elements: stamping, sequins, "texture textiles", and stickers. If you get the home run, you can add the grand slam element, which is filling a shape at least 1/4 of your page. 

I use stickers on layouts all the time (particularly letter stickers) and stamping isn't a major stretch for me, but I rarely use textiles and sequins are definitely outside my comfort zone. Doing all that AND adding a large shape was too much for me. But I was determined to use all four single-point elements and still maintain my clean and simple style. I'm really happy with how 'Andrei at 16' turned out!

Andrei at 16 (affiliate link)

I used stickers for the title, as well as the tiny heart in the upper-right corner. I stamped the leafy border just below the photo. The sequins are highlighting each descriptor of Andrei, and the mulberry paper under the patterned paper counts as a "texture textile." That's a home run for me and four points for the Banshees!  

Andrei at 15

In 2020, my godchild announced that their name and pronouns had changed. I put the new name on their annual birthday layout, but posted a censored version on my blog at their request. They've asked me to update that with the full layout revealed, which you can now see. 

This is Andrei's birthday layout for 2021. They haven't done their photo shoot for 2022, so at least they'll have the 2021 page before that one. 

 

Andrei at 15 (affiliate link)

I used to see Andrei on a near-daily basis, but the combination of the pandemic and our lives and activities going in different directions means that I don't know Andrei the way I used to. I had her mom, Courteney, pick the adjectives to go on the layout this year. I hope to spend more time with Andrei in the future. But in the meantime, spending time with their picture working on this layout was a pleasure. I hope they like it. 

The Annual Birthday Layouts

Nothing has been normal in 2020, which is why I'm just now sharing the layouts I made for my godchildren's July birthdays. After not seeing each other for WAY too long, we finally had a chance to meet for a brief, socially-distanced gift opening. 

Here is the page I made for Ellia, age 11. She's getting so big! I didn't get close to her when we visited, but I wouldn't be surprised if she is nearly as tall as I am. 

Ellia at 11 (affiliate link)

Here is Andrei at 14. I know for certain that I'm the shorter of the two of us. 

Andrei at 14 (affiliate link)

And speaking of shorter, check out this photo that Courteney snapped when Trevor and I delivered the birthday layouts. 

Am I slouching? (I don't think so.) Is the pavement sloped? (Doesn't seem like it.) Or is it time for me to make a new version of this layout? (Probably.) Could Trevor have grown that much between September 23 and November 13 when the two photos were taken? (Yes, based on how much he eats.)

It's crazy seeing these kids growing up! Crazy awesome, that is.