Flashback Friday @ Scrapbook Challenges

Hello everyone! Happy Friday to you! We have made it to the weekend and this weekend looks to be filled with lots of family time for us.

Today is Flashback Friday over on the Scrapbook Challenges blog. That's where we take an old sketch and give it a new look.

Here is the old sketch:

 

 

The updated sketch:



 



 My layout:

I kept my layout pretty clean and simple. I just changed things slightly since the photo I used was a horizontal photo instead of a vertical photo.

I just love this photo of our family from 2012. They are all such good sports - and when I suggest something different for a family photo, they usually just go along with it. This particular year I'd gotten us all Santa hats to wear. It wasn't until after we had taken the photos that we realized the hats were different sizes! Matt's kept falling in his eyes and Shane's was pretty much stretched to the max! At the time it didn't even click with me that they weren't a one size fits all hat! Ah - it's so much fun to look back and get a laugh!

Check out the Scrapbook Challenges blog and see how the rest of the team interpreted this sketch. I hope that you are inspired to play along!

Thanks for stopping by and have a fantastic Friday!

Try Stampin - Or Not - On Tuesday #242



Happy Tuesday! I am super excited to be sharing my first reveal with you for Try Stampin' - Or Not - On Tuesday! I have been such a fan of their sketches for quite some time, and now to be a part of the team is just so much fun for me. I am not a big stamper, but maybe that will change over time. This week's fun sketch is courtesy of Hillary and our optional theme is "Boo or Eek".

 

 

 

I decided to go with the boo/eek theme and make a Halloween card. I had these paper scraps still out from a recent layout, and how perfect that it had "Boo" printed all over it! I stamped my sentiment and I love how this turned out!

 

Be sure to check out the Try Stampin - Or Not - On Tuesday blog to see the beautiful cards that the rest of the design team have made. I do hope you play along with our challenge. Remember, you can just use the sketch, just use the theme, or do both! You can link up either on the blog or Facebook page here.

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a fantastic day!





Little Man - Scrapbook Challenges Sketch #256

Good Monday morning! It is back to the old routine today. Long weekends are always nice, but they seem to go just as fast!

Today I have the latest sketch from Scrapbook Challenges to share with you.

 

 

I kept my layout pretty clean and simple so the focus stayed on this little cutie! I just flipped the sketch to work with my photos. I used Echo Park's All About A Boy collection on this layout. The colors in the papers went perfectly with these photos. We don't get to see my great nephew very often, so I try to take lots of photos when we do see him. He is such a cutie!

Check out the Scrapbook Challenges blog to see the other design team members take on this sketch. I hope you have some time to play along!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Lasting Memories #265 - Keeping Cool At The Pool

Hello everyone! Happy Sunday to you! We are enjoying what is left of our long weekend. Sadly, we won't have another long weekend until Thanksgiving, and that is a month away!

Today over on the Lasting Memories blog, we have our last challenge for October. Our theme for October has been "Hot, hot, hot products" and this week's challenge is "It's a Heat wave" and we are to use chipboard on our layouts.

A great way to beat the heat is to spend time in the pool! This summer was pretty rainy and even cooler than normal around here, so we didn't make it to the pool very often. When we did Ada made the most of it and enjoyed every minute of it. She is such a cutie in her pink swimsuit!

Chipboard is one of those products that I love and I have hoarded it and wouldn't use it because better photos might come along. So, this challenge was great to get some of that hoarded product used up! I never was much of a fan of naked chipboard, so all of my chipboard is covered with patterned paper. The tag in the upper right corner, the hearts, the brackets, and the circle with the sun stamped on it are all covered chipboard pieces. I also used chipboard thickers in my title.

I based my layout off of this sketch from Kelly Hollifield that had been posted in one of the Facebook groups I am in.

 

Be sure to check out the Lasting Memories blog to see the rest of the design team's layouts. I hope you find some time to play along with us. All of our challenges end on October 30.

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!



