Sympathy Card

I only had an hour and a half to make this card this morning before heading off to a funeral, so I quickly checked out a few crafty challenges for inspiration. Usually it takes me three to four hours to complete a card because I second guess myself over and over, but today, partly because of the great inspiration and partly because of the time crunch, I completed it in record time. I just had a moment to snap a photo of it before I left, and here it is!

Recipe:
Words of Comfort & Best Wishes stamp sets
Sweetheart papers
Black & Colonial White cardstock
Baby Pink, Cotton Candy, Black & Versamark ink
White gel pen (Sakura)
Gold embossing powder
Paper Flowers (Recollections)
Flutter Just Blooms paper shapes
Licorice Opaques pearls
Cricut Artistry cartridge: frame
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap card sketch #237

Challenges: Tic Tac Toe Challenges #202 (used the top row with gold + butterfly + die cut)

Inkspirational Challenges #286 Mood Board (inspired by the pink flowers and the white window frame in the upper left corner)

Happy Birthday Brian Layout

I am still working on getting some layouts done for the Five for Five challenge over at Scrapbook.com, so here's my latest. This time, I rotated the sketch to the left and then flipped it before moving the elements closer together to overlap. Then I pulled out some old supplies and stamped a bunch of embellishments to finish it up.

Recipe:
Perfect Fit Birthday, Chantilly, This Happened & Highlight Reel stamp sets
The Stack 4 papers (DCWV)
Goldrush, Blush & Colonial White cardstock
Goldrush, Blush & Fern ink
Raw Sienna fineliner pen (iBayam)
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Green epoxy bubbles
Fern & Blush ribbons
Blush rick rack
Pattern: Splitcoast Stampers Sketch16May1

Walk Layout for Lasting Memories #643

Welcome to another Lasting Memories challenge, this time based on Walk in the Park Day (March 30). We were challenged to use at least one outdoor photo, but I went even further by using two photos taken as our family walked in the park! You have until April 1 to submit a layout for this or any of the other March challenges for Lasting Memories, so pull out those paper and get scrapping, then link up your layout post to the LM blog.

Recipe:
Central Park, Woodgrain & Poppy patterned papers
Sunny Yellow, Pacifica, Blush & Poppy ink
Lily White chipboard letters (Doodlebug Designs)
Field Notes Journaling ephemera (American Crafts)
Field Trip ephemera (American Crafts)
Let's Wander stickers (American Crafts)
Stars & Stripes Shape Sprinkles (Doodlebug Designs)
Honey triangles washi tape
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: arrow
Pattern: Rochelle Spears March 2023 sketch

Challenges: Scrap With Stacy March 2023 Tic Tac Toe (used the left column with chipboard + washi + arrow AND the bottom row with arrow + circle + stars)

Miniland Adventure Layout

Although I'm skipping around a lot in my scrapping, I am slowly finishing up on photos from 2016 and getting a start on my 2017 photos, so here's a set of photos taken in 2016 at Miniland in Legoland. I'm doing the Five for Five challenge at Scrapbook.com again, and this month I needed to use the same sketch on five different layouts, plus use green, sets of three (used three photos + five sets of three embellishments + 3 patterned paper scraps behind the pennant), die-cuts (oval border) and layering behind the photos. This is my second layout for the challenge, so you will probably be seeing a layout based on the sketch three more times!

Recipe:
Cityscape stamp set
Something Fierce papers
Plaid paper (from my stash, source unknown)
Green Apple, Lemonade & White Daisy cardstock
Green Apple, Raspberry, Bluebird, Sunny Yellow & Slate ink
Pure Blue marker (Zig)
Something Fierce Complements cardstock die-cuts
VIP Rainbow acrylic shapes
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: oval border (modified from circle border using Cricut Design Space)
Pattern: Splitcoast Stampers Sketch16May1 (rotated left)

Challenges: Cut It Up #274 Add Embellishments (I added the fun acrylic shapes)

Huxley Layout

If I had been allowed to make the decision, we would have never adopted our dog Huxley (we already had two dogs so I didn't see a strong need for a third one), but I was outvoted by my hubby and kids, so he's now a loved part of the family. For this layout telling the story of how Huxley came into our lives, I pulled out a sketch I designed for Splitcoast Stampers in 2015, then flipped it upside down to suit my pictures. I used the same base cardstock for both pages, but for some reason it came out different shades when I scanned it.

Recipe:
Pet Shop papers (KI Memories)
Shortbread, Carolina & Paprika cardstock
Autumn Terracotta, Chocolate, Sky, Mink & Slate ink
Sienna fineliner pen (iBayam)
Pet Shop chipboard letters, stickers & epoxy stickers (KI Memories)
Wedding chipboard letters (KI Memories)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: hearts, banners
Pattern: Splitcoast Stampers Sketch15May3

Challenges: Double Trouble #134 PAWsome Pets (Things 1 = include a dog or cat on your project + Thing 2 = play along with Use Your Stuff #480 Animals)

This Makes Me Happy Layout for Lasting Memories #642

I took a break last Sunday from creating for the Lasting Memories challenge, but this week I couldn't resist the  challenge to create a layout about someone or something that makes you happy! My sweet family opening their stockings on Christmas morning 2016 seemed to fit the bill, so I created this two page layout that shows each of us diving into our stockings to discover what goodies lie in store. To play along with this Lasting Memories challenge, dig out some photos and create a layout about what makes you happy!

