Celebrate {Baby Shower} for Lasting Memories #707

It's hard to believe we're already on the fourth Sunday of June (where did that month go?) and it is time for another Lasting Memories Favorite Things challenge. This week, Jill wanted us to use our favorite brand. For many years, my favorite has been Close to My Heart, and while I am no longer exclusive to them as I once was, it's rare that I create a layout with no CTMH products on it. I am so sad that CTMH is going out of business, so I will be looking forward to checking out everyone's favorite brands. Someday when I run out of CTMH products (probably around the year 2050), I will need a new favorite! If you want to share your favorite brand, please pop on over to Lasting Memories before July 6th and link up your layout using your faves.

I wanted to give some details of the baby shower that is the subject of this layout, but I also wanted to keep some things private, so I wrote the journaling on a long tag and tucked it into into a pocket behind one of the photos.

Recipe:
Magic Moments scrapbooking kit
Indian Corn Blue, Sunflower & Colonial White cardstock
Sweet Leaf ink
Hollyhock marker
Sweet Leaf brads
Stuck on You Puffy stickers
Blue Jean Hearts puffy shapes (Doodlebug Designs)
Cocoa grosgrain ribbon
3-D foam tape
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped border & tag
Pattern: Jeanette L:ynton's Reflections (Quartet - Sliding & Triple Play - Three of a Kind)
Challenges: Festive Friday #162 (used red + white + blue + celebratory sentiment)

As You Like It  Favorite - With or Without Words (when I first started scrapping, I didn't always title my layouts, but I find it gives them a focus and so I always use words!)

Bolt Up! Layout

My hubby is a huge Chargers' fan, so he loves going to their training camp, and in 2017, his brother and his nephew were able to attend along with our youngest son. To scrap these photos, I pulled out some cardstock, stickers, and stamp sets (no patterned paper), plus I used my Cricut to create the curved lightning bolt for the Chargers' logo. I had to watch a tutorial to remember how to do the journaling using my Cricut and pen, but I think it was worth the time it took to figure it out. Although I don't care much for football myself, this layout was a labor of love for my sweetie!

Recipe:
In the Backgrounds, Background Elements & Distressed Backgrounds stamp sets
Carolina, Bluebird, Goldrush & Honey cardstock
Carolina, Goldrush & Honey ink
Black marker
Stardust My Stickease cardstock stickers
Cricut Design Space: journaling using Quinn Type & lightning bolt (imported)
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: football helmet, stars
Challenges: Craft Rocket #115 No designer paper (I used stamps to create the stripes on the top and bottom of the LO and to add some interest to the Goldrush cardstock); Double D Challenges - Reach for the Stars (stars on border stickers + die cut stars)

Live, Laugh, Love Layout

Many of you know that my kids all joined our family by adoption, so we have lots of extended family in the form of their birth families. For example, these fun photos of my kids hanging out at the splash pad also feature my eldest's son birth siblings and my youngest two kids' cousin. I am so grateful that we are able to do life with them, an unexpected blessing of adoption, despite the messiness and heartache the process causes.

I used some hidden journaling; the banners lift up and it's written on the back.

Recipe:

Sweet Safari & Something Fierce papers
Oh, Happy Day papers (Simple Stories)
Canary, Glacier & Bluebird cardstock
Canary, Nectarine, Raspberry, Glacier, Juniper & Bluebird ink
Peacock Blue fineliner pen (iBayam)
Black marker
Mod Title Great Lengths & circle stickers (CM)
Bubblegum Hearts Puffy Shapes (Doodlebug Designs)
Love Charm (Making Memories)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped borders, banners
Pattern: Stick It Down June Double Page Sketch from Facebook (I had different sized photo and more of them, so I adapted the sketch a little)

Challenges: The Outlawz Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone (I finally managed to do the optional theme You Can Quote Me);  Heart's Quest Challenge #56 (Part A = Pennant/Banner + Part B = metal love lettering)

Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My Layout

I sometimes struggle with scrapbooking zoo pictures, because we tend to take photos of the same animals every time, but on this visit to the Los Angeles Zoo, the kids went on the Conservation Carousel, which features 66 hand carved animals/insects, representing many endangered species. This carousel is so unique; after all, where else can you sit on a giant praying mantis? I added the little sloth and a few insect stickers to the layout to go along with the animal theme, and set it all in a jungle, as shown by the floral paper. Hope my animals are happy there!

Recipe:
Picture Perfect stamp set
July/August 2021 Mix-In & Sweet Safari papers
Say Cheese Adventures at the Park papers (Simple Stories)
Kraft, Candy Apple, Olive & White Daisy cardstock
Candy Apple, Honey, Sunset, Chocolate, Espresso & Black ink
Burnt Sienna fineliner pen (iBayam)
Sweet Safari stickers
Jungle Safari sticker (Echo Park)
Bugs stickers (Mrs. Grossman's)
Sunset baker's twine
Tan sparkles
Say Cheese Adventures at the Park washi tape (Simple Stories)
3-D foam tape
Cricut Wall Decor & More cartridge: mushroom
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped border
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #298

Challenges: Critter Crazy Challenges #87 - Anything Goes with a featured critter (the sloth); Make My Monday #228 - Outdoor summer fun; The Dream Factory #129 - Something that is upside down (the sloth - I kept wanting to put him the other way round but realized that, nope, this is how he hangs out!)

