Thursday, October 31, 2019

Some Exciting News...

Hello, everyone! Happy Halloween to you! It is a very cold Halloween here - highs only in the 30's today and the wind is terrible. We even had a few snow flurries last night!

I am super excited to let you all know that I am now a part of The ScrapRoom Design Team! I will be sharing my pocket page spreads that I have created with the Shots of Life Kit each month. I will mostly be sharing my weekly pocket page spreads each month, but on occasion, I may share a themed spread with you, too. 

I love working in my Project Life albums but I have not given them priority like I should. I am hoping that with designing with the Shots of Life kit each month that I will change this and be able to share even more of my albums and maybe, dare I say, make a little progress on catching up on them!

I will be sharing my first layout around the middle of November so be on the lookout!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! Have a Happy Halloween!

Monday, October 21, 2019

Storytime With Grandma - Scrap Our Stash Pick Your Side October Challenge

Hello, hello! Happy Monday to you! I hope your week is off to a good start. 

It's time to share my take on this month's Pick A Side Sketch Challenge at Scrap Our Stash! Here's a look at the sketch that we had to choose from:


Along with picking either the left or right side of the sketch, we are also required to include twine, at least one tag, and one tab on our layout. Here is what I came up with:


I used one of my October Counterfeit Kit add-on kits along with one of the papers in my main kit for this layout. 

I came across these photos of my mom reading a story to Matthew when he was maybe 2 years old. My mom has been gone for 6 years now and I still find it a little hard to scrap photos of her, but it is getting easier. She loved spending time with all of her grandkids and a quiet moment like this one was always her favorite.

I used the left side of the sketch for my layout. I added a tag with twine behind the photo. I left the tag blank for now. I think I will journal just the basics on the tag and then write more detailed journaling on the back of the layout. I also included a tab on the right side of the photos.

Here are a couple of close-ups:



Be sure to stop by Scrap Our Stash to see how the rest of the design team took on this fun challenge. I hope you have some time to play along with us this month!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! Have a great day!

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Fabulous - The Studio Challenges - One Patterned Paper

Hello again! I am back with my second post of the day. If you are looking for my Sketch N Scrap reveal, please scroll on down.

We have a new challenge at The Studio Challenges today. This week we are challenging you to use one piece of patterned paper on your layout. It sounds hard but your paper can be double-sided - so it's like you're using two pieces! You can cut it up, change it up somehow, it's up to you as long as you only use one piece of paper. 

I was afraid this challenge might be a little, well, challenging! But really the hardest part was deciding which pretty patterned paper to pick! Here is the one I chose from Simple Stories "Oh Happy Day" collection:


And here is my layout:


Of course, I had to go with a "happy horizontal" for this one! I pulled out the stickers, die-cuts, and enamel dots that I had left with this collection and challenged myself to use only those to finish out my layout. 

The title and little banner piece at the top of the photos are from the sticker sheet and all of the flowers are from the die-cut pack. I love how this turned out! I was pretty limited on what enamel dots I used because the pack was mostly gone, but I was able to make it work.

Here are a couple of close-ups:



This was such a fun challenge and one that I think I will try again!

Be sure to stop by The Studio Challenges blog to see how Helen and Michelle took on the challenge, too.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! I hope you have a great day!

Sketch N Scrap Card Sketch #156

Happy Sunday! I hope that you are having a good weekend.

It's time for a new card sketch at Sketch N Scrap today. Sketch Artist Lisa has created a great sketch for us to play with:


I have created a 'thankful' card. Anytime is a good time to send a card like this but I think this time of year makes it be at the forefront of my mind.


I found a fall-themed 6x6 paper pad in my stash that I had picked up at Target a few years ago (and then found it again at Tuesday Morning last year...I think) and I knew it would be perfect for my card. There is no manufacturer's name on the pad but it has the prettiest papers and colors in it - and when you can get it for $1.49 - well, that makes it well worth it.

I stayed true to the sketch only using my sentiment for my focal piece. I tried to add some die-cut leaves around it but I just liked the simplicity of the card without them. 

