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)

I Hope You Dance Layout for Lasting Memories #685

It's Sunday again and that means it's time for another challenge from Lasting Memories. Design Team member Lori picked out some sketches for us to use this month, and she also asked us to include hearts on this week's layout. The sketch shows a bunch of hearts, but I really wanted to include both the chipboard banner for my title and the little die-cut guy and gal playing Just Dance, so I moved things around and used fewer hearts. We would love to have you join us over at Lasting Memories for any of our sketch challenges this month, but the Linky closes on February 3rd, so don't delay!

Here is this week's sketch:

 And here's my layout:

Recipe:

Friendship Alphabet Small & Priceless Love Word Puzzle stamp sets

Life Delights papers & stickers

Blush, Wisteria, Chocolate & White Daisy cardstock

White Daisy textured cardstock

Blush, Wisteria, Chocolate & Sweet Leaf ink

Burnt Sienna fineliner pen (iBayam)

Lilac Mist Bigger Brads

Chocolate baker's twine

DE Banners chipboard

Bubble wrap

Cricut Artbooking cartridge: heart, heart circle, scalloped border, people

Challenges: Heart's Quest Challenge Blog #46 (boy/girl figures + hearts); Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone January challenge

One Awesome Kid Layout

This layout went through so many iterations that I lost count, but it looks nothing like what I originally had in mind. Can anyone relate? I had two random photos of my son that I wanted to scrap, so I chose a two photos sketch from Sketch-n-Scrap, but I decided not to use one of the photos because it was very dark. Instead I grabbed a pocket card and added it in place of one photo. I'm not sure I love the rainbow paper on here, but it had been in my stash for a while, so I am happy I used some of it.

Recipe:
Alphabet Solos "F", Friendship Word Puzzle, Kid Power, Notice the Details, Picture Perfect, Priceless Love Word Puzzle & This Happened stamp sets
Oh Happy Day papers (Simple Stories)
She's Magic paper (American Crafts)
Canary, Peacock & Pixie cardstock
Pixie, Juniper, Peacock & Black ink
Color Kaleidoscope stickers (American Crafts)
Field Trip Puffy Thickers (American Crafts)
Oh Happy Day chipboard stockers (Simple Stories)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: heart
Cricut Artbooking cartrdige: circle heart
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #270

Challenges: Double Trouble #135 Roy G Biv (used rainbow paper and a rainbow of colors)

Priceless Fall Memories Layout

I just love this sweet photo of my youngest as an Indian brave, so it was a treat to scrapbook it! After digging through my stash a little, I found some papers that were originally designed to showcase a 5" x 7" photo and a journaling block, but by getting creative I was able to adapt it to fit my two photos.

Recipe:
Priceless Love Word Puzzle, Year Round Cheer & Holiday Hoopla stamp sets
Magic Moments papers & stickers
Indian Corn Blue, Goldrush & Colonial White cardstock
Indian Corn Blue, Goldrush, Barn Red, Desert Sand, Sunflower & Black ink
Gold metallic marker
Sweet leaf grosgrain ribbon
Indian Corn Blue embroidery floss
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tab
Challenges: Double Trouble #37 - Thing 1 Fall Theme (Fall title & holiday) + Thing 3 - sweet treat (pumpkin pie); Retro Rubber Challenge #119 - Fall Colors of red, brown, and orange - my stamps are the priceless word on the tab (2009), the turkey and Pilgrim hat (2010) , and the pumpkin pie (2012)

EMS Sketch Challenge #31 - Round & Round

I haven't posted a sketch challenge in a while, so here's one to enjoy. I used some discontinued product along with some brand new, just available to the public today items. The Milepost corrugated shapes are found on page 128 of the new Autumn / Winter idea book. Cute, aren't they? The horse and the tickets were cut out using my Wishblade.

