Join Us All Month Long At Sketch N Scrap...

Hello, hello! October is going to be a busy month for us at Sketch N Scrap!

Along with our regularly scheduled layout sketches on the 1st and 15, and our card sketches on the 5th and 20th, we will be celebrating World Card Making Day all month long, too! We will be sharing new card sketches every Saturday in October in celebration of World Card Making Day, so be sure to check out the blog every Saturday.

And, as if that is not enough, we will also be having our Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice Online Crop over on our Facebook Events Page:

The crop starts this Saturday and our challenges will be card challenges - for World Card Making Day, of course! If you are not a card maker but would still like to play along don't worry, we will have a couple of bonus layout challenges, too! The crop will last until the last day of the month so you will have lots of time to play along!

Why don't you come on over and join us? Here's the link to the crop - https://www.facebook.com/events/2045140885706643/.

I would love to see what you create this month!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great day!

Southern Girls Challenge - Stripes

Hello, everyone! It's time for a new challenge at Southern Girls Challenge blog. Our challenge to you is to use stripes on your projects.

Our sponsor for this challenge is the fabulous Newton's Nook Designs.

I have created a layout of Ada, looking at the toys, and dreaming of what she wants this year for her birthday and Christmas.

I came across this striped patterned paper a week or so ago when I was organizing some of my older paper. It was made by Sue Dreamer  - does anyone remember that company? - and I know it has to be from 2003 or 2004. I think I may still have some 3D type embellishments from this company somewhere stuck in my closet, too! When I came across this paper I thought it paired well with the new Simple Stories - Dream Big - collection. The colors are quite similar and they do go well together.

Since this paper is so old, I didn't have any embellishments that actually went with it, so I looked through my "Dream Big" embellishments and found a few that worked.

I added my journaling on a tag that slips behind the photos. I thought about writing directly on my layout - it would have been pretty easy to do, but in the end, I decided against it.

Head on over to the Southern Girls Challenge blog to see how the rest of the team used stripes on their projects. I hope you have some time to play along with us. I would love to see what you create!

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

Merry & Bright - Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #284

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

Today I am sharing my take on this week's sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge. This is such a great sketch and I had a lot of fun creating with it.

I have used Doodlebug Design's - Here Comes Santa Claus - 6x6 paper pad for my patterned paper on this card. The sentiment is from Fancy Pants' - Merry and Bright collection. It feels good to have another Christmas card ready to be sent out this holiday season!

I've been working on putting my older papers in color categories and it was so nice when I needed this red cardstock to just go to my red section and have it ready and waiting to be used instead of searching all over for it! I don't know if I will put my new papers into color categories - maybe after the collections are mostly used up - but it's been fun going through my old paper and discovering papers that I loved and had forgotten all about!

Be sure to stop by Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge tomorrow for the full design team reveal and last week's Top 3. I would love to see you take on this week's sketch! The deadline to enter is Sunday, October 7th.

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

Scribbles Designs Challenge #69 - Pick a Pattern - Midway Post

Hello again! I am back with my third post of the day. If you are looking for my Sketch N Scrap reveal or my Counterfeit Kit Challenge reveal and blog hop, please scroll on down.

Today is the midway point of Challenge #69 at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. Challenge #69 is - Pick a Pattern - choose from one of the following patterns for your main background - dots, stripes, plaids, chevrons, or diamonds.

This time around for my card, I have chosen a chevron background and used one of Scribbles Designs free digital stamps - #F 141 Holiday Tree:

I just love this cute little tree and I thought it went well with the chevron pattern. I colored the image with my Shinhan markers. The sentiment is from an old Studio G $1 bin stamp set.

Head on over to Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog to see which patterns the rest of the design team used on their cards. I would love to see your take on the challenge - why don't you join us?!

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

Counterfeit Kit Challenge October Blog Hop and Reveal

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

It's time for a new inspiration kit at Counterfeit Kit Challenge and it is another fun one - and a little different this month! This month we are counterfeiting a kit from The Wild Hare Kits. You can read all about them over on the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog today. They are a very unique company - creating hand curated paper crafting kits just for you!

AND - The Wild Hare Kits owner, Alison Girling, has generously offered 10% off of a Deluxe Kit for our group with the coupon code CKC1018 at checkout!

The kit we are counterfeiting this month is the custom kit created for September's Wild Hare Kits guest designer, Mandi Holmes. You can see her short unboxing video here.

Here is a look at the papers and embellishments in the kit - Leslie has listed all of papers and embellishments on the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog:

Here is my kit - yet to be named...

Here are the papers that I have chosen:

A few of the papers in the inspiration kit really stuck out to me - the striped paper (#7), the paper with the plus signs (#2), and the green geometric (#9) - and they are what I based my kit around.

The first paper in my kit is a striped paper similar to the one in the inspiration kit. I added in a navy paper and a pink ombre to go along with the striped paper. I also liked paper with the plus signs - it's not the same color - but it is definitely the same pattern and I liked that it gave me a new color family to work with.

I also liked the polka dots on the B side of the plus sign paper in the inspiration kit, so I included two - a grey polka dot and a brown polka dot - because, well, you can never have too many polka dots!

