Minimalist.

I finally decided exactly what I wanted to put together for Ella Publishing's second sketch challenge as I was lying in bed not sleeping last night. That's how my mind works. It essentially doesn't work until Eliot is in bed and I have nearly succumbed to exhaustion myself. That's when the magic happens. (And then usually fizzles out like a spent 4th of July sparkler because I rarely get up to record my ideas.) I fall into sleep and when I wake in the morning the ideas have scattered like fast-moving clouds.

Somehow I remembered my plan for this layout after I woke, and, even more miraculously, after I spent the day at home nursing a feverish, grumpy, whiny, clingy two-year-old. I found and collaged the photos I wanted in Elements as Mog watched a particularly riveting episode of Wonderpets and then as soon as he was down for the night, I hit the scrap table.

Journaling reads: "I didn't think I had accomplished much in 2009 until I started looking back at my photos. Embroidery, layouts, mini-books, sewing, painting furniture, my 365 album. Turns out I was actually pretty crafty in 2009!

It's good to see that I made just as much (or more) to give away in 2009 as I did for myself to keep. :)"

And since I waited so long to put this together, I couldn't get a decent shot, as the sun was long gone. I tried to avoid glare from the overhead lights, but didn't succeed too well. Too bad, too, because these photos don't at all do justice to that white background paper with the textured white polka dots. I love that paper. LOVE.