True Story - Sketches In Thyme PL style

These cards are being featured on the Sketches In Thyme Project Life Style blog today! I made these cards for a swap back in the summer and I really loved the way they turned out. When they do finally find a home in my album, I think I will add a couple of enamel dots or gems to the banners to add a little something more.

We are just about a week away from the first sketch challenge! Are you ready? I know I am!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Happy News!!

 

Hey everyone! I am just popping in to share some happy news with you. I am now a member of the Try Stampin' - Or Not - On Tuesday design team!

Try Stampin' - Or Not - On Tuesday posts a new sketch challenge every - you guessed it - Tuesday. They have changed things up a bit this year - stamping used to be a requirement, but now it is not required. They have also added in an optional twist with each sketch, and their challenges run for 2 weeks. I am on Team A, so my first reveal will be October 27.

Here's a look at this weeks sketch to show you what you've been missing! The twist this week is leaves/3D. If you are a card maker, you really need to check out this blog. Their sketches are so much fun to work with!

 



I look forward to working with this talented group of ladies, and I am so honored to be a part of the team!

Going Plaid With SBC

Hello everyone! Happy Hump Day! Today over on the Scrapbook Challenges blog we have a pattern challenge, and this month we are mad about plaid!

 

 

Plaid is a favorite pattern of mine, so if a collection offers it - it usually finds its way home with me! When I was looking for plaid papers in my stash to use for this challenge, I found this paper from October Afternoon's Holiday Style collection, and my first thought was of this photo of my daughter and her two cousins that I had recently found.  What a trio of Christmas cuties sitting together waiting to open presents on Christmas eve!

I used this older sketch from Scrapbook Challenges:

 

Head on over to the Scrapbook Challenges blog and check out the other "mad about plaid" layouts from the other design team members. I hope you're inspired to dig out some plaid papers and join our challenge!

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a fantastic day!

 



Sketch N Scrap Card Sketch #60

Hello everyone! I hope y'all have had a good start to your week! I have the newest sketch from Sketch N Scrap to share with you today. This great sketch was created by Heather, and it is one I can see myself using again and again.

I am always a sucker for banners. I swear I could have them on every single card or layout that I create! I just love the way they look.

I had this "Merry Christmas" sticker from Echo Park's Reflections - Christmas collection, and I thought it looked great paired up with these paper from Pink Paislee's Merry & Bright collection. A very quick and easy card, and one of my favorites!

Be sure to check out the Sketch N Scrap blog to see the beautiful cards from the rest of the design team. You have until the 31st to link up for a chance to win a fun prize!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Use Your Stuff #196 - Thankful

Hello everyone! I can't believe that we are already back around to Monday again! It's another short school week for us, thanks to parent/teacher conferences, so there's something to look forward to!

It's time for a new challenge over on the Use Your Stuff blog. This week Tammy is challenging us to be "thankful". It could be something or someone you are thankful for, or it could be the colors for the season of thanks - autumn ...there are lots of possibilities.

I created an "I am so Thankful for you" card for my project. I have so many people in my life that I am thankful for, and this time of year is the perfect time to tell them that.

I based my card off of this fun sketch from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge blog. Sadly, I missed the deadline by a few hours, but I still have a beautiful card to give out!

 

I hope you can find some time this week to get scrappy and play along with our challenge! Be sure to check out the Use Your Stuff blog to see the rest of the design teams take on the challenge.

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!



Scary Cute - Sketches In Thyme #169

Good morning everyone! I hope that y'all are having a good weekend. The weather here has been cool, but at least we aren't seeing snow like some areas of the US! Today is supposed to be a gorgeous day and the maple trees in our yard are looking beautiful. That means it's time to get some fall family photos taken!

I have the week 3 sketch from Sketches In Thyme to share with you. This month we've changed things up a bit, and the week 3 team is working with this fantastic sketch from Maven Brenda:

Tigers and sharks and turtles, oh my! Aren't these three little girlies cute in their Halloween costumes?! Ellie and Isla are my great nieces, and of course, that is Miss Ada in the middle. Ellie was born in July 2013, Ada in November 2013, and Isla in July of 2014. They are so close in age, I just wish they all lived closer so they could enjoy each others company more often.

