Layouts! My Neglected Blog!

Well, I scrapped! Finally! After MONTHS of NOT scrapping! Having a full-time job is a really buzz kill when it comes to my creative time! Oh well! It is what it is, and I'm at least earning money, so that's good. Here are a couple of layouts I created recently.



I absolutely LOVE this layout! I love the photo! I love my girls! ♥ They bring JOY into my life! I love their silliness and zest for life! They are amazing young women, and I'm so lucky to be their mom! So, we love to take silly self-portraits, and this one is a favorite! I used Authentique papers. The flowers were made out of garage sale fabric. I cut them with my Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die (which I LOVE!), and I glimmer misted them. They're pretty fabulous if I must say so myself! Love the way this turned out! I need to scrap more black and white photos!


This is a fun photo of the cousins on my side of the family. I snapped this on Christmas Eve at my parents house. Love these kids! I used wonderful Bo Bunny Blitzen that I won from The Scrap Review. Love the way this turned out too. I cut the shape on my page on my Expression.

I have more layouts to show you, but I might as well create a couple of posts! Who knows when I'll have time to scrap again! As always, thanks for stopping by! ♥

2 Cool!

I created this layout during the crop at Scrap-Friendzy. My online friend Stacey created a sketch for the crop, and this was my layout based on her sketch! I used American Crafts Blue Skies that I got at Scrapbook Steals! I love all of the layers on this layout, and I love the photos of my girls! I did some sewing on the page too!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cherry Slurpees

My most amazing, wonderful, and awesome blogging friend Chris is taking over the April challenges at Inspired Crafters. She posted a great Sketchy Thursdays sketch for this week. I love their sketches, so I just had to do a layout for it! I'm featuring a photo that I really love! It's Jessica, Emily, and I drinking our big 44 oz. cherry slurpees! A couple times a year, Dave takes the girls to get slurpees. He was out of town on business one week in the summer, and when the girls and I went to get gas in the van, Jessica noticed that slurpees were on special at Speedway! So, she convinced me that we had to get them, and when we got home, we snapped a pic of us drinking them, and we emailed the photo to Dave. He was very disappointed that we went to get slurpees without him! I blamed Jessica, because it truly was all her fault! Anyway, I used my new Cosmo Cricket kit that I got from HSN. I added a cherry brad (I got a package of these as blog candy a long time ago, and I was convinced that I would NEVER use them!), a Jenni Bowlin journaling spot, some Jenni Bowlin round alphas, a Making Memories felt flower, and a button and twine from Papertrey Ink. I also did a lot of ink distressing and sewing! I love the way this turned out! ♥

I hope you had a great week! Enjoy your weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Liberty Square

I love creating my Disney layouts!! I created this layout for a recipe challenge that I issued at Scrap-Friendzy. The recipe consists of elements that must be used on your layout. I decided on three required items: (1) a border punch, (2) felt, and (3) buttons. That's it! I used my threading water punch, some cute felt ki Memories flowers, and some awesome Bo Bunny buttons. This layout also uses a cute Jillibean Soup journaling spot, Jillibean Soup twill, Pink Paislee letter stickers, a flourish that I cut from a K&Company patterned piece of paper, patterned paper by Scenic Route, and a background ledger sheet by Creative Imaginations. I really like the way this layout turned out!


Another challenge at Scrap-Friendzy right now is to create your own kit and then use it! I created a kit, had a lot of fun putting it together, and I used it on the layout above! I will be creating more projects using this kit!

I hope you have a great day! Thanks for stopping by!

Triple Mountain Whammy!

I created a two-page layout featuring six photos from our Disney trip, and I love the way it turned out! While we were in Disney, we saw a program about the 10 things that you HAD TO do while in Disney. One of them was the "Triple Mountain Whammy!" It consisted of riding Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Splash Mountain. Of course, we road all three, and I think we will all agree that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was our favorite! I kept these pages simple with clean lines. The orange paper and the paper under the title and the journaling are both My Mind's Eye, and the brown patterned paper is by K&Company. I added some felt flowers by Jillibean Soup. I did the title and the journaling on my computer. I also did some sewing and added two sets of rhinestone trios. Two more pages for the Disney album are done!

I hope you're having a great day. Thanks for stopping by!

Some cards!

I haven't made cards for a while now! I created these for a challenge over at Memorable Seasons. We were challenged to use two certain items (ribbon, circles, sparkle, etc.) on our cards, and the sentiment had to be food related.


For this first one, I used the wonderful Mr. Campy by Cosmo Cricket. I love this little marshmallow guy!! I hand cut the heart, and I created the "I love you s'more!!" sentiment on the computer. I love Mr. Campy!!


