Fun @ the farm

Some old photos of DS at my parents farm. Two weeks later a tornado hit the farm destroying everything except their home. That's the reason for the trees in the layout - there aren't any there anymore. I used a challenge from al a carte to come up with this one. They asked you to choose 3 items from the following menu ( I chose #1, 2 & 4):
Menu:
1. Use an ampersand, dollar sign, or other symbol in your title.
2. Use three shades of green.
3. Use a silver, gold, or brass embellishment.
4. Use a tree.
5. Use stamping as your background.
6. Use book print or an actual page from a book.

Nurture your Mind

Oldest DS's first day of school a couple of weeks ago. He's in gr. 7 and it's scary how time has flown! I did this page for this week's challenge at Scrapping Out Loud where they asked you to use a quote for your title, and in addition to your quote to use only one part of speech in your journaling. Your journaling needs to be all nouns, all adjectives, all verbs, all interjections, all adverbs, all prepositions, or all pronouns. Now that is a challenge!

While looking through my journalling spots, I saw this and thought it would be great for a back to school page and lo and behold, I've had this Colorbok page kit for awhile and it matched perfectly. Too bad the colors look even more muted in this post than in real life.

I also used this week's sketch at Creative Scrappers, I just replaced the circle with a star and flipped the title & the journalling around.

S-T-R-E-T-C-H

DD during gymnastics class. It didn't take us long to realize this wasn't the sport for her. She loved the social aspect of it, but she's not a gymnast!! I used a sketch from Let's Scrap for this one and a bunch of really old supplies.

Free stamps again

Ally is doing it again this month - offering a free set of myStampBox clear stamps - check out her blog, Your Memories, for all the details here.

Hollywood Studios

A double pager of various photos from Hollywood Studios. I used a sketch from Let's Scrap and the current combo from Color Combos Galore. I got 13 photos on here and a ton of journalling!

page 1:

page 2:

Easter Fun

Fun page for my DD's album of her with her cousins & brothers. I used a color combo challenge at Scrapbooker's Clubhouse, this week's Practical Scrappers challenge to use stamps & Pile It On's challenge to use circles.

And speaking of Practical scrapper's, last week my layout was chosen as Christine's Pick of the week. Thank so much!!! If interested you can find it here.

80's Day

I still can't believe my kids had 80's day at school this spring. The 80's weren't too long ago!!

I used some bright old papers that seemed a bit 80'ish to me, and used lots of doodling which is the current challenge at Method Playground. I also used a sketch from Capture these Sketches.

Indiana Jones

A very simple one of the Indiana Jones show in Hollywood Studios. I used a sketch from 52 sketches, 52 weeks just omitted a few photos on it.

Birthday Cake

A fun, bright layout of my DD when she turned 5. The picture of her isn't the best, the glass tabletop reflected the b'day candles so there are some weird shadows, but the look is just SO her that I had to use this photo anyway.

I used sketch #64 at Creative Scrappers.

the Happiest Place on Earth

Photo of two of the kids at DisneyWorld (the oldest was too busy riding the Rock n Roller Coaster to pose for a pic).

I used the color challenge at Mix It Up, a sketch from Inspired blueprints, and this week's challenge at Practical Scrappers to use up some of your vellum stash. I didn't realize how much vellum I had!! I used my Silhouette to cut the circles & flowers - it worked really well on the vellum so I plan on doing this some more.

Easter

Another quick layout of some Easter photos from 3 yrs ago (seems like just a few months ago). This week's challenge at Scrap and Stamp Saturday was to use at least one stamped image and create a non-Christmas, holiday themed layout. I used a CTMH stamp set to create the title, eggs and the wasket weave on the green c/s.
I used a sketch from Inspired Blueprints, just flipped it on it's side.

Pumpkin Patch

A layout for my son's album of our annual visit to the Pumpkin patch.

I used sketch #65 at Creative Scrappers along with a couple of challenges:

- Scrapping Out Loud - use tissue paper and a bow - the tissue paper is stitched onto the layout to create the circle and the bow is on the post of the sign.

