Hybrid Layout - Cathy Z. Template meets My Minds Eye Lost & Found

Step 1:  I created a digi layout using Cathy Z's 'The Monthy' Album Set - Available at Designer Digitals

Step 2:  I printed the digi layout, then created a 12x12 with the MME Lost & Found "Boy" Collection

Oh friends....
I am in crafty heaven!!!!  Between three different tutorials, and some wee hour video watching (3:30am this morning!)  I think I have finally gotten this whole digi hybrid thing - well, at least using templates! 

Confession:  I have tried digiscrapping several times.  I have purchased three different online classes, all very good, and from very talented instructors, but the LIGHT BULB just wasn't turning on!  And, I have purchased some lovely kits, only to get frustrated when my computer would not do what I was telling it to do (actually, it was doing exactly what I told it to do, but I was of course, doing the wrong wrong wrong things over and over.. Mainly, when using the templates and trying to get my photos into different layers and CLIP them!)  

Here are the links that helped me, which are all free, and are all on blogs that I subscribe to, that finally master clipping, and get to the layout you see above:
1.  This  past week's featured theme on Write.Click.Scrapbook was hybrid scrapbooking.  Francine Clouden has several great tutorials on creating a hybrid page using layered templates! And, she had some links to two other great tutorials...
2.  Here is the one from Cathy Zielske, which also includes a free template. I watched her video over and over.  THEN, the light-bulb finally went on!  I got it!!!!! 
3.  And, the icing on the cake... Ali Edwards has an awesome 40 minute long tutorial that takes you step by step through all things layered in templates!!! LOVE that one!


And, here are the products that I used:
1.  8 1/2 x 11 Monthly Layered Templates kit by Cathy Zielske, via Designer Digitals
2.  My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Kit:  Portobello Road.  Patterned Papers, button, twine, bicycle stamp, and sticker embellishment.  LOVE LOVE LOVE this kit!  Thank you MME!!!!! (I won the entire Lost and Found collection one fine day, when stalking their blog!) 
3.  Ink:  Stampin' Up Going Gray.  See that little bicycle down near the September title?  The color matches this collection perfectly!!!!!!! 
4.  HP Premium Plus Photo Paper:  Soft Gloss.  11.5 mil.  The weight is very important!  I was upset when I first opened it because the paper is 'thin'. But for this type of work - layering onto other papers, I LOVE IT!!! 


Journaling Reads:  24! That is how many miles you rode your bike for the school bike-a-thon for the Newport Trip!  The route was 5 miles.  I thought '5' would be it!  YOU raised $200 dollars!  WAY TO GO JAKE!

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Background story about my layout:  My son was in a bike-a-thon for school one fine day in September.  I found out on a Monday, or Tuesday, that he was expected to ride his bike (on one of my market days), to raise money for his class trip to Newport, Oregon (in May of 2011) that Friday.  I was having a lovely conversation with his 6th grade teacher about him not being prepared, and that I had to drive 60 miles for work that day, etc.  First, I was a bit peeved about the lack of communication from the teacher.  And, that we had to get pledges (it's always a 'we' thing) for the ride, and this was just poor timing.  Anyway, we 'manned' up.  The course was 5 miles.  I got all the pledges within 24 hours (thank you family and friends!).  My son rode 24 miles!  This is a boy that does not ride his bike - hardly ever (on a ranch, nearest paved road is a highway and I do NOT allow the kids to ride w/o me).  I was so proud of him!!!  He did it, he was exhausted afterward, and he raised $200!!!!! 

Thank you for visiting!  And THANK YOU so much to the blogs that helped me finally 'get it'!