Kellso Collage

The Portland book…

This last March, Matt and I were blessed with a trip to Portland to celebrate our 11th anniversary.  The trip was a bonus for a very difficult February at work to say ‘thank you’ for a job well done.  We enjoyed the gorgeous, rainy (but not TOO rainy) weather, eating at delicious restaurants, visiting friends, and mostly just reconnecting as 2 adults who have the capacity and ability (though not often the opportunity) to finish thoughts, sentences and conversations.  It was so fun….

The book itself is crafted out of a cigar box.  On the cover is the title (Our weekend in Portland) and a silhouette of Mt. Hood etched into the red paint.  I applied wax and Perfect Pearls glitter all around the back and up around the cover.  I love the ‘Pulp’ look to the back-it is a map of Powells bookstore-a giant used bookstore in the heart of Portland where we spent much of our time. (Nerds!)  When it comes to collage, if I see a scrap of paper or a little metal doo-dad, I never throw it away.  It always seems to come in handy sometime!  The inner cover of the cigar box features a fork I ‘twisted’ a few months ago, and now finally found a use for.  It now displays a list of the restaurants we visited on our trip.  Each page of the book is a pocket, containing an insert that coordinates with each page.  Featured in the book are our trip to the Portland Japanese Gardens, Stumptown coffee roasters, the Pittock Mansion, and the Beverly Cleary Tribute Fountain.

I have entered this book as my submission to try out for Mystic Paper’s design team.  I was very purposeful in my choice of what project to submit.  As always, I want each of my crafts to be personal to me and my loved ones.  I hope the thought that goes in to each project is meaningful to us long after it is being admired and observed by others.