They Can't ALL be First

Welcome back to the Four Centuries in a Weekend 2021 event. My next stop in Elizabeth, NJ, was the First Presbyterian Church. The congregation began in the 1660s, though they met in a meeting house, not this building. The building they erected was burned by the British during the Revolutionary War. This building dates from just after the war (about 1785). I imagine they burned the first structure as its minister, the "Fighting Parson," was often preaching about the British atrocities (especially after they killed his wife). We'll get to their lives a bit later as we'll visit their home. 

For now, the highlight of this visit was the churchyard next to the church. I'm used to seeing the intricate carvings on 19th-century tombstones, so I was interested to see the 17th- and 18th-century versions. Many of them have fallen into disrepair, but a few remain in good condition. I saw a lot of winged skulls for the decorations. Not quite as intricate as the 19th-century stones, but quite interesting.

This layout is based on one of the CM Project Recipes I've saved, called Memoirs and Memories, though I used Keeping the Faith papers (of course — it's a church!). I moved things to reflect the needs of my layout. I used the vertical paper strip on the left as a mat for the brochure rather than photos. I moved the cluster of embellishments from the bottom of the right-hand column to beneath the pamphlet, since that's where the space was. On the right-side page, I added the photo mats but used a paper design with crosses to offset the pictures and give the graveyard a stronger sense of place.

What is more unusual for me is that I used 2 different papers for the backgrounds! I liked the brick on the left (and I had just acquired a bunch of brick papers at a crop I was attending, so it was a nice freebie!) But it didn't work on the right, so I used a sheet of matching cardstock. The borders have been in my stash for quite a while. I punched them at a previous crop (several years ago) and ended up not using them for that particular layout. I was looking for something "wrought iron" to enclose the graveyard, and these were the perfect fit. This is why we hold onto things!

Four Centuries in one Site

Happy New Year, everyone! Welcome back to my blog and to my Fall 2021 trip. The Union County Four Centuries in a Weekend theme meant that sites located across the county spanned the early 1600s through the 20th century. The William Robinson Plantation took that quite literally, putting a World War II reenactment troop on the front lawn. The house itself dates back to the 1600s, so yes, four centuries in one location! I had visited this location previously, but returned as I was missing a stamp. Having more time here, let me take a closer look at this reenactment. There was a communications tent in active use, and some sort of platoon meeting and activity.

This layout is based on a Fast & Fun Project with Noreen from November 2023. I used the same collection she did, though I didn't have any more of the dark blue word paper, so I substituted navy cardstock. I used a border along the bottom that repeated the word "ARMY". I had more photos than she did, so most of the text was covered. Well, that happens sometimes. There is an 8 1/2 x 11 pocket between the 2 pages of the layout, so this is a one-page layout.

Inside the house, the focus is more on the building's history. The original owner was a physician, and so there is a large display of apothecary jars and equipment. In the backyard, there is an old horse-drawn milk wagon. I had not seen this previously, and it was an interesting display.

The right side of the layout was made with a CM Sketch from April 2022. They had posted three sketches for Earth Day to encourage us to use up our scraps (rather than throwing them out). Those sketches were only ever on Facebook, not on the blog, as they usually post, so the Pinterest link is the only way to view them currently. I used Paper Loft Euphoria papers for this layout (both the back of the 8 1/2x11 pocket and the interior house photos). The border across the middle of the page is a recent punch from CM, and although it is a canning jar, it matched the bottles on the shelves in the photos. I had punched that in black for a different layout, but never used it. This also allowed me to use a scrap in the spirit of the original challenge.

Passport to Adventure

Welcome back to my Fall 2021 extended vacation. On Saturday, October 16th, I started making the rounds of the Four Centuries in a Weekend locales. I visited quite a few, but I'll include only the sites that are also part of the Crossroads of the American Revolution trail in the blog. This year, I obtained a passport specifically for the event. This gave me a place to put the "bonus" stamps (as categorized in the NPTC database). Somehow, Union County managed to issue stamps that look just like the Eastern National official stamps. It created quite a conundrum about whether to include them in the database. That has now been settled, as we have added numerous state parks and other non-NPS groups to the database. If you haven't looked at that yet and enjoy collecting stamps when you travel, you should take a look! 

