Hello there, my Crate Paper blog friends, Mou Saha here with today's tutorial. Simple as it is, my layout connects to an aspect of our daily life at home very closely. My son has recently learned to read and now tries to read even billboards when we drive on the highway. While I happily supply him with books, he isn't always keen on finishing the reading activities he is given as homework.Word search is one such activity... he groans that it's too hard, too boring, etc. However, when I sit with him and search with him, he is excited to see the words appear before his eyes. When I saw the alphabet side of the Playdate paper from the newly released Toy Box Collection, I decided to go on a word search with my son!
We found words that fit him as they would fit most little boys and in true word search style, we circled them. In order to make the words stand out more, I went over the letters with a black pen.
While at it, I was mentally sketching out my layout. So, we circled words leaving out enough space for a photo, title and journaling.
I love that the Toy Box collection comes with two sets of coordinating alphabet stickers. Plus having the letter stickers in black dictated the color scheme for my layout: black and white.
Now, I'll admit that it's hard for me to cut up a paper I love, especially double-sided ones of which I love both sides. You'll know exactly what I mean if you see the other side of the Playdate paper. It's full of little boy things like trucks, cars, planes... just like my son's toy box! But in order to keep the focus on the word search theme, I wanted to keep embellishments minimal. There was just the right airplane and I cut it up and attached with pop dots.
I added a label sticker near the airplane, two large buttons (one metal and one wood!) next to the title and a strip of black ribbon with white stars at the very bottom of the page. Finally, I journaled below the photo and machine stitched all around. And there you have it... my finished layout!
Hope you have a creative day!
Oh, Mou, I love this layout. You describe your little boy but you could be describing my little boy! I love that you used scrapbook paper for a 'reading' assignment and there is just nothing I don't appreciate and admire about your page and the story behind it. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Kelly
Posted by: Kelly | February 26, 2011 at 07:30 AM
I love this!
Posted by: Nicole | February 26, 2011 at 07:48 AM
I LOVE this layout! It is so fun and unique! Also Love to see boy layouts.....
Posted by: Jenn Koss | February 26, 2011 at 08:09 AM
Tooooooooooooo cool!!! I loveeeeeeeee that you found those words in the paper!! I loveeeeeeeee this! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
Posted by: Julie Tucker-Wolek | February 26, 2011 at 08:32 AM
This layout is absolute Crate Paper perfection. Love it!
Posted by: AnnaMarie | February 26, 2011 at 09:26 AM
Wow, such a creative page !!! Love it !!
Posted by: Astrid | February 26, 2011 at 12:47 PM
LOVE this!! Super idea!!
Posted by: Amy H | February 26, 2011 at 01:46 PM
This is perfect!
Posted by: Diane Payne | February 26, 2011 at 02:44 PM
LOVE, love, love this layout! It's so clever and so cute! Thank you for the inspiration!
Posted by: Regan | February 26, 2011 at 09:00 PM
Amazing layout! I really love how there are actual words to find in this paper, so creative!
Posted by: Kandice Hanes | February 27, 2011 at 09:15 PM
Love it:) Such talent!!!!!
Posted by: Cynthia | March 01, 2011 at 08:47 AM