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!

Winter Blast 2015 Layout

After taking a break to create a card for my mother-in-law, I'm back at work finishing up my  layouts for the Scrapbook.com 5 for 5 challenge. I used both pages of the sketch, but this time I cut two smaller pieces of patterned paper for each side of the layout and tilted them to give a different look. 

Recipe:
February Word Puzzle, Pen Pal Alphabet & Cassidy Alphabet stamp sets
Jingle All the Way papers (Simple Stories)
Kraft, Sage & Colonial White cardstock
Sage, Ruby & Black ink
Black marker
Jingle All the Way Puffy stickers, journal bits & decorative brads (Simple Stories)
DE Chipboard - Framed Fun & Banners
Ruby baker's twine
Ruby washi tape
Colonial White Bigger Brads
Gold Stickles (Ranger)
3-D foam tape
Pattern: EMS Sketch 100

Challenges: Lasting Memories #610 Three Things - floral patterned paper, hearts & washi tape; Crafting Happiness #127 Little Things (so many in this layout - cocoa, games, Christmas presents, bounce house, and above all, seeing my kids having fun!)

What a Relief Layout

I went back to the Assyrian exhibit at the British Museum for this layout featuring carved reliefs from various sites in Nimrud and Nineveh. The title is a play on the old jingle for Alka Seltzer, and I popped up the negative title to give a little additional dimension.

The journaling and additional photos are on a facing photo storage page:

And, since it's probably really hard to read the journaling, here are the journaling cards for any history nuts (like me) who want to read all about it!

Recipe:
Pen Pal Alphabet & Star Power stamp sets
Elemental, March-April 2021 Mix-in & Sweetheart papers
Sorbet, Sage & White Daisy cardstock
Sorbet, Creme Brulee, Sage & Black ink
Black marker
Creme Brulee baker's twine
Let's Wander Thickers (American Crafts)
Dymo label tape
3-D foam tape
Cricut Artiste cartridge: title, wing
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge 61

Challenges: Let's Craft & Create #176 Things with Wings; Tic Tac Toe Challenges #137 (used the middle column with Embossing + Green + Twine) 

Color My Heart #476 (I don't have anything in Papaya yet and very little in Sundance, so I used the old colors Sorbet and Creme Brulee as the closest matches. Also realized I messed up and used gold instead of silver, but I still wanted to share my layout!)

Summer Nights @ the Bowl Layout

***Just a reminder that there is still time to enter a layout based on one of my sketches so you're eligible for the prize drawing of a gift card to Scrapbook.com! See this post for details.***

One of my favorite things to do (that I haven't been able to do for a long time) is attend concerts at the Hollywood Bowl. My hubby and I usually invite a few friends and eat a picnic dinner in the cheap seats - not quite the nosebleed section but close to it - before the concert starts. For the layout, I used transparent texture paste to create a starry sky at the top of the page. It didn't come out quite like I intended (was hoping for a shinier look), but it was my first time using this product, so I guess I will learn with experience. At any rate, I love how the silhouette of Elliott and ET on the bicycle (created using Cricut Design Space) turned out.

Recipe:
Vogue Alphabet & Pen Pal Alphabet stamp sets
Dreamin' Big, Laughing Lola & Stargazer papers
Black, Juniper & Greg Wool cardstock
Black & Juniper ink
Black marker
Juniper & Silver washi tape
Transparent Gloss Texture Paste (Ranger)
Silver star brads (Creative Impressions)
Starry Night stencils (Simple Stories)
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge 2

Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Full Circle; Challenge YOUrself #92 Self Care (taking a night off from my kids to go out with friends!)

EMS Sketch Challenge 99 + Flag-Waving American Layout

I took a couple of weeks off scrapbooking because my family was on vacation, but now I'm back with a new sketch and a sample layout. Although this is a single page sketch with four uncropped 4" x 6" photos, I made it into a double pager by rotating it 90 degrees to the left for the first page.

