Sketch N Scrap November Crop Challenge #3

Hello and Happy Sunday! I hope you are having a good weekend. The weather switch has flipped to winter for a couple of days here. The high temp for the next couple of days is supposed to be the upper 30s... I'm not quite ready for that kind of cold! At least it only lasts for a couple of days, and then we are back to the 60s again.

Today I am sharing the layout I made for Sketch N Scrap's November Crop Challenge #3. This challenge can be found at Sketch N Scrap's Monthly Challenges private Facebook group, and this is our small-format sketch challenge. Along with the challenge, there is an added twist. This month's twist is a 5,4,3,2,1 challenge. You need to add 5 of one item, 4 of another item, 3 of another, etc. For example, 5 patterned papers, 4 stickers, 3 enamel dots, 2 hearts, and one photo. Keep reading below to find out what I used on my layout.

Here is a look at the sketch:

I am working on my 2023 December Daily, and this sketch was perfect for one of the stories I wanted to tell. 

I know I say this every time, but I loved working with this sketch! I love that I was able to use so many different papers, and I always love it when a big circle is included! 

To satisfy the challenge, I used 5 patterned papers, 4 sticker-backed brads, 3 gift stickers, 2 hearts, and 1 photo.

This story is of the day I took Shane to pick out his wrapping paper. We have been doing this for several years, and it is one of the things he looks forward to most during the holiday season. We were later than usual this particular year, but he had no trouble picking out a couple of rolls! 

I will pair this layout with a pocket page that will hold more photos and the story.

Here are a couple of close-ups:

The "I (heart) the holidays" sticker and "a (heart) full of cheer" sticker were perfect for the title. Shane loves Christmas so much and talks about it all year long!

I used the Simple Stories Make It Merry collection for this layout. I love, love, love this collection, and while it was hard to cut into some of my favorite papers, I am so happy to have them on this layout.

Here is how it looks paired with the pocket page:

Be sure to check out the private Facebook group for all of our November crop challenges. You can find it here - Sketch N Scrap's Monthly Challenges.

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

Besties - Sketch N Scrap #299

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

Today I am sharing the layout  I made using the June 15th sketch from Sketch N Scrap and my Lisa & Lori's Great Stash Bash kit for June. Here is a look at the sketch:

And here is my layout:

For this layout, I pulled papers - and a few scraps - from my June kit for Lisa & Lori's Great Stash Bash. I knew I wanted to use the paper with all of the fun words on it for these photos of Ada and her bestie on their first sleepover. I pulled papers that matched the colors in the text paper and went to work. 

My kit didn't include many flowers, so I raided my die-cut stash and found a few that would work. This layout came together so quickly and I love the end result!

Here are a couple of close-ups:

When I was looking for the flowers, I came across the paperclips and thought they were perfect for this layout and they tucked in nicely in each of the clusters. 

For the title, I cut the letters from each of the patterned papers to mimic the words in the text paper. I then added foam tape for a bit of dimension.

Be sure to stop by Sketch N Scrap for more inspiration. I hope you have a chance to play along with us!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! I hope you have an awesome day!

Hello Summer - Sketch N Scrap's 11th Birthday Bash Sketch #2

Hello, everyone! Happy Friday to you! We have made it to the long holiday weekend - the unofficial kick-off to summer! Do you have any fun plans for the weekend? Today the girls - Abby, Ada, and myself - are headed to Branson for a girl's day. I will be stopping by Cecilia's Samplers to do a little cross-stitch shopping and then we are headed to WonderWorks. Ada went there for her class trip earlier this month and wanted to go back, so we are headed there today. Later this weekend we will be helping Abby and Ada move, and for the rest of the weekend, we will be resting!

Today I am sharing the layout that I created using Sketch N Scrap's 11th Birthday Bash Sketch #2. Here's a look at the sketch:

And this is what I came up with:

This was such a fun sketch to work with! I love all of the layers and it is a great sketch to showcase a special photo. I used my May kit for Lisa & Lori's Great Stash Bash for this layout, and I even managed to get a couple of items from my bashket onto this layout.

The photo is of Ada and Pops two summers ago - living their best life - jumping into the pool. They always have so much fun in the pool! I will add a bit of journaling under the photo. 