This second one features a fun Unity stamp set that I purchased. I did a little bit of coloring, added beautiful lime green lace, and a very cool felt flower. I love this!


This card features a $1 acrylic stamp that Dave and the girls got for me. The grill is so cute! I colored it, cut it out with my Coluzzle, and then threaded it on the gingham ribbon. I created the sentiment on the computer. I love the picnic feel to this card!


I used my Coluzzle to create a circle card. I added a Pink Paislee journaling piece to the front, and I added some Stickles to the cherry to give it some sparkle. I also added a Prima. I think it's cute!

I hope you are having a great day! Thanks for stopping by!!

Love

I created this page for two challenges. The first is at Scrap-Friendzy, and we were challenged to use brads in a shape. I used 36 of them in a semi-circle. That's A LOT of brads! The second is at Memorable Seasons, and we were challenged to do a layout with a wedding theme, and to use something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. The old is the photo from 1992, the new is a felt flower and button that I just purchased from Archiver's, the borrowed is that this is based on a sketch from PageMaps, and the blue is the patterned paper and the flower. This was fun. This was shortly after Dave and I got engaged, and we went to a wedding, and we got to do an "engaged" pose when we had our picture taken. Notice the hand with the gorgeous engagement ring draped oh so casually on my sweetheart's shoulder!! ♥

I hope you have a great weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Jump On In

This is the layout that I created for the fabulous January 7th sketch over at Sketchy Thursdays. I love the focus on one photo with minimal embellishments. This is the girls totally enjoying grandma's pool when we were on vacation in Arizona! I just love the way this turned out! I used Cosmo Cricket Snorkel papers and die cut stickers. The felt flower is by American Crafts, and the glitter brad is Making Memories. I used a ton of distress ink, and I misted on the page using Shimmerz Spritz and a little bit of Making Memories paint that I splattered on using an old toothbrush. The paper was VERY warped after all of the spritzing, and even after ironing it (yes, I really ironed it!), I couldn't get it to stay flat, so I decided to sew it to another piece of cardstock. I'm glad I did, because I love the way it looks. I'm crazy about the zig zag stitching, and I've been using it a lot lately! Anyway, I'm thrilled with this layout!

I hope you had a very nice weekend and Happy Monday! Thanks for stopping by!

25 Days Until Christmas - Days 12 - 14

Here are some more pages from my 25 Days Until Christmas book. I love putting these pages together!


Day 12 has two pages. On the first, I snapped a photo of Jessica when she was on her way down to the basement. It's cold in the basement, and she has on thick socks, a sweatshirt, and her winter hat! She cracks me up! I love the lace that I added to the edge of the page.


Instead of putting up the BIG tree this year, we decided to put up the small tabletop tree. We love this crazy little tree. I snapped a photo of the girls decorating it, and I snapped a photo of it all lit up. Colorful Christmas lights are so pretty!


On Day 13, the girls and I FINALLY went to see New Moon. I even clipped the ticket stubs to the page. The movie was VERY good! We'll be anxiously awaiting the release of Eclipse in June!


Day 14 is also two pages. On the first, Emily is lounging in the living room with her afghan. She is reading a book, and she has a furry friend close by!

On the second page for Day 14, Jessica is playing the Wii, and it makes me laugh that she has a Santa hat on!

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

Happy World Cardmaking Day!

Happy World Cardmaking Day! Go grab a cup of coffee, because I have a lot to tell you about today! I love this day . . . because, obviously, I love making cards!


This first card features an AWESOME printable background stamp created by the very talented Regina at The Cutting Cafe'. Here's what else is totally cool . . . I'm giving this Merry Christmas Background printable stamp away in a random drawing! So, if you love it, and you would like to have a chance to win it, leave me a comment! I will draw for it on Tuesday! So, I printed the background stamp directly on my Making Memories ledger paper, I added a crimped Christmas tag, a felt flower, a button threaded with twine (thanks for the twine Chris!), and a rhinestone trio. I love it!


Next, I created some crimped envelope cards for our World Cardmaking Day celebration at Paper Popsicles! If you're looking for some inspiration, please come hang out with us! There are tutorials, and PRIZES! The Paper Popsicles message board is such a great place to be! Come join us today!

This is a Halloween version of the crimped envelope card! Look, it has some candy inside!!

I also posted about color and design inspiration being found anywhere! I just so happen to find mine in Target! I love that store, and I love these pillows. I actually took a picture of them when I was shopping with my girls! I was inspired by both, but I used the rainbow pillow as inspiration for a card!

