Hearts and Black Matting

The Challenge Me Tuesday for next week on Practical Scrappers is black matting.  I also saw their call for hearts, and an idea came to me.  I dug up a picture from my first "date" with my husband - skiing, and decided to scrap a page about it.  I hope to complete an 8x8 album for him with pictures from our "dates."  (We dated long distance, so we saw each other for about a week every month or three for 1.5 years.)

I used my Silhouette a ton for this.  I had it cut out the hearts (both black and patterned) WITH the holes for stitching.  I also had it cut out the very light pink background paper with holes.  This made lining everything up a lot easier.  I sent the black hearts through my X and then stuck them on the background paper.  Then I got to stitching.  The patterned hearts are just sewn on - no other adhesive.  Once they were all sewn down, I folded them a little to give some dimension.  I decided to just write the basic information on the corner of the page, and idea from my scrapping friend Misty (who journals a lot on the corners of her background paper).  I might add some more journalling on the back, but it all depends on what I decide to do with these layouts I think.

Featured!
http://www.practicalscrappers.com/2012/02/challenge-me-tuesday-touch-of-black.html

Quilting

I saw on Practical Scrappers a "call" for quilt-inspired layouts.  I decided to go total quilt and do a "guilty pleasure" page (as some of my scrapping friends had challenged me to do in January).  My guilty pleasure is definitely technology, so I chose to scrap a picture of my phone and TouchPad.  I though this quilt pattern sort of looked like electrical boards, so I thought it would work well.  I cut the pieces with my Silhouette out of PiggyTales paper (Steadfast Tin Soldier).  Then I ran them through my Xyron X so they were all glued up.  Then it was fairly easy to just attach them to my paper to make the background.  Then I stitched (by hand) a few squares of red thread to help hold everything down.  Then I added my picture, some twine stitching, journalling tag (stuck behind the picture), and an altered Thicker title.  The layout itself is inspired by ScrapbookSteals' MidWeekMojo Garnet 7 sketch.

Once I got that page done, I wanted to "quilt" some more.  So I made this card for my MOPs small group leader.  I think it is perfect for her, as she is an accomplished quilter herself (although she does more applique quilting than piece quilting).  The papers are from MME's This and That 6x6 pad.  The layout is based off of Scrapbook Steals' MCM #66.  I added the stamp sentiment and a pinwheel to finish it off.

I think I am going to try some more truly quilt inspired layouts soon.  I had drawn up a few, but I didn't have pictures that would work perfectly for them...

Authentique January Challenge - Card

So, previously I showed the layout I did for the Authentique January challenge.  Well, since I wanted to use more of those scraps I had left from that page and I was on a card making surge, I cranked out this card.  It is simple, nothing exciting, but I think it is perfect for my husband for Valentine's Day this year.  Here is the sketch it is based off of:

All Played Out

I entered a layout challenge on Practical Scrappers, but I didn't make it past Round 2.  But, I had to get the Round 2 layout done just in case I did make it (Round 1 was completely a popularity/fan voting from 80 layouts down to 25).  This is what I came up with.  I love how this turned out.  I used papers from MME - Ooh La La for Him, Stella and Rose Hattie, and Fine and Dandy Boy (6x6).  That, along with some Thickers, a sheet of solid cardstock, a Stampin' Up button, ink, and a ton of thread, and you end up with this.  

Authentique January Challenge

Each month, Aunthetique has a sketch challenge.  You have to use some of their paper/product in your work to be entered into the random drawing.  I FINALLY got some Authentique around Christmas (Journey), so I was ready to complete the challenge this month.  I used a sheet of "Explore" paper to complete this page, as well as some solid cardstock (grey, black, and white) and some stamping, inking, and stitching.  I had fun making the weaved line as the "background."  The flower was done using a failed cut from my Silhouette.  It should have been more layered, but the pieces fell apart instead of perforating.    All in all, it was a fun page to complete!

Take 12 Challenge - January

Ella Publishing Co. posed a challenge for this year - take 12 photos on the twelfth of each month, and then scrap them.  I decided to take this challenge on, as it would be a good way to scrap our "day to day" life.

When it came to scrapping the photos, I decided to use a time line of the day.  With little kids whose schedules I know will change probably each month, I thought having this written down would be nice for them when they are older.  I decided to make 2x2 pictures (6 pictures per 4x6 print) to both cut down on price and to get the page completed faster and easier.  I may just copy this layout for every month, or I may mix it up a little - we will see.

I used a random set of paper punch out paper, some solid card stock, and some Imaginisce Animal Cracker embellishments.  With the quantity of journalling and pictures, I wanted to keep the page fairly "clean."

So, here it is:

ScrapbookSteals Opal Layouts!

Here are the Opal layouts I made from the wonderful ScrapbookSteals sketches!

Woodgrain Mustache November Color Challenge

The wonderful ladies over at Woodgrain Mustache have a color challenge.  I thought I would make a simple card using the colors.  Here is what I came up with:

I used solid cardstock I had and some images from Silhouette to make this Thank You card.  I am not sure who I am going to give this to yet though...

i {heart} paper color challenge

My youngest is almost 2 months old, and when I was preparing for her birth, I decided to do something different each month.  With my oldest, I just did pictures - nothing special - on each month "birthday."  With my second I used foam bathtub numbers.  But, with this one, I decided to design a card each month with the correct number and place it in a frame.  The frame will remain the same every month, but the card will coordinate with her outfit.  I am then taking the cards and the best picture of the month and making an 8x8 layout.  FOr Month 2, I had already chosen a pink and blue paper combination to go with her pink outfit she will wear.  When I saw the color challenge with pink, blue, and green, I thought the added green woudl work perfectly!

So, here is the card int he frame (in the chair she will be in for most if not all of the pictures:



 And here is the page (minus the picture that will go in the white square):

I got the patterned papers from a friend, so I have no idea about the brand, etc.  But, they are originally 8.5 x 11 papers.  The green is DCWV textured card stock.  The flower border on top is from Basic Grey.  I also used buttons and brads from random brands and Studio G (Hampton Arts) ink.  I hope you like it!

MidWeekMojo - Topaz

A litlte over a year ago, I really got into scrapbooking on a weekly basis.  After college, I did one big book for those 4 years in less than a month.  Then, I dabbled here and there with it.  Occasionally, we would scrap at church as a ladies night or something, but it was at most 2-3 times a year.  Then ScrapbookSteals started MidWeekMojos on July 21, 2010.  Each week, there is a sketch posted on Wednesday morning (9am MST), and the goal is to have a layout completed by Monday at midnight so you are eligible for the drawing.  I have missed a few weeks (mostly because I was pregnant and didn't feel well), but I have always caught up.  So, now I have done over 62 layouts in 62 weeks.  The most recent 10 sketches are called the Topaz series.  The last was posted this week, so I thought I would share them here for you to see.