Sunday, August 28, 2022

Heart's Quest Challenge Blog - Color Heart Dare #7 - Photo Inspiration

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

Today I am sharing the project that I made for Heart's Quest Challenge Blog - Color Heart Dare #7  - which is a photo inspiration challenge - and you are to use 5 or more colored candy hearts on a banner or garland/string. Here is the inspiration photo:


And here is my project:


I created a traveler's notebook layout of Miss Ada. When I saw the inspiration photo, I knew I wanted to replicate the good old conversation hearts that are found around Valentine's Day, but I did not want to make a Valentine's Day layout. I decided to find photos of Ada from the last several months and play off of the "sweet" candy heart theme and title my layout She's So Sweet. 

I went through my scrap bin and pulled pink, purple, yellow, mint green, and orange scrap papers for my die-cut hearts. I typed up the phrases for my hearts on the computer (and I made sure the font was red) and then printed them out. I used a paper piercer to make holes in each heart to string the twine through for my banner. I added some low-profile foam dots under each heart for just a touch of dimension.

Here is a close-up of the banners:



Luckily, I had enough scraps to mat each of the photos in a different color. I am so happy that I got six photos on a traveler's notebook layout! I think that is the most that I have done on a traveler's notebook yet!

Head on over to Heart's Quest Challenge Blog to see how Dottie took on this challenge, too. I would love it if you played along with us! The deadline to enter this challenge is September 13th at 12:30 AM Central Time.

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

Monday, August 22, 2022

Sketch N Scrap Card Sketch #224

Hello, hello! Happy Monday to you! It's the start of a new week and it's the official first day of school around here. Miss Ada reported that her first day was "amazing" and she loves her teacher!

Since it's the start of a new school year, I thought I would make her a card - and maybe include a little something special in it! I used the August 20th card sketch from Sketch N Scrap and used scraps from my Collection Obsession kit for my card. Here's a look at the sketch:



I love it when I can make a card from nothing but scraps! The size of the scraps determined what went where - making this card come together very quickly. The sticker is from a pack of Dollar Tree stickers that I got a couple of years ago.

I love how fast this card came together!

Have you had a chance to play along with us this month? I would love to see your take on the sketch, too.

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

Monday, August 15, 2022

TN Time With Lisa & Lori August Challenge

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

It is time for TN Time With Lisa & Lori's August challenge! I love working in my TNs so you know this is one of my favorite challenges!

Here is how our challenge 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 August challenge to you:


Just add a bit of polka dot paper to your layout!

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


And here is my layout:


I am still working on Ada's school traveler's notebook - trying to get all caught up before the new school year gets too far in.  She starts 3rd grade in a week and a half and if I could be all caught up by the time she gets her 3rd-grade school photo back - then I will be a happy camper! 

I stayed pretty close to the sketch for this layout, only adding the phrase stickers to the top of the left page. I would have added those somewhere around the photo but since I created a flip-out to include another photo, I just couldn't make it work.

Here is a look at the flip-out:


I still need to add my journaling - it will probably repeat what is on the board she is holding with a few additional "favorites."

For this layout, I used Echo Park's - Play All Day - Girl - collection. I knew I wanted something with rainbows on it since her lunch box is a rainbow and the shirt she is wearing has rainbows on it. This collection had the perfect rainbow paper in it. I paired it with a pink polka dot paper from Simple Stories to satisfy my part of the challenge. 

Here are a couple of close-ups:





These pink Jane Tile Alphabet stickers from Elle's Studio are a perfect match! For the circular element, I die cut a pinked circle out of blue paper and layered a white circle on top. I added a few floral stickers to finish it off. 


I pulled out an old file folder tab metal die from Echo Park to make my tab. I don't use these dies very often and I don't know why - I always love the look of them.

I have skipped around quite a bit in this traveler's notebook. I still have eight layouts to do before I am completely caught up. When I printed these photos, I took the time to print off all of the photos that I need and rounded up the school (professional) photos so they are all ready to go when I get a chance to work on them. I already have two of the layouts planned out and papers pulled - I just need to work on them and get them done!

