Walk Through the American Revolution Layout

My kids' elementary school does some pretty amazing history programs, including Walk Through the American Revolution, where each 5th grader dresses up as a historical figure from the period, and they work together with a facilitator to tell the story of the Revolution. My son got to be General Cornwallis, and he had to memorize some lines (not his strong suit) and answer some questions. He did a good job, and the whole presentation was really enjoyable to watch.

I was going to journal directly on my cardstock on the right hand page, but then I decided to create a replica of my son's coat using my Cricut and needed somewhere to put it, so I added a journaling card that will flip up to reveal the journaling on the back. Here's the journaling:

And here's a close-up of the coat, of which I am a teeny bit proud!

Recipe:
A Typeface stamp set
Celebrating Freedom paper (BoBunny)
The Fourth of July papers & stickers (Carta Bella)
Ruby, Almond, Mink & Black cardstock
Patterned vellum (from my stash, source unknown)
Sapphire ink
Prussian Blue fineliner pen (iBayam)
Gold metallic marker (Staedtler)
Hello Darlin' PML card
Tag Types adhesive tag (Sticko)
Blue Adornaments fiber (EK Success)
Tim Holtz Field Notes ephemera (Idea-ology)
Vicki Boutin Old Soul ephemera (American Crafts)
Halloween Mix epoxy stars (Bella Blvd)
Red Glitter Gems
Lumberjack Plaid distress spritz (Ranger)
Cricut Design Space: title using Quarter Note font, General Cornwallis coat (put together using coat and waistcoat images, then modified to look historic)
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #113

Challenges: Little Red Wagon #847 L Is For Leftovers - I used some long scraps of paper plus the enamel stars are the final bits of a pack; Neglected Stuff  Challenge- the vellum, safety pin, and metal rimmed tag.

Cruising Layout

While working on my Big Bear family vacation photos, I am not going in strict chronological order, so this layout features photos from our last day at Big Bear. I decided not to add any journaling because it will be obvious we were taking a little jaunt around the edge of the lake, and I really had nothing more to say beyond that obvious fact! For the title, I went old school and stamped then fussy cut out the letters. Haven't done that in forever because it's a bit of work, but there was a definite satisfaction in getting the cutting just the way I wanted it.

Recipe:
Rustic Alphabet stamp set
Vicki Boutin Mixed Media patterned paper (American Crafts)
Magnolia papers (MME)
Watercolor paper
Kraft cardstock
Mocha ink
Watercolor Paints (Artist's Loft)
Tim Holtz Field Notes ephemera (Idea-ology)
Color Wheel 12x12 stencil (Crafters Workshop)
Krafty Garden rub-ons (49 and Market)
Summer Afternoon enamel dots (Altenew)
Pattern: Scraplift from A Cherry on Top
Challenges: NBUS #83 - used a new package of rub-ons plus the sectioned circle stencil that I have pulled out numerous times since I bought it in 2023 but finally managed to use today; Paper Rocks Scissors #13 - used scissors to fussy cut my stamped title; Pick 3 Challenge #2 - used embellishments (ephemera & enamel dots) + flowers + circles; Stencil Fun - used watercolor paints and a sectioned circle stencil to create the big circle on the left page; Triple B - used 3 butterflies and a sprig of flowers.

Love You So Much Layout for Lasting Memories #787

It's time for another Lasting Memories challenge reveal, and this week the challenge is to use at least 2 emojis in place of words in your journaling. This sounded like fun when I was thinking up the challenges, but it turned out to be a lot harder than I expected since my new printer doesn't like printing on cardstock, so I couldn't just print something out with emojis in it. I ended up finding mini stickers that represented the words I wanted to replace, so it worked out okay! Please click on the link above to join in with any of the journaling themed challenges this month, but hurry, because the current challenges end on February 28.

Even though the journaling is all about my hubby, he is not actually pictured on the layout, so I added the arrow to point out his shadow as he took pictures of us for the millionth time. Here's a close-up of the journaling. The irony of this was that we were actually on the Kissing Bridge in Big Bear when I started to feel less than loving and needed the reminder of how much I love my sweetie!

It didn't photograph well, but my top sticker is a backpack to represent the word "pack."

Recipe:
Capri, Red Apple & White Daisy cardstock
Capri, Red Apple & Outdoor Denim ink
Black fineliner pen (iBayam)
Outdoor Denim marker
Heartstrings Sentiment Bits (Simple Stories)
Celebrating Freedom Noteworthy ephemera (BoBunny)
Reasons to Smile mini puffy stickers (American Crafts)
Face sticker (American Greetings)
Blue Jean Heart Puffy Shapes (Doodlebug Designs)
Red enamel dots
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: arrow
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #119

Challenges: Little Red Wagon #846 Just the way you are (I wasn't sure what to do for my journaling so this challenge was perfect to remind me how much I love my hubby despite the ways he sometimes bugs me!); Heart's Quest Challenge Blog #82  Anything Goes with a heart; Challenge YOUrself #146 Create a layout about love; Inkspirational #361 - I was inspired by the envelope with the heart, the flowers, the word love, and the arrow.

