Hey There Card

Yesterday I created a winter-themed card and today I moved on to the depths of summer with this card. Heart 2 Heart challenge blog asked us to create a project that features the color assigned to our birth month. My assigned color was Topiary, and let me tell you, there are not a lot of recent paper packs that feature Topiary. Since I'm still trying to deplete my pile of patterned papers, I dug through my stash and found the Splendor paper pack, which features Topiary and Goldrush. Using a cute sketch from Stick it Down allowed me to blow through a lot of paper, too, so I'm on my way to achieving my use-it-up goal! This card is really versatile because I can stamp whatever sentiment I need on the inside.

Recipe:
Hot Diggity & Balloon Talk stamp sets
Splendor Level 2 paper
Goldrush, Kraft & White Daisy cardstock
Topiary, Goldrush & Moonstruck ink
Goldrush marker
Color-Ready seam binding ribbon
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: banner, heart, circle
Pattern: Stick It Down January card sketch
Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Birthday Color challenge

Big Hugs Card

I haven't done a card workshop in months because I've been so overwhelmed with being a foster mom, but I finally decided to take the plunge and do another workshop. Since I have soooo many paper packs that are only half used, I thought it would be fun to do a hodgepodge workshop to use up some old paper. Here's my first card, using patterned paper from Wonderland. I paired it up with some new {to me} stamp sets that I purchased during CTMH's Deal of the Decade sale in December. The snowmen from Flakey Friends stamp set have been calling out to me since they first appeared in a CTMH idea book, but I couldn't justify purchasing them since I live in a snow-free zone. I finally broke down and got the set, and I'm so glad I did because the cuteness level is off the charts!

Recipe:
Big Hugs & Flakey Friends stamp sets
Wonderland Level 2 papers
Crystal Blue & White Daisy cardstock
Crystal Blue & Chocolate ink
Crystal Blue & Autumn Terracotta markers
Coffee marker (Zig)
Bronze Shimmer Trim
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: snowflakes
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap Card Sketch #41
Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Old is New challenge; Little Red Wagon Winter Blues challenge; Scrap It Girl Snowflakes challenge; Stuck on U Sketches Warm and Cozy challenge

Enjoying Nature Layout

As the new scrapbook sketch hostess over at Splitcoast Stampers, I have to come up with a sketch on the first and third Friday of the month, which is pretty easy to do, but it's a lot harder finding time to scrapbook a layout based on the sketch. I finally managed it for the sketch I posted last Friday! The scan doesn't do the layout justice, but I have to say I am in love with Thistle, one of the new colors from CTMH. I used it to frame the large photo, and it is so beautiful!

The sketch:

My layout:

Recipe:
Hodgepodge Alphabet stamp set
Babycakes Level 2 papers
Thistle, Slate, Whisper, Black & Sky cardstock
Black & Thistle ink
BLack marker (Zig)
Black corduroy brads & button brad
Mod Great Lengths stickers (CM)
Cuttlebug embossing folder: CTMH Stripes, Swiss Dot
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: flowers, flourishes, pennant
Cricut Artiste cartridge: title
Challenges: Use Your Stuff geometric shapes challenge (I used circles, rectangles & squares); Heart 2 Heart tic-tac-toe challenge (I used embossing, distressing, scrapbooking); Lasting Memories Life's Simple Pleasures challenge (enjoying nature is one of my simple pleasures, as is scrapbooking about it!); Splitcoast Stampers' Stashbusters challenge (use 2 types of metal accents = corduroy covered brads & button brad, a punch = circles, patterned paper as  main paper)

Bright Angel Trail Layout

Are you one of those people who always struggles with journaling? Despite getting my B.A. in English, the whole process of getting my life story on paper is a challenge for me. So for this layout, I used an old technique that I haven't tried for a while: I journaled on my photo before I sent it to be printed, so it was ready to go when I got around to creating my layout. This allowed me to use one more picture on my layout and to have the hard task of journaling already done - yay!

Recipe:
Timberline stamp set
You Rock Level 2 paper
Smokey Plum, Goldrush & White Daisy cardstock
Outdoor Denim, Bamboo & Chocolate ink
White Daisy brad
3-D foam tape
Artiste cartridge: title
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: arrows
Pattern: EMS Sketch 4

Walking the Rim Layout

Good news for those of you who have been missing my sketches: I have taken on the position of scrapbook sketch designer for Splitcoast Stampers! I'll be posting sketches there on the first and third Friday of the month. If you haven't checked out Splitcoast Stampers yet, come on over and introduce yourself. There is a great community of scrappers, and I love getting encouragement from my cyber-pals at the Scrapbook Goals thread. Here's my layout based on my latest sketch. I rotated and flipped the sketch, and made it a double pager. It's always fun to see what others do with the sketch, so if you want to play along, use the link at the bottom to check it out!

