One of These Boys Layout

My final layout for National scrapbooking month! I picked a couple photos of my son with four brothers from another family, and I remember thinking when I took the photo that, although there are definite similarities between him and the other boys, no one could mistake him for part of their family. That memory made be decide on the title, and I wrote more about it on the hidden journaling tag behind the top photo.

Recipe:
Friendship Word Puzzle, Special Care, Connections & All the Details stamp sets
Soda Pop papers
Sapphire, Sweet Leaf & White Daisy cardstock
Sapphire, Sweet Leaf, Lagoon & Canary ink
Ocean marker
White gel pen (Sakura)
Soda Pop sticker
Bold & Bright ephemera (American Crafts)
Heavenly Blue organdy ribbon
Cool Summer Night enamel dots & heart (Altenew)
3-D foam tape
Rays & Burlap stencils (Stampers Anonymous)
Circle Double Stitched Steel Dies (Art Impressions)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped circle, tag, banners
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap Birthday Bash Sketch #4

Challenges: Cut It Up Challenges #331 Anything Goes with a die-cut; Crafter's Cafe #319 Anything Goes with optional no squares; The Outlawz Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone

Diving Into Summer Layout

To scrap my second set of photos from my church youth camping trip from 2018, I used premade background pages from CTMH. I don't usually use these types of pages, so I decided to include my own touches by adding the berry pink patterned papers to either end, plus some word stickers and other embellishments.

Recipe:
Starter Cut Above Layout Kit 2
Hip Hip Hooray papers
Olive, Avocado & Sandance cardstock
Olive, Citrus Leaf & Thistle ink
Black marker
Mod Great Lengths Title stickers (CM)
Simple Vintage Essentials foam stickers (Simple Stories)
Reasons to Smile washi tape (American Crafts)
Telling Our Story adhesive brad (Echo Park)
Blue Jean Hearts Puffy shapes (Doodlebug Designs)
Heart punch (EK Success)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: sun
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #111 (for left side)

Challenges: Heart's Quest Challenge Blog #74 Blue and/or yellow hearts - both colors on heart washi tape + 2 blue puffy hearts; Inspiration Station #73 - I was inspired by the outdoor scene, especially the sun on the horizon.

Sun & Sand Layout

My hubby took a ton of photos at the youth camping trip in 2018 where he was a chaperone, so here's a  layout using some of the photos from the first day. I kept it pretty simple because the background papers were already rather complicated.

Recipe:
The Summer Stack papers & chipboard die-cut (DCWV)
Toffee cardstock
Toffee, Twilight & Sorbet ink
Challenges: Creative Inspirations The Great Outdoors - aren't these beach photos gorgeous?; Double Trouble #192 included optional twist of flip-flops (paper on the right page).

BFF Layout

I was trying to think of a good title for this layout when I ran across a challenge from Little Red Wagon to create something with a friendship theme. These photos really illustrate the close friendship my two youngest kids had. This past year in therapy, my daughter revealed how lost she has felt the last four years since her little brother passed away. He was always the outgoing, playful one, so it's been hard for her to make friends without him to lead the way. While I pray she is able to overcome and find her footing someday, I will always be thankful for how the two of them weathered life's storms together.

Update: Chosen as a Featured project on Little Red Wagon!

Recipe:
Best Friends Forever & Take Note stamp sets
Happy Trails papers (Simple Stories)
Lagoon, Saffron, Crystal Blue & White Daisy cardstock
Ruby, Goldrush, Saffron, Lagoon, Crystal Blue ink
Black marker
White gel pen (Sakura)
Bold & Bright ephemera (AmericanCrafts)
Cool Summer Night enamel dots (Altenew)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tags
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: notebook page
Cricut Artistry cartridge: umbrella, raindrops
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #25 (rotated left)

Challenges: Creative Inspirations The Great Outdoors - I love these pictures of my kids fooling around outside in the aftermath of a rainstorm!

June Highlight Reel Layout

These are my miscellaneous photos from June 2018 that I collected and put on one layout. I decided to just feature two photos; the other four are in Flip-Flaps so you can lift up the plastic sleeve and see the photos underneath.

I had to share one of the photos that will be in a Flip-Flap; this was my son's face when he found out Chewbacca wasn't a real alien, just a person in a costume!

Recipe:
Highlight Reel, Noted Backgrounds & Dream Big stamp sets
Molly papers (Bella Blvd)
Oh Happy Day paper (Simple Stories)
Lagoon, Raspberry, Sunflower, Sapphire & White Daisy cardstock
Lagoon, Sapphire & Sunflower ink
Ocean marker
Navy & Pure Pink markers (Zig)
Turquoise fineliner pen (iBayam)
White gel pen (Sakura)
White acrylic flowers
Beach Party rubber shapes
My Crush Everyday Assortment stickers
Swiss Dot grosgrain ribbon (Offray)
Cricut Artistry cartridge: flowers
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #316 - I adapted it for my photos and to add journaling, and since the pictures needed to be able to lift up, I moved the flowers around.

