Double Trouble Crazy Cousin + Brianna's 3rd Grade Portrait Layout

My final challenge as Double Trouble's Crazy Cousin guest designer is "Anything Goes," with an optional twist of using something new I found under the Christmas tree, so I decided to scrapbook my daughter's third grade school portrait using my new papers and embellishments from the Echo Park Teen Spirit collection.

WELCOME to Challenge #46 - Let the Troubles Begin! 

"SomeThing, AnyThing, EveryThing"

  

THING 1: Trouble Maker
says, "It's time again to grab your bone folder and stuff, and create something new. We think this is easier than folding a fitted sheet! It's time to use 'stuff' you have in your stash (new and/or old)."

You can stop here...

OR, you can choose to include Twisted Sister's Optional Twist below to earn additional chances at our random draw.

THING 3: Twisted Sister

says, "Out with the old, In with the NEW:  Use that new crafting item you found under the tree or in your stocking or create a project about something new - New Year, new baby, etc.  

This is an OPTIONAL TWIST but you will be awarded an additional chance in Double Trouble's random draw if you include either of these twists in your project.

THING 2: Double Trouble 

dares you to multiply the fun and link up your project with any of our previous partner(s) listed below for extra chances to our Random Draw. Make sure you read their guidelines carefully and observe their dates. We don't want you to get into Trouble with them. 

This means: each time you link to a previous partner with the same card, you gain an additional chance for each partner challenge you entered. Please make sure you identify them in your blog along with our Double Trouble link.

And Crazy Cousin (that's me) says: "Here's a link to the list!"







Recipe:
Charming Cascades stamp set
Teen Spirit Girl Epic Buttons paper (Echo Park)
Color Kaleidoscope Look Up paper (American Crafts)
Glitter paper (Recollections)
Lagoon, Canary & Gypsy cardstock
Raspberry, Gypsy & Lagoon ink
White gel pen (Sakura)
Teen Spirit Girl Ephemera (Echo Park)
Teen Spirit Girl Frames & Tags (Echo Park)
Canary baker's twine
DE Flower Garden chipboard
DE Hearts chipboard
Tab & large flower chipboard (source unknown)
Stargazer enamel dots
Shimmer pen
Acrylic paint
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: photo mat, chevron arrow
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: 3, dragonfly
Pattern: Sketches in Thyme #402

Challenges: Crafter's Cafe #233 I Spy Something Beginning with C (chipboard, chevrons, Canary cardstock, circle emojis & enamel dots); Bitten By the Bug Use a Number; The Library Challenge #49 - Anthology (I chose the book Absolute Beginners because I loved the blue and yellow on the cover and thought it would be a great color scheme for this photo, plus my daughter was beginning 3rd grade!)

Dinner at the Clarence Layout

I finally finished scrapbooking my photos from 2014 (woohoo!), so while waiting for my order of photos from 2015 to arrive, it seemed an opportune time to catch up on a few more photos from my London trip. For some reason, we took a lot of photos of us at pubs and restaurants, so here are a few from The Clarence. I started with a scraplift from Scrapbook.com but was inspired to add the watercolor background paper and stamped houses because of the Library's Anthology challenge based on the cover of Mary Poppins (see below). The challenge is open until January 11, so there's lots of time to join in on the fun!

Recipe:
Neighborhood & Victory WOTG stamp sets
Watercolor papers (Recollections)
Color Kaleidoscope papers (American Crafts)
Words paper from my stash (it was a gift so I don't know its source)
Barn Red & Colonial White cardstock
Barn Red, Ruby, Lagoon, Whisper, Slate & Buttercup ink
Barn REd & Ocean markers
Pink craft buttons
Grey Wool baker's twine
Field Notes Journaling Ephemera (American Crafts)
CTMH Chevron embossing folder
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: circle border, ticket
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tag
Pattern: Scraplift of this layout from Scrapbook.com

Challenges: The Library Anthology challenge - Mary Poppins

Christmas Tradition Layout

Our local fire department had a Christmas Day tradition of going to all the houses in the city and delivering little bags of treats. I've scrapped about this previously (see here), but on this layout I got to include pictures of the first time my two youngest children experienced this years old tradition. I played along with several challenges, including Scrapbook.com's Baker's Dozen challenge, in  which different people suggest an item until we have thirteen items, then everyone tries to incorporate all those items into a layout. I've included the list so see if you can find all thirteen!