- al a Carte - Challenge to choose at least 3 items (I did 4) from the current 'menu' which consisted of :

1. doodling around the edge of layout - Did that

2. hand or machine stitching - Did that

3. craft or turquoise cardstock -

4. 4 different patterned papers - Did that

5. buttons...must be threaded! - Did that

6. handmade embellishment -

7. mixed alpha title

8. journaling strips...preferably DYMO

Lost in TV land

Another simple one I did with some old photos. I used sketch #13 at So Sketchy. Alison has some great sketches there and a very talented Design Team too. If you are interested in winning a set of myStamp box stamps, you'll also want to check out her personal blog, Your Memories.

Precious

A simple one of an old Christmas photo of my boys. I used this week's sketch at 52 sketches, 52 weeks, the challenges to use up scraps at Practical Scrappers, and to make a masculine project at Pile It On.

1st photos

This was my DDs 1st attempt at photography. It was so cute how proud she was of herself. This week's challenge at Practical Scrappers is to use up some scraps, which I used a lot of. Based on my scrap pile I could do this challenge a lot!! I also used a sketch from Let's Scrap, a 'new to me' challenge site. The sketch was a 12x12 one, but I 'scrunched' it up a bit for this page.

Summer Lovin'

My son and his Great Grandma, who we only see every summer for far too brief of a visit. She is now 94 and one amazing lady. The kids love her to bits, and I think it's obvious in this photo that the feeling is mutual.

Scrapping Out Loud had quite the challenge this week:
Use these (listed below) different sized papers and embellishments on your layout, *the only other thing you can add is a journaling block and alphas*....
Cardstock or Patterned paper for your base
(1) 9 x 10 piece of paper
(1) 8 x 8 piece of paper
(2) 3 inch x 11 pieces of paper;
1 piece of ribbon size of your choice;
a scrap of fabric;
3 layered flowers (or other embellishments);
and a hand sewn flourish.....

I wasn't sure how to pull it together, but then I saw a sketch at Creative Scrappers and it all worked perfectly. I've never used one of their sketches before but think I'll start checking them out more often.

You're a Hoot

My boys with their cousins. They usually only see each other once a year, but they always have a ton of fun when they are together.

Yesterday's challenge at Scrap and Stamp Saturday was to do something whimsical, and I immediately thought of these CTMH owl stamps. I also used a few other stamps sets to create all of the circles along the border. I used this week's sketch at 52 sketches, 52 weeks, and I guess this also would work for Pile It On's request for boy/manly projects.

Home for a Week

A quick page about where we stayed when we were in DisneyWorld. This uses a color scheme challenge at If the Shoe Fits.....Scrap It and it also works for challenge #2 at Practical scrappers, use up some stickers. In addition to the letter stickers, I also used some circle stickers including the two I made into trees. All of the supplies are from a CTMH paper pack.

Practical scrappers will be having a giveaway of the Aug. SOTM from CTMH once their number of followers reaches 200 - go sign up for a chance to win!

Anyway you slice it........

Here's a quick layout of my son and his love of food. I was inspired by the colors in the inspiration photo of Mixer #26 at Mix It Up and also used ripping which was this week's challenge at Scrapping Out Loud. It also works for this month's theme of food at Scrap the Boys.

Our friends, the K's

Some photos of good friends of ours. The kids couldn't pronounce their last name (which starts with a K) when they were younger so they became "the K's". I used stamps to create the border & the embellishments, except for the K's, which is some Grungeboard. This one works for 2 challenges: Sisterhood of Scrap's which was to use at least 2 stamps in a layout and Scrap & Stamp Saturday theme of Friendship this week. I also used a Page Maps sketch.

Sorry about the poor photo.

Cruisin' in the Jaguar

Some more older photos. Practical Scrapper's first challenge is to use eyelets and I certainly have a lot of those. It's not real obvious in the photo, but that's a row of them along the border. I also used 3 "menu items" from al a carte's current challenge - a border, an automobile and a travel word in the title. I love the concepts for both of these challenge sites. Be sure to check out Practical scrappers as they have some blog candy to give away once they reach 200 followers.

I used my Silhouette again for the title, and I tried to use a clipart image from the internet to cut out the Jaguar - obviously I need to learn how to do that better - I ended up having to cut it all out by hand! Oh well.