Dedication Layout

Even though these photos were of parents dedicating their baby boy at our church, I decided to coordinate the color scheme with the mom's outfit. Consequently, there's a lot of pink on this layout, which my hubby thinks is a little weird, but I explained to him this is the exact reason I used to color coordinate out family outfits when we went on vacation. He had no good response for that - LOL! 

Recipe:
Precious Alphabet & Smiles from the Garden stamp sets
Belle Fleur papers (Photoplay)
Emporium & Dream Maker papers
Ballerina, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Vellum
Ballerina, Flamingo, Raspberry, Sweet Leaf & Black ink
Sweet Leaf & Black markers
Everyday Moments pocket card (Scrapbook.com)
Dream Makers stickers
Sweet Leaf grosgrain ribbon
Spring Blossom Just Blooms flowers
White paper flowers (Recollections)
Large black & White brads (from my stash, source unknown)
White Daisy Bigger Brad
Dot Fade stencil (Stampers Anonymous)
Smiles From the Garden Thin Cuts
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #69

Challenges: Color My Heart Color Dare #604 - I used Ballerina + Flamingo + Rosy + Limeade + Black + White + Gold (I didn't have any Rosy or Limeade ink, so I used the colors closest to it in my stash)

Time Out Challenges #265 - I was inspired to use floral paper and paper flowers

Out to Sea Layout

My husband used to go on a fishing trip every year with our eldest son, and I asked him to write the journaling about the photos from their trip on 2017. I spent a while doing some mixed media work on the upper left and lower right corners of the layout to transform white cardstock into the background you see here. I was also inspired to adapt the sign from the Nemo attraction at Epcot and really went overboard creating the lettering, but I love how it turned out!

Recipe:
Background Elements stamp set
Fish Tales paper & stickers (Photoplay)
Sunset, Crystal Blue & White Daisy cardstock
Sunset, Sorbet, Spring Iris, Moonstruck & Outdoor Denim ink
Outdoor Denim marker
Bubble stickers (Stickopotamus)
Cricut Design Space: title using Arial Black font
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #3

Challenges: Cut It Up #306 Feeling Blue; Double Trouble #168 (masculine themed + played along with Colorful Options June challenge using rainbow colors); Park Hopping My Happy Place (inspired by The Seas with Nemo & Friends at Epcot)

Independence Day 2017 Layout for Lasting Memories #706

Happy Father's Dad to all the dads out there! It's a beautiful Sunday here in Southern California, and today Lasting Memories is challenging us to scrapbook about our favorite holiday. I was tempted to say Christmas, because I do love that holiday, but I settled on July 4th because, to be honest, it's an easy holiday (just have to BBQ in the evening) and it's cheap (the parade and fireworks are free). Win win! What's your favorite holiday? Join us at Lasting Memories to share your layout all about it.

Recipe:
10 Things & Save the Date stamp sets
The Fourth of July papers & stickers (Carta Bella)
White texture cardstock
Cranberry & Sapphire ink
Star Spangled Blue marker
Hello Darlin' PML cards
Primary Epoxy Stars (Bella Blvd)
Top Dog Shape Sprinkles (Doodlebug Designs)
Pattern: Challenge YOUrself #126 Sketch (I stretched the sketch over two pages and included myself in a photo on the right hand page)

Challenges: The Outlawz Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone; Heart's Quest Challenge #56 (Part A = stars & stripes + Part B = "I love")

I Can't Feel My Face Layout

I vaguely remember taking these photos to text to my hubby during a break in getting dental work done, but when I ran across them again, I just couldn't help laughing at how silly I look! But in the spirit of keeping it real and showing everyday life, I decided to scrap them anyways, along with a warning to my candy-loving kids about the dangers of sugar on their teeth. Hope this layout makes you smile - and then go out to brush your teeth!

Recipe:
I Want Candy papers
Glacier, Ballerina, Sapphire & White Daisy cardstock
Glacier & Ballerina ink
Gypsy marker
Seas the Day enamel dots
Halloween mix epoxy stars (Bella Blvd)
Pearl Opaques
Yellow grosgrain ribbon (Offray)
Cricut Design Space: title using BFC Night Kiss
Cricut Art Philosophy cartrdige: tag
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: candy
Pattern: Rochelle Spears June 2024 Sketch

Challenges: Let's Craft & Create #208 AG + ribbon; Scrap With Stacy June 2024 Tic Tac Toe board (used enamel dots + circle + stars)

Festive Fridays #161 (Used purple + blue + pearls + memory keeping + ribbon)

Rad Dad Card

My hubby asked me to make a Father's Day card for his dad, so I found a sketch plus some challenge inspiration and came up with this one. My father in law is a pretty rad dad, so hopefully he enjoys the card! 

