Advice Layout for my Graduate

My daughter is graduating high school this week, and I was lying in bed last night thinking how woefully unprepared she is to face the world as it is right now, so I got up and started writing out a few words of advice for her. At first, I thought I would just put them in her graduation card, but those things get thrown away after a while, and I wanted something that would last, so I pulled out a shadowbox that I had purchased in 2023 but never used, and got to work creating an advice layout for her. It came together relatively quickly, so here is the finished layout not in the box:

And here are some details, starting with the fun sparkly B (for Brianna) and the butterfly that I found in my embellishment box when I was looking for some pocket cards to journal on:

Next is the layout in the shadowwbox:

And the final photo shows how the butterfly is only fastened down in the middle, allowing his wings to brush the side of the box and overlap the B:

Recipe:
Watercolor paper (Recollections)
Sky Blue marker (Zig)
Bohemia pocket cards (MME)
Patchwork Journaling Card (Pretty Little Studio)
Everyday Moments pocket card (Scrapbook.com)
Hopscotch PML card
Home for the Holidays - Spring Butterfly die cut
Janice paper flowers (Little Birdie)
Challenges: Heart's Quest Celebration of Love Challenges #29 - I used the optional theme of graduation since these are my words of wisdom to my graduating senior; NBUS #86 - my never before used schtuff is the little pink flowers I just purchased; The Outlawz Anything But a Card; Inspiration Station #85 - I was planning to do this challenge by scrapping some graduation photos from my son in 5th grade, and I may still do that, but I really wanted to share this project because it's for my grad!

50s Day {Elliot} Layout

I wanted to get my son's elementary album finished back in March, but got distracted doing other things, so here at last is another layout for him. This was such a fun event for the kids, and I love the photos with the classic car! I didn't stay for the mixer, but apparently the kids had a blast there as well.

Recipe:

Fresh Paint papers

Candy Apple, Pebble, Flamingo,, Black & White cardstock

Capri ink

Black marker

Chunky Alphababies stickers (Making Memories)

Holiday Gathering stickers (CM)

Birdsong Bits ephemera (49 and Market)

Ruby Chevron ribbon

Cricut Design Space: classic car, poodle dress

Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #45

Challenges: Time Out Challenges #313 Playing Music -  perfect for the jukebox and musical notes in my photos; Colorful Options Black and white with pops of color (I think I did this but feel free to count it as a rainbow of colors if I have too many pops!)

Incredible Memories {Mother's Day 2019} Layout

One of the benefits of being so far behind on my scrapping is that I get to revisit photos that were taken when my kids were little, like this Mother's Day celebration in 2019. These feel extra precious because of what the next two Mother's Days would hold: the Covid pandemic of 2020 and the death of my youngest son the week before Mother's Day in 2021. As I was looking on Facebook for what I posted in 2019, I found the story about my middle son, who was going through a very difficult phase at the time, getting out of his sickbed to cut a rose from the garden for me, thus the Star wars themed quote I included. (I know the actual words Luke Skywalker said were slightly different, but I decided to use what I wrote on Facebook). No matter how difficult parenting gets, I have learned to treasure the sweet moments like these.

Recipe:
Background Elements stamp set
Belle Fleur papers (Photoplay)
Flamingo, Garden Green, Black & White cardstock
Flamingo, Garden Green & Black ink
Mars Black fineliner pen (iBayam)
Belle Fleur stickers (Photoplay)
Krafty Garden Essentials rub-on transfers (49 and Market)
Glitter Black enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: photo mat
Cricut Art {philosophy cartridge: scalloped borders
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #30

Challenges: Cut It Up #356 Flowers + must include a die-cut; Little Red Wagon #858 May Flowers; Love Those Pretty Papers Anything goes with lots of patterned paper; The Neglected Stuff Challenge - my neglected stuff is the floral paper pack that I have only used four times since I got it in 2020) Triple B  Anything goes including a bird, a bloom, and/or a butterfly (I used all three).