Here's my rainbow card! I used all paper scraps! I kept the sentiment simple with a Stampin' Up stamp which I cut out with my Coluzzle, and I added some sheer ribbon. I think this is a FUN card! So, check out more inspiration at Paper Popsicles today! There will also be a lot of posts on the blog throughout the day! Have fun!! Be inspired! Get creative!

Have a GREAT day! Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch Girl & VOTE!

My most wonderful blogging friend Chris (also known as Paper Crafts Gallery Idol Top 10 Girl!!) is on the design team for a NEW sketch site called Sketch Girl! I did the first sketch!

Fun, huh? I love it! I got those adorable papers from Melissa at Paper Popsicles! Melissa rocks! She's the one that sent me the fantastic blog candy that I won recently! So, this thank you card is for her!


OK, speaking of Chris (Ms. Paper Crafts Gallery Idol Top 10) . . . if you love the above card, please vote for it! It would be so awesome to see Chris in the Top 5!! It's not super convenient to vote . . . you have to register, wait for an email, and THEN go back to vote, but I know all votes are very much appreciated! So, if you have time, please vote for Chris' gorgeous card above!

I hope you're having a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Thank You Card

My wonderful blogging friend, Chris, sent me a gorgeous birthday card and wonderful American Crafts felt flowers! So, I sent her a thank you card for the felt flowers, and I even used one on the thank you card!


A while back, Chris also sent me PaperTrey Ink papers and cardstock just for me to try! Isn't she the coolest? So, I ALSO used some of the patterned paper and the cardstock on this card! I also used a Stampin' Up thank you stamp, and I cut the sentiment and a mat with my Nestabilities. Now, I wanted to try the Nestabilities as a stencil, but I'm not too sure I like that distressed brown look on the "thank you" image. I also used Making Memories Noteworthy ribbon, and I sewed on a Making Memories button. Last, I just added a brad trio to the lacy ribbon.

How's your Saturday so far? I'm actually helping the girls clean their rooms, and I'm trying to craft a little. Have a great weekend!!

Wall Hanging

Just a couple of weeks ago, I made a Halloween wall hanging. I really loved the way it turned out, so I decided to make another one for my sister-in-law for her birthday.


I mounted this on the chipboard backing from a legal pad. I used We R Memory Keepers papers and embellishments. The title is felt Thickers. I did a lot of distressing with Making Memories paint. I then used my Cropadile Big Bite to punch through it to add the ribbon. I love the way this turned out! It's a nice thing for Kristine to hang in her house featuring her nieces and nephew!

We got SNOW overnight! It's CRAZY!! Just when you think spring is on its way, BAM, more snow! I hope you are having a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

Scrapping Recipe Challenge #40

This is my layout for Scrapping Recipe Challenge #40 at Sketches! {by Tamara}.


This week, our recipe was to use the following on our cards or layouts:

• stars
• staples
• three different patterned papers

Fun recipe! I used brand new glitter Thickers stars and photo corners on this page. I got the Thickers from Cath at Moxie Fab, and they are fabulous! The patterned papers, title block, and die cut flower are from an awesome My Mind's Eye selection that I got at Peachy Cheap. The felt flower and button are Making Memories Noteworthy. This page is ALSO based on Sketch #9 at 52 Sketches! You can click on the page to see it larger.

I can't believe it's been so long since I last blogged! I've just been busy with lots of activities with the girls, the school board battle that I was attempting to fight, and yesterday, I actually did some landscaping work. It was beautiful outside, and today is going to be wonderful too. I have had NO creative time whatsoever! I'm not sure I'll get any today either, but I really hope to spend some time creating tomorrow! I hope you have a wonderful day, and as always, thanks for stopping by!

Shop 'Til You Drop!

I'm still having a lot of fun creating layouts based on sketches for our Sketch Fest online crop at ScrapCity. The crop is until Friday, so you still have time to join in!

This is Sketch #66 by Stacey Julian, and it comes from the Pencil Lines site. I love two-page layouts!

Here's my layout based on this sketch! I used just six photos, but I staggered them across the two pages, and I also bumped the photos on the second page to a different level than the first page. I love the way that looks! This is DCWV All Dressed Up papers, a couple of stamps, Nestabilities cuts, various felt cut flowers, and some rhinestones. You can click on the pages to see them larger.


Here's just page one which features the wonderful Emily!

Here's page two which features the fantastic Jessica!

I hope you have a great day, and as always, thanks for stopping by!!

Scrapping Recipe Challenge #36

This is my layout for Scrapping Recipe Challenge #36 at Sketches! {by Tamara}.


