You Light Up My Life (SOS Jan DT layout)

JANUARY's challenge at Scrap Our Stash is to use something we "got" for Christmas.

Here is my Design Team submission:

The green raffia on the ornaments is from a package of sweets on a gift from one of my husbands clients (he was smart enough to just put the raffia on my scrapbook table instead of throwing it away!!). The red border across the top was made with my new Martha Stewart Loopy punch that I got as a Christmas gift (from my mother..thank you very much!!)  --- I used my Scrapbook Circle Kit for Dec '09 and a sketch from The Scrappiest.  And if you can't tell from the photo, it's Joseph with Christmas lights wrapped all around him...a fun accident as we were decorating the tree!!

Your Future? (Creative Scrappers #84)

I did all 4 sketches this month at Creative Scrappers.
This is post 4 of 4 (all layouts in separate posts .. see sidebar to navigate to other posts)
And please do so, because this is NOT the best layout of the 4!!!

Lasso an Angel (Creative Scrappers #83)

I did all 4 sketches this month at Creative Scrappers.
This is 3 of 4 (all in seperate posts).

Cowboy "in action" - (Creative Scrappers #82)

I did all 4 sketches this month at Creative Scrappers. 
This is the 2nd of 4 (all in seperate posts).

A Grape Day (Creative Scrappers #81)

I did all 4 sketches at Creative Scappers this month!!!
Here is the first of 4:

And my layout:

This is an older photo of Joseph when we first moved into this house and were enjoying our new backyard (we still are).  The photo is metallic although you can't really tell from this photo.  Kit is from Personal Scrapper & is Dream Street Sam line.

Sizing it up (ScrapFit #10)

The challenge at ScrapFit is to use Cosmo Cricket and also to "spell" out a Christmas word.  If you know me, you know I'm an "over achiever"..(ok, no snickering here)..  So, I decided to use the word CHRISTMAS.  So, I jotted down everything "scrapbook related" that I could think of for the letters - C, H, R, I, S, T...etc.

So then I just kept working off that piece of paper adding as many things to my layout as I could.  I think I ended up being able to spell the word CHRISTMAS 3 times?.... ok, let's put up the list and see if that's right.  oh, and sometimes if one way the word was used, it wouldn't work in another word, but if you did all the combo's it'd still work out...  Example... The clock could be C or T (for Time)...but I wouldn't use both of those in the "same spelling".  (does that make sense?)

C - Cosmo Cricket, Cardstock, Chipboard, Circles, Clock
H - Half-Circle, Hand (on clock), Handstitch, Heart,
R - Round, Rhinestones, Red, Rub-on, Ribbon (brown), Ruler
I - Ink, Inch, Invisible (clear heart)
S - (see below where I've listed all the S's)
T - Title, Time, Tape (Brown Heidi Swapp), Thickers, Three X's, Twill (ruler), Triangle (yellow metal sign)
M - Mat, Markers, Metal embellie,
A - Angle, All Cosmo, Alphas, Arrow
S - Staples, Stripes, Sticker (peachy border), Stitching, Stickles (green in lower border), Scallop, Sheer (Maya Road)

Ok...here's the layout:

The Race (Practical Scrappers sketch)

Here is the sketch for the weekend at Practical Scrappers ...

And this is my interpretation.  I loved the large circle and then how the designs came across on the right, so I kept that flow.   I journaled inside the word BOYS. 

Xmas Card 09 Layout

Here is the layout of this years Christmas Card.  I used sketch #61 from Little Shop of Sketches.
The circle with Merry Christmas is a transparancy that I won from that site earlier this year!! 

You Did What? (Dirty Shoes Layout) - Capture #22

This is my third post in a row for sketch challenges I've done for Lets Capture These Sketches.  (I think I love this blog!!)
Here is sketch #22.  A bit daunting at first!!!

But this is what I came up with.  I used an older photo of Joseph that had been sitting on my table for a while...I've been wanting to scrap it, but just couldn't quite get there.  GOT THERE!!!

Papers & embellies are Scenic Route from an old Personal Scrapper kit.

This was going to be my DT submission for ... well I can't say without giving it away.  But it's not due until "after" this challenge is over.  So I guess I'll be doing that DT assignment again, since I love how this turned out and wanted to be sure it was posted here for the sketch!!!  TFL.

Grateful 4 u 2 (Capture 21)

This is another sketch challenge at Lets Capture These Sketches:
Here is sketch 21:

And here is my layout:

PP's are Bo Bunny Flutter Butter.  For the large die cut, I acutally cut out the center with my fiskars fingertip knife since I liked the bracket, but didn't want the pattern that was inside.  (Now I've got a scrap for a future layout).   I journaled on the inside edge of the upper bracket.

TFL.

Going Up Layout (Capture 20)

This layout is for a sketch challenge at Lets Capture These Sketches: 

This is sketch #20

And this is my layout:

I strung some leafy ribbon around a chipboard tree...  Papers are Scenic Route.