The papers from this Simple Stories 'Summer Vibes' collection are so fun to work with. I did add a little stenciling to the white background paper. I felt like it was just too plain without something on it. I'm not the greatest at stenciling but I am happy with the results.

Here are a couple of close-ups:

For this cluster, I punched a circle for my cluster base, added a chipboard camera with another chipboard circle on top of it, and another chipboard circle to the side. All of these chipboard pieces were in my bashket. I added three phrase stickers and a few circle stickers from the sticker sheet to finish it off.

The title came from the sticker sheet and the flags were in my bashket.  They were the perfect shade of pink and I am so happy to get two more of them on a layout!

Be sure to check out the Sketch N Scrap blog and the Sketch N Scrap Monthly Challenges Facebook group for all of the fun that we have been having this month. We would love to see you playing along, too!

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

Sketch N Scrap's 11th Birthday Bash Sketch #1

Hello, hello! Happy Saturday to you! I hope that your weekend is off to a good start. 

Today I am sharing the sketch and the layout that I created for Sketch N Scrap's 11th Birthday Bash! This is the first of three new sketches this month to celebrate eleven years of providing free sketches to our loyal readers.

Here is the sketch:

And my layout:

For this layout, I used Echo Park's Little Dreamer - Boy collection. This photo is of Shane when he was not quite two. We were at my sister's house and he was just chillin' out on their big oversized ottoman. From the looks of it, he is probably watching a video or cartoon on tv. This photo was taken about 22 years ago and it seems like it was just yesterday! My how time has flown by!

Here are a couple of close-ups:

I did a bit of stamping on this layout. The white of the background paper just needed a little extra something. I die-cut several stars and fussy cut out a speech bubble for my embellishments.

I added phrase stickers to serve as journaling. The sticker book had the little star stickers in it, and I thought they would make cute little bullet points. I may go ahead and add some handwritten journaling down by the stamped stars at the bottom of the page if I feel like it needs it. 

The title piece was in the die-cut pack and I thought it was perfect for the title. I added a few more die-cut stars and called it good. I can't believe I didn't even add enamel dots on this one!

Be sure to check out the Sketch N Scrap blog to see more inspiration from the design team. We hope you play along with us!

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

Happy Together - LM #640 - World Wildlife Day - and Sketch N Scrap #268

 Hello, hello! Happy Sunday to you! I hope you are having a good weekend. It's been another beautiful weekend here but they are calling for colder temperatures later this week. 

It is time for a new theme and a new set of challenges at Lasting Memories this week. We are celebrating some special days in March that you just might not know are special! March 3rd is National Wildlife Day and so our first challenge is to create a layout and add an animal to it in some way. This can be in the patterned paper, an animal in your photo, or an animal embellishment. You do not have to scrap about an animal, but you can if you want to!

This is what I came up with:

For this layout, I scrapped a photo of Ada and her puppy, Winnie. They were both just hanging out on our bed, enjoying each other's company.

I used my March kit for Lisa & Lori's Great Stash Bash. Everything on this layout was either in my kit or in my basket that is almost to overflow! I did have to go in search of a scrap of paper to mount floral paper onto so I would stand out on that white background, and I found a piece of mint from another Simple Stories collection - Sunkissed - that was perfect. 

I tried to add some stenciled hearts on the background but just felt like it didn't look right, so I stuck with the white background. 

I based my layout on the fabulous March 1st sketch from Sketch N Scrap:

I love sketches with big blocks of paper. I always try to find my favorite paper to use there to show it off.

Here are a couple of close-ups:

I put a few of the items that I have added to my bashket the last couple of months to good use on this layout. I went through all of those die-cuts that I added in February and pulled anything that was yellow, pink, orange, or mint. I was able to get quite a few on this layout. The "You are pretty sweet" sticker was from one of the old My Mind's Eye sticker sheets. 

This "happy" die-cut has been in several of my kits over the last few years. I am happy to have it finally on a layout! When I found the "together" die-cut, I thought it was a perfect way to finish off the title.

I managed to use a total of three tags from the tag cut-apart paper in my kit. Now that I have actually cut into that paper, maybe I will get them used on more projects this month. I finished off each cluster area with our focus item at Lisa & Lori's Great Stash Bash - enamel dots.