Soccer Stars

Finally, back in my scraproom. We have a cold day here, so I took some time to create and it felt so good. I used this week's challenge at Scrapping Out Loud - Black, White & READ all over (use newsprint in a layout). I also used their sketch for this week. I used up so OLD supplies and used my Silhouette for the first time. I think I'm going to make lots of use of it!!

I. need. to. scrap. more.

This month has just been so busy I haven't made it into my craft room much and it's driving me crazy. We've been trying to do our landscaping ourselves, been trying to have some summer fun with the kids, and on top of that we've been getting lots of company.
Next month I will lock myself in my craftroom if I have to in order to get some ME time. I think I've found a great new challenge site, The Practical Scrappers and can't wait to see what they come up with. Their goal is to help us use up our stash of scrapping goodies, this should help me get back at it.

new product

Isn't this time of the year fun, when you get sneak peeks at the new product lines being released? Check out the new stuff from Bella Blvd. It looks SO fun!!

Chef Scott

A quick layout of my son's first time cooking a meal completely on his own. This is for Scrapping Out Loud's challenge this week to create a layout about a favorite recipe.

This also works for Sisterhood of Scraps challenge to use at least one photo cropped in a circle. I was VERY happy to learn that I won the drawing for June's challenges at Sisterhood of Scrap - I can't wait to play with the goodies from last month's sponsor.

Baby Cheeks

We've been on vacation for a week and it felt so good to get back in the scraproom.

I used sketch #27 at 52 sketches and color combo #128 at Color Combos Galore. I also used the challenge at Method Playground to create the circles. The challenge was to stitch around a chipboard shape. I used a set of concentric circles, stitched around them and then took them off the layout.

Birdcage for Aunt

Another card for my Aunt who is fighting cancer, just to let her know I'm thinking of her.

I used the Card Patterns sketch for this week, pictured below. This also works for Splitcoast Stampers color challenge CC225 - kraft, saffron & night navy. And since it has 4 buttons, it works for this week's Pile It On.

Bright Cupcake card

A quick card for a little friend. This one works for the following challenges:
- Splitcoast stampers WT224- use bright & bold colors
- Pile it on - uses purple & at least one other challenge
- Paper Play - include something sweet (cupcake)
- Pink Persimmon - include a cupcake
- I also used this week's sketch #121 at Card Positioning System

Be the change

Last one for today. We are off tonight to help friends celebrate a move and other big changes in their life. I didn't want the usual good luck card, so I made this for them. I used the Sketch Saturday, sketch below.

Angel tag

Since today is the last day before the kids are home for summer, I decided to take a bit of time to play. I haven't done any embossing for awhile and I and also wanted to try something new and this tag is the result. The little squares of gold are made using my glue gun loaded with a gold glitter glue stick. I squirted some onto waxed paper, sandwiched it with another piece of waxed paper, then used a rolling pin to flatten it out. After the 'blob' cooled, I cut a few squares out of it. I'm sure it would also work in diecutting machine (but I don't have one). It's hard to see in the photo, but it looks pretty neat IRL.

The tag also qualifies for quite a few challenges:
- If the Shoe Fits asked for burgandy, gold & cream
- Paper play asked for Christmas in June
- Cute Card Thursday asked for a tag
- All sorts wanted you to use something with wings (angel)
- AND, since burgandy is a shade of purple, this works again for Pile It On

Simple thanks

The last card for the teacher's gift set, using Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite color challenge #10. All supplies are Close To My Heart. I found a stout square ceramic vase that the cards & evelopes fit perfectly into, I think it made a nice gift.
I finished this up last night, along with a few other cards. Today was the last day I can't believe I was still doing this last night!!

Another simple card

I'm still finishing up my gift sets for the teachers - tomorrow is the last day! Hopefully I won't be up too late!!

This one works for a few challenges:
- 365 cards asked for lavender prominently - I know my white is more prominent, but maybe this will work
- Splitcoast's CAS challenge was for a simple card with paper piercing
- 2 Red Bananas asked for something that reminds you of summer and popsicles do that for me!
- Stamp something asked for black, white & another color - I used 3 shades of purple
- and since I used purple that qualifies for Pile It On

Tree for Dad

Here is a card for my dad. I used the C.R.A.F.T. challenge sketch below and since it's a masculine card, it works for Anne's challenge at Anne's Creative Nook. I was excited to see that I had won the random drawing from Anne's challenge last week.

