Blissful, Beautiful Butterflies Layout

My hubby took two sets of photos during our family visit to the Natural History Museum in 2018: the butterfly enclosure and then everything else. I decided to scrap the butterfly photos first since I had the title idea and wanted to run (fly!) with it.

The sentiment at the bottom left is a little washed out in my scan, so here's a close up of it.

Recipe:
Alphabet Solos "B," Pen Pal Alphabet, Bugs & Hugs, Smiles From the Garden & Diverse Backgrounds stamp sets
Goldrush, Thistle, Garden Green, New England Ivy & White Daisy cardstock
Goldrush, Thistle, Garden Green & New England Ivy ink
Thistle Diagonal Striped ribbon
Smiles From the Garden Thin Cuts
Messy Circles layering stencil (Amazon)
Challenges: Triple B July challenge - I included lots of butterflies and a few blooms; The Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge - I used all the colors.

Double Trouble #195 - my three colors are Goldrush, Thistle, and Green, my two stamped images are the butterflies, and my sentiment is down at the bottom left. I stamped some splatters on the background cardstock but it's not shiny, so not sure if it counts for the twist!

3rd Grade Layout for Lasting Memories #715

It's time for another challenge reveal over at Lasting Memories! I am this month's hostess, and I decided to challenge us to a Scrappy Olympics in honor of the games just held in Paris. This week's challenge is to be inspired by the swimming competitions by creating a mixed media layout. Since the challenge didn't actually require using a swimming theme, I chose to scrap my son's third grade school portrait; I used yellow watercolor paint and blue ink from a spray pen on a piece of watercolor paper to create my background. I am not super talented with mixed media, but once I added the photo and other papers and embellishments, it turned out okay. Hopefully some of you ladies are better at mixed media than I am, so I would love to see your mixed media layouts! Please link up your post before this month's challenge ends on 8/31/24.

Recipe:
Diverse Backgrounds & Solos "3" stamp sets
Smarty Pants papers & stickers
Watercolor paper
Candy Apple cardstock
Candy Apple, Capri, Sunny Yellow, Olive & Black ink
Watercolor paint
DE Awards chipboard
Star Attraction Shape Sprinkles (Doodlebug Designs)
Pacifica brads
Sweet Rush Collection - Loving This puffy stickers (American Crafts)
Pattern: Rochelle Spears August 2024 Sketch

Challenges: My Time to Craft #540 Back to School; Scrap With Stacy August 2024 Tic Tac Toe - used the diagonal with 1 photo + phrase sticker + brad

Festive Friday #166 - used yellow + black + white + backpack + books + kids

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)

Fall Back Fun Layout

Our church does a fun event every time Daylight Saving begins and ends, and I was looking forward to scrapping these photos from Fall 2016, but for some reason the layout never popped for me. I ended up tearing out sections and instead of using a pre-made die cut with two little girls on it, I went old school with tracing paper, a black marker, and my scissor in order to paper piece one of the girls. It worked out great because I could give her dark hair like my daughter instead of the blond of the original. It was more work but I think it was worth it!

Recipe:
Share the Magic & Diverse Backgrounds stamp sets
Craft On & Something Fierce papers
Blush, Carolina, Peach, Raspberry, Bluebird, Desert Sand, Cashmere, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Sunny Yellow, Carolina, Bluebird, Whisper & Black ink
Black marker
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Silver brad
Flamingo enamel dots
Cricut Artiste cartridge: clock
Cricut Design Space: title using Thick Typeface and the offset function
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge #94 (rotated right)

Challenges: Double Trouble #126 Scrapper's GORP (Thing 1 = used checks, stripes, florals, & polka dots + Thing 3 = paper pieced girl, pillow & teddy bear); Try Stampin' on Tuesday #584 (paper pieced girl & teddy bear)

Date Night Layout

When I was planning this layout, I thought I had two photos, the candid one my hubby snapped of our friends with the huge dessert we had just ordered, plus a professional one we purchased from the restaurant photographer. However, when I pulled out the professional one, the date was two years off, so I guess I will be scrapping that in the future! Anyway, I ended up searching out a sketch and using some brand new papers along with some seriously old supplies, and I hope you enjoy what I created.

