Alternative Challenge

You may have noticed that I didn`t post an EMS sketch challenge this week. I am on vacation with my family and don`t have any of my scrapbooking supplies with me, so no sketch! I do have an alternative challenge for you this week. Most of you probably have a subscription to a scrapbooking magazine, right? Well, I challenge you to pull out the latest issue and scraplift a page. Both CK and SBE even have sketch sections, so it should be easy to find a sketch/layout that works for you. Have fun and let me see what you create. I will try to be back with a new sketch on Monday.

Happiness Layout

I guess EMS Sketch #12 was a good one for many people, since I've had several people tell me they were going to use it! Here's a cute summer layout from Michelle using the sketch. I finally got to Costco to have my photo reprinted for EMS Sketch Challenge #11, so here it is in all it's glory. The large photo was washed out at the top and dark at the bottom, so I had it printed up in black and white to see if I could get a better image. It's still not perfect, but better. I also tried a technique I had seen before but not tried, stamping on paper flowers. It sure adds interest to the layout!



Recipe:
Chocolate Alphabet Small, Noted Backgrounds, Dainty Thoughts, State of Mind & Recipe Box stamp sets
Summer B&T paper (retired)
Clover Meadow & White Daisy cardstock
Black & Clover Meadow ink
Black marker
White Daisy Just Blooms
Liquid Glass
Black & White Daisy brads
Prisma Glitter
Ribbon (Michaels)
Paper crimper
Scalloped border punch & decorative edge scissors (Fiskars)

Teacher Card

It's funny, but I can go a month or more without making a card, and then, once I need a card for a special occasion, I find myself making them for all sorts of things! I just realized I've posted a lot of cards recently, so those of you follow my blog to see scrapbook layouts, I'm sorry! I'll be posting more layouts this week, but in the meantime here's another card, this one for my son's preschool teacher. The school is closing, so she will be unemployed after 12 years. I wanted to make sure she knew how much we love her and appreciate the impact she's had on my son the last 2 years, so I made this special card that lists a few of her attributes. I was inspired by Jan Moxey's challenge to create a card about becoming the complete person you were intended to be. Then I decided to use the Heart2Heart challenge colors for this week (Tulip, Buttercup, and black) and the Mojo Monday sketch 144, so I packed three challenges into this one card! How fun. I realized after I had finished my card that I glued the checklist tilted the wrong way, but I think it still looks okay.



Recipe:
Checklist, Noted Backgrounds, September Word Puzzle & Tiny Typewriter Alphabet stamp sets
Silhouette Level 2 papers
Tulip, Black, Buttercup & White Daisy cardstock
Tulip & Black ink
Tulip, Black & Buttercup markers
Ribbon (Michaels)

Egg Hunt Layout

I had to share this fun layout because I got to use pink on it! It doesn't happen that often, so I get really excited when it does. I used a Becky Higgins' sketch for the design, and the adorable Topstitch papers. I like how the looping stitching on the papers creates a sense of movement, since there was a lot of moving going on when these photos were taken.



Recipe:
Friendship Alphabet Large, Alphabet Solos "K", Holiday Hoopla & March Word Puzzle stamp sets
Topstitch Level 2 papers
Heavenly Blue, Baby Pink & Colonial White cardstock
Heavenly Blue, Baby Pink & Chocolate ink
Chocolate marker
Liquid Glass

EMS Sketch Challenge 12 - Impact Layout

Good Monday morning, everyone. I woke up bright and early and started working on a layout for this morning's sketch, and here it is! I knew I wanted to include a lot of journaling on this layout, so I created a sketch with a long journaling strip on the side. I also used standard 4"x6" prints, and just had to crop one into a square. This layout came together quick and easy. Hope you find time to use it this week, and remember, leave me a comment by next Sunday with the location of your layout, and I will be sure to mention it on my blog! 

The sketch:

 

My Layout:

 

Recipe: Friendship Alphabet Large & Alphabet Solos "Punctuation" stamp sets

Perfect Day Level 2 papers

Desert Sand, Bamboo & White Daisy cardstock

Desert Sand, Cranberry & Sorbet ink

Craft buttons (Basic, Holiday, Clear)

Natural hemp

Another Father's Day Card

Happy Father's Day, everyone. Hope you all have plans to celebrate that special man in your life. I finally got around to making a card for my hubby last night. Thanks to all the great inspiration on the Heart 2 Heart blog, I found the cute folded shirt design, combined it with the Mojo Monday Sketch, and voila, the perfect card for my perfect man!



