Monuments Layout

I did a little bit of organizing in my scrapbook room this week, with a pleasant surprise resulting: I found the last set of photos from the British Museum that I had misplaced, so here is a layout of the Nereid Monument, an impressive Greek tomb. There are also two photos of the Parthenon Frieze, which is why I felt justified in titling my layout Monuments (plural). Journaling will be in a facing pocket page, and I am working on another layout with the rest of the Parthenon sculptures. For the background, I started with white cardstock which I brayered with the blue ink, then  stamped the corners and added some distress spritz. Not usually a mixed media gal, but I like how this came out!

Recipe:
Baroque Borders stamp set
Wonderland & Dreaming Big papers
Chocolate &White Daisy cardstock
Indian Corn Blue, Chocolate & Whisper ink
Chocolate baker's twine
Washi tape (Recollections)
Simple Vintage essentials stickers (Simple Stories)
Frayed Burlap distress spray (Ranger)
Simply White Nuvo Drops
Brick Stencil (from Amazon)
Chevron embossing folder (on tag)
Swiss Dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug)
Cricut Artiste cartridge: title
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tag, banners
Pattern: Rochelle Spears September 2025 Sketch

Challenges: Inkspirational #349 Add a Tag; NBUS #78 and Stencil Fun - used the brick stencil for the first time; A Cut Above Anything Goes with a die-cut - used my Cricut to cut the title, tag, and banner die-cuts; Scrap With Stacy Tic Tac Toe - used the diagonal with 2 or more photos + banner + twine. 

Fix Layout

I was hoping to have this layout done for the Lasting Memories Stash Busters challenge reveal yesterday, but my week got too busy, so here it is at last. I still added chipboard and acrylic for the challenge. These were rather odd photos to scrapbook, but I wanted to pay tribute to my hard-working husband, so I went ahead and chronicled how he fixed the walkway that tree roots were lifting up.

Update:

Recipe:
My Happy Place papers (Doodlebug Designs)
Wicker Lane papers (Photoplay)
Toffee & White Daisy cardstock
Pear, Juniper, Cotton Candy, Canary & Black ink
Black marker
DE Monograms chipboard
White acrylic hearts
Canary baker's twine
Mind Your Manners Fundamentals stickers (Bella Blvd)
3-D foam tape
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #73

Challenges: Little Red Wagon #821 Circle of Life - I used lots of circles; Crafter's Cafe #322 - Anything Goes including patterned papers; Paper Rocks Scissors #7 - used lots of patterned papers and cut the baker's twine with my scissors; Love Those Pretty Papers

Our Christmas Tree Layout

Every year, we go down to Walmart soon after Thanksgiving to pick out a tree. The kids are less interested now that they are older, so I am happy to have these photos of a time when they thought this was exciting! I played along with Rochelle Spears' monthly sketch, and it was like a puzzle figuring out how all those layers fit together. I'm pretty pleased with the results, but I think I will go simple on my next layout - LOL!

Recipe:
One Wish papers (Sweetwater)
Santa's Village & The Holiday Life papers (Simple Stories)
Merry Christmas paper (from my stash, source unknown)
Cranberry, Ponderosa Pine & Colonial White cardstock
Cranberry, Saffron & Cocoa ink
Sap Green fineliner pen (iBayam)
White gel pen (Sakura)
Scrapbook Stitches Forest Green embroidery floss (Making Memories)
Jingle All The Way decorative brads and chipboard (Simple Stories)
Merry Little Christmas Ephemera Words (Bella Blvd)
The Holiday Life Journal Bits (Simple Stories)
Magic Mesh (Creative Imaginations)
Believe rub on (I had to insert a V from another set because the V in the word got crumpled up)
Swiss Dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: TREE, stamps
Pattern: Rochelle Spears August sketch

Challenges: Can You Handle the Pressure? Anything Goes with an embossing folder; Cut it Up #336 Use a sentiment and a die-cut (hopefully the title, "the perfect tree," and "Merry Christmas" count as sentiments; Let's Craft and Create #222 Use polka dots and/or stripes (I used both); Love Those Pretty Papers; Scrap With Stacy August Tic Tac Toe board - I used the left column and the middle row.

