Monday, April 7, 2025

Dr. Seuss Day Layout

This cute photo is from Dr. Seuss Day in 2018, and I enjoyed mixing a few die-cuts that I created in Cricut Design Space with some school themed and floral ephemera to make a fun layout commemorating the day. The hat, fish, and journaling are inspired by my daughter's childhood favorite, the Cat in the Hat!

It's kind of hard to see in the scan above, but I added some Liquid Glass raindrops in the upper corner to represent the cold, cold wet day!

Recipe:
My Happy Place papers (Doodlebug Designs)
Raspberry, Lagoon, Goldrush, Candy Apple, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Raspberry, lagoon, Goldrush & Black ink
Black marker
White gel pen (Sakura)
DE Monograms chipboard
Reasons to Smile ephemera (American Crafts)
Heartstrings Sentiment Bits (Simple Stories)
Liquid Glass
Scalloped scissors (CM)
Cricut Design Space: hat, fish
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped border
Challenges: Let's Craft & Create #218 anything goes + flowers; Double Trouble Challenges #188 Spring Showers Recipe: Thing 1 = 3 colors of the rainbow + 2 die-cuts + 1 scene (mine is the fish + the corner that I cut using scalloped scissors to represent water) and Thing 3: Liquid Glass raindrops for the cold, wet day from Cat in the Hat

Sunday, April 6, 2025

Elliot's Adoption Day Layout for Lasting Memories #745

This month's challenges at Lasting Memories are all about sketches, one of my favorite scrapbooking techniques, and this week I got to choose the sketch. I selected one that I created and have used eight times in my albums over the years, but this time I only used the right side, which I rotated to the left. After looking at my photos on the page, I decided to also center them for a more balanced look. I love that sketches can be so versatile, don't you? Please join us over at Lasting Memories to see the sketches and to add your own take on them!

Here's my single page layout. Fun Fact: the attorney's clerk spelled my son's new name incorrectly on his adoption papers, but it was only when I registered him for high school that we noticed his name on his birth certificate was listed with a double L on the end, not one as we requested - oops! We had to jump through lots of hoops to get his name changed on all his records so he could get a driver's license. I decided to use the spelling we chose on all his layouts because that's what we really wanted.

And here's the sketch I based it on:

Recipe:
Feel So Blessed stamp set
She's Magic paper (American Crafts)
My Happy Place papers & sticker
Juniper, Pixie & Sage cardstock
Juniper & Cotton Candy ink
Black marker
Bubblegum Hearts Puffy Shapes (Doodlebug Designs)
Cricut Artistry cartridge: hearts
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped border
Challenges: Cut It Up Challenges #327 Die-cuts + anything but a card; Unicorn Challenge Blog #108 Use dies (mine were the hearts and scalloped border)

Sunday, March 30, 2025

On the Slopes {at Mammoth} for Lasting Memories #744

It's time for Lasting Memories' first challenge of April (a little early but I don't imagine anyone will complain!), and this month we will be featuring favorite sketches of the design team. This week, Sandy chose a Scrapbook Generation sketch that features 6 photos, so I decided to scrapbook pictures from a trip to Mammoth my family took in spring 2018. I had to adapt it a tiny bit, but you can still tell I used the sketch. I love how it all came together, and hopefully have inspired you to go check out the challenge - just click on the link above and join us!

Here's my layout:

And here's the sketch:

Recipe:
Love These People and This & That stamp sets
Traditional Christmas papers (KI Memories)
Magic Moments Scrapbooking kit papers & stickers
Dutch Blue, Barn Red & White Daisy cardstock
Dutch Blue, Pixie, Hollyhock & Sweet Leaf ink
Dutch Blue marker
Bold & Bright ephemera (American Crafts)
Cupcake Heart Puffy Shapes (Doodlebug Designs)
Paper crimper (Fiskars)
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: title
Challenges: Love Those Pretty Papers Anything Goes using patterned papers (I used up a whole sheet of paper plus some large scraps on this layout); Inkspirational #338 (this is always a little challenging to figure out when I'm scrapbooking, but hopefully "adventure awaits together" and "you've got this" count as sentiments)

Friday, March 28, 2025

Thor & Huxley Layout

These two pictures of my pets were taken in the same month but not the same day, but I scrapped them together because I loved the way both pets seemed to be looking straight at me! I couldn't decide on a place to put my journaling (two things I copied from my Facebook posts about these two photos), so I popped up the photo mat to create a pocket for each bit of journaling.