Challenges: Double Trouble #192 - includes optional twist of flip-flops

Do Your Thing [VBS} Layout

June of 2018 was VBS month for my son, as he attended two other ones in addition to the one at our church. I only had a few photos from the other two, so I decided to just scrap them together. I used Rochelle Spear's May sketch for my design, and I really wish I had cut the patterned paper piece at the top longer, but once it was done, I had to just go with it.

Recipe:
Dream Big, It's Your Day, Connections & Distressed Backgrounds stamp sets
Moon Doggie & Wood Grain papers
Toffee, Cranberry, Vanilla Cream & Colonial White cardstock
Cranberry, Toffee, Saddle, Indian Corn Blue, Garden Green & Bamboo ink
Sienna fineliner pen (iBayam)
Let's Wander stickers (American Crafts)
Palm Tree stickers Creative Imaginations)
Simple Vintage Essentials foam stickers (Simple Stories)
Blue Adornaments fibers (EK Success)
Scalloped border punch (Fiskars)
Pattern: Rochelle Spears May 2025 sketch (added a vertical photo)

Challenges: Scrap With Stacy Tic-Tac-Toe (Used the middle column with Edge punch + wood grain + flowers)

Cupcake Inspirations #618 Use a Tree (mine were palms trees)

Neglected Stuff May Challenge - the patterned papers and all the stamps I used were super old.

About My Father Layout

I struggled a bit with this layout, since the card I made for my hubby was red but my son's card was orange, but eventually I decided to go with an orangy-red background and brown + kraft accents. Hopefully you think it worked! The journaling was fun to do; I went with a list of things my hubby does for/with our family rather than just telling all the things we did this Father's Day.

Recipe:
Starter Alphabet & A Typeface stamp sets
Pet Shop paper (KI Memories)
Paprika & Espresso cardstock
Espresso & Twilight ink
Twilight marker
Lucky Assortment chipboard
Milepost Shapes
Twilight Brads
Halloween Mix epoxy stars (Bella Blvd)
3-D foam tape
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: frame
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #85

Challenges: Double Trouble #191 - this is my entry for Father's Day, including using kraft items (chipboard, corrugated shapes, photo mat)

VBS Share Day Layout

My final VSB 2018 layout - on the Sunday following VBS, the kids shared what they learned that week. I used a Sketches in Thyme sketch that featured a fun diagonal orientation in the opposite corners, and it turned out to be a great way to use lots of small patterned paper squares along with my matted photo block.

Recipe:
Watercolor paper (Recollections)
Summer Vibes papers
Candy Red, Glacier & White Daisy cardstock
Candy Red & Glacier ink
Twilight marker
Lumberjack Plaid Distress Spritz (Ranger)
Summer Vibes sticker
#Life Cards
True Colors Floral Bits ephemera (Simple Stories)
Oh Happy Day Bits & Pieces ephemera (Simple Stories)
My Happy Place & Falling for You Shape Sprinkles (Doodlebug Designs)
Cricut Artistry cartridge: title
Pattern: Sketches in Thyme #662

Challenges: Love Those Pretty Papers May challenge - AG using patterned papers (I included the twist of florals); Creative Moments #270 Patterned papers

A Special Day Layout

The final day of Vacation Bible School always features a few extra activities, like water play or a bouncer or a popcorn machine, so I scrapped my photos using bright colors to reflect the fun vibe.

Recipe:
Hip Hip Hooray papers & sticker
Carolina, Bluebird, Sundance & White Daisy cardstock
Carolina, Bluebird, Sundance & Thistle ink
Black marker
White gel pen (Sakura)
Cabana Great Lengths stickers (CM)
Posh Parrots stickers (Mrs. Grossman's)
Simply White Nuvo Drops
Rays stencil (Stampers Anonymous)
Circle Double Stitched Steel die (Art Impressions)
Cricut Artiste cartridge: hearts
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #84 rotated right

Challenges: Time Out Challenges #289 - although I wouldn't want to clean up after them, I love the brilliant colors of tropical birds, so I included two on my layout.

Just Us Girls #776 Stencil - I used a rays stencil.

Grad 1983 Layout

Two Sundays ago, I scrapbooked my 8th grade school picture, and today I skipped forward to 8th grade graduation. I am fortunate enough to have my childhood diary with an account of the day, so I scanned the page and printed it out to add to my page. Apparently, I had no humility at the time, as I mentioned being the best singer in my quartet and having a high GPA! I kept the color scheme to earth tones, which went well with the rather faded photos. Although it looks white in the photos, my dress was actually light green. I had my layout finished and scanned, then remembered I wanted to add butterflies from my new package, so I had to go back and do that. Anyone ever do this? LOL!