TFL!

Countdown Tree

This tree is a wooden cut out made by Kaisercraft.  It comes with the wood tree cut out, which is about 12 inches tall & the little piece of wood that x's at the bottom so it stands up.  You could easily cut this out of cardboard or send your dh to the garage to "use his tools" and jigsaw cut a tree. 

I used my Dec kit from Scrapbook Circle , which had Crate Xmas paper.  I thought the tree paper was a good fit!  We (my 6 year old helped me with this), glued on the paper then cut it.  I used my regualar old tape runner, just was careful to get the edges really well & to cut it I used the Fiskers fingertip knife. 

We painted the base brown, the edges of the tree are painted green.  The little wooden rectangles are covered on both sides with more Crate.  Numbers and  Letters are both Thickers (of course)... and a little yellow trim from my stash.  OH.... the star is also Kaiser (purchased seperately) and we sprayed Smooch Spritz on it (it's shimmery, although you can't tell that from the photo). 

So at 6am every morning, the first thing Joseph says to me is...  "Momma, can I go change the numbers on the tree?"

Snow Day (Sketchy Thursday GDT Challenge)

This is my layout for the Sketchy Thursdays GDT challenge:

It was using this sketch:

And 3 Patterned papers from 3 different lines -- I used Creative Imaginations Glisten (Glitter die-cut snowflake), Fancy Pants Artic Chill (green snowflake & Title) and Fancy Pants Christmas Magic (red scallop).  Also we had to use 3 groups of 3 differnet embellishments.  I used "chipboard", Rhinestones & ribbon.

Above Title is chipboard circle (painted), below Title is Chipboard rectangle (covered with paper), to the right side is chipboard snowflake (painted).  TFL.

Back Flip (Sketchy Thursday 12/10 sketch)

This is the sketch at Sketchy Thursdays this week:

And here is Joseph on the Bungy Trampoline....

PP is Sassafras, Thickers, white zig circle is Teresa Collins (from the Bind-it line) and Bazzill Just the Edge (red & blue).  I distressed the edges of the white & pp.  TFL!!

Goofball (ScrapFit #9 Workout)

The current challenege at ScrapFit is: 
* Whitespace  --- * 1 Picture  --- * 1 Word Title  ---  * A little Sparkle

So here is what I came up with.  This is pics of Joseph on the graffiti wall where he wouldn't "pose normal" for me.  I wanted to "imitate" the graffiti, but not try to copy it exactly.  When I opened my Orange Ranger paint, it was pretty much dried up.  So I just took a big chunk of it on my finger and "finger painted" the orange on.  Black Stickles & White Smooch for accents (both which "sparkle") and that little heart is Thickers (glitter covered).    And obviously, my White space is really teal space.  TFL!!!

Bee Box (Practical Scrappers DT project - xmas gift)

First, I don't think my son's Kindergarten teacher reads my blog....but if you're Mrs. B, then stop right now and close this window immediately.

Ok, for the rest of you....  my son's Kindergarten teacher's name is Mrs. B (in case you didn't figure that out already)...and all the classes have "nicknames" so their class is the "Bees".  She has lots of little bee decorations around the room.   So, I found this little basket at the thrift store for $.99.  Dug through paper I had "given" to my son and found this old bee paper.  Added some black, ribbons and that cute little wooden bee from Michaels...used Stickles for his "flight path" and Thickers for the letters.  Painted black the areas I couldn't cover with paper and added LOTS of cute ribbon. 

I'm going to put a few gift cards inside for a Christmas gift for Mrs. B.  Then she can "use" the box later in class or however she chooses.  (and my son helped me make it, so he feels really good about giving this gift)

Chili Peppers (Sketchy Thursdays 12/3)

This week at Sketchy Thursdays this is the sketch challenge:

I wanted to really keep the focus on the SMALL photos on this layout, so I kept it really simple and didn't use any embellisments.  I also stayed pretty true to the sketch.  I used some really old patterned paper that was in my "southwest" stash (yea...finally a reason to use it!).

Rein dogs (Practical Scrapper sketch)

The weekend sketch challenge at Practical Scrappers is using this sketch:

And here's my layout....I flipped it since my photos were horizontal.

Inspiration - SOS "scraps" layout

I'm a messy scrapper...so when I clean off my table, I throw all my paper into one bin and my embellies (extra brads, pieces of ribbon etc) into another.  Please don't see the mess "oustide" the bins...but here they are:

I took the challenge to "scrap my scraps" and only used stuff out of these two bins....  I chose to stick to a specific color theme (kinda) and the ONLY thing I added was the background white cardstock. 

So grab those "scraps" and see what you can do with them....have a little fun and get creative.  And be sure to post your project on the Scrap Our Stash blog and let us see it!!!  TFL!

