My Scrap Space

Blog Hop Winner

2011-05-03T22:59:00.001-05:00

Well because of all the storms, I'm just now getting around to picking a winner from the Blog Hop. I put all 30 names into the random number generator and #22 was the winner! Congrats to ScrapinKat! Send me your address and I'll get your RAK in the mail to you!

Step into S-P-R-I-N-G Blog Hop

2011-04-20T08:00:00.002-05:00

Hello and Welcome to my blog! Today we are celebrating the beginning of a new season with the Step into Spring Blog Hop brought to you by the Design Team from Memorable Seasons! If you did not start your hop today on the Memorable Seasons blog, please jump back over there so you do not miss anything. Today we are looking at the word S-P-R-I-N-G and taking you through all the steps for creating a fabulous layout using an exclusive sketch created for this blog hop by Liz Chidester , which was the first step! You have already hopped through the letters S, P, R, I, N, and now you are here for the letter G.

Today, G stands for "Give that layout a title and some journaling!" Here's my layout up to this point.
Now, I am a stickler for having a title of some sort and some journaling on every layout I complete. The only ones that I do without titles are the ones that the photos speak for themselves so clearly that no title is needed. And if I don't at least tell the date and some basic information, then the journaling isn't complete. I usually wait until the end to do both my title and journaling. I like to think about what I'm going to say as I'm doing all the other steps. This gives me time to think about the photo and what was happening. Sometimes, the title comes so easily and other times I have to really ponder. Same with journaling. If you ever have trouble giving your layout a title and journaling, I advise you to leave a place for it so that you can come back and add it when you have had time to let your mind clear.

Now to see my layout with my title and journaling added, you will have to head over to Memorable Seasons to check out the Blog Hop post! There you will see a complete reveal of all of the Design Team's finished layouts!

Be sure to leave me a comment telling me what you think about titles and journaling. By doing so, you will be one step closer to a fabulous Memorable Seasons prize as well as getting your name entered in a RAK from me!

Thanks for joining in on our first ever Blog Hop at Memorable Seasons! We hope you have enjoyed your time doing this!

“Friends with He{art}” Blog Hop

2011-02-07T21:47:00.007-06:00

Welcome to your 4th stop on the “Friends with He{art}” Blog Hop sponsored by Scrap Friendzy! If you are following the links from the beginning of the hop, you should have come from Jean's blog. If not and you wish to participate in the blog hop, start back at the Scrap Friendzy Blog.

Today, I am excited to share a project that I made especially for this blog hop.
You may have seen these before, as I'm sure they've been around for a while, but I just happened to stumble upon some in a gallery earlier this week and wanted to give them a try! I found a tutorial on how to make these Paper Strawberries on this blog. I used Pink Paislee's Cupid Collection from last year which worked perfectly.

They are so cute and I felt like they'd be the perfect little something to make for my kids' teachers for Valentine's Day this year! Each little strawberry has two Hershey Kisses in them. Here's a few pictures of them.
If you want to make some for yourself, then you can go here to print a template out and back to the above mentioned blog for further instructions! Hope you have fun making them!!

Your next stop on the blog hop will be Cheryl's blog. Don't forget to leave a comment here, and on each stop on the blog hop. Then, make sure you finish up at the Scrap-Friendzy forum and post that you have completed the hop. Your name will be entered into a drawing for a fabulous prize! We're also hosting a weekend crop from Friday, February 11 through Sunday, February 13 on the forum – hope you will join in the fun! In addition to the Blog Hop prize given by Scrap-Friendzy, I'm offering a small RAK too!! I'll be sending someone special a prize pack consisting of several different Valentine themed papers! You just have to do 2 things...1) Become a follower of my blog and 2) Don't forget to leave me a comment!! Easy-peasy!!! You'll have until the end of our Crop on Sunday, February 13th and then I'll draw a winner and announce it on Monday, Valentine's Day!! Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy the rest of the hop!

New Year, New Beginning!

2011-01-15T21:49:00.004-06:00

Well didn't I just do great there at the end of 2010! What can I say? I was busy just like everyone else and this blog is what took the back seat! I hope I can be a little better with my updating this year, but who knows! I will try though!

So what's new? January is such a great month for scrappers, in my opinion! What better way to start off a new year, than scrapbooking the memories of last year? And to help you do that, I have a couple of great ideas for you!