We thought it was pretty cute that these three girly girls were such "scary" things for Halloween. Well, I don't know how scary a turtle can be, but one thing is for certain - they are all scary cute!

I used up some bits and pieces of My Mind's Eye - Boo To You collection - and the flair I've had in my stash for at least a couple of years. It feels good to get some of my older stash used up! If I just keep working at it, surely I will get it used up one day!

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you find some time to play along with our challenges and get them linked up by the end of the month! Have a great day!

Flash Back Friday @ SBC

Hello everyone! Happy Friday to you! I can't believe how quickly this week has gone by. It could slow down just a little bit!

I am back today to share the latest challenge from Scrapbook Challenges with you.  Today is Flashback Friday - where an older sketch is taken and given a makeover of sorts. Here is the updated sketch we got to work with:

And here is my layout:

Aw - these old photos of Matthew just melt my heart! He had the whitest hair, bluest eyes, and super sweet, chubby cheeks! He was a cutie for sure. These photos were taken at my Mom and Dad's house when he was seven months old. I have a couple of other photos from this day showing him starting to crawl and be a little more mobile. He was - and still is - a sweetheart!

Check out the Scrapbook Challenges blog to see more inspiration from this sketch, and I hope you play along. I would love to see your creations!

Twinkle,Twinkle, Little Star

 

Hi, guys! Just wanted to let you know that one of my project life style cards is being featured over on the Sketches In Thyme Project Life Style blog today. Kim has been featuring cards from the design team all week long and will continue to do so until the first challenge goes live on November 1st. A preview, of sorts, of what is to come!

Be sure to check out the Sketches In Thyme PL Style blog and become a follower for lots of inspiration!

 

Feeling Sketchy #131

Hello, hello! I hope y'all are having a good week. It's moving right along for me. Funny how an extra day off will make the week seem a bit shorter!

I have the newest sketch from Feeling Sketchy to share with you today. Our sponsor for this sketch is Lacy Sunshine.

The biggest difference between my card and the sketch is the sketch shows a tall and skinny card, but I chose to stick with the standard A2 size. Since I went with the smaller card size I put my sentiment on the pocket piece instead of below it.

I'm slowly getting a few of my Christmas cards for this year made up, so maybe it won't be quite as hectic when the season starts.

Head on over to the Feeling Sketchy blog and read more about our sponsor and prize, and check out the projects from the rest of the design team.

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a great one!

Picking The Perfect Pumpkin with Scrapbook Challenges

Hello everyone! We are enjoying an extra day off from school today, and that makes it a very good day!

I am super excited to share with you my first reveal for Scrapbook Challenges! Today is a new sketch challenge.

And here is my layout:

Abby and Shawn took Ada to the pumpkin patch for the first time the first weekend of October. Besides having issues with her camera and memory card, Abby said it was a really fun day. I am so glad that she was able to get a few fun pictures for me! Of course Ada had to go for the biggest pumpkin she could find. Her Mommy and Daddy convinced her to go with the one she could actually carry!

Bella Blvd's Hello Autumn collection was the perfect collection for these photos. I even dug out my sewing machine and stitched around the circle, and it's hard to see, but I stitched around the edge of the layout as well. That is a rare occasion for me, but I really like the way it turned out. I may have to dig out my sewing machine more often.

Head on over to the Scrapbook Challenges blog to see what the other design team members have created. I hope you play along with us - if you do you have a chance at being a guest designer for us!

Thanks for stopping by and make today a great day!

Lasting Memories #263

Good Sunday morning! I hope you are having a great weekend and are making lots of memories! We have had a beautiful weekend so far. The sun is shining and there's a bit of a chill in the air - especially at night. That makes it a perfect time for a post about a hot drink!

This week's challenge over at Lasting Memories is just that. Scrap about a hot drink and the technique is to use a stencil on your layout.

