Adrian's 14th Birthday Party Layout

I was saddened to discover that Heart 2 Heart, a long time favorite challenge blog, has decided to close down. For their final challenge, they asked us to go full circle, so I searched for the first challenge I played along with them. It was a Mother's Day challenge, and I had included a circle on the card I created, so I took this as a sign to use circles. This layout has three cardstock circles and three circle photos. Goodbye to Heart 2 Heart, and thank you for many years of great challenges! You will be missed.

Recipe:
Party Time papers
Sapphire & Glacier cardstock
Sapphire & Glacier ink
Prussian Blue fineliner pen (iBayam)
Party Time cardstock stickers
White acrylic hearts
Pattern: Stick It Down December 2022 double page sketch

Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Full Circle; Heart's Quest #21 Heart Shape + Birthday theme

Assemble Layout

I'm trying to finish off a few last layouts before the end of the year, so here's one with photos from Christmas 2015. After the excitement of opening gifts was over, the kids needed help putting together their Legos, so I got drafted into service!

Recipe:
Starburst stamp (SU)
Jingle papers
Tulip, Juniper, Peacock & Creme Brulee cardstock
Tulip, Juniper & Peacock ink
Black marker
White pearls
Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder
Cricut Artiste cartridge: gears, title
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #263

Challenges: Double Trouble #128 Anything Goes; Paper Funday #48 Anything Goes with optional twist of  Holiday Time

Planes of Fame Layout

I had pulled out some photos and cardstock for a flight museum layout back in December with the intention of playing along with one of Color My Heart's Color Dares, but the color scheme never quite gelled for me so I set it aside. It's been bugging me ever since, so I finally sat down and finished it. Turns out the addition of one more color (Harbour, which was not in the color palette) made all the difference. I didn't think I would like this color when CTMH came out with it, but it has turned out to be quite a handy foil for other color schemes. Who knew? Well, besides the talented team over at CTMH, of course - LOL!

Thanks to my hubby Greg for helping me with the journaling!

Recipe:
Distressed Backgrounds & Star Struck stamp sets
Memo paper
Mist, Sage, Pewter, Toffee, Harbour & White Daisy textured cardstock
Sage, Pewter & Toffee ink
Light Grey fineliner pen (iBayam)
Durables Silver Triangles
Oatmeal grosgrain ribbon (Offray)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: stars, scalloped border, title, tag
Cricut Artbooking cartridge; tickets
CTMH Chevron embossing folder
Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #39

Challenges: Color My Heart #528 Anything Goes color palette

Christmas Eve 2015 Layout

I was hoping to get this layout done before Christmas, but life got a little busy, so here it is at last. I had some left over tags from making tags for Christmas presents, so I used the same design with the embossed stocking for this layout. I also pulled out some really old gold embossed embellishments to match the stockings.

Recipe:
Holiday Wishes stamp set
Jingle All the Way papers (Simple Stories)
Candy Apple, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Ponderosa Pine, Black & Versamark ink
Black marker
Gold metallic marker
Gold embossing powder
Gold eyelets (Making Memories)
Gold shimmer trim
Lil' Charms Block Alphabet - Gold (American Traditional Designs)
Green & Gold ribbon (Michaels)
Jingle All the Way Journal Bits & cardstock stickers (Simple Stories)
Gold embossed ephemera (from my stash, source unknown)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tags, stockings
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #92

Challenges: Happy Little Stampers Christmas challenge

Angel Stocking Tags

 I needed to make up some gift tags for the loaves of banana bread I was giving to our neighbors and I didn't have much time, so I whipped up something simple yet (hopefully) classic. I created two versions; my daughter liked the plaid but I thought the check was also cute. Hopefully my neighbors like the tags as much as they like the bread!

Update: These tags were picked for the top three over at Inkspirational!

Recipe:
Holiday Wishes stamp set
Jingle All the Way papers (Simple Stories)
Candy Apple & Black cardstock
Versamark ink
Gold Metallic marker
Gold embossing powder
Gold Shimmer Trim
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: stocking, tag
Challenges: Little Red Wagon #685 Angels; Inkspirational Challenges #280 Gold

Holiday Cheer Layout

I am jumping all around with scrapping Christmas photos from 2015, so this one goes back to Christmas Eve when I took the younger kids to my husband's workplace for a Christmas party, complete with cocoa and cookies, a gingerbread house, and a visit to Santa!

