Beach Wall Art

Today over at Practical Scrappers, we are showing off ways to use scallops.  So, I pulled out my Kiwi Lane scallop templates and created this cute wall art for my kids' room.  I used some scrap 6x6 papers in blues, yellows, and tans, and created a beach-y background.  Then I used some kraft paper and my Silhouette and cut out the letter B and the frame.  I wanted something summer-y for them, and this turned out perfectly.

I am also entering it into the Paper Girls Challenge #33- The Beach!

Smile

The fabulous Kristy Lee challenged me to create a layout with the following "rules:"

• 1 page
• 1 4x6 photo + 5 2x2's
• Banner
• Washi
• Journaling in a circle
• Misting

That day my oldest lost her first tooth, and I decided photos from that would be perfect!  I knew I wanted to do the filmstrip for the 5 close-ups.  And I figured out the journalling and misting quickly.  But the rest sort of just mulled in my head for almost 2 weeks.  The colors, papers, etc weren't so easy since her outfit was just a white shirt (and black skirt that you can't see).  Last night I finally decided on black, white, and pink.  I got the film strip done, and then was stuck again on the papers to use.  This morning I decided to go with washi tape, but then I got stuck again thinking the layout was boring after getting the "basics" on.  So, I turned to some of my other favorite challenge sites - SWAT and TPGCB.  Over at SWAT, the challenge is a tic-tac-toe board.  Of the nie squares, I used 6 of then, but I only got one line (And that one is a little stretch).  I have 3 buttons (the little hearts below the title), stitching (at the top right corner of the photo), and 3 manufacturers in the washi (Downtown Tape, Freckled Fawn, and MME).  I also have doodling, which is also the challenge over at TPGCB, misting, and skip the pattern paper.

The best part of the challenge for me was creating a layout on y own without a sketch.  I so often use sketches, that I am starting to like the challenge of doing it on my own :)

A Card and a Layout

I got two projects done this weekend.  I was going to post the layout yesterday, but it was SO windy here that I couldn't get a picture of it today.  And since I have DT projects to post tomorrow and Tuesday,  I decided to just post them together today since they are for a couple of challenges.

Let's start with the card.  This is for my husband's grandmother's birthday.  I took inspiration from the Paper Girls Challenge for the colors on this one.  And the design is based off of the current Unscripted Sketches sketch.  I Used MME Fun day  paper along with some solid cardstock, a MLS stamp, some WP trim, and a Stampin' Up stamp.  I colored the flower with Stampin Up colored pencils.  I am also entering it into the ScrapbookSteals MCM #16 - Stamp It.

As for the layout, this is based off of the Amber 5b sketch over at ScrapbookSteals by guest sketcher Michelle.  I used Authentique Loyal and Echo Park For the Record 2 for this cute layout of my son meeting one of his great grandma's.  Other than the base piece of kraft, all of the paper is scraps (for the About a Boy Challenge).  The colors worked perfectly for Rochelle's color challenge too (although my greens are a little darker).

learning - A LGS Reveal

 This week's amazing sketch over at Let's Get Sketchy is by the amazing Bev Code.  I love that it has a mix of hexagons, banners, and arrows!

I recently sorted my papers by color, and decided I had a TON of blue papers.  So, I started this layout looking through my drawer with turquoise paper.  I was immediately drawn to the gingham paper with the pink, blue, and green on it (the back side is a blue and white polka dot).  Then I remembered Rochelle's color challenge for this month, and thought I could really make this work!  I pulled out some of my MLS papers to go with the MME Hip Hooray paper and the dug out a piece of light pink NS paper to use for my hexagons.  For the banner, I just used scraps of the hexagons - each triangle is about 1/6th of a hexagon - and stitched them together with twine.

For the arrows, I decided to try stamping them.  I made an arrow template out of scrap cardstock, and then I used my MME border stamp and the three colors of ink to make the arrows.  I topped them off with a piece of the gingham paper and some twine to bring it all together.   The journalling is about what I have learned from my kids - how they have made me grow in the last 5+ years.   The first ever S.W.A.T challenge made me dig deep and really think about myself.

For the embellishment cluster, I used some Crate Paper pieces mostly as well as a few other random pieces I could find.  The title I cut using my Silhouette and the French script font.

Embrace Change - Jade 9

This layout kept morphing as I went along.  I knew once I saw the ScrapbookSteals Jade 9 sketch that I wanted to use this picture and my hoarded Authentique Journey papers.  The sunburst was the easy part.  And the twine was a no brainer as well, as the current Paper Girls challenge is to use twine.  But then the photo placement caused problems.  When I tried to use the sunburst rotated the other direction, there wasn't a great place from the title.  So, I rotated it.  Then I thought about the title.  I decided to use some of the sayings from the WordArt Kerys has on her blog for her February challenge.  I thought about cutting out the words with my silhouette, but they were going to be so small that it would be hard to keep them intact  etc.  So, I made a mask of sorts and inked on top.  The smaller ones are still somewhat hard to read, but I kind of like the effect it gives.  All of those phrases are ones I don't want my son to forget!