Pre-Historic Days Layout

There has been a definite downturn in my scrapping mojo over the past week, but I finally decided to temporarily shelve the layout I was working on and move on to something that would inspire me more! Dinosaurs and rocks - who knew that would do the trick? LOL. These photos from the Natural History Museum were taken on the same day and location as the ones on the butterflies layout I posted last week, but with a vastly different theme. Mixed media is a bit of a challenge for me, but I tried to create a scene that look vaguely ancient, then added the die-cut frame and dinosaurs to it. The stamped "trees" on the right are actually flower silhouettes, but hopefully they came across as savanna-type trees when used in conjunction with  the dinosaurs.

Here's the background. I used a really old (but not pre-historic!) stencil for the hills, with a little bit of extra stenciling for texture, and then I stamped the trees and sun.

Recipe:
Treasure Life stamp set
Vicki Boutin Mixed Media Stamps - Circles (American Crafts)
Heavenly Blue, Topiary, Kraft, Goldrush, Pewter, Espresso, Pine & White Daisy cardstock
Goldrush, Desert Sand, Brown Bag, Sweet Leaf Fern & Topiary ink
Goldrush pigment ink
Dot Fade layering stencil (Stampers Anonymous)
Scenic Borders stencils (Puzzle Mates)
Cricut Design Space: dinosaurs (from Erika Digital Design and GlamSVG by Emylia), grass, title (using A Child's Year font)
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #318 (adapted for my mixed media-background, but I promise the sketch is where I started!)

Challenges: Neglected Stuff July 2025 - my stuff is the hills stencil that I haven't used since I started blogging in 2009, and the flower stamp;  NBUS #76 - my never before used item is the Vicki Boutin stamp set I used for the sun, the circle spots, and the adventure sentiment.

Retreat 2018 Layout

These photos brought a smile to my face as I gazed at some cherished women from my old church. I don't see them very often now, but I will always treasure the memories of these lovely ladies and the friendships I developed with them over the years! We always had a blast at our women's retreats, learning about the Lord and spending time together. I included some journaling about the retreat on the tag - it pulls out and I wrote on both sides - and added our theme Bible verse at the bottom.

Recipe:
Animal Cookies, Clementine, Elemental & Perfect Day papers
Saddle, Creme Brulee & White Daisy cardstock
Saddle, Creme Brulee, Sorbet & Clover Meadow ink
Sienna fineliner pen (iBayam)
Sorbet ribbon
My Crush Bestie stickers
Summer Afternoon enamal dots (Altenew)
Rays stencil (Stampers Anonymous)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tag, banners
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: title
Pattern: Sketches in Thyme #665 (from Facebook group, rotated left)

Challenges: Love Those Pretty Papers; Color My Heart #657 - my extra color was yellow, plus I used the neutral of brown)

Up, Up & Away Layout

I love these sweet photos of my daughter playing at the park when she was in elementary school, so I tried to think what I would have said to her at the time if I was giving her advice, and that's what I wrote as my journaling. She has gone through lots of hard times, but I hope she never stops climbing! This week, there were a lot of crafty challenges involving butterflies, so I was glad I could use my new package of enamel butterflies. They match my papers perfectly and are so pretty!

Recipe:
Reasons to Smile papers (American Crafts)
Goldrush, Sangria, Lagoon, Thistle, Mulberry & White Daisy cardstock
Goldrush, Lagoon & Thistle ink
Black marker
Hydrangea embroidery floss
Lagoon baker's twine
Unicorn ribbon (American Crafts)
Bold & Bright Title Thickers (American Crafts)
All Aflutter Shape Sprinkles (Doodlebug Designs)
Cupcake Hearts puffy shapes (Doodlebug Designs)
Reasons to Smile enamel dots (American Crafts)
Telling Our Story adhesive brads (Echo Park)
Sunbeam embossing folder
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tag, flowers
Cricut Artistry cartridge: more flowers
Pattern: Found on A Cherry on Top, not sure of original source

Challenges: Love those Pretty Papers; Dragonfly Dreams One or more butterflies; Can You Handle the Pressure Anything Goes with embossing folder + optional twist of butterflies; Make My Monday #254 One or more butterflies; Shopping Our Stash #550 A Stitch in Time - I pulled out some embroidery floss to stitch around my half circle; Triple B Used butterflies and blooms.