I love how this layout turned out!

Won't you join us at Lasting Memories and at Sketch N Scrap this month? We would love to see your beautiful creations!

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

Puppy Secrets - Sketch N Scrap #264

Hello, hello! Happy Sunday and Happy New Year! I always say this, but I cannot believe that it is the first day of the new year. The older I get, the faster the years seem to go!

Let's kick the new year off right with a new sketch from Sketch N Scrap. Lisa is getting us started with a fun one-photo sketch:

And this is what I came up with:

For this first layout of the new year, I have used Simple Stories Pet Shoppe and Pet Shoppe Cat papers. When these collections came out I didn't even give them a second look. I really wasn't interested in any more pet collections - I need to use up what I already have - but then I saw them in person at Scrapbook Generation and realized that the majority of the patterns were pretty generic - and in colors that I love! I didn't buy much - just the papers that I really loved and knew that I could use easily. I loved these papers so much that when I saw Scrapbook Generation had them on their end-of-year sale I may have ordered more.

This photo is of Winnie and Willie back when Winnie was new to the family. It didn't take Willie long to warm up to her and when Abby brings her over to be a "country dog" they have the best time together. I loved this photo of the two of them sitting on the deck. In reality, Willie is probably sniffing her, but to me, it looks like he is telling her a secret.

Since I didn't have any embellishments, I just made do with some odds and ends - enamel dots, wood veneer, a label, stamps, and punched circles from one of the pattern papers. 

Here are a couple of close-ups:

I am making it a point to use my stamps more on my layouts this year. Ideally, I would like to do some sort of stamping on every layout, if possible. I stamped a phrase on a label for this layout:

Be sure to check out the Sketch N Scrap blog to see the sketch and the lovely layouts from the rest of the design team. I hope you have a chance to play along with us!

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

Fun Times - Sketch N Scrap Sketch #259

 Hello, everyone! Happy Saturday to you! I hope your weekend is off to a good start.

I can't believe that it is already time for the mid-month sketch at Sketch N Scrap. October is flying right on by. This sketch was created by me:

And this is what I came up with:

I had to make a few minor adjustments to my layout since I used a larger photo than the sketch shows. I needed to make my paper layers a bit bigger and that also meant that I didn't have quite as much room at the top of the page for the top right cluster so I moved it down closer to the paper layers. When I tried to add a tab to the top of the paper layers, it just looked out of place, so I added a couple of tags to that area instead. 

This is a photo that Abby took of the three of them last weekend at Silver Dollar City. It was a beautiful day for them to go and she said it was not that busy and they were able to get on the rides pretty easily. She said Ada just kept saying that she was so happy!

Here are a couple of close-ups:

I added a bit of stamping to the top left and bottom right corners of my layout. Of course, I had to drop my stamp on the page after I stamped it. It wasn't too noticeable so I just went with it.

These navy Thickers were the perfect size to fit on the heart but I kind of wish that I would have used something a little bigger. I could always go back and change it but once a layout is done - it is done for me!

I can't say that this is my favorite layout but it will do. You just may be seeing this photo again one day on a different layout!

Be sure to stop by Sketch N Scrap to see how the rest of the team took on this sketch. I would love to see your take on it, too!

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

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!

Eight Is Great - Sketch N Scrap #238

Hello, everyone! Happy Thursday to you! This week is moving right along and the weekend is almost here. Ours is sure to be busy with a birthday party for Miss Ada who turned 8 this week! I can't believe that she is 8 - time needs to slow down just a little!

Today I am sharing the layout that I created using the December 1st sketch from Sketch N Scrap. This sketch is courtesy of Sketch Artist Heather and I love it! In fact, this is actually my second layout using this sketch - you will be seeing my first take on it a little later on this month! Here is a look at the fun sketch:

Abby snapped this photo on Ada's birthday at the end of the school day. Ada was so excited to finally have her chance at wearing the birthday glasses and she made sure to go to Abby's classroom at the end of the day and have her take a photo of her in them before she had to give them back. She looks so stinkin' cute in them and I could not wait to get this photo scrapped!

