The Good Life {Kew Gardens} Layout for LM #820

This week, the challenge from Lasting Memories design team member Wendy is to use three rectangles on our layout. This was a no-brainer for me, as I wanted to use a bunch of rectangular photos. I pulled out an old sketch and got to work, adding a few photo mats (also rectangles) to create some separation between the photos. If you would like to play along, click on the link above and show us your rectangles!

Here's a close-up of the title and some detail on the photo mats. For the photo mats, I matted my photos but then folded over one end of the patterned paper so you can see the pattern on the reverse. I punched holes and inserted eyelets in them to thread the twine through and tie into bows. Haven't used this technique in forever, so I'm glad I remembered it!

Recipe:
The Flower Emporium papers (49 and Market)
July/August 2021 Mix-In papers
Kraft cardstock
Pine & Sage ink
Sap Green fineliner pen (iBayam)
Simple Vintage Essentials foam stickers (Simple Stories)
Zoo Animals stickers (Tumblebeasts)
Border stickers (MAMBI)
Antiqued bronze eyelets (MM)
My Happy Place & All Aflutter Shape Sprinkles (Doodlebug Designs)
Fern thick twine
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #51

Challenges: As You Like It Favorite fabric embellishment - I went with twine because it is so versatile to tie on or around something (here I threaded it through two holes and tied bows on two of my photo mats); Heart’s Quest Challenge Blog #88 Lime green hearts; Neglected Stuff Challenges The bird and border stickers; Triple B Anything Goes with a bird, a bloom, and/or a butterfly.

Open House Layout

Last month, I was hoping to finish up my daughter's third grade photos for her school album, but I didn't quite make it. I am saving some Halloween photos to do this month since there are so many Halloween challenges to play along with, and I never like scrapping the photo with all her classmates, so I put that off for later, which means this is almost the last layout for third grade. Open House always entails lots of photos, so I placed six photos in Flip-Flaps that lift up to reveal the photos underneath; hopefully my layout doesn't look too cluttered!

Here are a few close-ups showing some fun details from the layout:

Recipe:
Noted Backgrounds stamp set
Typeset papers
Barn Red, Juniper, Coca & Vanilla Cream cardstock
Barn Red, Juniper, Cocoa & /Bamboo ink
Burnt Sienna fineliner pen (iBayam)
Typeset canvas shapes
Cranberry Magic Mesh
Freshly Baked enamel shapes
Walnut Stain Distress Spritz (Ranger)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title, scalloped borders
Cricut Wall Decor and More cartridge: owl
Cricut Design Space: apple, book
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #114

Challenges: Cut It Up #366 Use more than one die-cut; Love Those Pretty Papers Anything goes as long as you use lots of patterned paper; Time Out Challenges #323 My two picks are circles and an apple.

Muffins With Mom 2017 for LM #818

It's time for another round of challenges from Lasting Memories, and this time it's all about shapes. This week, Wendy challenged us to use at least 3 triangles on our layouts, so I chose to create a banner with 3 triangular pennants on which I stamped part of my title. We would love to have you join us and show off your scrappy interpretation of this challenge!

Recipe:
Bingo Alphabet stamp set
Mayberry papers
Olive, Smoothie, Cocoa & Colonial White cardstock
Olive, Honey & Cocoa ink
Burnt Sienna fineliner pen (iBayam)
Paper flowers (Recollections)
Heartfelt Wonder felt leaves
White baker's twine
White lace
Chocolate brads
Love This Shape Sprinkles (Doodlebug Designs)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: banner, title
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #75

Challenges: Heart’s Quest Challenge Blog #88 Anything with a heart goes; Paper Rocks Scissors #21 Used scissors to trim baker's twine and lace; Triple B Blooms; Color Dare #722 - my added color is green.

Wild Jungle Fun Layout

My daughter worked very hard on her ecosystem report about the rain forest when she was in third grade, but I only had one photo of her with the report, so I decided to print it as a 5" x 7" and give it a layout all of its own. The design is based on a layout by Lisa, one of my fellow design team members from Lasting Memories. Beside the photo, I think my favorite element on the layout is the chimp (gorilla? orangutan?) that I fussy cut from a piece of patterned paper; he looks so quizzical, like he is wondering why he's on this layout! 

I added a few close-up shots of my layout, including the journaling on the tag hidden behind the photo.

