Beautiful Butterfly - Sketch N Scrap's 10th Birthday Bash Exclusive Sketch #3

Hello, everyone! Happy Saturday to you! I hope that your weekend is off to a good start. The kids are all coming over today for a bbq and I can't wait to see them!

We have been celebrating Sketch N Scrap's 10th Birthday all month long and today I am sharing the layout that I made for their 10th Birthday Bash Exclusive Sketch #3. Here is a look at the fun sketch that Lisa has created for us to use:

And this is what I came up with:

I stuck pretty close to the sketch for my layout - the only thing I changed was the placement of the top embellishment. 

I used Echo Park's Little Dreamer - Girl collection for this layout. I tend to shy away from those busier papers, like the butterfly paper on my layout, but I have been trying to challenge myself by using them at least once in a while, and that paper was perfect for these photos of Ada and the butterfly she made in art class. 

This collection didn't have very many butterflies in the embellishments so I had to make my own! With the busier paper, I kept the embellishments to a minimum. I always feel like they either get lost on the busy paper or that they make the layout feel even busier - but that's just me!

Here are a couple of close-ups:

I die-cut the scalloped circle for a base for my butterfly. This butterfly die has been in my stash for years and I have never used it. It made the perfect embellishment for my layout and now that I have used it, I am sure I will be using it a little more often! I added a simple heart sticker, word sticker, and enamel dots to finish off the cluster.

The "you are made of wonderful" sentiment is from a Recollections butterfly stamp and die set. This is the first time that I pulled it out to use and it is another supply that has been in my supplies for ages. I am so glad that I got these supplies out and showed them some love!

I thought that sentiment was perfect - the butterfly was made of wonderful because Ada made it and she is made of wonderful, too!

Be sure to stop by Sketch N Scrap to see this sketch and all of the sketches from this month's celebration. I hope you have some time over this holiday weekend to play along with us!

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

Hello Fun - Sketch N Scrap #249

Hello, everyone! Happy Friday to you! Our long holiday weekend has officially started and I am ready for a few days of doing whatever we want whenever we want! I know all of the kids are coming over one day over the weekend for a bbq so that is something to look forward to!

Today I am sharing the layout that I made for the May 15th sketch at Sketch N Scrap. Here is a look at the fun sketch that Heather created for us to use:

I knew when I saw this sketch that I wanted to use tags in place of all of the banner pieces. Simple Stories made that easy for me to do by putting cut apart tag papers in their collections! This is what I came up with:

For this layout, I have used Simple Stories' Feeling Frosty collection. I cut the tag paper apart and used the plainer side of the tags as my bottom layer and the more colorful - patterned - side as my top layer. The left side of my layout felt pretty heavy with all of the tags, so I added a good-sized cluster to the top right and extended my journaling to try to balance it out. 

Here are a couple of close-ups:

I die cut the large heart with my metal dies and then layered it up with a die-cut, stickers, and brads. I love how it turned out.

A lot of times how I envision a layout and how it actually turns out are two different things. For once my layout turned out just how I wanted it to! I added flat-backed brads, a phrase sticker, and a chipboard snowflake to both the top and bottom of the tags.

Instead of adding string to all of the tags, I looped the string through all three of the top tags.

I added a couple of washi tape strips under my title to anchor it because I felt like it was just floating on the page. I added my journaling under my title and a few snowflake stickers.

Guys, I am so happy with how much of this collection - paper-wise - that I have already used up! I went a little crazy when I bought this collection getting the big collection kit that comes with the chipboard stickers and one pack of ephemera. I also got the 6x8 paper pad, the puffy stickers, journaling bits, stamps, and washi tape. I still have quite a few of the embellishments left, but I know I will be able to use them over time. But the paper - I only have 3 full 12x12 sheets of paper left and they are all generic enough on one side that they could be used for anything. I don't have a lot of scraps left, either. And I even have managed to use about half of the 6x8 paper pad! That is a huge accomplishment for me!

Have you had a chance to play along with this sketch yet? I would love to see your take on it, too!

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

Sketch N Scrap Card Sketch #218

Hello, everyone! Happy Sunday to you! I hope that you are having a weekend. We are finally getting a break from the rain today, and tomorrow is supposed to be mostly dry until the rain moves in, once again, tomorrow night. Our poor garden needs about a week of dry - sunny days...everything is turning yellow thanks to all of the rain and no sunshine. Oh, well, there could be worse problems to have!

