2012 MMDT December Feature Grid: Pewter

Page Pattern #26 Top Border and Mosaic style 

Pewter Mosaic Moments Grid Paper 

These were the two requirements for this first challenge for December. December...already? The MM Design Team has presented 23 layouts with this challenge! WOW! How can that be? Time has certainly passed quickly. Thanks for following our work all year long! Now let's get to the results!

I have had these photos from this trip in the back of my mind to use in a challenge, but nothing worked until this page pattern and color combination.  The Pewter color was a good backdrop for the overcast dreary day photos from our trip.  The pattern allowed me to use a couple of panoramic photos across the top of the pages. Perfect for this mountain of sand!  The mosaic style also made it perfect for some less than wonderful photos. The problem I encountered, was working for the first time with a "digital" camera and thinking things would be wonderful. The camera was actually a movie camera that could also take photos, except, they were only 2 mp! They print out terribly at 3.5"x 5" and really only turn out well for a very small size...perfect for adding color and details and memories in this layout at the 1" and 2" square size that are incorporated into the mosaic areas. The other camera I was working with then was a film camera and the results were by chance, so as I switched back and forth between the two I hoped I would be able to capture enough of this day to remember all that we did. 

 Med. Aqua Paper Tiles were used to pick up the color from the signs and clothing in the  photos. Tami's method was used for printing my journaling on the tiles.  Print Shop 20 was used to create a title page.

The text from my journal block:

Our journey to Michigan in September of 2006, was one with many purposes. Taking the kids to see The Dunes was one trip I’d hoped to take for many years. The Dunes had been a favorite spot of mine from childhood and I thought they’d love them too. We were on our way to the Northwood’s Conference Center in the U.P. for the widow’s conference so it was to be a nice side trip. It was also coming up on a year since Denny had passed away and I just wanted to be busy doing something with them to make things easier, and be away from home for a while.

Even in September, northern Michigan can be cool at night, but we landed up with cool and dreary days during our stay as well. Being off-season, the dunes were fairly empty; the wind and the cloudy sky added to the desolate feel.  Looking out over endless hills of sand and water in the distance provided a moody backdrop for thoughts and meditations. How small we were compared to the huge dunes!

When David disappeared over the top of the Dune Climb in search of what lay beyond, we lost touch with him for hours as he hiked up and down sandy dunes for several miles to reach Lake Michigan. That time seemed to drag by not knowing what was happening, he was on an adventure. Our attempts to ease our worrying availed little. He returned tired and a bit oblivious to our concerns. We were all glad to see him, glad he was safe, but I was still shaking from “what if’s” going through my head.

On some of the boardwalk trails and roads throughout the park, we enjoyed the color of the still blooming fall flowers, and the various notes of a changing season, even the dying plants brought enjoyment. I think I’ll always remember this place with mixed emotions, until our next visit. 

This detail shot is of David heading over the top of the dune hill, with no idea it'd be hours before we'd see him again:

Page 1: View from the top of the Sand Dune.

 Page 2: A view from the bottom of the dune, looking up. All those spots on the hill are people!

detail shot David took of his brothers, the sign was definitely the reason to take the photo:

A final detail shot with a few photos I took in the hopes of having a shot to use in our Christmas cards. None were good enough to use, but this one at the bottom certainly has caught their personalities. 

Well, that's all for this week, I know your coming weeks will be busy. Don't forget to take photos of everyday moments for making the pages that will capture the whole season when you scrap it! Be Merry! 

 I appreciate your kind words and comments, Thanks so very much for stopping by,

andrea