1. Stars
2. Doily
3. Buttons
4. Tree
5. Cardboard
6. Gold Embellishment
7. Red
8. Glitter
9. Paint
10. Washi tape
11. Brads
12. Quote or quotation marks
13. Paper weaving

Recipe:
Paper Fundamentals Basic Assortment Black cardstock
Christmas Brights Plaid (Bo-Bunny)

Tree paper from my stash (source unknown)
New England Ivy, Tulip & White Daisy cardstock
New England Ivy & Tulip ink
Jeepers Creepers washi tape
Green craft buttons
Sunflower embroidery floss
Gold star brads (Creative Impressions)
Red Shimmer Trim
Glitter
White paint
Cuttlebug Winter Trees embossing folder
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: doily, banner, title
Pattern: Sketches in Thyme #399

Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Anything Goes Christmas Edition; The Studio Challenges Christmas Traditions

A Less Is More Christmas

For various reasons, this ended up being a very scaled down Christmas for our family. My CPAP machine started malfunctioning in September, and since it's been an ordeal getting insurance approval for a new one, I have been getting less oxygen and less sleep, so I have been less excited than usual about the Christmas season. Our annual church Christmas party for the elders and pastoral staff was cancelled due to our hostess being ill, so we didn't go to any Christmas parties. We wanted to go see the amazing display of Christmas lights at Descanso Gardens, but they were sold out, so we instead drove the kids around the neighborhood one night to see what the locals had put up. We decided to be very sparing with the presents this year, and mine were both replacements for things that are wearing out (my Kindle and my digital camera), so there wasn't much of a surprise for me. The kids each got a stocking with an assortment of gifts, but still not a ton of stuff. Even when we heard the sirens going, usually a signal that the fire department is making rounds of the city to deliver a bag of nuts and fruit to each family, we went outside to find a police car and a single flatbed truck with Santa on it, and volunteers from the University of La Verne handing out the gifts. So that was definitely the "less" part of the season for us. But wait, there's more!

The more was going to "Journey to Bethlehem" at Purpose Church in Pomona and seeing what life might have been like for Mary and Joseph as they entered the town and prepared for the birth of their blessed Son. The kids also got more enjoyment over the three Christmas CDs I played in the car this year, with Pentatonix' "Hark! the Herald Angels" and "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" being favorites, and Jordan's Smith's rendition of "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" coming in a close second. And I loved discovering TobyMac's rocking version of the First Noel! Our church's Eve Before Christmas Eve service was a true blessing, with fellowship, good food, the singing of some familiar carols, and a thought-provoking meditation from our youth pastor and one of the young adults. Another thing that brought me more joy was passing along the baton of reading the Christmas story from Luke 2, to my youngest child, Oliver. His rendition wasn't perfect (how do you pronounce Quirinius anyway?), but my heart swelled to hear the familiar words read in his sweet voice. And despite the scarcity of presents under the tree, the kids all seemed much more content with what they received. Even my sarcastic teenager Elliot was more focused on enjoying what he and his siblings received than on making unkind cracks to the other kids. So while Christmas may have seemed less in so many ways, it truly was a "more" type of Christmas in all the things that count: family, love, and celebrating the birth of our Savior.

Here's praying your Christmas is blessed and you are able to spend time with family or other loved ones, and that you celebrate what really makes Christmas more this year!

Merry Christmas!

Angel's Kindergarten Christmas Party Layout

I only took a few photos of my son's kindergarten Christmas party, so I was able to add some fun embellishments to my layout, like the die-cut wreath inspired by Scrap With Stacy's photo inspiration (see below). I wanted to use a felt poinsettia as a finishing touch, but it turned out to be really hard to scan because it was so thick, which made me realize it would also be super thick in my son's school album, so I went with a sticker instead! Anyone have great tips on scanning really thick items, or do you just not use them on layouts?

Recipe:
One Wish papers (Sweetwater)
Bella paper
Kraft, Tulip, Olive & New England Ivy cardstock
Tulip, Cocoa & Olive ink
Pure Brown marker (Zig)
Sage Green ShinHan Touch Twin marker
Milepost Shapes
Victorian Holiday Stickers - poinsettia (CM)
Cocoa brad
Cocoa polka-dot ribbon
Winter Defined sticker (Making Memories)
Xmas Red Stickles (Ranger)
Cuttlebug: Winter Trees embossing folder
Cricut Artistry cartridge: wreath, banner
Pattern: Pebbles September 2012 sketch (rotated left)

Challenges: Lasting Memories #476 - National Poinsettia Day; Scrap With Stacy December Photo Inspiration (inspired by the wreaths, the brown and red, and the Christmas theme)

It's Christmas Time Layout

This is one of those layouts that evolved as I created it, so that the finished product is not that similar to the vision I had in mind when I started. There were several challenges I wanted to play along with, so that helped shape the process. For example, I wanted to participate in the Library Challenge with the Rupert cover (see below), but I had already scrapped our "getting the Christmas tree and bringing it home" photos, so I had to take it in a different direction. I added lavender to the traditional Christmas red and green because Bill Badger was wearing that color (as was my daughter), and I chose a yellow main title to go with the big yellow title. I added a tree, of course, and went with the plaid paper because of  the pattern on Rupert's trousers. Love playing along with challenges that inspire me to think outside the box, and I can't wait for a whole bunch of new ones in 2020!

