LOAD #19 - Jedi Knight Training

For this layout of my son's birthday party last year, I started with a sketch from Let's Scrap (from 12/28/11). One of the options for the sketch was to add six extra photos by including a fold-out on the right hand page, which I did by adding a 6" x 12" Flip-Flap. Sorry, I won't be showing you the other photos, so just picture kids fighting with light sabers and completing an obstacle course like Luke Skywalker on Dagobah (minus the swamp). I included the invitation I had designed using clip art and the Star Jedi font. I also used the Star Jedi font to cut out my title on my Wishblade. I liked the banner theme on the left page of the sketch, so I decided to add a banner to the right page as well, and I embossed the letters onto it, which qualifies for the Heart 2 Heart embossing challenge for this week. And since this is a layout about celebrating Elliot's birthday, it also qualifies for the "Let's Celebrate" variety challenge (SBVC174) from Split Coast Stampers.

Recipe:
Hodgepodge Alphabet stamp set
You Rock Level 2 papers
Olive, Goldrush & Outdoor Denim cardstock
Outdoor Denim, Goldrush & Versamark ink
Autumn Terracotta embroidery floss
White Daisy brads
Clear photo corners (Pioneer)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: banner
Pattern: Let's Scrap 12-28-11

LOAD #18 + EMS Sketch Challenge 36 - Karate Party

This must be sketch week, because I needed a sketch that fit 10 photos in certain sizes, and I couldn't find one I liked, so I made one up. The photos are from someone's else's child's birthday, so I won't add my journaling until after I've posted this. Hope you like the sketch, and let me know if you use it!

The Sketch:

My Layout:

Recipe:

Stardust Level 2 papers
Black, Moonstruck & White Daisy cardstock
Black & Moonstruck ink
Karate stickers (Sandylion)
Royal Blue ric-rac (JoAnn's)
Wishblade: title using Mistral font

LOAD #17 - Bikes

Here's another layout using the Heart 2 Heart sketch for March. You can see the sketch here. I omitted the heart from the original sketch and substituted a circle border instead. The pennants are supposed to lie in a nice smooth arc, but they got a little tweaked when I scanned the layout, and I didn't feel like re-scanning!

Recipe:
Pennant Alphabet stamp set
Good Times Level 2 papers & My Stickease
Colonial White, Twilight, Chocolate & Sweet Leaf cardstock
Twilight, Chocolate, Buttercup & Versamark ink
Chocolate marker
White embossing powder
Chocolate embroidery floss
Silver brads
Silver Stickles
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: pennants & circle border

LOAD #16 - Riding

I wanted to have a train track on this page somehow, and when I saw this sketch from Split Coast Stampers, I knew it would work just right. The hardest part was figuring out how to cut the curve in my photos and paper, but once I had that under control, the rest of the layout fell into place easily.

Recipe:
Blue Ribbon stamp set
Rustic Trail Level 2 papers
Olive, Chocolate & Colonial White cardstock
Black, Chocolate & Bamboo ink
Chocolate marker
Antique Copper brad
3-D foam tape
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title letters

LOAD #15 + EMS Sketch Challenge 35 - Traveltown

I haven't done a personal sketch challenge for a while, so here's my latest sketch creation. I changed it up a little after I designed the original sketch: I put an embellishment where I had originally intended the journaling to go, and I replaced one of my photos with journaling. It's kind of fun to see how a layout takes on a life of its own, even when I'm using my own sketch! As always, please let me know if you use the sketch so I can admire your interpretation.

The Sketch:

My Layout:

Recipe:
Newsprint Alphabet stamp set (Stampin' Up)
Silhouette Level 2 papers
Black, Barn Red & Bamboo cardstock
Black marker
Pewter mini brads and Bigger Brads
Train & car die-cuts (from my stash, source unknown)
White watercolor Pencil (Prismacolor)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title shape

LOAD #14 - Jump

Super simple layout using only paper and cork letters. I used Sketch Support 1 Page Sketch #15.

Recipe:
Animal Cookies Level 2 papers
Tulip, Desert Sand, Chocolate & White Daisy cardstock
Chocolate ink
Chocolate marker
Cork letters

LOAD #13 - Deja Zoo

I was scrapping with friends yesterday and commented that I didn't really have anything new or interesting to say about these photos of our zillionth trip to the zoo. The other ladies sympathized, and one mentioned it was like deja vu. That led me to the title, Deja Zoo! I free-handed the title letters and added the sub-title using stickers. I used a (slightly adapted) sketch from the Let's Scrap blog.