Recipe:
Summer Vibes & Sweet Safari papers
Country Woods paper (SU)

At the Zoo paper (Doodlebug Designs)

Safari paper (BoBunny)
Zoo Adventure Multi Journaling Cards (Carta Bella)
The Flower Emporium paper (49 and Market)
Garden Green, Pine, Kraft & White cardstock
Candy Apple, Glacier, Fern, Saddle & Desert Sand ink
Crisp Air enamel heart
Jungle Safari element sticker (Echo Park)
Posh Parrots sticker (Mrs. Grossman's)
Janice paper flowers (Little Birdie)
Chocolate baker's twine
Burlap ribbon
Magic Mesh
3-D foam tape
Swiss Dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug)
Paper crimper (Fiskars)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tag, hearts
Cricut Artiste cartridge: sleeve for tag (partly hidden under photo)
Cricut Design Space: Wild
Challenges: Can You Handle the Pressure? Used the Swiss Dot embossing folder on my kraft circles; Crafter's Cafe #334 Anything Goes with optional twist: lots of color; Heart’s Quest Challenge Blog #88 Anything with a heart goes; NBUS Challenge #91 My never before used stuff is the chimp that I fussy cut out of a cut apart paper purchased in 2023 but never used; Paper Rocks Scissors #21 Used scissors to fussy cut the chimp and hello leaf, trim the ends of the twine, cut the Magic mesh and burlap and numerous pieces of foam tape; Pick 3 Challenge #9 Used leaves, brown, and bird.

Living It Up Carnival Style for LM #818

I decided to use my monthly sketch again for the latest Lasting Memories challenge. Wendy challenged us to add the following items to our layout: 5 photos + 5 stars + 5 word title + 5  embellishments (I added 2 banners and 3 stickers). It was so fun to figure out what to add and where! Feel free to join us for this or the other number challenges over at Lasting Memories, but hurry; the fun ends on Saturday, October 3.

Recipe:
Blue Skies papers & stickers
Good Day Sunshine papers & stickers (Echo Park)
Book Fair paper cut apart card (Simple Stories)
Dutch Blue, Candy Apple & White Daisy cardstock
Candy Apple, Green Apple, Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim & Canary ink
Prussian Blue fineliner pen (iBayam)
Star Attraction Shape Sprinkles (Doodlebug Designs)
Cricut Design Space: subtitle using DTC Spring Break font
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #131

Challenges: Crafter's Cafe #334 Anything Goes with optional twist: lots and lots of color; Love Those Pretty Papers; The Outlawz Anything But a Card.

E Is for Epic Layout

Every year, my kids' elementary school would celebrate Dr. Seuss Day by inviting the kids to dress up in crazy outfits reminiscent of the characters in some of his books. In 2017, my kids choose to dress in the outfits pictured here, and they were excited to see the costumes of their fellow students and even the teachers!

Recipe:
Best Friends papers (Photoplay)
Chocolate, Cotton Candy & White Daisy cardstock
Chocolate, Cotton Candy, Saffron & Citrus Leaf ink
Mars Black fineliner pen (iBayam)
Childhood PML card
Monograms 2 Chippies (Mintay Papers)
Rainbow acrylic shapes
Black Puffy Shapes - hearts (Doodlebug Designs)
Summer Afternoon enamel dots (Altenew)
Chocolate baker's twine
Ribbon Boutique flower ribbon (Berwick)
3-D foam tape (Scrapbook.com)
Edge distresser
Cricut Design Space: Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss (using Agent Q font), pennant
Pattern: Splitcoast Stampers Sketch15Dec1

Challenges: Colorful Options - Options 3: rainbow of colors; Crafter’s Café #334 Anything Goes with optional twist: lots and lots of color; A Cut Above Anything Goes including a die-cut; NBUS Challenge #90 - my never before used stuff = all the patterned paper + I created a Cat in the Hat cut file on Cricut Design Space; One More Page Anything Goes as long as it’s a scrapbook page; Inkspirational Challenges #376 Word Prompt. Furry Friends - The Cat in the Hat!

Red Ribbon PJ Day Layout for LM #817

Here's another layout for my daughter's elementary school album, just in time for the latest Lasting Memories challenge. Wendy dared us to use four each of the following items: photos, squares, a 4-word title, and embellishments. This was a great chance to use one of my older sketches that featured four squares as the background, and then I added a few wooden veneers that I painted - so fun! We would love to see you over at Lasting Memories for this or any of the September challenges, but hurry, there are only two weeks to go.

Here's a close up of the owl; I added him because he's the school mascot!

Recipe:
Slipper paper (Karen Wilson Fine Arts)
Lilac, Wisteria & Slate cardstock
Wisteria & Slate ink
Light Grey fineliner pen (iBayam)
Everyday Moments pocket card (Scrapbook.com)
Best Friends sticker (Photoplay)
Wooden shapes (flowers from Amazon, owl from my friend Lisa)
Acrylic paint (Plaid)
Googly eyes (Michaels)
Petticoats & Pinstripes enamel dots (Echo Park)
Leopard print stencil (Amazon)
Cricut Design Space: title using Agent Q font
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #109 (rotated right)

Challenges: Neglected Stuff Challenges My neglected stuff is the slippers patterned paper that's been in my stash since my neighbor gifted it to me in 2014 (glad I finally could use some); Stencil Fun I used a  leopard print stencil on my photo mat; Triple B Anything goes including a bird, a bloom, and/or a butterfly - used owl and flower wood veneers.

Oak Mesa Dance Layout

I'm chugging along creating layouts for my daughter's elementary school album, so here is one from the school dance when she was in 3rd grade. The journaling turned out a little washed out on my scan, but it basically says my daughter enjoyed hanging out with friends and dancing along to the music provided by DJ Carlos.

Recipe:
Cherish the Day papers (DCWV)
Joy in the Journey papers
Journey, Wisteria, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Pastel Vellum (Paper Pizazz)
Journey, Wisteria & Gypsy ink
Lilac Mist marker
Lilac Mist embroidery floss
Blue rhinestones (Paper Studio)
Cricut Design Space: dancing children, title using Quarter Note font
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #56

Challenges: A Cut Above Anything Goes including a die-cut; Neglected Stuff Challenges My neglected stuff is the Summer Stack papers - I bought the pad in 2011 and have never used the lantern paper! Paper Rocks Scissors #20 - used scissors to cut my embroidery floss.

Sweetest Memories Layout

This month, I'm working hard at finishing my daughter's third grade year for her school album, so here's another layout. Since Father's Day falls after the close of the school year, Donuts with Dad in January is a yearly event at my kids' elementary school in lieu of a Father's Dad celebration. We only got one photo, but since it featured my hubby and the two kids, I'm satisfied with it. Plus I am very happy that this is my 100th layout this year. Only 25 to go! 

Recipe:
You & Me stamp set
Country Woods patterned papers (SU)
Vicki Boutin Printed Mixed Media paper (American Crafts)
Reasons to Smile paper 9American Crafts)
Blush & White Daisy cardstock
Bamboo, Blush, Lagoon & Outdoor Denim ink
Ocean marker
Birdsong Ephemera Bits (49 and Market)
Lagoon baker's twine
Oh Happy Day thicker (Simple Stories)
Slice of Life mini puffy stickers (American Crafts)
Heart sequins (from a card my mom sent)
Blue rhinestones (Recollections)
Swiss Dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: arrow frame
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap Throwback to Sketch 184

Challenges: Can You Handle the Pressure? Used a dot embossing folder on the circle; Let’s Craft and Create #235 Anything goes including optional twist: Frame it; Double Trouble #225 Use the following: 3 Layers + 2 Images (donut thicker, stamped ticket) + 1 Aperture (heart) + used Thing 3's option of shaker (mine is filled with sequin hearts).

Brianna's 1st Day of 3rd Grade Layout

For my daughter's first day of third grade, I still had the plaid paper from my previous layout sitting on my desk and realized it was perfect for these photos, so I went with it since they will be in totally different albums. I'm hoping to get all her third grade photos scrapped this month, so wish me luck!

Recipe:
Wicker Lane papers
Reasons to Smile papers (American Crafts)
Raspberry & White Daisy cardstock
Raspberry, Juniper & Almond ink
Turquoise fineliner pen (iBayam)
Reasons to Smile puffy stickers & washi tape (American Crafts)
Book Fair Bits & Pieces ephemera (Simple Stories)
Clear sparkles
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped border, heart
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #94

Challenges: Love Those Pretty Papers; One More Page - scrapbook layouts only; The Outlawz Anything But a Card; Paper Rocks Scissors #20 - I needed to use 2 scalloped border to fit across the page, but the left one was too long so I used scissors to trim it to fit.

My Silly Sif Layout for LM #816

This month over at Lasting Memories, Wendy is challenging us to follow a recipe each week based on numbers. This week, it's the number 3, so I had to figure out how to add 3 photos, 3 triangles, a 3 word title, and 3 embellishments to my layout. I kind of created 3 embellishment clusters, with the 3 hexagons each having a flower and either a phrase sticker or a stamped image on it. Feel free to join us to exercise your creativity with Wendy's recipes!

I love these photos of our cat checking out my hubby's phone, and the bottom right one really cracks me up. It's like she is playing innocent after being caught in the act!

Recipe:
Occasionally & Newsprint Upper and Lowercase Alphabet stamp sets (SU)
Wicker Lane papers (Photoplay)
Crystal Blue, Raspberry, Ruby & White Daisy cardstock
Raspberry, Honey & Black ink
Mars Black fineliner pen (iBayam)
Chloe stickers (Bella Blvd)
Janice paper flowers (Little Birdie)
Cricut Design Space: hexagons, triangles
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #91

Challenges: Alphabet Challenge Blog J is for Just Kidding (humorous card/LO); Critter Crazy Challenges #114 Anything goes with an animal as the focus; Little Red Wagon #875 Use a stamp - stamped the phone and the title; Inkspirational #376 Word Prompt

You're Getting Very Sleepy Layout

I love these photos of our cat Sif when she was a kitten, especially the top one where she is eying our older cat Thor as if wondering how long he will tolerate her presence on the bed - LOL! I started my layout with the sketch below, but I decided to squash the photos together and used the fun circle frame cut file to create a wreath around the photos, which I decorated with hearts and pet embellishments. Hope you like it!

Recipe:
Friendship Alphabet Small stamp set
Chloe patterned paper & stickers (Bella Blvd)
Fern & Crystal Blue cardstock
Clear vellum
Autumn Terracotta & Crystal Blue ink
Chip Ciao Thickers (Bella Blvd)
DE Quotes chipboard
Autumn Terracotta baker's twine
Warm & Cozy enamel dots (Altenew)
Clear embossing powder
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: hearts, tag
Cricut Design Space: ACOT large circle frame, Zzz (using Maiandra GD font)
Pattern: Sketches in Thyme #723 (from Facebook group)

Challenges: A Cut Above Anything Goes including a die-cut; Critter Crazy Challenges #114  Anything goes with a featured critter; Heart’s Quest Challenge Blog #87 Anything with a heart goes; Pick 3 Challenge #8 I picked wreath + polka dots + stamping.

You Can't Make Old Friends Layout

I love the lyrics of the Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton duet, "You Can't Make Old Friends," especially the lines about "When somebody knocks at the door, someone new walks in, I will smile and shake their hands, but you can't make old friends." This is something I have discovered in the past five years as our old church closed down and we had to start anew at a different place. I am getting to know the ladies there, but there is something missing, the shared experiences that help make old friendships so vibrant. Hopefully someday that will develop, but in the meantime, I am grateful for the ladies pictured here, who were my old friends for so long!

The hidden journaling where I talk about the event and the friendships I have with these lovely ladies is on a tag that pulls out of the green sleeve:

Recipe:
Post Card Travel Series stamp set
Summer Vibes papers
Lemonade, Glacier & Candy Apple cardstock
Sunny Yellow, Glacier, Fern & Black ink
Mars Black fineliner pen (iBayam)
Scrapbook Queen stickers (MAMBI)
Decor Journaling Spot
Red Dot Essentials washi tape (Echo park)
Red baker's twine (from my stash, source unknown)
Heart punch (EK Success)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: scalloped frame, circle
Cricut Design space: arrow, title using Bradley Hand ITC font (written on the circle) & BFC Night Kiss (cut out)
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #99

Challenges: Paper Rocks Scissors #20 Scissors = I mounted the corner stickers on white cardstock and trimmed around them; Let’s Craft and Create #235 Anything Goes including optional twist: Frame it; Neglected Stuff Challenges my neglected stuff was the MAMBI corner stickers (I searched my blog back to 2015 but couldn't find I had used them anywhere, so they were truly neglected)!

Keep Dreaming Layout for LM #815

It's time for another Lasting Memories challenge, and this month Design Team member Wendy is challenging us to have fun with numbers. This week's challenge is called 2 for Two, and she asked us to use two photos, two hexagons, a two word title, and two embellishments. For the embellishments, I chose to use a die-cut princess, complete with her glittery tiara, and then stamped a rose bloom that I combined with a die-cut for the stem and leaves. Even though there isn't a lot on here, I hope the mix of decorative paper adds interest to the page. Please join us over at Lasting Memories for this or any of the other number-themed challenges this month!

Recipe:
Beautiful You stamp set
Daydream papers
Hollyhock, Black & White cardstock
Creme Brulee, Blush, Hollyhock, Lilac Mist & Sweet Leaf ink
Black marker
Gold Stickles (Ranger)
Cuttlebug D'vine Swirls embossing folder
Scalloped border punch (Fiskars)
Cricut Design Space: princess, tiara stem and leaves, hexagons, title (using Wall Decor & More and Art Philosophy fonts)
Pattern: Rochelle Spears September Sketch

Challenges: Scrap With Stacy - I used the diagonal with journaling + floral + gold.

Can You Handle the Pressure? Used a swirl embossing folder; Love Those Pretty Papers Anything goes as long as you use lots of patterned paper; Time Out Challenges #321 - the movie I chose was Disney's Sleeping Beauty! My sleeping girl and her cousin remind me of Aurora, so I added the princess silhouette and the rose (for the roses that covered the castle).

EMS Sketch Challenge #131 + Walking on Sunshine Layout

It's time for another scrapbook sketch, and this time I used mostly vertical photos with one horizontal. Feel free to use the sketch and post a link here so I can admire it!

I forged ahead and scrapped a couple of layouts out of order from our Kew Gardens visit, so today I went back and started at the beginning with our visit to the towering Treetop Walkway. It was amazing in a kind of scary way! The horizontal picture flips up to reveal another photo and my journaling card, on which I shared my mixed feelings about being that high in the air.

Here's the journaling card with a small photo on it. My hubby took the photo from another part of the walkway, so I added an arrow so you can see me! I knew part of the journaling card would be hidden under my cropped photo, so I used a craft knife to remove the hidden part and used it for my journaling on the main part of my page.

Recipe:
Wild Asparagus papers (MME)
Woodgrain paper
The Flower Emporium Starters papers 8 & 10 (49 and Market)
Olive, Fern, Glacier & Dutch Blue cardstock
Saddle, Fern, Olive & Glacier ink
Coffee marker (Zig)
True Colors Floral Bits (Simple Stories)
Century Type Leather stickers ((All My Memories)
Sweet Rush Collection - Loving This puffy stickers (American Crafts)
Woodgrain washi tape
Natural hemp
Challenges: Heart's Quest Challenge Blog #87 - anything with a heart; One More Page - scrapbook layouts only; Triple B Anything Goes including a bird, a bloom, and/or a butterfly; Unicorn Challenge Blog #124 Not square (used ltos of rectangles and a couple circles, but no squares); Inkspirational #375 Visual prompt: Scrabble tiles (I was inspired to pull out some square letter stickers to use as my sub-title).

Chokushi-Mon Layout

Among the many beautiful sights at Kew Gardens, we enjoyed the intricately carved gate found in the Japanese Gardens.  If you are ever at Kew Gardens, it's well worth seeking it out! I tried to recreate the look of the maple branches found on Japanese art and added a couple of butterflies just for fun.

Recipe:
Tiny Typewriter stamp set
Emporium paper
Topiary, Espresso, Tulip & Sunset cardstock
Topiary ink
Burnt Sienna fineliner pen (iBayam)
Butterfly Bits ephemera (Simple Stories)
Birdsong Ephemera Bits (49 and Market)
Krafty Garden Essentials rub-on transfer (49 and Market)
Coffee Break enamel dots (Altenew)
Woodgrain washi tape
Peeled Paint distress spritz (Ranger)
Cricut Design Space: branch and maple leaves
Challenges: Alphabet Challenge Blog I is for insect - added two butterflies; Cupcake Inspirations #640 In the Garden; The Outlawz Anything But a Card

Father's Day 2019 Layout

I've been busy putting our house back together after we packed up five rooms in order to refinish the hardwood floors, so although the floors now look beautiful, I haven't had much time for scrapbooking. Today I decided to just make the time, so here is my latest layout. It features photos from Father's Day 2019, including a few of the card I made for my hubby and that all the kids signed. Enjoy!

Recipe:
Party Invitation stamp set
Country Woods paper (SU)
Joy in the Journey paper
Journey & Saffron cardstock
Journey & Saffron ink
Ocean marker
Mars Black Fineliner pen (iBayam)
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Gold metallic pen (Staedltler)
A Father's Love sticker (BoBunny)
Wood veneers (Amazon)
Gold Heart paper clip (American Crafts)
Ruby chevron ribbon
Chevron embossing folder
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tag
Cricut Design Space: title
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #117

Challenges: Can You Handle the Pressure? Used a chevron pattern on the yellow cardstock + includes optional twist of bees; Pick 3 Challenge #8 - I used polka dots paper + stamping (on tag) + insects (bees); Little Red Wagon #873 Anything times 3 - I used 3 wood veneers.