SCS October Sketch + Elliot Layout

In between helping the kids clean their rooms, taking them to the dentist, and getting them haircuts, I managed to finish a layout for the Splitcoast Stampers' sketch I created earlier this week. I wanted something bold and bright to go with my son's personality, but I didn't want to overwhelm the photos, so this sketch provided a nice compromise: bold patterned paper around the edge of the layout but a single color cardstock in the center to back the photos. Feel free to play along with the sketch and post a link in the comments below so I can check it out!

The sketch:

My layout:

Recipe:
In the Background, Diverse Backgrounds & Spot On Backgrounds stamp sets
Free to Be Me level 2 papers
Red & Mint embossed cardstock
Creme Brulee, Flaxen, Glacier, Key Lime & Versamark ink
Black marker
Clear embossing powder
Irresistibles Frames & DE Signage chipboard
Nutmeg Memories chipboard (MME)
Juniper craft buttons
Cricut Artiste cartridge: title
Pattern: Splitcoast Stampers Sketch15Oct1
Challenges: Picture This October 1 challenge - 3 photos + chipboard + stamps (I stamped three chipboard pieces with Versamark ink and then used clear embossing ink to create a resist pattern - can you tell which ones?); Splitcoast Stampers Stash Buster's October week 1 challenge (I used patterned paper as my base, buttons & chipboard)

Virtual Scrapbook Night on Splitcoast Stampers!

Hi fellow scrappers. I haven't gotten many chances to scrapbook the past few weeks because of other events in my life, but I am sure looking forward to hosting a big challenge on Splitcoast Stampers! Starting Monday, I'll be posting challenges in the Virtual Scrapbook Night forum for everyone to complete. There is a common theme that I hope you'll really enjoy playing with (okay, that was a subtle hint). If you don't have a SCS membership, it's free to join, so come on over on Monday and see a bunch of fun challenges.

Mug & Muffin 2013 Layout

I'm finally getting around to using the double page sketch I created for Splitcoast Stampers last month, just in time for a new one to be posted! Oh well, enjoy this one until I get a layout done for the next one, or you can check out the new sketch here. I tried a new technique for this layout: ink splats. The results weren't outstanding, but at least I figured out how to use the CTMH spray pen I bought over a year ago but never took out of the package. I had stamped flowers on some White Daisy cardstock, but the white seemed too stark compared to the geometric patterned paper I was using, so I sprayed some Cocoa ink onto the cardstock, and then decided to do the same for my title box. Probably should have sprayed ink onto other parts of the layout, but I was afraid of ruining it, so that will have to wait for another layout when I'm feeling braver! Off to watch some Youtube videos on the topic. . .

The August double sketch:

My Layout:

Recipe:
Rustic Flowers, Frame It Up & Hodgepodge Alphabet stamp sets
Elemental Level 2 papers
Honey, Sky, Pacifica & White Daisy cardstock
Honey, Sky, Pacifica, Pear & Cocoa ink
Pacifica marker
White Daisy grosgrain ribbon
Green epoxy bubbles
Pear craft button
White Daisy embroidery floss
Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped border, title box, &
Pattern: Splitcoast Stampers Sketch15Aug3
Challenges: Lasting Memories ink splatters with mixed alpha/fonts; Heart to Heart ink or paint splats (I used ink); Scrap Our Stash LAYERS challenge (I used L - leaves, A - alphabet stamps, Y - yellow cardstock, E - epoxy bubbles + embroidery floss + Elemental paper, R - ribbon, S - scalloped border)

Boys vs. Girls Layout

It's been super hot here in Southern California (over 100 degrees most of last week), so I haven't felt like scrapping (or moving at all!) much this month, but we just had some rain come through and cool it down a little so I sat down at my desk to get creative. Here's the result, a fun comparison of the boys' vs. girls' apparel at church on Easter Sunday.

The word "GIRLS" is sponged with Cotton Candy ink and then covered with Diamond Stickles, which looks great in real life but very washed out in my scan, so here is another shot where you can see how pretty it turned out!

Recipe:
Season of Thanks stamp set
Brushed Level 2 papers
Pear, Sky, Pixie & White Daisy cardstock
Cotton Candy, Sky, Dutch Blue, Pear & Saddle ink
Sky marker
DE Monograms chipboard letters
Diamond Stickles (Ranger)
Blush ribbon
Green baker's twine
Cotton Candy polka dot washi tape
White Daisy rub-on circles
Pearl Opaques
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: arrows, flags, circles
Pattern: Splitcoast Stampers's Sketch15Sep1
Challenges: Lasting Memories Mixed Media + bold title challenge (not sure I did this right, but I did mix it up with chipboard, glitter, ink, ribbon, baker's twine, and pearls!)

Fontana Speedway Layout

Squeezing in a last minute layout for August! I had lots of fun using the Later Sk8r Picture My Life cards on this. They make great photo mats and can even be altered if something on them does not quite work on your layout. For example, I loved the look of the journaling card, but there was a sentiment on it that totally didn't fit with my layout, so I covered it with a die-cut arrow. Easy-peasy!