The sketch:

My layout:

Recipe:
Pen Pal Alphabet, Swirl Stroke Caps and Lowercase & Vintage Type stamp sets
Celebrating Freedom papers & Ephemera (BoBunny)
Cranberry, Dutch Blue & White Daisy cardstock
Sapphire, Cranberry & Dutch Blue ink
Moonstruck marker
White Pearls
Cranberry grosgrain ribbon
Outdoor Denim baker's twine
Dark blue washi tape
3-D foam tape
Small circle punch (CM)
Star punch (EK Success)
Starry Night stencil (Simple Stories)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: photo corners, large circles
Challenges: Challenge YOUrself #88 - Alphabet Soup (my letter was P for patterned paper, Pen Pal alphabet stamps, punches, photo corners, and pearls); Tic Tac Toe Challenges #108 (I used the diagonal with patterned paper, free, and embellishments plus the bottom row with patterned paper, any shape die, and stencil)

Aquarium of the Pacific 2015 Layout

For these photos of my kids enjoying the aquarium, I drew inspiration from a couple of crafting challenges plus a sketch I created in 2019 that remains a favorite. The patterned paper is from an old CTMH kit that was one of the first ones I purchased back in 2004 or 2005, so it was great that it suited these photos so well. Am I the only paper collector around here who needs to get those old papers off the shelf and into my albums?

Recipe:
Pen Pal Alphabet stamp set
Summer Celebration papers
Pebble & White Daisy cardstock
Watermelon, Ocean & Pacifica ink
Ocean marker
Wood Hearts
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: banners, arrows, hearts, sun
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: title
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge 78

Challenges: Scrap With Stacy March tic-tac-toe (I used the row with 5 patterned papers, hearts, and the color teal); The Studio Challenges Color tic-tac-toe (I used the column with teal, grey, and pink)

From This Moment Layout

I wasn't able to be at my sister-in-law's wedding, but I was able to capture a little bit of this meaningful time through the photos my hubby took. I used lots of die-cuts, stamping, and embossing to create this layout, and achieving a feminine look without drowning it in pink was an enjoyable challenge. Hopefully you think I succeeded in that aim!

Recipe:
Pen Pal Alphabet, Love This & Express Postage stamp sets
Bonnie Bell Wedding papers (MAMBI)
Daydream papers
Hollyhock, Blush & White Daisy cardstock
Hollyhock & Versamark ink
Blush & Gold Metallix markers
White gel pen (Sakura)
Gold embossing powder
Autumn Terracotta conchos
White embroidery floss
Gold ribbon (from my stash, source unknown)
Small heart punch (EK Success)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: Always & Forever
Cricut Artiste cartridge: large hearts
Cricut Wall Decor & More cartridge: family
Challenges: 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #43 (I was inspired to add a stamped, heat embossed, fussy-cut butterfly to my layout); Tic Tac Toe Challenges #86 (I did the diagonal with die-cut, circle, and stitching, AND the column with stitching, ribbon, and designer paper. I also used gold embossed paper and added gold embossing, so that kinda works for the other diagonal).

The End of the Day Layout

My kids are all back in school (well, they're all doing remote learning) so it's time for me to get back to scrapbooking! I chose some photos my husband took while on a business trip in Pismo Beach. After he was done with meetings for the day, he was able to walk down to the beach and enjoy a relaxing walk along the coast.

Update: this layout was featured on Use Your Stuff challenge blog!

Recipe:

Pen Pal Alphabet stamp set

Surf's Up papers
Glacier, Crystal Blue & White Daisy cardstock
Ponderosa Pine, Lagoon & Saffron ink

Color Kaleidoscope Phrases and Icons Puffy stickers (American Crafts)
Color Kaleidoscope Thickers (American Crafts)
Our Adventure epoxy stickers (MAMBI)
Field Notes Thickers (American Crafts)

Say Cheese III enamel dots (Simple Stories)
Opaque Matte Texture Paste (Ranger)

Tim Holtz Rays stencil (Stampers Anonymous)

Cricut Artbooking cartridge: sunburst border

Pattern: Splitcoast Stampers Sketch16Sep3

Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Anything Goes; Use Your Stuff #404 (I was inspired by the ocean background and the teal & caramel colors)

Lunch Break Layout

I'm still plowing through the photos from Take Your Child to Work Day 2015, so here is another one, this time with photos from the kids' lunch break at a cool place in Malibu. There were multiple photos but I decided to scrapbook just these two of my own kids, while the others will go in a pocket page. The Baker's Dozen challenge over at Scrapbook.com always inspires me to add more stuff to my layout, and this time I had to get really creative to add beads and a shaker element. Since the only beads I had were pretty fat, I cut the sun image multiple times on my Cricut and stacked it until the beads could roll around a little under the vellum. Can you spot where I put all 13 items?

