Joy of Sets 24 + Merry Layout

Today I'm sharing my final layout for Joy of Sets, which will also be the final tic-tac-toe board for the challenge blog. Joy of Sets has been going for two years now, and hopefully a lot of you got to play along in that time, but if not, here's your last chance. Check out the board below and submit your cards or scrapbook layouts by December 31st. I used the middle row across with sparkle, non-traditional, and snowflakes, plus the right hand column with glitter, snowflakes, and boughs, and it will be a while before I stop brushing glitter off my desk and hands and clothes! But it's okay because it makes me happy just to look at this layout.

The sparkle doesn't show up well on my scan, so here are some close-up of the glittery snowflakes and bough:

And here's the tic-tac-toe board:

Recipe:
Traditional Christmas papers (KI Memories)
Topiary, Espresso & White Daisy cardstock
Vellum
Topiary, Cotton Candy & Ruby ink
Brown marker (Zig)
Versamarker
Green Jewels embossing powder
Star Dust Stickles (Ranger)
Silver cord (from my stash)
Pink sparkles
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: title, bough, snowflakes
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tags
Pattern: EMS Sketch 69

Challenges: Double Trouble #72 (Thing 1 = Something, Anything, Everything + Thing 2 = played along with Crafting Happiness #73 Tags challenge + Thing 3 = sparkly, white snowflakes)

Joy of Set 23 + Blue Angels Layout

I got to choose the items for the November Joy of Sets challenge board, so I got creative and picked items that start with the letters in November, plus I added the word thanks because, well, it's that time of year! Although I had originally planned to use some Thanksgiving photos, the ones I had printed up just weren't inspiring me, so I went in a totally different direction with these soccer photos from my daughter's team. The column with overlay, metal, and rub-on worked out very nicely. There's no journaling on the layout because I will be inserting a photo storage page between these two pages, and I chose to put the journaling in one of those pockets, but I added the journaling card below the layout. Adding digital journaling to a photo before I print it up is a technique I tend to forget about, but it is so easy and insures I don't neglect to share important details just because I'm feeling lazy!

 

Here's the card with the journaling:

And here's the grid. Play along with the challenge by create a layout or card using any row, column, or diagonal.

Recipe:
Later Sk8r PML cards
Fern, Outdoor Denim & White Daisy cardstock
Outdoor Denim ink
Love Letters rub-ons
Lagoon washi tape
Outdoor Denim baker's twine
Love Charms (Making Memories)
White Daisy brad
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: heart overlay
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: Game Day
Challenges: Bitten By the Bug Sports

EMS Sketch 94 + Joy of Sets 22 + Bri & Mommy Layout

It's a new month and a new sketch for all my scrappy buddies out there! I created a sketch featuring four 4" x 6" photos and a few fun elements. I added a little more layering and a stitched circle on my layout, but otherwise stuck pretty close to the sketch. As always, feel free to adapt the sketch to meet your needs and post a link to your completed layout in the comments at the bottom of this post.

Here's the sketch:

Here's my layout:

It's also time for the JOY OF SETS October challenge! Beverly has a creative grid for us this month with lots of options. I chose to use the top row with Black, Torn, and Stitching to scrapbook some fun photos of  my daughter and I just hanging out together. Here is the grid. You have all month to play along with it, so let's see what you can do!

Recipe:
A Friend Like You stamp set
Color Kaleidoscope papers (American Crafts)
Heartstrings papers
Black, Lagoon & Colonial White cardstock
Lagoon, Cranberry & Black ink
Black marker
Colonial White paper flowers
Cranberry embroidery floss
Red enamel hearts
Cats & Bats enamel dots
Magical Adventures cardstock sticker (Echo Park)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: banner, heart, lowercase title letters
Cricut Wall Decor & More cartridge: Monogram letters
Challenges: Challenge YOUrself #81 - Thankful; The Paper Girls #208 Pick Three (my three were heart, flower, and circle)

EMS Sketch 93 + Joy of Sets 21 + Love {My Science Teacher} Layout

September is here, bringing a few new challenges for all my crafty friends to enjoy. First up, I created a new sketch. It's a little different from my usual style because I actually created it based on an existing layout, per a friend's request. I included measurements for your convenience but feel free to change it up, as I obviously did. My photo was smaller than 5" x 7," so I added another piece of cardstock to fill in the space, and I decided not to cut all the circles as different pieces and instead used a piece of patterned paper that had balloons on it to substitute for the circle idea.

Here's the sketch:

And here is my layout:

It's also time for the JOY OF SETS September challenge! Anne-Marie has a fun grid for us this month, with science right at the center. I chose to use the diagonal with stars, science, and gems to scrapbook this photo of my mom, who also happened to be my 8th grade science teacher. Here is the grid. You have all month to play along with it, so let's see what you can do!

