EMS Sketch Challenge 41 - First Haircut

I needed a design for these photos I was scrapping for my son's baby book, so I whipped up a new sketch. I omitted the side-pieces on my layout and put a border along the bottom of the pages, so don't feel you have to follow the design to a "t". I also added a Flip-Flap to hold two more photos, so there are lots of possibilities for using the sketch. Get creative, and don't forget to let me know what you did with it!

The sketch:

 

My layout:

Recipe:
Hodgepodge Alphabet & Journaling Jots stamp sets
Desert Sand, Cranberry, Goldrush, Moonstruck, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Goldrush, Moonstruck & Black ink
Black marker
Silver brads & Bitty Brad
Cricut Artiste cartridge: scissors, comb, silhouette, border

SCS Variety Challenge 183 - I Love My Tongue

Anyone up for a challenge? Here's the first Splitcoast Stampers Variety Challenge of the month! We would love to have you play along using the link below.

SBVC183 Give It Some Heart
Valentine’s Day is today, so I couldn’t resist a love-themed challenge! For each letter in the word heart, come up with one product that starts with the same letter and include it on your layout. You can use additional supplies, of course, but you must use at least one product for each letter. I’ve given you a list to get you started, but feel free to come up with other ideas. Think colors, shapes, embellishments, etc. Bonus points for using one of the challenges from this past week’s Virtual Scrapbook Night on your layout as well.

H – hearts, hangers, hidden journaling
E – envelope, eyelets, embroidery floss, embossing
A – arrows, accordion folds
R – red, ribbon
T – tag, tab, title, transparency

My layout uses hearts, embossing, an arrow, ribbon, and a tag, plus I used a VSBN sketch challenge. Let's see what you can do!

Recipe:
Trinity Alphabet stamp set
Caprice Level 2 papers
Bamboo, Chocolate, Crystal Blue, Honey  & Desert Sand cardstock
Chocolate, Crystal Blue, Honey & Desert Sand ink
Chocolate marker
Chocolate grosgrain ribbon
3-D foam tape
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: hearts, arrow, tag
Pattern: MFT Sketch
Other Challenges I included: Heart 2 Heart's Love Is in the Air
Creative Belli's Valentines or Hearts

Lil' Fishes Layout

I've gotten a lot done for Virtual Scrapbook Night this weekend at Splitcoast Stampers. Here's another layout, this time for the Patterned Papers challenge. Joyce Ann asked us to combine at least three patterned papers. I really lucked out there, since CTMH creates such beautiful paper packs with coordinating paper and I just had to choose one of those packs.

Recipe:
Dotty for You Level 2 papers
Grey Wool, Buttercup & White Daisy cardstock
Buttercup & Lagoon ink
Black marker
Irresistibles Lots of Dots
Clear craft buttons
Liquid Glass
Pattern: Heart 2 Heart Sketch Challenge 10

Colorado Layout

I'm hosting one of the challenges for Virtual Scrapbook Night (VSBN) over on Splitcoast Stampers, so I decided to use a previous variety challenge, Consider the Cardstock. I embossed my cardstock, punched holes to create a pattern, layered strips for a wave effect, die-cut the title, and stamped on a piece to create a sub-title. Hope you can hop on over to SCS and join in the fun on this and all the other challenges!

Recipe:
Capture the Date stamp set
Juniper, Topiary, Olive, Sweet Leaf & Champagne cardstock
Juniper, Topiary & Olive ink
Olive marker
Spring Blossom Just Blooms
Craft buttons
Olive & White baker's twine
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title letters
Pattern: Illusion from Magic

Gifts for . . . Layout

Splitcoast Stampers is having a virtual scrapbook night (VSBN) this weekend, but they decided to get the party started early by posting one challenge last weekend. I finally got a chance to play along today by creating this layout. Want to join in the fun? Check out the VSBN Forum here!

Recipe:
Glamour Lowercase Alphabet & Welcome Baby stamp sets
Simple Sets  - Sassy (SEI)
Blush & White Daisy cardstock
Cotton Candy, Blush & Vineyard Berry ink
Pink grosgrain ribbon (Michaels)

Jr. Ranger Badge Layout

In January, I applied to be part of the design team for the Nuts About Sketches blog. I'm bummed I didn't make it, but on the bright side, at least I got another layout completed, and here it is!