Embrace the Moment Layout for Lasting Memories #754

It's time for another Design Team reveal over at Lasting Memories, and Lisa is continuing to challenge us to use a list of paper sizes on our layouts. This is proving to be more challenging than I expected, but I feel very excited that I finally accomplished this week's list! After much moving around of my papers, I noticed the listed paper sizes could be put together to create a full background, so that's what I did. Come check out the rest of the design team's layouts and decide whether you are up to the challenge!

The Shakespeare quote above the bird says: Summer's lease hath all too short a date.

Recipe:

Color Kaleidoscope papers (American Crafts)

Vicki Boutin Mixed Media papers (American Crafts)

Black ink

Simple Vintage Essential foam stickers (Simple Stories)

Dymo label - Black

Telling Our Story adhesive brads (Echo Park)

Challenges: Inspiration Station #74 - the circular design and variegated colors inspired me to add the top right paper.

Today Was a Good Day Layout

I'm finally getting back to the photos from the beach camping trip my sons and hubby went on with the church youth group, and these are the last ones. Since I am not a lover of sand or the beach, it was much more fun to scrap these summer-themed photos than it would be for me to go to the beach!

Recipe:
You Are Here & It's Your Day stamp sets
Hopscotch papers & PML card
Almond & White Daisy cardstock
Lagoon, Sunset, Flaxen & Honey ink
Ocean marker
Hopscotch sticker
Beach Party rubber shape
Magic Mesh (Creative Imaginations)
Cricut You Are here cartridge: geo-tag, shirt
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #317 - I pieced together the smaller orange and circles patterned paper scraps to make the piece that is orange in the sketch.

Challenges: Little Red Wagon #810 See Through It - I used some Magic Mesh that I had in my stash in two places on my page!

One of These Boys Layout

My final layout for National scrapbooking month! I picked a couple photos of my son with four brothers from another family, and I remember thinking when I took the photo that, although there are definite similarities between him and the other boys, no one could mistake him for part of their family. That memory made be decide on the title, and I wrote more about it on the hidden journaling tag behind the top photo.

Recipe:
Friendship Word Puzzle, Special Care, Connections & All the Details stamp sets
Soda Pop papers
Sapphire, Sweet Leaf & White Daisy cardstock
Sapphire, Sweet Leaf, Lagoon & Canary ink
Ocean marker
White gel pen (Sakura)
Soda Pop sticker
Bold & Bright ephemera (American Crafts)
Heavenly Blue organdy ribbon
Cool Summer Night enamel dots & heart (Altenew)
3-D foam tape
Rays & Burlap stencils (Stampers Anonymous)
Circle Double Stitched Steel Dies (Art Impressions)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped circle, tag, banners
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap Birthday Bash Sketch #4

Challenges: Cut It Up Challenges #331 Anything Goes with a die-cut; Crafter's Cafe #319 Anything Goes with optional no squares; The Outlawz Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone

June Highlight Reel Layout

These are my miscellaneous photos from June 2018 that I collected and put on one layout. I decided to just feature two photos; the other four are in Flip-Flaps so you can lift up the plastic sleeve and see the photos underneath.

I had to share one of the photos that will be in a Flip-Flap; this was my son's face when he found out Chewbacca wasn't a real alien, just a person in a costume!

Recipe:
Highlight Reel, Noted Backgrounds & Dream Big stamp sets
Molly papers (Bella Blvd)
Oh Happy Day paper (Simple Stories)
Lagoon, Raspberry, Sunflower, Sapphire & White Daisy cardstock
Lagoon, Sapphire & Sunflower ink
Ocean marker
Navy & Pure Pink markers (Zig)
Turquoise fineliner pen (iBayam)
White gel pen (Sakura)
White acrylic flowers
Beach Party rubber shapes
My Crush Everyday Assortment stickers
Swiss Dot grosgrain ribbon (Offray)
Cricut Artistry cartridge: flowers
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #316 - I adapted it for my photos and to add journaling, and since the pictures needed to be able to lift up, I moved the flowers around.

