Stay Cool - Sketch N Scrap #296

 Hello, everyone! Happy Friday to you! Are you ready for the weekend? I sure am. The stormy weather has finally moved out of our area and the weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend. I can't wait!

Today I am sharing the layout I made for Sketch N Scrap's May 1st sketch. Here's a look at the sketch:

And my layout:

For this layout, I have used the Simple Stories Boho Sunshine collection. It was a little tricky because I only had the 6x8 paper pad for my papers, but I made it work with some piecing together!

This was a fun sketch to work with and would be perfect if you needed to use up some scraps. It's going into my favorites folder for that purpose!

The photo is of Miss Ada who looked so cute with her hair up in a clip and her sunglasses on, ready for a fun shopping day with her Mom. I just couldn't resist snapping a photo!

Here are a few close-ups:

Ada was over at our house while I was working on this layout and I got her input on the embellishments. I originally had a sun where the butterfly is, but wanted the pink butterfly to go there. I think she made a good choice!

I got the idea for the title from one of the cut-apart papers in the 6x8 paper pad. I would have just cut it out to use, but it was a little too small for the area it was to go in. Thank goodness the sticker book had an alphabet in it! I added a couple of banners - mostly because it gave my title something to "sit" on and not look as if it was floating on my page. They were a perfect fit to connect one side of the layout to the other, and I didn't even plan that out ahead of time!

I finished the bottom cluster with the camera, smiley face, and sunglasses. 

I love how this layout turned out!

For more inspiration be sure to check out the Sketch N Scrap blog, the Sketch N Scrap Facebook page, and the Sketch N Scrap Monthly Challenges Facebook group. Our 12th Birthday Bash is going on all month long and there are a ton of fun challenges being posted in the group. Come on over and play along!

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

Good Times Together - Sketch N Scrap #281

Hello, everyone! Happy Sunday to you! I hope that you are all doing well. 

Today I am sharing the layout that I made for the September 15th sketch at Sketch N Scrap. Here is a look at the sketch:

For this layout, I used the oh-so-pretty Happy Days collection from Cocoa Vanilla. I snapped this photo of Abby and Ada on one of our girl's day outings in downtown Springfield. This flower garden that we found outside of The Discovery Center was too pretty to not get a photo of the two of them in front of it, and the Happy Days collection was just perfect for the photo. 

Here are a couple of close-ups:

When I bought this collection, I made sure to purchase a package of the floral die-cuts. Cocoa Vanilla's floral pieces are always so pretty and there are a ton of flowers in die-cut pack. I did not skimp on using them on this layout and I still have a ton left. I fussy cut the butterflies from the back side of the purple dot paper and added a few puffy stickers to finish out my clusters. 

I popped a few of the flowers up on foam tape for some added dimension and the tiny floral bits were fussy cut from the back side of the purple dot paper. I stamped the journaling box and fussy cut it out and added what little bit of journaling I had on it. I also used a wavy border die on the bottom strip of paper for something a little different. 

Be sure to check out the Sketch N Scrap blog for more inspiration. I would love to see your take on the sketch, too!

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

Sweet Little Moment - Sketch N Scrap February Crop Challenge #3

Hello, everyone! Happy Super Bowl Sunday to you! Will you be watching the big game or will you be scrapping the night away? I know we will have it on and we will be rooting for the Bengals - even though they beat out our Raiders in the first playoff game - but really we won't care either way. We just want it to be a good game. And if it's not - you can bet I will be working on a layout or card!

Today I am sharing a layout that I created for Challenge #3 over in Sketch N Scrap's Monthly Challenges Facebook group.  I chose Sketch N Scrap's Sketch #152 from May 1, 2018:

And this is what I came up with:

I used papers and embellishments from my February Stash Bash kit on this layout. All of the papers are from Echo Park's Hello Baby (boy) collection - except the orange - which is an old My Mind's Eye paper.

I only had this one sweet photo of my boys -  from 20 years ago - to use on this layout. I can't remember if this was the day we finally got to bring Shane home after spending 16 days in the NICU, or if it was a few days later. It couldn't have been too long after as I see the cords from his heart monitor in the photo. 

This photo just melts my heart every time that I look at it! Matthew is loving on his little brother and I can just imagine him letting Shane know that everything's going to be okay - that he is there to watch out for him!

Here are a couple of close-ups:

I tried really hard to use those big rosette embellishments that I had included in my kit but they just turned out to be way too big and way too bulky for my liking, so I made my own version with my circle punches and pinked circle dies. I love how they turned out and with making my own version, I could make them as big or as small as I wanted. I finished off this cluster with a few stickers from the sticker sheet. 

For the title, I used the mirrored word "Sweet" from Pink Paislee. I almost didn't use it - the "W" looks a little foggy about halfway down. I tried to get the plastic off it but it was like it had melted onto the letter. I decided to just go ahead and go with it. 

