Fun & Sun Layout for Lasting Memories #701

Good morning, everyone, and a happy Mother's Day to all the hard-working moms out there. Hopefully you can relax and get some "me time" today in addition to spending time enjoying your kids, big and small. I did my scrappy work in advance so I can bring you this post today with the latest Lasting Memories challenge: inspired by a book. As I was going through my list of books I have read this year, the cover of Beach Read by Emily Henry caught my eye and made me decide to scrap beach photos and use the journaling card with the beach towel on it. Whether you're an avid reader or even if the only books you read are to your toddlers, come join us at Lasting Memories for this fun challenge!

Here's my layout:

And here's the cover that inspired me:

Recipe:
Diverse Backgrounds stamp set
Blue Skies papers
Canary, Almond, Heavenly Blue, Lagoon, Flamingo & Green Apple cardstock
Canary, Almond, Heavenly Blue, Lagoon, Flamingo & Green Apple ink
Black marker
Beach Party PML card
Freshly Baked enamel shapes
Sweet Rush Collection - Loving This puffy stickers (American Crafts)
Cricut Artbooking Cartridge: title, scalloped frames, sun
Cricut You Are Here Cartridge: waves
Pattern: Splitcoast Stampers Sketch16Jun3

Challenges: Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: use die cuts (I used lots)

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

Celebrate {Angel's 5th Birthday} Layout

I dug deep into my stash for this layout and pulled out a paper pack that I received back when I signed up to be a CTMH consultant in 2008! It's not my favorite pack, but I've been whittling away at it for years and was able to use quite a few scraps on this layout, which combines a traditional page on the left with a pocket page on the right. I edited out the names of our guests after I scanned the layout in order to protect their privacy.

Recipe:
Good Times papers & stickers
Sweet Leaf, Canary, Chocolate & Colonial White cardstock
Sweet Leaf, Canary, Chocolate & Twilight ink
Chocolate marker
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: border, arrow
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: star
Cricut Artiste cartridge: birthday boy
Pattern: Heart 2 Heart Sketch 17 (revised to fit an extra photo)

Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Celebrate Good Times (this wasn't a recent event, but we were definitely celebrating, and I used the old Good Times paper pack!); The Paper Girls #193 - Birthdays

The Magic of Butterflies Layout

One of our favorite places to visit as a family is the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, and it's extra special to go there in the late spring and summer when the Butterfly Pavilion is open. I've scrapbooked photos of the butterflies several times, but can never get enough of these magical creatures! For my layout, I started with the cool February sketch from Let's Scrap (see below), and then Scrap With Stacy's photo challenge inspired me to change the rainbow and stars to a garland of flowers with butterflies. I also journaling (with a white gel pen on the black background) about the magic of seeing a caterpillar turn into a butterfly.

And here are a few more pictures of those magical creatures (I will be inserting these into a page protector):

Recipe:
Hooray Bouquet & Spot On Backgrounds stamp sets
Dotty for You papers
Black, Smoothie, Sunset, Buttercup, Sweet Leaf, Cotton Candy, Glacier, Bamboo, Autumn Terracotta, Lagoon, Sky, White Daisy & Colonial White cardstock
Green vellum (Hot Off the Press)
Sunset, Sky, Creme Brulee & Cranberry ink
Black marker
White gel marker (Sakura)
Smoothie grosgrain ribbon
Seagull decorative edged scissors (Fiskars)
Decorative brads (from my stash)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: flowers, branch, small butterflies, scalloped frame
Cricut Artisry cartridge: large butterfly
Small flower punch (Emagination)
Pattern: Let's Scrap 2-1-19

Challenges: Double Trouble #22 - Thing 1's Tic-Tac-Toe board (I chose die/punch + vellum + ribbon) & Thing 3's Show us a little magic (butterflies are pretty magical!); Use Your Stuff #348 Do You Believe in Magic? (butterflies again)

Farewell Layout

Ever liked a single page sketch but had way too many photos for just one page? Here's an example of how I stretched this single-page sketch across two pages by reverse mirroring the original sketch. The left page of the layout stuck pretty close to the sketch, but I made some key changes to the right hand page. Since I wanted to use a busy paper for the center strip, I moved my journaling over to the right side of the layout, replacing one photo, and I didn't use the frame on the right hand page since I wanted the photo on the left page to stand out. I also moved the embellishment cluster on the right page to a different position. This is just one way of many to get more mileage out of a sketch!

