Beauchamp Tower Layout

We took these photos at the Tower of London, and I tried to recreate an aerial view of this section of the Tower at the bottom of the layout. Not too sure how successful I was, but as i always say, at least the photos are scrapped for posterity!

Recipe:
Background Elements & Ink the Background stamp sets
Dutch Blue, Clover, Toffee, Slate, Almond & White Daisy cardstock
Dutch Blue, Clover Meadow, Slate & Toffee ink
Burnt Sienna fineliner pen (iBayam)
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Color Kaleidoscope stickers (American Crafts)
Spray pen
Circle Double Stitched Steel die (Art Impressions
Cricut Wall Decor & More cartridge: compass
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: treetop
Cricut Design Space: title
Pattern: Sketches In Thyme #639

Bolt Up! Layout

My hubby is a huge Chargers' fan, so he loves going to their training camp, and in 2017, his brother and his nephew were able to attend along with our youngest son. To scrap these photos, I pulled out some cardstock, stickers, and stamp sets (no patterned paper), plus I used my Cricut to create the curved lightning bolt for the Chargers' logo. I had to watch a tutorial to remember how to do the journaling using my Cricut and pen, but I think it was worth the time it took to figure it out. Although I don't care much for football myself, this layout was a labor of love for my sweetie!

Recipe:
In the Backgrounds, Background Elements & Distressed Backgrounds stamp sets
Carolina, Bluebird, Goldrush & Honey cardstock
Carolina, Goldrush & Honey ink
Black marker
Stardust My Stickease cardstock stickers
Cricut Design Space: journaling using Quinn Type & lightning bolt (imported)
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: football helmet, stars
Challenges: Craft Rocket #115 No designer paper (I used stamps to create the stripes on the top and bottom of the LO and to add some interest to the Goldrush cardstock); Double D Challenges - Reach for the Stars (stars on border stickers + die cut stars)

Cascade Canyon Layout

For my final train trip layout, CTMH's Snowhaven paper seemed like a perfect fit, and I was excited for Heart 2 Heart's Cold Hands, Warm Heart challenge because it gave me a chance to use the cute mittens die-cut from the Cricut Artistry cartridge! My journaling reflects how cold it was at Cascade Canyon, but we were able to warm up by doing some things as a family.

Recipe:
Charm Uppercase, Charm Lowercase, Whooo's Your Valentine & In the Background stamp sets
Snowhaven Level 2 papers
Whisper, Cranberry, Crystal Blue, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Whisper, Cranberry, Crystal Blue & Black ink
Black marker
Slate polka dot washi tape
Cranberry organdy ribbon
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tag, journal box, hearts
Cricut Artistry cartridge: mittens, snowflakes, scalloped border
Mini heart & snowflake punches (EK Success)
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge 30
Challenges: Lasting Memories ribbon, washi tape, or paper strips challenge (I used one piece of ribbon, three strips of washi, and I picked a paper that looks like paper strips, so you could say I used all three!); Bitten By the Bug 2 Snow Much Fun challenge

With the Dawn Layout

December has been the month of double page sketches for me, since this is the senocd one I have created and posted for Splitcoast Stampers. Feel free to play along! For my sample layout, I had no idea what title to use  (I've probably used "Christmas Morning" and "Opening Presents" each several times!), but the Music Challenge over at Scrapbook.com came to my rescue. Amanda challenged us to use lyrics from "Silent Night" as inspiration for our layout, and I found the words "with the dawn" in the second verse. Although my layout has nothing to do with Jesus' birth, the phrase seemed to reflect my children's propensity for rising at dawn on Christmas morning. Can anyone relate?

The sketch:

My layout:

Recipe:
In the Background & Spot On Backgrounds stamp sets
Jingle & Key to My Heart Level 2 papers
Tulip, Juniper, Olive & Creme Brulee cardstock
White Daisy textured cardstock
Tulip, Juniper, Olive & Creme Brulee ink
Black marker
Animal Cookies My Stickease
White enamel star
Green Epoxy bubbles
White Daisy embroidery floss
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: stocking, presents, ticket
Cricut Artistry cartridge: title, tree, arrow
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: sun
Challenges: Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge Christmas (this is a new challenge site for me, and I'm excited to participate in more challenges in 2017!)

Got Milk? Layout

I loved these pictures of my boys scarfing down Oreos, but I had the hardest time figuring out how to scrap them. Finally, with the help of a few challenges, I came up with an idea and ran with it! Thanks to Lasting Memories for their Black Tie Affair challenge (I went with lots of black); Sketch-n-Scrap for their Throwback Thursday Sketch #3; Heart to Heart for their Fern color challenge (inspired me to use my Fern paper and ink pad for the first time) and Scrapbook Challenges for their Chevron challenge.