I am so glad that I finally got this photo scrapped!

Be sure to stop by Sketch N Scrap's Monthly Challenges Facebook group and check out our challenges for February. We would love it if you played along with us!

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

My Boys - Sketch N Scrap Monthly Challenges - Challenge #4

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

Today I am sharing the layout that I created for Challenge #3 at Sketch N Scrap's Monthly Challenges Facebook group. Here is the sketch that I chose for the challenge:

And here is my layout:

For this layout I used the Photo Play - Little Boys Have Big Adventures collection - that I had included in my September Stash Bash kit. I managed to use one full patterned paper and one of the pieces of cardstock that I had included in my kit, and I used up a couple of scraps. I wish that I had cut the paper that is behind the photo bigger than 6x6 so a little more of it is showing, but I cut into the paper before I really thought it through and there was no going back. I made good use of the die-cuts that I included and I got a couple of stickers used off of the sticker sheet. I did add those thick wood stars to my layout. I am still not a fan of them but at least I got 9 on this layout. 

This is an old photo of Matthew and Shane from 2006. I may or may not have scrapped this photo before...I really can't remember! The one area I need to get better in is my photo organization and remembering what I have scrapped! It doesn't help that these photos are from back in the day when you got 2 or 3 copies of each photo in your photo order. What was I thinking getting 3 sets of the same photos??

Here are a few close-ups:

I felt like my title got a little lost when I added it directly to the background paper so I made a little box for it to sit on. Now it is much easier to read. 

Be sure to check out the Sketch N Scrap Monthly Challenges Facebook group, I would love it if you played along with us!

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

Scrap N Scrap #218 - Winters Beauty

 Hello, everyone! Happy February 1st! 

It is time for a new sketch at Sketch N Scrap today and Sketch Artist Lisa is getting us started with a great 2-photo sketch:

This is what I came up with:

I opted to use 1 - 6x4 photo in place of the 2 -3x4 photos shown on the sketch. Other than that I stuck pretty closely to the sketch. I used Carta Bella's Winter Market collection that I had included in my January Counterfeit Kit. 

I took this photo on New Year's Day. We had gotten just a little snow and freezing rain the night before and (almost) everything was covered in white. Scott and I took a walk down to the creek and it was just so pretty, I had to snap a few photos. 

Here are a few close-ups:

I got these great wood veneer snowflakes from the Redefined Kreative Shop. When I checked to see if they are still available, I did not see the snowflakes, but she has a ton of other great pieces in her shop.

For my title, I used the minty green alphas that I had included in my January Counterfeit Kit and these great Alpha Cuts Stamp and die from The Stamp Market. I ordered these back early last year and I can't believe that this is the first time that I am using them! If you like the look of the tiny tile alphas you should check these out.  

Be sure to stop by the Sketch N Scrap blog today to see the sketch and the beautiful layouts from the rest of the design team. 

I will be back soon with another post to share with you!

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

Beautiful You - Scrap Our Stash March Sketch Challenge

Hello, hello! Happy Saturday! I hope that you are all doing well. 

Today I am sharing the layout that I created for the Scrap Our Stash sketch challenge for this month. Along with the sketch we are to use plaid paper and wood on our layout. Here is a look at the sketch:

And my layout:

I used Doodlebug Designs "Hello Beautiful" collection. I had received the papers and the die cuts in a Doubleshot kit from The ScrapRoom back in July of 2018. I loved the vibrant colors and knew they would be perfect for an Ada layout - I just needed to wait for the right photo. Everything on this layout came from that Doubleshot kit with the exception of the enamel dots, wood veneer, and stamps I used for the title. 

Abby sent me this photo back in November and when I saw it I got a little glimpse of Ada as a teenager! There she is - wearing those sunglasses and showing a little bit of attitude...she just looked so cute and grown up!

Here are a couple of close-ups:

I am so happy to say that I used all but 4 die cuts out of the ones that were in my Doubleshot kit! That is the one thing I absolutely love about The ScrapRoom kits - you get a sampling of a collection - and I rarely have very much left over after I make a couple of layouts. It's always so satisfying to use my supplies!

I decided to stamp my title directly onto my layout. I felt like I needed a little something for separation between the title and the journaling so I added a strip of paper and a wood veneer arrow.  I also scattered a few wood veneer hearts and enamel dots around my clusters. I loved this big acetate flower piece that was in the die cuts that I received and I thought it was perfect for the area that was represented by the tag on the sketch. I just love how this layout turned out!

Be sure to stop by the Scrap Our Stash blog 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!

Spring Beauty - The Studio Challenges

Hello, everyone! Happy Sunday to you! I hope you are having a good weekend. We have been celebrating both of our sons' birthdays this weekend. Matt's birthday was on Friday and Shane's is today and we have been enjoying some good family time this weekend.

