Great Expectations Layout

Considering how far behind I am in my scrapbooking (working on 2014, in fact), it seemed like this day would never come, but it has finally arrived. Today, I started scrapbooking our adoption journey for our two youngest children! I was fortunate in that I had journaled about how it all unfolded at the time, so I was able to format the information and print it out to use on my layout. There's a lot of it, but since the kids came to us through the foster care system, I had to be careful in how I shared it in a public forum. My solution? Hidden journaling. I added a 12" x 6" Flip-Flap to the side of my layout, with photos on the visible side and the journaling on the back. My title is from the Charles Dicken's book, and it seemed fitting since this journey began with such high expectations for a short and simple adoption. We ended up being more like the family in Instant Family, but this is how we started out!

Here is what the left side of the layout looks like once the flap is opened. For privacy reasons, I  faded most of the faces and the journaling.

Recipe:
Chantilly papers & My Complements chipboard
Cotton Candy, Buttercup, Twilight, Pear & Grey Wool cardstock
Cotton Candy, Twilight, Pear & Grey Wool ink
Mind Your Manners Ephemera (Bella Blvd)
Field Notes Journaling Ephemera (American Crafts)
Illustrated Faith Family & Go die-cuts (Bella Blvd)
Pear Bigger Brads
White Daisy crocheted flowers
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title
CTMH embossing folder: stripe
Pattern: Rochelle Spears April 2019 sketch
Challenges: Splitcoast Stampers Tell Me a Story challenge

I Love My Boy (x2) Layout

Whenever we go on a family outing, I can count on my boys to be a little silly, and it's always fun to scrapbook the madness! Since it's February (the month we are forced to celebrate love - LOL), I made this into a layout about how I love my boys. I wanted to use the sticker sentiment "I love my boy!" for my title, but since I have 2 boys, I changed it up by adding the (x2) under the sticker.

Recipe:
Miscellaneous patterned paper from my box of scraps
Kraft, Cranberry, Smoothie & White Daisy cardstock
White gel pen (Sakura)
Lily White Hopscotch Font chipboard (Doodlebug Designs)
Wonderful Words for Sons stickers (Deja Views)
Papier Playful Hearts stickers (Mrs. Grossmans')
Heart banner (Michael's)
Stardust Stickles (Ranger)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: conversation heart, small hearts
Cricut Simply Sweet cartridge: (x2), large heart
Pattern: Stick It Down February 2019 single page sketch

Challenges: Splitcoast Stampers Variety challenge "Set the World on Fire" (I chose to use the flame color red); Joy of Sets tic-tac-toe challenge #2 (I chose the top row for glimmer, red, hearts); The Paper Girls #169 - red, pink, and white

Escape the Ordinary Layout

For the first 2019 Scrapbook Variety Challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers, I am asking everyone to dig into their stash of neglected tools and pull out at least one tool that has been collecting dust, and then put it to work on a layout. Surveying my stash of tools, I re-discovered my embossing stylus, light box, and metal stencils, which I used to create the vertical strip and the decorative circles on my layout. I then inked up the vertical strip (also the dotted circle, which was done using an embossing folder on my Cuttlebug)  and used a marker to color in the pattern on the circles. My final touch was to pull out a tool that was formerly much used but has been hardly touched for several years, my corner rounder, to round the outside corners of the photos. So what is your most neglected tool? Pull it out and let's see what you can do to bring it back to life!

Recipe:
Black, Lagoon, Willow & White Daisy cardstock
Lagoon, Sky & Clover Meadow ink
Black marker
Cerulean Blue ShinHan Touch Twin marker
Lagoon baker's twine
Escape the Ordinary thickers (American Crafts
Riley chipboard buttons (Love, Elsie)
Cats and Bats & Blue enamel dots
Dreamweaver circle stencil
Lasting Impressions geometric stencil
CTMH Confetti embossing folder
Pattern: EMS Sketch 25 (much modified!)

Snapshots of St. James Park Layout

The November Variety Challenge at Splitcoast Stampers, "Gridlocked," is to arrange pictures in a grid pattern. To make it easy, I used a sketch from Jeanette Lynton that already had a grid, and I just adapted it to work for my photos. Feel free to play along with this challenge until the end of the month!

