Buzz & Bumble Happy Birthday Card

I've been working on a card workshop for the Buzz & Bumble papers, so here's a birthday card that showcases three of the patterns yet leaves some white space. I think I was inspired by a sketch I saw online but for the life of me, I can't remember where. If you recognize this design, please let me know!

Recipe:
Just a Number & Jubilation stamp sets
Buzz & Bumble Level 2 papers
Cashmere, Sunset, Goldrush, Sweet Leaf & Colonial White cardstock
Cocoa, Goldrush & Sweet Leaf ink
Cocoa grosgrain ribbon
3-D foam tape
Cricut Artiste cartridge: banners, flower, flourish

Buzz & Bumble Kindness Card

Annabelle Stamps had a fun card sketch to play with this week, so I thought I'd see what I could do with it! The seeds stamp from the Buzz & Bumble stamp set is just perfect for embossing and coloring, but I had to search a bit for a sentiment I liked to accompany it. Hopefully, I hit on the right combination.

Recipe:
Buzz & Bumble & A Little Thanks stamp sets
Buzz & Bumble Level 2 papers
Colonial White & Goldrush cardstock
Cocoa, Goldrush & Honey ink
Cocoa pigment ink
Cocoa, Sweet Leaf, Goldrush & Honey markers
Colonial White grosgrain ribbon
Burlap ribbon
Embossing powder

SCS Variety Challenge 192 - One of Those Days

Who needs some inspiration to get your scrapping going today? Well, it's time for another variety challenge for Splitcoast Stampers, so come join in the fun and play along using the link below! 

New Lamps for Old
In the original Aladdin story, Aladdin's bride unknowingly exchanges the old magic lamp for a shiny new one. After all, who wouldn't rather have something new in place of the old? My challenge to you today is to pull our some old treasures from your stash (at least five items that are over a year old) and scrap them in order to make room for the new stuff you probably want to buy!

I don't think my layout has any products that are less than a year old, except maybe the cardstock and baker's twine. Hope you have as much fun using up your stash as I did!

Recipe:
Tiny Typewriter Alphabet, Star Power & Victory stamp sets
Newsprint Alphabet stamp set (Stampin' Up)
Superhero Level 2 papers
Sky & Kraft cardstock
Chocolate, Moonstruck & Sky ink
Cranberry baker's twine
Cranberry grograin ribbon
Cranberry & Chocolate stripe ribbon
Milepost Shapes - stars & circle
"Family" ribbon slide
Cranberry photo anchors & brads
Decor Journaling Spot - Cranberry
Spring Blossom Just Blooms
Outdoor Denim craft button
Pattern:Sketch 'n Scrap Sketch 36
Challenges: Fabulous Friday challenge - use ribbon, twine, or washi tape; Scrap It Girl - red, white, and blue; SCS Inspiration Challenge - Sport Your Colors Proudly

My Star Layout

I almost never use a Let's Scrap sketch the same week it's posted, but this time I got my act together and so here's my layout based on this week's sketch! I adapted it for the pictures I had, but I loved the little banners and the blocks of paper across the page, so I focused on those elements of the design. I also got to use some of the paper pack I received from CTMH when I first became a consultant 5 years ago, so that was exciting! (I still have more, but I'm happy to use up a little bit.)

Recipe:
You & Me stamp set
Good Times Level 2 papers & My Stickease
Sweet Leaf & Sky cardstock
Chocolate & Sky ink
Hodge Podge Color-Ready Alphabet stickers
Silver star brads (from my stash)
Pattern: Let's Scrap 7-3-13 sketch
Cricut Artiste cartridge: pennants
Challenges: Creative Belli star challenge & 2 Broke Girls Sprinkles challenge - use stars, stripes, gold or silver.

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.

June Sketch Winner!