Here are the journaling cards:

Recipe:
Magnolia papers (MME)
Fur Baby 6x8 paper pad (Simple Stories)
Star Spangled Blue, Nectarine, Sundance, Paprika, Pear & White Daisy cardstock
Star Spangled Blue & Nectarine ink
Star Spangled Blue & Black marker
Embossing pen
Clear embossing powder
Sweet Leaf grosgrain ribbon
Green washi tape (from my stash, source unknown)
Timberline Assortment wooden shape
Charmalong key charm (Bead Landing)
Gold eyelets (Making Memories)
Chloe sticker & Ciao Chip chipboard (Bella Blvd)
Fur Baby - Dog chipboard (Simple Stories)
3-D foam tape
Scalloped border punch (Fiskars)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: sun, &
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: butterflies
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #314 (includes the recipe found below - my thing found in the sky is the sun, and my spring thing is butterflies))


Challenges: Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone; Neglected Stuff March challenge (I used a super old paper pack called Magnolia, not sure of the date but probably been in my stash for 15+ years) 

Sunday, March 23, 2025

Together {Easter Sunday 2018} Layout for LM #743

Hi everyone. I've been scrapping up a storm this week, and it's Sunday again, so here is my latest layout along with my design team reveal for Lasting Memories. In keeping with our Going in Circles theme, the challenge was to use circular ephemera or stamped images to embellish your layout. I chose to use some Easter photos from 2018 (love seeing my family all dressed up) and used stamped circles and embossed cardstock circles. If you would like to check out this or any of the other circle themed challenges for this month, click on the link above before the challenges end on March 29.

Recipe:
Connections stamp set
Watercolor paper (Recollections)
Vicki Boutin Mixed Media paper pad (American Crafts)
Flamingo, Toffee, Pear & White Daisy cardstock
Flamingo, Toffee, Creme Brulee, Gypsy & Lilac Mist ink
Heartstrings Sentiment Bits ephemera (Simple Stories)
Telling Our Story chipboard (Echo Park)
Wicker Weave embossing folder (Cuttlebug)
Cricut Design Space: bunnies
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: frame, grass
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #67 (rotated left)

Challenges: Can You Handle the Pressure? Anything Goes (I used the Wicker Weave embossing folder from Cuttlebug on my circles - love the added texture); Cut It Up #326 Colors of Spring; Inspiration Station #71 - I was inspired to add two bunnies to my layout!

Saturday, March 22, 2025

Celebrate {Aerospace Birthday} Layout

This must be my week to do birthday layouts, because my last layout was my son's birthday, and now I scrapped the first birthday of our friend's son. For this layout, I had pulled out three old CTMH scrapbooking kits, but the celebrate sticker on the Party Time kit kind of jumped out at me, so I put the other kits away and used this one. The rocket ship stamp is also from an old CTMH set, and I debated coloring it in, but the layout is already pretty busy so in the end I left it as its. What do you think? Should I go back and add some color?

Names are removed for privacy reasons.

Recipe:
Outta This World stamp set
Party Time papers & stickers
Glacier & Green apple cardstock
Sunny Yellow, Lagoon, Sapphire & Green Apple ink
Prussian Blue fineliner pen
Cricut Artiste cartridge: rocket ship
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #118

Challenges: My Time to Craft #556 Celebrate someone special; Park Hopping My Happy Place - the rocket ship reminds me of the ones in Tomorrowland at Disneyland!

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Super Cool Dude Layout

My son's 13th birthday party was a change from previous events; no more backyard kid parties with tons of games and a pinata. Instead, he hung out with friend for food and a movie, a true sign he was moving into his teenage years. For the final two lines of my journaling, I pulled out the statement I posted on Facebook, just to remind me how loud junior high boys can be!