Recipe:
In the Background, Washi Wonder & A Chocolate Affair stamp sets
Enchantment Paper Fundamentals: Fern
Black, Fern, Desert Sand & White Daisy cardstock
Black & Fern ink
White gel pen (Sakura)
Black gingham ribbon
Black brad & button brad
Cricut Artiste cartridge: title
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: large heart, tag
Heart punch (EK Success)

SCS October Sketch + Elliot Layout

In between helping the kids clean their rooms, taking them to the dentist, and getting them haircuts, I managed to finish a layout for the Splitcoast Stampers' sketch I created earlier this week. I wanted something bold and bright to go with my son's personality, but I didn't want to overwhelm the photos, so this sketch provided a nice compromise: bold patterned paper around the edge of the layout but a single color cardstock in the center to back the photos. Feel free to play along with the sketch and post a link in the comments below so I can check it out!

The sketch:

My layout:

Recipe:
In the Background, Diverse Backgrounds & Spot On Backgrounds stamp sets
Free to Be Me level 2 papers
Red & Mint embossed cardstock
Creme Brulee, Flaxen, Glacier, Key Lime & Versamark ink
Black marker
Clear embossing powder
Irresistibles Frames & DE Signage chipboard
Nutmeg Memories chipboard (MME)
Juniper craft buttons
Cricut Artiste cartridge: title
Pattern: Splitcoast Stampers Sketch15Oct1
Challenges: Picture This October 1 challenge - 3 photos + chipboard + stamps (I stamped three chipboard pieces with Versamark ink and then used clear embossing ink to create a resist pattern - can you tell which ones?); Splitcoast Stampers Stash Buster's October week 1 challenge (I used patterned paper as my base, buttons & chipboard)

California Science Center Layout

I couldn't find any patterned paper that I felt really went with this layout, so I decided to create some of my own by inking up two stamp sets in two different colors and stamping on cardstock. I really have tons of patterned paper, so I prefer to use that, but in a pinch, this technique works to create just the right complement to a layout. You could do the same thing with embossing folders as long as you have big enough folders for the cardstock you want to emboss.

Recipe:
Tiny Typewriter Alphabet, Authentic, Geometric Backgrounds & In the Background stamps sets
Black, Barn Red, Whisper & White Daisy cardstock
Black, Barn Red, Whisper & Star Spangled Blue ink
Black marker
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: title, stars, border, "On This Day" acccent
Pattern: EMS Sketch 31

Ink & Die Backgrounds Tutorial - Floral Beauty Layout

Welcome to my second challenge for Virtual Scrapbook Night over at Splitcoast Stampers. The fun is going on all week, so be sure to join us to learn some new techniques or re-discover one you haven't tried in a while.

Tech VSBN 06
1. For this technique, you will need stamping ink, a sponge, cardstock, and the die-cut of your choice.

2. Decide where on your cardstock you want to create a background. You can either create a background using your whole piece of cardstock, or you can pick a smaller section or two that you want to use. Using a pencil, I lightly marked the section of cardstock that I wanted to use to insure that I got good coverage. Once you've decided, place the die-cut on your cardstock, ink up your sponge, and start sponging around the die-cut.

3. When you've inked around the die-cut, move it to another, overlapping spot and ink around it again. Repeat the process until you've completely covered the section of cardstock you wanted. Notice that some areas will be darker and others lighter based on how much they are covered by the die-cut.

 

4. Remove the die-cut, take a moment to admire what you've done, then pull out whatever other stamps or embellishments you want to finish the look. You can even use your very-inky die-cut as an embellishment!

And here's my sample layout with all the pictures and embellishments added. I think you can tell the three rectangles of cardstock on which I used this technique. Hope you come play along with this challenge so I can see your beautiful layouts!

Recipe:
In the Background, Distressed Backgrounds, Universal Backgrounds, Felicity & Baroque Borders stamp sets
Ruby, Sweet Leaf, Desert Sand, Buttercup, Smokey Plum, Gypsy & White Daisy cardstock
Ruby, Sweet Leaf, Desert Sand, Creme Brulee Twilight, Sky & Smokey Plum ink
Black marker
Sweet Leaf Craft button
Window charms (JoAnn's Scrap Essentials)
Liquid Glass
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: flowers, flourish, butterfly
Pattern: Allison Davis August 1 sketch for Simple Stories