The photo is actually popped up with foam tape, allowing me to create a pocket for my journaling card:

Recipe:
This Happened & Diverse Backgrounds stamp sets
Newsprint stamp set (SU)
Fresh Paint papers
Kraft & White Daisy cardstock
Capri, Candy Apple, Nectarine & Black ink
Fineliner pen (iBayam)
ShinHan Touch Twin marker
Candy Apple striped ribbon
Black organdy ribbon (from my stash, source unknown)
DE Hearts chipboard
Summer chipboard (DCWV)
Craft buttons (from my stash, source unknown)
Autumn Terracotta embroidery floss
Stargazer and Black & White enamel dots
3-d foam tape
Scalloped border punch (Fiskars)
Mini flower punch (EK Success)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tag, flowers
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap 10th Birthday Bash Sketch #1

Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Splatter It (the patterned paper already had some splatter, but I added more using two stamp sets); Color My Heart #497 (I used the Fresh Paint paper collection that includes all the colors, plus I added kraft cardstock, so the only color I didn't include was gold!)

Bella Peace and Comfort Card

One of my husband's coworkers lost her father this week, so he asked me to make a sympathy card for her. I haven't made a card for a long time, so it was enjoyable to dive back into that world! I pulled out a card base and some scraps of paper and got to work. I'm not sure I've ever made a sympathy card, so this was a new experience for me. I tried to strike a good balance, so hopefully the resulting card is neither too girly (since it's from my hubby) or overly happy looking (since it's a sad occasion).

Recipe:
Words of Comfort & Diverse Backgrounds stamp sets
Bella papers
Hollyhock, Smoky Plum, Canary, Colonial White & White Daisy cardstock
Hollyhock, Smoky Plum, Creme Brulee & Olive ink
Black marker
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Pattern: Try Stamping on Tuesday #502 (rotated left)

Challenges: Inspirational Challenges #236 Grow (lots of growing things on this card)

Fall 2014 Layout

I don't have much call for falling leaves layouts here in Southern California (palm trees don't lose their leaves - LOL!), so my supply of fall themed paper and embellishments is quite small. I had to deep dive into my stash to find some leaf paper scraps to use on this fall themed layout. Even though there aren't any leaves on them, the photos were all taken in fall, so that inspired my title. I also tried a little mixed media on this layout, with stamping, paints, and embossing. It's not my forte, but hopefully it looks okay!

Recipe:
November Word Puzzle, Diverse Backgrounds & Canvas Art Workshop stamp sets
Leaf paper (from my stash)
Almond cardstock
Vellum
Barn Red, Cashmere, Saddle & Versamark ink
Gold embossing powder
Fall Leaves Accessory Kit (Amscan)
Chocolate Brown leather stickers (All My Memories)
Anita's earth Brown acrylic paint
Mocha Opaques pearls
Pattern: EMS Sketch 62

Challenges: The Paper Girls #188 family theme (since my photos were already family themed, I was inspired to dig out the tiny "Family Fun" stamp and use it on this layout); The Studio Challenges mood board inspiration (I was inspired by the fall color scheme, the leaves, the gold embossed book cover, and the texture of the brown sweater)

EMS Sketch Challenge 79 + Orange Lazers Layout

I'm trying to create more sketches these days, so here's another double with a variety of photo sizes. Either page could be used as a single layout as well.

The sketch:

My layout:

I wanted to use the fun little phrase strips around the layout, so I moved my journaling to a tag.