One of them is the 2nd Annual Sketch-a-Thon going on right now at Scrap-Friendzy! How does a new sketch everyday sound to help jump start your scrapping? I promise that's exactly what it will do. So head over there now! There are already 15 great sketches guaranteed to inspire you. Here is one of my most recent layouts using one of the fabulous sketches.
Secondly, Memorable Seasons is currently hosting our first Online Crop of the year. Well, technically the online part of it was last weekend, but the deadline isn't up until tomorrow night. So if you hurry, you can still participate and have a chance at winning the prize. But even if you don't get anything done by midnight tomorrow, there is still 12 great challenges that are going to inspire you to think outside of the box. All these challenges have something to do with numbers. Here is one of my layouts using one of those challenges:And if that's not enough....I happen to have the inside scoop at both Scrap Friendzy and Memorable Seasons, and we have some super fun and exciting things planned for you in February!

New Layouts To Share!!

2010-10-05T11:31:00.006-05:00

Umm...apparently I decided to take the month of September off! I just can't believe how busy I was all month long, but now I feel like I'm catching up. If you would like to see what layouts I did during September, you can see them in my Scrapbook.com gallery. I just got it updated today too. And now on to October's reveals!

First up is Memorable Seasons. We were all so excited to find out that my new favorite manufacturer sponsored us for October. We were all sent the Happy Halloween paper packs from Echo Park Paper Company. Of course Jill also threw in some fun embellishments to go along with it. Here are my Halloween themed layouts.
I also wanted to show the ability to flip over the papers and use the solid colored sides in a way that could be used for things other than Halloween. Here is a layout I did where I added some Graphic 45 fun things to the EP paper. I tucked my journaling inside the envelope.
I also made a couple of Halloween cards that I'll probably let the kids give to their teachers.
And I really had fun creating this Welcome to the Neighborhood card using the cute house stickers.
Thank you Echo Park for sponsoring us at Memorable Seasons, we loved working with your product!!

And speaking of Echo Park, we had some of their Life Is Good line in the October kit at Scrapbook Sussies. Here are the layouts I did using this side of the kit .
Love that line of paper so much! It was perfect for pictures with my sweetie on our anniversary trip. After all, "Life is Good" when I'm with him!

The other side of the October Sussies kit included the WRMK Heebie Jeebie line of products. Here are some more Halloween themed layouts.
Thank you for visiting and checking out all my October Kit Club layouts! I hope not to be gone for so long this time around!

Scrapbook Sussies August DT Projects

2010-08-06T13:23:00.007-05:00

The August kit for Scrapbok Sussies contained the All Inclusive line from Bella Blvd. and the 72 & Sunny line from We R Memory Keepers. This and all the fun embellies that Lara is famous for made a fabulous kit to work with! I didn't have any beach pictures to work with but was still able to pull of the use of both of these lines of products. I scrapped some everyday summer photos and also some of our tubing pictures from our recent camping trip. Here is a picture of both sides of the kit.
And here are the layouts I created using this kit.

Thanks for stopping by and looking!

Memorable Seasons July DT Projects

2010-07-20T12:48:00.000-05:00

For our July Design Team projects, Jill let us pick what papers we wanted to use from the online store! How awesome is that?! I picked out the Sweet Summertime line of papers from Echo Park Paper Co. They are fairly new and this is their first line they put out earlier this summer. I love all the bright colors and that fun and funky alphabet that comes with the paper pack. Jill paired the papers with some other fun goodies from Little Yellow Bicycle, Maya Road and Basic Grey. Here is the kit she put together for me.And here are the layouts and cards I did using the product.

Scrapbook Sussies August Sneaks

2010-07-15T20:57:00.003-05:00

Scrapbook Sussies has made the full reveal of the August kit on the blog. Here are pictures.
Full Kit:Some Close Ups:And the Add On's For August:
So head on over and sign up today so you can get this kit delivered to you in August! Trust me, you will be happy you did!

Some New Layouts

2010-07-13T18:07:00.007-05:00

We had our monthly scrap night last weekend and I was able to get quite a bit finished. There were a few that I had to go back and add titles and journaling to when I got home, but still managed to complete 6!
And here's another I finished up a few days ago for a challenge over on Scrap Friendzy.

July Sussies Kit

2010-07-07T15:15:00.007-05:00

Scrapbook Sussies July kit is up!