Recipe:
Hodgepodge Alphabet stamp set
Stardust Level 2 papers
Kraft, Bamboo, Pacifica, Whisper & Colonial White cardstock
Bamboo, Pacifica, Whisper, Baby Pink & Sorbet ink
Silver metallic marker
Embossed metal badge buttons
Wall Decor and More Cricut cartridge: tree, compass
Pattern: SCS Sketch15Jan1

Bright Angel Lodge Layout

Despite the craziness of Christmas and having kids on break from school, I managed to get another layout done for my 2011 Grand Canyon vacation! I pulled out an old sketch from my blog in order to document our time both outside and inside Bright Angel Lodge.

Recipe:
You Are My Happy & Take Note stamp sets
Laughing Lola Level 2 papers
Black & Crystal Blue cardstock
Black, Crystal Blue, Gypsy, Amethyst, Honey & Bamboo ink
Colonial White ric-rac
Pizzazz Irresistibles chipboard
Flutter Just Blooms
Purple Glitter Gems
3-D foam tape
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: flourish
Pattern: EMS Sketch 39
Challenges: Use Your Stuff anything goes (lots of older product from my stash on this layout!)

Christmas Treats Tag

The kid's in my son's class are writing letters of appreciation to the unsung heroes of the school (like the maintenance staff) and I was asked to make little tags to go on the accompanying treat bags. I think the room mom probably just needed something printed off the computer, but I couldn't resist the chance to get creative! I couldn't go too crazy since I had to make 12 of them, but I managed a few fun Cricut cuts and a little bit of coloring.

Recipe:
Santa Claus stamp set
Desert Sand, Topiary & White Daisy cardstock
Desert Sand, Topiary & Cranberry ink
Taffy marker
Gold gel pen
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tag
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: scalloped mat

Grand Canyon Shuttle Layout

I sneaked off to my craft room to get in a little scrapping time this morning, and this is what I came up with. I had some random pictures of my son and me on the Grand Canyon shuttle, plus a photo we took of some deer grazing right by the shuttle stop, so I combined them with a sketch from Sketches in Thyme, plus a few other challenges, to create a fun layout of that special moment.

Recipe:
Noted Backgrounds stamp set
Mistletoe creative Basics paper
Sky, Cranberry, New England Ivy, Kraft & Colonial White cardstock
Cashmere ink
New England Ivy marker
Tulip Craft buttons
Natural hemp
Cranberry organdy ribbon
My Crush Best Day Ever Assortment (notebook paper)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: circle, tree overlay, scalloped border, tag, title
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: arrows
Pattern: Sketches in Thyme #135
Challenges: 1 2 3 Get Scrappy #17 (I used the third row down - buttons, tag, light blue background); Clear It Out Challenges (use the color blue and ribbon or twine); Use Your Stuff color challenge: red & green (I used several other colors but lots of red and green)

Yavapi Layout

My last layout for November, squeezed in just before the end of the day here in California. I'm going to be doing a whole series of layouts from a driving vacation we took to Colorado in 2011, including our stops at the Grand Canyon and Mesa Verde, so here's the first installment, with pictures from the Grand Canyon portion of our trip. I haven't been using my stamps very much lately, so please notice I actually inked up a stamp for this layout!

Recipe:
Timberline stamp set
Free to Be Me Level 2 papers
Red, White Daisy, & Teal cardstock
Crystal Blue ink
Crystal Blue marker
Lagoon houndstooth & Honey triangles washi tape
Durable Triangular Studs - silver
3-D foam tape
Pattern: Nuts About Sketches Week 345
Challenges: Heart 2 Heart No Rules (except use CTMH products); Little Red Wagon washi tape

K Open House Layout

Heart 2 Heart had a "no ink" challenge this month, and it was funny how much I kept wanting to reach for the ink once I knew I couldn't use it. However, with the help of some retired CTMH product and a few challenge inspirations, I made it through! I went a little old school for the look of the layout, but hopefully you like it.

Recipe:
Zippidee Level 2 papers
Cranberry, Honey & Indian Corn Blue cardstock
Cranberry grosgrain, satin & organdy ribbons
Cranberry & White Daisy brads
Cricut Artiste cartridge: award circle, title
3-D foam tape
Pattern: Conclusion Combo from Imagine
Challenges: Child's Play Hot Wheels challenge (I was inspired by the color scheme plus the circle behind the Mattel logo); 1 2 3 Get Scrappy challenge board (I used the middle column - more than 1 picture, more than 2 ribbons, more than 5 brads); Heart 2 Heart no ink challenge