This next example uses one of my favorite papers, Happy Days, and my favorite Easter photos. Using one of the beautifully designed layouts in one of our guides, I was able to place 12 photos in a cohesive design with plenty of room for embellishments and titles. Since the cutting guide walks you through everything, all that was needed was to choose the paper and photos. By adding the flip flaps I was able to take what would have been two separate layouts and combine into one.

• One hint is to alter the guide by making the photo mats to fit your needs. The original layout had 6 - 2x2 photos, I replaced with 4 - 2 3/4x2 3/4. ​
• When planning on using flip flaps, think of them as part of the layout, not just a place to store extra photos. In this example, I designed the 6x12 flip flaps first, using the best photos and embellishments. Since I loved all the photos and couldn't bear not using them, the flip flaps offered a great way to showcase the all.

Please visit my online catalog at laurafairbrother.ctmh.com for a complete list of catalogs available.

It's been a hectic few months for me and my family.  From celebrating a successful year with a trip to Aruba with CBS (my 8-5 job), followed by the tragic death of a family member, and then another trip this time to Disney.  May and June definitely had it's ups and down.  There's been little time to create scrapbook pages, die-cuts and art journal pages which has me tied up in knots.  There's nothing better to relieve tension than a good dose of creativity.  

We are 7 months into 2016 and if you are anything like me, your still scratching your head wondering where all the time went.  I for one and making a July 1st resolution to create at least one thing every day this month, From a quick 10 minutes thank you note to a 2 hour double layout, anything is better than nothing.  All this creating starts with a clean scrapbook room which I've been working on over the past week.  It's so hard to get started when you don't know where everything is.  Yesterday was spent with Shannon from Piece by Piece Paper Designs.  We worked on some layouts which she will feature at the Christmas in July Scrap-away Retreat.  If you want to get into the holiday spirit early, visit her table that weekend.  She's going to work on her Christmas cards or you can be like and say "Ba humbug".

Some new about Close To My Heart from the convention at Disney World.  They launched some amazing new products that will be available starting August 1st in our new catalog.  I'll have many samples available for show in July at Scrap-away.  From new paper designs, flip flaps sizes, delicate thin cut metal dies, and some brilliant new colors.  Please make sure to stop out to see me if you are in the neighborhood.  Close to My Heart also shared their incredible Holiday Expressions catalog early.  If you love the holidays, you'll love everything about this catalog, can't wait to share.

Please let me know if you are attending Scrap-Away in July.  Our current seasonal expressions catalog is ending and I would like to order enough kits for anyone interested.  Below are the three paper kits available, Magical, Calypso and Florence.  With the help of CTMH and a few unique die-cuts, I've created three double layouts for each collection.  Precut cost is $35.00 per kit.  These are going fast so place your order soon.