Paper only embellishing

This layout has been in my head for a while, but I tweaked it when I saw "My Croppy Summer Assignment #5" on the Apron Strings blog. I used a sketch from Beggahuna as the basis for the layout. Since the Apron Strings challenge was to use only paper on the layout, that's what I did. I created some kaleidoscopes from the photo I was using and used them as embellishments, but I decided it wasn't really cheating since it was just that I was using a lot of photos! So here's the layout:

I used a piece of kraft cardstock for the background, cut the circular form from a piece of black/cream circle patterned paper from Kaszazz's Ebony & Ivory paper range, as well as the flourish and scallop from the ribbon/script paper from the same range. I used my anywhere hole punch to punch holes in the scallops to gussy it up a bit. I used a Studio G Clear Stamps stamp (VC0012 Series 32) on some of the cream off cut from the circle and interspersed these with my kaleidoscopes which I printed in different sizes. I also used my new extra large two step bird punch from Stampin Up! and punched a number of branches/leaves from some scrap cardstock. I punched a bird as well for the embellishment on the right hand side. I used my jumbo alphabet stamp to stamp the letters of the title on the same scrap cardstock and cut it out by hand (since I don't have a diecutting machine). I outlined it in gold pen and put it onto some scrap cream cardstock. To finish off I wrote the journalling in the top right hand corner.
The layout turned out pretty much as I envisioned in my head so that's great! Here are some close up photos.

I'll post my layout for the #6 challenge soon.

Till next time - happy days!

Francine