Recipe:
Watercolor paper (Recollections)
Grape & Canary cardstock
Violet fineliner pen (iBayam)
Bold & Bright ephemera (American Crafts)
Teen Spirit Girl Ephemera (Echo Park)
Free Spirit brads (Prima)
Green Field enamel shapes (Altenew)
Cricut Artistry cartridge: phone
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #17

Challenges: Let's Craft and Create #217 - Anything Goes with optional twist of green and purple (not a color combo I use often but I love how it came out); Double Trouble #187 - 3 Enamel shapes & 3+ ephemera, 2 decorative brads, 1 die-cut & 1 piece of patterned paper

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

SVK Layout

I had some cute photos of my daughter in Sunday school at my old church, and I decided to scrapbook them on this bright yellow paper as a reflection of how much fun the kids had in their class! The design is pulled from two old sketches, one of which I had used before (see here) and one I had not. I added a strip of paper all the way across both pages to tie the two together, plus used the Juniper cardstock and patterned paper to form a visual triangle and further unite the pages. Hope it worked!

In case you're wondering, SV was the initials of our church and the K is for kids!

Recipe:
Reasons to Smile paper pad (American Crafts)
Oh Happy Day papers (Simple Stories)
Sunflower & Juniper cardstock
Sunflower, Juniper & Poppy ink
Black marker
Reasons to Smile ephemera & puffy stickers (American Crafts)
Oh Happy Day ephemera (Simple Stories)
Summer Afternoon & Cool Summer Night enamel dots (Altenew)
Cricut artiste cartridge: title
Patterns: Sketch-n-Scrap #169 & #192

Challenges: Heart's Quest Challenge Blog #71 Pink and/or red hearts (I used both colors)

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

No Girls Allowed Layout

Love these fun photos of my hubby taking the two older boys out for some special time without the little kids. Not gonna lie, there were some challenges to adding two new kids to our family, so we tried to make the older boys know they were not forgotten in the chaos of our enlarged family. I pulled some old supplies out for this layout and it came together really quickly. Sometimes I labor for days over a layout, so I love it when everything works and it gets done swiftly.


Recipe:
Let's Wander Mixed Media paper (American Crafts)
Best Wishes papers (CM)
Sagebrush marker (Zig)
100% Boy sticker (Bo Bunny)
Boys Gone Wild epoxy stickers (Reminisce)
Primary Stars epoxy shapes (Bella Blvd)
Challenges: Unicorn Challenge Blog #107 Boys/Men; Neglected Stuff March 2025 Challenge - my neglected stuff is everything on the layout except the background. Some items are almost 20 years old!

Sunday, March 16, 2025

February 2018 Layout for Lasting Memories #742

For this month's Going in Circles theme over at Lasting Memories, we're exploring different ways to use circles on our layouts. This week, the challenge is to divide a circle into pie slices using patterned paper, a stencil, or whatever else takes your fancy, and then add it to your layout. I was originally going to use patterned paper to divide up my circles, but ended up pulling out my watercolor pencils that I use so seldom and coloring in hand drawn circles I divided into slices. Hope you decide to join us for this or any of the circle themed challenges this month!


Recipe:
Dreamin' Big papers & cardstock stickers
Juniper, Poppy, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Goldrush & Poppy ink
Black marker
ShinHan Touch Twin colorless blender
Watercolor pencils (Prismacolor)
VIP Rainbow acrylic shapes
Love You More Shape Sprinkles (Doodlebug Designs)
Cricut Design Space: title using BFC Night Kiss font
Pattern: Splitcoast Stampers Sketch17Apr (rotated left)

Challenges: Heart's Quest Challenge Blog #71 Red or white hearts; Colorful Options March 2025 Green or rainbow colors (I have a green background but chose to go with rainbow)

Friday, March 14, 2025

EMS Sketch Challenge #120 + Kid Approved Layout

We're heading into the weekend, so I thought it would be fun to give everyone a new sketch to play around with over the next couple of days! It features three uncropped, vertical 4" x6" photos with an optional  frame around the middle one. Part of the inspiration for the design was a pad of 6" x 8" papers; you can cut some of the sheets in half and have them peeking out from the top and bottom of the row of photos. You could also do this with any 6" x 6" papers you have sitting around. As always, feel free to adapt the sketch for your needs, and please leave a link in the comments below to your posted layout when you finish it. I really love seeing what people do with my sketches!