It's time for a new challenge at The Studio Challenges today. This week's challenge is "half" - make a layout that starts with a half a piece of patterned paper on the background, the rest is up to you.

Here is what I came up with:

I started with half a piece of floral patterned paper on my background and I added a punched border strip to it. Everything on this layout was in this month's Great Stash Bash kit that you can read all about here. I was able to use up a few more of my scraps in this kit and I remembered to use a couple of the punches that I had put in my kit. I also added in a couple of stickers and a few more brads on this layout.

A couple of things to note - the blue paper behind the photo has since been straightened - I didn't even notice it was a bit off until I got the photo on here, and in the close-up photo below you will see a blue heart on top of the pink heart. I had to take multiple photos and somehow lost the heart! It has since been found and reattached!

I love the Martha Stewart doily punch that I added to my kit - it makes such a cute little embellishment - not only does it look like a doily, but it also looks like a flower, too.

Be sure to stop by The Studio Challenges blog to see the layouts from the rest of the team.

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

Scrap Our Stash Saturday Morning Cartoons

Hello, everyone! Happy Monday to you! Are you ready for the new week? I don't know if I am, but it's here regardless!

Today is my day to share my take on the Saturday Morning Cartoons challenge at Scrap Our Stash. For February, the Saturday morning cartoon image we are to get inspiration from is Popeye and you must use heart patterned paper and/or 3 or more hearts and be inspired by the sketch:

Here is what I came up with:

Since Popeye has his main squeeze - Olive Oyl - in the image, I started with a photo of me and my main squeeze! I also tried to stick to the same colors by using grey, pink, and green - even though my green is more mint than in the image. The grey background paper is an older paper - I think from Echo Park - and the rest of the patterned papers are from Close To My Heart's - I Heart Us - paper pack. It's hard to tell because they are so tiny, but the white and black paper actually has hearts all over it.

All of the chipboard stickers are also from the I Heart Us collection and they are just so cute! I just love that typewriter! I found a pink doily and some pink sequins in my stash that matched and added those as well. Since I didn't use the big heart element from the sketch, I felt like I needed a little something more above the photo. I also moved the banners to the other side to help balance everything out. 

Here are a couple of close-ups:

Head on over to Scrap Our Stash for more inspiration from the design team. I would love to see your take on the sketch, so I hope to see you playing along with us!

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

Better Together - Counerfeit Kit January Challenge #2

Hello, everyone! Happy Friday to you! I am so looking forward to the weekend! It's supposed to be super cold and dreary but that is just a good excuse to stay in and scrap!

Counterfeit Kit Challenge has their second challenge of the month posted today. For this challenge, you are to be inspired by the following mood board:

For my layout, everything I have used is from my January Counterfeit Kit - with the exception of the enamel dots. My enamel dots sit on my desk in a basket within reach at all times so I just pull them when I need them.

From the mood board, I was inspired by the messy stack of books to create a "stack" of patterned paper strips down the center of my layout. I was also inspired by most of the colors - black, white, red, and pink, and the circles, and the "sweet" dessert to create a layout about my hubby - or my "sweet" heart - and I! Tomorrow we celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary so I thought it was fitting to make a layout about us!

For the patterned paper strips, I used the border strip sheet that I included in my kit and a few pieces of washi tape from my kit. I can't believe that I remembered to use the washi tape. More often than not it goes untouched in my kit! 

I also used the circle stamp that I had in my kit to do a little random stamping on my background. By the time I added the paper strips most of the stamped images were mostly covered, but they are there!

My title and a couple of the black foam hearts came off of one of the word sticker sheets and I die cut the red heart and the "I only have eyes for you" circle out of one of the papers for my embellishments and the "love this life" circle is another stamp that I had included.

Here is a close-up of the embellishments:

Be sure to stop by the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog to see the creations from the rest of the design team. We would love to see your take on the mood board challenge, too.

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

Such a Cutie - Sketch N Scrap #152

Hello and Happy May 1st! Finally, the weather is starting warm up and we are having more sunny days than cloudy this week. Spring may finally be here! It has been so nice to have all of the windows open in the house.

Sketch N Scrap has their first layout sketch of the month posted today and I love it! Lisa has created a super fun sketch for us to work with and I know I will be using it again!

I changed things up a bit with this sketch - first I flipped it to work with my photo, and then I only used one 6x4 photo instead of the two 3x4's. 

I love this photo of Matthew -when he was so little - sitting in his sister's inflatable purple chair. He was (and of course still is!) such a cutie! 

You can't tell it very well in this photo, but he has on a blue jacket with red writing - and along with the purple chair, that decided my color combo. I couldn't wait to use the Elle's Studio "Noteworthy" papers and I think I even used a piece or two from their "Family Fun" collection.

