Skate Plaza Layout

For this layout of my kids skating for the first time, I did something I haven't done for a while; I journaled on my photo.  I had a slightly blurred photo that I still wanted to use, so I added white text over part of the photo, had it printed up at Costco with my other photos, and voila! my journaling was done before I even started scrapping my layout. I often struggle with adding journaling, so this was a great feeling.

Recipe:
Notes Backgrounds stamp set
Fanfare Level 2 papers
Sky, Pacifica, Tulip & Sunny Yellow cardstock
Tulip & Creme Brulee ink
Black marker
Irresistibles Lots of Dots Color-Ready Alphabet stickers
Tulip grosgrain ribbon & craft buttons
Sunkiss Yellow embroidery floss
Cricut AP: Stars
Pattern: Conclusion Combo from Imagine

Early Spring in Eastern Washington Layout

This layout has been sitting on my desk for a week as I slowly added one element after another, but now it's finally done! I was inspired by Joyce's VSBN Challenge, The Math Behind Leap Year. She asked us to create a layout using 3 flowers, 6 patterned papers, 5 buttons (365 being the number of days in a regular year), and 4 of something of our choice (because we add an extra day every 4 years - I chose ribbons). I didn't quite make it to the 6 patterned papers, but the inspiration got me a long way on the rest of my layout, so thanks Joyce!

Recipe:
Bohemian Alphabet stamp set
Evensong Level 2 papers
Olive, Tulip, Sorbet & Colonial White cardstock
New England Ivy, Tulip, Sorbet & Olive ink
Olive & Tulip craft buttons
Tulip & New England Ivy embroidery floss
Sorbet ribbon
Tulip paper clips
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: flowers & leaves
Pattern: Understudy from Imagine

Heart 2 Heart Sketch Challenge 15 - Gifts & Goodies

Another month, another H2H sketch. This one went through several modifications before I was happy with it, and I still changed a few things on the final layout, so don't hesitate to modify it as needed.It features six 4" x 6" prints (one with a little bit cut off on the side), and two 3" x 3" prints. The darker paper strips are 3" x 9", and the lighter ones are 3" x 12". The circle is 6.5", and the photos have 1/4" mats. Either side of the sketch would make a fine single page layout; just add a title to the left hand page. You can replace the stars with whatever elements work for your pictures. Have fun and be sure to link your finished layout to the Heart 2 Heart Challenge Blog under scrapbooking!

The Sketch:

My Layout:

Recipe:
Stardust Level 2 papers
Stardust My Stickease
Bamboo, Desert Sand & White Daisy cardstock
Moonstruck, Desert Sand & Bamboo ink
Moonstruck marker
DE Stars
Liquid Glass
Create a Shade Pearl Paint
Kraft Color-Ready Borders
3-D foam tape

Scrabble Time

Since I was out of town during the weekend of Virtual Scrapbook Night at Split Coast Stampers, I didn't get to participate in any of the challenges except the one I hosted, but now that I'm back at home, I'm trying to use them for some scrapping inspiration. This layout was inspired by Michele's Childhood Games challenge based on the game Leapfrog. We needed to use a favorite game from childhood for inspiration ( I chose Scrabble), use a minimum of 3 photos (because Leapfrog wasn’t a single player game and it wasn’t as much fun with just two people), and to tell what game inspired us (Scrabble, of course). My sister was such a good sport posing for these pictures, and now she's got me hooked on Scrabble again!

Recipe:
Blue Ribbon & Typeset stamp sets
Typeset Level 2 papers
Barn Red, Desert Sand, Creme Brulee & Colonial White cardstock
Barn Red, Desert Sand & Black ink
Barn Red marker
Brack mini brads
3-D foam tape
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: stars
Pattern: Dramatic Fashion from Cherish

Smart Mouth

It's Virtual Scrapbooking Night (VSBN) over at Split Coast Stampers, and I am hosting one of the challenges. Our theme this time is Take a Leap (because it's leap year), so all the challenges have the underlying theme of leaping or jumping. Please join us for the weekend's challenges. We have 9 challenges for you, and you have a week to complete as many as you like. The only catch is you have to complete each layout in 2 hours or less. The time is cumulative, so you don't have to do your layout all at once.

Here's my challenge: 

When I think of leaping, the first phrase that comes to mind is “Leaping to Conclusions.” How often do we hear or see something and we don’t wait for the end, we just leap to a conclusion regarding what it’s about? For this challenge, I would like you to create a layout that makes people leap to a conclusion, and then spring a surprise on them. For example, your title could have a hidden part or use some word play, or your pictures could only show part of the story and everyone has to read the journaling to get the real story. Get creative, and please keep us guessing!