Recipe:

I Heart Us, Central Park & Key to My Heart papers

Raspberry, Smoothie, Creme Brulee, Lagoon, Peacock, Mink, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Raspberry, Smoothie, Creme Brulee, Lagoon & Ponderosa Pine ink
Black marker
I Heart Us Complements chipboard
Round sparkles
Smoothie grosgrain ribbon
Rasberry & Lagoon baker's twine

Miracle Irresistibles chipboard die-cuts

Field Trip ephemera (American Crafts)

3-d foam tape

Heart & star punches (EK Success)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: sun
Challenges:The Studio Challenges Special Person (I chose my wonderful mother); Double Trouble #65 (Thing 1 = anything goes + Thing 2 = linked up with Color My Heart); Color My Heart #409 (I used all the colors plus black and white, but had to substitute Creme Brulee for Nectarine since I didn't have any Nectarine ink or cardstock).

Joy of Sets Challenge #20 + Flip Floppin' Layout

Can you believe August is already here? Despite the craziness of 2020, it seemed to me that it flew by and it's almost time for school to start again. August also brings another Joy of Sets Tic-Tac-Toe grid, this one with a few summery options. I confess, I am not a beach lover - too much sand - but I happened across a photo album I put together in 8th grade, and, since all the photos were falling out, I decided to scrapbook them, starting with these beach pictures. I also found my old diary and printed the text onto a piece of white cardstock that I tucked behind the photos. Gotta admit, I'm a little embarrassed about how boy crazy I apparently was, so hidden journaling seemed the best solution to preserving this memory while keeping a little of my dignity - LOL!

Here's the Joy of Sets grid. I chose the top row with splash, sand, and blue. Come play with us; the challenge is open until August 31!

Recipe:

Beach paper (The Paper Patch)

Blue Mini Page Kit (Colorbok)

Kraft, Gypsy, Goldrush & White Daisy cardstock

Clear vellum

Sky, Gypsy & Goldrush ink

Black marker

White gel pen (Sakura)

Fundamental stickers (CM)

Autumn Harvest Bigger Brad

Flip Floppin' Title (The Dancing Daisy)

Cricut You Are Here cartridge: starfish

Cricut Artistry cartridge: crab

Pattern: Pagemaps April 2018

Challenges: Lasting Memories #507 sketch; Bitten By the Bug Cute Critters

Joy of Sets Challenge #19 + Dad Layout

Happy Independence Day to all my fellow Americans! Hope you have a safe and enjoyable celebration with friends and/or family. There's a new challenge board over at Joy of Sets, so feel free to amp up the fun by incorporating a column or row into your crafting! I chose the middle column with paper tearing, sponged ink, and jewels for this layout featuring photos of my dad. I didn't start scrapbooking until I had been married for a while, and my parents had moved out of state by then, so I don't have a ton of photos of my dad to scrapbook. These ones were extra fun because my dad is a retired electrical engineer who worked on several space missions, so he really appreciated the space exhibits we saw at the Science Center.

And here's the board:

Recipe:
Let's Wander paper (American Crafts)
Kraft & White cardstock
Desert Sand ink
Moonstruck marker
Cork Color-Ready alphabet stickers
Field Trip ephemera (American Crafts)
Clear sparkles
Challenges: The Library Challenge #62 (I was inspired by the night sky on the cover, so I added some sparkles to the blue watercolor paper on my layout to create a starry sky)

Joy of Sets Challenge #18 + May Memories Layout

Joy of Sets has a new challenge up today, so put on your thinking caps and pull out your supplies and let's get crafting! There are lots of fun combos this month, and you can choose any row across, down, or diagonal. Here's my layout, with nature, rainbow, and fussy-cut (I stamped and cut out the little bear).

And here's the Board:

Recipe:
Punny Pals stamp set
Oh Happy Day papers (Simple Stories)
Pixie, Saddle, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Black ink
Black marker
White gel pen
Oh Happy Day Bits & Pieces ephemera (Simple Stories)
Oh Happy Day cardstock stickers (Simple Stories)
Petticoats & Pinstripe enamel dots (Echo Park)
Cricut Simply Sweet cartridge: title
Cricut Artistry cartridge: pink flowers
Pattern: scraplift form the gallery at Scrapbook.com
Challenges: 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #39 (anything goes with a critter - mine are the stamped and the photographed bears)

EMS Sketch 89 + Joy of Sets Challenge #17

This post includes a triple play of challenges! First, I created a new sketch to house a few photos of my son's pug party pinata. Next, I included the diagonal from Joy of Sets' May tic-tac-toe board: birthday, things that fly, and sponging. And finally, since Double Trouble is teaming up with Joy of Sets for this month challenge, I made sure to pick some techniques/items that fit the qualifications for that challenge. Whew, that was a lot of challenges and took lots of thinking, but it was so satisfying to get them all in. Feel free to play along with all these challenges using the links I included, and if you use the sketch, please post a link in the comments to your posted layout.

The sketch:

My layout:

I paper pieced the pug face by hand for another layout but it didn't work out,
so I put it here because I couldn't bear all that hard work to be wasted!

