Hey Santa Layout + Lasting Memories #635

For my final challenge as a guest designer for Lasting Memories, I needed to scrapbook about a family tradition or event that happens year after year. One thing we do every Christmas morning is listen for the sirens on the fire trucks that tell us Santa is on his way with treats for all the kids, courtesy of the local fire department. It's a really old tradition in our city, so I thought it would be fun to scrap it for this challenge.

Recipe:
Star power stamp set
Happiest Place & March/April 2022 Mix-In papers
Jingle All the Way papers (Simple Stories)
Sage cardstock
Candy Apple & Black ink
Black marker
Jingle All the Way chipboard stickers (Simple Stories)
Black baker's twine
Clear sparkles
3-D foam tape
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title
Pattern: Stick It Down January 2023 single page sketch (rotated right and with larger photos)

Challenges: : Lasting Memories #635 Traditions; Cupcake Inspirations #561 Polka Dots (mine are huge but hopefully they still qualify)

Ashurbanipal's Library Layout

It's been almost a year since I scrapped any photos from our 2017 trip to London, so I though I should get some more done. I would like to see this trip completely scrapped before I die! These photos were taken at the British Museum's Assyrian exhibit. Since I am such a bookworm, I loved seeing King Ashurbanipal's "library to contain all knowledge." Compared to the capacity of my Kindle Fire, his library seemed pretty tiny, but I got a kick out of someone in ancient times loving reading and knowledge as much as I do!

Recipe:
I'd Rather be Reading & Quotable Words stamp sets
She's Magic One More Chapter & Kind Heart papers (American Crafts - Dear Lizzy)
Flamingo, Crystal Blue, Cotton Candy, Ballerina & White Daisy cardstock
Crystal Blue, Juniper, Cotton Candy, Sorbet & Black ink
Black marker
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Freshly Baked enamel shapes
My Crush Besties Assortment journaling card
Genius Puffy Phrase stickers (American Crafts)
Color Kaleidoscope stickers (American Crafts)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped border
Cricut Design Space: cat & book stacks (I scanned the stamps and imported them into Design Space, then used them to make a cut file that I will be able to use any time I use these stamps, which could be often!)
Pattern: scraplift from Scrapbook.com (this really was my starting point, although I made lots of changes as I went along)

Challenges: Cut It Up #270 Love + a die-cut (this is probably not the type of love they had in mind, but I am an unashamed book lover, so that's where I went!)

Engage Layout + Lasting Memories #634

One Little Word has become a popular trend among scrapbookers to help focus their minds on what is important during a given year. I had never done this or even considered it, but the latest challenge from Lasting Memories was - you guessed it - One Little Word! It took me a long time to figure out what I wanted to do for this, but I eventually chose the word "Engage" and found a sketch and a recent photo of myself to use for my layout. I bought a 9" x 9" shadow box that I will use to frame the layout, and I plan to hang it in my scrapbook room to help me remember to engage throughout the course of the year. Hopefully seeing it all the time will help keep me accountable! If you have been thinking of picking a One Little Word for the year, the Lasting Memories challenge is open until the end of the month for you to join with your scrapbook page containing your word. Hope to see you over there!

Recipe:
Take Note & Cherish the Day stamp sets
My Happy Place papers (Doodlebug Designs)
Sage, Pixie, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Sage, Pixie & Black ink
Black marker
Oh Happy Day chipboard stickers & washi tape (Simple Stories)
Heart to Heart Shape Sprinkles (Doodlebug Designs)
Cricut Simply Sweet cartridge: title
Cricut Artistry cartridge: tab
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: notebook paper
Pattern: Page Maps Sketch

Challenges: Crafter"s Cafe #293 Colors of the Rainbow

Winter Blast 2016 Layout

I'm skipping around a bit in my scrapping, so here is a layout with photos from an event at our church in December 2016.

Recipe:
Just for the Holidays & Snowflakes stamp sets
Jingle All the Way papers (Simple Stories)
Ruby, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Ruby, Black & Versamark ink
White gel pen (Sakura)
White embossing powder
Jingle All the Way Journal Bits
Ruby chevron washi tape
White Daisy organdy ribbon
Clear Sparkles
Nested Stitched Eyelet Rectangle die-cut (Cottage Cutz)
Cricut Design Space: title using Austin Hearts font
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped border
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #94 (rotated right)

Challenges: Festive Friday #126 Wear Red Day (red, ribbon, rhinestones)

Winter Wonderland Layout

We never get snow in Los Angeles, but we are fortunate enough to have mountains within a short drive, so we occasionally are able to take the kids sledding. I loved being able to pull out a bunch of my winter themed stamps - that I can't resist purchasing but seldom get to use - and put them to work creating this layout!

Recipe:
Snowflakes, Flakey Friends, All Decked Out & Take Note stamp sets
Snowhaven & White Pines papers
Cranberry, Glacier, Pewter & White Daisy cardstock
Cranberry, Glacier, Pewter, Almond & Black ink
Black marker
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Jingle All the Way puffy stickers (Simple Stories)
Red & White pearls
Cranberry grosgrain ribbon
Cricut Artistry cartridge: title shape, snowflake
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: notebook paper
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: postage stamp frame
Pattern: Stick It Down January 2023 double page sketch

Challenges: Use Your Stuff #475 Inspired by a Book - my son's kindergarten teacher gave him this book many years ago, and even though we didn't build a snowman on this trip, I added a couple to my layout anyway!