Recipe:
Flyin' High, Later Sk8r, Distressed Backgrounds & Ticket to Ride stamp sets
Later Sk8r Level 2 papers & PML cards
Whisper, Cranberry, White Daisy cardstock
Whisper, Slate, Cranberry, Lagoon & Outdoor Denim ink
Pear & Outdoor Denim markers
Lagoon & Slate washi tape
Cranberry concho
Round Durables - Pewter
3-D foam tape
Cricut Artiste cartridge: title
Pattern: Simple Stories
Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Ticket to Ride

Remember Howard Layout

When the father of a dear friend passed away two years ago, the family asked me to create the artwork for his memorial service program, and they sent me a picture for the cover. I saved the picture and also used it for this tribute page for a wonderful man who is sorely missed by friends and family alike. The hearts seemed an appropriate topper for this page, and, after cutting out the overlay, I backed it with different colors of cardstock for a stained glass window effect.

Recipe:
Silhouette & Believe Level 2 papers
Black, Sweet Leaf, Pacifica, Kraft & Colonial White cardstock
Pacifica & Sweet Leaf ink
Sweet Leaf grograin ribbon
Blue epoxy bubbles
Silver heart brads (from my stash)
3-D foam tape
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: hearts border, remember
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: Howard, swirl, title box, heart, scalloped circle, banners
Cuttlebug folder: D'vine Swirls
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap #87
Challenges; Color My Heart Color Dare 157 (Pacifica, Sweet Leaf, Black, Colonial White & Kraft); Picture This August 1 challenge (1 photo, 2 patterned papers, black background); Frosted Designs metal/metallics (I used 8 metal heart brads to accent the die-cut heart border)

Easter Egg Hunt 2013 Layout

Over at Lasting Memories, they challenged us to use the provided sketch plus include something with wings; I wanted to add some baby chicks in honor of our Easter egg hunt, but I didn't own a single stamp or sticker that had chicks on it! (Guess I know what to put on my wish list for next Easter). Instead, I added some butterflies that a German exchange student who stayed with us in 2013 gave me. I used my black marker a lot on this layout in order to mimic the look of the stamped Easter eggs and to tie the whole page together. BTW: there isn't actually a black strip on top of the layout; I wanted to show the sunburst extending off the page, so I didn't crop off the Versamat that was under the layout when I photographed it. Not sure whether to keep the sunburst as is or trim it off since it will stick out of the page protector. What do you think?

Recipe:

My Peeps & Bingo Alphabet stamp sets

Brushed Level 2 papers

Sky, Canary, Pixie, Pear, Topiary & White Daisy cardstock

Creme Brulee, Blush, Juniper, Pear & Black ink

Black marker

Watercolor markers (Prismacolor)

Butterfly stickers (Rossler Papier)

Sky & White Daisy brads

3-D foam tape

Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: flowers, stems, title box

Cricut Artbooking cartridge: title, sunburst

Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Good Day, Sunshine

Easter Drama Layout

After a several week scrapping hiatus due to the Costco photo printing center being offline, I finally manged to get some photos printed and scrapped! I used my August single page sketch for Splitcoast Stampers. I stayed pretty close to the sketch except I substituted tags for the smaller pieces on the sketch. If you decide to play along with the sketch, please click on the link at the bottom of the page to post your completed layout so I can admire it!

The sketch:

My layout:

Just in case you're wondering, the bee/insect theme springs from John the Baptist eating locusts and honey!

Recipe:
Buzz & Bumble stamp set
Buzz & Bumble Level 2 papers
Kraft & Champagne cardstock
Vellum
Cocoa, Goldrush & Black ink
Cocoa & Goldrush markers
Buzz & Bumble Assortment embellishments
Burlap ribbon
Natural hemp
Pattern: SCS Sketch15Aug1

Birthday Gifts Layout

I'm still working on my obsessive need to make everything match in my layouts, so for this one, I tried picking out some not very featured colors from my photos (the red and yellow) and adding colors that weren't found anywhere in my photos (the teal and orange). Hope it came out as well as I think it did! The little envelope will eventually contain a list of which presents my son received from which friends for his birthday, which will serve as a fun reminder of who was part of his life at this point in time.

Recipe:
Free To Be Me Level 2 papers
Free To Be Me embossed cardstock
Honey & Grey Wool cardstock
Cranberry & Creme Brulee ink
Ocean marker
My Crush Besties Assortment
My Crush Best Day Ever Assortment
Creme Brulee paper clip
Cranberry ribbon
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: stars
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap Sketch 86
Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Birthday Bash challenge; Scrap Our Stash "paper" challenge; I used Photo corners, Arrows & Alphabet stickers, Paper clip, Envelope & Embossed cardstock, Ribbon

The Game's Afoot! Layout

My family went to the Sherlock Holmes exhibit at the Discovery Cube recently, so when I was thinking up a title for this layout about the games we played at my son's birthday party, I couldn't resist using one of Sherlock's favorite sayings! I used some old products from my stash plus the July single page sketch I designed for Splitcoast Stampers. Check back on Friday to see an all new sketch!

Recipe:
Patterned paper from my stash, source unknown
Holiday Red, Sky, Sweet Leaf, Autumn Terracotta, Pacifica & White Daisy cardstock
Holiday Red, Sky, Sweet Leaf & Autumn Terracotta ink
Pacifica marker
Best Day Ever Assortment stickers
White Daisy grograin ribbon
Red Glitter Gems
Turquoise ric-rac (Craft Essentials)
Cricut Artiste cartridge: asterisk, "the," "afoot!"
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: clip, "game's"
Cuttlebug embossing folder: Spots & Dots
Pattern: SCS Sketch15Jul1