Now, head on over to Lisa's beautiful blog - My Creative Endeavors - to see her take on this month's challenge. We hope you have a chance to play along with us this month!

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!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Sunday, August 14, 2022

Sketch N Scrap's August Crop Challenge #4

Hello again! I am back with my second post of the day. If you are looking for my Heart's Quest Challenge Blog post, then scroll on down.

I am back to share the card I created for Sketch N Scrap's Challenge #4 - which is posted over in their private Facebook group. You can find our Facebook group by clicking >>here<<. For this challenge, I chose card sketch #181 for us to use to create a card. Here is a look at the sketch:


And this is what I came up with:



My daughter is getting ready to start her 10th year of teaching Special Education! I cannot believe that she has been teaching that long. Heck, it feels like she should still be in high school! I thought I would make her a card for the occasion.

I used scraps that were still out on my desk from yesterday's layout. I was pretty limited with what I had to work with but I think it turned out cute. I embossed the white background panel with a large dot embossing folder. The plain white was just too plain for me. Funny how something as small as using an embossing folder can make it not feel so plain!

The "Best Teacher Ever" sticker came from Echo Park's I Love School sticker book. I think she is the best teacher ever so it was quite fitting! I couldn't find a sentiment that I wanted so I type up "Have a great year!" on the computer and printed it out. 

Be sure to stop by the Sketch N Scrap Monthly Challenges Facebook group and check it out. We would love it if you played along with us!

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




HQCB - Love Theme #6 - Shane's Angel - And An Announcement!

Hello, everyone! Happy Sunday to you! I hope you are having a good day!

I am so happy to be sharing some exciting news with you today! Becca from Heart's Quest Challenge Blog has asked me to be on her first design team! Of course, I said yes! So, I will be sharing projects with colored hearts for the Color Heart theme on the 14th of every month and the word 'love' for the Love theme on the 28th of every month. 


Today's challenge is Love Theme #6 and you are to use the word "Love" AND a cupid or angel on your project.

When I first saw this challenge I knew I wanted to tell the story of our angel Christmas tree topper, and so I have started yet another traveler's notebook! This one is going to be all about my favorite/special Christmas ornaments and decorations. Every year when we pull out our Christmas decorations, I always think that I would like to tell the stories of where some of them came from or why they are so special to me and this challenge gave me the push I needed to get it started.

Here is my layout:


Here's the story of our angel - Shane made this little toilet paper roll angel way back in 2005 when he was 5 years old and in his last year of preschool. He drew the face on a circle piece of paper - which was huge for him at the time. Those were the early years of autism and all of us trying to navigate it - and getting him to stay on task to complete this little angel craft was a very big deal!

Her wings are his hands that they traced and she did have the cutest star halo but that has fallen off over the years and is lost. I don't know how many more years this little angel will top our tree but I will enjoy every year that she does! 

Here are a couple of close-ups:


For the angel part of the challenge, I found this cute little angel puffy sticker in my December Daily supplies. She was the perfect embellishment for my layout. 


To satisfy the word "love" part of the challenge, I found a puffy sticker that says, "love this tradition." Shane doesn't always put the angel on top of the tree - sometimes he has no interest in decorating it all, so you better believe that I snap a photo of him placing her on the top every chance I get! I think this photo is of him from 2017.



I have added a hidden journaling block behind the photo on the left page. I still need to add my journaling to it but once it is done it will be tucked behind the photo.

Be sure to go check out Heart's Quest Challenge Blog. We would love it if you played along with us! Any type of paper craft project is accepted - a card, scrapbook layout, traveler's notebook layout, tag, bookmark, or ATC card is accepted. The deadline to enter Love Theme #6 is August 27th at 12:30 AM Central Time.

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

Saturday, August 13, 2022

Sketch N Scrap's August Crop Challenge #3

Hello, hello! Happy Saturday to you! I hope your weekend is off to a good start. We have had a good day so far with running errands this morning, some yard work this afternoon, and I plan on doing a little scrapping and stitching this evening.

