Memories are the Building Blocks of Life

I have found my new favorite item to alter (besides tins, of course!): behold the scrap block!! I've admired these before but was always a little intimidated about getting started and don't see the blocks many places. But shortly after my new "The Best Things in Life" set came, I spied some fence post scraps in DH's workshop and asked him to please cut me some cubes!! :) Score!!

Here you can see the top of the block I stamped and one side: my family. Each side will have a different pic of our family members, plus one surprise! (he he heh!)

Supplies for this project are minimal!

6 sheets DP and coordinating ink, glue, a block (this measures 3.75"), your photos, "The Best Things in Life" set (the only stamps I used for the whole thing!), and some embellishments and or punches (here some silver Hodge Podge, staples,and ghost shapes)

I was able to cover every side of the block with a different pattern from my Basic Grey Wassail pack, and use the leftover scraps for accents or punched photo corners! (I went ahead and ordered this even though it's after Christmas, it has so many beautiful non-holiday prints and these warm, earthy colors and neutral go great with my home decor(and great for masculine cards), so I highly recommend it!) All photos are printed in B&W on Gina K Pure Luxury 80lb I do so much better when I don't use color photographs in my photographs, it really stumps me on choosing colored paperssomeitmes, KWIM? (I love this snuggled pic of my boys!) I stamped my sentiments in Cranberry Crisp ink onto one of the distressed solid papers in the pack, too, and framed it up in the Hodge Podge. Silver Brads are colored here with my Cardinal Copic.

Here's a pic of Paul and me at our first baby shower. I stamped "memories" from my set over the pic in white craft ink (in the past 7 years since this pic was taken, we've created a lot of great ones!) I love the look of stamping on photos! I stapled through two Heidi Swapp ghost shape hearts at the corners. I carried this silver embellishment theme throughon each side, simpler and more unified-looking.

Now the 4th side of the block I wanted to reflect the person holding it to remind him (or her, I need strokes occasionally too LOL!) what an important part they are of our family!! I was loving the real mirrors on the card I made with Rupa's set, so when I had this idea for the last side, I was going to make another trip to Hobby Lobby to buy a square one, but then looking at the little round ones on my desk, I thought it might be so much cooler to use what I already had and create a mosaic with the round ones!! To capture a pic of this side for you, I placed a photo of Jonathan and me reflecting in it (a print out from Chuck E Cheese, hee hee!) It's like a whole side of shine and embellishments, and looking into it and seeing your face reflected in fragments is so playful and unexpected, I'm glad I didn't make that extra "Hobby Lobby run" after all LOL!

I'm just loving this block! (here it is in our entry way) It's like a shiny, textured TOY that begs me to pick it up and turn it over! (I'll probably find myself doing this every time I enter and exit my house LOL!) I created this in just one morning, the hardest part is trying to choose whihc photos! (and don't make it harder than it has to be, you can always make more!now I want one for every room!! ) This will be our "family block", but I have already gotten busy on a valentine block for DH's office, a block for each of my kids to match their rooms, 9and plans for birthday blocks for friends, relatives, and neighbors, and themed blocks to put out at holidays (a Christmas memory on each side, etc!)

Hope this inspires you to make your own blocks celebrating the best things in (your) life! :)

PS In case you are wondering, I did cover the bottom with DP but nothing yet beyond that. for the person who turns it over to see if there's anything underneath, I'm thinking I need a clever quote or really funny family photo: which gets your vote?(I'm off to look for one!) ;) (no 3D embellishments on this side, though, I want it to sit flat!:)