Skylark Thanks Card

I'm plunging into the creative process for my upcoming card workshop featuring the lovely Skylark papers, so here the first of the cards I came up with for my gals. The pattern is from a Sketch n' Scrap card sketch, but I changed the orientation to work better with the big flower stamp and added some tan sparkles and a die-cut greeting.

Recipe:
Something Splendid stamp set
Skylark Level 2 papers
Lagoon, Sweet Leaf, Desert Sand, Bamboo & Colonial White cardstock
Lagoon, Sweet Leaf & Desert Sand ink
Tan sparkles
Cricut Artist cartridge: scalloped border, thanks
Pattern: Sketch n' Scrap Card Sketch 24
Challenges: Heart 2 Heart color challenge - Lagoon & Sweet Leaf

Mammals Layout

There's a really cool mammal exhibit at the Natural History Museum, and I pulled out papers from two different retired paper packs (Roxie & Expedition) to scrap my photos. Combined with a handy sketch from Sketch 'n Scrap and a journaling card from my Later Sk8r Picture My Life pack (that just arrived in the mail today - woohoo!), they created a bold setting for these nature-themed photos. My final touch was the Color-Ready Trinkets wooden shapes that also arrived today. Although you can color these, I elected to keep them plain since they matched my layout so well. I can tell I'm going to have lots of fun with these cute shapes in the near future!

Recipe:
Extreme Caps stamp set
Roxie & Expedition Level 2 papers
Champagne & Chocolate cardstock
Vellum
Olive & Chocolate ink
Olive pigment ink
Clear embossing powder
Later Sk8r PML journaling card
Color-Ready Trinkets Wooden Shapes
Natural hemp
Eyelets (Making Memories)
Pattern: Sketch n'Scrap #55
Challenges: Lasting Memories Earth Day celebration

Once Upon a Time Layout

Most people would not automatically think of dinosaurs for a "once upon a time" challenge, but it is what sprang to mind for Heart 2 Heart's challenge! Although strictly speaking they are not fantasy creatures, they have certainly inspired many fantasy movies, so hopefully they qualify for the challenge. I used all three CTMH Cricut cartridges for this layout, plus I had fun figuring out how to use the Roar dinosaurs in a new way.

Recipe:
Roar & Classmate Alphabet stamp sets
Dotty for You Level 2 papers
Sweet Leaf, Buttercup & Colonial White cardstock
Lagoon, Sweet Leaf, Slate, Desert Sand & Buttercup ink
Creme Brulee, Sweet Leaf & Black markers
My Crush Best Day Ever journaling block & sticker
Lagoon baker's twine
3-D foam tape
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: Sun and grass
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title
Cricut Artiste cartridge: banners
Pattern: Sidebar - Layers from Reflections
Challenges: Heart 2 Heart Once Upon a Time

Brothers & BFFs Layout

This layout went in a different direction than I originally intended. I was simply going to do an intro page for a trip to the Natural History Museum, but I kept looking at the picture of my boys together and wanted somehow to celebrate their brotherly bond. I then happened upon the "Best Advice Ever" journaling card in the My Crush Best Day Ever Assortment, and I decided to write some advice to my boys about treasuring their relationship. The friends forever and BFF die-cuts were lucky finds, too, since I was actually looking for a brothers die-cut, but I love what they add to the layout, and hope they express my wish for my boys.

Recipe:
Bingo Alphabet & Notice the Details stamp sets
Typeset Level 2 papers
Outdoor Denim, Creme Brulee & Colonial White cardstock
Juniper & Barn Red ink
Outdoor Denim, Barn Red & Juniper markers
My Crush Best Day Ever Assortment journaling spot & stickers
That's Amore journaling spot
Juniper washi tape
Honey washi tape
Juniper paper clip
Heart punch (EK Success)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: friends forever & BFF titles, arrow
Pattern: Sketch 'n Scrap #54
Challenges: Little Red Wagon numbers challenge (I included a date and there are numbers on one of my papers)

No Offense Layout

This layout is so totally different from my usual style! I am not a one-photo, everything but the kitchen sink kind of scrapper, but I had a story to tell so I tried something a little out of my comfort zone. Heart 2 Heart's  April scrapbooking challenge is to "Laugh It Up" by scrapbooking one of our funniest memories. I decided to memorialize my younger son's habit of saying "No offense, but . . . " and then proceeding to say the rudest things, thinking it was okay as long as he started with "no offense!" Fortunately, he's grown out of it, but it was rather hilarious in a horrible way while it lasted.

Recipe:
ProPlayer Level 2 papers
Black, Outdoor Denim, Ruby, Slate, Buttercup & White Daisy cardstock
Black, Outdoor Denim  & Ruby ink
Black marker
White gel pen (Sakura)
My Crush Best Day Ever Assortment
Burlap ribbon
Outdoor Denim baker's twine
Ruby Chevron washi tape
DE Snapshots chipboard (frame)
Milepost Shapes (star, arrows, shaped square)
Silver brad
All shapes were originally cut using one of my CTMH Cricut cartridges, but since I found them in my leftovers box, I don't know which piece came from which cartridge.
Pattern: Sketch 'n Scrap "Inspired By" #4
Challenges: 1 2 3 Get Scrappy tic-tac-toe board.

