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

Angel's Party Layout

It seems strange to think of this happy occasion as a tough time, but it was in the early stages of fostering our two youngest children, and that made for an awkward and uncomfortable afternoon with a bunch of people we barely knew. I still remember the frustration of being outside the circle of family that Brianna and Angel shared, as represented by the group picture where I am standing at the far edge and slightly apart from the group. I decided to scrap the photos as a 6"x8" back-to-back layout that will fit between the photos we took at Chuck E. Cheese before the birth family arrived several hours late.

The front layout is a more traditional and happy layout with my son blowing out the candles on the cake, while the flip side has a picture with shadows across it and some clouds over the sun. When you flip the center section up, it reveals the group picture and my journaling. I tried not to get into the whole story in my album, because I don't want to make my kids sad if they read about my feelings on that day, but I'm pretty sure they will never bother to read my blog, so I feel safe posting it here! I also used the "negative" of a sun that I found in my scrap box, and the background grey is darker on the back of the layout to go with my mood.

The front

The reverse with the flap closed

The reverse with the flap lifted up - adult faces are blurred for privacy reasons.

The journaling card on the back of the lifted up section

Recipe:
Friendship Word Puzzle, It's Your Day, Story FYI & Boutique Borders stamp sets
Stargazer papers
Pebble, Canary & White Daisy cardstock
Canary, Poppy, Pacifica, Sapphire & Pewter ink
Light Greg Fineliner pen (iBayam)
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Stargazer enamel dots
Beautiful Friendship Complements banners
Sapphire baker's twine
Star punch (EK Success)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: sun
Cricut Artiste cartridge: clouds
Pattern (first page): Sketch-n-Scrap #254 rotated right and adapted for 6" x 8" layout

Challenges: Lasting Memories #612 - 3 Things - striped patterned paper + stars + enamel dots; Challenge YOUrself #104 Tough Times 

Update: I was one of the top three participants in the Tough Times challenge!

Mt. Baldy Layout

I didn't scrap much last month but I can feel some creativity stirring, so here's my first layout of April. Thanks to all the challenge blogs that inspired me!

Recipe:
Boutique Borders stamp set
Skylark & Splendor Level 2 papers
Kraft, Ponderosa Pine, Cocoa & White Daisy cardstock
Ponderosa Pine & Cocoa ink
Ponderosa Pine & Cocoa markers
Mocha Opaques
DE Monograms chipboard "M", "T", "B", "A", "L", "D", "Y"
Fiskars decorative scissors - Seagull
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: pine trees
Pattern: EMS Sketch 40
Challenges: Clear It Out Challenges = use 2 or more things you've been hoarding (last piece of cloud paper from Splendor paper pack and chipboard letters that have been in my stash forever); Lasting Memories Mystic Mountains challenge; Stuck on Us Sketches Clear Skies die-cut challenge (I started with cloud paper and added some die-cut trees to mimic the look of the trees against the blue sky on the mountain);

Tournament Layout

During his year learning Karate, my son Elliot participated in one karate tournament.  Although he didn't win any prizes, he did take home a commemorative medal, and I was so proud of him for getting up the courage to even do this in public. He was a Tiger orange belt at the time (i.e. a white belt with an orange stripe), so the Spellbound papers seemed a perfect choice for scrapbooking this momentous day. Although this was originally a Halloween kit, the orange/black combo works well for other events, too. And for those of you interested in participating in my Ombre Variety Challenge for Splitcoast Stampers, the title is another example of ombre.

And here's a video of him doing his kata. Notice at the end how he almost lands on the lap of one of the judges!

Recipe:
Posterboard Alphabet, Cherish the Day, Blue Ribbon & Boutique Borders stamp sets
Spellbound Level 2 papers
White Daisy & Sunset cardstock
Black ink
Black Glitter tape
Label tape (Dymo)
Watercolor pencil (Prismacolor)
Pattern: Make It From Your Heart Pattern 4
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: ticket
Challenges: Clear It Out - Make someone's day (check!) and use something sparkly (black glitter tape);  Stampin' Royalty - anything goes.

Sew Thoughtful Card

I'm plugging away at getting the cards for my upcoming card workshop designed before I leave for a camping vacation during which no paper crafting is allowed! Here's another one, this time using the  Puns of Praise stamp set. I picked the following sketch from Annabelle Stamps for the design, but of course I had to change it up a little!