My Monster (Sketchy Thursday - 2nd layout)

Well, I just realized that the Sketchy Thursday challenge is RANDOM draw....so I had done this layout earlier in the week but didn't think it was "good enough" to win, so I did another one (see the Graffiti layout below or use the blog archive in the sidebar).  But since it's a random draw, I guess I should go ahead and post this one too?....   I don't see any mention of only entering once, so I hope it's ok....

PP/Chipboard is Sassafras Monstrosity.  I splattered some paint to give it some dimension.

Graffiti Layout (Sketchy Thursday)

Woo...hoo...  loving this website Sketchy Thursdays ... not only do they have great sketches & artists...they also have awesome prizes.  Can you say Copics?

Here is their sketch this week, which is basically a card sketch....

But since I don't really do cards very much, I really wanted to do something simple with my new graffiti pictures I took of Joseph last Friday.  So, I just took some paint and ran some brush strokes on the page, outlined them with black & white pens (see I NEED those Copics!!).  Added the little green brads to "bring out" the alien in the photo.  Painted the thickers red (they were white) and added a little white "smooch" and some black "stickles" to bring out the letters a little.   Love the simplicity of this since it really keeps the focus on the photo. 

How Tall is that Clown (My Sketch World - Nov Sketch)

Here is a layout I did using a sketch from My Sketch World (November).  PP is Sassafras.  Photo from Circus last summer, but I also used this as an oppotunity to document Joseph & Daddy's heights.  TFL.

Graffiti Wall Photos

Friday night as we're walking to the Glendale Glitters event, I see this wall of Graffiti and remember that Meg Beauchamp (click here to see her post) had taken some awesome graffiti wall photos recently and posted on her blog. So, I make Joseph "pose" on the wall for me.  Ok, so he doesn't "pose" nicely for me without some serious bribery, so this is what we ended up with.  Somehow he just wanted to be silly and "ninja" the wall.  It's all good.  These are just a few of the shots.... watch for them on upcoming layouts (if Ican possibly do the photos justice)!!

2 layouts for Frosted Designs November sketch

Well, this sketch from Frosted Designs:

This must've really struck a chord with me since I ended up doing 2 layouts with it.  Today as I'm posting them, I find irony in the fact that one is SUMMER & the other is WINTER. 

Here they are:

Student of the Month (Sketch challenge at Practical Scrappers)

I completed this Student of the month layout from our weekend challenge at Practical Scrappers which was
using this sketch:

Slide (Sketchy Thursday 11/19 sketch)

This sketch was a little challenging for me since I didn't really have any recent "smaller" photos.  I went back to summer and found some slide pictures that worked just fine.  I used Sasafrass Monstrosity line (exclusively, now that I look at it).   TFL!

SOS Contest -- Fun times!!

Contest going on at Scrap Our Stash Blog  -- a fun little game.  Each Design Team member, (yes that fortunately includes myself) had taken a picture of their "stash".  Then each DT member has left a clue somewhere on their blog.  So, you just need to check out the photos & the blogs ... make the matches and enter.  (see details on the SOS blog...linked above)


So without further ado:  Here's my clue


You know, I'm a pretty messy scrapper. My table is always messy, I have so many supplies that I can't keep everything organized. So this also filters down to my "scraps"... my "extra" paper just gets shoved into a bin. Every once in a while when I clean off my table, I just toss all the extra embellies into another bin. Works for me, I guess.....  My photo is literally a picture of my SCRAPS!!!

K - (stitching layout - Design Team - Practical Scrappers)

This week at Practical Scrappers our challenge is to STITCH on your layout.  Machine stitch, hand stitch...even "faux" stitching is ok. 

For this layout, I first adhered the photo to the white cardstock. I then stitched the 2 large rectangles...having them go on and off the photo.  I then stitched the small rectangle around my son.  I was actually thrilled with how straight I got the rectangles.  Then, honestly....I got a mind block.  This layout sat for 2-3 days and I just looked at it.  Then I grabbed my Scrapbook Circle kit from Aug or Sept...(sorry don't remember which one...they are all so awesome).  PP is Jillibean soup & Cosmo Boyfriend.  That "bus" journal card is out of a Little Yellow Bicycle journal book (the coolest things in the world). 

TFL!!

Lil' Swinger (Frosted Designs Guest Designer layout featuring "tearing")

Honored to be the Guest Designer again this week at Frosted Designs since my "Icky Cool" layout won their color challenge last week!   This week's challenge is "tearing".

I used a sketch from 4x6 photo sketch blog and some Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg (red) & Ledger paper is Creative Imaginations.  I tore the right edge of all papers & inked them, and "notebook" punched (then tore) the left edge of the large ledger paper.  Added a few Bo Bunny chipboard pieces, arrow is from the CC Nutmeg line and alphas are Thickers.  I little ribbon and wa-la.  Oh, I "scratched" the frames around the photos (a fave technique of mine).  I also had a "happy accident" with my title...it went a little longer than I had planned and the last R didn't show very well since it was dark on dark...so I added that little swatch of ledger paper (that was torn from the bottom of the large piece)...  Love happy accidents!!  TFL!