This is another great sketch that I can see myself using again and again.

Head on over to Sketch N Scrap to see how the rest of the design team used this sketch.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today. I will be back soon with another project to share with you!

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Just Saying Hello - Sketch N Scrap Monthly Facebook Challenge #2

Hello, everyone and Happy Sunday to you! I do hope you are having a good weekend. 


I thought I would pop in here really quickly to share a card that I made for Sketch N Scrap's Monthly Facebook Challenges group. You'll have to head on over and join the group to see which sketch I picked for the challenge and to see the optional twist.


For my card, I have used Echo Park's 'Just Be You' 6x6 paper pad and my go-to Hero Arts sentiment stamp set. Matting each of the layers with a solid color helped to give a little separation so the card wasn't quite so busy.

Be sure to join in our monthly Facebook challenges group! We would love to see you over there!


Saturday, October 12, 2019

Counterfeit Kit Challenge - Back To The Good Old Days

Hello and Happy Saturday! I hope that your weekend is off to a good start! We have gotten a little taste of - dare I say - winter yesterday and this morning. I've gotta say, I'm ready for the warmer temperatures to return! I'm not quite ready for this chilly of weather.

It's time for the first challenge of the month at Counterfeit Kit Challenges today. Here's a reminder of the fun inspiration kit that MF Laura has chosen for us this month:



Here is a reminder of my kit for October based off of the inspiration kit:


Our first challenge is - Back to the Good Old Days! Since our inspiration kit is a bit of a throwback, we are going 'old skool' and we want you to scrap like you used to! Maybe you started out in one size and moved on to another, maybe you used to have a technique that you loved but haven't used in a while. Or maybe scraplift yourself by digging out an old layout that you love and base your layout on that. Get back to the heart of what you made you fall in love with scrapbooking.

When I first started scrapping back in 1998, I started out in the 8 1/2x11 size. After a handful of layouts had been made in that size I moved on to 12x12 and I haven't really scrapped in the smaller 8 1/2x11 size since. For this challenge, I have gone back to the smaller size and it was fun to change things up a bit! Here is what I came up with:


This is a layout of my grandma - or Hucky - as we all called her. These photos are from 1997 - the year before I actually started scrapping! When I came across these photos, I realized that I don't think I have ever made a layout of just Hucky. I haven't filled out the journaling yet...I'm trying to decide if I can fit everything that I want to say on that tag or if I'll just add the basic information to it and add more detailed information by way of hidden journaling.

I have always been a minimalist when it comes to embellishing my layouts. I mean I have to remind myself to embellish more on most layouts even now! I decided to stick with the minimalist approach for this challenge - and that was harder than it used to be!

It was fun to go back and scrap and a smaller size like I did when I started scrapping. A few more 8 1/2x11 layouts may start showing up in my albums in the future!

Head on over to the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog to see how the other design team members went 'old skool'!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! I hope you have a great day!

Thursday, October 10, 2019

SNS WCMD Sketch #1

Hello again! I am back to share another project with you today.

Sketch N Scrap is celebrating World Card Making Day all month long with a new card sketch posted every Saturday of the month. Today I am sharing my take on the first sketch. Here's a look at the sketch:


I have created a Christmas card based on this sketch. I really like this sketch and I already have more ideas on how I want to use it. Here's a look at my card:


I have used Illustrated Faith's - CHRISTmas - collection. I really like this Christmas collection - the colors are the perfect mix of the traditional red and green and the non-traditional pink, turquoise, and yellow - something for everyone!

The circle element is from the sticker sheet and I just matted it on a larger green circle. I stamped the tree and fussy cut it out and added a bit of foam tape to it and the circle embellishment for a little dimension. Before I stuck those down, I added a bit of messy silver metallic thread. I finished it off by adding in a few red gems.


One more Christmas card ready to be sent out this holiday season!

Sketch N Scrap will post a new card sketch this Saturday and you just may see another Christmas card from me using it!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! Have a great day!




TN Time With Lisa & Lori October Challenge

Hello, everyone! Happy Thursday to you! I can't believe that the weekend is almost here already! This week has gone by so fast for me!