Recipe:
Live Inspired stamp set
Vintage Green Ornate papers (The Paper Studio)
Flaxen, Kraft & White Daisy cardstock
Flaxen & Desert Sand ink
Chocolate marker
Kraft Color-Ready Borders
Fern ribbon
White baker's twine
Base & Bling heart charm
Snapshots Complements
Let's Go tags(Chic Tags)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: journaling shape
Pattern: Small Packages from Imagine by Jeanette Lynton
Challenges: Color My Heart Monochromatic Green + neutrals (okay, there is a tiny splash of pink here, but it was fun using mostly greens on my layout!)

War Rooms Layout

If you ever visit London, be sure to go to the Churchill War Rooms and Museum. It's a fascinating look both at the life of Winston Churchill and at the underground bunker where much of the work of overseeing the Allied plans for WWII was carried out. We took a ton of photos, but since it was dimly lit and there were lots of plastic partitions separating us from the rooms themselves, the photos didn't come out the best. I picked a few to showcase, and the rest are going into photo storage pages. For the Splitcoast Stamper's September Variety Challenge, I decided to use some of the clothing tag inspiration that I've been collecting. The tag I chose came off my son's shirt, and it was pretty basic, so I just recreated it using an irregular hexagon, a brown marker, and a die-cut that said confidential. Clothing tags are a great source of inspiration, so I may have to pull out another one from my pile and do this challenge again!

Recipe:
Victory papers
Kraft, Outdoor Denim & Colonial White cardstock
Outdoor Denim, Chocolate & Bamboo ink
Pure Brown marker (Zig)
Star brads (Creative Impressions)
Cricut Artiste cartridge: title
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: classified, top secret, confidential
Cricut Artistry cartridge: irregular hexagon
Pattern: Sketches in Thyme #341
Challenges: Lasting Memories "Three's" - 3 patterned papers, 3 embellishments (star brads), 3 photos

Hot Fun in the Summertime Layout

I’m hosting the monthly Variety Challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers and asked everyone to be inspired by s’mores in honor of my recent trip to Yosemite. Although there are a variety of ways you could be inspired (color scheme, family fun, sweet memories), I went literal and scrapbooked pictures of my family eating s’mores. Feel free to join us at SCS for this challenge!

Recipe:
Surf's Up, August Word Puzzle & Party Invitation stamp sets
Felicity & Twitterpated papers
Sorbet, Chocolate, Crystal Blue & Colonial White cardstock
Sorbet, Chocolate, Crystal Blue & Desert Sand ink
Colonial White ric-rac
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: chocolate, marshmallows
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: postage stamp frame
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: arrow frame
Pattern: Pagemaps April 2008 double page sketch
Challenges: Bitten By the Bug Frames challenge (I included two, one over a picture and one to frame the title); Scrap with Stacy song inspiration: Hot Fun in the Summertime

Ready. Set. Grow! Layout

Several years ago, I used to host the Variety Challenge on Splitcoast Stampers, and I recently thought it would be fun to bring it back, so here's my first re-started challenge: combine ink and embossing folders for a really cool look! You can get directions on how to do it here. I inked up the Wicker Weave embossing folder and used it to ink emboss two 1.5" x 6" strips of white cardstock, which I cut into squares and used to decorate my layout. Feel free to join us on Splitcoast Stampers for this fun challenge!

I didn't have any images of grapes or oranges in my stamp or sticker collections, so I added
vine and branch die-cuts that were the closest thing I could find.

Recipe:
Desert Sand, Autumn Terracotta, Cocoa, Topiary & Colonial White cardstock
Autumn Terracotta & Cocoa ink
Pure Brown marker (Zig)
Golden Yellow ShinHan Touch Twin marker
Autumn Terracotta button nail heads
Cocoa brad
Cuttlebug Wicker Weave embossing folder
Flower punch (EK Success)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: vine, "Ready. Set."
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: branch, "Grow!"
Challenges: Bimini Moose scrapbook layouts

SCS Variety Challenge 204 - Rose Garden

I'm tickled pink to be hosting another Splitcoast Stampers Variety Challenge, and this may be your golden opportunity to try something new and make your friend green with envy over your talent! Okay, enough with the color puns, but hopefully they inspired you to play along using the link below. I'll be really blue if you pass up this chance to have fun (couldn't resist one last pun)!