Recipe:
Diverse Backgrounds & One Way Borders stamp sets
Later Sk8r papers & PML cards
Sunset & White Daisy cardstock
Slate, Outdoor Denim & Sunset ink
Outdoor Denim marker
Slate polka dot washi tape
Pear ribbon
Energy #-D stickers (Provocraft)
Cricut Artistry: title
Cricut Artbooking: chevron arrow
Cricut Art Philosophy: tag
Challenges: The Studio Challenge Blog use chevrons (on the arrow and the tag); Lasting Memories  #466 Pick Three (I chose washi tape, stickers, and tag)

AR Awards Layout

Our school district participates in a program called Accelerated Reader, and each child is required to earn a certain amount of points by reading books and passing quizzes in their AR level. At the end of the trimester, all children who made their AR goal get an award and attend a party. Brianna was so excited to make her goal in second grade, but it might have been more due to the party than to the awards ceremony - LOL! For the layout, I stamped a few images and then fussy cut them, and I used foam tape to pop up part of the award for extra dimension.

Recipe:
Blue Ribbon, Classmate Alphabet & Diverse Backgrounds stamp sets
Free to Be Me papers
White Daisy cardstock
Flaxen, Tulip, Glacier & Lagoon ink
Ocean marker
Aqua Dots
Red enamel gems
Bamboo metal arrow & brad
Cranberry baker's twine
3-D foam tape
Pattern: Rochelle Spears September 2019 sketch

Challenges: Heart 2 Heart use stamps (ribbon, word search alphabet, first class tab, title, ticket)

Welcome to Westminster Abbey Layout

We weren't permitted to take photos inside Westminster Abbey, but I was able to purchase a bunch of postcards from the gift shop. The real challenge came in trying to scrapbook these, since they were almost 5" x 7" size, and I had ten of them! What to do? After contemplating a while, I decided to create a layout where four of the postcards are immediately visible, and the other 6 are hidden in Flip-Flaps under three of the visible postcards. I also used clear photo corners to mount the postcards, rather than sticking them on with adhesive, so I could actually remove each postcard and read the description on the back. I know I won't do that very often, but maybe in twenty years I will want to remember what all these photos depict! The postcards on the left page are of the Nave looking west (with grave of unknown warrior) and the Henry VII Chapel, and the postcards on the right are of the East Cloister and the tomb effigy of Elizabeth I.

And here are the postcards that are under the Flip-Flaps:

Shine of Edward the Confessor and the Coronation Chair

The High Altar with the Cosmati Pavement and the Henry VII Chapel ceiling

Tomb effigy of Mary Queen of Scots and Poet's Corner

Recipe:
Honeycomb, Diverse Backgrounds, Universal Backgrounds, You Are & This Happened stamp sets
Pemberly, Skylark & Elemental papers
Kraft, Indian Corn Blue, Barn Red & White Daisy cardstock
Desert Sand, Flaxen, Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim & Barn Red ink
Cork heart stickers (American Crafts)
Mind Your Manners Ephemera (Bella Blvd)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: banners
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: Remember
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #177 (left side) & Sketch-n-Scrap Inspired By Sketch #8 (rotated)

Challenges: Lasting Memories #446 - Tiny Stamps (I used a partial daisy stamp to add detail to the zip-strip scalloped border - it looked okay before, but I love how it now emphasizes the flow across the two pages)

Time 2 Soar Layout

For this layout memorializing my daughter's first day of second grade, I was delighted to use a bunch of pink! The base cardstock is actually white, but I used the emerging colors technique to create a patterned look in pink and then added hints of yellow using a sponge dauber. Even though there are lots of patterns on this layout, it was all created by stamping and brayering - there is no patterned paper.

Recipe:
Diverse Backgrounds, It's Your Day, Live Out Loud, Take Note & He Said She Said stamp sets
Canary, Watermelon & White Daisy cardstock
Canary, Watermelon, Bubblegum, Black & Versamark ink
Black marker
Craft buttons
Bubblegum embroidery floss
Chipboard 2
White paint
Star Dust Stickles (Ranger)
Gold embossing powder
Cricut Artistry cartridge: butterflies
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: envelopes (since I didn't need to put anything in them, I used tags and folded over the tops)
Pattern: Let's Scrap 11-1-18 sketch

Exploring the Southwest Layout

For my new Splitcoast Stampers Sketch for April, I actually started with a layout and loved it so much, I decided to create a sketch so I could use the arrangement of the photos again! I know this is a picture-heavy sketch, but you can always delete a few photos if you don't need that many.

