Through the Trees Layout

It's time for another challenge at Lasting Memories, but their challenges are so addicting that I'm still playing around with the last one! I couldn't resist using up the last of the blue ink in my spray pen to mist the background of this layout, but I also had fun playing with their new challenge: stamping. I'm a long time stamp lover, but I used the stamps in a little different way this time. There was nothing in my stash that seemed to go with the green patterned paper in the middle of the page, so I pulled out a leaf stamp set and repeatedly stamped it until I had a new background to match - voila! The title is also stamped, as are all the trees. For the title circle, I even used some masking to create a denser look for the trees rather than the evenly spaced look elsewhere on the layout. Hopefully you now feel inspired  to pull out some stamps and join in the fun challenge over at Lasting Memories!

Recipe:
Intrinsic Backgrounds, True Happiness & Pen Pal Alphabet stamp sets
Dutch Blue, Whisper, Olive, Creme Brulee & White Daisy cardstock
Dutch Blue, Whisper, Olive, Creme Brulee & Crystal Blue ink
Steel Grey marker (Zig)
Silver washi tape
Durables Artisan Studs - pewter
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: banners
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: semi-circle cut-out (welded in Design space)
Pattern: Scrapbook.com November 2 page sketch challenge
Challenges: The Studio Challenges die-cuts (I cut both banners using my Cricut and backed them with patterned paper, plus I welded the semi-circle to the rectangular block in Design Space)

Seven Layout

It's Sunday, and that means another fun challenge from Lasting Memories! As their guest designer this month, I was quite challenged when they asked me to use watercolors, paints, and/or mists on my layout. This is totally out of my comfort zone, but I had recently stumbled across the technique of adding a pop of color to a stamped line image by brushing on some watercolor paint, so I tried that with my three cupcake circles. I then misted on top of that, and added white gel pen accents and an enamel dot to each one.

And I also misted the shape with the sub-title on it, but since it's hard to see in the full view of the layout, here's a close-up.

Recipe:
Cutie Pie, Fanfare & Hodgepodge Alphabet stamp sets
Dream Pop patterned papers & cardstock
Creme Brulee & White Daisy cardstock
Black ink
Black marker
White gel pen (Sakura)
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Black washi tape
Flamingo Dots
Enamel & Glitter Duos blue dots
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped border, scalloped circles, sub-title shape
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #164

St. James Park Layout

I already did one layout on St. James park, wherein I featured the many species of birds we saw, but this is my overview layout that shows some of the flowers and the lake. For the October scraplift challenge at Splitcoast Stampers (I know, I'm a little behind on this), I scraplifted a layout from Elizabeth G, who had actually scraplifted Wendella247, so it was fun to keep the love going! I was inspired to add the smile button and stamp the phrase "This makes me smile" because of  Stacy's song inspiration challenge (loved the line "my world it smiles" from Led Zeppelin's Thank You).

Recipe:
Enjoy the little Things & Love This stamp sets
Beautiful Friendship & Fresh Air papers
Sapphire, Smoothie & White Daisy cardstock
Sapphire, Smoothie & Canary ink
Moonstruck marker
Golden Yellow ShinHan Touch Twin marker
Enamel & Glitter Duos - blue dots
Outdoor Denim brads
Hopscotch assortment badge button
Paradise Just Blooms paper flowers
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title, heart, scalloped border, photo corner
Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Inspired by Nature

Snapshots of St. James Park Layout

The November Variety Challenge at Splitcoast Stampers, "Gridlocked," is to arrange pictures in a grid pattern. To make it easy, I used a sketch from Jeanette Lynton that already had a grid, and I just adapted it to work for my photos. Feel free to play along with this challenge until the end of the month!

Recipe:
Live Inspired stamp set
Vintage Green Ornate papers (The Paper Studio)
Flaxen, Kraft & White Daisy cardstock
Flaxen & Desert Sand ink
Chocolate marker
Kraft Color-Ready Borders
Fern ribbon
White baker's twine
Base & Bling heart charm
Snapshots Complements
Let's Go tags(Chic Tags)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: journaling shape
Pattern: Small Packages from Imagine by Jeanette Lynton
Challenges: Color My Heart Monochromatic Green + neutrals (okay, there is a tiny splash of pink here, but it was fun using mostly greens on my layout!)

EMS Sketch 69 - This & That Layout

I have two fun challenges for you today! The first is my sketch challenge, with a single page sketch featuring three 4" x 6" photos. For my layout, I chose to go with the sketch pretty much as is, except I added a piece of ribbon towards the top. My second challenge was the Lasting Memories stitching challenge. I'm a guest designer this month, so I decided to forego my usual stitching M.O. (drawing stitches on with a pen) and actually thread up my needle with some embroidery floss! Stitching always adds extra zip to a layout, so why don't you figure out how to incorporate some on your layout and then join us over at Lasting Memories?