Today I am sharing the layout that I created for Sketch N Scrap's August Crop Challenge #3 - which is posted over in their private Facebook group - which you can find here. For this challenge, I chose Sketch #206 from August 1, 2020, for us to use to create our layouts. Here is a look at the sketch:


And this is my layout:


I used Echo Park's - My Favorite Summer - which I chose for my Collection Obsession for August. This is my second layout with this collection - so I am right on track for getting one project a week done. You can read all of the details about the collection obsession collaboration in the post here.

I chose to use one vertical photo instead of two horizontal photos on my layout. I need to get better at taking more horizontal photos - and more than just one of any occasion, too!

This photo is of Abby and Ada on a Wednesday evening when they came over for supper after school. They were both looking so cute, I couldn't resist snapping a photo of them. 

I added navy paint to the edges of my white cardstock to give it a border. I like to do that sometimes instead of matting the layout for something a bit different.


This collection is heavy on the summer theme - hence the name "My Favorite Summer" - so I had to go in search of some embellishments that would work for my springtime photo. I did use any general die cuts from the collection that I could, and then I added a few pieces of wood veneer, some punched hearts, a label, and a stamped image.


I made the title with a mix of foam alpha stickers and a script alpha metal die set from Echo Park (Alisha lowercase). I really like the mix of the two fonts. 

Why don't you play along with us and give this sketch a try? Head on over to Sketch N Scrap's Monthly Challenges Facebook group and join the fun!

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

Saturday, August 6, 2022

Hugs & Kisses - Heart's Quest Challenge Blog - Color Heart #6

Hello, everyone! Happy Saturday to you! I hope that your weekend is off to a good start. We are squeezing in one more sleepover with Miss Ada before she starts back to school in a couple of weeks, so you know that my weekend is off to a good start! 

Today I am sharing the card that I made for Heart's Quest Challenge Blog's Color Heart #6 reminder post. We are at the midway point of this challenge - so you still have a week to play along! This color heart challenge was a photo inspiration challenge and you are to use at least two different colored hearts in a grid pattern on your project. Here is a reminder of the photo inspiration:


And this is what I came up with:


My card is based on the August 5th sketch from Sketch N Scrap (that I created!):


For my card, I used Echo Park's - Hello Valentine - collection. I die cut the hearts from a couple of different red patterns and a couple of different pink patterns and added each heart to a punched circle. On each pink heart, I added a tiny red gem to give my card a little sparkle. 

For the sentiment, I fussy cut the 'Hugs & Kisses' banner piece from one of the cut-apart papers. 

Be sure to stop by Heart's Quest Challenge Blog to see what Becca has created. Why don't you play along with us? I know I am always adding a heart to my layouts and for cards, they can be added anywhere to show a little extra love!

The deadline to enter is August 13th at 12:30 AM Central Time.

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

Thursday, August 4, 2022

Summer Is My Favorite - Sketch N Scrap #254

Hello, everyone! Happy Thursday to you! We are getting ever-so-close to the weekend, and I am ready for it! It's looking to be another hot one and I know there will be some time spent in the pool.  

Today I am sharing the layout that I created for Sketch N Scrap's August 1st sketch. Here is a look at the  two-photo sketch that was created by me:


And this is my layout:


I took these photos of Miss Ada a couple of weeks ago when it was so hot. Who am I kidding? All of July was super hot and August is starting out with more of the same. I love summer but so many days around 100 degrees with high humidity...well, let's just say, I am looking forward to fall this year! 

Ada hasn't minded the heat at all when she comes over on Fridays - it just means that much more time for her to be in the pool!

For my layout, I have used my #collectionobsession kit - Echo Park's My Favorite Summer. This fun collection was perfect for these sweet photos of Ada and it is so fun to work with!

Here are a few close-ups:


I used one of the die-cut pieces from the tags and frames pack for my title. It says exactly what I am sure Ada is thinking! 

I've been trying to do a little more mixed media - I guess using a blending brush to add a bit of color around my layout could be considered mixed media... Anyway, I won a set of blending brushes from Scrapbook Generation when they had their iNSD crop and I've been wanting to get a little practice in with them. They are so easy - and fun - to use! I am sure I will be doing more with the brushes and I may even dust off my stencils and give them a try, too!

