Using cardstock as a base

I have to admit that with all the amazing, gorgeous and awesome pattern papers available, I forget that cardstock can be used as a base and will absolutely be the perfect fit in assembling your page. 

I remembered that for this page.

 I had chosen a blue/turquoise pattern paper that matched the dots in the October Afternoon paper. And it didn't quite work. 

And I just so happened across the same color in cardstock. 

The reason I loved October Afternoon PP is that it made my photos pop and I wanted that paper

to be the mat rather than the blue/turquoise pattern paper.

 The blues in my photos were just jarring against any other paper but the taupe/blue/green.

Therefore, CARDSTOCK as a base and a bigger mat for the photos.

The rest of the embellishments worked out well, however, I'm so not feeling the splats I made.

It just looked so BARE. Oh well. Too late now. LOL.

I did break out the sewing machine and did some stitching.

We stopped at St. Mark's wildlife refuge that also had a lighthouse.

A total win-win. Love them both. Wildlife and lighthouses.

This was a slight detour on our way home from Tallahassee and I got to take

photos, admire a lighthouse (they make me swoon) and critters. 

The critters actually stood still long enough for me to snap them, even the lighthouse.