 

Recipe:
Puns of Praise, Boutique Borders & Love Life stamp sets
Dream Pop Level 2 papers
White Daisy cardstock
Slate & Cotton Candy ink
Black Pigment ink
Clear embossing powder
Cotton Candy & Silver Metallics markers
Grey Wool baker's Twine
Pewter brad
Challenges: Annabelle Stamps Choose Your Favorite Sketch

Somewhere in the Ocean Layout

Let's Scrap is posting a daily challenge in celebration of National Scrapbooking Month. I don't think I'll make it to 31 layouts, but it sounded like fun, so I'm going to play along as often as I can. The first challenge was to "create a layout using a quote from your favorite book. It can be the title or somewhere on your page. Let the book inspire the colors and details on your page." Since I was scrapping pictures of sea life, I immediately thought of a book that had been my children's favorite for a long time: "Somewhere in the Ocean." I loved reading it to them, so I decided to use the title (which is also repeated on every page) as my layout title. I also lifted the title treatment, and the idea for the colors of the page came from the title page.

My Inspiration:

My Layout:

 

Recipe:
Tiny Typewrite Alphabet & Boutique Borders stamp sets
Lagoon, Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf, Olive, New England Ivy, Sunset & Colonial White cardstock
Lagoon, Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf, Olive & New England Ivy ink
Ocean marker
Fish punch (EK Success)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title
Pattern: Let's Scrap 2-22-12

LOAD #5 - XOXO

I just love having a girly niece to scrapbook! My boys are sweet, but they are all boy, so it's fun to pull out the pretty paper once in a while. For this layout, I used lots of chipboard, and tried to decorate it in different ways. Usually, I'm not very creative with my chipboard, just using it plain or swiping ink onto it directly from a pad, but this time I got creative with stamping, too. I even made some faux chipboard brackets by cutting out multiple brackets using my Wishblade, and then layering the pieces until they were nice and thick like chipboard. The frame around the square picture of Lexi started out as plain white chipboard that I stamped (with Versamark ink), embossed (using clear powder and a heat gun), and then inked (using Tulip and Chocolate ink).



Recipe:
Noted Backgrounds & Boutique Borders stamp sets
Cherry-O Level 2 papers
Chocolate & Baby Pink cardstock
Chocolate, Blush, Tulip & Sweet Leaf ink
White gel pen (Marvy)
DE Monograms "X", "O"
DE Irresistibles Pizzazz
DE Framed Fun
Scalloped border punch (Fiskars)
3-D foam tape

LOAD #9 - A Room With a View

I'm sorry to say LOAD #9 will not be posted until Monday. I'm leaving for the mountains in just one hour, and I still have to pack. Please post your layouts, and I'll catch up when I get home. I did get the layout for LOAD #7 posted this morning, so feel free to check that out. Hope everyone gets lots of scrapping done this weekend - including me!

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It's Monday, so here's LOAD #9 as promised! I used one of Becky Higgin's sketches for the design.



Recipe:
Felicity, Key to My Heart & Boutique Borders stamp sets
Free Spirit Level 2 papers
Goldrush & Chocolate cardstock
Chocolate & Autumn Terracotta ink
Chocolate marker
Clear Sparkles & Bitty Sparkles

Iolani Palace Layout

For some reason, this is my favorite layout I've scrapped from our Hawaii vacation. I just like how all the elements came together to create a pleasing picture. I don't even have any journaling, but that's okay; I have a ton on the layouts I've done of Iolani Palace from other Hawaii trips. The scan doesn't do it justice. It washed out the bottom of the layout so you can't tell that the cardstock is the same color as the strip above (Sweet Leaf), so you'll have to imagine that, please. Okay, enough said. Just enjoy the view.



Recipe:
Friendship Large Alphabet, Hodgepodge Alphabet, Boutique Borders & Starstruck stamp sets
Emporium Level 2 papers
Sweet Leaf, Crystal Blue & Colonial White cardstock
Vineyard Berry, Desert Sand, Sweet Leaf, Cocoa, Crystal Blue & Bamboo ink
Cocoa grosgrain ribbon
Basic & Winter craft buttons
Embroidery floss
Foam Squares

More PCC Layouts!