SBVC204 - Top Marks
I’m a little slow to get on the coloring craze that’s sweeping the scrapbooking and card-making world, but seeing other people’s artwork is getting me motivated! Today’s challenge is to pull out the markers or colored pencils and add some coloring to your layout. You can start with a stamped or digital image, or you can go wild and freehand something. Whatever you decide, you’ll get top marks for completing this challenge!

And now on to my layout. In 2012, we had a membership to the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park, so we went there a lot, and, of course, we took lots of pictures! Here are a few photos of the rose garden that is next to the museum. For those who watch the t.v. show Bones, this is where the exterior shots of the "Jeffersonian" were filmed. Anyone recognize this building?

For my layout, I created a garden border to match the flower garden. The scalloped borders worked nicely as planter borders, and I went to town coloring the stamped flowers. I even popped up a couple to create a 3-D effect.

Recipe:
A Flowering Bunch, You Are My Happy Alphabet & Enjoy the Little Things stamp sets
Cashmere & White Daisy cardstock
Pink vellum (Hot off the Press)
Sweet Leaf & Whisper ink
Black pigment ink
Ruby, Cotton Candy, Blush, Smokey Plum, Sweet Leaf, Honey, Desert Sand & Chocolate markers
Black journaling pen
Clear embossing powder
Mocha Opaques
3-D foam tape
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: scalloped border
Pattern: Let's Scrap 8-9-13 (right page only)

SCS Variety Challenge 203 - Frosty Fun

Time for another Variety Challenge for Splitcoast Stampers. Click on the link below to join in the fun!

SBVC203 - Viva La France
Using paper strips or ribbon and brads or buttons, create a French memo board to house the pictures and journaling on your layout. Not sure what one is? Here’s a link to some examples.

I started with the arrangement of the pictures and then added embellishments, tucking them under the ribbons like I would ephemera on a real French memo board. I really love how mine turned out because it reminds me of an eclectic bulletin board with lots of fun stuff to be discovered.

Recipe:

Take Note, Pair-a-Phrase, Alphabet Solos "H" & "O", January Word Puzzle & You & Me stamp sets

Elemental Level 2 papers

Cranberry, Pacifica, Honey, Chocolate & Black ink

Cranberry, Pacifica, Honey, Sky & Black markers 

Cranberry grosgrain ribbon

White Daisy Bigger Brads
Cranberry brad

Decor Journaling Spot
Cranberry baker's twine
All the die-cuts were from my box of left-overs, so I'm not sure which cartridges I used!
Challenges: Lasting Memories It All in the Colors (I colored in the stamped snowman and tag, and drew doodle lines on all the snowflakes)

SCS Variety Challenge 201 - Supersize Me

Time for another variety challenge for Splitcoast Stampers, and this one may throw you off balance a little! Play along using the link below.

SBVC201 - Daring Diagonals
I’ve gotta confess, most of my scrapbooking marches straight across the page, but I love the look of those tilted pages. For this week’s variety challenge, create a page in which your photo and papers follow a diagonal rather than a horizontal line!

For my layout, I didn't have any patterned papers that quite fit the look I wanted, so I created my own using cardstock and stamps. The french fry box was cut on my Cricut, and it's normally 3-d, but I cut down the sides so it would lay flatter in my album. The journaling is all about the biggest McDonald's my family had ever visited, but we still got to eat our favorite foods!

Recipe:
Alphabet Solos "L" & "M" stamp sets
Bamboo, Cranberry, Honey, Desert Sand & White Daisy cardstock
Cranberry, Honey, Black & Desert Sand ink
Black marker
Yellow grosgrain ribbon (Offray)
3-D foam tape
Cricut Artiste catridge: french fry box
Cricut Artiste cartrdige: title
Cuttlebug embossing folder: Swiss Dot
Pattern: On With the Show from Magic
Challenges: Lasting Memories Food & Beverage Guilty Pleasures; Heart 2 Heart Hearts Galore

SCS Variety Challenge 200 - Eaters of the Cake

It's time for a Variety Challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers, and I'm so excited to be hosting the 200th challenge! Who wants to celebrate with me? Join in the fun by playing along with our challenge using the link below.