Here's the sketch:

And here's my layout:

There is space on the sketch for journaling, but I was also doing a pocket page to hold additional photos, so here are a couple of journaling cards I created to go in that page:

Recipe:
Field Trip Journaling Pad & 12x12 papers (American Crafts)
Black & White Daisy cardstock
Flaxen ink
Black marker
Dreamin' Big Complements cardstock stickers
Genius Puffy Stickers (American Crafts)
Let's Wander sticker (American Crafts)
Field Trip ephemera (American Crafts)
Diggin' for Dinos Scrapbook kit stickers (Creative Expressions)
Green Fields enamel dots (Altenew)
Grid washi tape (Recollections)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: frame

Sunday, March 9, 2025

Bath TIme Layout for Lasting Memories #741

It's Sunday again, so that means Lasting Memories' challenge time. I'm hosting this month and focusing on circles, so this week's challenge is to create a circular page border using punched or die-cut circles. I used two really old scrapbooking kits from Stampin' Up to Scrapbook these old photos of my two sons in the tub when they were little ones. Reusing my sketches is also something fun to do, so I rotated this month's sketch to the left and used the wreath circle instead of a big circle. Hope you are inspired to  join us for this or any of the other circle challenges over at Lasting Memories this month!

Recipe:
Loves Me & Just Delightful Simply Scrapping kits (SU)
Espresso & Flamingo cardstock
Ocean, Ballerina, Flamingo & Espresso ink
100% Boy sticker (Bo-Bunny)
Flamingo enamel dots
White sparkle enamel dots
Cricut Simply Sweet cartridge: title
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #119 (rotated left)

Challenges: Crafter's Cafe #316 Anything Goes with Stripes and/or spots (I used both on my circle border)

Sunday, March 2, 2025

EMS Sketch Challenge #119 + Lasting Memories #740 + 1st Mission Layout

It's a new month and time for a new sketch. I had a dual purpose in creating this one. I am also hosting the March challenges over at Lasting Memories with a theme of Going in Circles, and my challenge this week is to add a circle with journaling on it to your layout. With this sketch, you can use a big circle in the background, plus add a smaller circle for the journaling. I actually cut a circle out of the floral paper and backed it with the black, so now I have a big circle in that darling floral paper that I can save to use on another layout - win win! Feel free to use the sketch (share in the comments below so I can see it) and/or play along with us at Lasting Memories.

Here's the sketch:

And here's my layout:

Recipe:
Garden of Life paper (Echo Park)
Sage, Mocha & Black cardstock
Ballerina, Blush, Smoothie & Sage ink
Black marker
White gel pen (Sakura)
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Embossing pen
Gold embossing powder
Green sparkles
White paper flowers (Recollections)
Circle Double Stitched Steel Die (Art Impressions)
Cricut Design Space: crosses, title using Agent Q font


Friday, February 28, 2025

Love You Most Layout

I had a few cute photos of our pets Huxley and Thor that I grouped together on this layout, and I was inspired by a layout from Scrapbook.com for the design.

Recipe:
Chloe papers (Bella Blvd)
Honey Butter cardstock
Capri & Pixie ink
Ink Blue fineliner pen (iBayam)
Chloe chipboard and stickers
Falling for You & Puppy Love Shape Sprinkles hearts (Doodlebug Designs)
Pet Shop epoxy stickers (KI Memories)
Challenges: Double Trouble #185 Hoodie Hoo Day Challenge (included optional twist of flowers, but not sure they are seasonal!)

Scrap With Stacy February 2025 Tic Tac Toe board (I used the column on the right with Pre-made title + Journal card + Chipboard)

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Oliver's Cake & Presents Layout

Here's my final layout for my son's 8th birthday party. I didn't do a big title since it's a continuation of the previous two layouts. I found some more dinosaur themed paper in my stash; I still have quite a bit, so it will be a sad day when I run out of dino-themed photos to scrap!

Recipe:
It's Your Day stamp set
Something Fierce papers
Kraft & White Daisy cardstock
Sunkiss Yellow, Carolina, Bluebird & Raspberry ink
Orchid fineliner pen (iBayam)
Something Fierce chipboard & stickers
Top Dog Shape Sprinkles (Doodlebug Designs)
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #79 (right side only)

Challenges: Little Red Wagon #796 Tiny Dancer - use something tiny on your project; I used 9 tiny stars; Farm Quest Grocery Game Challenge #14 Anything Food Goes (I used photos of the cake we bought in the bakery section at Vons)

Sunday, February 23, 2025

Birthday Fun Layout for Lasting Memories #739

Today is the design team reveal for the final Lasting Memories challenge of February, and Sandy asked us to create a layout using a band design. It could be horizontal or vertical or even curved; I chose to go with a wide horizontal band which I then proceeded to cover with lots of photos - LOL! You can still see my dinosaur paper peeking out, though, so hopefully I fulfilled the assignment. Please join us for this or any of the other February challenges by Saturday, March 1.

