You make me Smile - a layout of Dixie (Possum)

Our friends, Danny & Nanette, have the cutest little long-haired Dachshund named Dixie.
She's better known though by her ultra-cute nickname, Possum (spelled just like that).

Danny talked quite a bit about her while he was painting our house.

I knew that she was sooooooo special! 

I asked him to send me his most favorite photos of her.  

OMG!!!! She's absolutely adorable!

I couldn't decide which photo to pick, so I used all three : ).

Danny's most favorite photo of little Possum was used as the main large photo.

Distressed pieces with cardboard in between the layers 
nicely framed the sweet photo and gave it dimension.  
She looks perfectly gorgeous on Blue Fern Studios new collection Tattered Walls.

I selected areas around the layout to edge punch in French Scroll design.

The same paper used under the photo was placed under each punched area.

I decided to make the other two precious photos much smaller, 

but still wanted them to stand out on their own.  

Using a circle punch - one is 2" & the other is 3".  

I adorned each with flower arrangements in Aloe and Pink colors & some crocheted lace snippets.  

I chose BFS chipboard words "You make me Smile" and used them as the title for this layout.  

After all, little Possum does just that!!! MAKES YOU SMILE!

I heat embossed them in Lindy's Stamp Gang EP color Midnight Bronze Obsidian.  PERFECT!

I punched out a few Monarch butterflies 
and handmade their antennae using bronze 26 gauge wire.

Blue Fern Studios chipboard Symphony Border coordinated so perfectly!

I mixed LSG Magical color Sea Grass Green & clear gesso; then painted the pieces.

More photos of the flower arrangements.

I completed my gift to Danny & Nanette by framing this little beauty. 

I spray painted a black frame in beautiful bronze!

P.S. Danny & Nanette love their gift.  

  This really warms my heart! 

Possum is the most adorable little dog!
She has the sweetest little personality too!
Plus she really does pose to show you 
how sweet and pretty she is - hee hee.

It felt so great to create again!  
Sometimes just having the right photo, paper or embellishments 
is all it takes to get that 'jump start' incentive.

It was so enjoyable making a page of this little beauty.
I think I smiled the entire time!

Thank you so much for visiting!

Products used:

Blue Fern Studios:

Main Page and distressed piece under photo

Distressed piece under photo and behind edge punched areas

Chipboard Title

Symphony Border chipboard

Dies and Punches:

     Martha Stewart Punches

French Scroll

Monarch Butterfly - Large & Small

     Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby)

Circle Punch - 2" and 3"

     
     Tattered Lace Dies

Ferns

Flowers:

     49 and Market

Blossom Blends - Aloe

Garden Seeds - Aloe

Seaside Blooms - Natural Blush (used the seeded stems only)

     Wild Orchid Crafts

Earth Tone Hip Rosebuds

10mm Vintage Mix (used Natural)

10mm 2-Tone Mixed (used Pink & Ivory)

20mm 2-Tone Pink Mix

Mediums & Inks:

     Lindy's Stamp Gang

Magical Mica Set - Nantucket Pearls (Sea Grass Green)

EP - Midnight Bronze Obsidian

     
     ColorBox inks

'Nightfall' set (used Dark Brown & Creamy Brown)

Pepper

Miscellaneous:

     Hobby Lobby - Crocheted Lace & 26 gauge Bronze Wire

Tools:

Big Shot machine

     

Sizzix Magnetic Platform

     

Tim Holtz Distresser

     

Adhesives:

Liquitex Matte Gel

Beacon 3-in-1 Advanced Glue

Tombow Liquid Glue

Sookwang Scor-Tape

Elmer's Foam Tape