London Title Page Layout + Lasting Memories #633

Lasting Memories' third challenge of 2023 is live today, and as a guest designer this month, I was asked to create a title page for one of my albums. Just like last week's "year in review" challenge, I do not usually create title pages but just jump in with whatever event or group of pictures comes first. Fortunately, however, I had always planned to have a title page for my London album, so I selected a few photos from our London trip and was able to create a intro page for my album. Feel free to join the challenge over at Lasting Memories and get a title page done for one of your albums. All of the challenges are open the rest of January.

My little stuffed lamb travels with me everywhere I go (I use him as a neck support for sleeping), so I added a stamped lamb to show that he got to come to London with us! The maid at the hotel had a sense of humor and left a chocolate for him on the bed in addition to the ones she left for my husband and me.

Recipe:
Love You Forever
Smarty Pants, Spring 2020 Mix-Ins, Oct - Dec 2022 Mix-Ins & Four Seasons - Winter papers
Desert Rose, Sage, Kraft & White Daisy cardstock
Desert Rose, Peach, Sage, Mink & Black ink
Black marker
Let's Wander stickers (American Crafts)
Slate washi tape
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped border
Cricut Design Space: title using Austin Hearts font
Pattern: Rochelle Spears January 2023 sketch (I really wanted to use the banners but once I added the flower in the corner of the vertical photo, there just wasn't room!)

Challenges: Double Trouble #129 Cuddle Up (Thing 1 = 3 Colors of your choice and 2 Layers and 1 Warm & Cuddly Image + Thing 2 & 3 = play along with Color My Heart Color Dare #530)

Play Date Layout

For these fun photos of a playdate with my eldest's son's birth mom and siblings, I pulled out a stamp set I had purchased last July in anticipation of scrapping this layout. Can't believe it took me this long to get to it! I stamped the "Play Date" title on a pocket card and then colored it in using my ShinHan markers.

Recipe:
At the Park & Notice the Details stamp sets
May/June 2022 Mix-In papers
Honey Butter, Capri, Gypsy, Blush, Hollyhock & White Daisy cardstock
Flamingo, Mint, Capri, Gypsy & Black ink
Black marker
Ink Blue fineliner pen (iBayam)
ShinHan TouchTwin markers
Childhood PML cards
Crisp Air & Seas the Day enamel dots
Craft buttons
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: butterfly, large flowers, banner
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: scalloped photo mat
Small flower punch (EK Success)
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #59

Challenges: Cut It Up #269 Anything Goes with a die cut (mine were all cut on my Cricut)

We're On a Roll Card

Today was my 31st wedding anniversary, so I needed to make a card for my hubby. We recently went roller skating with our kids, and he commented how he would love to have his own skates since the rental ones at the rink were so uncomfortable. His comment must have stuck in my mind, because the idea of creating a skating card sprang to mind last night. The only skating cut file I own says "Let's roll," so I had to purchase a new file to use in Cricut Design Space, but it's really cute and easy to assemble, so I think I'm going to get a lot of mileage out of it - pun intended!

Recipe:
Friendship Alphabet Small stamp set
Stargazer & May/June 2022 Mix-In papers
Ruby, Pebble, Charcoal, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Ruby & Black Ink
Cricut Design Space: Layered Perfect Party Icons
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap Card Sketch #233

Challenges: Allsorts #710 Something New (Cricut roller skate cut file); Crafting Happiness #138 Celebrations; Let's Craft & Create #191 Anything Goes with optional black & white (I also added some red)

EMS Sketch Challenge #106 + The Real Deal Layout

I remember crying the day my eldest son got on the bus to go to science camp. He struggles with extreme anxiety, so I was sure he would be terrified in this strange new environment. Turn out my fears were groundless, because he had a great time, and even brought back a bunch of photos on the disposable camera we bought him. I couldn't figure out what to do with this random selection of his facial expressions, so I decided to create a sketch, which I am now sharing with you! The photo sizes are just suggestions, so you can adapt it to whatever sizes work for your pictures, and the "white" space on the background can either be kept very simple or it's a great opportunity to show off one of those busy papers you're never quite sure how to use. As always, please post a link to your completed layout in the comments section so I can enjoy it!

The sketch:

My layout:

Recipe:
Fresh Air paper
Happy Trails Take a Hike paper (Simple Stories)
New England Ivy cardstock
Toffee ink
Burnt Sienna fineline pen (iBayam)
Jackson PML card
Fresh Air Complements die cuts
Circle Double Stitched steel die (Art Impressions)

2016 In Review Layout + Lasting Memories #632

As the second challenge for my month as guest designer for Lasting Memories, we were asked to create a year in review layout. When I first read this, I groaned because this is not something I usually do, but I am so glad now for this challenge! It was really fun figuring out what photos to use (I ended up choosing one per month), what embellishments to use to tie them together (I picked stickers from multiple sources), and what journaling to write (used a bullet pointed list).

Recipe:
Summer Vibes papers
Kraft, Glacier & Black cardstock
Candy Red, Sunny Yellow & Glacier ink
Black marker
Candid Moments PML journaling card
Blue Belle shimmer trim
Happiest Place Acrylic Shapes
Emoji sticker (American Greetings)
Slice of Life mini puffy stickers (American Crafts)
I Heart Us Complements sticker
Smarty Pants cardstock sticker
Let's Wander sticker (American Crafts)
Birthday cake sticker (CM)
Cricut Artiste cartridge: title
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #78

Challenges: Use Your Stuff #474 Real or Faux Stitching (I used a pen to add stitching the the border under my photos)