I had too much data for one e-mail, so here’s the rest. Just in case you can't see it, here is a snippet of journaling from my "Fiji" layout. I had written this down but totally forgotten about it until I pulled out my vacation journal, and here was this cute story: "At the Fiji show, Adrian made friends with a 2 ½ year old girl who also collects rocks. They sat on a bench together and she put rocks in his pocket while he studiously avoided looking at her. It was hilarious!" It really pays to write those memories down when they are fresh, because it gets harder to recall them the older we get! For the "Fun" layout, I traced the card that came in the "Everyday Celebration" card kit that is the CTMH special for National Scrapbooking Month, and I used it for a journaling space. I've been dying to do that ever since I got my kit, and I finally got the chance. Isn’t it funny what makes a scrapbooker happy?!

Fiji:

Recipe:
Connections & Boutique Borders stamp sets
Free Spirit Level 2 papers
Cocoa, Indian Corn Blue, Goldrush & White Daisy cardstock
Cocoa, Indian Corn Blue & Autumn Terracotta ink
Dimensional Elements Monograms "F", "I", "J"
Pewter brads
Foam Squares

Family Fun:

Recipe:
Chocolate Alphabet Large, Extreme Happiness & Celebrate the Everyday stamp sets
Moon Doggie Level 2 papers
Cranberry, Desert Sand & Colonial White cardstock
Cranberry, Desert Sand, Carden Green, Bamboo, Hydrangea & Petal ink
Desert Sand marker
Ribbon slide

Polynesian Cultural Center Layouts

I'm back with a few more Hawaii layouts, this time featuring pictures we took at the Polynesian Cultural Center. I used several pocket pages, which I usually don't show on my blog because they are just pictures, but I decided to post them this time since I actually did some decorative titles and journaling. In case you didn't already figure it out, the Canoe Pageant pocket page continues onto the Marquesas pocket page, with the two top photos belonging to the canoe pageant. Too many photos, not enough space! I especially like my Marquesas layout because I made my own background paper (the diamonds) using cardstock, an embossing stylus, and sandpaper. I have done staight lines before using this technique, but never a diamond pattern. It took a bit of work, but I really like how it came out.

PCC Overview:

Recipe:
Postcard Travel Series, Playful Caps & Playful Lowercase Alphabet stamp sets
Moon Doggie Level 2 paper pack
Cranberry, Desert Sand, Indian Corn Blue & White Daisy cardstock
Cranberry, Chocolate & Indian Corn Blue ink

Canoe Pageant:

Recipe:
Picture Perfect, Boutique Borders stamp sets
Majestic Blue Level 2 papers
Bamboo & White Daisy cardstock
Cranberry & Outdoor Denim ink

Marquesas:



Recipe:
B&T Combo paper pack (discontinued)
Charm Uppercase Alphabet, Charm Lowercase Alphabet, With Love, Picture Perfect & Boutique Borders stamp sets
Bamboo & Cocoa cardstock
Ocean, Cocoa & Versamark ink
White embossing powder
Metal-rimmed flower tag
Chocolate brads
Natural Hemp
Heat gun
Sandpaper
Embossing stylus
Scallop scissors (CM)

Birthday Party Layout

Taking a break for the day from Hawaii layouts, so I can post this layout I created for fellow CTMH consultant Helen Onulak's weekly challenge using CTMH How-to book patterns. This week, she asked us to create a layout using the following Reflections patterns: Sidebar - Journaling (p.45) and Half & Half - Balanced (p. 89). I actually switched the order of the two pages, and rotated Sidebar 90 degrees so it would fit with my pictures. I didn't post it with photos because I forgot to go to Costco and pick up the photos that are supposed to be on this layout. Silly me! I plan to add the photos tomorrow, but I wanted to get this posted before the end of the challenge. I was so excited to get "It's Your Day," the monthly stamp from CTMH - love that birthday theme! It went perfectly with these pages celebrating the first birthday of a friend's little boy.




Recipe:
It's Your Day, Boutique Borders, Field Trip Alphabet & Classmate Alphabet
Animal Cookies Creative Basics papers
Dutch Blue, Sweet Leaf, Honey & White Daisy cardstock
Dutch Blue, Sweet Leaf, Honey & Tulip ink
White Daisy Ric-rac
Tulip Brads
Foam Squares