Recipe:
June Word Puzzle & Say It In Style stamp sets
Free Spirit Level 2 papers
Colonial White & Honey cardstock
Indian Corn Blue, Autumn Terracotta, Cocoa & Honey ink
Cocoa grosgrain ribbon
Shades of Chocolate Mini-Medley brad

I've added a page!

I added a page to my blog containing my listing of used Stampin' Up stamps that I am selling. Please click on the tab at the top of my blog to access the sale page, and then click on Home to return to my main page.

Splendor Card Workshop

Good morning, everyone. I want to start my post by giving a shout-out to my cyber friend Lela, who used this week's EMS Sketch to complete a page. Way to go, Lela! You beat me to it. Here's a link to Lela's page. She used the sketch on the right hand page of her layout, and it's fun to see how she adapted it to fit her photos.

Now, I need everyone's help ASAP. I am holding a card workshop at church in July, and since I will be away on vacation the last Sunday in June, I need to advertise it in church tomorrow. Here are the cards I've designed so far (we'll be making 2 each of 5 designs), and I need some feedback. Are they all winners, or do I need to ditch any and start again? Or even just add a little something to any of them? I can't add too much, however, since I am hardly making anything on this workshop and don't want to spend more than I make - LOL! Please let me know what you think. Thanks.

Card #1 - I used Liquid Glass on the owl's eyes.


Card #2


Card #3 - The middle flower is actually on the inside of the card, viewable thru a cutout window.


Card #4 - Liquid Glass on the candle flames.


Card #5 - no special techniques, but a fun idea to put together.


Recipe:
Dream Big, Dainty Thoughts, Grown With Love, It's Your Day, Happy Birthday, Recipe Box, Tiny Typewriter Alphabet & Noted Backgrounds stamp sets
Splendor Level 2 papers
Colonial White cardstock
Chocolate, Topiary & Goldrush ink
Colonial White brads
Colonial White ricrac
Chocolate Ribbons Rounds
Liquid Glass
3-D foam tape
Scalloped border punch (Fiskars)
Scalloped scissors (Fiskars)

Things are changing!

Yes, you are at the correct blog. I was getting tired of the old pink color scheme, so I thought I would try something new, and this is it! My hubby has been on the computer all day, trying to help me figure out how to change various features. (Thanks Sweetie.) I don't know if this will be my end product, but I think I'll leave it for a few days to see how I like it. Don't be surprised if it changes again soon, though!

Father's Day Card

The Heart 2 Heart challenge for this week was to make a Father's Day card using scraps, and since I needed to make a card for my dad anyway, I decided to give this a try. It really wasn't hard, once I decided which scraps to use! Coming up with an idea to top last year's card for my dad, now that was hard. I don't know that I succeeded (last year's perfectly embodied my dad), but I do like the result. I used the Overview pattern from Jeanette Lynton's Originals Card Confidence book, and I random stamped my background using the My Game and Just Be You stamp sets. My dad is really not into sports, but I was able to pick specific stamps from the set to emphasize life lessons that he has taught me. This would also be a fun idea for a graduation card.



The inside:


Recipe:
Make It Count, Noted Backgrounds, My Game, Just Be You, Thank You & Tiny Typewriter stamp sets
Rustic Trails Level 2 papers
Colonial White & Dutch Blue cardstock
Bamboo, Desert Sand, Autumn Terracotta, Olive, Dutch Blue & Cocoa ink
Antiqued Copper brads
Liquid Glass

Coloring Eggs Layout

I still haven't gotten to Costco to reprint my photos for the EMS Sketch Challenge from Monday, so here's something else I have been working on. When I saw these pictures, I really wanted to use the color Watermelon for the layout, as I did on this layout, but I just didn't have enough patterned papers to make it work. So Hollyhock was a nice substitute, which brought me to the Boom-di-Ada paper pack. Because of its great color scheme, Boom-di-Ada is such a versatile paper pack. For example, I added a Goldrush B&T from the Splendor paper pack and it gave a lighter, fun look to the design. My design inspiration came from a Becky Higgins' sketch. FYI: When I scanned the layout, the colors didn't come out quite right; the green of the background should be less yellow, but hopefully you get the picture!