It was so hard for me to pick a winner for last month's sketch since they were all winners to me, but I finally decided on Caroline's darling ice cream layout. After all, who can resist ice cream? I loved her creative title and the sweet ice cream cones, as well as the funny pictures of her family not smiling! To see the rest of the layout and the details for how she created it, please visit her blog. Thanks to all who played along. Don't forget you have until July 31 to create and post a layout for the current sketch.

EMS Sketch Challenge 46 - Wave Dancers

It's time for another sketch challenge! Who wants to play? You have the whole month to complete a layout based on the sketch, then post your layout online and link your post to this post. On the 5th of next month, I will post the "winner" of this month's sketch, and that layout will be featured on my blog. Can't wait to see what all you creative people do with the sketch!

The sketch:

My layout:

Recipe:
Swirl Stroke Caps, Swirl Stroke Lowercase & Surf's Up WOTG  stamp sets
Surf's Up Level 2 Papers & Assortment
Crystal Blue cardstock
Ponderosa Pine, Crystal Blue & Saddle ink
Ponderosa Pine marker
Sorbet ribbon

Please link your completed layout here by 7/31/13 at 11:59 pm PST!

Way to Go Layout

My last layout of the month, and it helps me finish up my son Adrian's third grade career. We were so proud of Adrian for earning an academic achievement award; little did we know that two years later, he would receive the presidential award, too!

Recipe:
Typeset Level 2 papers & canvas stickers
Kraft, Barn Red & Colonial White cardstock
Barn Red & Cocoa ink
Cocoa marker
Round Durables Studs - Antiqued Gold
Cricut Artiste cartridge: rosette
Pattern: Let's Scrap 9-29-10 Sketch
Challenges: 2 Broke Girls Useless Calories Challenge: accordian folding

Checklist Layout

I'm plowing through my older son's school album, trying to get it up to date before he starts 6th grade in the fall. Here's another layout I just finished, featuring his 3rd grade portrait. Color My Heart's color dare for the week is to use Pacifica, Cranberry, and White Daisy (probably because July 4th is just around the corner), and Adrian's shirt went really well with the Pacifica part, so I focused on that and used the Cranberry as an accent color. I also finally got a chance to play along with the Heart 2 Heart Tool Time challenge; I used a different slant on it and journaled about the tools Adrian already had within to succeed in 3rd grade. Finally, I added a piece of striped paper so I could play along with the Stampin' Royalty stripes challenge this week.

Recipe:
Checklist stamp set
Elemental & Dakota Level 2 papers
Pacifica & White Daisy cardstock
Cranberry & Black markers
Elemental Complements chipboard
3-D foam tape
Cricut Artiste cartridge: scalloped borders
Pattern: Title Topper - Photos from Reflections

SCS Variety Challenge 191 - 21 Laps

Time for another stimulating variety challenge for Splitcoast Stampers, so come join in the fun and play along using the link below!

SBVC191 - Ombre
One of the hot new trends in scrapbooking is called ombre. The dictionary defines ombre as "having colors or tones that shade into each other — used especially of fabrics in which the color is graduated from light to dark." This week's challenge is to create a layout that uses the ombre technique. You can do it using strips of paper, stamps,markers, even digital effects.  Have fun and let us see what you can do!

For my layout, I used strips of progressively darker yellow patterned paper to create the background piece on the right hand page. I also did a little bit of ombre with the blue strips on each page.

Recipe:
Authentic, Kudos, Love Life, Make It Count & My Game stamp sets
Chantilly, Dotty for You, Grace, Clementine, Key to My Heart, Animal Cookies, Magic Moments & Free Spirit Level 2 papers
Goldrush, Sky, Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim & White Daisy cardstock
Buttercup, Creme Brulee, Sunflower, Honey, Goldrush, Sky, Indian Corn Blue & Outdoor Denim ink
Outdoor Denim craft buttons
Creme Brulee baker's twine
3-D foam tape
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title, stars
Pattern: EMS Sketch 44
Challenges: 2 Broke Girls "A Pinch of This and That" stash challenge