I used Pebbles' - Happy Cake Day - collection on this layout. The blues in the papers were a perfect match to the glasses. Here are a couple of close-ups:

I fussy cut the cute little cool cat in sunglasses with a birthday cake for part of my embellishment cluster. He looks like he could very well be hollering "You are Fab-u-lous!"

For this cluster, I fussy cut a set of balloons from one of the patterned papers and die cut a couple of circles from two others. I finished it off with a gold crown - she is our little princess after all - and a few hearts. 

I love the big blocks of paper on this sketch and it is definitely going to be added to my "Favorites" folder for later use. 

Be sure to check out Sketch N Scrap for more sketch inspiration.

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

Summer Fun - Sketch N Scrap #229

Hello, everyone! Happy Saturday to you! I hope that your weekend is off to a good start. It looks like it's going to be a quiet day around our house today and I hope that means I can fit in some scrappy time a little later.

Today I am sharing the layout that I created using the July 15th sketch at Sketch N Scrap, and while I am thinking of it - just a little heads up - I have switched over to the Social Media Design Team so my layouts and cards will now be featured on our Facebook page throughout the month instead of on the Sketch N Scrap blog, and I will still be sharing them here on my blog and on Instagram. Here is a look at the July 15th sketch that Lisa has created for us:

This is what I came up with:

I flipped the sketch to better fit my photo and I moved one of the clusters to the top corner of the photo instead of keeping it down by the title. I really liked the blocks of paper behind the photo and the 6x8 Sunkissed paper pad from Simple Stories was perfect for those layers. 

This photo of Ada jumping into the pool is one of my favorites from this summer. Shane tells her - "1-2-3 cannonball!" and she is happy to jump in for him - over and over.

Everything on this layout was included in my Lisa & Lori's Great Stash Bash July kit.

Here are a couple of close-ups:

For this little cluster, I used a few of the "washi" type stickers in the sticker book for my base, added in that cute little sunshine and a word phrase die-cut, and finished it off with the flat back decorative brads and a puffy heart. 

I added the unicorn floatie die-cut behind the title - mostly because the title seemed to get lost on the white background - and if helped to "beef up" that cluster, too.  

For this last cluster, I used one of the little journaling spot stickers from the sticker book for my cluster base. It had a little lobster on the top of it - which I did not need - so I covered it up with a couple of heart stickers. I added another piece of one of the washi stickers, more flat back decorative brads, and another puffy sticker. 

Be sure to stop by the Sketch N Scrap blog and the Sketch N Scrap Facebook page for more inspiration.

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

Celebrate the USA - Lasting Memories #555

Hello, hello! Happy 4th of July to all of my American friends! All of the kids are coming over today for some food and fun and then tonight we will be shooting off some fireworks. 

Today I am sharing the layout that I created for today's challenge at Lasting Memories. We have a new theme for July - Layout Titles! We will be providing you with a word/phrase that you must use as the title of your layout. You can add more words but you cannot take any away. This week's challenge is to use the word "Celebrate" - or some form of that word (like celebration) -as your title. Here is what I came up with:

Since it is the 4th of July, I went with a patriotic layout using a photo of my son-in-law from a few years ago. When the camera comes out you can guarantee that he will be hamming it up. This time, after we had taken family photos, he grabbed up all of the little flags and stuck them in his pockets, down the back of his shirt, and then he even held onto one in each hand. You can't get more patriotic than that!

I used the red, white, and blue mini kit that I created for Lisa & Lori's Great Stash Bash for July. I still have a few papers left and I have at least one more layout planned with that mini kit. I based my layout on the July 1st sketch from Sketches In Thyme:

Here are a couple of close-ups:

I die cut the word "celebrate" from cardstock three times to bulk it up a bit and then finished off my title with some tiny letter stickers from Freckled Fawn. They were the perfect blue. I fussy cut a few of the rockets from one of the papers for embellishment, and I punched out a few of the fireworks with a circle punch. I finished it off by scattering some tiny punched starts around my layout. I also distressed the edges of my layout with white paint and added some splatters around, as well.  

I had a hard time figuring out where I wanted my journaling to go. I finally ended up adding it to the right side of the layout to take up some of the empty space in the photo.

Be sure to stop by the Lasting Memories blog to see how the rest of the design team took on this challenge. I hope you have some time to play along with us!

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