In case you're wondering, I did take a photo of me in my funny hat,
but it's on the facing pocket page and will never be publicly posted - LOL!

Recipe:
Watercolor papers (Recollections)

Christmas Brights Plaid (Bo-Bunny)

Brenda Walton Peppermint Twist Large Holiday Trees Foil paper (K & Company)

Vellum

Ponderosa Pine, Black, Canary & White Daisy cardstock

Ponderosa Pine & Petal ink

Woodgrain & Honey Triangles washi tape

Gold star brads (Creative Impressions)

Xmas Red & Gold Stickles (Ranger)

Cricut Artistry cartridge: tree, string of lights, star ornament

Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title (green)

Cricut Artbooking cartridge: Christmas title
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #191

Challenges: The Paper Girls #190 - Holiday Lights (since I scrapped our Christmas lights visit already, instead I made this layout more festive by adding a string of lights using leftovers from designing this card, which would have been perfect for the challenge!); The Library Challenge #48

Update: this layout was a Librarian's Choice over at the Library Challenge - yippee!

All the Stockings Layout

2014 was the Christmas my daughter wore bright pink pajamas, so I had to work around that color scheme, which led me to an old paper pack called Magic Moments. Although it wasn't a Christmas kit, it seemed to tie some great colors together and inspired me to create blue, yellow and pink stockings as embellishments. Around the bottom picture, I wrote a line from the song "Jolly Old St. Nicholas: "All the stockings you will find hanging in a row," but I finished it off with "but not for long!"

Recipe:
Magical Day stamp set
Magic Moments papers
Barn Red, Sweet Leaf & White Daisy cardstock
Barn Red & Hollyhock ink
White gel pen (Sakura)
Color Ready Kraft Borders
Stuck on You Puffies
Gold photo hangers
White baker's twine
Star Dust Stickles (Ranger)
Magic Moments stickers
Toddler Trinkets & Toys stickers (CM)
Gingerbread man stickers (from my stash)
Cuttlebug Wicker Weave & Swiss Dot embossing folders
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: stockings
Pattern: Triple Play - Offset (from Reflections by Jeanette Lynton)
Challenges: Lasting Memories #477 Roots Day - scrap an older picture of you and your family (2014 isn't super old, but I enjoyed remembering when my kids were this little); Use Your Stuff #388 - Christmas Time

EMS Sketch Challenge 83 + Trimming the Tree Layout

A while back, I had pinned a layout sketch to Pinterest, but when I went back to look at it, it was very hard to see (pretty low definition), and the source link was no longer valid. I loved the sketch, so I decided to re-create it so other people can enjoy it, too. It's not an exact copy, but still, big thanks to whoever originally created the sketch! For my layout, I pulled out an old but dearly loved CTMH paper pack called Jingle and used it for the patterned paper sections, including the cute tree border on the bottom. My finishing touch was to add some shine to each ornament: the green one I coated using a Shimmer Brush, on a second one I used silver washi tape, and to the final one I added an outline of sparkles.

The Sketch:

My Layout:

And here are a few details of the ornaments and journaling:

Recipe:
Glamour Uppercase and Lowercase Alphabets, Trim the Tree, Stocking Style & Tiny Typewriter stamp sets
Jingle & Perfect Day papers
Juniper, Creme Brulee, Tulip & White Daisy cardstock
Juniper, Creme Brulee & Tulip ink
Silver Metallics marker
Creme Brulee grosgrain ribbon
Silver thread (source unknown)
Base & Bling Bow Charm
Sparkles Holiday Shapes
Silver washi tape
Clear Shimmer Brush
3-D foam tape
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: ornaments
Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Evergreen challenge (I went with our Christmas tree); Lasting Memories #475 Mitten Tree Day; Joy of Sets #12 (I used the column with trees, sparkle, star)

Double Trouble Crazy Cousin + Big Ben Layout

I opted to ignore the holiday season and do some London vacation photo scrapbooking today! In keeping with my role as Crazy Cousin over at Double Trouble's challenge blog, I created a layout with black and white stripes, plus silver and shades of blue and green as my three additional colors. Details of the challenge can be found below, so come play along any time between now and December 29.