It's time for the October Challenge at TN Time With Lisa and Lori! I can't believe that this is our 10th challenge!

HERE IS HOW OUR CHALLENGE WORKS: This is a monthly challenge that launches on the 10th of each month  You will have until the 9th at midnight CST to link up your entries. If you complete my challenge link your spread below. If you complete Lisa's sketch challenge link your spread on her blog - My Creative Endeavors. If you combine my challenge with Lisa's challenge link up your spread here on my blog AND on Lisa's blog. You will then have a chance to win my prize as well as Lisa's prize!  That's a chance to win TWO times with ONE layout!!

Here is my challenge for October:
(Challenge open October 10th - November 9th at midnight CST)



Use a selfie or a photo with you in it on your spread. Easy peasy!

Here is the sketch that Lisa has created for us:



Here is my TN spread based on the sketch and my challenge:


I am not going to lie - I struggled with this spread. It wasn't the sketch or the challenge to use a selfie - that was the easy part - I had so much trouble figuring out what paper to use! I think the odd colors of all of our shirts in the photo was what was throwing me off. I should have just changed my photo to black and white and went from there, but that would have been too easy. I had picked out papers from Paige Evan's 'Whimsical' line - and they matched well enough but they were on the dark side and just wasn't the mood and feel that I was looking for. I had my spread all made up and I just did not like it at all and I tore it all back apart and started over. 

When I came across these papers from Close To My Heart, well, they definitely fit the more playful mood that I was going for better than the others had. This was a girl's day out and we were ready for some shopping and spending time together - which in my book calls for bright and cheery papers - not dark papers. I liked this version so much better. Is it my favorite? No. But it is a memory in my March TN that I will cherish just the same.

Now for the rules. You can always find the rules to our challenge under the tab at the top of the page, but as a refresher, here they are again:

1. Create a TRAVELER'S NOTEBOOK, PLANNER, OR BULLET JOURNAL spread based on the CHALLENGE THEME and/or our sketch. 
2. You must be a follower of my blog.
3. Create a new, not previously posted project.
4. You are welcome to combine with other challenges.
5. If you have a blog please include the challenge graphic & a link to our challenge in your post.
6. You can link to social media if you don't have a blog. If you show your project on IG, please make sure to use #TNtimewithLisaandLori.
7. You can submit multiple projects but they must be posted to Inlinkz or social media separately.
8. If there are less than 3 players for our challenge, no winners will be chosen.

9. We ship only in the USA but our challenge is open to everyone so feel free to join us if you are an international player! 
10. Most importantly have FUN!


We did not have 3 participants last month, but a big thank you to Becca for playing along with us!

Here is October's prize:


Labels, enamel shapes, and chipboard from Freckled Fawn.

I would love it if you played along with my challenge! Just link up your project below by November 9th at midnight CST! Be sure to stop by Lisa's blog to see her take on the challenge!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! Have a wonderful day!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Happy Halloween - Scrap Our Stash Saturday Cartoon Inspired Sketch Challenge

Hello and Happy Tuesday! I hope your week is off to a great start. The weather has been beautiful - I mean who can complain about 72 degrees and full sunshine?! I hope we get to enjoy a lot more of these kinds of days before the cold weather moves in.

It's time for the second half of the Scrap Our Stash design team to share their take on the Saturday Cartoon Inspired Sketch Challenge. Here is a look at the sketch and the cartoon we were to be inspired by, and we also had the added challenge of using a scrapbook supply item for each of the letters in the word Casper:


Here is a look at my layout and the items are used are:
C - Cardstock, Circles
A - Arrows
S - Stamps, Scallops
P - Punches, Polka Dot Patterned Paper
E - Enamel Stars
R - Rhinestones


I have had this ghost paper from KI Memories in my stash for ages. I came across it this past year when I was going through and organizing all of my old patterned paper. I put it at the front of my Halloween papers so I would hopefully remember to use it. It is the perfect backdrop to these photos of Ada dressed up as Elsa for Halloween last year.