The sketch:

My layout:

Recipe:
Classmate Alphabet & Priceless Love Word Puzzle stamp sets
Tinkering Level 2 papers
Clover Meadow & Desert Sand cardstock
Clover Meadow, Twilight, Sunflower, Bamboo & Desert Sand ink
Black marker
Milepost Shapes

Steamboat Springs, Colorado Layout

Hi everyone. I thought I'd pop in to give you an update on what's going on in my life and to share the only layout I managed to get done this month. First of all, merry Christmas and happy New Year. Hope you all had a blessed holiday season this year. Ours was strange, to say the least. We originally thought we'd be moving the weekend before Christmas, but we didn't close in time. Then we thought we'd be moving the day before Christmas, but something went wrong with our buyer's financing and she had to start over. We were hoping to move this weekend, but that doesn't seem like it will happen either, so we're praying we close and move sometime next week. What a roller coaster! In the midst of packing, my scrapbooking mojo has just not been there, so I will fall a few short of my goal for the year, but I'm mostly okay with that. I found some pictures I had printed up from our 2009 vacation to Colorado, so here's a layout featuring those photos and some discontinued products from CTMH. The pattern is Dynamic Duo from Imagine, but I rotated each page one quarter turn to fit my large horizontal photos. I didn't journal yet because I'm not sure where I want to put it, so let me tell you that these pictures were taken while riding the gondola in beautiful Steamboat Springs, CO.



Recipe:
Priceless Love Word Puzzle stamp set
Twitterpated Level 2 papers
Chocolate, Crystal Blue & Colonial White cardstock
Chocolate ink
Chocolate marker
DE In Color - Organic
Sorbet ribbon
Cream embroidery floss (Making Memories)
White gel pen (Marvy)

LOAD #31 - Donkey

My final layout for the LOAD challenge, and what a ride it has been. I loved getting all these photos scrapped, but I won't miss the pressure of the deadline. The good new is that I only have 17 layouts to go to meet my yearly goal. November and December should be easy! Thanks to the wonderful ladies who have scrapped along with me. It's been fun getting to know you through your photos, and I hope you will join me for future challenges. And now, here is today's layout. I used the week 121 sketch from Nuts about Sketches, and for a change I stayed pretty close to the original sketch. BTW, I'm not positive that that's a donkey in the picture, but please don't tell me if it's not! Somehow Eeyore doesn't spring to mind when someone says mule or burro.



Recipe:
Precious Alphabet & Priceless Love Word Puzzle stamp sets
Grace Level 2 papers
Olive & Colonial White cardstock
Cocoa, Twilight & Honey ink
Cocoa marker
White Daisy, Spring Blossom & Big Pinks Just Blooms
Basic craft buttons
Cocoa grosgrain ribbon

LOAD #23 - Lexi

My husband's niece Lexi, the cutest baby in the world - what more needs to be said?



Recipe:
Priceless Love Word Puzzle & State of Mind stamp sets
Cherry-O Level 2 papers
Sweet Leaf, Chocolate & White Daisy cardstock
Sweet Leaf, Chocolate, Tulip & Crystal Blue ink
Irresistibles Lots of Dots stickers
Love Letter rub-ons
Tulip, Sweet Leaf & Chocolate craft buttons
Tulip brad
White grosgrain & Chocolate ribbon
Scalloped border punch (Fiskars)
Pattern: Full House from Imagine

LOAD #4 - Happy Father's Day

I'm back from my amazing scrapbook retreat. Great food and three days of my favorite hobby; how can you beat that? I meant to have this layout posted earlier, but I was having problems with my internet connection. I can think of a million ways I would rather spend my day than trying to figure out what the internet phone tech is talking about, but at least it's fixed for now! Here's layout #4. This is one of those "not loving it but at least it's done" layouts. I'm sure I could add more stuff to it, but I decided to leave it for now.



Recipe:
A Little Everything, June Word Puzzle & Priceless Love Word Puzzle stamp sets
Magic Moments Level 2 papers
Dutch Blue & Honey cardstock
Dutch Blue & Cocoa ink
Cocoa marker
Cocoa grosgrain ribbon

LOAD #28 - Celebrate

If you are looking for the New Product Blog Hop, please scroll down to the next post! For those following my LOAD challenge, here's a layout I created using photos from a cowboy birthday party. I had previously considered getting a Western themed stamp set, but never followed through because it seemed a little limited in use. I really needed something wild West for this layout, so I re-purposed two new stamp sets, A Twinkle (stars) and Boom (July 4th), to create my theme. Throw in a little hemp for rope, and I'm really happy with how this layout came out! Plus I have two great stamp sets to use for July 4th, bedtime layouts, and You're a Star cards, among other things. To see the details of the layout, please click on the picture.



Recipe:
Boom, A Twinkle, Homestead Alphabet, Tiny Typewriter Alphabet & Priceless Love Word Puzzle stamp sets
Splendor Level 2 papers
Sunny Yellow, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Sunny Yellow, Black, Desert Sand & Topiary ink
Tan hemp
Pewter brads
3-D foam tape
Liquid Glass

Priceless Memories Layout

I really like the Grace paper pack, but with two boys, I don't take many pictures that would coordinate with it. That's why I jumped at the chance to scrapbook these pictures of a family visit to San Diego using Grace papers. I love using paper flowers, too. I colored these to match the papers using a sponge dauber and various colors of ink. Hope you like it!