Recipe:
This & That stamp set
Cream & Green Holly paper (DCWV)
October - December 2022 Mix-In paper
Ruby, Ponderosa Pine & Almond cardstock
Ruby, Ponderosa Pine & Almond ink
Black marker
Ruby Chevron washi tape
Jingle All the Way Journal Bits ephemera (Simple Stories)
Winter Reflections Accent pack ephemera (CM)
Scrapbook Stitches embroidery floss (Making Memories)
Circle Double Stitched steel die (Art Impressions)
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #10

Challenges: Cut It Up #273 This Makes Me Happy; Crafter's Cafe #295 Circles

Explore the Details Layout

Every so often, I will pull out some photos from my 2017 trip to London and get a layout or two scrapped. These photos were taken in the Assyrian collection at the British Museum and feature a relief commissioned by King Sennacherib to celebrate his conquest of the Judean city of Lachish. The conical hats of the soldiers and the diamond  pattern in the background of one relief inspired me to use the triangle overlay, which I offset by using the green circles. For any history buffs out there, you can get a a more in-depth look at the siege and conquest of Lachish at this website. 

Recipe:
Card Word Puzzle & Story FYI Stamp sets

8.5" x 11" patterned paper from my stash (source unknown)
Almond, Scarlet, Black & Desert Sand cardstock
Almond, Ruby & Desert Sand ink
Field Trip Puffy Thickers (American Crafts)
Topiary conchos
Cricut Artistry cartridge: triangle overlay
Pattern: Splitcoast Stampers Sketch16May1

EMS Sketch Challenge #109 + I is for Imagine Layout

Last month, I scrapped quite a few single page layouts with two to three photos on them, so this month I thought I would create a sketch showing how you can get five photos onto a single page! Three of the photos on this sketch are uncropped 4" x 6" size, plus there are two that you can crop to  4" x 4" or a 4" circle. I know color blocking is not really in style right now, but I though the four 6" x 6" squares would be an easy way to use smaller paper packs or, as in the layout I created, a larger piece that is already color blocked. Enjoy the sketch, feel free to adapt it to your needs, and don't forget to add a link in the comments below to your completed layout. Happy scrapping!

The sketch:

My layout:

Recipe:
The Summer Stack papers (DCVW)
Black cardstock
Childhood PML card
Happiest Place acrylic shapes
Let's Wander thicker (American Crafts)
Illustrated Faith Go! die-cut (Bella Blvd)
Challenges: Park Hopping Anything Goes inspired by a theme park

And Many More Layout

Since we had gone to Legoland for my son's birthday, and since he still loved Lego even at the advanced age of 15, I decided to scrap his birthday dinner using Lego themed paper, even though it took place at a sea food restaurant after we left Legoland. I used the negative piece from a heart die cut left over from making this layout back in 2019. Glad I saved it because it was perfect for this layout!

Recipe:
Background Builders stamp set
Building Blocks papers (Scrapbook Customs)

Cranberry cardstock
Desert Sand ink
White gel pen (Sakura)
It's Your Birthday Boy Collection ephemera (Echo Park)
Field Trip Puffy Thickers (American Crafts)

Cricut Simply Sweet cartridge: heart
Pattern: Scraplift from Scrapbook.com

Challenges: Use Your Stuff #479 Paper Strips (I had a blank space in the left corner of my layout, and this challenge inspired me to add some Lego bricks!)

Making a Splash Layout for Lasting Memories #640

Another Sunday morning, and here's another fun challenge from Lasting Memories. This month we are being inspired by some special days, so here's the first one, World Wildlife Day on March 3rd. Lori asked us to create a layout and add an animal to it by using photos, patterned papers and/or embellishments. I went with photos of the wild marine animals at Sea World (okay, some are trained so maybe not so wild as those in the ocean), then used some stickers and pocket cards to carry out the theme. Lori has lots of creative ways to use this theme, not just with actual wild animal photos, so hop on over to Lasting Memories for some inspiration, and then play along!

Recipe:
Stacy's Hand Alphabet & My Life stamp sets
Fish Tales papers (Photo Play)
Glacier, Nectarine, Lagoon & White Daisy cardstock
Crystal Blue, Nectarine, Lagoon & Outdoor Denim ink
Turquoise fineliner pen (iBayam)
Fish Tales stickers & pocket cards (Photo Play)
Color Kaleidoscope puffy stickers (American Crafts)
Crisp Air enamel shapes
Capri shimmer trim
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: sunburst borders
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: curvy rectangle
Cricut Simply Sweet cartridge: heart
Pattern: Splitcoast Stampers Sketch16Sep3

Challenges: Critter Crazy Challenge #72 Anything Goes with a featured critter (I used dolphins, seals, puffer fish, killer whales); Park Hopping Anything Goes inspired by a theme park