Today I am sharing the card that I created using the May 20th sketch at Sketch N Scrap. This is such a fun sketch with all of the banner pieces. Here's a look at the sketch:

This is what I came up with:

I found my sentiment on the cut apart paper from the Photo Play 'Cherish' collection. I was going to use papers from that same collection, but I only bought a few sheets and the scale of the patterns that I have were not good for making different-sized banner pieces. I knew I had some 6x6 papers from Close To My Heart that would work, so I pulled those out to use instead. I stuck to the navy, turquoise, red, pink, and yellow color scheme that can be found in the Photo Play collection. I also fussy cut my sentiment instead of using the full 3x4 card. I also added a couple of enamel hearts to the sentiment. 

This card came together so quickly and I know I will be using it again.

Have you had a chance to play along with us this month? I would love to see what you create, too!

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

Just Give Her Sunshine - Sketch N Scrap NSD 2022 Sketch

Hello, everyone! Good Tuesday afternoon to you! I hope that your week is off to a good start. 

Today I am sharing the layout that I created using Sketch N Scrap's exclusive sketch for interNational Scrapbooking Day. This is such a fun sketch and another one that is going into my "favorites" folder! Here's a look at the sketch:

And this is what I came up with:

For this layout, I have used the Simple Stories' Full Bloom collection that I had put into my Lisa & Lori's Great Stash Bash kit for this month. I really wanted to use that green paper with the little flowers and snails on it and I could not think of a better layout than this one of Ada on yet another springtime adventure at the creek last spring. Even though it was in really small amounts - I am so happy that I used it. I did not buy a lot of this collection and now I kind of wish I had. I am in love with the colors and patterns in this collection. 

I love the photo of Pops helping Ada across the little fallen tree. The water is not really all that deep - it would be hard-pressed to be deep enough to go over the top of Ada's rubber boots - but I am sure that to Ada she was on some grand adventure. She was probably imagining the water was lava and she had to go across that fallen tree to get to safety. Thank goodness Pops was there to help her across!

I had a hard time with the title on this one. I knew I wanted it to be "Just Give Her Sunshine" and I tried every form of "sunshine" that was in this collection. I think the trouble was that everything that said sunshine was in the same floral pattern as my patterned paper and it just did not look right to me. I finally saw the simple foam "sunshine" and went with that. 

For this top cluster, I used a view master reel die to serve as my sun. Sure, there were all sorts of suns in the collection, but I really wanted to try out my new die! My sweet son, Matthew, asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day, and at first, I told him I didn't want anything - just to spend the day with him and my other kids - but he kept asking me and I finally told him that there were a few things on my scrappy wish list that he could get me. He told me to send him the links. I sent him several links and told him to just pick one and surprise me. The little stinker got me all of them and this view master reel was one of them! He is too good to me!

When I cut the reel out of the golden yellow paper I knew it would be my sun for this layout. It just wouldn't look right otherwise!

I love how this layout came together and that I used things on it that I was afraid that I wouldn't ever use - like the green snail paper and that cute little bird and nest. 

Have you had a chance to play along with any of the sketches this month? I would love to see what you create, too!

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

FarmQuest Challenge Blog - Challenge #4

Hello, everyone! Happy Saturday to you! I hope that your weekend is off to a great start!  We have no plans for the weekend - which is nice since we've been busy the last two weekends. Our only plans are to get the garden planted and finish mowing the yard. I'm hoping that means I'll get to spend some time in my scrap room!

I am so excited to share that I am the guest designer over at the FarmQuest Challenge Blog today! My friend, Becca, started the FarmQuest Challenge Blog a couple of months ago and all of the challenges are centered around farming, ranching, gardening, and all things rural. Since I grew up on a farm (and I'm still a farm girl at heart) I am hoping these challenges will help me to get some of my farm days memories scrapped!

The FarmQuest Challenges are posted every two weeks - on the 14th and 28th of the month. Challenge #4 is to use poultry and wire on your project. You can create a card, traveler's notebook layout, scrapbook layout, tags, bookmarks, ATC cards, etc.

