Life Is Better Layout

***The countdown is almost over to participate in the prize drawing for using one of my scrapbook sketches. Layouts must be posted and linked up by 8/31/21, so pop on over to this post to find out how to play along!***

I love these pictures of my daughter goofing around with a couple of other kids from church! The photos were taken six years ago, so I am not even sure what they were doing, but it's nice to see them all having such a good time.

Recipe:
Oh Happy Day papers & stickers (Simple Stories)
Black & Cotton Candy cardstock
Raspberry & Juniper ink
Black marker
White gel pen (Sakura)
Oh Happy Day stickers & Thickers
Wood hearts
Emoji stickers (American Crafts)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: curvy square
Pattern: Scraplift from Scrapbook.com
Challenges: Let's Craft and Create #174 Polka dots and/or stripes; Lasting Memories #563 Polka dots

Summer Vibes Layout

***Quick reminder: time is running out to play along with my 100 Sketches Challenges. Submit your layout by 8/31/21 to be included in the prize drawing. See this post for details.***

We didn't take many photos on this day at the beach, but the sketch from Scrap Our Stash was perfect for the few I did have. I frequently change things up when using a sketch, but this time I kept pretty close to the sketch, and I love the result. Hope you do, too!

Recipe:
Summer Vibes papers and stickers
Glacier, Lemonade, Nectarine & Smoothie cardstock
Candy Apple, Nectarine, Smoothie, Glacier & Sunny Yellow ink
Black marker
Blue Enamel & Glitter Duos dots
Sunset baker's twine
Cuttlebug embossing folders: D'vine Swirl, CTMH Confetti
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tag, banner
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: fish
Pattern: Scrap Our Stash August 2015 sketch challenge

Challenges: Bitten By the Bug Under the Sea (these photos were taken by the sea, not under it, but I added some fish die-cuts anyway!)

Our Day at the Zoo Layout

There is less than a week left of August, so time is running out to enter my 100 Sketches Challenge. This month only, you have an opportunity to win a prize if you participate in the challenge! See this post for more details.

I have so many photos of our trips to the zoo, and each time I scrapbook some it's a challenge trying to come up with a unique title. This time, however, Lasting Memories had a challenge to show a sequence of events in your photos, which led me to do a layout with an overarching title "Our Day at the Zoo" plus little labels showing the sequence of activities we did at the zoo. Thanks, LM, for the fun challenge!

Recipe:
Jennifer's Hand Alphabet stamp set
CTMH April/May 2021 Mix-In papers
Desert Rose, Peacock, Glacier, Cinnamon & White Daisy cardstock
Sorbet, Creme Brulee, Peacock, Glacier & Autumn Terracotta ink
Black marker
White gel pen (Sakura)
Zoo Animals stickers (Tumblebeasts)
Blue Enamel & Glitter Duos dots
Peacock grosgrain ribbon
Heart punch (EK Success)
Cricut Artistry cartridge: label, title letters, large heart
Cricut Artiste cartridge: banners
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #59

Challenges: Lasting Memories #562 Sequence; Double Trouble #91 Scrappers Trail Mix (Thing 1 = used stripes & polka dots + Things 2 = played along with Color My Heart's Color Dare #458 + Thing 3 = used Sundance, Cinnamon, Desert Rose, Peacock & Glacier plus neutrals)

Summer Nights @ the Bowl Layout

***Just a reminder that there is still time to enter a layout based on one of my sketches so you're eligible for the prize drawing of a gift card to Scrapbook.com! See this post for details.***

One of my favorite things to do (that I haven't been able to do for a long time) is attend concerts at the Hollywood Bowl. My hubby and I usually invite a few friends and eat a picnic dinner in the cheap seats - not quite the nosebleed section but close to it - before the concert starts. For the layout, I used transparent texture paste to create a starry sky at the top of the page. It didn't come out quite like I intended (was hoping for a shinier look), but it was my first time using this product, so I guess I will learn with experience. At any rate, I love how the silhouette of Elliott and ET on the bicycle (created using Cricut Design Space) turned out.

Recipe:
Vogue Alphabet & Pen Pal Alphabet stamp sets
Dreamin' Big, Laughing Lola & Stargazer papers
Black, Juniper & Greg Wool cardstock
Black & Juniper ink
Black marker
Juniper & Silver washi tape
Transparent Gloss Texture Paste (Ranger)
Silver star brads (Creative Impressions)
Starry Night stencils (Simple Stories)
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge 2

Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Full Circle; Challenge YOUrself #92 Self Care (taking a night off from my kids to go out with friends!)

Hey Kitten Layout

***Have you heard that I am offering a prize this month in honor of my 100th sketch? See this post for details of how to enter the drawing!***

Love these funny pictures of my kitty when he was a kitten and learned a valuable lesson about the shower! Although he loves to snoop around when we are done showering, he has never voluntarily entered the shower while the water is going again.