For my sample layout, I picked these pictures of my son playing with a Slinky. When I hear someone called a smart mouth, I usually think he or she is being sassy, but for this layout, I took it a different direction!

Recipe:
Spot On Backgrounds stamp set
Stardust Level 2 papers & My Stickease
Moonstruck, Honey & White Daisy cardstock
Honey ink
Moonstruck marker
Pewter brad & mini brads
3-D foam tape

LOAD #19 - Jedi Knight Training

For this layout of my son's birthday party last year, I started with a sketch from Let's Scrap (from 12/28/11). One of the options for the sketch was to add six extra photos by including a fold-out on the right hand page, which I did by adding a 6" x 12" Flip-Flap. Sorry, I won't be showing you the other photos, so just picture kids fighting with light sabers and completing an obstacle course like Luke Skywalker on Dagobah (minus the swamp). I included the invitation I had designed using clip art and the Star Jedi font. I also used the Star Jedi font to cut out my title on my Wishblade. I liked the banner theme on the left page of the sketch, so I decided to add a banner to the right page as well, and I embossed the letters onto it, which qualifies for the Heart 2 Heart embossing challenge for this week. And since this is a layout about celebrating Elliot's birthday, it also qualifies for the "Let's Celebrate" variety challenge (SBVC174) from Split Coast Stampers.

Recipe:
Hodgepodge Alphabet stamp set
You Rock Level 2 papers
Olive, Goldrush & Outdoor Denim cardstock
Outdoor Denim, Goldrush & Versamark ink
Autumn Terracotta embroidery floss
White Daisy brads
Clear photo corners (Pioneer)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: banner
Pattern: Let's Scrap 12-28-11

LOAD #18 + EMS Sketch Challenge 36 - Karate Party

This must be sketch week, because I needed a sketch that fit 10 photos in certain sizes, and I couldn't find one I liked, so I made one up. The photos are from someone's else's child's birthday, so I won't add my journaling until after I've posted this. Hope you like the sketch, and let me know if you use it!

The Sketch:

My Layout:

Recipe:

Stardust Level 2 papers
Black, Moonstruck & White Daisy cardstock
Black & Moonstruck ink
Karate stickers (Sandylion)
Royal Blue ric-rac (JoAnn's)
Wishblade: title using Mistral font

LOAD #17 - Bikes

Here's another layout using the Heart 2 Heart sketch for March. You can see the sketch here. I omitted the heart from the original sketch and substituted a circle border instead. The pennants are supposed to lie in a nice smooth arc, but they got a little tweaked when I scanned the layout, and I didn't feel like re-scanning!

Recipe:
Pennant Alphabet stamp set
Good Times Level 2 papers & My Stickease
Colonial White, Twilight, Chocolate & Sweet Leaf cardstock
Twilight, Chocolate, Buttercup & Versamark ink
Chocolate marker
White embossing powder
Chocolate embroidery floss
Silver brads
Silver Stickles
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: pennants & circle border

LOAD #16 - Riding

I wanted to have a train track on this page somehow, and when I saw this sketch from Split Coast Stampers, I knew it would work just right. The hardest part was figuring out how to cut the curve in my photos and paper, but once I had that under control, the rest of the layout fell into place easily.

Recipe:
Blue Ribbon stamp set
Rustic Trail Level 2 papers
Olive, Chocolate & Colonial White cardstock
Black, Chocolate & Bamboo ink
Chocolate marker
Antique Copper brad
3-D foam tape
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title letters

LOAD #15 + EMS Sketch Challenge 35 - Traveltown

I haven't done a personal sketch challenge for a while, so here's my latest sketch creation. I changed it up a little after I designed the original sketch: I put an embellishment where I had originally intended the journaling to go, and I replaced one of my photos with journaling. It's kind of fun to see how a layout takes on a life of its own, even when I'm using my own sketch! As always, please let me know if you use the sketch so I can admire your interpretation.

The Sketch:

My Layout:

Recipe:
Newsprint Alphabet stamp set (Stampin' Up)
Silhouette Level 2 papers
Black, Barn Red & Bamboo cardstock
Black marker
Pewter mini brads and Bigger Brads
Train & car die-cuts (from my stash, source unknown)
White watercolor Pencil (Prismacolor)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title shape