It combines Fancy Pants:
With KI Memories:So much yummy goodness found in this kit! It made for some great summertime layouts. Here is what I created:Thanks for stopping by!

Last Scrapper Standing!

2010-06-11T09:06:00.003-05:00

Do you remember this from last year? Well, it's time again! Memorable Seasons is holding it's 2nd Annual Last Scrapper Standing contest and it starts this Sunday!! I am so excited to be on the Design Team side of the contest this year. I had so much fun participating in the challenges last year, but I know that I'm gonna love being able to come up with challenges this time and watching all the layouts come in. The only thing I won't enjoy is having to vote for my favorites each week! With the amount of talent that all our members have over there, I know it will be a difficult task!

If you aren't signed up over there, be sure to go sign up today! The first challenge will go up on Sunday afternoon and you will have until Monday, June 22 at 3 pm to upload it. I can't wait to see what everyone creates for it!!

Camp Friendzy

2010-06-02T22:36:00.002-05:00

Pack your bags! We are heading off to Camp with the Scrap-Freindzy gang! Join us this Friday as we kick off the start of a fun, summer-long challenge contest like no other. More details can be found on the blog or the message board. My challenge goes up on Monday. Please come by and check it out!

Scrapbook Sussies

2010-05-30T20:34:00.006-05:00

I'm so excited to tell you that I've been asked to join the Design Team at Scrapbook Sussies! If you remember, I had the privilege of guest designing over there in April. I fell in love with Lara's kits then, so I was jumping for joy when she asked me to be a part of her team. I got to start with the June kit which featured Crate Paper's Paper Doll line and Imaginisce's Scooter's Vacation line. I had a ton of fun creating these layouts with both sides of this kit. I did 6 layouts total but could have done even more with all that was there to work with.

Mr. Baseball

2010-05-24T09:31:00.007-05:00

This week's challenge at Scrap Whispers is to do a layout using a movie as your inspiration. I wanted to scrapbook this baseball picture of Andrew. The movie title "Mr. Baseb all" worked perfectly. I used the Teresa Collins Travel Ledger collection that came from the Memorable Seasons May Kit. You can pick up these papers from the store there. Here are the other layouts and projects I made from the same MS kit:

Scrap Whispers Blog Hop

2010-05-14T23:45:00.005-05:00

Hello! If you are coming here from Nilsa's blog, then you are at the right place! If you didn't start at the beginning of our blog hop, you may want to go back to the Scrap Whispers blog so you can start at the beginning. Georgina did an awesome job with her tutorial for the Waterfall Card, don't you agree?!! I had a lot of fun making this, however I decided to go out on a limb and change mine up a bit. Because I did this and had not practiced it before, it looks a little different. But that's ok, because I still like it. My son has a birthday party later today to go to and both of these boys love Star Wars. So I thought I'd make the cards in my waterfall be small pictures that he could go back and color in. Therefore, it made the cards a little bigger than the 2x2 size. Mine are 3x3.5. I think he will totally love it!
Now, head on over to Georgina's blog for your last stop on this month's Scrap Whispers Blog Hop.

Dryer Sheet Flowers

2010-04-29T09:17:00.006-05:00

Dryer Sheet Flowers

I have seen the tutorial somewhere on one of the forums, but didn't get to look at it close enough to see how they were made. I decided to play around and I made my own version (kinda sorta...someone else may have already done this same thing...but oh well...I'm claiming it for now ) of the used dryer sheet flowers! Here is what you will need to get started.

Dryer sheets, preferably ones you have already used
Some spray mist or paint mixed with water, whatever you have on hand
scissors
decorative edge scissors or pinking shears
a button
a small rubberband (I like to get the small ones from the dollar store that you use for toddler ponytails, about the size of rubberbands for braces)
decorative flowers, brads or 3-d stickers(optional)

Your first step is to take one sheet and spread it out flat.

Next you want to fold it in half

And then in half again.

Now take one corner and fold over leaving the small amount at the end.

You will cut this off to make your fold a perfect square instead of rectangle, if you were to open it up.

While you have it folded into this triangle, hold it so that the folded sides are down and the open sides are facing up. You will use your decorative scissors or pinking shears to cut off each corner giving it the shape of a kite.

Now open it up and it looks like a star.