Snow Summit Layout

Day 2 of our 2019 Big Bear vacation, and my hubby took our son snowboarding. Well, my son snowboarded while my hubby went skiing, but they both had a great time, so that's what's important. I kept the layout pretty simple in keeping with the idea of fresh snow.

Recipe:
Candy Cane Lane papers (Doodlebug Designs)
Color Kaleidoscope papers (American Crafts)
Bluebird, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Juniper ink
Black marker
Snowflake & Welcome Winter stickers (recollections)
Tangled Rectangle die-cuts (Frantic Stamper)
Pattern: Stick It Down February double page sketch (from Facebook)

Challenges: Alphabet Challenge Blog V is for Volume - the snowflakes are popped up on foam; NBUS #83 - my never before used schtuff is the snowflake papers and stickers; Love Those Pretty Papers with optional polka dots (hard to see but there are some on the circles); The Outlawz Anything But a Card

It's a Wonderful Life - Vacation Mode Layout

Today I worked on a second layout for my Big Bear vacation album, this time with some fun photos of the kids playing in the snow. We took some videos of them tubing, and it made me laugh to watch them again as the kids went flying down the runs in their tubes, giggling and shrieking all the way!

Here's a close-up of the banner and buttons:

Recipe:
Red Dots & Stripes, A Perfect Winter & Have a Holly Jolly Christmas papers (Echo Park)
Snowhaven papers
Cranberry, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Cranberry, Glacier & Outdoor Demin ink
Black fineliner pen (iBayam)
Peppermint Kisses Christmas Thickers (American Crafts)
Let's Wander cardstock stickers (American Crafts)
Merry Little Christmas ephemera (Bella Blvd)
Red craft buttons
Cranberry bakers twine
Black grosgrain ribbon (Celebrate It)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: banners
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: outline heart
Cricut Artiste cartridge: red heart
Pattern: Rochelle Spears February sketch (left side - added strip across top to coordinate with the other page)

EMS Sketch Challenge #127 (right side - added a circle to coordinate with the other page)

Challenges: Heart’s Quest Challenge Blog #82 Anything with a heart goes; Let’s Craft and Create #228 Anything goes with optional twist: from the heart; Paper Rocks Scissors #13 Anything goes but must use paper and scissors - trimmed the ends of my baker's twine and ribbon; Scrap With Stacy February board - used the middle column with Title & subtitle + Banner + Circle.

Escape {to Big Bear} Layout

My habit over the past 10+ years is to postpone scrapping vacation photos when I come to them chronologically, since they go in a separate album and I usually have a ton of pictures. However, that usually means they just don't get scrapped, so I decided, as I am done with all my other photos from March, to scrapbook the photos from our March 2019 vacation to Big Bear. Here's the intro page, and I love it because it shows off time my son spend with his dad before the rest of the family arrived in Big Bear. Elliot was entering his troubled teen years at the time and wanted very little to do with his uncool family, so it warms my heart to see him and my hubby together (even if Elliot was scowling in the photo of him with his dad)!

Recipe:
Fresh Air papers & sticker
Capri, Chocolate, Sage, Glacier & White Daisy cardstock
Capri, Toffee & Sage ink
ShinHan Touch Twin marker
Chocolate embroidery floss
Earthy Matte Dots (SU)
Frayed Burlap Distress Spritz (Ranger)
Opaque Matte Texture Paste (Ranger)
Burlap stencil (Ranger)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: tree branch, bird, binoculars
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #91

Challenges: A Cut Above Anything Goes including a die-cut; Let’s Craft and Create #228 Anything goes; Stencil Fun Anything Goes including a stencil; Triple B Anything goes including a bird, a bloom, and/or a butterfly.

Day Dreams & Ice Cream Layout

Love these fun pictures of my kids eating ice cream with their bio-brother and his adoptive family! Getting to know them has been a huge blessing resulting from adopting Brianna and Oliver. This layout started out with a scraplift from a gal over at Scrapbook.com, but it took on a life of its own, so now I am not sure you could tell it's a lift. I had the basics down but knew I wanted to add some Tim Holtz products for the Simon Says Stamp challenge, so it was either the Field Notes ephemera or one of his stencils, and I thought the ephemera worked better. I also wanted to do some stitching, and I finally figured out this morning where to put it; I combined stitched Xs with eyelet Os on the blank label. It was a bit of a challenge as I had to alternate between a soft pad for the stitching and a hard one for the eyelet setter, and the needle kept coming unthreaded while I did that, but I like the result, so it was worth it!