S'more Fun Layout for Lasting Memories #799

It's Sunday again, and that means that Maureen over at Lasting Memories has another fun tic tac toe board for us to play along with. I love this one because it's very versatile, with some squares being very feminine and others more neutral or even rustic! I chose to go with the middle row across for my layout: strips of paper + squares + twine. Can't wait to see what everyone else does with this board, so pop on over to Lasting Memories and check it out. Here's the board:

And here's my layout:

Recipe:

Summer Vibes papers
Candy Apple, Glacier, Lemonade, Toffee, Shortbread, Espresso, Mocha, Brown Bag, Black & White cardstock
Candy Apple & Glacier ink
Mars Black fineliner pen (iBayam)
Summer Vibes stickers
Color Kaleidoscope sticker - arrows (American Crafts)
Creme Brulee baker's twine
Lumberjack Plaid Distress Spritz (Ranger)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tag, yellow stars
Cricut Design Space: graham cracker, marshmallows, chocolate bar, title using BFC Night Kiss font
Pattern: Splitcoast Stampers Sketch15 May1

Challenges: A Cut Above Anything Goes including a die-cut;  As You Like It Challenges - Favorite sketch or layout (I love the sketch I used above because of the fun tilt and the fact I can get 4 photos on it and still have some room for embellishing); Let’s Craft and Create #231 Tag, You're It!;  Inkspirational Challenges #367 - inspired by the color palate of tan background with red, blue, yellow, green, orange and pink.

Car Show Layout

I decided a few years ago that I would just make elementary school albums for each of my kids, since there aren't tons of photos from middle and high school, so even though this event was a fundraiser at one of my kid's schools, I think I am going to put it in the family album. What do you all think? Do you seem to have an abundance of school related photos from your kids' younger years, and then it drops off sharply once they finish elementary school? Anyway, I was happy that my order from A Cherry on Top arrived this week so I could use the Carta Bella patterned papers and the Nuvo Drops on this layout, combined with some items that have been in my stash for years. Enjoy!

Recipe:
You're a Classic stamp set (CTMH)
Classic Car Show, Stripe Paint Job & Blast Soda Caps papers (Carta Bella)
Espresso, Sage & Sapphire cardstock (CTMH)
Prussian Blue & Mars Black fineliner pens (iBayam)
Silver gel pen (Sakura)
Hello Darlin' PML cards (CTMH)
Red Dot Essentials washi tape (Echo Park)
Autumn Red Nuvo Drops
Heart punch (EK Success)
Cricut Design Space: scalloped borders, banner, gears, title using Magneto font
Pattern: Dusty Attic Year of Sketches Week 39 - 2019 (from Facebook)

Challenges: A Cut Above Anything Goes with a die cut; Double Trouble Challenge #216 Recipe - used 3+ layers & 2 shapes (heart, gears) & 1 image (stamped car), plus included the optional twist of wheels or gears;  NBUS Challenge #86 My never before used stuff is all the patterned papers and the Nuvo Drops; Paper Rocks Scissors #16 - used scissors to fussy cut the stamped car; Unicorn Challenge Blog #120 Something New - the Carta Bella patterned papers and the Nuvo Drops.

You're Sew Thoughtful Card

I managed to crank out two totally different cards today because I needed to thank two moms who helped drive my daughter to softball practices and games a lot this season. This card has a very girly vibe, but I think the recipient will like it.

Recipe:
Puns of Praise stamp set
Lollydoodle papers
Juniper, Cotton Candy, Pear & White cardstock
Juniper, Cotton Candy & Pear ink
Black marker
White gel pen (Sakura)
Silver metallic pen (Staedtler)
Bubblegum Heart puffy shapes (Doodlebug)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped circles, banners
Pattern: Try a Sketch on Tuesday #695 (I added a green stripe because I didn't have a big enough piece of the dotted paper to fit across the card)

Challenges: Double Trouble Challenge #216 - used 3+ layers & 2+ shapes (banners, scalloped circles, hearts) & 1 image, plus played along with the twist to use a wheel (handwheel on the sewing machine); Heart’s Quest Challenge Blog #85 Pink hearts; Neglected Stuff Challenges - my neglected stuff is the patterned paper (last used in 2016) and the stamp set (last used in 2021).