Spray it down and then let it dry. (or if you are impatient like me, you can use a heat gun to help it dry faster or blot it with a paper towel)

Now, take your button and lay it underneath in the center of your star shape.

Grab all the sides and pull them tight underneath the button.

Use your small rubberband and put it around the button a couple of times. Not too tight.

Now spread out the edges again and there you have the basic flower shape.

You can add whatever you want to the top to dress it up if you want. Just use craft glue or hot glue gun to make it stick!

Scrap Whispers Sign Ups

2010-04-23T14:31:00.004-05:00

It's that time again! Scrap Whispers is gearing up for a brand new round. Be sure to head over to the website to get signed up or you can simply email Georgina: gh26@sky.com. While sign ups are being done, be sure to check out our current challenge to keep you busy. Here's my layout for this week's challenge:I also used sketch #61 from The Scrappiest to get this layout done. Liz has awesome sketches and this one was perfect for these pictures I used of Amelia!

Guest Designer for Scrapbook Sussies

2010-04-08T20:45:00.011-05:00

I am honored to be a guest designer for April at Scrapbook Sussies! Lara is the owner of this awesome kit club that is jam-packed full of yummy goodness each month. What is so great about her kits is that she combines two paper lines almost making it two kits combined into one. You can scrap using just one "side" of the kit or combine them to create your own design. This month's kit features American Crafts' Dear Lizzy line and My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary Jack and Jill line. I was amazed at all the product, especially embellishments. Here is a peek at all the fun stuff: And here are the layouts I created.
You can check out more of the Design Team's layouts Here and you can subscribe to Scrapbook Sussies Here.

Scrapbook Throwdown at Memorable Seasons

2010-02-15T08:00:00.000-06:00

Get ready scrapbook chefs of America! It is time for the first ever Scrapbook Throwdown at Memorable Seasons! We will issue you a weekly "recipe" challenge, and your "dishes" will be taste tested. Get ready to cook up your best work yet. A great prize awaits the Top Chef!! (we will also have weekly random drawings for ALL the chefs participating too!) Now grab your apron and get ready!!

The Contest begins TODAY and will last 4 weeks. Unlike past contests, the grand prize will be awarded by random drawing and not by votes. However, in order to be eligible for the grand prize, you must complete at least 3 of the challenges by their respective deadlines.

I had the honor of preparing the challenge for the first dish. Today, we are serving up Wedding Cake!
Your "Wedding Cake" layouts must include pictures about a wedding event of any sort. If you are lacking this main ingredient in your cupboards, then you may substitute any photos of close relationships instead. Your recipes must also include the following ingredients:
Something old-this can be old photos, old products or you may use distressing/inking for an older look
Something new-this can be new products or new techniques
Something Borrowed-this can mean that you borrowed tools to complete your layout or that you used a sketch/scraplifted someone else
Something Blue-Exactly that....your layout must have blue in it somewhere!

Here is my layout made with the above recipe. My pictures are the something old (14+ years old). My papers and the bling swirls are my something new. I borrowed (scraplifted) my layout from Q-diggity. Obviously, my papers are also my something blue.

I hope you will all join in on our throwdown at Memorable Seasons! We'd love to see what you can cook up!

Scrap-Friendzy February Kit Reveal

2010-02-01T21:21:00.004-06:00

This kit is my first one to work with as a Design Team member at Scrap-Friendzy! I knew before getting it that I'd like it since it has Pink Paislee's Cupid Collection as a big part of it. But when I got it and started working with it, I not only liked it, but I LOVED it! It was so much fun. I love each and every project that I got done using it.So much so, that all I have left are these scraps!
Here are my layouts that I did:

I also did this picture frame.
And this mini album about my girls!
And a few cards. Simple cards, 'cause that's how I do them. ;)
Now, if you want this kit, you better act fast because they are selling quickly! Head over the Scrap-Friendzy Store to order yours now! Hurry...go NOW!!

30 Layouts!!!

2010-01-28T21:43:00.005-06:00

That is how many layouts I have completed since January 1st! I love being so productive. I have to give credit for my inspiration to the Sketch-A-Thon going on for a few more days over on Scrap-Friendzy as well as the Drop 10 Crop we had last weekend at Memorable Seasons. Add the weekly challenges and whisper layout from Scrap Whispers in there and that's how I got so much done! Here are just a few of my favorites:

All of these layouts were based on sketches. You can see those credits and more of my layouts in my gallery at Scrapbook.com. Thanks for visiting!

