What Matters Layout

Recently, I was rummaging around in a file of semi-completed layouts that needed photos and found two pieces of Moonstruck blue cardstock with a couple of strips of patterned paper stuck to each one. Not sure what I originally intended to do with them, but when I needed to scrapbook a set of photos taken at various times during a trip to visit family in San Diego, they sprang to mind as being something I could work with. I was also inspired by a couple of challenges (see below) for the direction I went with the layout, so thanks for breathing new life into something long ago relegated to the "finish someday" file.

Recipe:

This Happened, Balloon Talk & Captured Happiness stamp sets

Smiles From the Garden stamp set + Thin Cuts

Blue Ribbon papers

Moonstruck, Lilac Mist, Kraft & White Daisy cardstock

Moonstruck, Indian Corn Blue, Chocolate & Desert Sand ink

Moonstruck marker

White Acrylic Heart & Flowers

Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: curved rectangle

Challenges: Cut It Up #306 Feeling Blue + use a die-cut; Stamping Sensations Mood Board (inspired by the color blue, butterfly, and flowers)

Best Math Day Layout

I'm almost done with second grade photos for my son's elementary school album, so today I decided to scrapbook this random photo we took of my son and his "Best Math Day Ever" award. Learning did not come easy to him, so this was a huge deal! There is a lot of stamping on this layout, and I even fussy cut the big XOXO, the talk bubble, and the owls after I stamped them. I was tempted to put lots of numbers on the layout because of the math theme, but decided to just use the measuring tape ribbon, then I stamped plus signs on the red ring, and the X could stand for multiplication and the O for zero, so those are my math tributes.

Recipe:
Happy Everything, Priceless Love Word Puzzle, Live Out Loud, Balloon Talk, Whooo's Your Valentine & Classmate Alphabet stamp sets
Moon Doggie papers
Garden Green, Cranberry, Bamboo, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Garden Green, Cranberry, Bamboo, Cocoa, Chocolate, Black, Indian Corn Blue & Honey ink
Black marker
Everyday Moments pocket Card (Scrapbook.com)
Measure Up ribbon (Offray)
Cricut Artiste cartridge: hearts, arrow
Pattern: Sketches in Thyme #609

Challenges: Colorful Options Rainbow Colors; Heart's Quest Challenge Blog #52 (chose XOXO + stamped hearts)

Hey There Card

Yesterday I created a winter-themed card and today I moved on to the depths of summer with this card. Heart 2 Heart challenge blog asked us to create a project that features the color assigned to our birth month. My assigned color was Topiary, and let me tell you, there are not a lot of recent paper packs that feature Topiary. Since I'm still trying to deplete my pile of patterned papers, I dug through my stash and found the Splendor paper pack, which features Topiary and Goldrush. Using a cute sketch from Stick it Down allowed me to blow through a lot of paper, too, so I'm on my way to achieving my use-it-up goal! This card is really versatile because I can stamp whatever sentiment I need on the inside.

Recipe:
Hot Diggity & Balloon Talk stamp sets
Splendor Level 2 paper
Goldrush, Kraft & White Daisy cardstock
Topiary, Goldrush & Moonstruck ink
Goldrush marker
Color-Ready seam binding ribbon
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: banner, heart, circle
Pattern: Stick It Down January card sketch
Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Birthday Color challenge

Creating Cards Layout

We're over half way through the month, so I thought it was a good time to revisit this month's sketch challenge and bring you a little more inspiration. Here's the sketch:

I turned the sketch on its side and added a tag with a picture on it. The tag would have also been a great place to put journaling, but I didn't really have much, so the picture worked for me. I realized both my samples this month have been from crafty events! I think I'll try to use the sketch a third time but for a totally different theme. Don't forget you have until the end of the month to play along with the sketch challenge and share your results.

Recipe:
Balloon Talk & You Are My Happy Alphabet stamp sets
Dotty For You Level 2 paper
Lagoon, Buttercup & Colonial White cardstock
Lagoon, Sweet Leaf, Creme Brulee & Cotton Candy ink
Steel Grey marker (Zig Pens)
Sweet Leaf & Lagoon ribbon
Paradise Just Blooms (flowers)
Sweet Leaf brad
Sunset button brad
Yellow brad (from my stash)
Pattern: EMS Sketch 56
Challenges: 1 2 3 Get Scrappy Challenge board 10 (I used the bottom row, and decided to use word balloons instead of traditional balloons).

Skylark Cards

I finished the cards for my Skylark workshop just in the nick on time (my workshop is tonight), so I thought I'd share. I usually use sketches as a guide for my cards, but this time, I went with some Pinterest inspiration plus a couple of ideas that just happened as I was pushing pieces around on the card bases.

Uses Wild About Love & Balloon Talk stamp sets

Uses Thank You stamp set

Uses Art Philosophy Tags stamp set

Uses Chantilly WOTG stamp set

Recipe:
Skylark Level 2 papers
Lagoon, Desert Sand, Juniper, Sweet Leaf, Bamboo & Colonial White cardstock
Lagoon, Desert Sand, Juniper & Sweet Leaf ink
Chocolate & Cotton CAndy markers
Lagoon Houndstooth washi tape
Colonial White grosgrain ribbon
Topiary mini chevron ribbon
Seam-binding ribbon
Teal Shimmer Trim
Aqua Dot
Liquid Glass
All die-cut shapes are cut using Art Philosophy & Artiste cartridges