I also had a few scraps of Bella Blvd's old "Trick Or Treat" collection. The turquoise in this collection was a perfect match to Ada's costume. 

Here are a couple of close-ups:


I wanted to bring in a little dab of pink - mostly because of the hot pink trick or treat pail that Ada had in the photos. I did this by adding a few pink rhinestones into each cluster and to the little girl ghost's bow on the journaling card in the photo below.



I decided to pull out my stamps and use them for my title. This is from an older Close To My Heart stamp set - Cats &  Bats - cardmaking (Z4040). I just love that little bat, too.


Head on over to Scrap Our Stash to see the beautiful layouts from the rest of the design team. I hope you get a chance to play along with us this month!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! I hope you have a great day!

Sunday, October 6, 2019

Oh, Hello - LM #467 - Torn Edges

Hello again! I am back with my second post of the day. If you are looking for my reveal for The Studio Challenges, please scroll on down. 

Lasting Memories has a new challenge today. Our theme for October is "Mixed Bag" and our challenges will be a little mix of everything. Today's challenge is - Torn Edges - we want to see some paper tearing on your layout.

I have created a Traveler's Notebook spread for this week:


I have always loved the look of paper tearing on a layout but I don't always remember to do it. It is one of those old school techniques that kind of disappeared for a while. It seems like over the last several months I have been seeing more and more challenges for paper tearing so maybe it's making a comeback.

This spread is going in my '2018 Favorites' traveler's notebook. A lot of times I don't do a lot of journaling because these photos have already been scrapped in some other form and really there's not any big story to go along with this photo - Ada was just looking super cute in her Hello Kitty glasses that she got in a Happy Meal that day. 

I stamped the title using an older stamp from Close To My Heart - Hello Life - CC1041. I love the font of this stamp. I just used some scraps for this layout, but I do believe they were all from Close To My Heart. I searched my Dear Lizzy and Paige Evans sticker books for embellishments that would work for this layout. The colors in the flowers and hearts really do match the papers better than what it shows in the photos. 

Here are a couple of close-ups:



Head on over to Lasting Memories to see the beautiful layouts from the rest of the design team. 

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! I hope you have a great day!

OMG - It's Neonlicious! The Studio Challenges Sketch Challenge

Hello and Happy Sunday! I hope you are having a good weekend! Any cardmakers get a lot of cards made for World Card Making Day yesterday? I made a couple which I will share with you later on in the month.

It's time for a new challenge at The Studio Challenges and it's my favorite kind of challenge - a sketch challenge. Anna has created a great sketch based off of Diana's layout from the Title and Journaling challenge back in July. It is a great sketch and one that I know I will use again!




I love the big blocks of paper on the sketch and when I came across these photos of Ada, from a couple of months ago, I knew they would be the ones to use for this sketch. 

Ada had been wanting one of these dolls since they first came out and they were a little hard to find at first around here. I was going to be keeping her for a couple of days before she started and kindergarten and thought I would get her a little surprise.  I was lucky enough to find Neonlicious and even though Ada really wanted MC Swag, she was happy to have her. In fact, I do believe in the weeks that followed that she was able to add MC Swag to her collection thanks to her Daddy searching high and low for it! Ada does love to play with her dolls!

I had these papers in my September Counterfeit Kit Challenge kit and I could not have picked any better ones to use. They matched the colors in Ada's shirt and the colors on the doll box perfectly. I fussy cut the little text blocks from one of the papers for some embellishments.

Here are a couple of close-ups:



Head on over to The Studio Challenges blog to see Helen's and Michelle's beautiful layouts using the sketch. I hope you have time to play along with us, too!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! Have a great day!

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Sketch N Scrap Card Sketch #155

Hello, everyone! Happy Saturday! It's the first Saturday in October and that means today is World Card Making Day! Do you have big plans to get lots of cards made today? 

