One Busy B Layout

It's with a sad heart today that I post this layout inspired by a sketch from Let's Scrap; they are retiring their blog for now, so this may be the last new sketch of theirs I use. Hopefully they will return some day when life isn't as crazy, but I will sure miss their bi-monthly inspiration! In the meantime, they helped me create a fun layout for my daughter's second grade open house, where we got to see all the work our busy bee (the "B" is for Brianna) had been doing in class.

Recipe:
Bee Mine, Friendship Alphabet Small, Distressed Backgrounds & Honeycomb stamp sets
Lucky & Buzz and Bumble papers
Cocoa, Desert Sand & White Daisy cardstock
Cocoa, Desert Sand, Goldrush, Outdoor Denim & Olive ink
Outdoor Denim marker
Color Ready Kraft Borders
Outdoor Denim baker's twine
Outdoor Denim brads
DE chipboard Monograms "B", Signage & Banner
PML Tabbed Journaling Card
3-D foam tape
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: frames
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped border with cut-outs
Pattern: Let's Scrap 7-15-19

Challenges: Double Trouble #36 Round & Round: Thing 1 - circles on the patterned paper, brads, and my daughter's pizza + Thing 3 - school theme; Scrapbook.com Music challenge - used lyrics from Chuck Berry's School Days as my journaling.

St. Margaret's Layout

Having a small church next to the huge Westminster Abbey seemed a little odd, but we discovered the monks built it for the local parishioners so they wouldn't disturb the monks by (noisily) attending mass at the Abbey! I played along with the monochromatic challenge over at The Studio challenge blog, and it was hard to stop myself from reaching for other colors, but I managed to keep mostly to my blue color scheme except for a tiny bit of pink on the tag sticker.

Recipe:
Floral paper (DCWV Stack 4)
Sky, Dutch Blue & White Daisy cardstock
Sky & Star Spangled Blue ink
Black marker
Color Kaleidoscope stickers (American Crafts)
Junebug Puffies stickers
Flutter Just Blooms paper shapes
Heavenly Blue organdy ribbon
Glacier ribbon
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title
Pattern: Scraplifted Blanca (T-towngirl) at Scrapbook.com

Our Adventure Continues Layout

It's been a while since I scrapped any London photos, but I'm out of other developed photos so I thought I would plow through some more of the thousands we took on our trip in 2017! I've already done a couple of Westminster Abbey layouts (see here and here), but I had a few leftover photos of the outside, so I grabbed a Let's Scrap sketch and started working. I also incorporate a Baker's Dozen challenge from Scrapbook.com, where people suggest items to use on your page. When there are 13 items in the list, everyone gets to work trying to fit them all on their layout. I've included the list, so see if you can find them all on my page!

1. Clouds

2. Color: Blue
3. Tear
4. Doodle
5. Stitches
6. Use 3 Pictures
7. Ink Edges
8. Arrow
9. Polka Dots
10. Banners
11. Lace
12. Pop Up with Foam
13. Sanding/Distress

I popped up the brown piece of cardstock with foam tape so the Westminster Abbey
brochure could slide in and out more easily.

Recipe:

Spot On Backgrounds stamp set

Color Kaleidoscope papers

Chocolate & White Daisy cardstock

Black, Chocolate & Glacier ink

White gel pen (Sakura)

Embroidery Paper Whispers & Destination London stickers (Mrs. Grossman's Paper Company)

MAMBI Sticks Our Adventure epoxy stickers (MAMBI)

Color Kaleidoscope stickers

Heavenly Blue stitched grosgrain ribbon

Black Dymo label

Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: banners

Pattern: Let's Scrap 8-1-19 sketch (left side only)

Challenges: Scrapbook.comhttps://www.scrapbook.com/Baker's Dozen challenge 

Elliot 2nd Grade Layout

I'm running low on developed photos to scrap, so I pulled out a school portrait from when my son was in 2nd grade. He just started high school, so it's probably a good time to catch up on a few of these! My final assignment as a guest designer for Lasting Memories was to include fruit on my layout, so I used die-cut apples of various sizes to represent the traditional teacher gift. Funny story about this photo: I had no idea my son had put this necklace thing on for the photo, so I was surprised and quite upset when he brought home the developed portraits. After the passage of many years, I can now look at the photo and appreciate his individuality, even if I still don't love his fashion choice! If you saw yesterday's post, you'll notice I used the same die-cut title on this page. Since the layouts are in different albums and are from different years, I'm pretty sure my family won't notice. Love the versatility of Cricut cuts!