Recipe:
Hopscotch Level 2 papers & stickers
Flaxen, Glacier & Sunset cardstock
Flaxen, Glacier, Sunset & Smoothie ink
Natural twill ribbon
My Crush Besties Assortment
Sunset corduroy brad
Blue Enamel & Glitter Duos
Cricut Artiste cartridge: title
Cricut Accent Essentials cartridge: starbursts
Pattern: EMS Sketch 8a

SCS Variety Challenge 203 - Frosty Fun

Time for another Variety Challenge for Splitcoast Stampers. Click on the link below to join in the fun!

SBVC203 - Viva La France
Using paper strips or ribbon and brads or buttons, create a French memo board to house the pictures and journaling on your layout. Not sure what one is? Here’s a link to some examples.

I started with the arrangement of the pictures and then added embellishments, tucking them under the ribbons like I would ephemera on a real French memo board. I really love how mine turned out because it reminds me of an eclectic bulletin board with lots of fun stuff to be discovered.

Recipe:

Take Note, Pair-a-Phrase, Alphabet Solos "H" & "O", January Word Puzzle & You & Me stamp sets

Elemental Level 2 papers

Cranberry, Pacifica, Honey, Chocolate & Black ink

Cranberry, Pacifica, Honey, Sky & Black markers 

Cranberry grosgrain ribbon

White Daisy Bigger Brads
Cranberry brad

Decor Journaling Spot
Cranberry baker's twine
All the die-cuts were from my box of left-overs, so I'm not sure which cartridges I used!
Challenges: Lasting Memories It All in the Colors (I colored in the stamped snowman and tag, and drew doodle lines on all the snowflakes)

SCS Variety Challenge 200 - Eaters of the Cake

It's time for a Variety Challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers, and I'm so excited to be hosting the 200th challenge! Who wants to celebrate with me? Join in the fun by playing along with our challenge using the link below.

SBVC200 - Mixed Messages
For today's challenge, I want you to use stamps, markers, die-cuts, your computer, etc. to create a title or journaling spot on your layout. Sound easy? But there's a catch: you have to either use at least three fonts, or intersperse symbols or pictographs amid your regular fonts. If you are creating your title or journaling by hand, you can use cursive, printing, all caps, or outlined letters (just to name a few ideas) to get the look of various fonts.

I decided to use both options, so I added some pictures to my hand written journaling, plus I used Tiny Typewriter, Polka Dot Alphabet & Felicity stamp sets to create the title. I always struggle coming up with titles for birthday layouts (how many times can you use Let Them Eat Cake?) so the title is a play on Michael Crichton's book "Eaters of the Dead."

Recipe:
Tiny Typewriter Alphabet, Polka Dot Alphabet, Felicity, Take Note, Perfect Fit - Birthday & It's Your Day stamp sets
Zippidee Level 2 papers
Bamboo, Cranberry, Indian Corn Blue, Honey & Colonial White cardstock
Cranberry, Indian Corn Blue, Honey & Desert Sand ink
Desert Sand marker
Honey Triangles washi tape
Cranberry conchos
Natural hemp
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: number border, tab
Pattern: Let's Scrap 10-30-13
Challenges: Heart 2 Heart CTMH challenge (C = cardstock & cake, T = tab & washi tape, M = metal conchos, H = hemp & happy); Frosted Designs Polka Dot challenge; SCS Stash January Busters challenge week 2

Adrian's 10th Birthday Layout

So I have to ask myself, will my son will ever forgive me for using so much pink on a layout celebrating his tenth birthday? Especially considering he had a Lego party! I really, truly wanted to go with a different color scheme, but three gals came to the party wearing pink, so what's a scrapbooking mama to do? Oh well, hopefully the aqua and yellow will balance it all out in his mind.

