Sherlocked Layout

I've been struggling with scrapbooking lately, but am trying to force myself to get some layouts done this month in hopes of rediscovering the joy I usually find in this hobby. A few crafty challenges (see below) helped push me along, and I finally finished a layout. Woohoo! BTW, the layout's title is based on the BBC's Sherlock, Season 2 episode 1, referring to Irene Adler's cell phone password.

Recipe:
Illuminate, Puns of Praise & Typed Note stamp sets
Fall 2019 Mix In, For Always & Blue SKies papers
Sage, Carolina, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Sage, Carolina, Sapphire, Honey & Black ink
Black marker
Gold Metallic marker
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Gold brad
DE Quotes chipboard
My Crush Best Day Ever assortment
Cricut Noah's ABC Animals cartridge: title
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge 3

Challenges: Lasting Memories #550 Multi-photo layout; Scrap With Stacy June 2021 (used the diagonal with chipboard, quote, and circles)

Color My Heart #447 (used the row with Carolina, Sage & Sapphire plus added Craft, Toffee, Black, White & Gold)

Kindergarten ABC Album Final Layout

Since May was National Scrapbook Month, I started out with the intention of scrapping 20 layouts, but life intervened. During the first week of the month, my 11 year old son, whom my family adopted four years ago, went in for surgery to widen his constricted aorta. Despite seeming to come through the surgery with flying colors, some complications developed and my son went home to be with the Lord the day following his surgery. We miss him desperately, and I wasn't sure I would be able to scrapbook about him any time soon, but I made the decision to finally finish the ABC album I had started for him in kindergarten. It was intended to be a gift for his teacher, but I worked so hard on it that I just couldn't part with it, so I saved it for my son. I still hadn't completed the final layout, but my husband really wants to include the album as part of the display table at our son's memorial service, so I pulled out my supplies and forced myself to scrapbook. The process has been therapeutic, and I am so grateful to have this memento of my baby.

Recipe:
Moondoggie papers
Cashmere, Indian Corn Blue, Garden Green, Cranberry, Saffron & White Daisy cardstock
Cranberry, Indian Corn Blue & Garden Green ink
Black marker
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Cranberry grosgrain ribbon
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title, arrows
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: Hibiscus
Pattern: Splitcoast Stampers Sketch16Jan1

Challenges:
• Bitten by the Bug May Flowers
• Double Trouble #85 (Thing 1 - Anything goes + Thing 2 - played along with a previous partner + Thing 3 - Yoyo dare using the Time Warp trick since I pulled out an unfinished project from the past)
• The Crafter's Cafe #267 Anything Goes
• Studio Challenges SCRAP items (S - sketch + C - Cranberry cardstock + R - ribbon + A - arrows + P - patterned paper);
• Tic Tac Toe Challenge #116 (Used the middle row with blue + Circle + floral image)