So Happy Together

I usually try to work with my current photos so that I don't get behind on the current year but sometimes I try to play catch-up for the years when I wasn't scrapping as much. This is one of those times.

I love these pics of Rheagan and David walking on the beach on a very warm Texas Winter December in 2007. I figured with older pics that it would be okay to use last year's line from Lilybee that had all the right elements I was looking for - great die cuts, bright colors, multiple patterns. I also used this week's sketch from Sketchy Thursdays. It's the last reveal for the current team and I am sad to see that some are departing but I am soo excited to work with the new gals!

Supplies: Lilybee Designs Hello Sunshine Collection: Savannah, Blueberry Pie, Fly a Kit and Twirl papers, die-cut frames (circle scallop, square scallop, brackets). American Crafts Dear Lizzy Puffy Letter Stickers - Berry; AdornIt Tiny Whoopsy Red & Multi Reds Tiny Alphas; Tattered Angels Chalkboard Glimmer Mist Peacock; Homeade Red Mist.

Here are a few close-ups. I just love the die-cut frames...I even cut the multi-colored flowery scalloped one up and used it as a scallop border instead. I decided to use pop dots to adhere my photos over the ruffles and layers of the scallops so that the photos wouldn't look lumpy and I really like how it looks on the page IRL.

Here's the sketch I used. Take a peek over at what the rest of the design team did with this Sketchy Thursdays sketch and play along for your chance to win an April kit, Hello Sunshine, from Scrapbook Circle. I'm on the that DT as well and I've been playing with April's kit, which is AMAZING!!! Make sure to play along or head to the Scrapbook Circle blog to get your hands on one!

Here's a peek at the Hello Sunshine kit that's up for grabs!

The Adventures of a Little Puppy

Do you know what day it is? It's Sketchy Thursdays day!  Before I reveal this week's layout, I have to say how sad I was that my gig on the Sketchy Thursdays team was ending at the end of this month but I am so happy, no I am ECSTATIC that they asked me back!!! I hate to say goodbye to the ladies departing the team but I am also so excited to work with the new team! 

Okay, so here is my layout this week. I used my Scrapbook Circle March "Vintage Market" kit, which I LOVE!!! It's packed with so much scrapilicious goodness!

This layout is based on the character from a book that my daughter chose for "Character Day" at school. She loves the lady & the tramp story but especially loves SCAMP. We searched for a puppy costume but nothing resembled SCAMP so the creative side of me altered an outfit. I found this great grey knit set at Target, attached fur to the neck, sleeves and ankles, got her a cute, short necklace with a dangle charm for a collar and a dog bone. Lastly, I did ponytails but kept the ponies wrapped tight to resemble ears. I think it turned out pretty cute and she was quite proud.

Supplies from Scrapbook Circle Vintage Market Kit: Crate Paper Potrait Collection - Traditions and June papers, Designer Border Stickers; Lilybee This & That Linen and Postcard papers, Echo Park For the Record Alpha Stickers; Studio Calico Die-cut Stickers; Bazzill Black Button; Non-kit items: Girls' Paperie On Holiday Travel Text stickers; Tattered Angels Charcoal Chalkboard Mist; Martha Stewart green twine

And the sketch:

Make sure to play along this week for your chance to win a $25 gift card to AddictedToScrapbooking.com.

Families are a BLESSING

I made this layout this past weekend using a Lilybee collection that I have had been holding onto since the fall. I knew I wanted to use it for our family photos that we took in November so I hoarded it. I only had 2 sheets of paper and a sticker sheet from this collection so I challenged myself to stretch it as far as I could. This might just be one of my new favorite layouts!  

Supplies: Lilybee Designs Catching Fall Collection - Cider and Caramel Apple papers, Catching Fall Stickers, Brown Mesh Flower, Imaginisce i-rock (small & medium brad daddies), Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists - Charcoal, Brick, Tattered Leather.

 

A few close-ups:

As I mentioned I didn't have a lot to work with but I think I stretched it pretty far. Would love to get my hands on more complete collections. I'll be petitioning it at my LSS's for sure!