I chose the top row across, but when I pulled out my long-neglected chalks, I couldn't find any applicators, so I got creative and applied blue chalk to the clock and a grey lining to the cloud using my finger. Not the effect I was hoping for, but it has inspired me to go shopping tomorrow for chalk applicators!

Stash Busters April Week 4 - Snacks

Another Stash Busters Challenge coming your way! Click on the link below to play!

Stash14Apr4
This month, I am challenging you to use up certain items from your stash and then link your completed layout at Splitcoast Stampers so we can all get excited over it! I'll post a new list each Thursday this month, and you have until April 30th to scrap your layout using the products. If you complete all four layouts, you will get an honorable mention for the month! This week, you have two options to chose from.

For the little girl option, please use:
• 2 patterned papers
• 3 flowers
• 2 ribbons
• A transparency

For the all boy option, please use:
• 2 patterned papers
• 3 brads
• 2 stickers
• A rub-on

I went with the boy option but used lots more brads, stickers, and rub-ons than required. I used my April sketch to create this layout, and it was fun to see it come out completely different from the last time I used the sketch. Don't forget, you have until April 30 to play along with the sketch challenge!

Recipe:
Glamour Uppercase stamp set
Magnolia papers (MME)
Kraft, Ruby & Colonial White cardstock
Black & Ruby ink
Black marker
Black & Twilight brads
Love Letters rub-ons
DE Signage chipboard
Open House Holiday stickers (CM)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: tags

Pattern: EMS Sketch 55

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)

Just Chillin' Layout

My hubby took our boys and the neighbor girl up the mountain to go sledding, and of course, daddy took a ton of pictures, so I have a bunch of snow photos to scrap, something that doesn't happen often for this Southern California native!

This intro page was inspired by two challenges; first, the Stuck!? Sketches April 1st sketch.

I actually stuck pretty close to the sketch for a change, maybe because I was subliminally inspired by the "stuck" part of Stuck!? Sketches. Next, I was inspired by Child's Play "Simon" challenge.

The colors of my layout are pretty funky for snow pictures, but I noticed that different elements in the photos (a jacket and the sleds) are the same color as the Simon game, so I tried to incorporate those colors into the layout. The hardest was the green, but I managed to add some green spiral clips to pick up the color. Thanks for the inspiration, Stuck!? Sketches and Child's Play!

Recipe:
Mistletoe, Zippidee & For Always Level 2 papers
Lagoon, Bamboo & Colonial White cardstock
Lagoon, Bamboo, Honey & Black ink
Topiary spiral clips
Cranberry grosgrain ribbon
Medium snowflake punch (Martha Stewart)
Small snowflake punch (EK Success)
Red Glitz Glitter Gel
Diamond Stickles (Ranger)
Staples
Cricut Artbooking cartrdige: title, large snowflakes
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped border

My Valentines Layout

There was something wonky going on with my camera on Valentine's Day of 2012, so I only got a few pictures that turned out. Even those weren't great, but I scrapped what I had. My layout was mostly inspired by a sketch and a challenge from Paper Secrets, plus a Cricut challenge from Heart 2 Heart, and I added a tag because of a challenge from Scrap It Girl, so thank you to all the wonderful bloggers who inspire me to get creative!

Recipe:
Special Care stamp set
Key to My Heart Level 2 papers
White Daisy textured cardstock
Tulip, Juniper & White Daisy cardstock
Tulip, Juniper, Sorbet & Creme Brulee ink
DE Tags chipboard
Juniper photo hanger & brad
Creme Brulee paper clip
Sorbet ribbon
Tulip embroidery floss
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: heart overlay, title
Pattern: Paper Secrets April 1st sketch
Challenges: Paper Secrets sketch + use items starting with the letters in the word JOKES (I chose Juniper cardstock & photo hanger, the Ombre technique on my title, Key to My Heart papers, Tulip Embroidery floss, and 2 Stamps from the Special Care set); Heart 2 Heart Cricut challenge (heart overlay & title); Scrap It Girl Tags or Bags

Greatest Adventure Layout

I absolutely love Susan Stringfellow's sketches (possibly even more than I love my own), and have been looking for a way to use one. So jazzed by the way this layout using her Sketch 116 turned out! I followed her basic plan and kept adding fun embellishments until it looked done. And yes, I was able to use pink on a boy layout and I don't think it's too girly. What do you think?

Recipe:
Dotty for You Level 2 papers
Kraft, Sky, Lagoon & White Daisy cardstock
Lagoon, Sweet Leaf & Hollyhock ink
Sky, Sweet Leaf, Creme Brulee & Black markers
My Crush Best Day Ever letter stickers
My Crush Besties journaling card
You & Me chipboard pennants & polka-dotted shape
Sweet Leaf brads
Antiqued Copper designer brad
Lagoon baker's twine
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: flower, flourish, shaped rectangle
Pattern: Sketch Saavy #116
Challenges: Child's Play Sand Art challenge (I was inspired by the colors of the sand); Lasting Memories It's the Little Things That Matter challenge (I scrapped an everyday moment that reminded me how great it is to be a mom)