This layout is based on a pin I saved from Creative Life Scrapbooking. I didn't purchase the directions; I figured out the design on my own. I started by using the new CM inks and stencil to create the background paper. On reflection, I should have placed more leaves on the left side closer to the edge. The large acorn on the decorative pumpkin box is there because I messed up one of the border leaves with a pen that was too wet. From the first time I started scrapbooking, I've learned to cover mistakes with embellishments! The pumpkins were made with the CM Custom Cutting System squares and rectangles. I inked the edges for some extra oomph and added small bits of brown for the stems. I used a few scraps of cardstock and decorative paper. The largest pumpkin is cut from the mat that holds the passport. I knew the passport would cover the hole. It's not visible now, but I tucked the passport into a brochure pocket. It was too thick to hold on with just photo corners.

Highs of the Low House

After leaving the East Jersey Olde Towne Village, I headed to the campus of Rutgers University. The entrance to the Cornelius Low House is just beyond their football stadium (and the parking lot was undergoing renovation, making driving and finding the path rather interesting). The home has been preserved as one of the earliest examples of Georgian architecture and one of the few remaining from Raritan Landing (you can't see a river nearby now, but this was a port city in the 1700s).

My favorite part of the visit was the outside. The metal "shadow" figures on the lawn and the birdhouse gazebo were used to tell the story of the families who lived here through the years. Inside, the rooms are sparse, and, as the center of the local Historical Society, the upstairs houses a series of rotating displays on New Jersey life in general rather than focusing solely on the Revolutionary War. The Low Family was divided by the Revolutionary War, with some members ostracized and exiled to England afterward.

This layout is loosely based on one of Meggan and Tessa's Power Hour projects. You can see the pin I saved here (follow the links to the video and download). I had a small piece of Vintage Chic paper left that I used to mat the 2 vertical photos on the left page. I found a similarly patterned paper in my stash to use for the right-side page. There is an 8 1/2x11" pocket between the pages, so I wasn't too worried about making the pages match exactly. The black cardstock background allowed the lighter cardstock punches to shine. That is the Elegant Diamond border punch from Creative Memories, and as of the day I'm writing this, it is still available. The mini journal box was also from the Vintage Chic collection. 

After this layout, I "retired" that collection. That means I put all of the smaller remnants into the stash bags rather than keeping them all together. Journal cards went into the journal card box; any remaining paper pieces were placed in scrap envelopes by color; and any remaining stickers and elements went into the theme folder. Any stickers with words on them are cut into individual pieces and stored in my "Words of Wisdom" binder (in alphabetical order). 

Lasting Impressions

My last stop at the East Jersey Olde Towne was the print shop. I was delighted to find that the printer was a woman! In her period garb and protective apron, I watched her review the print block, discuss setting type, ink the press, and create a handful of flyers and labels for the honey jars in the gift shop. My father owned a print shop when we were younger, and while his press was electric, it worked much the same, so I found myself smiling all the way through the demonstration. And it was a show for just me! Not too many visitors on a Friday afternoon. I bought a jar of their honey, too.

This layout is based on the CM Virtual Crop sketch for November 2025 (scroll to sketch #3). I flipped the layout horizontally so the feature photo would be the printing press and card. Like the schoolhouse page, I chose Graphic 45 papers to complete the design. Notice the label on the honey and the little card decoration--they feature a bee! I had a yellow sheet in my stash that also featured bees, so I knew it was going on this layout. One sheet was enough to create the vertical strip and the horizontal mat. I had previously cut a decoration out of the paper on the reverse side. However, strategic cutting and placement of the photos and cards covered that hole. I bet you'd never know it was there if I hadn't told you. The sketch calls for another color for the borders and the right-side mat page. The butterfly print was close to bees, and I had wanted that darker contrast. Then, to ensure nothing was lost, I mounted both sides on plain white cardstock. A few stickers and other embellishments finished the page. (And I just noticed the red "O" sticker. That fell onto the layout and has since been removed. Not a decorative element!)

Good Old Golden Rule Days

Another building I visited in the East Jersey Olde Town Village is a one-room schoolhouse. This one is of stone construction. I typically associate these with the frontier and assume log cabins, but this one was made of sturdier stuff. The desks were all paired, and each had its own slate tucked into a well at the front.

This layout is based on one of the CM sketches in the 101 Sketch book, page 52. I turned the sketch 90 degrees because my photos were all landscape. 

