Ssssshhhh!! This is a SECRET 12x12 layout...

*** For the Faith Verse Blog Hop (a MUST see!!), please CLICK HERE***

** For the "McVic is 36" Birthday Blog Hop (you don't want to miss it!!), please CLICK HERE **

Happy Thursday, everyone!! :)  I'm so happy and THANKFUL that you are here to check out my layout today!!  I was so excited to finish this one and share it with you!!  Over at Lasting Memories Layout Challenges, they are having a DT call -- It ends tomorrow at NOON, so you still have a WEE bit of time to get your submissions in for review!!  For Challenge #52, they asked us...  "What's your SECRET?"  The idea was to share your secret ideas and tips for journaling and adding extra pictures to your layout...  Since I'm just a little bit obsessive (who?? me??), I decided to incorporate my 'secret' ideas into a 'CONFIDENTIAL' layout that really isn't so secret after all (it's also no secret that this post will be picture heavy -- there's enough details for THREE layouts!! hee hee)... 

Yes, I'm a little detail-oriented when it comes to layouts, so let me start by telling you that every single piece of paper on my layout is actually Creative Memories cardstock -- If it looks like a file folder, it's because I replicated it so that it would be safe for my pictures (no, I don't own any archival spray, so I recreate a lot of things this way to make sure they will keep my pictures safe from acid and lignin found in traditional "office supply" papers).  To create the file folder (complete with the score marks on the left edge), I started with two sheets of 12x12 French Vanilla cardstock, traced the edges of a regular file folder, and hand cut along those guides.  I then scored the top piece four times, folding the "folder" on the fourth score line.  I attached the bottom piece of the file folder just inside the fold on the inside.  The "CONFIDENTIAL" is cut at 2" in black with the Opposites Attract Cricut Cartridge (Opposite Font feature)...

My "notebook" paper is actually 4"x6" pieces of white cardstock that I drew lines on using a ruler and my Creative Memories fine tip pens.  I punched holes every 1/4" with my Crop-A-Dile and then tore in from the edge to resemble real notebook paper torn from a spiral notebook.  Looks pretty real, eh?  :)

 What file folder would be complete without the office coffee stain and case number???  The coffee stain was created by pressing a glass into Stampin' Up!'s Creamy Caramel ink and "stamping" the ring a few times.  The "Case #" is actually the DATE and was created using my old-school DYMO label maker (this is also how I created the "TOP SECRET" strip across the bottom of the folder)...

My 3"x3" squares of yellow cardstock were attached only at the top so they would look like Post-It Notes...  And just like a real file folder, there's a few notes hanging out from the edge of the folder too!!  Let's open this folder up......

This is one of those layouts that will take The-Girl-Child a few look-sees to catch all the little details...  The post-it notes are added to document the details of each photo (there's even a "mini" post-it with the definition of "Baccalaureate" -- a word I've finally learned to spell now that both of my children have graduated high school... LOL).  Three more sheets of notebook paper allow me to journal a little note about my thoughts during the week, document a list of colleges this group of special friends are attending, and even jot a poem about "Success" (a poem often attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson, though possibly adapted from a 1905 published work of Bessie Stanley)....

Scrapbooking these pictures from Baccalaureate was more difficult than I thought it would be...  I've done pretty well since The-Girl-Child left for college, but these pictures made it a little more "real" for me...   I mean, how do we go from this:

To THIS, seemingly overnight??? 

Mostly, throughout these pictures, I am reminded of how many smart and wonderful choices The-Girl-Child has made throughout her life...  This circle of friends with their similar interests and dedication to their education has been part of the greatest support system a teenager (and mom-of-teenager) could hope for...

I look forward to seeing what each of these long-time friends will accomplish in the future -- Representing hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships, this group has so much to look forward to...

Surely, success will follow each one of them wherever they go....

To finish off my layout, I added the title "It's no secret... FRIENDS ARE FOREVER!" to the inside of the folder...  I've already seen the encouragement each of these friends have given to one another via Facebook and Twitter...  And Michael W. Smith along with Amy Grant said it best when they sang, "Friends are Friends Forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them...."  Need the video now (cuz I know it's playing in my head...)?  Check it out HERE (if you can't see the embedded video below or prefer to watch it on YouTube)...


So that'll do it for my super-secret-layout...  I hope you've enjoyed it, and will give something like this a try!!  If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know in the comments section -- I always love reading your kind words, so thank you for sharing your thoughts with me!! :)

Now, to see what everyone else is creating for the Design Team call at Lasting Memories this month, be sure to stop on over -- There's some AMAZING inspiration there, so you're sure to enjoy your visit!! :)


Have a wonderful day, everyone!!  Until next time,