We Are Family

I don't have a traditional family. I have three children--a son who will be 21 from my first marriage; and from my second marriage I have a son, 14 and a daughter, 12. As some of you know, my second husband passed away a few years ago and I am now in a relationship with my boyfriend, John. He also has a son but he lives pretty far away and we don't see him often and I have no photos of him. That makes us a multiple blended family! But a family we are! I swear I spent more time photographing this layout than I did actually creating it!! I am submitting this to the following challenges:

1. Color Challenge at Challenge Masters - Dark Blue, Tan and Cream; .
2. Make It Monday Challenge at The Kraft Journal - Use Flowers (and Kraft paper!)

After I had it all done and had already uploaded it to the Gallery there and two other online galleries I post my work, I remembered about the March challenge at Kraft It Up which is to incorporate the phrase "There is no greater GIFT than today." I realized that the phrase fit perfectly on my layout and I had used Kraft paper!!!!! So back to the drawing board I went, trying a few different ways of adding the phrase, and finally deciding on my own handwriting and one word in mini letter stickers.   And as my luck has it, AS I WAS writing the word "day" I realized that it was supposed to say GIFT.  Oh well, I was not about to ruin the whole layout and the idea is still there.  Its an Aussie challenge blog so I wasn't in the running for a prize anyway!  I love the layout and the phrase fit it so wonderfully!  

I  used a sketch by Beggahuna. Its almost impossible to not love your layouts using her sketches! Used strips of MME Stella & Rose. The swirly things are K&Co and were originally silver but I misted them with Denim Glimmer Mist and I love the way they came out mottled looking. Lace, flowers and pearls from my stash. Letters are Thickers and October Afternoon.