I digress. Let's get back to my layout! I added a bit of yellow ink in the three cluster areas on my layout. I didn't want anything too overwhelming and I think the little bit of ink just helps the title, the stickers, and the die-cuts in the clusters to stand out a bit. 


I added enamel dots to each of the cluster areas for a finishing touch.


I layered up the phrase stickers on top of the little banner stickers for another embellishment. I know the banners are supposed to be folded to make little flags, but they were also perfect as a base for the phrase stickers. 

That is it for today. I know we are only four days into the month but I am so happy to already have my first layout for the #collectionobsession done and I have a pocket page almost done using my August stash bash kit. I am off to a good start so far. Hopefully, I will keep that momentum going all month long!

Be sure to stop by Sketch N Scrap to see more inspiration using this sketch. 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!

Monday, August 1, 2022

August Collection Obsession

Hello again! I am popping on tonight with another quick post.

I am so excited to be joining in with the Crafty Low or No Spend group's 'Collection Obsession' collaboration! Most of the gals are doing videos on Youtube, but there are a few of us playing along on Instagram, as well.

For collection obsession, we are picking a collection from our stash for the month and creating a layout each week using that collection. At the end of the month, we will have at least four layouts made, and hopefully, we will have put a dent into that collection.

For August, I have chosen Echo Park's My Favorite Summer collection:


When this collection came out this year, I loved it! I could not wait to get it, and when I saw the papers, I knew I needed more than just one sheet of each pattern, so I ended up buying two collection packs before I had even made a single layout. And it has sat in my "new" scrappy goodies bin ever since! So, when the opportunity came up to play along with collection obsession, I jumped at the chance!

Along with the two collection packs, I have the sticker book, both ephemera packs, and two packs of enamel dots. I would love to get a good chunk of at least one of the collection packs and the embellishments used up this month.

My plan is to make at least one, maybe two, project life layouts with the cut-apart cards from this collection:


Since I took this photo I have already cut apart the 3x4 cards, the 4x6 cards, and the sheet with a mix of everything on it. The only thing I did not cut apart was the 4x4 cards. I don't tend to use a lot of 4x4 cards in my project life layouts unless they can be cut down to 3x4 or added to a 4x6, and the other side of the 4x4s is a pretty floral paper, so I will only cut into it if I absolutely need it.

I have already pulled out papers that I know I would like to use for a traditional layout, too:

 

I may change my mind once I get my photos pulled, but I really like these papers together.

That will take care of two, maybe three layouts for the month and you will have to stay tuned to see what else I get made up. I will try to post here when I get a layout done or you can follow me over on Instagram where I will be sure to post each layout. You can find me @lori_670 or just follow this link here - https://www.instagram.com/lori_670/

I am adding the list of participants that we have so far below. Be on the lookout for their videos or their posts on Instagram, as well.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog tonight! Have a great night!


Instagram:

@worktoscrap Liz Hays Ketter

www.instagram.com/worktoscrap


@scrappyjennyK  Jennifer Kozar

www.instagram.com/scrappyjennyk


@lori_670 Lori Stroup

www.instagram.com/lori_670 


YouTube:

For The Love Of Paper Crafting - YouTube 


Ginger's Corner - YouTube 


Scrapping in the Sticks - YouTube 


My Life On Paper

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCKzjIl4GZHauK29x8EvFCUw 


Teri Rice - YouTube 


Leanne Wagner - YouTube 


CurlyQScrapper - YouTube 


Kelly Pyron - YouTube 


Nikki's Scrapbooking Adventures - YouTube 


Mel W Scrapping - YouTube 


Cilla-Choice Bits of Bliss - YouTube 


Face Book Group:

Crafty Low or No Spend Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/craftylowornospend 


Lisa & Lori's Great Stash Bash August Kit Reveal


Hello, everyone! Happy August 1st! Man, where did July go? It feels like I was just writing up my July stash bash post a few days ago and here we are on the first day of August. 