It's also the 5th and that means we have a new card sketch for you today at Sketch N Scrap. In addition to our regular card sketch today, we will also have an exclusive card sketch to celebrate World Card Making Day, but more on that in a bit. Here is our first card sketch of the month:


I haven't made many fall/thankful cards yet this year and I thought this sketch would be a great time to get started on them. Here is what I came up with:


I have used Echo Park's "Fall is in the Air" 6x6 paper pad. I have done so good not buying any fall or Christmas collections and using up what I already have. I am happy to say that I think I'll be looking around for a new fall collection soon! I may have to if I want to scrap any fall photos or make many more fall cards this year!

I felt like my main image kept getting lost against the busier background so I kept adding layers. I then popped it up on foam tape for a little dimension. I really like how it turned out.

I used Close To My Heart's "Falling For You - cardmaking" stamp (Z4041)  for the leaf and the sentiment. I think this stamp is two years old and I am just now getting it inked up?? It's so cute I don't know why I haven't used it sooner. That means you will likely be seeing more of it soon!

As I mentioned before, Sketch N Scrap will be celebrating World Card Making Day all month long with an exclusive card sketch every Saturday in October! Our first one will be posted a 9 AM CST this morning, so be sure to come back and check it out! You get two brand new card sketches today!


Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! Head on over to Sketch N Scrap to see the beautiful cards from the rest of the design team!

Have a great day!


Friday, October 4, 2019

Counterfeit Kit Challenge - Forgeries on the Fourth

Hello, hello! Happy Friday to you! We have finally had a change in the weather and it's really starting to feel like fall! We went from 90 degrees on Wednesday to 67 degrees yesterday. Quite the change but it feels so good!


It's time for Forgeries on the Fourth over on the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog today and this month's kit has some fun and easy pieces to counterfeit. Here's a reminder of the inspiration kit:

 

The inspiration kit and the add-on kits have quite a few circle pieces and hexagon pieces - something that October Afternoon did a lot of, too, back in the day. That means it is the perfect time to pull out those punches, dies, or die-cutting machines and make some for yourself!

I went through my scrap bag and found a few scraps that coordinated with the papers in my kit. I pulled out my circle and hexagon dies and went to work die-cutting a couple of each color/pattern that I picked out. Nothing fancy - just patterned paper - but those circles will make great cluster bases, or they can be cut in half for scallops, or they would just be a fun embellishment.


While I still had my scraps out, I pulled out my tab punch and punched a few out of each color. I also picked out a few word stamps and stamped them all out on a piece of white cardstock, leaving enough space between them so the tab punch would fit. A task that didn't take more than a few minutes and now I have a supply of goodies ready to go for the month.

Thanks so much for stopping my blog today. Be sure to stop by the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog to see the forgeries from the other Master Forgers.

Have a great day!

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Counterfeit Kit Challenge October Kit Reveal and Blog Hop

Hello again! I am back with my second post of the day. If you are looking for my Sketch N Scrap reveal, please scroll on down.

It's time for a new inspiration kit at Counterfeit Kit Challenge today! You should have arrived here from Leslie's blog and you might want to grab a cuppa and settle in - this one's gonna be a long one! Master Forger Laura has chosen our inspiration kit for October and it's an oldie but a goodie! She has chosen a timeless kit from Studio Calico, the "Summer Of '69" kit. This kit is from 2012 but like Laura says - I would definitely buy this today.

Here's a look at the inspiration kit:


The Summer Of '69 kit includes some old school manufacturers like October Afternoon and Basic Grey and it also has some American Crafts and Pebbles thrown in there, too. There are also four add-on kits as shown in the photo. You'll see how those inspired me later on this post.


I was so inspired by the colors and patterns in this inspiration kit and knowing it included some October Afternoon and Basic Grey, well, that is where I started with my kit. Here is a look at my overall kit and then we'll break it down and go through it in a little more detail:


When I was doing a little research for the inspiration kit - to see just exactly what was in it - I found these 2 photos that show the papers in the Summer of '69 kit. The first photo is the front side and the second photo is the backside of the papers:



Right away several things caught my eye - the colors (who can go wrong with red, yellow, and blue) - and the patterns ( those circles, florals, geometric, text, chevron) - I knew I would be pulling a lot of paper to audition for my kit! With that being said, I challenged myself to only keep 16 papers - those that would work as a match for the front side and back side shown above. Let's just say that was easier said than done! 

