No. 522 12×12 Layout by Francine Clouden

I love when I look at what happening around me and realize that it’s lovely and it’s something I’m familiar with. It’s something that happens all the time and it’s good. It reminds me that life is good. And it reminds me that me and mine know how to enjoy it! This No. 522 12×12 layout by Francine Clouden reminded me that kids have got it right. Love the things that you love. Smile when you see them. Enjoy being around them. It makes it that much easier to love life!

Francine created the No. 522 12×12 layout using the Shades of Blue August kit from Little Black Dress Kit Club. Check it out to get ideas on what you can do with your kit or find more ideas on the LBD Ideas page!

And never forget the closeups:

I love how Francine used the film strip to echo the layout of the series of 3 pictures. And I love the concise placement of all the pieces that create the whole in the center of the background page.

Love to scrapbook, but hate to journal? It adds so much personality to the page. Don’t ignore it. We love handwritten journaling when it works with the layout, but some prefer to print journaling or access labeling tools like Dymo labelers to create the journaling for their pages. However you do it, make sure that you DO do it. Scrapbooking without journaling is like eating a hot dog without any accoutrements. It needs the onions, the pickle, the peppers, the seeded bun and the condiments to make it something special. (Have you HAD the Chicago dog at Sonic. It’s to die for if you don’t have access to the real thing. It’s the first time I’ve ever considered moving to Chicago for no real reason whatsoever. Lucky ducks get to buy them right there on the street apparently).

Sheesh! Listem to me rhapsodizing about a Chicago style hot dog. I’ll have to visit sometime and try the real thing. And you can be sure that if I do…I’ll scrapbook the experience. I’m sure it will be worth it! It can be one of those “regular” things that I love that simply make me smile like Francine’s little guy and the racing toys at the park!

What do you love? What makes you smile?