Before we get to my August kit, I wanted to give an update on my July kit. I made three layouts with my kit and only had 3 full sheets of paper left! I did add a few more scraps to my scrap bin, but I know that I will have no problem using them up when I pull these collections out again.

Now, onto this month's kit. I am not going to lie - pulling a kit together for this month was a bit of a struggle. I pretty well know what pictures I would like to scrap but when I started pulling papers to go with the pictures...I just wasn't happy with anything I put together. I really blame it on these commissioned albums I've been working on! I've been pairing papers with the last few photos of one of the albums that I have left to do and I think my creative brain was just on overload and over it. But, it finally hit me what I needed, what I wanted to do for this month to make it a little easier on me and I am so excited to get started that I had to make myself get the photos taken of my kit and write up the blog post before I started cutting into my papers!

Before we get to the nitty gritty of why I pulled the kit that I did, here's what this challege 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's a look at this month's recipe:


The solution to my kit makng problems is right there in the recipe - our focus item for August - Project Life cards, cut apart cards, pocket cards - whatever you want to call them! When I saw that, I knew that that was what I needed to concentrate on for my kit. I have been missing working in my Project Life album and this is the perfect time to get it out and make a couple of layouts. 

To be honest, I did not stick too closely to the recipe. My kit is on the bigger side - with a total of 24 papers, more than 3-4 embellishments, and a few more than 5-7 scraps. I did not pull from different collections or different manufacturers, I stuck with one complete collection from one manufacturer -Simple Stories' Hello Today collection.

Here's a look at my kit:


Let me stat by saying - I love this collection! I love it so much that I have not just one collection pack, not two collection packs, but THREE collection packs of this collection! I received one of the collection kits as a Christmas present and once I saw all of the pretty cut aparts AND the pretty patterns on the back, I knew I needed another so I could use all of the cards and still have the pretty patterned papers, too. I can't remember how I came to have a third collection...I think I may have picked it up at Tuesday Morning. 

I love this collection so much so that even though I have 3 collection kits - I have been hoarding it since it came out! I have had it filed away in my stash wanting to use it, and not wanting to use it, because then it will be all gone! I've got to get out of that mindset! They have their 2022 version set to be released in September and I really like it, too, but I have told myself that I cannot get it unless I get some of this one used up!

Why do I have 24 papers you ask? I know that I could have pulled 5 of the cut apart papers and 5 of the backgrounds, narrowed down my embellishments and scraps, and I could have been within the parameters of the recipe. I tend to like working in the season we are in, so I could have picked May through September and 5 pretty patterned papers and been fine. But I also know me and know that even though I picked those papers to work with, that my brain would say - "Hey, you should have started with January - you have all of those photos already printed," or "you should have kept out December because you've been itching to work on last year's December Daily." It never fails, when I pull papers I think I want to use and put others back in my stash - it's the papers that I put back that I wish I'd kept out! So, to avoid all of that I put all of the papers in my kit!

Here is a look at the papers - the cut aparts are on the back row and the pretty patterns are in the front:


Here are the cut aparts for January - June:


And the cut aparts for July - Decemmber:


And here are all of the pretty patterned papers:


Here are the embellishments:


I think I have all of the embellishments - sticker sheets, chipboard stickers, foam stickers, puffy stickers, sticker book, journaling bits, ephemera, chipboard frames, enamel dots, and the 6x8 paper pad. I should not need any other embellishments - UNLESS, I make a traditional layout with just the patterned papers that these type of icons, etc. don't work with, then I will pull embellishments from my stash. 

Here are the scraps that I pulled:


I stuck with mostly Simpe Stories scraps, but there are a few other manufactures in there, as well. These will mostly be used for traditional layouts but they may appear as a pocket card if needed.

Since I am still working on the commissioned albums I know I won't have a ton of time to work on my own stuff. I am going to try to stick with this kit for the majority of projects that I need to get done this month - everything is all pulled out and together so that will make it so much easier on me when it's time to sit down and scrap. 

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, and link it below.
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

Here's to getting a few pocket pages, a few tradtional layouts, and maybe even a couple of traveler's notebook layouts done this month! I can't wait!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter