One Awesome Kid Layout

This layout went through so many iterations that I lost count, but it looks nothing like what I originally had in mind. Can anyone relate? I had two random photos of my son that I wanted to scrap, so I chose a two photos sketch from Sketch-n-Scrap, but I decided not to use one of the photos because it was very dark. Instead I grabbed a pocket card and added it in place of one photo. I'm not sure I love the rainbow paper on here, but it had been in my stash for a while, so I am happy I used some of it.

Recipe:
Alphabet Solos "F", Friendship Word Puzzle, Kid Power, Notice the Details, Picture Perfect, Priceless Love Word Puzzle & This Happened stamp sets
Oh Happy Day papers (Simple Stories)
She's Magic paper (American Crafts)
Canary, Peacock & Pixie cardstock
Pixie, Juniper, Peacock & Black ink
Color Kaleidoscope stickers (American Crafts)
Field Trip Puffy Thickers (American Crafts)
Oh Happy Day chipboard stockers (Simple Stories)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: heart
Cricut Artbooking cartrdige: circle heart
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #270

Challenges: Double Trouble #135 Roy G Biv (used rainbow paper and a rainbow of colors)

Family Always & Forever Layout

After a long hiatus, the Picture This challenge blog is back, so I really wanted to jump in and participate in at least one of their challenges this month. I decided to go with the Not So Picture Perfect challenge, because this photo of my family certainly fits the bill! In fact, it was a deciding factor in getting a new camera, since all the photos from this weekend, including my brother's wedding, turned out grainy and overexposed. I was so bummed, but I really wanted to scrapbook a photo of my family with two of my sibling and my parents, so I overlooked the poor picture quality and the fact that my dad is scowling, and used it anyway!

Recipe:
Family Ties - Adults, Family Ties - Children & Alphabet Solos "F" stamp sets
Brushed & Lollydoodle Level 2 papers
Pixie, Thistle & White Daisy cardstock
Black pigment ink
Canary, Pixie, Thistle, Juniper & Lagooon ink
Black marker
Aqua Dots
Junebug Puffies stickers
Lagoon washi tape
Watercolor pencils (Prismacolor)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: title
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: flowers
Pattern: Sketches in Thyme #213
Challenges: Lasting Memories add an image you color to your layout - the family grouping at the bottom is all stamped and they took me a long time to color, but it was fun to do.

My Favorite Mummy Layout

With Mother's Day just past, I've seen several challenges that call for a celebration of mom or mum. Since I already had a card for my mom, I didn't think I'd be able to enter the challenges, but when I found these pictures of my son hamming it up in the mummy case at Legoland, I saw the perfect opportunity for a fun page. Here is my very tongue-in-cheek entry for the Heart to Heart Mum's the Word and Frosted Designs All About Mom challenges!

Recipe:
Big Hug, Hodgepodge Alphabet, Whooo's Your Valentine, Alphabet Solos "C" & "F" stamp sets
White Daisy textured cardstock
Cranberry, Lagoon, Pear & White Daisy cardstock
Cranberry, Lagoon, Pear & Slate ink
Steel Grey marker (Zig)
Later Sk8r Picture My Life cards
DE Signage chipboard arrows
Cranberry & Slate craft buttons
Cranberry, Lagoon & Grey Wool baker's twine
Lagoon, Ruby & Slate washi tape
Cardinal Red paint (Delta Creative)
Dark Gray paint (Plaid Enterprises)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: "My", "Mummy", sun, circle
Cricut Artiste cartridge: "Favorite"
Pattern: Sketches in Thyme #147 (rotated)
Challenges: 1-2-3 Get Scrappy May tic-tac-toe board (I did 2 paints, the word beautiful, and die-cuts again - I really like this row!); Golden Goddess 3 of the same embellishment ( i used 3 buttons threaded with 3 pieces of baker's twine, plus 3 pieces of washi tape)

SCS Virtual Scrapbook Night!

It's time for Virtual Scrapbook Night at Splitcoast Stampers, and I'm hosting a challenge. The theme is techniques, so I picked the following easy but fun one for you to try. Feel free to pop on over to SCS and join the challenges! We have four scheduled this weekend, and another whole weekend of challenges is slated for September. Hope to see you at SCS!

Positively Negative Challenge
Do you ever wonder what to do with the paper you have left over after punching or die-cutting an image? With a little advanced planning, you can save that scrap from your trash can and use it on your layout.
• First, punch or die-cut a shape. Be sure to leave a little space around all sides.
• Cut around the negative space (the hole that shape left) in a square, rectangle, or tag shape.
• Back that piece with colored cardstock or patterned paper and use the resulting embellishment (as well as your original die-cut) on your layout.