I made a sketch based on my layout in case anyone wants to play with it!

To complete the layout, I did the following steps:

• Misted with 3 different colors of Glimmer Mist - Charcoal, Brick, Tattered Leather. To make the circle rings I sprayed the caps of the mists and then placed them down on the paper. I love the look it gave.
• I cut random sized strips of paper and wove them together, using both sides of the paper. I included a strip of ribbon in there as well to give it a little something, something.
• After the weaving, I placed a sentiments sticker in the mix to replace where I would had originally planned to put my title. I also placed the big, mesh flower on the layout.
• I added some strips to the upper right, along with a journal block and another sentiments sticker. I placed a medium sized brad made with my i-top and a little fussy cut flower.
• I loved the banners that came with the sticker sheet but I knew a banner wanted to stretch the concept of the banner, plus I knew a traditional banner would not be appropriate for this layout so I placed an odd amount (5) in the upper left to complete my triangle.
• I added another brad and fussy cut flower to the layout and then I used glossy accents and crackle accents on all 4 of them. It's interesting how the crackle gloss turned the color of the paper from brick red to auburn. Those two accents were from the black with red flowers paper. I kept them because the color turned out to match so well.
• Lastly, I stitched in various placed over the layout.
• Oh and of course, I journaled :)

I really love how this layout turned out and I hope you do too!

Life is a Garden...Dig it!

I conquered a fear this week...my fear of mini albums. I can't tell you how many mini albums I have started and not finished. Well this time was different.

For 4 days, over on the Imaginisce blog, we are doing an i-rock Intensive blog hop. It's a new hop each day with new chances to win an i-rock Bundle of Goodies each day!  Today we are doing a feature called Bling'n the Mini.  If you came from the Rhonda's blog or straight from the Imaginisce blog, welcome! If you are one of my lovely followers, then jump on over to the Imaginisce blog and check out what a couple of the other ladies did with their mini album projects, which is what is the feature for today.

I used the new Berrylicious line. It's too adorable and has such a great Spring/Summer feel to it! I also used this little flower chipboard album that I got at Michael's for $1 a couple of years ago. I stocked up on them so I'm sure you'll be seeing more minis from me now!

The cover:

If you look closely you might see that I used real dirt on the cover by applying crackle accents to the photo corners and then pressing it down in the dirt in our garden.

I used a ton of the die-cuts from this line. They are perfect for minis!

I love the little fruit people on this paper. I blinged their eyes to make them pop a bit on the page.

To make the bee trail below I used an i-rock stencil kit. I love how it turned out and it was sooooo easy!

I used some of the Imaginisce Fashion and Cupcake flowers. I misted a white one with Glimmer Mist in Brick to match it to the hearts in the paper. I love how the mesh flowers resemble a honeycomb. To make the hexagon, I cut a circle, then I folded it in half and cut the sides, then I folded it the opposite way and cut the sides. This helped keep it all evenly spaced.

I love these little die cuts in the pics above and below! In the pic below, I added some green bling to the black photo mat and gave the peach some blue blingy eyes - love the little sparkle in her eyes!

I fussy cut these citrus fruits, blinged them out and adhered them as a border for my photo mat.

This was fun - I cut a circle and then hand cut the scallops for the photo mat. Thankfully it's not perfect because that's the look I was going for!

Here's the inside back cover. If I keep this album for myself I think I might move the strawberry brad that I made with the i-top and make a brad using a photo.

Supplies: Imaginisce Berrylicious collection: Summer Stripe, Sweet Summer Garden, Cherry Limeade, Berry Patch, Sunshine Seeds, Just Peachy Papers, Die-cuts, Chipboard Stickers; Fashion Flowers, Cupcake Flowers, i-rock and lots of Hot Rocks; i-top medium brads.

So I hope you liked the little tour through my mini. I really had a ton of fun creating it and I see quite a few more of these in my future!!

Wanna win that i-rock Bundle of Goodies? Follow my blog, tell me what you think of my mini (be honest) and since I was your last stop on the hop today, head back over to the Imaginisce blog and let us know what you thought of our projects! A winner will be announced within a few days!