Supplies used - Simple Stories Sweater Weather paper and ephemera pack,  Alphas - small letters - Basic Grey, corrugated alphas - Pebbles, Stencil - Studio Calico, Ink - Close To My Heart, Sequins.

 

I scrapped about my one hot drink love - hot chocolate! I am not a hot drink lover - even my coffee is iced - but when the cooler weather hits, I do like to have a hot chocolate - with lots of marshmallows - once in a while.

 

I tried my hand at sponging some ink on with my stencil. I don't have a lot of these types of stencils, so I was a bit limited with what I could do. At first I didn't think I was going to like it at all. In fact, I thought about tossing it out and starting completely over. I stuck with it and in the end I really like how it turned out. It may just be a recent favorite!

 

I used this sketch #451 from August 10 from the Scrapbook Challenges blog. I really liked all of the layers behind the photo.

 

Check out the Lasting Memories blog and see the other design team member's creations. I hope you find some time to play along with our challenges!

 

That's it for today! Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Sketches In Thyme Project Life Style

I am super excited to tell you all today that I am a member of the Sketches In Thyme Project Life Style design team! I am so thrilled and honored to be a part of this talented team.

 

I have played around with the project life style of scrapping for the last couple of years, but nothing serious. I take so many pictures that tell a story, but don't necessarily need a 12x12 layout about it, and at the rate I'm going, my house may soon be taken over by scrapbook albums! Now don't get me wrong, I love scrapping 12x12 traditional layouts and don't ever see myself giving it up, but I think the project life style added to it is just what I need!

We will have a new sketch posted every week of the month. I am on Week 2's team, so you will see my card and what I am working on during the second week of the month. As great as these sketches are, I'm sure more of them will be making an appearance in my albums.

I'll be working on my granddaughter's first year album (she's about to turn 2 - so I'm a little behind!) and my weekly project life spreads. I would also like to do a "30 Days of Thankful" album this year, and I'm sure a December Daily will be fit in there somewhere, so you'll be seeing me create a variety of cards to be used in these albums!

I look forward to this new adventure with Kim and the rest of the team. I hope that you will check out the Sketches In Thyme Project Life Style blog and become a follower and play along with our challenges each week. Don't forget - you don't have to use your card in a pocket page - you can use it on a traditional layout as well!

Sketch N Scrap Twistback Thursday #10

Good Thursday morning! We've about made it through another work/school week, and it's almost the weekend. This will be another long weekend for the boys. They have the day off Monday and they are looking forward to it.

It's the second Thursday of the month and that means it's Twistback Thursday over on the Sketch N Scrap blog. Kelly has chosen a fun sketch for us to use and the twist is to use a fall theme.

I was so excited to get some more of my older photos scrapped! Again - these are some of my favorite photos that I have held on to  - waiting for ....what? I don't know. The right time? The right product? Do you ever have trouble scrapping favorite photos?

Anyway, this sketch was perfect for these photos of Matthew, jumping in the leaves, five years ago! I have had the burlap background paper in my stash for quite a while, and it went perfectly with the new Carta Bella Fall Blessings Collection.

Be sure to check out the Sketch N Scrap blog to see the other design team members take on the sketch and the twist. You have until October 31 to play along with any or all of our challenges this month.

Thanks for stopping by and have a fantastic day!

Some exciting news to share!

I am now a member of the Scrapbook Challenges Sketch Crew!  I am so excited and honored to be a part of this talented team. I have been a fan of their sketches for a long time and I can't wait to get started!

My first reveal will be next Monday, October 12. I hope to see you all playing along with our challenges! Check out the Scrapbook Challenges blog to meet the rest of the team!

Thanks for stopping by!

Use Your Stuff #194 - Sketch Challenge

Hello, hello! It's Monday and the start of a new work/school week around here. It also means a new challenge is up over on the Use Your Stuff blog! Shirley is hosting our challenge this week and it is one of my favorites - a sketch challenge!

 

Here is the sketch that she has picked for us:

 

 

 

This sketch is very versatile and could easily be used for a layout, an off the page project, or for a card. I chose to do a card for my project this week. 