Here is a close-up of the label with the XOs on it:

Recipe:
Good Day Sunshine papers & stickers (Echo Park)
Outdoor Denim & Grey Flannel cardstock
Sorbet, Cranberry, Dutch Blue & Outdoor Denim ink
Light Grey fineliner pen (iBayam)
Outdoor Denim brads & White Daisy mini brads
Navy & Red eyelets (MM)
Cranberry embroidery floss
Metal charm
Tim Holtz Field Notes ephemera (Idea-ology)
Pattern: scraplift from Shelly at Scrapbook.com
Challenges: Colorful Options Rainbow of colors; Paper Rocks Scissors #13 Anything goes, used scissors to trim the embroidery floss; Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Not a card + used Tim Holtz product; The Sisterhood of Crafters Stitching.

Fun & Games Layout

My old church used to have occasional game nights, so my hubby snapped a few photos at one of them. The level of expertise varied a lot from person to person, but we always had a great time! February seems to be hidden journaling month, because this is my third layout with hidden journaling. This time the top photo lifts up to reveal more photos and the journaling.

Here's the journaling spot:

Recipe:
Let's Stay Home & Canvas Art Workshop stamp sets
Vicki Boutin Mixed Media Stamps - Circles (American Crafts)
Magnolia & Wild Asparagus papers (MME)
Mocha, Crystal Blue, Creme Brulee & Black cardstock
Mocha, Crystal Blue & Creme Brulee ink
Burnt Sienna fineliner pen (iBayam)
Vicki Boutin Old Soul & Bold + Bright ephemera (American Crafts)
Summer Afternoon enamel dots (Altenew)
Lagoon washi tape
Brown grosgrain ribbon (Michaels)
Cricut Design Space: title, outline, title using Art Philosophy, BFC Night Kiss, Quarter Note, Wall Decor and More, Simply Sweet Blocked, Amertha & Artiste fonts
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #108

Challenges: A Cut Above Anything goes with a die-cut; The Outlawz Anything But a Card Anything goes; Creative Fingers Challenge Blog #316 Anything goes; Love Those Pretty Papers Anything goes with  lots of patterned paper.

Cousins Layout

My kids don't get to see their out-of-state cousins very often, so I loved scrapping these photos of this special day we spent together. If I were more technically savvy, I would add the video of the two youngest kids doing the Floss (super popular in 2019), but you will just have to imagine it! I used some really old cousins-themed paper on the background and also cut the title from a section that was covered by photos.

I popped up the top photo so I could include a pocket card with my hidden journaling.

Recipe:
Punny Pals & Notice the Details stamp sets
Vicki Boutin Mixed Media patterned paper (American Crafts)
Cousins patterned paper (It Takes Two)
Ladybug Picnic paper (source unknown, used a scrap with the manufacturer cut off)
Cranberry & Black cardstock
Cranberry, Grey Wool & Black ink
Black marker
Gold & Silver metallic pens (Staedtler)
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Crimson watercolor paint (Artist's Loft)
Hello Darlin' PML card
Acrylic hearts
Cranberry embroidery floss
Geometric washi tape (Recollections)
Lumberjack Plaid Distress Spritz (Ranger)
Ebony Black Nuvo Drops
3-D foam tape
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: circle tab
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: ticket
Cricut Artiste cartridge: filmstrip
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #66

Challenges: Cut It Up #349 This makes me happy + die-cuts (cousins spending time together makes me happy; Heart’s Quest Challenge Blog #82 Anything with a heart goes; Little Red Wagon #845 I'm seeing Red - used red as my accent color; Neglected Stuff Challenge - the cousins paper has been in my stash so long I can't even remember where I got it, but I finally used most of one of the two full sheets I purchased; Time Out Challenges #306- I chose red, hearts and sparkle (the red distress spritz sparkles when you move the paper).

Come Fly With Me Layout

Today I scrapped some photos of kite day for my second kiddo's school album. I guess it was too long ago (2016) since he couldn't remember the name of his book buddy - oops. I probably need to finish this album this year, since it only goes up to 5th grade and he is almost 21 now!

Recipe:
Route 66 & Superhero papers
Almond, Cranberry & Moonstruck cardstock
Cranberry & Moonstruck ink
Prussian Blue fineliner pen (iBayam)
Route 66 sticker
Star Attraction & Top Dog Shape Spinkles (Doodlebug Designs)
Moonstruck & Lilac Mist embroidery floss
Chevron embossing folder
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: banners
Cricut Artistry cartridge: kite
Cricut Design Space: title using BFC Night Kiss & Medina Script fonts
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #94

Challenges:  Can You Handle the Pressure? used a chevron embossing folder; Crafter’s Café #326 Always anything goes including optional twist: one for the boys; Love Those Pretty Papers Anything goes using lots of patterned paper. with optional twist: polka dots; Paper Rocks Scissors #13 Anything goes, used scissors to trim embroidery floss.