FYI: I'm also hosting a month-long scrapbooking challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers, so if you need some inspiration, please head on over and check out the fun!

The sketch:

My layout:

Recipe:
Diverse Backgrounds stamp set
Lucky Level 2 papers
Bamboo & Sky cardstock
Desert Sand, Sky, Outdoor Denim & Olive ink
Chocolate marker (Zig)
My Crush Wildwood Assortment "Documented" card & stickers
Enamel and Glitter Duos blue dots
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: heart
Cricut Alphabet: title

Rose Garden Pocket Cards

Yesterday I stumbled across Sketches In Thyme Challenges' sister site, for those who scrapbook using photo pocket pages. The site features sketches that can be used to create cards to fit in these pockets. I have used the Picture My Life cards from Close to My Heart to fill in a few spots here and there for my pocket pages, but I thought it would be fun to try to create my own cards. I used the current sketch and one from February to create my cards. It was interesting to create on such a small scale, but I enjoyed it and will definitely be trying this again!

Used February sketch.

Used current sketch

Here's the finished page. It's a companion to my Lovely Family layout that I posted yesterday.

Recipe:
Floral Happiness & Diverse Backgrounds stamp sets
Ivy Lane Level 2 papers
Ivy Lane Green, Ivy Lane Purple, Olive & White Daisy cardstock
Vineyard Berry, Blush & Fern ink
Pearl Opaques

Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: frame, vine, scalloped borders

Lovely Family Layout

I did lots of stamping and fussy cutting for this layout, and I had forgotten how time consuming it is. Having a Cricut has sure spoiled me! This was another layout where I searched my paper stash for something to color match the photos, but ended up just going with something that fit the theme of the page. Still trying to be okay with things not being matchy-matchy! When I scanned the layout, it didn't come out that well because the large pearls prevented the page from lying flat, but hopefully you can still get an idea of what the layout looks like.

Recipe:
Floral Happiness,  Sweet & Lovely, Lucky, Treasure Life, The Present & Diverse Backgrounds stamp sets
Ivy Lane Level 2 papers
Ivy Lane Green, Ivy Lane Purple & White Daisy cardstock
Vineyard Berry, Blush & Fern ink
Garnet marker
Floret & Flutter Paper Shapes
Pearl & Mocha Opaques
Pattern:Memory Nest Make It Monday # 56
Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Birds and Bees challenge (inspired me to add a butterfly to my layout - it's not a bee, but it's an insect and it flies, so hopefully that counts!)

SCS October Sketch + Elliot Layout

In between helping the kids clean their rooms, taking them to the dentist, and getting them haircuts, I managed to finish a layout for the Splitcoast Stampers' sketch I created earlier this week. I wanted something bold and bright to go with my son's personality, but I didn't want to overwhelm the photos, so this sketch provided a nice compromise: bold patterned paper around the edge of the layout but a single color cardstock in the center to back the photos. Feel free to play along with the sketch and post a link in the comments below so I can check it out!

The sketch:

My layout:

Recipe:
In the Background, Diverse Backgrounds & Spot On Backgrounds stamp sets
Free to Be Me level 2 papers
Red & Mint embossed cardstock
Creme Brulee, Flaxen, Glacier, Key Lime & Versamark ink
Black marker
Clear embossing powder
Irresistibles Frames & DE Signage chipboard
Nutmeg Memories chipboard (MME)
Juniper craft buttons
Cricut Artiste cartridge: title
Pattern: Splitcoast Stampers Sketch15Oct1
Challenges: Picture This October 1 challenge - 3 photos + chipboard + stamps (I stamped three chipboard pieces with Versamark ink and then used clear embossing ink to create a resist pattern - can you tell which ones?); Splitcoast Stampers Stash Buster's October week 1 challenge (I used patterned paper as my base, buttons & chipboard)

Alpine Ridge Trail Layout

These days, it seems like I'm focusing on keeping things simple! Here's another simple layout that combines 9 photos into a basic design with a bold title and a paragraph of journaling. The trees were cut out using the Art Philosophy cartridge, and then I stamped them with background stamps to get the cute patterns.