Recipe:
Trinity Alphabet & Heartfelt Birthday Wish stamp sets
Dream Pop Level 2 papers
White Daisy cardstock
Grey Wool, Watermelon, Lagoon & Sunset ink
Turquoise ricrac (Jo-Ann's)
Turquoise brads (from my stash)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: hearts
Pattern: Fab Fifteen from Cherish

Mug & Muffin Layout

I skipped ahead to Challenge 13 from Splitcoast Stampers' Virtual Scrapbook Night. Sharon's mom has a favorite saying, "Oh, shoot a pickle!," so Sharon's challenge was to scrap a page that was either predominately green or was about food. I chose to go the food route, since I had some pictures of a potluck event at church. I started with Sketch 32 from Sketch-N-Scrap (it's actually a single page sketch but I mirrored it for the second page) and added spots for the Southern Girls Spotty Dotty challenge and flowers for the Heart 2 Heart May Flowers challenge.

Recipe:
Dotty for You Level 2 papers
Whisper, Buttercup & Colonial White cardstock
Whisper & Lagoon ink
Grey marker (Zig)
Paradise & Spring Blossom Just Blooms
Colonial White & Sweet Leaf brads
Colonial White ric-rac
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title

LOAD #11 - Oceans Pacific

Today's layout is another one I pre-designed in Studio J and copied using items from my stash. One of my blog readers asked me to elaborate on how I do the Studio J layout first and then recreate the layout, so here goes. If you're not interested, feel free to skip right down to today's layout! First, let me mention that I use Close to My Heart products almost exclusively. If you are using other products, Studio J is not so helpful as a design tool. I log onto Studio J, pick a pattern based on the number of photos I want to scrap, and then scroll through all the paper packs until I find one that I think coordinates well and that I know I have at least a portion of the pack on hand. The people at CTMH have already put together six paper combos based on the pattern I've chosen, and I select the one that best showcases my photos. At that point, I also verify that I have enough of the particular papers they use, so I can recreate the layout using traditional methods. I then drag my photos into the suggested photo wells, decide if I like the layout as is or if it needs to be rotated or any papers switched out. There are also suggested embellishments and title and journaling areas I can test-run. Basically, I end up with a completed layout that only took me a short time to design, I haven't spent any money, and I can order my photos and start scrapping, knowing that my end product will be something I really like. You could do this in other programs (like Photoshop Elements), but it would be a lot more work because you would have to scan all your papers and embellishments in order to test them out. My husband doesn't get this; he thinks it adds a lot more time to the process, but I love seeing the full picture before I even cut into my papers, plus the CTMH designers are so clever that I get great ideas from seeing what they came up with. It's like the ultimate in scrap-lifting!

Recipe:
The Works Alphabet & Live inspired stamp sets
Majestic Blue Level 2 papers
Desert Sand, Outdoor Denim, Chocolate & Crystal Blue cardstock
Outdoor Denim & Chocolate ink
Outdoor Denim marker
Chocolate grosgrain ribbon
Outdoor Denim spiral clips
Craft buttons
White Daisy embroidery floss
Pattern: Conclusion Combo from Imagine

Zoo Layouts

Here is my last layout of 2011 and my first of 2012. I decided to post them together since they are on the same subject. I pre-designed both layouts using Studio J, and then used the papers I had to recreate the layouts. My hubby thought it was a lot of extra work, but it was worth it to be able to see what the layout would look like before I even cut a piece of paper!