This is what I came up with:

A few months ago I came across a process video from Create With Alison on Youtube and she was creating a layout for an  Ali Edwards - Pieces of Home - series about her kitchen table. I was intrigued by this idea and had to look into it further. I love Ali Edwards' work - especially her December Dailies - but I don't follow her too closely. After I watched a few of Ali's videos, I had so many ideas swirling around in my head and I knew I wanted to start my own 'Pieces of Home' album and go beyond the seven prompts that she provides. There are a few little items around my house that have special meaning to me and I think it would be great to make a layout as to why these things mean so much to me.

This layout is the first in my 'Pieces of Home' traveler's notebook. The journaling reads - I saw you & your little friend from a distance sitting on a shelf at Gordman's. The two of you were so cute - I couldn't wait to put you in my cart & take you home. And then I picked you up & took a good look at you. Oh, my word, what happened to you?! You have red paint smeared down your chest and all around your comb - you looked like you had been in a fight. Abby & I made up all sorts of stories about what happened and I thought about putting you back. All Abby had to say was "Aw - poor little thing" and you were back in the cart and on your way home with us. You have now taken up residence on the ice maker cabinet & you bring a smile to my face every day. 

Growing up on the farm, going out with Mom to gather eggs and feed the chickens is one of my fondest memories and the main reason that I have always had some sort of chickens in my kitchen since I have been out on my own. I am always on the lookout to see if I can add a new one to my collection.

Yes, this little chick looks like a hot mess, and she has even been knocked off the cabinet and broken, but we glued her back together and she keeps bringing me joy every single day.  

Here are a couple of close-ups:

To satisfy the challenge to use poultry - I used a chicken sticker, a chicken die-cut, and I have chickens in my photos. 

For the wire portion of the challenge, Becca said that staples or paper clips would work, so I added a staple to my chicken die-cut and two staples to the red gingham paper strip.

I had so much fun with this challenge! I can't wait to see what Becca's next FarmQuest challenge is!

By the way, not only does Ali Edwards have the Pieces of Home series, but she also has Pieces of Me and Pieces of the Past - and I plan on doing both of these in my own way, also. After so many years of scrapping my kids and family, I have realized that I haven't scrapped anything about myself. I want my kids to know who I really am, where I come from, and why I love the things that I do. They know me as Mom but I also want them to just know Lori. So many plans - now to find the time to get them done.

Be sure to check out Becca's FarmQuest Challenge Blog and play along! This challenge runs from May 14-27th. 

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

Lisa & Lori's TN Time - May Challenge

 Hello, hello! Happy Tuesday to you! I hope that your week is off to a good start. We got our pool all ready to go - and just in time! We went from rainy and cool 60s to sunny and humid 90s in just a couple of days' time. You'll hear no complaints from me - I much prefer the warmth to the cold - but it would have been nice to have a few days there where we could open up the windows and enjoy some fresh air!

It is time for the TN Time With Lisa & Lori May challenge! If you are new here and you don't know what this challenge is all about - here is how it works - this is a just-for-fun monthly challenge that starts on the 10th of each month and ends on the 9th of the following month at midnight CST. If you complete my random challenge for the month - link your TN, bullet journal, or planner spread below. If you complete just Lisa's sketch challenge, link up over on her blog - My Creative Endeavors. If you combine both challenges - be sure to link up on both Lisa's blog and here on my blog.

Here is my May challenge:

Add some washi tape and some circular elements to your layout. The circles can be anything - stickers, labels, enamel dots, etc.

Here is the fun sketch that Lisa has created for us to use:

And this is what I came up with:

Since school is almost out around here - Ada has less than two weeks now - I figured I would pull out her school TN and work in it. I would love to have this TN all caught up before she heads back to school in the fall for third grade!

For this layout I have used one of the page kits that I put together for my April - Lisa & Lori's Great Stash Bash kit. I ran out of time last month before I had a chance to work on this, so I am glad that I was able to finally put it to use!

Everything on this layout is from Simple Stories' - So Happy Together - collection, with the exception of the mint green circle label, the word phrases, and the piece of mint green that is my cluster base for my top cluster - they all came from the die-cut boxes that I had included in last month's kit. 

Here are a few close-ups:

I added a strip of coral washi tape beside the striped patterned paper and you can see that I added a few circular elements in this cluster base - a doily, a circle label, the circle die cut with the globe and lots of enamel dots. I love how this cluster turned out!