Recipe:
September/October 2023 Mix-In papers
Lagoon & Sundance cardstock
Ruby ink
White gel pan (Sakura)
Childhood Boy PML card
Halloween Mix epoxy stars (Bella Blvd)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: spiral
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: banner, DAD
Pattern: The Outlawz Challenges June Sketch (the card morphed as I was making it, but hopefully you can see the bones of the sketch here!)

Challenges: Just Us Girls #731 Celebrate (Father's Day); Double D Challenges Pick Three (my something old is the PML card + something new is the patterned paper + something borrowed is the sketch + something blue is the Dad & stars); Tic Tac Toe Challenge #249 (used the left column with layers + die cut + patterned paper)

SBTS 2017 Layout for Lasting Memories #705

It's Sunday again, and that means another fun challenge from Lasting Memories. This month, Jill is challenging us to use some favorite things, and today's item is a favorite tool. I love my Cricut, so I considered using that, but I also love my stamps, so I decided to feature a few of them; I stamped and colored in the hand and picnic basket, plus I stamped my title. We would love to have you join us to show off a layout using your favorite tool, so click on the link above to get the details!

These photos were taken at performances of Shakespeare By the Sea in San Pedro.

Recipe:

Limited Edition, Urban Alphabet & Build a Picnic stamp sets

Kraft, Saddle & White Daisy cardstock

Saddle, Dutch Blue & Black ink

Black marker

ShinHan Touch Twin markers

Gold metallix marker

These Are My People sticker

Candid Moments PML cards

Halloween Mix epoxy stars (Bella Blvd)

Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #5

Challenges: Farm Quest Challenge #53 Picnic things

EMS Sketch Challenge #113 + Epic Delivery Layout

It's been quite a while since I created a sketch (mostly been re-using my old ones), but I needed something for a bunch of vertical 4" x 6" photos, so here is a new sketch! As always, feel free to switch it up to fit your photos, and please post a link to your completed layout in the comments below so I can admire your creation!

The sketch:

My layout:

Recipe:
Newsprint Alphabet stamps (SU)
Field Trip & It's All Good papers (American Crafts)
Dutch Blue, Sundance & White Daisy cardstock
Candy Apple ink
Black marker
Oh Happy Day stickers (Simple Stories)
Good Day Sunshine stickers (Echo Park)
Puppy Love Shape Sprinkles hearts (Doodlebug Designs)
Pewter Bigger Brads
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: house
Cricut Wall Decor & More cartridge: truck
Challenges: Cut It Up #305 Anything Goes including a die-cut (mine are the house and the truck); Heart's Quest Challenge Blog #55 Part A = wheels (on the truck) + Part B = red heart shape

B is for Buddies Layout

I scrapbooked the companion layout to this one last month, so when I finally got around to scrapping these photos, I decided to pull out the same paper pack but embellish it with different supplies. Love these photos of my little ones fooling around before bedtime!

Recipe:
Best Friends Forever stamp set
Loves Me papers (SU)
Molly papers & stickers (Bella Blvd)
Crystal Blue & White Daisy cardstock
Taken With Teal cardstock (SU)
Taken With Teal (SU) & Raspberry ink (CTMH)
Burnt Sienna fineliner (iBayam)
Bubblegum Hearts Puffy Shapes (Doodlebug Designs)
Teal ribbon (Ribbon Boutique from Berwick)
Felt owls (recycled from another project, source unknown)
Chipboard B (from my stash, source unknown)
Seagull edge decorative scissors (Fiskars)
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #26

Challenges: Anything Goes in a Card-Free Zone; Park Hopping My Happy Place (inspired by Peter Pan's Flight at Disneyland, especially the Darling children in their pajamas)

Colorful Options Aqua

Brianna's Baptism Layout for Lasting Memories #704

Good morning, and a happy new month to you. Over at Lasting Memories, Jill designed five new challenges for you to enjoy this month based on some of her favorite things. The first is a favorite sketch, and those of you who follow my blog know I love sketches! I will occasionally create a layout without first consulting a sketch, but it's rare. When I can't find one that works for me, I design one just so I can see how the overall layout will look. It's hard for me to pick a favorite (kind of like a mom picking her favorite child - LOL), but I do love this one and have used it several times in my scrapping. We would love to see you play along with this challenges using a favorite sketch, and feel free to click on the label EMS Sketch Challenges at the bottom of this post if you need some inspiration.

Here's my sketch:

And here's my layout:

Recipe:

This Happened stamp set
Dream Maker papers
Toffee, Brown Bag, Lemonade & White Daisy cardstock
Brown Bag, Sapphire & Lilac Mist ink
Prussian Blue fineliner pen (iBayam)
Fun at the Beach stickers (Scissor Sisters)
Molly Treasures & Text sticker (Bella Blvd)
Copper eyelets (Making Memories)
Beige Adornaments fibers (Creating Keepsakes)
Cricut Design Space: title using Thick font
Cricut Artiste cartridge: sun