My husband is real and the layout that proves it.

Day 4 Unies, and I'm coming in HOT!  I don't know if you can tell this about me, but I'm a bit of an extrovert.  I love talking with people, getting to know them, encouraging them to be their best selves etc.  My husband, however is not quite so sociable.  In fact, many of my friends have never met him and doubt his existence.  They joke that I don't really have a husband, just a neighbor that I borrow for pictures sometimes.  Well, I showed them!  Would I make an amazing photo layout like this for a random neighbor?

Come on, how flipping cute are we!?! We have the kind of mushy love that if my friends ever did see us together, we would make them sick. After almost 8 years of marriage I'm still gaga for this guy!

I am not a scrapbooker, and I honestly had no idea what I was doing when I decided to try a modern layout.  I found a layout I liked on Pinterest and used what I had and changed it how I wanted.  

I started with my picture.  I liked the pop of red in my scarf and hat, so I used that as my starting point.  I used a piece of kraft paper and got out some of my favorite mixed-media, distress style stamps.  For the background stamps I used parts of the following kits:

• She Never Says Never
• Be Fearless
• Inspired Minds
• Let Adventure

I stamped using distress oxides in Candied Apple and Black Soot, as well as using Versafine Onyx Black and gold embossing powder for some of the hearts.

When the background was stamped, I found some coordinating Washi Tape and just added a few strips to add interest to the background.  I think the gold washi brought the project together.

When all was said and done, however, it needed a little bit of cute.  I just bought the kit I Tolerate You by Lisa Arana, and I ADORE that bear and bunny.  I think they look like me and Brian.   I colored the image using my Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils, and popped it up overlapping my image.  I added the sentiment from the kit in the bottom corner too.  

Last steps were matting the page, hot gluing on some buttons, and sticking it in an old frame I had laying around the house.  Now my layout sits proudly on my desk at school where my students constantly are asking me, "Is that your husband?"  I reply, "Maybe. Or is it my neighbor?" They walk away very confused.  Seventh graders are so funny like that.

Have you ever used your Unity stamps for a layout or with pictures?  Do you have a significant other that may or may not be your neighbor?  Comment below for a chance to win 25 deeply etched red rubber stamps from Unity Stamp Company!