I used a base from the Copper and Kraft paper pack (an advisor-only pack). The pattern reminded me of the Graphic 45 papers that make up the rest of the layout. I've finally come to the last of my historic school papers and embellishments. I really liked that little rectangular photo of the kids going to school next to my journal box. That captures the essence of the time period perfectly! The title elements are from the Copper and Kraft kit as well. A little brighter than I would have hoped for, but it was the right sentiment for the title. 

The bottom row border is supposed to be a series of books. I first struggled to find that punch because, well, it wasn't a punch! That's one of the cutting dies I had purchased. Once I realized that, I created 2 segments to place side by side to form a border. I need a less busy pattern for the paper. Neither the books nor the little counting phrase was 12" long, so I filled in the left edge with another embellishment image. Not strictly school, but young girls, and that worked for me. 

Half a Door is Better Than None

Welcome back to my tour of East Jersey Olde Towne Village. We finally come to the areas that were staffed. I enjoyed talking to this housewife about her daily life. The house has a small garden to the side, though most of the plants were well past the harvesting stage. I liked that they had included a half-door, and she was standing in the doorway awaiting my visit! The tour covered only the first floor and focused primarily on the kitchen, which was fine with me. 

This layout is based on one of the CM Virtual Crop Sketches from November 2025. Scroll to layout #2 (I turned it to the right). November 2025 was also a Secret Box opening month, and I always buy those kits. This one included the border maker cartridge you see on the right side of the 4" strips. I wasn't sure that the 3 strips would align correctly when stacked, so I carefully placed them on the paper holder as I wanted them on the page. Post-it notes help to hold paper in place if you need more stability. The brown border sticker is a leftover from an older kit in my stash, but I thought it worked well with this layout. There were also leftover buttons and hearts, which reflected the homey feel of the photos.

Horsing Around at the Blacksmith Shop

Welcome back to my tour of East Jersey Olde Towne in October 2021. The next location I visited was also unstaffed — the blacksmith's shop. I've seen forges working at other parks, so I didn't need the details, though it is usually a nice program. Additional rusty farm equipment was just outside the barn, so you get a whole idea of all the items they had to work on. Lots of horseshoes are lined up as well.

I based this layout on one of the CM virtual crop sketches from November 2025. Look at sketch #1 (I doubled it for this layout). I wanted to focus on the red barn and the brick chimney. The background paper is cranberry cardstock, and I had 2 matching pieces of brick paper for the mat area. I punched the barbed wire fence with a CM Border Making Cartridge. I trimmed off one link so that it fit just over the mat area. I found a mat with a distressed gray pattern and trimmed it into 4 equal segments. By tucking those under the brick paper, it looks like a single long piece extending across the page. Saves paper that way! I found a border sticker that I cut into short lengths to use as a title, and then mimicked that effect by putting my journaling on white write strips on the right page. A few stickers from the CM On the Farm pack rounded out the layout. 

Up a Steep and Very Narrow Stairway

This blog post is a continuation of the Indian Queen Tavern tour. The upstairs is more reminiscent of family life than of an inn, but it still houses some wonderful pieces. I especially liked the piano (which might be a harpsichord, I forget the details). The stairway itself is a special historic artifact. The period style called for a very sturdy yet winding, narrow staircase. This saves room in the floor plan, but can be treacherous on the climb. Watch your step if you visit!

I based this layout on a pin I had saved. Noreen Smith made the original pages you can see in this pin, but she only posted a photo of the design, no directions. I tried to emulate her style from the one clue in the original post—it's all from one sheet of paper. I chose the last piece of paper in my Literary Romance collection and used the woodgrained side. I started by cutting an 8" square from the center of the paper. That piece is placed as a diamond on the right side of the layout. The remaining piece of paper is turned so the corners hang over the left page edges. I tried to center the paper as best I could, then turned it over and cut off the sides, leaving me with the 4 corner elements for the right-side page. I couldn't tell whether Noreen meant the center mat sections were also from the same sheet of paper, but I don't think they are. For that reason, I found 2 8" square remnants in my stash and used them to mount the photos in the center of the pages. The title element and the corner stickers on the left page are from Creative Memories. The remaining embellishments are from the Paper Loft collection.

In the Inn

Welcome back to my extended fall break from 2021. The first building I walked through in the East Jersey Olde Towne Village was this tavern. It started as a private residence, but with the addition of rooms and remodeling, it eventually became a tavern and inn. The first floor focuses on the tavern portion with the bar room and dining room set up for travelers. As with many other locations, Washington is reputed to have dined here on his journey between New York and Virginia. The manikin below is supposed to represent him. I love that they included a mock-up of the food served, too!

