Floral Birthday Card

Just whipped up a birthday card for a friend, and played along with a few challenges for inspiration. The inside of the card has the continuation of the exterior sentiment: "THE CANDLES COST MORE THAN THE CAKE!" It always makes me laugh but I have to make sure to give it to someone who has a good sense of humor!

Recipe:
Just a Number & Birthday Recipe stamp sets
Craft On papers
Canary, Pixie, Carolina, Raspberry & White Daisy cardstock
Canary, Pixie, Carolina, Bluebird, Pixie, Canary & Black ink
Bubblegum embroidery floss
Pink ric-rac (Berwick)
3-D foam tape
Cricut Artistry cartridge: cake
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped circle
Cricut Artiste cartridge: sentiment shape
Pattern: Atlantic Hearts sketch #393

Challenges: Double Trouble #70 Stitch It Up (Thing 1 = stitching + Thing 2 = used Atlantic Hearts sketch + Thing 3 - humorous); Festive Friday #71 (used embossing, die-cuts, patterned paper, flowers, & sentiment)

Star Wars Halloween Layout

Our two youngest wanted to dress up as Star Wars characters for Halloween in 2015, so my hubby joined in the fun and pulled out a Jedi robe to escort them around the neighborhood. It was really cool that someone on the route had carved Star Wars themed Jack o'lanterns that perfectly complemented our family motif!

Recipe:
You Rock papers
Outdoor Denim, Goldrush, Black & White Daisy cardstock
White Daisy textured cardstock
Goldrush, Garnet, Olive & Whisper ink
Outdoor Denim marker
Outdoor Denim & White Daisy Bigger Brads
Color Kaleidoscope sticker book (American Crafts)
Field Notes journaling ephemera (American Crafts)
Teen Spirit Boy ephemera (Echo Park)
Cricut The Force Is With Us cartridge: Star Wars title, Darth Vader
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: stars
Cricut Design Space: Halloween (using Star Jedi font)
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge 8 (stepped up version)

Challenges: Use Your Stuff #409 Stripes; The Library Challenge #70 How to Catch a Star

Thank Ewe Card

October is Pastor Appreciation Month, so I created this card to give to my pastor. Since pastors are sometimes referred to as shepherds, the image and sentiment seemed fitting! 

Recipe:
Yesterday & Today papers
Espresso, Toffee, Cranberry & White Daisy cardstock
Espresso, Toffee & Cranberry ink
Gold Metallix marker
Cricut Just Because cartridge: sheep, sentiment, contoured shape, heart
Pattern: Sketch-n-Scrap World Cardmaking Day sketch #3 (rotated right)

Carving Awesome Memories Layout

Our pumpkin carvings from Halloween 2015 weren't anywhere near as cool as the ones we saw at Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns, but the kids had fun, so that's the most important thing, right? 

Recipe:
Spooky Smiles stamp set
Moonlight papers
Autumn Terracotta & Colonial White cardstock
Black, Smokey Plum & Autumn Terracotta ink
Black marker
Field Trip Puffy Thickers (American Crafts)
Bronze shimmer trim
Purple glitter gems
Cricut Artiste cartridge: title
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: border
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: pumpkins
Pattern: Scrap Our Stash October 2020 sketch (stretched out to fit over two pages)
Challenges: Lasting Memories #520 - Pumpkin Spice with glitter; Tic Tac Toe Challenges #88 (bottom row with rust, any shape die, and free plus diagonal with rust, any color, and fall colors)

Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns Layout

Several years back, my family went to a really cool Halloween event called Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns, and of course we took tons of photos that I now get to share with you! I placed the ones that could be cropped to 3"x3" onto my layout, and the rest are in a photo storage page, but I added a few of the highlight photos to this post for you to enjoy.

Click on the layout to see close-ups of the fun Jack O'Lanterns!

Recipe:
Jeepers Creepers papers & cardstock stickers
Colorful Kit paper (KI Memories)
Sunset & Black cardstock
Black ink
White gel pen (Sakura)
Purple shimmer trim
Purple glitter gems
Lagoon satin ribbon
Black Dymo label tape
Star Dust Stickles (Ranger)
Cricut You Are Here cartridge: rise
Cricut Artistry cartridge: pumpkin, triangle banner
Pattern: Stick It Down October double page sketch

Challenges: Lasting Memories #521 Monsters; Double Trouble #69 - Fall Bat Color Challenge (Thing 1 - orange, green, blue & purple + Thing 2 = linked up with Paper Girls + Thing 3 - no bats); The Paper Girls #210 - Halloween

Ticket 2 Ride Layout

My kids are too old for mini trains now, but at one point they loved them and would beg us for rides whenever we saw one. For this layout, I used one of my sketches and pulled out some long-retired CTMH paper with a Disney theme. Even though I wasn't scrapping Disney, the colors and feel seemed right, plus I added some dark green to match the colors on the train.