Recipe:
Jingle All the Way papers (Simple Stories)
Scarlet cardstock
Black marker
White gel pen (sakura)
Jingle All the Way Journal Bits, Decorative Brads & Cardstock Stickers (Simple Stories)
Pine Glitter tape
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #13

Challenges: Inspiration Station #44 Cup of Cheer (the photo inspired me to add a decorative brad with a little cup on it plus the word cheer to represent the cocoa we drank at the party, and we will definitely be trying to make the little snowman for our cocoa this year!)

The First Day of Christmas Layout

For these photos from Christmas morning 2015, I chose to use one of my older sketches and mirrored it for the left and right hand pages. I also decided to use two pocket cards in place of the circle photos on the left hand page, and I placed my journaling on another pocket card that will go on the pocket page that fits between the two sides of the layout.

Recipe:
Pear & Partridge, Tiny Typewriter Alphabet & Felicity Alphabet stamp sets
Pear & Partridge and White Pines papers
Desert Sand & White Daisy cardstock
Desert Sand, Cranberry, New England Ivy & Versamark ink
White embossing powder
Pear & Partridge PML cards
White pearls
Licorice Opaques pearls
Cranberry grosgrain ribbon
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped border
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #80

Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Challenges A Few of My Favorite Things (patterned paper, ribbon, die-cuts, stamping and lots of photos); Festive Friday Challenge #124 (Partridge, Christmas, Red & Heat Embossing)

The Little Stuff {Opening Stockings} Layout

Last December was our family's first Christmas since my son passed away, so my scrapping mojo was definitely lacking. I only scrapped one Christmas themed layout in December, so this year I'm trying to make up for it and get all my Christmas photos from 2015 and 2016 scrapped. Wish me luck! This layout features photos from Christmas morning 2015 as we opened our stockings.

Recipe:
Cassidy Alphabet & Random Act of Cardness stamp sets
Jolly Dot paper (Creative Imaginations)
Evergreen, Pear, Candy Apple & Ballerina cardstock
Pear, Candy Apple & Ballerina ink
White gel pen (Sakura)
Great Lengths stickers (CM)
White baker's twine
Red enamel hearts
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped circle & square & border, Christmas stocking
Pattern: Conclusion Combo from Jeanette Lynton's book Imagine (revised for larger photos)
Challenges: Lasting Memories #630 Favorite Shapes (I chose circles); Inspiration Station #43 Holiday Magic (I was inspired to scrapbook photos of opening our stockings on Christmas morning)

Family Photo Shoot 2016 Layout

Our family photos shoots are usually a bit comical and go on way longer than any of us prefer, but for 2016, we finally got the right photo for our family Christmas card. 

Recipe:

White Pines, This Happened & Canvas Art Workshop stamp sets
Mistletoe papers
New England Ivy, Cranberry, Black & White Daisy cardstock
New England Ivy, Cranberry & Black ink
Cranberry marker
White gel pen (Sakura)
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Red enamel gems
Cricut Artistry cartridge: holly & berries
Cricut Artiste cartridge: brackets
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: house
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #22 (revised)

Challenges: Heart's Quest Challenges #10 Love and Home; Cut It Up #267 Christmas theme including a die-cut

From the Funny Farm Birthday Card

I have been scrapping a lot of Christmas layouts, but today I hit the pause button on that and switched to a springy color palate for my mom's birthday card. My mom is one of those unfortunate people whose birthday fall right before Christmas, so her celebration often gets lost in the midst of Christmas busyness. I kept her card pretty simple since I'm going to be mailing it, but I managed to add a little bit of dimension with some embossing on the banners and the enamel hearts. The sentiment inside says, "from my barn to yours," which pretty much sums up both of our households right now!

Recipe:
From the Funny Farm & Birthday Recipe stamp sets
My Happy Place papers (Doodlebug Designs)
Flamingo, Pear, Sky & White Daisy cardstock
Flamingo, Pear, Sky, Canary & Black ink
Black marker
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Gold Metallics marker
Heart to Heart Shape Sprinkles (Doodlebug Designs)
Circle Double Stitched steel die (Art Impressions)
Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder (Cricut)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: banners
Pattern: Try Stampin' On Tuesday #587

Challenges: Farm Quest Challenges #18 Anything Farm Country Goes (barnyard animals); Critter Crazy Challenges #69 Anything Goes with animals as the focus; AAA Birthday challenge #44 Embossing

In the Air There's a Feeling of Christmas Layout

We don't get to see my husband's nephew very often, so I am glad to have these photos of him helping to decorate our Christmas tree. By judicious trimming, I managed to squeeze five pictures onto this layout and still have a little space for some embellishments.