1. Clouds
2. Pocket Card
3. Summer Sun
4. Beads
5. Shaker Element
6. Cork
7. Ribbon
8. Die Cut
9. Paper Tearing
10. Paper Piecing
11. Misting or splatters
12. Brad
13. Stamps

And here are a few of the photos that will go in the pocket page:

Recipe:
Let's Stay Home & Pen Pal Alphabet stamp sets

White Daisy textured cardstock

Charcoal, Kraft, Champagne, Chocolate, Honey & White Daisy cardstock

Vellum
Pacifica & Slate ink
Black marker
ShinHan Touch Twin marker
Childhood PML cards
Cork Color-Ready Alphabet stickers
Lagoon satin ribbon
White brads
Gold and silver beads (found in my stash, possibly from Michael's)
3-D foam tape

CTMH Stripe embossing folder
Cricut Artiste cartridge: sun, cloud

Cricut Chore Chart cartridge: dog

Pattern: Scrap Our Stash August 2020

Challenges: 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #41 - I included the die-cut puppy to keep the dog in the photo company; The Paper Girls #206 Emboss Like a Boss - I added an embossed strip of kraft paper to the left of the photos.

Train to Windsor Layout

I had put off scrapbooking these photos of our train trip to Windsor Castle because I had already scrapped train pictures from our trip to Hampton Court and wasn't feeling too inspired to do anything with these ones. However, National Train Day was this past Saturday, and The Library Challenges posted a challenge involving a train (see below), so I knew I had to get creative with these photos!

We weren't sure whether to laugh or gasp when we saw the yellow sign
at the station where we switched trains!

Recipe:
Classmates & Pen Pal Alphabet stamp sets
Stargazer papers
Color Kaleidoscope papers (American Crafts)
Colorful Kit paper (KI Memories)
Kraft, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Ruby, Cranberry, Slate & Versamark ink
Black marker
White embossing powder
Red stripe ribbon (Berwick)
Ruby & Silver baker's twine
Ruby chevron & black stripe washi tape
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: heart, tag
Star punch (source unknown)
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #122 (one of my all time favorite sketches from their blog!)

Challenges: Lasting Memories #497 Three Things - striped patterned paper, stars, washi tape;  Library Challenge #58 The Girl on the Train (this really helped get me started!)

EMS Sketch Challenge 85 + Engine Court Layout

I meant to get this sketch posted last week, but, well, life! Anyway, here is a new sketch featuring a mixture of photo sizes. As you can see, it also lends itself to housing a panoramic picture if you so desire. I made a few modifications to make it work for my photos, and you are welcome to do the same. Don't forget to post a link in the comments section to your completed layout if you use the sketch. I love seeing what others do with my sketches!

The Sketch:

My Layout:

Recipe:
Glamour Uppercase, Glamour Lowercase, Pen Pal Alphabet & Felicity Alphabet stamp sets
Pet Shop papers (KI Memories)
Pewter & White Daisy cardstock
Sky, Goldrush, Bamboo, Chocolate & Whisper ink
Kraft Color-Ready Borders
Chocolate brads
Silver washi tape
Color Kaleidoscope sticker book (American Crafts)
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: castle
Cricut Design Space: journaling shape using an imported file and the print and cut function
Challenges: Scrap With Stacy's February Tic-Tac-Toe board (I used the column with brads, washi, and 5 or more patterned papers); Lasting Memories #484 Stamps (stamped the title and subtitle and the flourishes)

Elated 2 B Related Layout

I'm closing in on the last five layouts featuring photos from 2014, so here's one from Thanksgiving Day 2014. I already journaled on a previous layout about my hubby taking the kids to the park after dinner, so I decided not to include journaling on this one. I didn't have a good title in mind until I found the "related" sticker and, since the kids were having a ball with their cousin, the rest of the title popped into my mind. Love it when that happens!

Recipe:
Pen Pal Alphabet stamp set
Victory papers
Brown Diamonds paper (Paper Pizazz)
Chocolate ink
Autumn Large & Small Leaves die-cuts (MME)
Pear & Partridge PML card
Wood Grain washi tape
Blue enamel dots
Adornaments blue fibers (EK Success)
Mind Your Manners Fundamentals stickers (Bella Blvd)
Color Kaleidoscope sticker book (American Crafts)
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #190

Challenges: The Library Challenges #47 (I was inspired by the color scheme, the brown plaid on one of the girl's dresses, the trees in background, the family theme, and by the idea of kids having fun outdoors).

Blizzard Ahead Layout

I’ve never created a layout without pictures before, but any pictures for this topic would have been just a mass of white anyway, so I took the plunge to tell the story using journaling as my focus. Thanks to Double Trouble challenge blog for their Hit the Road challenge that pushed me to scrap the last page for a vacation we took in 2011! I scrapped the rest of my photos in 2017 but hadn’t done this page yet because it was such a departure from my usual process. Glad it’s finally done.