WELCOME to Challenge #45 - Let the Troubles Begin 

"Earn Your Stripes"

THING 1: Trouble Maker

says, "I went to the Zoo and the Zebra was my favorite animal.  Won't you include something striped (NO PLAID) somewhere in your project.  You can use any color stripe; however, if you use a black and white stripe you get an additional chance for the draw."

You can stop here...

OR, you can choose to include Twisted Sister's Optional Twist below.

THING 3: Twisted Sister

says, "Black and white! How boring! I want to add more color to Trouble Maker's life with my paint ball gun.  Along with your black and white, use three more colors to show her who's really the boss."

This is an OPTIONAL TWIST but you will be awarded an additional chance in Double Trouble's random draw if you include this twist in your project.

Now, don't stop here... 

THING 2: Double Dare says, Oh Dear! Things are getting out of control!" If you have used black and completed Twisted Sister's twist using three colors, you are eligible to join Color My Heart's Color Dare Challenges Team A #373 and Team B #374.

Recipe:
Glitter & Watercolor papers (Recollections)
CTMH Fall 2019 Mix-In & Moonlight papers

Color Kaleidoscope papers (American Crafts)

London Memories Journal card (Scrapbook Customs)

Black & Lagoon cardstock

Silver Metallics Marker

Silver brad

Big Ben sticker (Frances Meyer, Inc)

Colonial White ric-rac

Cricut Artiste cartridge: clocks

Pattern: Sketches in Thyme #400

Challenges: Use Your Stuff # 387 Mint

Elated 2 B Related Layout

I'm closing in on the last five layouts featuring photos from 2014, so here's one from Thanksgiving Day 2014. I already journaled on a previous layout about my hubby taking the kids to the park after dinner, so I decided not to include journaling on this one. I didn't have a good title in mind until I found the "related" sticker and, since the kids were having a ball with their cousin, the rest of the title popped into my mind. Love it when that happens!

Recipe:
Pen Pal Alphabet stamp set
Victory papers
Brown Diamonds paper (Paper Pizazz)
Chocolate ink
Autumn Large & Small Leaves die-cuts (MME)
Pear & Partridge PML card
Wood Grain washi tape
Blue enamel dots
Adornaments blue fibers (EK Success)
Mind Your Manners Fundamentals stickers (Bella Blvd)
Color Kaleidoscope sticker book (American Crafts)
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #190

Challenges: The Library Challenges #47 (I was inspired by the color scheme, the brown plaid on one of the girl's dresses, the trees in background, the family theme, and by the idea of kids having fun outdoors).

Christmas Lights Card

I'm busy designing Christmas cards for a class I'm teaching on Saturday at church, so here's another one. I started with a sketch from Stick It Down because I was intrigued by the ribbon strips across it. I first thought of using banners to highlight some of the phrases on the stamp I chose, but couldn't get it to look quite right, so I ditched that idea and came up with the strands of Christmas lights. My family never uses just one color of Christmas lights on the house or our tree, but I thought it looked better on the card!

Recipe:
Poster Tidings & Santa Claus stamp sets
Mistletoe paper
Cranberry, Garden Green, Black & White Daisy cardstock
New England Ivy, Cranberry & Black ink
Black marker
Silver & Xmas Red Stickles (Ranger)
Cricut Artistry cartridge: strings of lights
Cricut Artiste cartridge: ornaments
Pattern: Stick It Down December 2019 card sketch

Challenges: Retro Rubber Challenge Blog #125 - used Poster Tidings (2013) & Santa Claus (2013)

Peace on Earth Christmas Card

I've been busy creating cards for my cardmaking class this Saturday at church, and I thought I would share! For this one, I pulled out some Nativity stamps and created a little scene. I'm going to have some novice stampers at the class, so I didn't want to overwhelm them with techniques, but I thought they could probably handle the little bit of heat embossing required to do the star! I'm trying to keep the cost down so I used older products that I already had in my stash.

Recipe:
Glory to God & Everlasting Life stamps
Kraft & Pacifica cardstock
Vellum
Chocolate, Pacifica, Black, Bamboo & Versamark ink
Gold embossing powder
Gold ribbon (from my stash, source unknown)
Gold Stickles (Ranger)
Pattern: Atlantic Hearts #345 (my vertical strip doesn't go all the way down because my sentiment is too big)

EMS Sketch 82 + All I Want for Christmas Layout

Today's post has a double helping of scrappy goodness! Not only do I have a brand new double page sketch for you to enjoy, but I was asked to be the December Crazy Cousin over at Double Trouble challenge blog. Please come out and play with either or both challenges! The sketch features 7 full size or slightly cropped 4" x 6" photos, and I embellished with gifts since I was doing a Christmas theme, but you could replace the gifts with hearts for Valentines, stars for July 4th, etc.