Recipe:
A Typeface & Noted Backgrounds stamp sets
Dreamin' Level 2 papers
Chocolate, Goldrush, Bamboo, Crystal Blue, Pacifica, Honey & Colonial White cardstock
Chocolate, Goldrush & Pacifica ink
Chocolate & Goldrush markers
Natural hemp
Chocolate brad & Bigger Brad
Pattern: Nuts About Sketches blog
Cricut Artiste cartridge: badge, title, flower
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: butterfly
Leaf punch (Family Treasures)

Baby Shower for 2 Layout

I am so glad I didn't get around to scrapbooking these photos last year, because they go perfectly with the brand new Chantilly papers! The coordinating patterned chipboard features two adorable umbrellas, just the right touch for a baby shower. I can't wait to use more of this paper on my remaining pictures from the shower. To check out these and other new products, please click on the Idea Book image on my sidebar. For the title, I went old school and stamped then cut out the letters. Lots of work but I love the font, so it was worth it. The Cotton Candy ink blends into the background so it's a little hard to see it in my scan, but it looks great in real life. Just a word on the Chantilly chipboard: I highly recommend purchasing the Finishing Files (#Z1091, $5.95) so you can smooth off the perforations left over when you punch out the chipboard pieces. You'll end up with a much cleaner looking edge, and the files are much better than sandpaper for getting into the hard-to-reach areas.

Recipe:
Keepsake Alphabet stamp set
Chantilly Level 2 papers
Chantilly Chipboard Complements
Buttercup & White Daisy cardstock
Cotton Candy & Pear ink
Twilight marker
Pattern: Nuts About Sketches

Rock Climbers Layout

The design team challenge from Let's Scrap is to create a monochromatic layout with one added color. Since this layout is mostly neutrals with the pop of blue, does it qualify? Hmmm . . . My favorite part is the title; I cut out the letters on my Cricut, sponged them with grey ink to make them look like rock, and popped them up to give more dimension. For a closer look, click on the photo.

Recipe:
True Happiness & Journaling Jots stamp sets
Black, White Daisy & Sky cardstock
Grey Wool & Sky ink
Black marker
Paper-clip
3-D foam tape
Pattern: Let's Scrap 1-11-12 sketch
Cricut Artist cartridge: notepaper, title

For Always Soar Card

I've been busy creating cards for an upcoming workshop using the soon-to-be-released paper pack, For Always. It's a lovely black and white collection to which you can add any color that strikes your fancy. I decided to go with Smokey Plum so that I could play along with this week's Color My Heart challenge to use black and white with a pop of color. I used the current Mojo Monday sketch, but tweaked it a little as inspiration struck. Hope you like it!

The Sketch:

My Card:

Recipe:
Live Out Loud stamp set
For Always Level 2 papers
Smokey Plum, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Smokey Plum & Black ink
Color-Ready Seam Binding ribbon
Pearl Opaques
Pattern: Mojo Monday 277
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: shaped square
Cricut Artiste cartridge: butterfly

SCS Variety Challenge 182 - Paint by the Numbers

Can you believe it's already the 4th Wednesday of the month? That means another Variety Challenge for Splitcoast Stampers. Please visit SCS (using the link below) if you would like to play along.

SBVC182 Paint by the Numbers
When I was a kid, I loved those paint by the numbers pictures. Your challenge this week is to pull out the paints and do some painting on your layout. It could be edging your photos, creating a background using dots of paint, decorating a chipboard title, etc. And for the "by the numbers" part, make sure you have a number somewhere on your page.

I painted the title and around the edges of my layout. First, I traced the number and letters using an old set of stencils I had, and then I carefully filled them in using a fine-tip paint brush. Finally, I added some highlights using a white gel pen. The end result isn't as polished as stamping or using my Cricut, but the process was fun, and shouldn't that be a big part of what scrapbooking is all about?

Recipe:
Limited Edition & Cherish the Day stamp sets
Black, Kraft, Cashmere & Colonial White cardstock
Chocolate & Barn Red ink
Black marker
White gel pen (Marvy)
Raw Sienna acrylic paint (Golden Artist Colors, Inc.)
Black ribbon & brads (old Connections Club Reward)
3-D foam tape
ABC Tracers Alphabet Templates (EK Success)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped circle, tickets, arrows
Pattern: Best of Becky Higgins Sketches p.111