Recipe:
Vintage Type, A Typeface & Background Builders stamp sets
Giggles and Grins & Fanfare papers
Cranberry, Ponderosa Pine, Sunny Yellow, Chocolate, Slate, Black & White Daisy cardstock
Cranberry, Ponderosa Pine, Sunny Yellow, Black & Versamark ink
Black marker
Giggles and Grins My Stickease
White embossing powder
3-D foam tape
Paper crimper
Cricut Wall Decor & More: ticket, swirl
Cricut Design Space cartridge: train, tree
Cricut Artiste cartridge: RR sign
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge 79

Challenges: Heart 2 Heart New to You (I bought the leaf stamp a while ago but it's the first time I ever inked it up, so it was new to me); Tic Tac Toe Challenge #87 (I used the top row across with scene, die-cut, leaves)

From This Moment Layout

I wasn't able to be at my sister-in-law's wedding, but I was able to capture a little bit of this meaningful time through the photos my hubby took. I used lots of die-cuts, stamping, and embossing to create this layout, and achieving a feminine look without drowning it in pink was an enjoyable challenge. Hopefully you think I succeeded in that aim!

Recipe:
Pen Pal Alphabet, Love This & Express Postage stamp sets
Bonnie Bell Wedding papers (MAMBI)
Daydream papers
Hollyhock, Blush & White Daisy cardstock
Hollyhock & Versamark ink
Blush & Gold Metallix markers
White gel pen (Sakura)
Gold embossing powder
Autumn Terracotta conchos
White embroidery floss
Gold ribbon (from my stash, source unknown)
Small heart punch (EK Success)
Cricut Artbooking cartridge: Always & Forever
Cricut Artiste cartridge: large hearts
Cricut Wall Decor & More cartridge: family
Challenges: 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #43 (I was inspired to add a stamped, heat embossed, fussy-cut butterfly to my layout); Tic Tac Toe Challenges #86 (I did the diagonal with die-cut, circle, and stitching, AND the column with stitching, ribbon, and designer paper. I also used gold embossed paper and added gold embossing, so that kinda works for the other diagonal).

Going to the Chapel Layout

For these photos of getting the church ready for my sister-in-law's wedding, I started with one of my older sketches that I really like but for some reason had only used once. Several crafty blogs had fun challenges up this month that inspired me with the color scheme and some of the embellishments I added. You can see the list at the bottom of the post and maybe it will inspire you to play along as well!

Recipe:
Belle Fleur papers (PhotoPlay)
Cotton Candy, Black & White Daisy cardstock
White Daisy textured cardstock
Cotton Candy, Blush & Black ink
Black marker
Blush grosgrain ribbon
Black & White enamel dots
Color Kaleidoscope Sticker Book & Thickers (American Crafts)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: scalloped border, curvy frame
Cricut Design Space: title using Cookies font
Large heart punch (Marvy Uchida)
Small heart punch (EK Success)
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge 63

Challenges: Lasting Memories # 518 Pink, White, Black (sorry, there is a little green in there too, but mostly the other colors); The Paper Girls #209 Wedding or anniversary; Scrap With Stacy Tic-Tac-Toe (I chose the middle column down with enamel dots, word stickers/phrases & punch)

EMS Sketch 94 + Joy of Sets 22 + Bri & Mommy Layout

It's a new month and a new sketch for all my scrappy buddies out there! I created a sketch featuring four 4" x 6" photos and a few fun elements. I added a little more layering and a stitched circle on my layout, but otherwise stuck pretty close to the sketch. As always, feel free to adapt the sketch to meet your needs and post a link to your completed layout in the comments at the bottom of this post.

Here's the sketch:

Here's my layout:

It's also time for the JOY OF SETS October challenge! Beverly has a creative grid for us this month with lots of options. I chose to use the top row with Black, Torn, and Stitching to scrapbook some fun photos of  my daughter and I just hanging out together. Here is the grid. You have all month to play along with it, so let's see what you can do!

Recipe:
A Friend Like You stamp set
Color Kaleidoscope papers (American Crafts)
Heartstrings papers
Black, Lagoon & Colonial White cardstock
Lagoon, Cranberry & Black ink
Black marker
Colonial White paper flowers
Cranberry embroidery floss
Red enamel hearts
Cats & Bats enamel dots
Magical Adventures cardstock sticker (Echo Park)
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: banner, heart, lowercase title letters
Cricut Wall Decor & More cartridge: Monogram letters
Challenges: Challenge YOUrself #81 - Thankful; The Paper Girls #208 Pick Three (my three were heart, flower, and circle)

Madonna Inn Layout

 Here's one final layout from my hubby's business trip to San Luis Obispo. He visited the Madonna Inn (no, it's not named after the singer) and enjoyed a meal in one of the restaurants there. The whole place is an interesting combo of rock surfaces and pink decor. In these pictures, the lighting wasn't great and so you can't see the pink as much. For my layout, I chose papers in which yellow and brown predominated (with a tiny bit of pink and blue, also), and then added some orange cardstock to pick up some of the accent color in the photos. Loved having fun with the partially curved title, and I finally managed to use some of my Amy Tangerine puffy stickers - woohoo!

Recipe:

Clementine papers
Saddle, Sunset, Creme Brulee, Twilight & Colonial White cardstock
Saddle, Sunset & Creme Brulee ink
Coffee marker (Zig)
White gel pen (Sakura)
Amy Tangerine Slice of Life puffy stickers (American Crafts)
Sunset & Creme Brulee baker's twine
Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge: title, rings, tags
Pattern: EMS Sketch Challenge 19

Challenges: Lasting Memories #517 - Turning Leaves (used mainly yellow, brown, and orange); Stinkin' Inkers Shades of Fall; The Studio Challenges Recipe (used tags, 3 or more patterned papers, and puffy stickers)