Challenges: Double Trouble #192 - includes optional twist of flip-flops

Ready to Get Wrecked Layout

I took a ton of photos of Vacation Bible School at our church in 2018, so prepare to be bombarded by layouts featuring the Shipwrecked theme! The first set I decided to scrapbook two photos of some of the decorations, and I placed the other photos in a photo storage page. My page is actually a lift of an amazing page Lis from Scrapbook.com created. I love how she tore map paper and then tucked all kinds of goodies under the edge, so I tried to replicate that look. Hopefully I did credit to her wonderful design! Looking at the page now, I wish I had moved the title over to the left of the framed photo, but it's glued down already, so I guess it stays.

Recipe:
Postcard Travel Series and Wild & Punny stamp sets
Majestic Blue paper
Crystal Blue, Mocha, Black & Colonial White cardstock
Crystal Blue, Chocolate & Desert Sand ink + Chocolate pigment ink
Black marker
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Clear embossing powder
Sweet Safari PML card
Bohemia - Friends journaling card (MME)
Hot Hues flower embellishments (Gartner Studios)
Milepost Shapes
Let's Wander Thickers (American Crafts)
Palm Tree sticker (Creative Imaginations)
Shell stickers (Stickabilities)
Nautical stickers (Frances Meyer)
Velum toucan (from my stash, source unknown)
Say Cheese Adventure at the Park washi tape (Simple Stories)
Rhinestone tickers (Recollections)
3-D foam tape
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: sailboat
Cricut Design Space: mermaid, frame, title using Mistral font
Pattern: scraplift of Lis' Nomad layout from Scrapbook.com

Challenges: Unicorn Challenges #109 Mermaids - I found the cute mermaid silhouette on Cricut Design Space and though it would be a fun addition to the page; A Cut Above Anything Goes with a die-cut - mine are the sailboat, mermaid, frame, and title; Neglected Stuff Challenges - I pulled out 2 long-retired stamp sets to create the postcard and sloth, plus a bunch of old stickers that have been in my sticker binder for at least 15 years (shells, flowers, waves, ship's wheel, palm branch) and the journaling card from 2007.

Hello Grade 8 Layout for Lasting Memories #749

It's Sunday, so it's time for a Lasting Memories challenge, and it's also the weekend of National Scrapbook Day, so I hope you all are getting a chance to scrap and preserve some memories! Let's get to the Lasting Memories challenge. Our theme this month is Tic Tac Toe, and I went with the top row of Metal + 2 photos + Banner. Even though NSD is only one day, our LM challenges last all month, so please hop on over to our blog and check out the challenges!

Here's the board:

And here's my layout. I used my 8th grade school pictures. Gotta love the flip hair and the tiny smile to try to hide my braces!

Recipe:
Atomic Caps & Numbers stamp sets
Vicki Boutin Mixed Media Collection (American Crafts)
Cardstock (I used lots of leftover pieces from other layouts for the stars and scalloped borders, so I am not sure what all the cardstock colors are)
Black ink
Banner grosgrain ribbon
Oh happy Day Thickers (Simple Stories)
School Is Cool ephemera icons (Bella Blvd)
Star pounch (EK Success)
Cricut Artistry cartridge: large and medium stars
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped borders
Pattern: Stick It Down May single page sketch from Facebook Group

Challenges: Challenge YOUrself  #136 Use scallops + a picture of myself

Thor & Huxley Layout

These two pictures of my pets were taken in the same month but not the same day, but I scrapped them together because I loved the way both pets seemed to be looking straight at me! I couldn't decide on a place to put my journaling (two things I copied from my Facebook posts about these two photos), so I popped up the photo mat to create a pocket for each bit of journaling.