Recipe:
Journaling Jots & Intrinsic Backgrounds stamp sets
Wild Asparagus paper (MME)
Field Trip paper (American Crafts)
My Happy Place (Doodlebug Designs)
Mocha, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Mocha, Black, Sunkiss Yellow, Creme Brulee & Lilac Mist ink
White gel pen (Sakura)
Black grosgrain ribbon
My Happy Place Shape Sprinkles (Doodlebug Designs)
Beetle Black hearts puffy shapes (Doodlebug Designs)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: tag
Cricut Artistry cartridge: title
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #116 (revised to use only one band across the page)

Challenges: Cut It Up Challenges #324 Tie It Up - I used ribbon; My Time to Craft #554 - 1 tag and 1 ribbon + 2 circles + 3 patterned papers and 3 hearts; Crafter's Cafe #316 Spot and Stripes

Thursday, February 20, 2025

Dino Party Layout

Here's the first of three layouts I plan to do for my son's dinosaur party. We took a ton of photos, but I am getting better at scrapping only the ones that best tell the story. In this case, it's the intro to the party, with some decorations, snacks, and my daughter giving the kids dinosaur tattoos. I didn't use a sketch or participate in any challenges for this layout, so it came together with me moving pieces around and adding and subtracting until I was satisfied. Not my normal MO for scrapping, but it was a nice change.

Recipe:
The Stack 4 paper (DCWV)
Butternut Dreamy Dots paper (Making Memories)
Field Trip paper (American Crafts)
Kraft, Topiary & Pear cardstock
Black marker
#Life card
Field Trip ephemera (American Crafts)
Diggin' for Dinos Scrapbook kit ephemera (Creative Expressions)
My Crush Besties Assortment sticker
Summer Afternoon enamel dots (Altenew)
Ebony Black Crystal Drops (Nuvo)
Cricut Design Space: title using BFC Night Kiss, leaves
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: large black shape, dragonflies

Sunday, February 16, 2025

Hello Trouble Layout for Lasting Memories #738

Hello to all you scrappers out there. It's time for another Lasting Memories design team reveal, and Sandy asked us to use 6" x 6" papers on a 12" x 12" layout. I am working on filling in a few blank pages in my 2006 album, so I chose some photos of my son Elliot as a baby. He has ADHD, and while it's not so bad now that he's almost 20 and has learned better, when he was little he was into everything!  I don't have a lot of 6" x 6" papers, but I pulled out a pad that I had received as a prize and decided the papers would work well on this page. I had fun challenging myself to do something I don't often try; hopefully you decide to use up some smaller papers and join us over at Lasting Memories before the challenge ends on March 1!

Recipe:
Save the Date, Hodgepodge Alphabet & Picture Perfect stamp sets
Pumpkin papers (from my stash, source unknown)
Outdoor Denim, Glacier & White Daisy cardstock
Outdoor Denim, Glacier, Ruby & Cashmere ink
Rainbow Acrylic Shapes
Boys Gone Wild epoxy stickers (Reminisce)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: Hello label, arrows

Friday, February 14, 2025

January 2018 Layout

Happy Valentine's Day! Is anyone scrapping today? My hubby and I went to dinner last night because he has to work a super long shift today, so I have extra time to get creative. Something I have been enjoying over the past couple of years is using random pictures from a certain month to create a monthly layout. This one features photos from January 2018, where I didn't have enough photos to make a full layout of an event or the photos weren't good enough quality to merit a separate layout. But I am still glad I scrapped them because they feature people I love!