The recipe this week was to use these three items on our cards or layouts:

• Something we have been hoarding
• flowers
• bling

I hoard A LOT, so this challenge was easy for me! I had a lot to choose from! I finally decided on a sheet of Jenni Bowlin paper that I have been hoarding for a long time! I love the shape of this paper, and I had a tough time using it!! I only used half of it, so I still have another half to use on another project! The ledger paper is also by Jenni Bowlin. I added a chipboard title, some felt flowers, rhinestones, and an awesome velvet ric rac ribbon. You can click on my layout to see it larger.

I hope you have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Kids Can Scrap - Guest Designers!

The girls LOVE the Kids Can Scrap site! It's so much fun for them to work on Challenges! These are layouts for Challenge #4. This challenge stated: Challenge #4 is to have your mom begin a layout and then you get to finish it. You can work together to pick out the pictures and papers if you wish. Then let mom get it started. Don't let her do it all. When she stops, take a picture of what it looks like at that stage. Then it's your turn! You get to dress it up, add all the finishing touches and do whatever you wish. Moms, you have to step back and let them do what they want. Then take another picture of the finished product! Send them both to us.

We LOVED this challenge! Here's what I created for Jessica. The border strip was adhered down. The photo was matted, and the photo corner was attached. Everything else was loose on the page, but she had to use it on her layout. I didn't want to adhere too much, because I wanted her to feel that she was designing the page.


Here is what the page looked like when Jessica was done with it! Isn't it fantastic? I didn't help with anything that she did to her page.


To make this challenge even more fun, I decided that the girls were going to use the same photo! Here's what Emily started off with. Once again, the border was adhered to the page. The photo was matted, and the photo corner was attached. Everything else was loose.


Here's the page when Emily was finished with it. Once again, I just love it! I think both of my girls are EXCELLENT scrapbookers!

If you have kids that love to create, you really have to visit the Kids Can Scrap site. It is so much fun! Telah and her daughter Nessa are doing an amazing job! We love it!!

I hope you have a GREAT Sunday, and thanks for stopping by!!

Sketch #1 - 52 Sketches . . . 52 Weeks

Over at ScrapCity, one of the members of the Creative Team mentioned this 52 Sketches . . . 52 Weeks site. They are going to have a sketch a week all year long. It seems like a great site, and an awesome online community.

This is Sketch #1. Isn't it great?

This is my layout based on Sketch #1. I used a lot of Basic Grey Urban Prairie. I did a lot of detail cutting too. I added some rhinestones to the butterflies and to the Nestabilities scallop circle that I cut. I added some Making Memories Noteworthy felt flowers. The sparkle chipboard letters that I used for the title are by ScrapWorks. The journaling is a Creative Card from Fancy Pants. I just cut it into strips. I love scrapping a summer layout in the winter! The bright colors really make me happy! You can click on the layout to see it larger.

I hope you have a great weekend! We got more snow overnight. Oh joy! (Said in a most sarcastic tone!) Thanks for stopping by!

Smile - Kazan's Sketch 17 - 2S4Y

I always love the card sketches at 2 Sketches 4 You, and I'm always bummed when I don't get time to make a card using the weekly sketch! This week, I had some time, so I created a card for Kazan's Sketch 17.
I really LOVE the way this card turned out!!

I recently purchased the Basic Grey Obscure paper collection. It's so funky! All of the papers I used are BG Obscure. The brown scallop was hand cut, and the felt scallop is Fancy Pants. I created the sentiment medallion with a Stampin' Up stamp, and I cut the two layers with my Nestabilities. I then punched a hole in the medallion, and hung it from the large ribbon. The turquoise/lime green ribbon is gorgeous, and I got it quite some time ago on clearance at Target. The felt flower, blue flower, and the sparkly button are all Making Memories Noteworthy. I distressed everything with chalk ink. You can click on the image to see it larger! I LOVE THIS!!

Edited to add: This card just got accepted into the Basic Grey Gallery!! Woohoo!! I'm so excited! Once again, I feel like a celebrity!!

We got a couple of inches of snow last night. Unfortunately, I'll be outside shoveling the driveway soon. I hope you all have a GREAT day! Thanks for stopping by!!

Scrapping Recipe Challenge #30

This is my layout that I created for Scrapping Recipe Challenge #30 at Sketches! {by Tamara}. This is also my very last page for my 25 Days Until Christmas book!


The three required elements in the recipe this week were:

• Kraft Cardstock
• Brads
• Lace

All three of the required elements are at the top of my layout. I love the way the lace looks on the kraft cardstock. The background paper and the page title are both Cosmo Cricket. The felt pieces are by Fancy Pants. You can click on the page to see it larger. This is a simple page, but I really love the way it turned out!

I hope you have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!