Good Luck!

Smile So Bright

Today's layout started with this week's challenge sketch at The Studio. Not only did we have a sketch to work with but we were also required to include a ruffle. The papers and elements from this month's Scrapbook Circle kit went perfect with the challenge. 

Picture Removed due to publication.  Will be added back soon.

Supplies from Scrapbook Circle Vintage Market Kit: Echo Park For the Record Collection - Vintage Linen, Apron Strings, Fabric Store papers, Alpha & Words Stickers; Martha Stewart Red twine, Bazzill Black Button, Uni-ball Signo Broad White pen.

I love everything about the Vintage Market Scrapbook Circle kit - the Echo Park Apron Strings paper just screamed "fussy cut me!" and I knew where they needed to be to make my happy triangle. This left the entire lower right side of the page to fit my title and journaling in but there really wasn't THAT much room so I combined my title and journaling together. I can now easily see my title at first glance but I can also use it to tell the story. I made the ruffle by using my lace punch on strips of paper and folding them randomly to make a ruffle. Then I machine stitched them onto the layout in a sort of smiling way.

The kit is almost sold out so run over to Scrapbook Circle if you want to get your hands on one! Make sure to play along with us at The Studio for your chance to win some goodies from Scrap with V!

A Special {Pre-K Graduation} Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! Did you remember to wear green today? I did my St. Patty's layout for last week's Sketchy Thursdays reveal so I thought I'd pay tribute to this fun holiday by including something green.

It's a Sketchy Thursdays kind of day and oh how I have loved my time on the Sketchy Thursdays Design team! Did you know they are having a DT call and that tomorrow is the deadline to get your app in? What are you waiting for?

This week's sketch was PERFECT for a few of the photos I had of my oldest daughter's Pre-K graduation. So not only did I have a great sketch to work with but SRM Stickers sent everyone on the design team some great stickers and I got graduation ones, along with several others. I have plans for lots of cards and several more layouts with those babies!

Back to the Pre-K graduation - they were so cute singing their heart's out up on the stage. Check her out!

IMAGE REMOVED. WILL BE ADDED BACK SOON.

Supplies: Cosmo Cricket Social Club Collection: Jazz, Cocktail, Blue Eyes, Elements papers, Borders, Chipboard Stickers; SRM Stickers - Sticker Sentiments #51013 Congratulations; Paint - Americana Tuscan Red, Folk Art Midnight, White with Olive, Chocolate and Blue re-inker mixed to make green.

Come play along with us this week and show us what you got!!!

Rite of Passage

I knew this day would come and if you and I are friends on Facebook you might remember the CSI work I got do do one night after the kids had gone to bed and I found a mound of hair sitting on my craft room floor. I could not believe my little girl, who has sensory issues, would cut her own hair.  I had to wait an entire night to ask her about it, which was probably good for us both.  The funny thing, which is also probably what put it in her head was that a girl on a Disney show had cut her hair and was in trouble. Rheagan had just come in to tell me and she actually said, "Ummmmmm, a little girl just cut her hairrrrrrrrr" but with a tone like she's in troubllllllllllllllllllle.

Anyway, here the layout I dedicated to her and her rite of passage; something every little girl seems to go through at some point. Read how I challenged myself below.

Supplies: Scrapbook Circle Vintage Market kit: Digital Download, Echo Park For the Record Alpha Stickers. Other: CTMH cream cardstock, red thread, my daughter's hair.

My One Item Wonder over at Scrapbook Circle this month was to use elements from the digital download that comes with the kit. Since I loved this digi download so much, I pushed the concept a bit further and challenged myself to ONLY use the digital elements for my layout, aside from the alphas. I also used today's sketch from Sketchabilities. 

Fat Tuesday Festivities

OMG, this week's Sketchy Thursday project definitely challenged me. The sponsor this week is Raspberry Road Designs. This was my first adventure into the digital scrapper's world. Let's just say that I have a lot to learn. After some experimenting I decided that digi scrapping is now on my list of things to conquer this year but not for this DT reveal. I moved on to plan B and took on hybrid scrapping - another new thing to me. I love that they gave  us a 2-page sketch! Hope to see more of that; afterall you don't have to do both pages if you don't want.