Recipe:
Priceless Love Word Puzzle & Friendship Word Puzzle stamp sets
Grace Level 2 papers
Cocoa, Bamboo & Indian Corn Blue cardstock
Cocoa, Sunflower & Barn Red ink
Cocoa & Barn Red markers
Love Always Journaling Spots
Antique Copper Photo hangers
Antique Copper brads
White Daisy & Big Pinks Just Blooms
Sunflower embroidery floss
Neutral craft button
Creme Brulee ribbon

Pattern: Winning Layout (Cherish)

LOAD #18 - Cry Baby

It's a very rainy day here in Southern California, perfect for scrapbooking at my little desk near the fireplace while my sons are outside splashing in puddles. I almost told them no, but after all, how many rainy days do we get in Los Angeles every year? Until I pick up my Costco order, I have no current pictures to scrap, so I decided to follow Monica's example and work on my youngest son's baby book. He'll be five in March, and I had only scrapped the first week of his life! Loving these pictures, especially the look on my older son's face as he contemplates his squalling baby brother.



Recipe:
Hodge Podge Alphabet, Priceless Love Word Puzzle & Shining Star stamp sets
Stardust Level 2 papers
Buttercup & White Daisy cardstock
Moonstruck, Buttercup & Vineyard Berry ink
Moonstruck & Vineyard Berry markers
White Daisy Dazzling Diecuts
Moonstruck embroidery floss
Winter craft buttons
3-D foam tape

LOAD #3 - Magic Day at the Circus

When most women say their home is sparkling, they mean it's really clean. Unfortunately, when I say that, it means I just finished a project in which I used lots of glitter. Yep, it's everywhere, including my hubby's cheeks! Hopefully you can see the glitter on this layout, because I think it helps reflect the magic of the circus. I used the Stars Above pattern from Imagine, but since I don't have a photo printer at home, I can't print the odd sized photos. So I revised the two spaces with the large photos to hold multilpe smaller photos. Jeanette Lynton's pattern books are so versatile; you can adapt them to your photos -love it! By the way, for those not familiar with Blogger, you can click on the pictures if you want to see a larger view.





Recipe:
Laughter, Headline Alphabet, Hodgepodge Alphabet & Priceless Love Word Puzzle stamp sets
Tinkering Level 2 papers
Sunny Yellow, Cranberry, Lilac Mist cardstock
Cranberry & Lilac Mist ink
Cranberry marker
Prisma Glitter

Crafts Layout

My last VBS layout for now. I'm waiting to order a stamp from the new catalog so that I can do a VBS music layout. Pop quiz: I used a discontinued set on this layout, two that are going to be discontinued, and a Constant Campaign stamp set that will be in the new idea book. Can anyone figure out which one is which?






Recipe:
Friendship Word Puzzle, Priceless Love Word Puzzle, September Word Puzzle, Precious Alphabet, Friendship Alphabet Small, Checklist,& Solos Punctuation stamp sets
Autumn Terracotta, Sunflower, Garden Green & Cocoa cardstock
Cocoa ink
Cocoa marker
Autumn Terracotta Bigger Brads
Cocoa brads
Connections Club metal charms
Cocoa grosgrain ribbon
Foam Squares

Pampered Chef Party Layout

Just looking at this layout makes me hungry. The dish we made when I hosted a Pampered Chef party was delicious! I'm really glad I recently purchased the Recipe Box stamp set, because it is so versatile. One stamp features long lines for writing down a recipe, or they are perfect for journaling. I can think of a million uses for the food stamps: I can't wait to use that turkey on a Thanksgiving layout this year, and the bowl of soup would be darling on a get well card. Enjoy the layout, and try not to get the munchies!