Here's a look at the 16 - okay, make that 18, papers that I picked:


I included two red and pink patterns (second row) because the houndstooth pattern matches so well with multi-colored circle paper that I picked, but I am more likely to actually use the hexagon patterned paper in the same colors! I also picked two blues (also on the second row) - a navy and turquoise dot and a navy - or it could be black - and white dot. 

I've included some Basic Grey, October Afternoon, Jillibean Soup, Cosmo Cricket, Echo Park, Colorbok, We R Memory Keepers, My Mind's Eye, Lily Bee Designs, and Dear Lizzy. That is a lot of different companies represented here, and I think they are a pretty good match for the inspiration papers! I did add in an extra floral paper instead of a geometric (to represent the paper on the bottom row in the second photo above) but I couldn't really find anything I wanted to use for that and I'm pretty sure I know the layout I will use that floral paper on already. You'll see how I was inspired by that geometric paper a little later on in this post.

The embellishments in the inspiration kit were some doilies, chipboard banners and buttons, die cuts, pearls, tags, stamps, and alphas.  This is what I pulled to use this month:


I've got doilies, chipboard buttons, real buttons, die cuts, pearls, stamps, and alphas. I also pulled inspiration from the add-on kits and added in trim, brads, and washi tape.

Here are the alphas that I pulled - lots of October Afternoon alphas in here and a few alpha stamps that I hope to remember to use!


And there you have the "main" part of my kit. When I get ready to make a layout, those 18 papers are what I am going to choose from first - and that at the end of the month that I have at least cut into every single one of those sheets - but if you know me at all, you know I like to have choices, so I have included a few add-on papers to supplement my main papers! More Basic Grey, My Mind's Eye, and Jillibean Soup for the most part! These are the papers that almost made the final cut for the 18, and I couldn't stand the thought of putting them back in the drawer:


There you have my kit! If you stuck with me this far - you are a trooper! I was actually able to condense it down to a fairly small kit compared to what I usually make - well, if you don't count the add-on papers, that is! I am so excited to get started using this kit! 

Here's the blog hop list to keep you on track:

Counterfeit Kit Challenge - http://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/
Guest Designer - Ayaan - https://www.instagram.com/ayaan_scraps/

Before I let you go completely...as I said before, this kit and the add-on kits really inspired me and I pulled a lot of paper that would have worked. Instead of putting it all back where I found it, I decided to make up a few more kits to work on from now until the end of the year. 

A couple of the add-on kits had papers from the My Mind's Eye - Nostalgia - collection. I had just rediscovered this collection in my stash a few weeks ago and I really thought that this was the way my kit was going to go, but it didn't and I decided to keep it out and hopefully use it up.


This next collection is also from My Mind's Eye and is called Sunny Side, and that geometric paper that I mentioned had inspired me in the main kit, this is what I pulled for it. You can see a little scrap of multi-colored chevron type paper in the photo below. It didn't really go with the papers in my kit above but when I looked at what I had left of this collection I immediately thought of a couple of layouts I wanted to make with it, so add it to my pile to use up this year!


I think I pulled more multi-colored circle patterned papers than anything else! These were all papers that didn't make the cut for my main kit, but when I went to put them back they all looked really good together! One more to add to the "to use" pile!


And last but not least, I really intended for my kit to contain most, if not all, October Afternoon papers. I have been hoarding these papers since they stopped making them! October Afternoon could be called my all-time favorite manufacturer and I know when they are gone, they are gone for good, but it's time to put them to use on pretty layouts! Here is the stack that I kept out to work on until the end of the year:


Yes, I know there is no way I can use all these pretty papers shown in the above photos before the end of the year, but if I have them out where I can see them then they are more likely to get used and it will sure be fun trying!

Here are the links to the add-on kits from Studio Calico if you are interested in seeing them - just click on the name:


Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! I hope you have a wonderful day!