The sketch:

My layout:

Recipe:
This & That, Whooo's Your Valentine & My Life stamp sets
Cameras with Floral paper (Paper Studio)
Sorbet, Lagoon, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Sorbet, Lagoon & Black ink
Black marker
Peacock Green ShinHan Touch Twin marker
Sorbet grosgrain ribbon
Black embroidery floss
My Crush Best Day Ever Assortment sticker
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: hearts, camera
Cricut Artiste cartridge: ampersand

Dinner @ the Crypt Layout

This layout, featuring a few pictures we took at the Cafe in the Crypt at St. Martins-in-the-Fields, seems like the perfect one to post on Halloween night because we were actually dining on top of the gravestones in the underground crypt! Loved the atmosphere of the place, too.

Recipe:
Tiny Typewriter Alphabet stamp set
Jeepers Creepers & Dreamin' Big papers
Ruby, Whisper, Steel, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Goldrush, Whisper, Grey Wool & Black ink
Black marker
Warm Grey ShinHan Touch Twin marker
Licorice Opaques pearls
Cricut Wall Decor & More cartridge: monogram letters in title
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: bones, spiderweb, rat
Cricut Artiste cartridge: gravestone
Pattern: Sketches in Thyme #344 (revised a little so I could add three photos)

Challenges: Heart 2 Heart photo & color challenge (I didn't have all the colors so I improvised using older colors); Bitten By the Bug Halloween challenge (even thought these aren't actually Halloween photos, I went with a Halloween theme and used lots of Halloween Cricut cuts)

National Gallery Layout

I was invited to be the guest designer for a month over at Lasting Memories, and am excited to show off the weekly technique on which they will be focusing. This week, it's torn paper, not something I do very often, but I really like the look of the torn kraft paper on this layout. The paper I chose didn't have a white core that would be exposed when I tore it, so I may have to do this challenge again using paper of that type. Feel free to join us at the link above to play along with the challenges this month!

Recipe:
Skylark papers
Kraft, Lagoon & Colonial White cardstock
Lagoon & Desert Sand ink
Pure Brown marker (Zig)
White gel pen (Sakura)
Craft buttons
Sweet Leaf, Chocolate, Colonial White & Lagoon embroidery floss
Color Ready cork alphabet stickers
3-D foam tape
Heart & flower punches (EK Success)
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: title
Pattern: EMS Sketch 67

Brianna's Crazy Hair Day Layout

After so many years of scrapbooking boys (yet buying girly papers I couldn't use but couldn't live without), I am reveling in getting to scrapbook a girl! Brianna has lived with us since 2014, first as a foster child and then as our adopted daughter, but I was so many years behind in my scrapbooks that I hadn't yet scrapped her. So fun getting to use pink on a page, and perfect for the Lasting Memories challenge to use lots of pink on a page. This page is for her school album, and I adore these sweet photos of her looking sassy with her crazy hair. Funny story: my 8 year old son wandered by while I was making this page, saw the "my favorite" sentiment, and exclaimed in dismay, "Brianna's your favorite?" I had to explain it referred to the crazy hair, not her status  in our family! Since Brianna's the only girl, guess I better be careful what I put on her pages lest I start a family feud. . .

Recipe:
Dream Pop papers
Dutch Blue & Creme Brulee cardstock
Steel Grey marker (Zig)
My Crush Bestie Assortment circle sticker
Love Letters rub-ons
Grey Wool baker's twine
Assorted Cricut cartridges: title
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #163

Brianna's Halloween Layout

Working on some layouts for my daughter's school album. These pictures were from a Halloween carnival at her school, but she was wearing a blue Elsa dress, so I had to hunt through my stash to find something to blend the Halloween colors with the blue. Hopefully the papers I chose did the trick!

Recipe:
Splendor papers
Goldrush, Topiary, Black & Colonial White cardstock
Goldrush, Heavenly Blue & Topiary ink
Goldrush marker
ShinHan Touch Twin markers (Clay, Mahogany)
Cricut Atrbooking cartridge: title, candy
Cricut Artiste cartridge: spider
Cricut Artistry cartridge: pumpkin, hey there
Challenges: Bitten by the Bug fall words using a Cricut cut (Halloween, pumpkin); Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Halloween;  Lasting Memories October Events - Halloween

Valiant Layout

For this layout of Trafalgar Square in London, I started with the October 15th sketch from Let's Scrap, and moved things around a bit until I got the look I wanted. Since Trafalgar Square commemorates the British naval victory at the battle of Trafalgar, I added a ship and some waves, and my journaling is all about Admiral Lord Nelson, commander of the British fleet, who was killed by a French sharpshooter in the battle. Just a fun tidbit: I included a picture of a pigeon because my kids used to love watching the animated movie, Valiant, which features a pigeon who goes to London to sign up for the Royal Pigeon Homing Service during WWII. And where does he enlist? At Trafalgar Square, of course!

Let's Scrap Sketch:

My Layout:

Recipe:
Pet Shop papers (KI Memories)
Goldrush, Whisper, Cocoa & White Daisy cardstock
Goldrush, Whisper & Sky ink
Steel Grey marker (Zig)
Cats & Bats enamel dots
Cricut Wall Decor & More cartridge: ship, waves, title
Challenges: The Studio Dotty about Dots challenge