I have to say that I love the idea of being able to resize and print whatever I need and as much as I need and that's exactly what I did. I am somewhat satisfied with how my first hybrid layout turned out but there were so many great elements in the digi kit that I couldn't print and use. The only items on this page that aren't from the digi kit are the brown background paper, the purple misted strip and the green fringe with beads. Everything else (papers, hearts, shamrocks, frame) were printed and cut from the digi files.

So here's my elementary hybrid take on this week's Sketchy Thursdays sketch. Please be gentle on me.

 I had some tiny little mardi gras beads on my table and seeing as how we did these cookies on Fat Tuesday I had a great idea. I cut up some of the wig and placed each.individual.strand down. Then I braided the beads and adhered them down. Talk about some tedious work!

Thanks for being gentle with me as I experimented with this digital kit. I plan to spend quite a bit of time getting up to speed!

30 something

Click HERE to go to my post for The Studio Blog Hop.

Or, check out the new challenge that is up at The Studio. It goes perfectly with something that has been on my mind since I turned 39 in January.

The challenge is to Scrap your age! Scrap a few things about yourself and what it's like to be you at that age.

I decided that I wanted to make this layout about my 30's in general because I've got a lot to be grateful for. I went into my 30's ready for a fresh, new start and I ended up with a great hubby, 2 beautiful girls, a great step-son and a new job that holds a lot of possibilities for me and my family. So even though I just told you that I am 39, I chose to use a picture taken in November, hence the reference to being 38. I think I might make this a yearly thing and do a retrospective layout about the previous year.
 
I used the new Scrapbook Circle Vintage Market kit. It is packed with some of the latest new releases. I have lots of good things planned for this kit! The "30" is from some stickers that SRM Stickers sent for a design team I am on. More to come on that soon.  I used Creative Scrappers sketch #145 for this layout.
 

Supplies: Scrapbook Circle "Vintage Market" kit - lilybee designs This & That Collection: Linens, Postcards, Brooch papers; Crate Paper Portrait Collection: Pearls; not in kit - SRM Stickers - We've Got Your Number; Fiskars, EK Success & Martha Stewart punches;  misc. ribbon, thread

Bright Sunshiny Day

I blogged a couple of days ago about joining Bryan on at least one trip to Orlando when he travels to his headquarters. My previous layout was of Rheagan climbing the jungle gym. Here's a few pics of Reese thoroughly enjoying herself on the swing set at Lake Eola Park, near our hotel.

I used this week's sketch from Sketchy Thursdays for this layout.

Supplies: American Crafts Hello Sunshine Collection - Spree, Dandy Papers, Remarks Phrases & Journaling Stick Book; Imaginisce i-rock and Glam Rocks

Don't judge me for adding glam rocks under the clouds. I know it was a bright sunshiny day as evident in the pics  and mini title but I couldn't resist adding the glam for the effect. They were just too perfect. I also love that I was able to layer the butterfly from the sticker book on a blue & white flower sticker also from the sticker book and they lined up perfectly to make antennae.

Make sure to play along with this week's Sketchy Thursdays sketch for your chance to win a prize from WeScrap Kits.

Life is a Circus Card

It's hard to believe that we are starting month 3 of 2011 but it's true, which means a new challenge over at Imaginisce. The March Monthly Challenge is a card challenge!!!  We were asked to use:

• Three different patterned papers - I used the banners, diamonds and circus animals pattern paper from the Animal Crackers line.
• Three different embellishments - I used a altered chipboard frame, Life is a Circus Snag 'em Stamp, Roly Rosies flowers and a fussy cut elephant
• Three different colors - Well I used numerous colors for the papers and flowers but I colored the chocolate embossed stamp with 3 specific colors - watermelon, juniper and orange.
• Use the following card sketch

Hop on over to the Imaginisce blog to see some of the amazing cards some of the other design team stars created. You have all month to play along with this challenge for a chance to win a scrumptious prize from Imaginisce!