Recipe:White Pines & Trim the Tree stamp sets
Memo papers
Candy Apple & White Daisy cardstock
Candy Apple, New England Ivy, Chocolate & Desert Sand ink
Embossing pen
Clear embossing powder
Candy Apple striped ribbon
Black marker
Xmas Red Stickles
Red pearls
3-D foam tape
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: ornaments
Cricut Artistry cartridge: title shape
Challenges: Let's Craft & Create #190 Inspired by a Song (inspired me to use lyrics from Silver Bells as my layout title); Use Your Stuff #473 Anything Goes Christmas Edition; Cupcake Inspirations #559 (inspired me to use evergreens, pinecones, and berries on my layout as well as using a primarily red and white color scheme)

Winter Tradition Layout

Our family usually buys a Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving Day and, by careful watering, manage to make it last through Christmas. This layout commemorates our 2016 expedition to find the perfect tree! 

Recipe:
Traditional Christmas papers (KI Memories)
Toffee, New England Ivy & White Daisy cardstock
Cranberry & Sweet Leaf ink
Black marker
Cabana Great Lengths sticker (CM)
Snowflake (Recollections)
Crisp Air enamel hearts
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title, trees
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenges 62 (rotated right)

Challenges: Cut It Up #266 Winter (we don't have snow in our area, so I instead scrapbooked a winter tradition of choosing a Christmas tree);  Time Out Challenges #228 Winter or Holiday Season

Nativity Layout

My final layout for our Journey to Bethlehem visit features two nativity photos. I used a Rochelle Spears' sketch that I reversed to go better with the orientation of my photos, and I played along with a couple of challenges for inspiration.

Recipe:
Oh Holy Night scrapbooking kit (Echo Park)
Sangria, Toffee & New England Ivy cardstock
Vineyard Berry, Olive, Outdoor Denim & Toffee ink
Outdoor Denim baker's twine
Gold brads
DIY Shop Cork Arrow (American Crafts)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: corner flourish
Pattern: Rochelle Spears December 2022 sketch challenge

Challenges: Lasting Memories #627 Love Your Stash with 3+ patterned papers + stickers (banner) + trim (baker's twine) + die-cut + finishing touches(gold brads & cork arrow); Scrap With Stacy December 2022 Tic-Tac-Toe (used the diagonal with gold + two photos + arrow)

Marketplace Layout

For my second layout from Journey to Bethlehem, I pulled out some really old papers that had the colors I needed to pull together the pocket card I wanted to use with the colors from the photos. The papers are kind of loud, but hopefully the large circle tones them down a little!

Recipe:
Evensong papers
Olive, Sangria & Almond cardstock
Almond & New England Ivy ink
Gold Metallic marker
O Holy Night scrapbooking kit stickers & pocket card (Echo Park)
Natural hemp
Durables Antique Gold traingles
Cricut Artiste cartridge: title
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #81

Challenges: Scrap Our Stash Shape Challenge (I used 12 triangles)

O Little Town of Bethlehem Layout

One of our favorite things to do during the Christmas season is Journey to Bethlehem, a local church's recreation of the town of Bethlehem at the time of Christ's birth. It's gotten more elaborate over the years, so we took a lot of photos during our visit in 2015, but I chose to only scrapbook three single page layouts and put the rest of the photos in page protectors. Here's my first layout, showing a fishing boat, a couple of the merchants, and an animal stall. I'm pretty sure there were no llamas in Israel at the time of Christ, but it was still fun to see one!

And here is the hidden journaling card I tucked into a pocket behind the llama picture:

Recipe:O Holy Night Scrapbooking kit (Echo Park)
Kraft, Outdoor Denim & White Daisy cardstock
Candid Moments PML card
White acrylic stars
Say Cheese III enamel dots (Simple Stories)
Beige Adornaments fibers (EK Success)
Scrapbook Stitches embroidery floss (Making Memories)
Magic Mesh (Creative Imaginations)
3-D foam tape
Pattern: scraplift of ArtsyLC's layout from Scrapbook.com

Challenges: Lasting Memories #628 Wedding Inspired (Something old = almost everything on the layout + Something new = acrylic hearts + Something borrowed = scraplift + Something Blue = cardstock circle); Let's Craft & Create #190 Inspired By a Song (Oh Little Town of Bethlehem)