Recipe:
It's a Guy Thing Level 2 paper & My Stickease
Desert Sand & New England Ivy cardstock
Cocoa ink
Cocoa marker
Twill ribbon
Staples

LOAD #12 - 2 Tired 4 Words

Happy Saint Patrick's Day, everyone! I've fallen a bit behind on my LOAD challenge, but am determined to get caught up today. Here's my first layout. This week's inspiration challenge at Split Coast Stampers was to browse the Celtic Shamrock site and be inspired by something there. As soon as I saw this cute patchwork kitty, I knew what I wanted to do! I went through my paper packs and cut out a bunch of 1" squares. I was able to use lots of scraps, and it was fun that all the different shades of green actually look okay together. Instead of using regular Grey Wool cardstock for my accent color, I used White Daisy textured cardstock and brayered it with Greg Wool ink, trying to mimic the texture of the van's seat cushions. I also added a few Foundry Pin Clips to look like the cat's whiskers. The title was cut out on my Wishblade.

Recipe:
Intrinsic Backgrounds stamp set
Animal Cookies, Believe, Boom-Di-Ada, Elemental, Emporium, Evensong & Tinkerin'  Level 2 papers
Colonial White, Clover Meadow & Kraft cardstock
White Daisy textured cardstock
Grey Wool, Clover Meadow & Desert Sand ink
Chocolate marker
Twill ribbon
Pewter mini brads
Pattern: Abracadabra from Magic

Heart 2 Heart Sketch Challenge 14

Who is ready for another sketch? This month's single page sketch features one 4" x 6" photo, four smaller photos, and even some white space. I know, I'm still not very good with the white space but I'm working on it! To help you out as you plan your page, here are some paper dimensions: the large piece of B&T is 7" x 10", and it is placed 1/2" from the top and left sides of your base paper. All the smaller strips are 1.5' wide, and the circles are 4.25" and 3". As always, adapt the sketch to meet your needs, have fun, and please share your finished layout with us by posting a link on the Heart 2 Heart Challenge Blog!

The Sketch:

My Layout:

Recipe:
Dreaming Level 2 papers
Bamboo, Pacifica & Chocolate cardstock
Chocolate ink
Chocolate marker
Chocolate flowers (from the Chocolate Shades Mini Medley pack)
Bamboo brads
Cricut AP cartridge: Hearts

LOAD #11 - Oceans Pacific

Today's layout is another one I pre-designed in Studio J and copied using items from my stash. One of my blog readers asked me to elaborate on how I do the Studio J layout first and then recreate the layout, so here goes. If you're not interested, feel free to skip right down to today's layout! First, let me mention that I use Close to My Heart products almost exclusively. If you are using other products, Studio J is not so helpful as a design tool. I log onto Studio J, pick a pattern based on the number of photos I want to scrap, and then scroll through all the paper packs until I find one that I think coordinates well and that I know I have at least a portion of the pack on hand. The people at CTMH have already put together six paper combos based on the pattern I've chosen, and I select the one that best showcases my photos. At that point, I also verify that I have enough of the particular papers they use, so I can recreate the layout using traditional methods. I then drag my photos into the suggested photo wells, decide if I like the layout as is or if it needs to be rotated or any papers switched out. There are also suggested embellishments and title and journaling areas I can test-run. Basically, I end up with a completed layout that only took me a short time to design, I haven't spent any money, and I can order my photos and start scrapping, knowing that my end product will be something I really like. You could do this in other programs (like Photoshop Elements), but it would be a lot more work because you would have to scan all your papers and embellishments in order to test them out. My husband doesn't get this; he thinks it adds a lot more time to the process, but I love seeing the full picture before I even cut into my papers, plus the CTMH designers are so clever that I get great ideas from seeing what they came up with. It's like the ultimate in scrap-lifting!

Recipe:
The Works Alphabet & Live inspired stamp sets
Majestic Blue Level 2 papers
Desert Sand, Outdoor Denim, Chocolate & Crystal Blue cardstock
Outdoor Denim & Chocolate ink
Outdoor Denim marker
Chocolate grosgrain ribbon
Outdoor Denim spiral clips
Craft buttons
White Daisy embroidery floss
Pattern: Conclusion Combo from Imagine