SBVC200 - Mixed Messages
For today's challenge, I want you to use stamps, markers, die-cuts, your computer, etc. to create a title or journaling spot on your layout. Sound easy? But there's a catch: you have to either use at least three fonts, or intersperse symbols or pictographs amid your regular fonts. If you are creating your title or journaling by hand, you can use cursive, printing, all caps, or outlined letters (just to name a few ideas) to get the look of various fonts.

I decided to use both options, so I added some pictures to my hand written journaling, plus I used Tiny Typewriter, Polka Dot Alphabet & Felicity stamp sets to create the title. I always struggle coming up with titles for birthday layouts (how many times can you use Let Them Eat Cake?) so the title is a play on Michael Crichton's book "Eaters of the Dead."

Recipe:
Tiny Typewriter Alphabet, Polka Dot Alphabet, Felicity, Take Note, Perfect Fit - Birthday & It's Your Day stamp sets
Zippidee Level 2 papers
Bamboo, Cranberry, Indian Corn Blue, Honey & Colonial White cardstock
Cranberry, Indian Corn Blue, Honey & Desert Sand ink
Desert Sand marker
Honey Triangles washi tape
Cranberry conchos
Natural hemp
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: number border, tab
Pattern: Let's Scrap 10-30-13
Challenges: Heart 2 Heart CTMH challenge (C = cardstock & cake, T = tab & washi tape, M = metal conchos, H = hemp & happy); Frosted Designs Polka Dot challenge; SCS Stash January Busters challenge week 2

Rainy Ride Layout

I had fun combining a couple of challenges for this layout. First, I am the hostess for the Scrapbook Variety Challenge on Splitcoast Stampers, so I challenged everyone (including myself) to create a layout that celebrates weather, either by journaling about the weather or adding a weather related product to the layout. I actually did both by telling the story of a rainstorm that hit while my family was riding a roller coaster at Epcot, then adding some die-cut rain clouds and Liquid Glass rain.

My next challenge was from Sketch 'n Scrap's online crop, the Fruitcake recipe challenge. We had to use four "ingredients" from the recipe, and I chose red candied cherries (use the color red), sugar (sprinkles of round ornaments - I used the red button nail heads), eggs (ribbon as a binding agent), vanilla (any type of liquid medium - I used Liquid Glass to make raindrops), and flour (white embellishments - clouds). The crop goes until Saturday, so feel free to play along.

The final challenge I entered was the Moving On challenge from Heart 2 Heart. Even thought there are no actual moving parts on my layout, the journaling certainly talks a lot about movement!

Recipe:
For Always Level 2 papers
Slate & White Daisy cardstock
Black, Cranberry & Slate ink
Black marker
Cranberry button nail heads
Black & red ribbon (Costco)
Liquid Glass
Cricut Artiste cartridge: clouds, title
Pattern: EMS Sketch 10

Epcot Layout

I have several layouts from Epcot to do, so I thought I might as well plunge in and get 'em scrapped. Here's the intro page, combining some really old and some brand new products. I seldom do a page these days without first finding a sketch, but I had some old CTMH Level 1 papers that were already "designed," so I just built on top of them and added stuff until I thought it was done. Hope you like!

Recipe:
Save the Date stamp set
Route 66 Level 1 papers
Bamboo, Moonstruck & Cranberry cardstock
Bamboo, Moonstruck & Cranberry ink
Round Durables pewter
Best Day Ever Assortment (journaling spot, ticket sticker)
Cranberry baker's twine
DE Monograms chipboard E, P, C, O & T
3-D foam tape
Cricut Artiste cartridge: gears
Challenges: Splitcoast Stampers Variety Challenge Supersize It; Lasting Memories Anything But Snow challenge

SCS Variety Challenge 196 - Think Grow Learn

Once again it's Variety Challenge time for Splitcoast Stampers. Starting this month, the challenge will only be posted on the second Wednesday of the month, which means you have a whole month to play with the challenge before I post a new one. Please join in by clicking on the link below!