Recipe:
Universal Backgrounds, Spot On Backgrounds & Diverse Backgrounds stamp sets
Animal Cookies Level 2 papers
Desert Sand, New England Ivy, Black & White Daisy cardstock
New England Ivy, Garden Green & Dutch Blue ink
Grey Wool marker
Black brads
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: trees
Cricut Artiste cartridge: sign
Wishblade: title
Pattern: "Love You" sketch from p.63 of Best of Becky Higgins Sketches

Dakota Card Workshop

I haven't posted anything for a while because I've been so busy creating cards for my card workshops. I just finished a workshop last night, and here are the cards we created, 2 each of 6 designs. I wasn't enamored of the Dakota papers when my ladies picked them, but I really enjoyed the challenge of taking papers that weren't "my style" and making cards that were my style. Hope you like them!
Recipe:
Live Inspired, Find Your Style, 4 My Friend, Diverse Backgrounds, Say It In Style, It's Your Day, Hooray Bouquet, Intrinsic Backgrounds, Card Chatter - Birthday, You & Me stamp sets
Dakota Level 2 papers
Pacifica, Barn Red,Sky, Desert Sand, Bamboo, Black & Colonial White cardstock
Pacifica, Barn Red,Sky & Black ink
Color-Ready Seam Binding ribbon
Burlap ribbon
Colonial White ric-rac
Durables Round Studs
Pearl Opaques
Milepost Shapes stars
3-D foam tape
Patterns: Gallery, Delightful Dots, Stay Left, Sentiment Secured, Veranda WOTG, Clementine WOTG
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped border, frame, alphabet collage, "u", arrow, star, sun, flower

Tim & Erika Layout

Scrap It With a Song has another great challenge for this month: be inspired by the song, "Every Girl Like Me." The lyrics made a wonderful addition to a wedding layout on which I was working. I used the first verse as part of my journaling. I also wanted to participate in the Colors of the Sea challenge from Through the Craft Room Door. Here's the inspiration photo:

I picked up the blue, yellow, purple and green for my layout. I originally had my photos laid out on Lagoon cardstock, but thought it was too bold for these pictures, so I stamped a background image on White Daisy cardstock using Versmark ink, embossed the stamped image using clear embossing powder, and then sponged Lagoon ink over it. I love the more subtle shade this created. If you can't see it very well, click on the photo to get a close-up. 4 Crafty Chicks is asking to see wedding-related artwork this week, so I also want to enter this layout in that challenge.

Recipe:
Diverse Backgrounds stamp set
Petal, Gypsy, Pansy, Topiary, Buttercup & White Daisy cardstock
Lagoon, Black, Blush & Versamark ink
Topiary Bigger brads
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: flowers, flourishes, lattice border
Pattern: Let's Scrap 6-8-11

Gift Layout

Here's the last layout for my son's first grade career. The latest challenge for Splitcoast Stamper's Virtual Scrapbook Night: Fun at the Fair was based on some of the yummy foods you get to sample at the fair. I chose to be inspired by the colors of candied apples - red or green mixed with caramel. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it! I used a sketch from Sketch Savvy and threw in some stars to go with the stars challenge from the Creative Belli blog (and because my son is always a star to me).

Recipe:
Vintage Type, Diverse Backgrounds & Celebrate the Everyday stamp sets
Believe Level 2 papers
Gray Wool, Sweet Leaf, Holiday Red, Desert Sand & White Daisy cardstock
Gray Wool, Sweet Leaf, Holiday Red, Desert Sand & Sky ink
Gray Wool marker
Dimensional Elements Stars
White Daisy ric-rac
Sky brads & Bigger Brads
Pattern: Sketch Savvy #22
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: journaling shape
Wishblade: title, circle border