Recipe:
Hodgepodge Alphabet stamp set
Boom-di-Ada Level 2 papers & My Stickease
Splendor Level 2 papers
Buttercup & Sweet Leaf cardstock
Goldrush, Creme Brulee, Hollyhock & Olive ink
Twilight marker
Winter Cozy brads
Heartfelt Whimsy felt shapes

EMS SKetch Challenge 11

Another Monday, another sketch. I accidentally printed up my largest photo in the wrong size, so I don't have a layout to go with this yet, but I'll post one as soon as I can get to Costco to get my photo reprinted. In the meantime, show me what you can do!

The sketch: 

Hide & Seek Layout

I love the color Watermelon, but with 2 boys to scrapbook for, I don't get many chances to use it. These pictures of Adrian hiding and Elliot seeking Easter eggs just shouted out to me to use Watermelon in the color scheme, and I gladly gave in! When I was looking through my paper stash, I discovered that I don't actually have many patterned papers that feature Watermelon, so I fell back on this polka dot paper that was retired many moons ago, plus I created my own paper using markers. I also did some sponging on the bookplates to get that light shade of Dutch Blue, plus I embossed a bunny in white on the square piece of chipboard, and then sponged the piece in Dutch Blue so the bunny appeared. The pattern I used for the design is Three Part Harmony from Imagine.



Recipe:
Easter Eggs, Holiday Hoopla & Field Trip Alphabet stamp sets
Summer Celebration B&T Combo papers
Dutch Blue, Buttercup, Sweet Leaf & White Daisy cardstock
Dutch Blue, Buttercup, Sweet Leaf, Watermelon, Creme Brulee & Versamark ink
Dutch Blue, Buttercup, Sweet Leaf & Watermelon markers
Sweet Leaf Ribbon Rounds
White Daisy Mini Medley
Dimensional Elements Booksmart
White Daisy Embossing powder
Scalloped border punch (Fiskars)

Tomorrowland Highlights Layout

I'm still plugging away on our Disneyland day, so here's another layout for that. I combined two layouts from Cherish (Dramatic Fashion and Rise & Shine) to get the perfect placement for my photos. I love the versatility of Jeanette's idea books!



Recipe:
Ticket to Ride stamp set
Zippidee Level 2 papers & My Stickease
Indian Corn Blue, Cranberry & Bamboo cardstock
Indian Corn Blue, Cranberry, Honey & Bamboo ink
Cranberry brads
3-D foam tape

EMS Sketch Challenge 10 - So Fun Layout

It's back! I took a break from doing sketch challenges for several weeks, but here's a new one for you to enjoy. If you're in a hurry to get a layout done, this sketch is perfect since it uses uncropped 4x6 prints. Here are 3 fun things to point out about my layout:
1. I was able to use some Zippidee Level 1 pages as my layout bases. I don't order these as much as I should, considering how versatile they are. You can either place your photos within the neutral sections of the pages, or get creative and let your photos spill out all over! I did the latter, and I'm happy with the results.
2. I wanted to make Mickey Mouse ears using buttons, but I didn't have any black ones, so I used Liquid Glass to adhere black cardstock to the back of clear buttons, and then cut out the buttons when they were dry.
3. I love the look of the Irresistibles Lots of Dots alphabet stickers (seen here sponged with Cranberry and Indian Corn Blue ink to make the dots appear), so I wanted to mimic it on other areas of my layouts. I stamped dots onto a piece of Colonial White cardstock and embossed them using white embossing powder. Then I stamped over them using the back side of an arrow and a heart stamp, which left me a dotted image. Fun and easy!

The sketch

My Layout

Recipe:
Thoughtful Seasons, Ticket to Ride & Spot On Backgrounds stamp sets
Zippidee Level 1 papers
Indian Corn Blue, Honey, Black & Colonial White cardstock
Cranberry, Indian Corn Blue, Black & Versamark ink
Black marker
Irresistibles Lots of Dots alphabet stickers
Clear buttons
Liquid Glass
White embossing powder

Disneyland 2010 Layout

I went to a crop on Friday night and was able to finish several layouts from our day at Disneyland this March. Here's the first one. I was totally inspired by the Studio J layout using this paper pack (Zippidee) and pattern (Sideline Surprise from Imagine). Although all the embellishment ideas are my own, I did design this first in Studio J using the suggested paper placement. Although I am not a digital scrapper, this is one layout where it would have been much easier to use a computer to drop and drag pictures rather than having to measure and cut all those diagonals!



Recipe:
Zippidee Level 2 papers & My Stickease
Cranberry & White Daisy cardstock
Cranberry, Indian Corn Blue & Honey ink
Cranberry grosgrain ribbon