SBVC196 - Die-Cut Backgrounds
It seems like everyone has a die-cut machine these days, so put yours to use by creating a die-cut background for your layout! It can be made of a single piece laid over cardstock or patterned paper, or you can combine several die-cuts to get the look you want.

I cut a bunch of shapes using my new Cricut Artbooking cartridge, and then used some as background and others as embellishments.

Recipe:
Kraft, Sunset, Barn Red, Cocoa, Honey & White Daisy cardstock
Sunset Baker's Twine
My Crush Besties Assortment
Milepost Shapes
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: all die-cut shapes
Pattern: Let's Scrap 9-4-13 (heavily modified!)
Challenges: Rose Blossom Garden School Theme,  CAS-ual Fridays Back to School, Frosted Designs Numbers, Heart 2 Heart Brown paper packages tied up with strings, Scrap It Girl Back to School

SCS Variety Challenge 195 - Dad at Legoland

Another Splitcoast Stampers Variety Challenge coming your way. Please click on the link below to play along.

SVBC195 - Going Geometric
For this week's Variety Challenge, I want you to put away all those pretty papers with bunnies and flowers on them and start thinking bold! It's time to use those geometric patterns, all your circles, squares, stripes, rectangles, and arrows. I encourage you to reach for some stars! Hexagons are still hot, and kudos to you if you can fit some triangles on your layout.

Recipe:
Autumn Garden, Fanfare, Lucky, Elemental, Dreamin' & Felicity Level 2 papers 
Chocolate,Bamboo & White Daisy cardstock
Chocolate, Cashmere & Crystal Blue inks
Pacifica marker
DE Monograms "D" & "E"
You & Me kit chipboard arrow
Blue hemp (SU)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tag, stars
Pattern: Sketches in Thyme 120
Challenges: Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday chipboard challenge; Stampin' Royalty circles challenge

SCS Variety Challenge 194 - Spooky Halloween

It's the second Wednesday of the month, and that means another Splitcoast Stampers' Variety Challenge is headed your way! Feel free to play along using the link below. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

SBVC194 - Going Through the Motions
For this week's challenge, include a movable part on your layout. This could be anything from a spinner that moves to point to various items to the rotating wheels on a stamped or paper pieced train.

This challenge helped me add a fun finishing touch to my layout. I knew I wanted to add a spider to the web on the right hand page, but then I thought how fun it would be if the spider actually moved. I put my thinking cap on and, with the use of some embroidery floss and my paper piercer, my little spider can creep to the edge of his web and back to the center. Fun!

A quick recommendation if you're going to use a technique similar to mine and your die-cut has small parts: coat it with Liquid Glass or a similar product to make it a little stronger. My kids have been playing with the spider and it looks a little bedraggled now!

Recipe:
Moonlight Level 2 papers
Autumn Terracotta, Black, Slate & Colonial White cardstock
Black marker
Black embroidery floss
Black & Autumn Terracotta Bigger Brads
Autumn Terracotta spiral clip
Cricut Artiste cartridge: spiderwebs, spiders, skull, title
Pattern: Sketch 'n Scrap #38

SCS Variety Challenge 193 - Recreation

Who needs some inspiration to get your scrapping going today? Well, it's time for another variety challenge for Splitcoast Stampers, so come join in the fun and play along using the link below!

1 Scrap, 2 Scraps, 3 Scraps , 4 . . .
For today's variety challenge, grab your box or file of scrap paper and start pulling out your scrap papers, because I want you to use only scraps on your layout. The only whole piece of paper you use is for your base; everything else must be partial pieces of paper. If you want, take it a step further and use up some odds and ends of embellishments that have been sitting around for a while.

For my layout, I used some scraps from my Bella paper pack (I'm getting close to using the whole thing up!) and some cardstock I had cut on my Cricut but never used. I also threw in some embellishment that were left over from a CTMH special several years ago.