The photo is from the day my youngest was born.  Although the photo isn't centered, it is one I will cherish for sure!  It looks like a very special time between daddy and son on the day they became out numbered (3 girls to 2 boys).  Since these are the two males in my life, I also though it was a perfect picture (and layout) for the first challenge over at About a Boy - Introducing (your boy).

Hidden journalling

The Sketch

The WordArt

A "Love" Themed Card Using MME Miss Caroline

This is a simple card I made this week to fit into three challenges.  The first is from Unscripted Sketches, which is where I got the layout idea for the card.  Here is Sketch #195:

The second is The Paper Girls Challenge #24 - Wood Elements.  This gave me the idea to use the wood grained papers in Miss Caroline (Fiddlesticks).

Finally, I entered this card into the Practical Scrappers Card Contest.  The first round submissions had to be a love theme.  So, I used the subway art piece from my 6x6 pad for the sentiment part of the layout.

Other than the MME Miss Caroline 6x6 pad, I used some kraft cardstock as the base, a doily, and a Stampin Up brad to finish this simple card off.

MIni Mini Album/Card

 Earlier this week, Liz Chidester did a tutorial on MyLittleShoebox's blog about a mini album made from 1 8.5x11 piece of paper (and then decorated).  I knew I wanted to try it out, so I made the album.  Then I thought about what to use it for.  I have a ton of birthday cards to made,and I thought it would made a fun card!  But I knew it would be fairly thick, so I didn't want to mail it.  So I decided to make it for an almost 11 year old in our church that is just an amazing young lady!  She isn't into cute things anymore, and love horses and cowgirl-type things, so I decided to use MME Miss Caroline 6x6 papers for this.  Then I used MLS alphas throughout.  I decided to make it close, so I added two WRMK eyelets and a piece of random ribbon (I think it came from HobbyLobby) to finish it off (plus the standard HL brown pigment stamp around the edges).

Here is the cover with her initials on it:

Page 1: Devoted Daughter with Exodus 20:12 as the verse.

 Page 2: Caring Sister with 1 Thessalonians 5:11 as the verse.  I also used my new KiwiLane scallop templates on this one :)

 Page 3: Servant of God! with Galatians 6:9 as the verse.  Some how I lots the letter a along the way... I guess I will need to find a new one and put it back before I give it to her later this month :)

The back cover

Side view

I am entering this into two challenges.  The first is Scrapbook Steals Monday Craft Madness #7 - Think Mini!  This little album is definitely tiny!  Plus i used only 6x6 paper (which is the "tiny" variety) and a bunch of mini alphas.  The second is The Paper Girls Challenge #23 - Ledger Paper.  The front cover uses ledger paper as well as the tag on page 1.

Use It Tuesday - Thankful!

When I saw that we were going to do a thankful challenge over at Use It Tuesday, I first thought about doing a layout.  But, I just wasn't sure what I would scrap.  I had done a gratitude layout back in April already, and since I live in the US, thanksgiving hadn't happened this year yet.  Then I thought about the 30 days of thankfulness that I see on Facebook every November.  I thought it would be a great project for my oldest (almost 5 and in kindergarten) this year.  And I knew that I could turn to her brother (almost 3) on days she just wasn't up for saying what she was thankful for.

With that, I decided to make a mini tag album.  I decide to go with 2x3 photos (printed 4 on a 4x6 print).  So, I made my tags 3x6in.  I have a bunch already cut out of some solid cardstock from my stash in a variety of fall colors.

I started with four of the "inside" pages from the first 6 days of the month (two of the days I had to stage pictures for still when I printed the pictures).  Here are those pages:

On this one, I used some KI Memories Love Elsie papers and embellishments that I have been hoarding for over a year.  And of course a hoarded number Thicker and some Webster's Pages trim to finish it off.

On this one I used some scraps from the fall wreathe I made recently.  The papers are definitely not hoarded (I bought them to make the wreathe back in October), but the Thicker 3 and twine are!

This one I used some VERY hoarded MME Abbey Road paper on.  I have had that paper for 2 years probably.  And of course another Thicker :)

This one is some more of the scraps from the wreathe.  But again, it has a hoarded Thicker number!

I also have 2 pages ready for pictures and finishing touches:

This one has some hoarded Webster's Pages papers on it, ready for a picture of my kids eating popcorn.

And another one with scraps from the wreathe ready for a picture of my daughter's stuffed animals.

Once I had those done, I got to work on the cover.

I again used a scrap from the wreathe, but this time I embellished with some hoarded felt embellishments (from Oriental Trading that I bought last year to push my order to free shipping) as well as a leaf that was left over from my fall ATCs.

And on all of these tags, I am using probably my most hoarded item in my stash - WRMK eyelets!  I thought I "HAD" to have a Crop-a-dile about two years ago.  And, unfortunately I have only used it a handful of times for eyelets.  I really should us it more!

Hopefully I will get this album done by the end of the year.  I will post pages as I get them done though.