This layout is based on a Club Scrap layout that I saved. The link to the layout sample is here. I found a link to the PDF directions that include the cutting guides (email me if you would like a copy). I chose papers from Paper Loft. Isn't the teapot design simply the best fit for the background? The directions call for several decorative papers. I used 1 sheet for the stripes, 1 for the border bases, and 1 for the small squares. The green tonal paper didn't precisely match the teapot background, so it creates the visual separation needed for the layout to work. There are a dozen 1" squares on the layout. You could use all one pattern, or use this as an excuse to use up a variety of scraps. Just make sure the tones match. The small journal box and the other embellishment cluster were remnants I found in my stash pile.

It Takes a Village

My fall 2021 vacation extended through the weekend, though my husband returned to our home. Union County holds its Four Centuries in a Weekend event on the 2nd weekend of October. I planned to attend those events, but since they don't start until Saturday, I used Friday to schedule visits along my travel route. New Brunswick, NJ, is in Middlesex County (not far from Rutgers University), so I made plans to pick up a few more stamps there. The East Jersey Olde Towne is a collection of buildings that would have been found in Colonial America, but like the Appalachian village in the Great Smoky Mountains, gathered from various sites and moved to a central location. They have a regular supply of living history actors, and I got to meet several of them.

This layout is based on one of the CM Virtual Crop layouts from October 2025. Scroll to layout #1. The secret to the long strip that flows off the bottom of the page is to use 2 mats that are 4 1/2" x 6 1/2". You need to pick 2 that match and tape them together in the middle (you'll cover that with the photos). That gives you 13 inches of length, so you can position it with the ends just hanging off the sides, then trim the excess. I also used some paper from the collection (I'm using Legacy of Love again) because there were decorations in the middle that I wanted to cover, and it wasn't quite covered by the photos, as they were trimmed to 5 1/2" long each. The base is a sheet of  Hot Fudge Brown cardstock. I gutted the middle so I could use it for the mats on the smaller photos. There is a companion page on the right with the village map, and there will be lots more journaling as I go, so I was OK with the small journal box under the photo.

Falling For You

This is the last entry for our Poconos trip, though my vacation continued into the weekend. Our last stop was at Dingman's Falls. The trail is a boardwalk taking you past Silver Thread Falls and on to Dingman's Falls. This was a lovely little trail and not too busy for a Thursday morning. After enjoying the sights, we headed home. You will see my upcoming adventures in New Jersey in the next blog posts.

This is another layout I made from the class I took with Meggan and Tessa. When I created the layouts, I didn't add the mats or any embellishments. When I decided to use the layout, I could fit my photos without forcing them into any particular mat pattern. That means that I didn't have to have 3 horizontal photos on the right page. The left page has one extra "photo"—the map I cut from a brochure. It gives the area's overall look, and then you can see the specifics in the photo. The instructions from Meggan and Tessa included a different border punch, but one that I didn't have with me. I thought the wavy one that I chose would be reminiscent of the wind. When I pulled it from the bag as I created this layout, I realized that it was also perfect for water falling over rocks. And I FINALLY got to use that journal box with the waterfall! I have been saving that for years!

When do Stampers not Stamp?

The last day of our Poconos getaway was a return to the Delaware Water Gap. This time we are heading for a local waterfall. On the way, we stopped at the visitor center/administration building. Unfortunately, with COVID and staffing issues, the building was not open. Instead, they placed a table outside with pre-stamped copies of passport stamps and the most requested brochures. I picked up almost all of the stamps that the database said should be there. Have you ever had to use a pre-stamped image? Were you afraid that all of them would be gone by the time you arrived?

This layout is based on one of the CM Virtual Crop sketches from October 2025. Scroll to Sketch #2. I chose some papers from the Shades of Golden Harvest paper pack. The cardstock base is Autumn Hay shimmer. That creates a soft glow in the back. White would have been too stark. The papers are cut to the same width, but to different lengths, so you get a symmetrical pattern across the page. The sketch called for 3 photos, but I chose to use the longer mat for the Unigrid. I used a coordinating vellum for the mats, also punching a leaf border to match the mat. The blue mat picks up the color in my sweatsuit, while the orange/red mat coordinates with the orange papers. A few stickers from my stash provided the titles and leaves.