So Very Grateful Card

May seems to be my month to make cards, so here is another one I created. It's the end of my daughter's final softball season, and I am so thankful for two of the moms who drove the girls (including mine) to so many practices and games, so I decided to make them each a thank you card and include a gift card. I'm trying to use some of my old SU woodie stamps, so I pulled out the So Very sentiment and made it the focal point of this card.

Recipe:
So Very stamp set (SU)
Say It In Style stamp set
Gingham paper (from my stash, source unknown)
Sky & White cardstock
Canary, Sky & Bluebird ink
Blue Belle Shimmer Trim
Yellow paper flowers (Recollections)
Tim Holtz Rays stencil (Stampers Anonymous)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: shaped rectangle
Challenges: Just Us Girls #823 Flowers; Stencil Fun Challenges - Anything goes including a stencil (the rays stencil was perfect for this card); If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #216 - I was inspired by the color scheme, the blue gingham, and the flowers).

Unlisted Number Birthday Card

Today is my hubby's birthday, so I pulled together a fun card for him. The outside says.  "Age is just a number," and the inside says,  "Yours shall remain unlisted!"

Recipe:
Occasionally stamp set (SU)
Just a Number stamp set
Joy in the Journey & March/April 2022 Mix-In papers
Gypsy, Sundance & White cardstock
Sundance, Gypsy & Journey ink
Gypsy marker
Lagoon ribbon
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: sentiment shape
Pattern: Hand Stamped Sentiments #488

Challenges: Heart's Quest Celebration of Love #29 - Birthday;  AAA Birthday #85 - Anything birthday goes.

Color Dare #703 - used all the colors except the hot pink.

Bri's Laser Island Party Layout

Love these colorful photos from my daughter's birthday party at Laser Island. This was unfortunately one of the places that didn't make it through the pandemic, so I'm glad we have some pictures to remember it and the fun events we enjoyed there.

Recipe:
Reasons to Smile papers (American Crafts)
Sunflower, Lagoon & Raspberry cardstock
Sunflower, Lagoon, Crystal Blue Pixie & Raspberry ink
Black marker
Reasons to Smile ephemera & Mini Puffy stickers (American Crafts)
Bold & Bright ephemera (American Crafts)
Reasons to Smile washi tape (American Crafts)
Reasons to Smile enamel dots (American Crafts)
Cricut Design Space: title using DTC Spring Break font
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenges #109 & 118

Challenges: Colorful Options - Rainbow of colors; Heart's Quest Celebrations of Love #29 - Birthday; Paper Rocks Scissors #16 - used scissors to fussy cut the camera; The Outlawz Anything But a Card

Heritage House Memories Layout for LM #798

Hello, and happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. Hopefully you get to take a break and relax today, either with or without your kids, (whichever sounds more restful to you)! Since it's a Sunday, there is a new challenge over at Lasting Memories. I just love being on the design team for this fun blog, and I hope you come check out the challenge and play along with a layout of your own. We are doing tic tac toe boards this month, so here is the second one. I chose to use all the squares! It sounds challenging, but it really wasn't. I even used some washi tape my son gave me for Christmas one year; it's really not my regular style but was perfect for the vintage look of this layout. Here's the board:

And here's my layout:

Recipe:
Wild Asparagus paper (MME)
Pine & Garnet cardstock
Pine, Garnet & Ballerina ink
Garnet marker
Pizzazz Irresistibles chipboard
Krafty Garden Essentials Rub-on transfers (49 & Market)
Vintage washi tape (Emmoolife)
Crisp Air enamel shapes
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: butterflies
Cricut Design Space: title using Quarter Note Font
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #5

Challenges: A Cut Above Anything Goes with a die-cut; Cut It Up #355  Anything Goes with a die-cut and something with wings (I chose butterflies); One More Page - anything goes as long as it's a layout; Triple B - used butterflies and blooms.