I used my Lawn Fawn Finley's ABC's metal dies to die cut my title. They are the perfect size for my TNs. 

While the majority of my embellishments came from the So Happy Together collection, a few of them did come from my random die-cut boxes. I love flipping through those random goodies looking for things to include on my layouts. 

I added another piece of washi tape to the bottom of the die-cut phrase. It kind of got lost on the darker background, so I added the washi tape to a piece of white cardstock and then cut it out so it would show up a bit better. 

I loved the tag elements on the sketch but did not end up using any tags on my layout. I do plan to use this sketch again in the near future and add tags to that layout!

Be sure to head on over to Lisa's beautiful blog - My Creative Endeavors - to see her take on this month's challenge. 

Now, even though this is a just-for-fun challenge we do have a few rules:

1. Create a TRAVELER'S NOTEBOOK, PLANNER, OR BULLET JOURNAL spread based on the CHALLENGE THEME and/or our sketch. 
2. Create a new, not previously posted project.
3. You are welcome to combine with other challenges.
4. If you have a blog please include the challenge graphic & a link to our challenge in your post.
5. You can link to social media if you don't have a blog. If you show your project on Instagram, please make sure to use #TNtimewithLisaandLori 
6. You can submit multiple projects but they must be posted to InLinkz or social media separately.
7. Most importantly have FUN!

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

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Click here to enter

Always Be Your Awesome Self - Sketch N Scrap's 10th Birthday Bash Challenge #3

Hello, everyone! Happy Friday to you! 

Today I am sharing the layout that I created for Sketch N Scrap's 10th Birthday Bash - Challenge #3. I am challenging you to use this fun sketch (Sketch #76) from March 1, 2015:

This is what I created:

I changes things up a bit from the original sketch - but not a lot! I think you can still see the sketch in my layout. I used 2 - 4x6 photos instead of 1 - 4x6 and 1 - 6x4. I also made the center paper a bit longer and ripped the bottom edge of it and the strip that runs behind it, and I changed up the title placement to work with my photos.

For my layout, I used Cocoa Vanilla's No Limits collection that I included in my Lisa & Lori's Great Stash Bash kit for May. This collection is perfect for pictures of my guys! I am kicking myself for not getting more of it. I just bought a few sheets and now I am wishing that I had it all. I'm trying to hold off on getting any more of it but it is taking everything that I have to not go "add to cart!"

These are recent photos of Matthew that I just happened to get while we were all out playing Wiffle ball. He went through a spell there, like most teenagers do, not wanting me to take his picture, but within the last several months he actually told me he doesn't mind me taking his photo - and you better believe I try to get a photo of him every time he comes home for a visit!

Here are a few close-ups:

I really liked the 3x4 cut apart card that said - Always be your awesome self - but there was no way to get it to work for the title in that form, so I fussy cut the words out and arranged them so they would fit under the left photo. It's hard to see in the photo but I did add foam tape to the word "awesome" so it would stand out a bit from the other words - because I think Matthew is pretty awesome!

I struggled with this cluster for a bit - mostly because it was so close to the top of the layout - but I love how it turned out. I tried to cover up the big blob of white paint splatter because it was a bit smudged, but in the end, it stayed visible. 

For this bottom cluster, I fussy cut a couple of stars and layered them up, and added a word phrase sticker and a few enamel dots. I do plan to add a bit of hidden journaling - or I may even add it to the bottom right-hand side of the page - but since it is a little more on the personal side, I will leave it off for now.

Have you joined Sketch N Scrap's Monthly Challenges Group? Head on over and join in on the fun this month! Along with our four regular sketch challenges on the blog - we will be having a new sketch posted every Saturday during the month in our monthly challenges group and there will be a challenge from one of the design team members every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this month, so come on over and join us!

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

Lisa and Lori's Great Stash Bash May Kit

Hello, everyone! Happy Sunday and Happy May 1st! The new month means it is time for the May edition of Lisa & Lori's Great Stash Bash!

 Before I get to my kit I'll give a quick update on my April Stash Bash Kit. First, let me start by saying that we have been so incredibly busy this spring with outdoor projects and I did not have as much time to get scrappy in April as I would have liked. I did manage to get two layouts made and both of those were made using my main kit of Echo Park's Away We Go collection. I am keeping my kit all together for a couple more months in hopes of getting more use out of it while I have everything together.