Soccer

Today's is DD's soccer windup tournament (in the pouring rain), so I needed a card for her coach. Since I can't seem to make a card anymore without a sketch or some challenges, here's the ones I used:
- Stamps & Smiles sketch #20
- Cafe Mojo - use distressing
- Our Creative Corner - use stars
- Pile it On - use purple & at least one other challenge

Stamps are Unity (stars) and CTMH (soccer ones)

Baby girl card

A baby girl congratulations card using a cute lil elephant stamp from Cornish heritage Farms, Zooper set. I received this set from Kim Hughes in a give away on her blog - so lucky!! There are lots of other cute critters in the set also.



I covered lots of challenges with this one:
- Used the sketch below at Card patterns
- used border punches so works for Our Creative Corner
- it's a Celebration card for If the Shoe Fits, Scrap It
- 365 cards wanted something girly with the word girl on it
- Ann's Creative Nook wanted a baby card
- and again, Pile It On since it uses 2 ribbons & at least one other challenge.

Card for Father in Law

My FIL's birthday is June 22, and since Father's day is June 21st this year, he's only getting one card for both!
I used this week's sketch at Card Positioning System who partnered with 2 Red Bananas this week so this card fits their challenge as well. It also works for Corosive Challenges and Fun-frilled since they were both looking for Father's day cards. AND since it has two ribbons and at least one other challenge it works for Pile It On, as well.

Soccer

Here's a simple card which works for a few challenges:
365 cards - create a card for a boy
The Fresh batch - used their sketch below
If the Shoe Fits Scrap It - create a card using blue, green & yellow

Favorite things

I asked each of the kids what their favorite things about this year at school were and this is their responses. I did a terrible job at taking the photo, but you get the idea.
This works for a couple of challenges:
-Sisterhood of Scrap - create a layout about you or your childs favorite things
- Mix it Up - use at least 5 stars created out of different materials - I have sequins, buttons, eyelets, felt, stickers & paper.
- Pile it On - use two different ribbons & at least one other challenge from another site/blog.

California

These are some of the photos from a trip DH and I took to California last spring. I will include the others in a simple 4x6 album.
Sisterhood of Scrap asked you to create a layout about a memorable event, and this trip was definitely memorable so I'd say the layout works for the challenge.

Son's Invite

My son is having a b'day party next weekend - boating, weiner roast & a sleepover in our camper in the backyard. This morning we made one invite using today's sketch at 365 cards. He's 9 and loves crafting. This card also works for Scrappy Frogs challenge for a fun in the sun card.

Top 3

It's going to be gorgeous day here today, so not a scrapping day - hopefully a boating day. I just thought I'd share that this layout made the top 3 at Pile it on. thanks ladies!

Mother's day Tea

My son's gr. 6 class put on a performance and a tea party for all of the mom's. It was wonderful, they had a few songs, a dance number & a slide show. My son was also asked to play the guitar for the first 20 minutes as all of the mom's were arriving.

Method Playground's current challenge is to use envelopes on a layout. I've included the DVD of the performance. The photos on the right are popped up to make room for the DVD underneath it's just not obvious in the photo. I used a sketch from The Scrappiest and the current combo at Color Combos Galore.

Thanks for the Band Teacher

This will be from a group of parents for our kid's band teacher. They were all first year band kids and she did a great job with them. We chipped in to get her a gift certificate at the spa and I offered to make the card.
The quote is "The pause is as important as the note." When I gave my son a list of possible quotes I was thinking of using, this is one that he's sure he heard her use. On the inside I've written "We hope you have a chance to pause this summer."
I used this weeks sketch at Card Patterns, and the card also fits into the following challenges: Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge (use patterned paper); 2 Red Bananas (use at least 3 patterned papers; Cute Card Thursday (use a quote) and again Pile It on (don't stamp your sentiment - mine is computer generated and use at least one other challenge).

paper: My Minds Eye