Recipe:
Expedition Level 2 papers
Olive, Autumn Terracotta, Bamboo & Colonial White cardstock
Olive & Autumn Terracotta ink
Olive marker
Title cut out using my Wishblade
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge
Pattern: Sidebar - Original & Sampler - Nine Photo Quilt from Reflections

Recipe:
Field Trip Alphabet stamp set
Lucky Level 2 papers & Chipboard Assortment
Cocoa, Outdoor Denim, Desert Sand & Colonial White cardstock
Outdoor Denim & Versamark ink
Cocoa marker
White embossing powder
Olive brads
Pattern: Stars Above from Imagine

LOAD #16 + Week 43 Layout Linky - Evening Playtime

In case you haven't noticed, I haven't been able to keep up with my Layout a Day Challenge this month. I guess I underestimated our commitments for October. I am still trying to complete some more layouts, however, so here is layout #16. I'll call it my daily LOAD just to keep it simple. I used a revised version of Stars Above from Imagine for the pattern. One of the October challenges from the Heart 2 Heart blog was to create a layout with a story on it. This is mine!

Did you know there is no patterned paper on this layout? That's right, I created all the "patterned paper" using a few supplies. First, I stamped trees and snow using Versamark ink and an embossing pen, then I embossed it with White embossing powder. I brayered Sky ink over it. Next, I stamped more trees using the Versamark ink, embossed them with clear powder, and brayered over them with Outdoor Denim ink. I ended up with multiple shades of ink showing through, and I love the effect. Hope you can use it on a layout.



Recipe:
White Daisy, Outdoor Denim & Kraft cardstock
Versamark, Sky, Outdoor Denim & Desert Sand ink
White & Clear embossing powder
Outdoor Denim brads
Embossing stylus
Sanding block

***If you are participating in the 52 Layouts Challenge, please use the link below to link your layout to this post. You have until Friday at 11:59PM PST to post your week 43 layout. The link will allow you to post a title and thumbnail that link to your site, where we can see the layout in all its glory!

LOAD #4 - Marionette Show

Another clean and simple layout, although I did emboss the stars on this one.

Recipe:
Charm Uppercase Alphabet, Charm Lowercase Alphabet, Christmas Story & Shining Star stamp sets
Bamboo & White Daisy cardstock
Cranberry, Black, Bamboo & Versamark ink
Cranberry & Black markers
Gold embossing powder

LOAD #19 - Splash

I'm still finishing up my Arizona vacation scrapbook, so here's a layout with photos from Slide Rock State Park. I used the pattern Conclusion Combo from Jeanette Lynton's book Imagine. I also used a couple of stamps from the You & Me stamp set, only available in the You & Me kit this month. (Click on the layout for a closer look). The swirls and "tickets" are just two of the cute images found in this set, plus there are cardstock-weight patterned papers and embossed chipboard (among other great items). If you want to know how to get this kit at a substantial price reduction, check it out here and I will be happy to help you place an order!



A detail of one of the You & Me stamps:


Recipe:
Extreme Caps & You and Me stamp sets
Caboodle & Twitterpated Level 2 papers
Desert Sand & White Daisy cardstock
Vellum
Desert Sand, Crystal Blue, Chocolate & Versamark ink
Chocolate marker
Clear embossing powder
Chocolate craft buttons
Sorbet ribbon

LOAD #1 - Game Plan

Since I haven't been progressing very well toward my yearly layout goal of 200, I decided to do a Layout a Day (LOAD) challenge for myself this month. If I can keep it up, it should almost double my totals for the year! Here's my first layout, another soccer one. I decided not to use any soccer papers or stamps, and just focused on the stars from the Fanfare paper. I also used a sketch from the Nuts about Sketches Blog (Week 91 Bonus sketch).



Recipe:
Building Block, Shining Star & Boom! stamp sets
Fanfare Level 2 papers
Sunny Yellow & White Daisy cardstock
Pacifica, Cranberry & Sunny Yellow ink
Pacifica marker
DE Stars
Cranberry grosgrain ribbon