Recipe:
Recipe Box, Friendship Alphabet Small, Celebrate the Everyday, Priceless Love Word Puzzle & Friendship Word Puzzle stamp sets
White Daisy, Blush, Crystal Blue & Creme Brulee cardstock
Desert Sand, Blush, Crystal Blue, Hollyhock & Creme Brulee ink
Desert Sand & Hollyhock markers
Watercolor pencils (Prismacolor by Sanford)
Foam Squares

Everyday Cards

I lost my scrapping mojo this week, so the layout I started on Tuesday is still sitting on my desk. Boohoo! But when my friend Robin came over to my house on Thursday to complete the Crazy for Cards workshop, I pulled out my Celebrate the Everyday card kit and worked on it while she did her cards. I only made half the cards (you can complete 16 using the instruction booklet, but I didn't need that many right now), and I made some exactly as instructed in the booklet, while others I changed up a bit. I loved working with this kit. Cute papers and embellishments guaranteed that my cards would turn out great. Now hopefully this week I'll get inspired to do some scrapping. I'll keep you posted!

You Color My World

As stated in a previous post, I attended the CTMH Regional Celebration in Arizona in February, and we made several layouts over the course of the weekend. Here is one of them that I finally found pictures for. All the layouts were slightly girly, and, since I have two boys, finding the right pictures to use with them was a challenge, but as soon as I knew I would be helping dye Easter eggs at my son's pre-school, I realized this would be a perfect fit. I even dressed both my boys in green so they would coordinate with the layout - how sad is that?! My favorite part of the layout (besides the pictures of my cute kids) is the title. It combines stamped images and the Hodge Podge Color-Ready Alphabet stickers. On other projects, we colored the stickers, but here they looked best in the original white. A fun technique we used was to emboss a rectangle around the two large picture frames and the journaling block using an embossing stylus and the channel in a paper trimmer. It created a raised border that really adds to the finished look of the layout. All the details made this a fun layout to complete!



Recipe (all CTMH):
Rustic Alphabet, Priceless Love & Connections stamp sets
Daydream patterned papers
Sweet Leaf & White Daisy cardstock
Sweet Leaf & Hollyhock ink
Hodge Podge Color-Ready Alphabet stickers
Hollyhock marker
Pewter brads
Clear sparkles
Foam squares

Mother's Day Cards

Spoiler: Jean and Nancy, do not look at this post until after you've opened your Mother's Day cards!



After watching an inspiring episode of Heart and Soul, CTMH's on-line crafting show, I came up with these cute cards for Greg's mom and mine. This brand-new episode, called Expressions of Love for Mom, featured a technique to make a word block. Because it was so cute, I copied the word block they used as their example, and it became the centerpiece for my cards. If you want to watch the episode, click here to see how to put together this and other word blocks using clear stamps. I started out using the pattern "Clean Cut" from Jeanette Lynton's Originals Card Book, but, as usual, I ended up creating something slightly different. Another fun technique: using one of the Spot On Backgrounds stamps and Hollyhock ink, I created the large background piece. The stamp was smaller than my cardstock, so I had to stamp it multiple times, but I was able to line up the patterns exactly because I could see through my stamp. Gotta love that precision! I ended up with two similar but unique cards for two wonderful yet totally unique moms. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. May your day be blessed.

***During the month of May only, I am offering the Priceless Love Word Puzzle stamp set (used to make the word block on this card) at the discount price of $20. Please contact me if you would like to purchase this versatile set.***

Recipe:
Priceless Love Word Puzzle & Spot On Backgrounds stamp sets
Boom-Di-Ada paper pack
Boom-Di-Ada My Stickease
Buttercup & Baby Pink cardstock
Olive, Hollyhock, Sweet Leaf & Barn Red ink
Olive Marker
Foam pop-up squares
White Daisy Ricrac

NSD Layouts

Today was a busy day, with a soccer game (Adrian's team won 5 -1) and a friend's retirement party to attend, so this is the first chance I have had to sit down at the computer. As promised, here is the first of several layouts I completed on National Scrapbook Day. I am a big fan of Jeanette Lynton's pattern books, so for this layout I used a pattern from Cherish called Silver Screen. I frequently tweak the patterns to fit my pictures, but this time I pretty much left it alone. My favorite part of the layout is the patterned paper I created using White Daisy cardstock and a stamp from the Jingle Borders stamp set. I stamped the background pattern using Indian Corn Blue ink, and then filled in parts of it with Cranberry and Honey markers.

  

 

Recipe:

Jingle Borders, Priceless Love Word Puzzle, July Word Puzzle & Friendship Word Puzzle stamp sets

Blue Ribbon patterned papers

White Daisy, Outdoor Denim, Indian Corn Blue, & Honey cardstock

Outdoor Denim, Indian Corn Blue, Cranberry & Honey ink

Outdoor Denim, Cranberry & Honey markers