Recipe:
Something Fierce papers
Raspberry, Carolina, Bluebird & White cardstock
Raspberry, Carolina, Bluebird, Slate, Clover Meadow & Sunny Yellow ink
Steel Grey marker (Zig)
DIY Shop cork arrow stickers (American Crafts)
Die-cut embossed circles (these were a RAK so I don't know who made them)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: photo mat, 2, apples, title
Pattern: The Studio Challenges 8/11/19 sketch

Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Color It (used lots of color); Splitcoast Stampers It's All in the Numbers challenge 1 - single photo;  Double Trouble #36 Round & Round: Thing 1 - added three circles + Thing 2 - played along with Joy Of Sets by using circles, emboss (around edge of circles), and school AND yellow, animal (dinosaurs on patterned paper), school + Thing 3 - school theme

Think Grow Learn @ Pretend City Layout

My kids are too old for this place now, but when they were younger, it felt magical to them! I started my layout with a sketch from Let's Sketch, and drew some inspiration from Use Your Stuff's mood board (green background, brown trim, trees of various heights).

Recipe:
Jennifer's Hand & Distressed Backgrounds stamp sets
Bluebird, Raspberry, Tulip & Bamboo cardstock
Bluebird, Raspberry & Desert Sand ink
Mind Your Manners Ephemera (Bella Blvd)
Color Kaleidoscope sticker book & puffy stickers (American Crafts)
Sapphire baker's twine
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: title
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tags
Pattern: Let's Scrap 8-15-19

Challenges: Use Your Stuff #371

Time to Explore Layout

This week's plant theme over at Lasting Memories is palms, so I pulled out a few pictures I had been saving from our visit to Balboa Park and got to work scrapping palms. There are palms on the photos and patterned papers, and I also included a palm die-cut. The challenge runs until the end of the month, so feel free to join in. My title was inspired by the fact that I took the kids to see the Dora movie on Friday, and she loves to explore, just like my kids!

Recipe:
Pack Your Bags, This Way 2 Paradise, You & Me stamp sets
Expedition papers
Garden Green, Olive, Saddle, Bamboo & Colonial White cardstock
Saddle, Olive & Chocolate ink
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Olive frame, brackets & photo turn - old Connections Club reward
Mocha Opaques pearls
My Crush Wildwood Assortment
Autumn Terracotta striped grosgrain ribbon
3-D foam tape
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: title
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: palm tree, geometric shape
Pattern: EMS Sketch 25
Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Adventure Awaits (all products on here are from my old CTMH stash - who recognizes them? LOL!); Lasting Memories #460 - Palms; Splitcoast Stampers VSBN challenge #3 - 3 photos, 3 patterned papers, 3 word title, 3 embellishment clusters

Tobie 2014 Layout

I was invited to be a guest Designer at Stick It Down sketch blog this month, and the sketch is really fun (see below). I had the extra challenge of not layering anything over my top photo, since it flips up to reveal two other photos underneath it. This meant my title was hanging out in no-man’s land, so I added some circles to tie everything together and to add a fun pop of color. The sketch challenge is open until the end of August, so come play along!

Recipe:
Blue's Clues paw print paper & word stickers (Sandylion)
Pet Shop bones paper (KI Memories)
Kraft, Chocolate, Bamboo & Cranberry cardstock
Brown & Black markers (Zig)
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Escape the Ordinary Thickers (American Crafts)
Color Kaleidoscope Thickers & sticker book (American Crafts)
Red enamel hearts
Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder
Cricut Chore Chart cartridge: dog
Cricut Simply Sweet cartridge: title
Cricut Accent Essentials cartridge: ringsPattern: Stick It Down August single page sketch

Challenges: Joy of Sets tic-tac-toe #8 (I chose square, animal, emboss)

Heritage Park Layout

Heritage Park in Cerritos is such a cool place to visit! It has a Revolutionary War vibe, with historic looking buildings and even a Paul Revere statue, and the kids can play on just about everything. I created a traditional layout plus a pocket page to hold extra photos and a pocket card I designed based on a sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday. I didn't end up stamping on my card, but I loved the design.

Here's the pocket card plus a few of my photos that go in the pocket page:

Recipe:
Design & Display kit "So Happy" papers
Brown marker (Zig)
Swiss Dot light pink grosgrain ribbon (Offray)
Celebrating Freedom Noteworthy ephemera (BoBunny)
Filed Notes Journaling ephemera (American Crafts)
Color Kaleidoscope stickers & sticker book (American Crafts)
Escape the Ordinary Thicker (American Crafts)
3-D foam tape
Pattern (for pocket card): Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch #420 (rotated left)

Challenges: Double Trouble #35 3-2-1 recipe (3 colors = pink, green, tan + 2 patterned papers (green stripes and circles + 1 sentiment or image (I did way more than one but I love every one!) & Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch; Use Your Stuff  #370- Summer Activity (playing at the park)

Calico Ghost Town Layout

When I found out that this week's Lasting Memories Plants challenge was all about cacti, I really had no idea what I would scrapbook. Despite living in Southern California, we seldom visit the desert except to drive through on the way somewhere else, so I don't have a lot of cactus pictures, if any, to scrapbook. I solved my problem by printing some photos from a trip to Calico Ghost Town, and even though there aren't any cacti in the photos, it still has a desert vibe that works for this challenge. This may be an easy challenge for you, but if not, I encourage you to think outside the box and play along. The result may surprise and please you!