Recipe:
Glamour Uppercase, Pennant Alphabet & Noted Backgrounds stamp sets
Vicki Boutin Mixed Media papers (American Crafts)
July/August Mix-In papers
Kraft, Saddle, Mocha & Vanilla Cream cardstock
Toffee, Saddle, Mocha & Sage ink
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Butterfly Bits (Simple Stories)
Wild Wheat Rustic Striped ribbon (SU)
Green Fields enamel dots (Altenew)
Roses clipart (found online and colored using markers)
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #84

Challenges: The Outlawz Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone; Challenge YOUrself #137

 Double Trouble #191 - Green raffle ticket for graduation + used Kraft paper background

{Shipwrecked} Imagination Station Layout for Lasting Memories #751

Hello, everyone. It's a happy day here in Southern California because my daughter's softball team won their second playoff game yesterday despite fierce winds and lots of dust in the air! Congrats, Cougars! And that was on top of my daughter receiving the Most Improved Player award at the sports banquet on Friday night, so it's been a good sports weekend for our family.

In other news, Lasting Memories has a new challenge posted, another Tic-Tac-Toe Board, and I got to scrap some more fun memories from Shipwrecked VBS. I chose the middle column with Stripes + Flowers + Stickers, which was a popular one with the rest of the Design Team. There are so many fun combinations you could use, though, so we would love to see you create a layout and link it up over at Lasting Memories before the end of the month!

Here's my layout:

And here's the board:

Recipe:
Background Elements stamp set
At the Zoo paper (Doodlebug Designs)
Sweet Safari paper
Magnolia paper (MME)
Desert Sand, Chocolate, Pear, Clover Meadow & Lagoon ink
Clover Meadow marker
Spring Green marker (Zig)
Burnt Sienna fineliner pen (iBayam)
Chocolate brads
Telling Our Story adhesive brads (Echo Park)
Bold & Bright ephemera (American Crafts)
Monkey sticker (Frances Meyer)
Summer Afternoon & Cool Summer Night enamel dots (Altenew)
3-D foam tape
Cricut Artistry cartridge: monkey, vines (edited in Design Space)
Cricut Design Space: title using Cricut Sans font
Miscellaneous Cricut cartridges: flowers (they were in my leftovers box and I'm too lazy to look them all up!)
Pattern: found on Pinterest, possibly a Michelle van Wyk sketch - I reversed it because I will have a photo storage page between the left and right sides of my layout and so wanted to have my title on the left page.

Challenges: Cut It Up #330 Send Me Flowers - used die-cut and sticker flowers

Softball Coach Card

My daughter's sports banquet is tonight, so I created a softball themed card for her to give to the coach. It didn't come out quite the way I had envisioned it, but the coach liked it, so it's all good. Thank you to all the crafty challenge blogs that inspired me to add items to my card! 

Recipe:
Thank You & My Game stamp sets
Soda Pop papers
Kraft, Saddle, Almond & White Daisy cardstock
Sapphire ink
Crimson fineliner pen (iBayam)
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
White gel pen (Sakura)
Sweet Leaf brads
Blue Adornaments fibers (Ek Success)
Supernova stencil (Visible Images)
Cricut Design Space: playing field, mitt, ball, bat
Pattern: Atlantic Hearts Sketch #629 - I replaced the shape with a playing field and moved the sentiment to the bottom because I needed more room for it.

Challenges: As You See It #348 Spot or Stripes? - I chose spots; Little Red Wagon #807 D is for Die cut - used lots of die cuts on my card; Tic Tac Toe Challenges #270 - I used the bottom row with Die cuts + Brads + Stenciling.

EMS Sketch Challenge #121 + {Shipwrecked] VBS Layout

I was working on layout #2 in my Vacation Bible School series using a free hand method, but I realized it would make a nice little sketch, so here is the one I whipped up! The photo sizes are not quite the same as what I actually scrapped, but as long as the photo group on the right is bigger than the one on the left, I think it will look fine. I also used a patterned paper background, so I omitted Piece A on the left. As usual, feel free to adapt the sketch for your needs, and leave a comment below with a link to your completed layout.

Here's the sketch:

And here's my layout, using photos from the opening session of VBS, which included check-in, singing, and a skit.