Joys of Sets Tic-Tac-Toe #17

Recipe:
Wide Journaling Block stamp (Scrappy Cat)
Splendor paper pack
Heavenly Blue, Chocolate, Black, Slate, Whisper, Cashmere, Champagne & White Daisy cardstock
Topiary & Crystal Blue ink
Brown marker (Zig)
White gel pen (Sakura)
ShinHan Touch Twin & Gold Metallics markers
Chantilly My Complements chipboard bird
Junebug Puffies butterflies
Decorative circles (from my stash, source unknown)
Dot Fade layering stencil (Tim Holtz)
Cricut Artbooking: branch
Cricut Design Studio: bones, title using A Child's Year font

Joy of Sets Challenge #16 + So Handy Layout

It's time for another Joy of Sets Tic-Tac-Toe challenge! I kinda cracked myself up with this grid because I kept dreaming up ways to use the individual squares but they never seemed to go in a straight line. I put on my thinking cap and came up with a "move" that ended up getting me a win using the column with ribbon, ink blending, and heat embossing! I also threw in some texture and designer paper for fun. Come join us over at Joy of Sets until the end of April, and see how you do using this fun grid. Here's my layout:

And here's the grid:

Recipe:
Polka Dot Alphabet, Spot On Backgrounds & Tool Time stamp sets
Oh Happy Day papers (Simple Stories)
Dotty for You paper
Raspberry, Sunset & White Daisy cardstock
Raspberry, Sunset, Canary, Lagoon, Black & Versmark ink
Black marker
Clear embossing powder
Cat & Bats enamel dots
#Life cards
Oh Happy Day washi tape (Simple Stories)
Ruler ribbon (Offray)
Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge 54

Challenges: The Studio Challenges use a grid ( I put the photos in a grid and placed it on some fun paper shapes); Lasting Memories #491 SPRING word play - add a product or technique for each letter in Spring
S - stamps
P - patterned paper
R - Raspberry cardstock
I - ink blending
N - numbers (on the ruler)
G - grid, graph paper

Joy of Sets Challenge # 15 + In a Winter Wonderland Layout

It's the first Saturday of the month, so that means it's time for the Joy of Sets Tic-Tac-Toe challenge reveal! Not gonna lie, the board this month was pretty challenging for me, but that made it even more rewarding when I came up with some photos that incorporated the right hand column of silver (the snowflakes), weather (snow and fog), and paper piecing (the snowmen). I have some other ideas for the birthday, punch, food column, too, so you may see me posting a second layout based on this challenge later this month. Feel free to play along until the end of the month by choosing any row across, down, or diagonal and sharing your completed project on the link above.

My scanner broke last week, so I had to take a photo of the layout instead of scanning it, and some of the detail got lost. Here's a close-up of the snowmen and the stamped snow flurries. Aren't these little guys cute?

And here's the Joy of Sets board:

Recipe:
All Decked Out stamp set
A Perfect Winter papers (Echo Park)
Snowhaven papers
Crystal Blue, Tulip, Twilight, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Crystal Blue & Tulip ink
Twilight & Black markers
ShinHan Touch Twin markers
Heartfelt Wonder felt snowflakes
Glitter Embossed Snowflake stickers (Recollections)
Holiday Joy rub-ons (Frances Meyer)
Red enamel gems
Aqua enamel dots
Liquid Glass
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: title, snowmen
Pattern: Stick It Down March double page sketch

Challenges: Lasting Memories #487 Patterned Paper (there are actually four different patterned papers on here!); Use Your Stuff #393 Favorite Embellishment (definitely die-cuts for me - here I used two snow men and a die-cut title)

Joy of Sets Challenge #14 + Hey There Layout

Joy of Sets has a new challenge up today, so put on your thinking caps and pull out your supplies and let's get crafting! There are lots of fun combos this month, and you can choose any row across, down, or diagonal. Here's my layout, with watercolor, purple, and die-cuts.

And here's the board:

Recipe:
Connections stamp set
Watercolor papers (Recollections)
Hot Off the Press vellum (Paper Pizzazz)
Black ink
Oh Happy Day Bits & Pieces ephemera (Simple Stories)
Black Dymo label

Joy of Sets Challenge #13 + Windsor Layout

I was invited to be the resident scrapbook layout designer over at Joy of Sets, so this is my first challenge as a design team member! The fun grids always offer lots of options, and this time I chose to use the middle column down with silver, hearts, and floral to scrapbook these photos from Windsor Castle. The silver is a bit hard to see, but there are three silver hearts scattered around the layout.

Here's my layout:

I made a major mistake on my journaling here; we actually entered the Upper Ward through St. George's Gate, and these pictures of the Henry VIII Gateway and the Round Tower were taken outside the castle walls. Sorry, it's been almost three years since we were there!

And here's the grid:

This month, Joy of Sets is being sponsored by Visible Image Stamps, who are offering a £25 gift token to the winner of the challenge. You have until January 31 to participate, and all kinds of projects are welcome, so come play along!

Recipe:
Stack 4 papers (DCWV)
Color Kaleidoscope papers (American Crafts)
Barn Red, Black & Whisper cardstock
Black & Whisper ink
Black marker
Color Kaleidoscope Thickers & stickers (American Crafts)
Love Letter Rub-Ons
Clear Sparkles
Cricut Wall Decor & More cartridge: W
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title (except W)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: heart banner
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge 84

Challenges: Scrap Our Stash January Bingo Challenge (I chose the bottom row across with banner, cardstock, flower, rub-on, and bling)