Since we took about 50 pictures at Calico but I didn't want to do a bunch of layouts, I decided to create an overview layout and one other traditional layout and place the rest of our photos in pocket pages. Here are the journaling cards I included with the pocket page photos:

And to give you a taste of Calico, here are a few of the photos I put in the pocket pages:

Recipe:
Dakota papers
Sky, Desert Sand, Black, Colonial white, Pacifica, Chocolate, Saddle, Whisper, Cocoa, Fern & Saffron cardstock
Sky ink
Black marker
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Let's Go Tidbits (Chic Tags)
Color Kaleidoscope stickers (American Crafts)
Our Adventure epoxy stickers (MAMBI)
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: saguaro cactus
Cricut Southwest cartridge: all other die cuts
Challenges: Lasting Memories #459 - Cactus

EMS Sketch Challenge 76 - Dog Days of Summer Layout

I'm a little late getting this month's sketch posted, but here it is at last. It's perfect for three 6" x 4" photos (slightly trimmed), and you could also rotate it to the left if you wanted to use it for vertical photos. I might even try that later in the month just to show how it would look. Enjoy, and don't forget to post a link to your completed layout in the comment section below!

The sketch:

My layout:

Recipe:
Paw Prints on my Heart stamp set
Felicity papers
Crystal Blue, Pacifica, Espresso & Desert Sand cardstock
Autumn Terracotta, Desert Sand & Black ink
Pure Brown marker (Zig)
Burlap ribbon
Autumn Terracotta ribbon
Pearl Opaques
Escape the Ordinary Thicker (American Crafts)
Cricut Design Studio: title using Cookie font
Cricut Artistry cartridge: hearts

Thankful Layout

For the second Lasting Memories plants challenge, we were asked to show off some flowers on our layouts. I had this lovely floral paper that I thought made a great complement to my photos, so I paired it with some stamped, colored, and fussy-cut flower images and a few paper flowers. Lasting Memories' August challenges are open until the end of the month, so feel free to pop on over and join in the fun!

Recipe:
Love This stamp set
Brushed papers
Pear & White Daisy cardstock
Canary, Creme Brulee, Pixie, Hollyhock, Juniper & Tuxedo Black ink
Black marker
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Black tulle ribbon
Canary baker's twine
Thankful sticker (CM)
Field Notes Ephemera (American Crafts)
Color Kaleidoscope sticker book & Thickers
Paper flowers (American Crafts)
Flutter Just Blooms paper shapes
Cocoa & White Daisy brads
3-D foam tape
Pattern: Sketches in Thyme #383

Balboa Park Layout

As I was looking at these pictures of my family at Balboa Park, I noticed my oldest son had put his arm around my youngest son's waist in the leftmost photo and caused his shirt to ride up so you could see the big bandage around his middle. At first, I was bummed because it seemed like it ruined my "perfect" picture, but I got to thinking about it and it seemed like a great introduction to telling the story behind the bandage, something I haven't yet done in my scrapbooking. Since I was scrapbooking quite a few pictures, I decided to hide the journaling in a Flip-Flap under the horizontal photo, so it has actually become a metaphor of our lives that summer - pretty on the outside but with complicated stuff hidden underneath. This was the first summer of fostering my two youngest kids, and although everything worked out so we could adopt them, I think it's important to remember who they were when we first met them so we can be thankful for who they are now, even on the hard days of parenting!

And here's the journaling card with the story:

Click on the image if it's too small to read.

Recipe:
Newsprint Alphabet stamp set (SU)
Central Park papers
Clover Meadow, Honey & White Daisy cardstock
Clover Meadow & sunny Yellow ink
Escape the Ordinary Thickers (American Crafts)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: sun, frame
CTMH Chevron embossing folder
Heart Punch (EK Success)
Challenges: Retro Rubber Challenge Blog #116 tic-tac-toe (I chose the middle column down for green, texture - the embossed chevrons - and nature) and I used a woodie stamp set from 2004 to do the title; Double Trouble #34 (Thing 1 - anything goes, Thing 2 - also played along with Retro Rubber challenges, Thing 3 - gave my impression of sunshine with the die-cut sun plus the sun rays paper).