SOS February Book Cover Challenge - "Beaches"

It is February already - and time for the next BOOK Inspired Stash Challenge from Scrap Our Stash!
I have to say, at first I thought this was going to be difficult, and I was a little confused as to what to do for this challenge, but that is what makes it a Challenge right!!

Here are the rules:
Using the left page, or book cover, as your inspiration, create a layout and include 2 or more HEARTS ( it's February, so of course Hearts are involved!!)

I have to admit, while I love Dr. Seuss, and have ready many of his books to my (now grown up) sons, I have never read this one.  Looking at the picture, I could have chosen the White, Blue, Black, Red color scheme, or a photo of a Moose! or maybe a big banner, or antlers, or a hat, or even just something related to hearts ("Big-Hearted Moose").... really, so many possibilities!  - I hope your mind is running in a bunch of directions right now, as to how you are going to interpret it, and that you will play along with us!  Click on the SCRAP OUR STASH Blog for all the details, deadlines and PRIZE INFO!!

I decided to use the shrubs or foliage at the bottom of the book-cover, and the starburst effect behind antlers as my inspiration, as they reminded me of a photo / selfie that I took while on vacation 

this last October, at Beaches in Turks and Caicos!  Here is my layout:

I've had this intricate Basic Grey "Jovial" Die Cut in my stash from FOREVER!!  I thought it would be perfect to use it in this layout, as it has lots of foliage and an awesome color combo too!.  ( Are you as sad as me that Basic Grey has announced they are closing their paper crafting operations :-( )


I used lots of paper embellishments from the Simple Stories Summer Vibes collection -that I inked and matted on cardstock - here are some close ups of all the bits and pieces I used:

There were lizards everywhere at the resort!  I took this little chipboard one, colored him with Peacock Feathers Distress stain, then inked him with some Pearl paint, and then inked him with Twisted Citron Distress Stain. When that was done, I glazed him with Dimensional Magic.

Here we are sitting on the beach in the HOT sun, sipping on some adult beverages!  Let me tell you, this was our first trip to an "all inclusive resort" and it certainly won't be our last!  You can also see some of the paper embellies I used, along with enamel dots, and 2 wooden hearts that I inked with Distress stains, and then glazed with Dimensional Magic.

I made this "Beaches" title from a piece of the note paper that they gave us in the room at the resort. After cutting it out, and matting it - I glazed over the letters and pop dotted it on the layout.  You can also see 2 more hearts that were stained and glazed.

Here are a few more embellies, and you can see what I mean by the selfie in the center, with the palm tree "hat" or the starburst behind my head, kind of like the book cover.  The photo on the bottom left was one of our favorite spots to hang out by the swim-up bar!!

Here you can see where the die cut background is actually "pop-dotted" on the vanilla cardstock base, some enamel dots, and the wooden hearts inked with Distress Stains and then glazed.

A few more paper embellies that are added with pop dots in this corner of the layout.


Thanks for stopping by - I hope you will play along with us on this FUN Challenge over a the Scrap Our Stash Blog!! - Would love it if you took a minute to say Hi, now that you are here!

ITEMS USED:
Basic Grey "Jovial" Die Cut
BoBunny Avocado Dot
Simple Stories "Summer Vibes"
  Bits and Pieces
  Enamel Dots
  6x12 Elements
  Pop Fizz
  6x8 and 2x2 Elements
Dimensional Magic
Ranger Distress Stain - Twisted Citron, Rusty Hinge, Ripe Persimmon, Peeled Paint, Evergreen Bough