Here are the journaling cards:

Recipe:
Magnolia papers (MME)
Fur Baby 6x8 paper pad (Simple Stories)
Star Spangled Blue, Nectarine, Sundance, Paprika, Pear & White Daisy cardstock
Star Spangled Blue & Nectarine ink
Star Spangled Blue & Black marker
Embossing pen
Clear embossing powder
Sweet Leaf grosgrain ribbon
Green washi tape (from my stash, source unknown)
Timberline Assortment wooden shape
Charmalong key charm (Bead Landing)
Gold eyelets (Making Memories)
Chloe sticker & Ciao Chip chipboard (Bella Blvd)
Fur Baby - Dog chipboard (Simple Stories)
3-D foam tape
Scalloped border punch (Fiskars)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: sun, &
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: butterflies
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #314 (includes the recipe found below - my thing found in the sky is the sun, and my spring thing is butterflies))

Challenges: Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone; Neglected Stuff March challenge (I used a super old paper pack called Magnolia, not sure of the date but probably been in my stash for 15+ years) 

Cute As Can Be Layout for Lasting Memories #737

Sandy over at Lasting Memories is asking us to get back to basics this month with our layouts, and this week's challenge is to use a Happy Horizontal design as the base of your layout. What is a Happy Horizontal, you ask? Basically, you use two pieces of patterned paper that extend all the way across your layout (they can each be 6" tall or a little shorter if desired) and cover the join with a narrow strip of paper. I went back through my sketches and couldn't find a single design that uses this concept, so I guess my brain doesn't work this way! It's always fun to stretch yourself with a challenge, as this one did for me. Whether this is easy or hard for you, please join us over at Lasting Memories this month to show off your Happy Horizontal layout.

I found some blank  pages in my 2006 scrapbook, so I went back and scrapped photos of my 19 year old as a baby - so fun!

Recipe:
Boutique Borders stamp set
Soda Pop papers & sticker
Sapphire, Glacier & White Daisy cardstock
Sapphire & Glacier ink
Prussian Blue fineliner pen (iBayam)
Patty Cake Boy Words stickers (Daisy Hill)
Baby Boy stickers (CM)
Great Lengths stickers (CM)
Summer Afternoon enamel dots (Altenew)
Flower punch (EK Success)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: frames
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title shape
Challenges: Cut It Up challenge #323 This Makes Me Smile (or laugh out loud!); The Outlawz Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone

The Story Layout

I was asked to guest design for Heart's Quest Challenges Blog's latest challenge to use white, purple, and/or pink hearts. I decided to go with the white and purple, and even threw in a blue one just for fun! The photos are from a birthday party my kids attended (complete with a roasted pig), and I copied my original post from Facebook to tell the story of my son's humorous answer to a request I made.

Recipe:
Story FYI, Whooo's Your Valentine & Just Be You stamp sets
Watercolor paper (Recollections)
Color Kaleidoscope paper (American Crafts)
Sparkle & Shine paper
Black, Lagoon, Grape, Mulberry & White Daisy cardstock
Black, Eggplant & Juniper ink
Black marker
White gel pen (Sakura)
Black glitter tape
Purple glitter gems
Liquid Glass
Triplets Butterfly Dies (Sizzix)
Nested Stitched Rectangles dies (Cottage Cutz)
Cricut Artiste cartridge: hearts, pennants
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: banners
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #48 using papers over a year old

Challenges: Double Trouble #183 Recipe - 3 Images of your Choice (I chose a butterfly and 4 types of hearts) + 2 Patterned Papers + 1 Sentiment that Makes you Smile (Treasure the now); Cut It Up #322 Have a Heart

Celebrate Christmas Again Layout for Lasting Memories #733

It's been a crazy week here in Southern California, with wildfires burning out of control and a family sheltering with us following the loss of their home, but things are slowly starting to get back to something approaching normal. I managed to get a layout done, my last one from my 2017 photos, and it is also my Lasting Memories design team entry for this week's challenge: do something a little out of your comfort zone for your journaling. I decided to go with hidden journaling, which I do use quite often, but I also added a moving piece, which I seldom do. I plan to laminate the top ornament for added protection, and then punch through my page protector to hang it on the brad. The top ornament will slide to the side to reveal the rest of the journaling. Hope this inspires you to jump out of your comfort zone with your journaling! Please join us over at Lasting Memories for this and the other challenges this month.   