Recipe:
State of Mind & Conversation Hearts stamp sets
Topstitch papers & stickers
Chocolate & White Daisy cardstock
White Daisy textured cardstock
Chocolate, Desert Sand, Heavenly Blue & Baby Pink ink
Brown marker (Zig)
Highlights PML card
Tan sparkles
Grid washi tape (Recollections)
White Lacey Trims (49 and Market)
White paper flowers (Recollections)
Heart stencil (Scrapbook.com)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tag
Cricut Design Space: title using Medina Script font
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #95

Challenges: Challenge YOUrself  #134 hearts + a picture of myself (used stenciled and stamped hearts + I managed three photos of myself!); Double Trouble #184 Love Is In the Air (my 2 shapes are hearts and circles, my sentiment is Savor This Moment, and I included Thing 3's optional twist of  hearts + a "talky" heart)

Sunday, February 9, 2025

Cute As Can Be Layout for Lasting Memories #737

Sandy over at Lasting Memories is asking us to get back to basics this month with our layouts, and this week's challenge is to use a Happy Horizontal design as the base of your layout. What is a Happy Horizontal, you ask? Basically, you use two pieces of patterned paper that extend all the way across your layout (they can each be 6" tall or a little shorter if desired) and cover the join with a narrow strip of paper. I went back through my sketches and couldn't find a single design that uses this concept, so I guess my brain doesn't work this way! It's always fun to stretch yourself with a challenge, as this one did for me. Whether this is easy or hard for you, please join us over at Lasting Memories this month to show off your Happy Horizontal layout.

I found some blank  pages in my 2006 scrapbook, so I went back and scrapped photos of my 19 year old as a baby - so fun!

Recipe:
Boutique Borders stamp set
Soda Pop papers & sticker
Sapphire, Glacier & White Daisy cardstock
Sapphire & Glacier ink
Prussian Blue fineliner pen (iBayam)
Patty Cake Boy Words stickers (Daisy Hill)
Baby Boy stickers (CM)
Great Lengths stickers (CM)
Summer Afternoon enamel dots (Altenew)
Flower punch (EK Success)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: frames
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title shape
Challenges: Cut It Up challenge #323 This Makes Me Smile (or laugh out loud!); The Outlawz Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone

Sunday, February 2, 2025

At the Pier Layout for Lasting Memories #736

It's time for another month of challenges over at Lasting Memories, and this time Design Team member Sandy is asking us to go back to basics. This week's challenge is to create a layout using a grid design, so I decided to go with a irregular grid that would fit the four pictures I wanted to scrap. There are so many options when using a grid, so I hope you are inspired to join in with this challenge! 

Recipe:
You Are my Happy Alphabet and Icons & Sentiments stamp sets
All Over Blue papers (NRN Designs)
Woodgrain papers
Sapphire, Kraft, Slate, Almond & White Daisy cardstock
Bluebird & Espresso ink
Nautical stickers (Frances Meyers)
Let's wander stickers (American Crafts)
Magic Mesh (Creative Imaginations)
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: skyline

Saturday, February 1, 2025

EMS Sketch Challenge #118 + Fabulous Little Moments Layout

Something that seems popular right now on scrappy sketch blogs is a throwback or rewind sketch challenge, where they pull up an old sketch and ask scrappers to create a layout based on it. I decided to do something similar with a sketch I created in 2012 when I was the sketch designer for Heart 2 Heart Challenges blog. Although I love to reuse my sketches, I realized I seldom used this one because it features 3" x 4" photos, a size I hardly ever print. so I updated the sketch with larger photos. While this sketch is not an everything-and-the-kitchen-sink type as regards embellishments, I think it still manages to leave enough room for you to get creative. What works better for you, a sketch with small or with larger photos? Please let me know, and don't forget to leave a link in the comments if you decide to use either this sketch or my original.

Here's the sketch:

And here's my layout:

I used the circle to hold an embellishment since I wanted to put my journaling on a 6" x 4" card that will go in the facing pocket page.

Recipe:
Second Avenue a la carte paper (MME)
Aged & Confused Vagabond paper (Basic Grey)
Kyla's Classic Colorblock paper (Paper Pizazz)
Blue cardstock (from my stash, source unknown)
Desert Sand cardstock
Desert Sand ink
Let's Wander Thickers (American Crafts)
Simple Vintage Essentials foam title stickers (Simple Stories)
Heart punch (EK Success)

Challenges: Double Trouble Challenges #183 Recipe - 3 Images of your Choice (I chose a banner, camera, and geotag) + 2 Patterned Papers (stripes and tan mesh) + 1 Sentiment that Makes you Smile (Paradise Found - because I love the photo of my little guy thinking he could catch his older brother if he jumped off the wall); The Outlawz Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone;  Time Out Challenges #281 - I used layers and hearts.