Playing in the Forest

Today's blog looks at more of our Poconos trip from October 2021. Our last images of PEEC are of our second trail. The brochure called this an "everyone" trail. Likely that means it's for kids, which, for me, speaks to my inner child! There were lots of touch points--cement pressings, tree-tac-toe, and the best part--instruments to play! Jim doesn't care for it, but I had a great time!

This layout is based on an older Project Recipe pattern from CM called "Adventure". I returned to the Set Up Camp paper pack that you saw when I made the National Park Puzzle page. The light-hearted paper matched the emotion of the photos. There isn't a lot of intricate cutting — truly, most of the cuts are for photo mats. I chose to use the pre-printed mats that came with the kit as much as possible. In that way, you can make the 2 strips for the left page by using 2 sides of a single sheet of decorative paper. One of the mats I chose became a title and a mat by trimming the photo appropriately. A couple of embellishment clusters finished the page.

A Gap in the Water

Welcome back to my Poconos trip in October 2021. Today's blog continues our walk around the Poconos Environmental Education Center. There were a few more lovely shots of the leaves (not totally changed over yet, but you can see them starting) and a photo of the official Delaware Water Gap NRA sign. Delaware Water Gap is an interesting park. It formed over many years when local residents objected to Congress's plans for damming the river, arguing that there was enough recreational use without building a manmade reservoir. In the process, 2 separate but conjoined parks were created. Delaware Water Gap came first, and then the river itself was made into the Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River. That eliminated any threat from the development of dams, and so this lovely natural landscape will be enjoyed by all as intended by nature. While the Middle Delaware NSRR helps protect the 40 miles along the river between Milford and the village of Delaware Water Gap, additional protections to the north and south ensure that further development there will not impact this location.

This was another layout in the Meggan and Tessa Croptoberfest class. The link is in the previous blog post. The left page is another of the laser-cut pages. It looks more complicated than it is. The hardest part is stringing the thin paper along the border edges. The leaves and acorns are backfilled with circles of colored cardstock. Luckily, they figured out the right size, so there wasn't much trimming.

A Peek at the Poconos

Today we'll begin the October 2021 trip to the Poconos. For the second year in a row, Jim and I decided to do a fall "leaf peeping" getaway. This time, we stayed a little closer to home by heading to the Delaware Water Gap NRA area. While there, we spent a day walking, first around the Airbnb we rented and then at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) — pronounced PEEK. This non-profit is aligned with the National Park Service, and it has a passport stamp at the visitor center. I chose the Two Ponds trail as our walking path, and the first part was quite lovely. Being near the end of the season, though, it was a little tricky to follow (even with the blazes Jim is pointing out below) and got pretty muddy. We backtracked and chose a different trail, which you will see in a future blog.

I worked on these pages while at a crop. My packing strategy for taking supplies from home is to focus on one album, and this time it was the Fall 2021 trip. Doing that makes it easier to grab coordinating papers and stickers. I just had to grab my boxes with "Fall" and "Camping and nature". (All of my paper packs are sorted by theme or color, just like Tiffany Spaulding recommends.) Since I had all of my older Croptoberfest packs with me, I decided to purchase a class from Meggan and Tessa. Their 2022 Croptoberfest Page Makers Workshop helped me use up some of my extra supplies and create six new 2-page layouts. This is one of the creations from that class. The left page features a laser-cut frame from the Croptoberfest Bundle. I usually struggle with how to incorporate those on a page, so I'm thankful that they had 3 ideas for using them in this class. 

An Apple A Day

Today's post takes a look at a trip my husband and I made in September 2021. Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site is not too far from our house. In their quest to create an authentic historic village, they have recreated an 1800s apple orchard. This means that the varietals are different than what you'll find in today's grocery store. The apples are a little smaller and on the tart side, so they're better for baking than for eating out of hand. The Park allows the public to come and pick apples (though you are not allowed to take any that have fallen to the ground). You pay by the pound, but that includes the tools for picking, like the picker that looks like a Lacrosse stick and the collection bucket. We had fun searching the trees for ripe apples and ended up with a little over a pound to take home! I made a pie with them, which was rather tasty.

This layout was made during the 2020 Creative Memories Croptoberfest event. If you have not participated in an event, a "Project Recipe" kit is available, which includes the papers and embellishments for two double-page layouts. The theme usually coordinates with the fall collection, and indeed, this recipe coordinated with Hello Autumn, which was launched around the same time. I cannot find the sample of how the photos were to be arranged on the page, but I know I had to move some mats around to accommodate my photos and used one as the base for journaling by adding the white Write Strips. I also added a small blurb from one of their brochures that describes the apple orchard. It blends in on the top right page, but I didn't need it to be too obvious.