Instead of adding my journaling to the layout, I had one open space in the facing pocket page, so I grabbed a coordinating journaling card and got writing. I love this technique because it allows me to write a lot (50+ words this time) yet not take up the space on the layout. Here's my journaling card:

Recipe:
Sweet Safari papers
Almond, Chocolate & Paprika cardstock
Almond & Autumn Terracotta ink
Magic Mesh (Creative Imaginations)
Natural hemp
Puppy Love & Falling for You Shape Sprinkles (Doodlebug Designs)
Safari Borders sticker (MAMBI)
Monkeys stickers (Frances Meyer)
Jungle Safari Element stickers (Echo Park)
3-D foam tape
Cricut Artiste cartridge: title
Challenges: Heart's Quest Challenge Blog #73 Green and/or white hearts; The Outlawz Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone

Ready to Get Wrecked Layout

I took a ton of photos of Vacation Bible School at our church in 2018, so prepare to be bombarded by layouts featuring the Shipwrecked theme! The first set I decided to scrapbook two photos of some of the decorations, and I placed the other photos in a photo storage page. My page is actually a lift of an amazing page Lis from Scrapbook.com created. I love how she tore map paper and then tucked all kinds of goodies under the edge, so I tried to replicate that look. Hopefully I did credit to her wonderful design! Looking at the page now, I wish I had moved the title over to the left of the framed photo, but it's glued down already, so I guess it stays.

Recipe:
Postcard Travel Series and Wild & Punny stamp sets
Majestic Blue paper
Crystal Blue, Mocha, Black & Colonial White cardstock
Crystal Blue, Chocolate & Desert Sand ink + Chocolate pigment ink
Black marker
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Clear embossing powder
Sweet Safari PML card
Bohemia - Friends journaling card (MME)
Hot Hues flower embellishments (Gartner Studios)
Milepost Shapes
Let's Wander Thickers (American Crafts)
Palm Tree sticker (Creative Imaginations)
Shell stickers (Stickabilities)
Nautical stickers (Frances Meyer)
Velum toucan (from my stash, source unknown)
Say Cheese Adventure at the Park washi tape (Simple Stories)
Rhinestone tickers (Recollections)
3-D foam tape
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: sailboat
Cricut Design Space: mermaid, frame, title using Mistral font
Pattern: scraplift of Lis' Nomad layout from Scrapbook.com

Challenges: Unicorn Challenges #109 Mermaids - I found the cute mermaid silhouette on Cricut Design Space and though it would be a fun addition to the page; A Cut Above Anything Goes with a die-cut - mine are the sailboat, mermaid, frame, and title; Neglected Stuff Challenges - I pulled out 2 long-retired stamp sets to create the postcard and sloth, plus a bunch of old stickers that have been in my sticker binder for at least 15 years (shells, flowers, waves, ship's wheel, palm branch) and the journaling card from 2007.

Banners Birthday Card

I whipped up a quick masculine birthday card today. I originally had three stickers on the right side of the card, but they didn't quite look right, so I used the numbers die-cut instead. While inking the edge of the one sticker I used, I got some ink smeared on the sticker, but it worked out okay because I was inspired to use the sentiment banners to cover it up - win win!

Recipe:
Chantilly stamp set
March/April 2021 Mix-In paper
Kraft cardstock
Orange & Peacock ink
Orange ribbon
Party Hat Frame sticker (Pixie Press)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: numbers
Pattern: Try a Sketch on Tuesday #670

Challenges: AAA Birthday #73 Anything birthday

 Double Trouble Challenges #191 - pink ticket for birthday + used kraft cardstock as my card base + used TSOT sketch.

Mother's Day Floral cards

I've been posting layouts the last few days, so here's a break to show off some cards I created for Mother's Day. I used the same design and basic supplies for both, but since one is for my mom and one is for my hubby's mom, I wanted to make them slightly different. Can't decide which one I like better!

For my hubby's mom

For my mom

Both cards

Recipe:
Hooray Bouquet (2011) & Say It in Style (2009) stamp sets
Caboodle paper
Capri, Sorbet, Shortbread & White Daisy cardstock
Capri, Sorbet & Honey ink
Clear craft buttons
Creme Brulee baker's twine
Puppy Love Shape Sprinkles (Doodlebug Designs)
Liquid Glass
Cuttlebug embossing folders: Swiss Dot & Little Flowers
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: flowers
Circle Double Stitched Steel dies (Art Impressions)
Pattern:  Sketch-n-Scrap Card sketch #285

Challenges: Can You Handle the Pressure? Anything Goes with twist of floral - used a floral embossing folder on one card, plus both have die-cut and stamped flowers; Little Red Wagon #806 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (use yellow) - the smaller flowers, the baker's twine, and one epoxy heart; Retro Rubber Challenges #254  Sweet Spring Flowers - stamped the flowers and the sentiments, stamps are from 2009 and 2011; If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #204 Pretty flowers - I was inspired by the colors and shape of the cookies, plus I added designs on my flowers because of the designs on the cookies