I didn't really have anything to match paper #3 - and really it is not my style - but I did include a paper with hearts all over it and then added another navy paper and a mint green paper to match it.

Next, I found another paper with plus signs in another color family - this one with more of the reds, yellows, and mint green. I debated whether or not to include these papers, but it's my kit and I like a variety, so in they went!

On the second row of my papers, I included a cut apart paper, a mint green with words all over it, a geometric print that reminded me of the wood chevron, a green geometric, a banner paper and a paper covered with words that reminded me of the wavy word paper (#9), a wood grain, a turquoise paper and yellow paper - just because I like them and they match the majority of papers, a dark grey pattern similar to the B side of paper #1, and finally another mint green solid.

Before it was all said and done, I added in another wood grain, another chevron type paper, and since I really liked the pop of green in the inspiration kit, I added in a couple more sheets. That's I color that I love but rarely scrap with. I also included some white and off-white cardstock, and the same paper (#8) as in the inspiration kit. I almost didn't include this one...it's really not my style and the only reason I have it is it came in the paper pad, but I went ahead and included it and thought I would challenge myself to use it this month.

For my embellishments, I have stickers, puffy stickers, and enamel hearts from Pinkfresh Studios - Let Your Heart Decide - collection, wood veneer, wood buttons, puffy stickers, and fabric flags from Pinkfresh - Boys Fort - collection, word stickers from American Crafts, and black alpha stickers from Pebbles. 

I also had the same Pinkfresh die cut pack as in the inspiration kit, and I added some washi tape, brads - in place of the sequins, and some green magic mesh - does anyone remember that stuff?

And there you have it - my kit for October - made just for me, by me! I am so excited to put this kit to work this month!

Here is the complete blog hop list. Hop on over and check out the kits from the rest of the design team. We would love to see your kit, too!

Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog - http://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/

Guest Designer Becca Sadler - https://beccasheartland.blogspot.com/

Lori - http://loriannie670.blogspot.com/

Tina - https://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com/

Cindy - https://cindyscreations-cinmfoster.blogspot.com/

Julene - https://julenebydesign.blogspot.com/

Laura - https://www.instagram.com/mrsp_scrapsandtea/

Leslie - https://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com/

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

I'm Nuts About You - Sketch N Scrap #162

Hello, everyone! Happy October 1st! I can't believe it is already October. After a few beautiful, fall-like days, we are back to summertime temps this week.

The first day of the month means we have a brand new sketch for you at Sketch N Scrap. Lisa has created a fantastic 2-photo sketch to get us started this month:

Since we were having some beautiful fall weather, I was in the mood to scrap some older fall photos.

I used my September Counterfeit Kit for this layout. The papers that I included were perfect for these photos of Abby and Ada back in 2014. The only paper that wasn't in my kit was the brown strip down the left side.

I decided to let the "I'm nuts about you" embellishment stand as my title. I know that Abby is nuts about Ada, and I, of course, am nuts about both of them! I wanted to add some journaling so I used the space for the title as space for my journaling.

I also added a bow that I tied out of some jute that I had included in my kit, and I was able to use up some more of those Dollar Tree glitter dots!

Did you see the word stickers that I made for my forgeries last month? I love the way they look in that cluster.

About the photos - Fall of 2014 was exceptionally beautiful. Our trees had the most gorgeous color to them that year. It just so happened that Abby and Ada were over one weekend when they were at their peak and I was able to snap a few photos of them. They looked so cute sitting amongst the fallen leaves!

You will probably be seeing more of my September Counterfeit Kit in October, and maybe even into November, too, as I am in the mood to scrap fall photos and that kit is all about fall! I will also be revealing my October kit today, too!

Head on over to Sketch N Scrap to see the beautiful layouts from the rest of the design team. I would love to see your take on the sketch - be sure to share with us!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I will be right back to share my October Counterfeit Kit with you!

A Work Of Heart - Scrap Our Stash Blend - A - Sketch

Hello and Happy Thursday! I hope you are having a good week!

Today is my day to share my take on the September Build a Sketch challenge at Scrap Our Stash. Here is a look at the sketches we are to blend - and along with blending the sketches we are to use buttons or flair on our layout:

Here is what I came up with:

For my layout, I used the background and photo placement of the sketch on the left and the title and embellishment placement from the sketch on the right. Can you spot my buttons? 

I finally got a chance to work with the Simple Stories - Dream Big - collection! I knew when I first saw this collection that I "needed" it for photos of Ada! Every single piece of this collection fits her so well!

About this layout - I had forgotten to pick up wrapping paper for Scott's birthday and even though I had some paper, I did not have enough to wrap all of  his presents. Abby and Ada were down for the occasion so I asked Ada if she wanted to make Pops' wrapping paper. We grabbed a couple of brown paper bags and she went to work drawing him a work of art - or work of heart - as I have the layout titled. Of course, Pops loved the wrapping paper and he was very careful not to rip it when he opened his presents so he could save it. 

Here is a look at one of the clusters - and there are 3 of my buttons! I added some old Making Memories flower buttons that I have had for a good 12 - 14 years!