Mama's Little Helper

Hello all! Today's blog is about a page featuring a National Park puzzle that I received as a birthday present in the summer of 2021. We decided to set up a large table in the living room to have space to assemble it whenever we had time to work on it. Our cat, Murphy, was always on hand to help us out! She is quite the supervisor. The finished puzzle was glued and framed for my scrapbook room.

This layout is based on one of the Creative Memories Virtual Crop sketches from July 2025 (scroll to Sketch #1). I rotated the sketch 90 degrees to the right to fit the layout of my photos, then swapped the circle for the puzzle punch pieces. I chose to use the "Set Up Camp" pack because it is a lighthearted layout, and I wanted the bright, 'campy' feel of the papers. Assembling this is not as complicated as it appears. I punched the puzzle pieces from two different patterns, and layered them on cardstock (with a dark brown paper between for contrast). Then just cut one of the borders in half with the 12" trimmer and spread to the top and bottom (or left and right sides) of the page! I made sure to highlight the cat with arrows in each photo, using just a few other enamel stickers as embellishments. The puzzle pieces are visually busy, so it doesn't need clusters of larger stickers. 

A General Layout

Folks, we have reached the last entry for the 2021 NPTC convention! The Night Tour on golf carts came to a close by driving past the White House and then on to Pershing Park. This is the site of one of the newer memorials dedicated to World War I. The statue of General Pershing had been there, making it the perfect spot to add more material and rename the memorial. You can see the intended look in the photo on the far right. However, the monument isn't quite done! That's a canvas rendering of what the statue will look like. Since I took this photo, the project has been completed, and you will see the results in a future blog post.

I based this layout on an old Project Recipe from Creative Memories called Mix and Match. This is the older of the 2 Mix-and-match collections (2017). I used papers from the "Called to Serve" collection, as well as the back side of a Scrapbook Customs DC page with a map of the National Mall area. I liked the concept of the sketch with mirrored border punches, so I chose a patriotic version with the Flag Banner punch. It mimics the canvas's reflection in the memorial photo.

After the tour, the golf carts returned us to our hotel. It was late and I went right to sleep! It had been a long day. On Monday morning, I had a leisurely breakfast, then packed and headed to Union Station to catch my train back home.

For this layout, I modified an idea posted on the CM blog for creating travel borders (see the 2nd border on the page). The example focused on the Scenic Route travel pack, which I have used up. But the concept of the Passport to Adventure used here is very similar, and there was a lovely premade layered border with a train and a station. I followed all the other directions for the layers. After adding the embellishments, I wanted to point toward our next convention, so I fussy-cut an image of the St. Louis Arch from an Eastern National paper and added the small numbers for the following year.

I hope you enjoyed the journey through DC. Next time, we'll look at some unique park experiences closer to home!

Reflections of Lincoln

Happy Halloween, everyone! It's so perfect that we continue our nighttime tour of the Washington, DC National Mall in 2021. Our golf carts took us right up to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. I loved capturing the images with the night glow from the lights and the remnants of the sunset. This may be the first time I've understood why the reflecting pool is such an essential part of the National Mall. And then I walked over to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. If you've not been here at night, it's quite a moving experience--even more so than a daytime trip. 

Similar to the page in my last blog, I had another sheet of black paper with pre-printed photos around the edge. I had initially planned to use those side by side on a two-page layout, but the pre-printed images were arranged along the right-hand side of each page, so I couldn't achieve the desired symmetry. That's when I decided to separate the papers. 

This paper also featured the statue of Lincoln from the memorial; however, the page was quite crowded, and I wanted more space for the photos and unigrid. I took the thin white title strip off at the top, then I cut the page in half and spread it across two pages. I layered each of the 6x11 pieces onto black cardstock so the background consistency carried across the pages. That gave me all the room I needed for my own photos (anything that is a 4x6 or 6x4 photo is mine — everything else was pre-printed), as well as the unigrid from the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial. To be consistent with the pre-printed photos, I matted all of my photos with white cardstock. I reattached the title strip on the right page. To give me a bit more symmetry, I cut a piece of white cardstock to the same width and found some pertinent stickers to fill in the space on the left page.