Layout for Mini Challenge: Putting Pen to Paper

I will admit that this was a HARD challenge for me.  After I scheduled it, I sort of didn't want to do it. LOL  It requires a lot of soul searching and thought to plan a layout like this.  I ran through a list of topics that I thought would make meaningful journaling for me.  There are so many things I still want to document...I really need to do this challenge several times.  Or just write a book.  One of the two.  LOL 

Planning my layout was easy since I had my kit.  I decided to do a layout about our journey to starting this blog.  Using bits and pieces of the entire kit seemed like a great way to do that.  I was intimidated at the thought of a large blank space for journaling on my 12x12 pages, so I thought of ways to minimize it.  I could do a very focused page with a lot of white space and a small cluster of embellishments and journaling.  Or cut out my journaling into strips to maximize their impact on the page.

In my head I kept getting stuck on tags.  I really wanted to do a layout made up of tags.  Why not?  Here is what I came up with:

I was able to use just about everything in my kit.  Here is my journaling:

In January 2010 I started a Make Your Own Kit Challenge on 2 Peas.  Life got in the way and it fizzled out.  Fast forward to November and other pea sent me a message asking about the challenge.  We decided to do it together in January and the Counterfeit Kit Challenge was born.  We soon discovered that Meridy and I were the perfect pair to start this challenge.  We are both go-getters, enthusiastic and organized.  Our idea quickly blossomed into an actual challenge blog and Facebook page.  Our basic concept is to pick a kit from a kit club and copy it using our own supplies.  We post tutorials, challenges and even have an end of the month Blog Hop.  By February our blog has exceeded any expectations.  We have 187 followers and an average of 23,000 page views in just 2 months!  We are starting a Design Team and have had some sponser offers.  This is alot of work, but it is a really great experience.  The best part has been the friendship I have found in Meridy.  She is so talented, creative, tech saavy and generous.  She is a positive force in my life.  I am greatful for this experience.

Head over to my blog (Double Dog Dare You) if you want a few close ups of some of the embellishments and a breakdown of the tags.  I can't wait to see what you create, so don't forget to find the Main Mr. Linky and post there to be entered in our drawing for an awesome Kit from Scraps of Darkness!