Now, it is time for you to make something around the theme of thanks/thankful!  It could be a card, a layout, a mini album (or just the cover for now), or even decorations for Thanksgiving.  Once you get your project done, link it up to the Use It Tuesday blog so we can admire your work using hoarded items!

I am also entering this into the Paper Girls Challenge #19 - Thank You

Just Right

This layout just sort of morphed into what it became.  I started with inspiration from the Paper Girls Challenge Blog and the sketch at Creative Scrappers.

I quickly decided I wanted to do the circles on the sketch as a negative and fill them with pinkish papers and washi.  Then I decided to add in a challenge over at Scrap-Friendzy to use 5 patterned papers, 5 pieces of washi or ribbon, 5 stickers, 5 flowers, and 5 buttons.  So, I stuck with 5 patterned papers plus a solid pink for the circles (plus 5 strips of washi).  The papers are a mix of MME and MLS, and the washi is Downtown Tape and Studio G.  The buttons are mostly from Oriental Trading I think.  Then I worked on the flowers.  I used a paper clip flower from KI Memories, two out of papers from MLS (same ones at the background), a Doodle Bug flower, and a washi tape flower with a paper flower center.  The little stickers on the photo are Authentique (Journey and Genuine) and the title is MLS alphas.

Scrap-Friendzy Birthday Bash Challenge #9

I got to "design" the ninth challenge this month for Scrap-Friendzy, as we celebrate their 5th birthday.  Here is what I came up with:
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Today is National Card Making Day.  So, my challenge for you today definitely involves making a card.  Now, I know many of you prefer making layouts to cards, so I will help you with this one!

The challenge - change a scrapbook sketch into a card!  When you have your card done, upload it to the gallery and then post it here with a link to the sketch you used.

I made three for you to see.  First, I used a PageMaps 8 1/2 x 11 sketch to make this "generic" card:

Link

Second, I used a Let's Get Sketchy (12x12) sketch to make a birthday card:

Link

Finally, I used a ScrapbookSteals MWM (12x12) sketch to make another birthday card:

Link

Now get to crafting!

As with all other challenges this month, you earn 20 points for completing this challenge.  Also, remember that each challenge has to be a separate,newly created item.  I can't wait to see what you create!

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Here are some close ups:

I created the flower on the last one using acetate.  I got the idea from The Paper Girls Challenge Blog.  Their current challenge is to use transparencies or acetate, and the idea of making a flower came from one of Charity's tutorials.  I punched 5 circles out of acetate and then heated them with my heat gun.  This created some shape to the petals.  I inked the edge with blue ink and then attached everything together with glue dots and thread.

On the first card, I distressed the edges of the circles to give them a little cupped shape.  I love the touch of dimension it gives this otherwise flat card.

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If you haven't checked out Scrap-Friendzy, you should!  The first 8 challenges this year are so fun!  There is an inspiration challenge, a recipe challenge, a pick your own 5 recipe challenge, a birthday layout challenge, a birthday card lift challenge, 5 word title challenge, a sketch challenge, and an inspired by a song layout challenge.  There will be 20 challenges over two weeks (2 a day Monday-Friday).  All challenges are due at the end of the month.  I would love to see you ladies in there too!

A Birthday Card

Here is a quick card I threw together for my FIL.  He is a part-time farmer, so this MLS paper worked well.  I started with the ScrapbookSteals MCM 97 sketch, but it didn't turn out much like that in the end.

This card is based off of a scrapbook layout in Scrap-Friendzy.  I decided to use it as a base for a card.  I used Authentique Uncommon for this one, and it will be for my sister's birthday.  It is more pink than I normally do, but I think the kraft tones it down a tiny bit.

These cards will be for The Paper Girls challenge (birthdays).

Three Recent Layouts

This one is Pearl 4b over at ScrapbookSteals.  I am continuing my love of My Little Shoebox on this one.  It is also part of a Camp-Friendzy challenge (Mess Hall).  There was a list of 16 items, and I was able to include 12 of those in this layout.

This is another ScrapbookSteals sketch (I think Garnet 5).  I hadn't done a layout for myself using the sketch, so I put it to work with another Camp-Friendzy challenge (Ghost Stories).  I used some MME 6x6 papers as well as some Webster Pagers trim and AC Thickers for this one.

This last one is based off of a PageMaps sketch that was also a challenge sketch at Camp-Friendzy.  I also included the "netting" for the Paper Girls Challenge Blog challenge.  I want to add something with the yellow netting, but I haven't found the right "trinkets" for it yet.

This summer I have been able to average about 3 layouts a week - so I am happy with that!  If I can keep the rate up, maybe I can catch up on my kids' albums at some points too...

Thank You Card

I made this card for the Paper Girls Challenge Blog Challenge #10.  The challenge was based off of this image:

My eyes went to both the colors and the flowers within the mosaic.  So, I punched out flowers in the 7 colors and arranged them in a grid.  I finished it up with some silver marker for the flower centers, silver ribbon, and a black and white tag with the sentiment.