The sketch:

Tip: for piece A, choose a paper where the design orientation doesn't matter. That way it won't look upside down when you rotate it to use on the second page!

My layout:

And here's the super fun Double Trouble challenge:

WELCOME to Challenge #44 - Let the Troubles Begin! 

"WRAP IT UP"

THING 1: Trouble Maker

says, "Wrap It Up! Not much time remains to have your holiday cards done in time for mailing. Look through your stash and create a project using at least one patterned holiday paper."

You can stop here...

OR, you can choose to include Twisted Sister's Optional Twist below. 

THING 3: Twisted Sister
says, "Well, we wrapped it up. Now... Let's Tie It Up! Include ribbon and/or bows anywhere on your project (using ribbon, die, stamp, digital image with bow, twine, etc.)"

This is an OPTIONAL TWIST but you will be awarded an additional chance in Double Trouble's random draw if you include this twist in your project.

AND Don't stop here... if you have included this twist with a Holiday theme you are eligible to enter Double Dare's Dare below. 

THING 2:  Double Dare 

says, "ArtsyStamper Digitals Challenge is celebrating 'Winter Holidays'. If your project has a holiday theme share your project HERE and earn an additional chance for our random draw prize."

Recipe:
Classmate Alphabet stamp set
Traditional Christmas kit (KI Memories)
Pixie, Topiary & White Daisy cardstock
Watermelon, Pear & Topiary ink
Black marker
Blush dot, Sweet Leaf Gingham & grosgrain & Topiary chevron ribbons
Cricut Simply Sweet cartridge: title
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: heart
Mini heart punch (EK Success)

Blessings Layout

For these pictures of my kids and the dogs at the park, I played along with the Photos With Pets challenge on Splitcoast Stampers. We also had to use a diagonal, tear the edge, and use washi tape. This ended up working perfectly with my new sketch for December, so consider this your sneak peak until I post the actual sketch on Monday!

Recipe:
Sweet Leaf, Heaveny Blue, Honey and White Daisy cardstock
Honey ink
Black marker
Great Lengths stickers (CM)
Riley Rub-Ons & Chipboard buttons from the Love Elsie collection (KI Memories)
Lagoon baker's twine
Lagoon washi tape
3-D foam tape

London Supreme Court Layout

I'm switching back to London vacation pages for the moment since I wanted to complete a travel themed challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers. This building looked medieval yet when I looked it up, it was actually completed in 1913 - go figure!

Recipe:
CTMH Fall 2019 Mix-In, For Always & Buzz and Bumble papers
Sky & white Daisy cardstock
Sky, Sapphire, Sunset & Black ink
Black & Sky markers
Grey Wool baker's twine
Black embroidery floss
MAMBI Sticks Our Adventure epoxy stickers (MAMBI)
Say Cheese III enamel dots
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: banner
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tag
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #65

Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Black Friday (this one seemed pretty open to interpretation, so I went with lots of black products); The Library Challenges #46 "The Sewing Machine" (I was inspired to sew on my layout)

Snow Monster Smash Layout

Earlier this year I created several layouts in which my daughter was wearing an Elsa (from Frozen) costume, so I was kinda over Frozen, even though I still had more photos to scrap. A couple of things reanimated my creativity this week: a glitter + snowman challenge from Double Trouble, and finding a partially used Frozen sticker book when I deep cleaned my daughter's room. She's pretty much out-grown Frozen, so she let me have the book and I was able to use a few stickers on this layout, so hooray for recycling! FYI: I've been ask to be a guest designer for Double Trouble for the month of December, so be sure to check back Monday to see my Double Trouble inspired layout.

Recipe:
Friendship Alphabet Small stamp set
Glitter & Watercolor papers (Recollections)
Dotty for You papers
Lagoon & White Daisy cardstock
Lagoon & Grey Wool ink
Lagoon baker's twine
Frozen sticker book (Innovative Designs)
Snowflake punch (EK Success)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: Monster, scalloped border, circle tag
Pattern: Scrap Our Stash November Pick a Side challenge (I chose the left side)

Challenges: Double Trouble #43 Bring on the Glitz (Things 1 - glitter paper, sticker & dots + Thing 2 - play along with Cupcake Inspiration's snowman theme + Thing 3 - snowman)