I backed the layout with a thin border of black cardstock and added a strip across the middle where the papers meet.  I thought I needed to bring in a bit more black, so I added some black letter stickers to my title and then punched a few black circles to scatter around my clusters. 

Here is a look at the top cluster - and 2 more flower buttons! I wish I could say that I about used those flower buttons up, but I still have several in other colors to use! Maybe one of these days...

I do plan on adding my some journaling - either directly below the photo/title block or on a tag to be added in the upper cluster. 

Head on over to Scrap Our Stash for design team inspiration every day of the week! We would love to see your take on the challenge, too!

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

Use Your Stuff #331 - Spots and Dots

Hello, everyone! Happy Monday to you! I hope that you had a good weekend.  It was a nice lazy weekend for us and the weather was fantastic! I really love the summertime and hot temperatures, but these 70 degree days have been fantastic!

Use Your Stuff has a new challenge posted today. This week our challenge is to use "Spots and Dots" on your projects.

Well, I love my polka dots and I was happy to pull out these polka dot papers that I have been hoarding from Close To My Heart. I remember buying multiple packs of this polka dotted paper when they came out several years ago and I still have a few full sheets left. Polka dots just don't go out of style!

I punched a one inch circle out of each color and lined them up across my card. Then I punched a three quarters inch circle and layered those on top of where the one inch circles meet. I added a bit of foam tape to each of the smaller circles for more dimension. To keep the spots and dots theme going, I stamped my sentiment on a circle and added it to the bottom of my card. I also punched a few circles with a hole punch to add around my sentiment. I inked the edges of all my paper to help each color stand out a bit more.

Head on over to Use Your Stuff to see the spots and dots projects from the rest of the design team. We would love to see your take on the challenge.

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

Sketches In Thyme PL Style #110

Hello, everyone! Happy Friday to you! We have made it back round to the weekend and I am ready for it! I have lots of scrappy plans for this weekend - I just hope it all works out! Sometimes my plans don't jive with the rest of the family!

It's time for a new sketch at Sketches In Thyme PL Style today. Emma has created a fun sketch for us to work with:

Guys, I cannot believe it - I actually used a project life card from core kit for my card! I think this may be the first time! I have hundreds...okay, maybe closer to thousands of core kit cards in my scrap room and I still have trouble using them, but I thought this colorful rainbow stripe card would be perfect for my card about Ada and her obsession with Candy Land.

I didn't think that the rounded edges of the card would bother me that much, but when I needed this card and photo to go into a 6x4 pocket side by side, I couldn't get past it! I trimmed the card down to square off the corners, then matted it onto a white 6x4 card. I love the way it turned out!

Here's a look at one of the other cards that will go along with this one in my spread:

Before I chose the project life card, I played around with the idea of using the Simple Stories - Dream Big - collection for making my cards. The colors were very similar and I think they would have worked well, too, but when I had the chance to actually use a project life card, I knew I'd better take it! I did use the ice cream cone die cut from that collection on this card.

Here's a look at both cards together:

These photos of Ada aren't the best - she cannot stay still long enough to get a good photo - but this is definitely something that I wanted to document about our "right now". I have one more photo to go with these photos and a journaling card to tell the story, so you will see the whole group when I share my completed spread. I have had a hard time getting my photos printed this week...yeah, I think I need to get a Selphy so I can just print at home! I am hoping to have my spread done by the end of the weekend.

About these photos - Abby and Shawn bought Candy Land for Ada towards the end of the summer. She loved it so much that I bought it to have at our house, too. I did not know what I was getting myself into! This girl is obsessed with Candy Land. We play it multiple times a day and Ada is really good at it! I guess you can call her lucky - she always seems to win - and when she doesn't she is a very gracious loser.

These photos were taken on the 4th of September and here we are still playing multiple games - multiple times a day - almost 3 weeks later! I don't know if she will ever get tired of it!

Head on over to Sketches In Thyme PL Style to see what the rest of the design team has created for this sketch. We would love to see what you create!

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

AHSC #282 - Merry Christmas

Hello, hello! Happy Tuesday to you! I thought I would pop in here and share my take on this week's Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.

Here is the fun sketch that Michelle has created:

I can tell that this sketch is going to be a favorite of mine! Here is what I came up with:

My original plan for this card was to use washi tape for the strips at the top and the bottom - and maybe even behind the circle embellishment. Of course, since I have cleaned and rearranged my scrap room I can no longer find my Christmas washi tape! I have looked and looked and still cannot find it, so we went with scraps instead!

The same goes for my sentiment stamp, as well. I had a small "merry and bright" stamp that I wanted to use and I don't know where I've put it, but then I remembered that I got my Elle's Studio order and it included their new Christmas Seals stamp set, so I went with one of those instead. I have to say - I love every single stamp in this set and I know you will be seeing more of them in the upcoming months.

I added in a few sequins and a wood veneer tree to finish off my card.

Here is a close-up of the sentiment:

Be sure to stop by Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge tomorrow to see how the rest of the design team used this sketch and to see the Top 3 from last week. I would love to see your take on this fun sketch.

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