Drop Ten Crop at Memorable Seasons

2010-01-21T23:17:00.003-06:00

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Head over to Memorable Seasons for our "Drop 10 Crop"!! We will have fun challenges and games beginning Friday night at 6PM and continuing until Saturday night (you will have until Sunday at midnight to complete the challenges). And PRIZES too of course. AND I heard that Jill, the fabulous store owner, will be having some fun sales going on too! Hope to see you there!!

January Sketch-a-thon at Scrap-Friendzy

2009-12-25T23:00:00.004-06:00

Can you believe that January is just around the corner? Only a week away! And if you are like me, you are going to have lots of pictures to get busy on in the new year. What better way to jump start your scrapping mojo than with a sketch-a-thon!! That's right, 31 sketches for the 31 days of January. Stay tuned for more announcements about this.

December is Here!!

2009-12-03T15:45:00.004-06:00

I love this time of the year and all that goes along with it! I'm totally getting in the Christmas Spirit. I have bought um...just a few....well, like at least 7 different lines of Christmas paper. Guess I'm gonna be scrapping a lot of Christmas layouts. I also have some more projects planned to do as well.

Got some great news! I was accepted to the Memorable Seasons Design Team!! I love it over there...the girls are all so friendly and the STORE....well, let's just say that Jill has one rockin' online store! If you have never shopped there, you should stop by. You never know what she is going to have on sale.

And some more news....I just ordered a Canon Rebel XSi!! I am so happy and can't wait to get it and play with it. Merry Christmas to me! I told you I loved this time of year! ;)

Countdown to Santa Magnetic Bingo Board

2009-11-14T09:16:00.007-06:00

I've made an advent calendar before. Spent lots and lots of time making all those cute little boxes. Hung it up on the wall and everything. Only got through about day 4 before I was bored with it and the kids were uninterested. However, they do like to change the days on the perpetual calendar as a way to countdown until the day Santa comes. So I decided to create this little diddy. It is a Bingo Board of sorts. Each day, I will call out one of the words in the 25 squares and they get to cover it with a magnet (the magnets are all around the perimeter of the circle). They will know how many more days until Santa by counting how many empty squares they have. They "bingo" when the entire board is filled....that will be Christmas Day. They may end up getting another "bingo" accidentally before the entire board fills up. We may have a special prize for them if they do so.

This is super easy to make! All you need is a Pizza Pan. I got mine for $3 from the dollar store and it is 12 inches. I could have painted the pan first and I debated doing so, but decided to just leave it as is. I chose to use the December Details products by Bella Blvd. because, well, I'm just in love with them! I won the entire line off of the Bella Blog and was anxious to break it open.
1) There are 5 papers in that line so I cut one 2x12 inch strip from each one. I then cut the strip into 2 inch sections making 6 2x2 squares. I used 5 from each pattern paper and created a grid. I rounded the 4 corners so they fit into the pizza pan circle nicely.
2) Before I adhered them all down, I distressed and black inked the edges so that each square would be defined.
3) Next, I added word stickers, die cuts and stamps that related to the holidays. These are the same words that I will put on pieces of paper to call out each day.
4) The magnets were next. I used buttons, premade flowers, brads, stickers....anything that I could find that would work. I also made some paper and crocheted flowers. I LOVE all the fabulous flower-making tutorials out there and put several into use for mine.
5) Now all that is left is the embellishing. I used the alpha stickers that came in the December Details and put them onto black cardstock before cutting them out. I used the Crop-A-Dile to put the holes into the pizza pan to add my ribbon.

I think the board looks great with the magnets all line up around the edges. Here are some close ups:
And here is what the board will look like with all the words covered:
I hope this inspires you to make one of these magnet boards. I'd love to see yours if you do create one!

Countdown To The Holidays Crop

2009-11-12T10:22:00.004-06:00

at Scrap-Friendzy!!! Be sure to make it over...it will be so much fun and inspire you to get lots done before the holidays get here!

Scrap Whispers Blog Hop

2009-10-16T02:44:00.000-05:00

Hello and Welcome! If you are just joining me, you may want to head back over to the Scrap Whispers Blog so you can start this hop off from the very beginning. Today, the designers at Scrap Whispers are shining the spotlight on one of our very talented members. This person is Mary Eason! