Happy Pet Lizard (123)

Today I'm playing along for the first time with the 123 challenge blog.  Using this month's criteria, I came up with a layout called "Happy Pet Lizard."
 

Supplies: cardstock by Wausau Paper; chipboard by Studio G; mini alphabet stickers by Doodlebug; graph paper & die cut banners by October Afternoon; foam flower sticker (used as stamp) by Darice; map paper & all other stickers by Basic Grey; ink by Hero Arts; pearlescent paint by Ranger; watercolor paint by Angora; pens by Zig; trim from my stash; recycled bubble wrap.

Here is a closer look at the lizard in question.  She is a girl, and her name is Camus.  No relation to Albert.  :)  In the photo she is riding on my husband's shoulder.

Red is my favorite color, so it was fun to use it on this layout.  I used little pops of red here and there, to create a cheerful feel for the page.  I fulfilled the other challenge requirements by using the chipboard word "Happy" and a sticker depicting a bunch of balloons.

I wrote a lot of journaling for this page.  We only have one picture of Camus (people took fewer photos in the days before digital cameras), so I wanted to write all my recollections of her on this one layout.  To break up my column of text, I divided it into four sections and sprinkled it with drops of watercolor paint.

The text reads: "In college Scott had a pet green iguana called Camus, and he attentively kept her fit and happy.  He held her every day and let her ride on his shoulder.  He gently rubbed the spines on her back.  (This is akin to rubbing a dog or cat behind the ears.)  He fed her lots of fruit and vegetables (because green iguanas are vegetarians).  When she expressed interest in his potted kalanchoe, he just let her eat it."  :)

The stamped red flowers on the layout represent the kalanchoe blossoms that Camus ate.

I spent a lot of time on pen work for this layout.  The borders and outlines help the individual elements to stand out, and they also add a bit of a hand-drawn/homespun effect to the page.

I recycled some old bubble wrap as a stamp, using red ink in some areas and black ink in others.  I like the way the plastic bubbles partially resisted the ink, adding more texture--almost like lizard scales!--to the stamped pattern!  I randomly outlined some of the bubbles with my pens.

I used a variety of farm/fruit/vegetable banner pieces, and I brushed them with watercolors, allowing the paints to flow together for a soft effect.

Camus was a good lizard, and Scott was sad to say good bye to her when he finished college.  However, he left her in good hands, with a friend who is skilled in lizard care.  I'm so glad that we have this one photo of her.  And now it's finally scrapbooked, preserving our memories of Camus!