 

I embossed my card front with the small dot embossing  folder, then just used some scraps for the rest of my card front. The cute little stickers are from The Paper Studio, and I have been holding on to them for ages. They were just too cute to use! I love that cute little birdie and thought it was time to share his cuteness with someone else.

 

Be sure to check out the Use Your Stuff blog and see what the rest of the design team has created. There is a lot of beautiful inspiration to be had! I hope you have time to play along with us this week!

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Just a little hello

Since yesterday was World Card Making Day, I actually sat down and worked on some cards! I didn't get as many done as I would have liked, but I did get a few and I'm happy with how they all turned out.

Lucy, over at My Sketch World posted four new card sketches for us. Here is the first sketch:

 

And here is what I came up with:

 

I used Heidi Swapp's  September Skies 6x6 paper pad for this card. I just love the colors in this collection - they are just so pretty! I dug out some flower buttons, that have been in my stash for ages, to go in place of the stars. I think this will be a great card to brighten someone's day!

Head over to the My Sketch World blog and see all four sketches. You have until noon EST today to get them in. I'm hoping to get another done, but time is running out!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!



A New Project Life Style Challenge Blog!!!

 

 

I am super excited about this! Kim, from Sketches In Thyme, has started up a new project life style challenge blog called Sketches In Thyme Project Life Style. It's a challenge blog all about making your own project life style cards and using them in your project life spreads, or on a regular scrapbook page.

She has a design team call going on now, so go here and check it out! There aren't a lot of project life style challenge blogs out there, so if this is something you are interested in, definitely check it out and become a follower of the blog!

Sketch N Scrap - World Card Making Day

Hello everyone! Happy World Card Making Day! I have a super fun card sketch from Sketch N Scrap to share with you today.

In honor or World Card Making Day, Mandy has created this card sketch for us to work with:

Isn't this a fun sketch? I think Mandy did a great job on it.

For my card I used the Simple Stories Homespun 6x6 paper pad. I have used just about every sheet of this paper pad, and I know I say this all the time, but I am really wishing I had more. (I don't think I've ever met a scrapbook paper that I didn't like!) I stayed true to the sketch, only changing up the rectangular piece for more of a square.

I hope you find some time today to play along with our special sketch. I know I am hoping to get lots of cards done today!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Feeling Sketchy #130

Hello again!  This is my second post for the day, so if you are looking for my Sketch N Scrap post, please scroll down or go here.

Feeling Sketchy has a new sketch up today, and it's the first reveal of our newest design team members. Here's a look at the sketch:

I used this super cute pumpkin image from our sponsor, Bugaboo Stamps. With Halloween being just around the corner, I thought he would make a super cute card. I also think he would make an adorable embellishment for a scrapbook page as well.

Be sure to stop by the Feeling Sketchy blog and read more about our sponsor and prize. You'll also see tons of inspiration from the rest of the design team.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Sketch N Scrap #90 - Jump!

Happy October 1st! October. Did I really just type that?! This year is flying by, and before we know it the holidays will be here!

The first day of the month means a new sketch is up over on the Sketch N Scrap blog. If you haven't heard the news, we have two new sketch artists. Heather and Mandy will be providing our sketches every other month, starting with this month, and they will not disappoint!

Heather has created this fun sketch for us to work with:

 

I just loved working with this sketch. The papers tilted, the layers, the circle...the only thing I had trouble deciding on was whether to use six smaller photos, or one large photo. In the end I chose the six smaller since I had so many photos of Ada on the trampoline. I thought this would be a good chance to get them on a layout.

I bought this Basic Grey Olivia collection when it first came out for no other reason but I liked it! I really didn't have much need for pinks and mint greens at the time. I am so happy that we now have Ada in our lives, and now I can use up some of these girly papers!

Be sure to stop by the Sketch N Scrap blog to see the rest of the design team's layouts. You have until the end of the month to play along.

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you join us Saturday for a fun new card sketch from Mandy for World Card Making Day.