 Heading into May we still have a lot of outdoor projects to finish - clearing our creek bank before it gets too overgrown and too hot to work on it, getting our pool ready for the summer, getting our garden planted, and finishing up a new flower bed. But we do celebrate (inter)National Scrapbooking Day in May and I am going to make a point to get into my scrap room more this month!

In honor of (inter)National Scrapbooking Day, I have created two kits based off of our "recipe" - one for all of those guy photos I still need to scrap and one that is a bit more girly!

Before we dive into my kit - I just wanted to explain what Lisa & Lori's Great Stash Bash is all about. Lisa & Lori's Great Stash Bash is a challenge that my good friend Lisa and I do every month in an attempt to get our stash used up. We pull items from our stash based on a "recipe" (which you will see below) and use those items throughout the month.

Here is our May recipe:

Our "recipe" is to pull 10 patterned papers, 5-7 scraps, 3-4 embellishments, and our focus item for May is my favorite - enamel dots!

Here is the first kit that I pulled together:

This kit consists mostly of Cocoa Vanilla's No Limits collection but there are a couple of sheets from Echo Park, a couple of sheets from Simple Stories, and a black with white dots from Maggie Holmes. 

Here is a better look at the papers:

I love the colors in this kit and can't wait to get some photos of my boys scrapped!

Here are the embellishments:

I have the cut apart paper, stickers, and die cut titles from Cocoa Vanilla, and then I added a cut apart sheet, sticker sheet, and brads from Simple Stories, and a few rolls of washi tape. I know that not everything on the cut apart paper from Simple Stories will go, but I am hoping to get a few things used from it. 

I pulled a few scraps and the Cool Kid 6x6 paper pad from Crate Paper. I was surprised at how well it matched the colors in my kit and if I could get some papers from it used up, I would be oh-so-happy!

I will also be keeping my die-cut books on my desk this month. I have several boy-themed die-cuts in both of these books - just in case I need them!

Here is kit #2:

This kit consists mostly of the Simple Stories Full Bloom collection and I have added a couple of pieces of paper from Simple Stories' Kate and Ash collection, a paper from the I Am collection, and a woodgrain paper from their Color Vibe collection. 

Here is a better look at the papers:

I cannot wait to use these fun papers!

Here are the embellishments:

I have a ton of Full Bloom embellishments here - the sticker sheet, cut apart papers, sticker book, ephemera packs, and I have included several rolls of washi tape for this kit, too. 

When I started looking for scraps to go with my kit, I fell down a rabbit hole! I started pulling scraps that matched the papers in my kit, and then I noticed that a lot of the scraps looked so good together and started thinking of layouts that I could make with just the scraps...so, there are a few more than the 5-7 scraps here:

I cannot wait to see if I actually am able to make a layout or two just from these scraps!

After I thought of a couple of layout ideas using the scraps, I pulled these sticker sheets and 6x6 paper pads. The paper pads go fairly well with my main kit and I am hoping to get some of those stickers used, too.

My die-cut books have a lot of more girly die-cuts in them, too, so they will be at the ready if I need them.

I came across these alpha stickers and sticker sheets while I was looking for the brads (at the top of the photo). These stickers live in a bin on my desk and I haven't reached for them in ages, so I pulled what matched my kits and will see if I can get them on a layout or two this month.

Our focus item for May is enamel dots and this is what I have added to my kit:

Enamel dots are my favorite finishing touch so I should get several of these used this month!

I am always so excited to get started working with my new kit and this month is no different! I really hope to get a lot of scrapping done this month!

Be sure to stop by Lisa's blog to see the beautiful kit that she has pulled together for this month. 

This is a just-for-fun challenge, but if you do play along and put together your own stash bash kit - add it to the linky below and we will be sure to check it out and cheer you on! Here are the rules:

1. Follow the challenge prompt to create a kit to work with throughout the month. You may use other items, but please concentrate on using your kit. 

2. Create new, not previously posted projects using your stash kit.

3. If you have a blog - please include the challenge graphic and a link to our challenge in your posts. 

4. You may link to social media if you don't have a blog. If you share on Instagram, please make sure to use - #lisaandlorisgreatstashbash2022

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

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Click here to enter