And here's a view of what the back journaling looks like:

Recipe:
Jingle All the Way & The Holiday Life papers (Simple Stories)
Timeless Stripe paper (Daisy D's)
Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas paper (Echo Park)
Ruby, New England Ivy & Black ink
Ruby, Olive, Ponderosa Pine, Canary & White cardstock
Black marker
New England Ivy Bigger Brad
Primary Stars epoxy shapes (Bella Blvd)
Top Dog epoxy stars (Doodlebug Designs)
Be Merry & Bight mini tag set (Couture Creations)
Paper crimper (Fiskars)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: Christmas title, ornaments
Cricut Artistry cartridge: Christmas trees, again
Pattern: Pagemaps sketch found on SB.com

Challenges: Cut It Up #321 Something New AND The Outlawz Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone with optional twist of try something new: my new is punching through a page protector - still freaks me out a little to do that! The Outlawz Festive Friday Challenge - Christmas + use blue (stars)

Slide & Ride Layout

My last layout was photo heavy, so I decided to just scrap two photos for this layout, and the rest are in a pocket page. There were no cows or roosters at this event, but I wanted to use the horse stamp so I had to add the others to keep the layout balanced!

Recipe:
From the Funny Farm stamp
Jingle All the Way papers (Simple Stories
Black, Ruby & White Daisy cardstock
Black ink
White gel pen (Sakura)
Gold Metallics marker
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Black glitter enamel dots (Eyelet Outlet)
Circle Double Stitched steel dies (Art Impressions)
Cricut Artiste cartridge: title
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #310

Challenges: Farm Quest Challenge Blog #66 Things Found in Barns; Park Hopping My Happy Place - I was inspired by the carousel ponies at Legoland

Loving This {Soccer} Layout

Since I've already done a soccer page for each of my kids for this particular season, I decided to just scrap a couple of the game photos for my son and put the rest of the photos in a pocket page. I started with Rochelle Spear's monthly sketch and worked hard to convert a very floral design into something for a boy; hopefully you think I succeeded! 

Recipe:
Background Elements stamp set
Fresh Paint papers
Capri, Paprika & White Daisy cardstock
Clover Meadow, Capri, Nectarine & Black ink
Heavenly Blue gingham ribbon
Irresistibles Pizzazz chipboard
White Daisy flower brads
#Life Cards
Teen Spirit Boy ephemera (Echo Park)
Father's Day ephemera (Simple Stories)
Loving This Thickers (American Crafts)
Let's Wander stickers (American Crafts)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tag, hearts
Pattern: Rochelle Spears November 2024 sketch

Challenges: Scrap With Stacy November 2024 Tic Tac Toe - used the left column with ephemera + chipboard + flowers

1 Clean Kitty Layout

Hope everyone had a fun Halloween and took great pictures of costumes and decorations. My daughter was a taco for Halloween, and she looked so adorable! Anyway, I started this layout a couple of days ago but didn't manage to get it done until this morning because - well, life! Sometimes cats are regal and elegant, and sometimes, they look like this. Cracks me up so I had a scrap these photos. Can anyone else identify?

Recipe:
Chloe papers (Bella Blvd)
Wicker Lane papers (Photoplay)
Oh Happy Day papers (Simple Stories)
Capri cardstock
Capri, Slate & Honey ink
Chloe Ciao chipboard & tickers (Bella Blvd)
Cat Lover stickers (Photoplay)
"1" chipboard (from my stash, source unknown)
Spiced Pumpkin acrylic paint (DecoArt)
Cricut Chore Chart cartridge: clean
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #306

Challenges: Critter Crazy Challenges #92 Anything Goes with animals as the focus; The Outlawz Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone including optional challenge: Thankful for My Furry Friend!