Some variations on this technique include using 3-D foam tape to pop up the negative piece, using the negative space as a journaling area, placing a photo under the cut-out instead of paper, or creating a border using multiple cut-out spaces backed with another color cardstock or patterned paper.

For my layout, I chose to do the basic technique, and then I also die-cut the rows of stars using my Cricut. Since I used the cut out pieces as well as the negative space, there was no waste, which is always a good thing!

Recipe:
Distressed Backgrounds, Tiny Typewrite & Alphabet Solos F stamp sets
Believe Level 2 papers
Sky, Outdoor Denim, Cashmere & Champagne cardstock
Holiday Red, Outdoor Denim & Cashmere ink
Cranberry Ribbon Rounds
Pattern: Sketches in Thyme #119
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: stars, title

Week 30 Layout Linky - Sweet Fun

I just finished this fun layout that uses a pattern from Magic (the right hand page of Juggling Act) but with a twist: I added a 12" x 4" Flip-Flap panel to the layout. I included both views so you can get an idea of what it would look like closed and open. I added a word cloud (fun) that is only visible when the Flip-Flap is open.

Here it is with the Flip-Flap closed:


And here's what it looks like open:


Recipe:
Pennant Alphabet, Field Trip Alphabet, Hodgepodge Alphabet, Polka Dot Alphabet, Chocolate Alphabet Small & Alphabet Solo "F" stamp sets
Cherry-O Level 2 papers
Barn Red , Sweet Leaf & Colonial White cardstock
Barn Red, Chocolate, Sweet Leaf, Crystal Blue & Blush ink
Crystal Blue marker
Blush, Chocolate, Sweet Leaf, Crystal Blue & Colonial White craft buttons
Natural hemp
Barn Red Bigger Brads
Prisma Glitter
Liquid Glass

***If you are participating in the 52 Layouts Challenge, please use the link below to link your layout to this post. You have until Friday at 11:59PM PST to post your week 30 layout. The link will allow you to post a title and thumbnail that link to your site, where we can see the layout in all its glory! Note: please do not post from a password protected site that will require us to input a password before viewing.

LOAD #16 - Carnival

Today's layout is simple in design, but it allowed me to get 8 uncropped 4"x6" photos on a double page spread. I got the idea from the December 2009 edition of Creating Keepsakes magazine. One fun technique I used today: I didn't have any white brads left (used them all on my Christmas cards!), so I dipped the silver brads in Versamark ink, then White Daisy embossing powder, and then I heat set them. Viola - white brads. You can do this with any color of embossing powder, so I sure wish CTMH carried embossing powder to match all their colors. Maybe next idea book!



Recipe:
Cocktail Alphabet & Alphabet Solos "F" stamp sets
Giggles & Grins Level 2 papers
Giggles & Grins My Stickease
Sunny Yellow & Cranberry cardstock
Versamark ink
Cranberry, Black & Silver brads
Clear sparkles
Rhinestone frames
White Daisy Embossing powder
Black marker
White gel pen (Sakura)

Picnic Layout

I took another break today from scrapping Hawaii pictures in order to complete another of Helen Onulak's CTMH How-To books challenges (#21). This time, she asked us to use the pattern "Column Composition" from Cherish. It only features 3 pictures, and I am totally not a 3 pictures on a two-page layout kind of gal, so I revised the sketch. Instead of 1 4"x6" picture on the left page, I placed 3 5"x3.5" photos, plus I added a Flip-Flap to page 2, so I actually have a total of 7 pictures on here. Much more my style! I used 2 papers from the Magic Moments kit, but the paisley one was really busy, so I turned it over and used the monochromatic side. This allowed me to stamp my journaling and some captions on the little 2"x2" squares, which was a good thing because I placed my title where the journaling was supposed to go. Speaking of the title, I posted two versions of the layout because I couldn't decide whether I liked it better with the title facing left or right. Please leave me a comment and let me know which you think looks better, version 1 or version 2. It's not fastened down yet, so I'll do that when I get some feedback on which way you like it. I'm sure all you experienced scrappers will have an opinion! Thanks.

Version 1

Version 2


Recipe:
Hodge Podge Alphabet, Tiny Typewriter Alphabet, Friendship Alphabet Small, Atomic Numbers, Alphabet Solos "E", "F" & "H" & Dream Big stamp sets
Magic Moments Level 2 paper pack
Autumn Terracotta & Indian Corn Blue cardstock
Chocolate, Indian Corn Blue & Sunflower ink
Dimension Elements Monograms "P", "I", "C" & "N"