Recipe:
Pet Shop papers (KI Memories)
Kraft, Glacier & Espresso, cardstock
Goldrush, Creme Brulee, Glacier, Toffee & Espresso ink
Brown marker (Zig)
Lagoon washi tape
Grey Wool baker's twine
Gold heart paper clip ((American Crafts)
Jackson PML card
Goldrush Bigger Brad
Pet Shop sticker & enamel sticker (KI Memories)
Escape the Ordinary Thickers (American Crafts)
White Lacey Trims (49 & Market)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tags, title, banner
Cricut Artistry cartridge: cat
Cricut Artbooking cartrdige: scalloped frame, arrows
Cuttlebug embossing folder: Swiss Dot
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #231

Challenges: Double Trouble #90 Are You Kitten Me (Thing 1 = baby animal + Thing 2 = entered into 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #53 Anything Goes with Baby Animal); Use Your Stuff #429 Water/Beach theme (probably not what they had in mind, but there was definitely water involved, so I'm going for it - LOL!)

H is for Happy Layout

***I am so happy to have reached the milestone of designing 100 sketches that I am offering a prize drawing for those who complete a layout based on one of my sketches! See this post for details.***

Here are some pictures from a family visit to Irvine Regional Park. We enjoyed the beautiful grounds, the paddleboat, and the train ride. The challenge from Tic-Tac-Toe's recent board inspired me to create the title; it's actually based on a CTMH pocket card that I re-created using slightly different colors to match my papers and photos.

Recipe:
Quotable Words & Card Word Puzzle stamp sets
The Stack 4 papers (DCWV)
Toffee, Carolina, Sunset, Sunflower, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Carolina, Sunset, Sunflower & Black ink
White gel pen (Sakura)
Color Kaleidoscope stickers & Thickers (American Crafts)
Illustrated Faith Go! die-cuts (Bella Blvd)
Junebug Puffies
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: heart banner
Cricut Artiste cartridge: Happy, small banner
Cricut Seasonal Sampler cartridge: train
Cricut Train Silhouettes cartridge: railway tunnel & tracks
Cuttlebug embossing folder
Pattern: Stick It Down August 2021 double page sketch

Challenges: Tic Tac Toe Challenges #126 (used the middle row across with die-cut + blue + ABCs)

Brothers and Sisters Layout

***For those who don't know, in honor of my 100th EMS Sketch challenge, I am offering a prize for using one of my sketches this month. See this post for details.***

Now on to my layout, which was so fun yet so challenging to put together. Designs that include diagonals look fabulous, but getting all the measurements correct and figuring out how to stretch 12" papers so they cover the extra length of the diagonal can be a puzzle! Another challenge was figuring out where to place my journaling; I settled on writing around the border of the circle photo because I didn't want to cover up any more of the great background paper, but I am not sure it was the best solution. Oh well, it's done now and the memory is scrapped!

Recipe:
You Warm My Heart stamp set
Molly papers & stickers (Bella Blvd)
Raspberry, Carolina, Slate & White Daisy cardstock
Raspberry, Carolina & Lagoon ink
Watermelon marker
White gel pen (Sakura)
Raspberry baker's twine
Color Kaleidoscope stickers (American Crafts)
White enamel dots
3-D foam tape
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: curved title shape
Cricut Artistry cartridge: pocket
Star punch (maker unknown)
Pattern: Scraplift from Scrapbook.com
Challenges: Lasting Memories #560 - stars; Use Your Stuff #428 - Inspired by Real Life (as these pictures from a visit with my oldest son's birth mom and two half-siblings show, they may not live together but the bond is real); Scrap With Stacy August 2021 Tic-Tac-Toe (used the middle column with twine + circles + stickers)

Scrappy Prize for 100 Sketches!

I started out my sketch journey many years ago and, despite bumps in the road and extremely long pauses in which I didn't create any sketches, I have finally arrived at my 100th EMS Sketch! While this isn't my 100th sketch out of all the sketches I've done (I created some for a challenge blog and others for Splitcoast Stampers), it's still a cool milestone for me. To celebrate, I invite you to use any one of my sketches and post a link to your completed layout in the comments section at the bottom of this post. To find a sketch, you can either click on EMS Sketch Challenges in the sidebar under Labels, or you can see them on Pinterest. Can't wait to discover what sketch inspires you!

The Sketch:

My Layout:

Just for fun, if at least ten different people link up in the comments below with a layout based on one of my sketches, I will be offering a prize of a $25 gift certificate to Scrapbook.com! One entry per person please, and the deadline to enter is August 31st at 11:59 PM PST.

Recipe:
Jennifer's Hand Alphabet & Distressed Backgrounds stamp sets
Autumn Garden papers
Autumn Terracotta, Indian Corn Blue, Sky, Toffee & Bamboo cardstock
Indian Corn Blue, Sky, Toffee & Bamboo ink
Brown micron marker (Sakura)
Blue Adornaments fibers (EK Success)
Antiqued Copper brads
Bronze Shimmer Trim
Magic Mesh (Creative Imaginations)
Calm file folder (MME)
Let's Wander Thickers (American Crafts)
Grey washi tape
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: banners
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: sunburst
Cricut Artistry cartridge: pyramid
Challenges: The Studio Challenges Stars; Just Us Girls #595 Anything But a Card;  Lasting Memories #559 Bingo (I chose the top row across with star + washi tape + stripes + dies + arrow)