Recipe:
Treasure Life stamp set
Bella Level 2 papers
Creme Brulee, Olive, Hollyhock & White Daisy cardstock
Olive, Smokey Plum & Hollyhock ink
Black marker
Clear craft button
Spring Blossom & Flutter Just Blooms
Purple sparkle
Olive brackets, frame, photo clips & brads
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title, trees
Cricut Artiste cartridge: cloud
Challenges: Frosted Designs Great Outdoors challenge
Pattern: Got Sketch (much revised!)

SCS Variety Challenge 192 - One of Those Days

Who needs some inspiration to get your scrapping going today? Well, it's time for another variety challenge for Splitcoast Stampers, so come join in the fun and play along using the link below! 

New Lamps for Old
In the original Aladdin story, Aladdin's bride unknowingly exchanges the old magic lamp for a shiny new one. After all, who wouldn't rather have something new in place of the old? My challenge to you today is to pull our some old treasures from your stash (at least five items that are over a year old) and scrap them in order to make room for the new stuff you probably want to buy!

I don't think my layout has any products that are less than a year old, except maybe the cardstock and baker's twine. Hope you have as much fun using up your stash as I did!

Recipe:
Tiny Typewriter Alphabet, Star Power & Victory stamp sets
Newsprint Alphabet stamp set (Stampin' Up)
Superhero Level 2 papers
Sky & Kraft cardstock
Chocolate, Moonstruck & Sky ink
Cranberry baker's twine
Cranberry grograin ribbon
Cranberry & Chocolate stripe ribbon
Milepost Shapes - stars & circle
"Family" ribbon slide
Cranberry photo anchors & brads
Decor Journaling Spot - Cranberry
Spring Blossom Just Blooms
Outdoor Denim craft button
Pattern:Sketch 'n Scrap Sketch 36
Challenges: Fabulous Friday challenge - use ribbon, twine, or washi tape; Scrap It Girl - red, white, and blue; SCS Inspiration Challenge - Sport Your Colors Proudly

SCS Variety Challenge 191 - 21 Laps

Time for another stimulating variety challenge for Splitcoast Stampers, so come join in the fun and play along using the link below!

SBVC191 - Ombre
One of the hot new trends in scrapbooking is called ombre. The dictionary defines ombre as "having colors or tones that shade into each other — used especially of fabrics in which the color is graduated from light to dark." This week's challenge is to create a layout that uses the ombre technique. You can do it using strips of paper, stamps,markers, even digital effects.  Have fun and let us see what you can do!

For my layout, I used strips of progressively darker yellow patterned paper to create the background piece on the right hand page. I also did a little bit of ombre with the blue strips on each page.

Recipe:
Authentic, Kudos, Love Life, Make It Count & My Game stamp sets
Chantilly, Dotty for You, Grace, Clementine, Key to My Heart, Animal Cookies, Magic Moments & Free Spirit Level 2 papers
Goldrush, Sky, Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim & White Daisy cardstock
Buttercup, Creme Brulee, Sunflower, Honey, Goldrush, Sky, Indian Corn Blue & Outdoor Denim ink
Outdoor Denim craft buttons
Creme Brulee baker's twine
3-D foam tape
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title, stars
Pattern: EMS Sketch 44
Challenges: 2 Broke Girls "A Pinch of This and That" stash challenge

SCS Variety Challenge 189 - Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

It's been a while since our last Variety Challenge for Splitcoast Stampers, so here's another fun one to try. To play along, simply click the link below!

SBVC189 - Going Gray
Gray is the new “go-to” neutral, so create a layout using gray as your primary neutral.

Here's my layout. This was a fun challenge for me, since I would have usually gravitated towards using a tan color as my neutral. However, since there is a lot of gray and blue-gray in my photos, I like the result.

Recipe:
Vintage Type stamp set
Cherry-O Level 2 papers
Slate, Indian Corn Blue, Goldrush, Outdoor Denim & White Daisy cardstock
Slate, Indian Corn Blue & Goldrush ink
Outdoor Denim marker
Slate Washi tape
Indian Corn Blue & Goldrush embroidery floss
Pattern: Let's Scrap 11-28-12
Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Nip & Tuck stitching challenge,  Stampin' Royalty photo inspiration (the banners, stripes, and circles for the title)