Recipe:
Pen Pal Alphabet stamp set
Glacier,  Black, Slate, Whisper, Pacifica & White Daisy cardstock
Glacier, Slate & Whisper ink
White gel pen (Sakura)
Black stitch grosgrain ribbon
Large black brads (from my stash)
Confetti embossing folder
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: snowflakes
Cricut Artistry cartridge: snowflakes
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: car, arrow road sign
Cricut Artiste cartridge: title road sign
Pattern: Sketches in Thyme #375

Challenges: Double Trouble #31 (Thing 1 - Hit the Road holiday/vacation theme with dry embossing, Thing 2 - play along with Pile It On challenge #155 - transportation, and Thing 3 - sign you would see on vacation.

Class of 2014 Layout

I'm cranking out the 2014 layouts (finally), and hope to be caught up on my scrapbooking by 2030 - LOL! If only my family would stop doing fun things that I need to photograph. Since my nephew just graduated from college, it's about time that I scrapbook his high school graduation, don't you think? He went on to get his degree in video game programming, so I felt it was appropriate to use some of the Proplayer paper that I had in my stash, and I added a few school themed canvas stickers. I also pulled an adhesive backed twill sheet out of my stash, cut a circle, and stamped part of my title on it; I think I purchased the package in 2007 and never even opened it, so I'm glad to see at least a little bit of it put to use.

Recipe:
Noted backgrounds & Pen Pal Alphabet stamp sets
Proplayer papers
Black & Whisper cardstock
Black, Whisper & Slate ink
Black marker
Typeset Complements canvas stickers
Red Shimmer Trim
Adhesive-backed twill
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: 2014
Pattern: EMS Sketch 19 (reversed)
Challenges: Heart 2 Heart By the Numbers; Scrap With Stacy photo inspiration (my color scheme was inspired by the red, black, and gold balloons)

Through the Trees Layout

It's time for another challenge at Lasting Memories, but their challenges are so addicting that I'm still playing around with the last one! I couldn't resist using up the last of the blue ink in my spray pen to mist the background of this layout, but I also had fun playing with their new challenge: stamping. I'm a long time stamp lover, but I used the stamps in a little different way this time. There was nothing in my stash that seemed to go with the green patterned paper in the middle of the page, so I pulled out a leaf stamp set and repeatedly stamped it until I had a new background to match - voila! The title is also stamped, as are all the trees. For the title circle, I even used some masking to create a denser look for the trees rather than the evenly spaced look elsewhere on the layout. Hopefully you now feel inspired  to pull out some stamps and join in the fun challenge over at Lasting Memories!

Recipe:
Intrinsic Backgrounds, True Happiness & Pen Pal Alphabet stamp sets
Dutch Blue, Whisper, Olive, Creme Brulee & White Daisy cardstock
Dutch Blue, Whisper, Olive, Creme Brulee & Crystal Blue ink
Steel Grey marker (Zig)
Silver washi tape
Durables Artisan Studs - pewter
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: banners
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: semi-circle cut-out (welded in Design space)
Pattern: Scrapbook.com November 2 page sketch challenge
Challenges: The Studio Challenges die-cuts (I cut both banners using my Cricut and backed them with patterned paper, plus I welded the semi-circle to the rectangular block in Design Space)

Parson's Lodge Layout

I was playing along with an interesting challenge from Scrapbook.com to use 92% pink and/or green on your layout. I know 92% sounds like a weird number, but it's because August 3rd was Watermelon Day, and watermelons contain 92% water, ergo the challenge. Obviously I went with the green part of the challenge for these Yosemite pictures. I'm not sure I used exactly 92%, but if not, it's close!

And here's the facing page with a pull-out journaling card to contain my memories of this hike:

And here's the journaling card (based on sketch 107 from Sketches in Thyme PL Style):

And finally, a couple of pictures from the other side of the pocket page, showing Parson's Lodge and my son near the trout-filled lake:

Recipe:
Pen Pal Alphabet & Pack Your Bags stamp sets
Back Country, Lucky, Mistletoe & Rustic Trail papers
Garden Green, New England Ivy & Bamboo cardstock
Olive & New England Ivy ink
Olive marker
Back Country & Rustic Trail My Stickease
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped border
Pattern: Sketch Savvy #60
Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Lovely Layers ( I had a great time layering all these ancient CTMH papers and My Stickease - I counted 5 layers under the tree sticker!)