Be sure to stop by Sketch N Scrap to see the fun layouts from the rest of the design team. Don't forget - we have lots of fun things planned this month (you can read all about them here) and we would love it if you played along with us this month!

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

Sketches In Thyme #297

Hello again! I am back with my second post of the day. If you are looking for my Try Stampin' - Or Not - On Tuesday reveal, please scroll down or go here.

Today is my day to be featured on the Sketches In Thyme blog with my take on sketch #297, courtesy of Shawn:

I decided to use a single photo in place of the two 3x3 photos and I made the layers behind the photo a little bigger. I used Close To My Heart's - Some Kind Of Wonderful - collection (the black and white papers for the background) and the 6x6 papers are from American Crafts - Everyday - 6x6 paper pad. The stickers are also from American Crafts.

I did something that I don't normally do and that is I didn't really add a big title to my layout. I figured the "love you" sticker said all I needed to say about this photo of Abby and Ada.

Be sure to check out Sketches In Thyme. We have design team inspiration every single day of the week! I am offering up the prize this month, so come on over and play along!

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

Enjoying Life - Make It Monday #59

Hello everyone! Happy Monday to you! I hope that you all enjoyed a good weekend! I am excited because after today we only have one more Monday of school! Counting down the days here!

Today is Make It Monday over at The Memory Nest and we have a fun - new sketch for you!

Just so you know - the photo on this layout is much better in person.I have tried everything to get it to show up better with no luck.

I really liked the shapes on the background of this sketch and I decided to go with circles - because they are my favorite!  I already had this paper out on my desk from a previous layout, and since I had one more picture of Ada from that day, I decided to go ahead and scrap it! I had originally thought of decorating each circle with some type of embellishment, but when I laid it all out it was way too busy for me. 

I used a few cut outs that my good friend, Willa Jean, sent to me a few months ago. The colors were just perfect for this layout and those tiny flowers are so cute! I'm not really sure why the dark pink flowers look so bright in the photo - they really aren't that bright.

Be sure to stop by The Memory Nest blog to see the how the rest of the design team interpreted this sketch. I hope that you are inspired to play along with us this month!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I will be back soon with my next project of the day!

Lasting Memories #285

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

The latest challenge is up at Lasting Memories today. Our theme for March has been "Welcome to the Oscars!", and this week our challenge is "A Famous Movie Or Actor(s) Quote". Everybody's got that one movie that they just love to quote. Now is the time to use it on a layout.

I turned to Pinterest and searched movie quotes to find something that was a little different. The first quote I found was this:

I knew I had a photo of my oldest son when he was two that would be perfect for this quote. Here is the layout that I made.

I dug out some of my hoarded "Boy Crazy" papers from My Mind's Eye, and used a sketch from PageMaps, and this layout came together pretty quickly. I didn't have any of the stickers/embellishments left from the collection, so I used my circle punch and punched out some of the stars from the papers. 

Here is a look at the sketch that I used:

Check out the Lasting Memories blog to see what movie quotes the rest of the design team used for their layouts. 

I hope you find some time to play along with us! All of our challenges for March are due on April 1st.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Have a fantastic day!

Officially Homeowners - Scrapbook Challenges - Recycle It

Hello everyone! Happy hump day to you! We have our first snow day today - not because of snow, but because of ice - yuck! Well, yay for no school - yuck because of the ice! We didn't get a lot, but it doesn't take a lot to make the roads treacherous.

We have a new challenge up over on the Scrapbook Challenges blog. Today we have our Recycle It challenge. Choose one of the sketches from the following graphic and create a layout about a fresh start. You also need to do some mixed media on your layout.

I chose the first sketch on the graphic for my layout about my daughter and her husband officially becoming homeowners. They signed the papers on December 30 ad we will be helping them move in this weekend! I can't think of a better subject for a fresh start!

I'm not much of a mixed media person - I just haven't taken the time to really experiment much with it. So, mists and splatters is about as adventurous as I get in this area. Maybe one of these days I'll dive in a little deeper and learn some new things!

Check out the Scrapbook Challenge blog to see the other design team members take on this challenge.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a wonderful day!

Scrapbook Challenges Sketch #460

Hello again! I am back with my second post of the day. If you are looking for my Use Your Stuff reveal, please scroll down or go here.

Scrapbook Challenges has a great new sketch up over on the blog today. Here is a look at the sketch:

I really like these starbursts on a page and I really liked that this was a partial one - something that I had not tried yet.

I used Simple Stories I Am collection for this layout of my daughter and my niece. These two were really close growing up, and they were more like sisters than cousins. Even though they live several hours from each other and have their own little families, when they do get together, it's just like old times.

Head on over to the Scrapbook Challenges blog to see the other design team members take on this fun sketch.

I hope you have some time to play along with us!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!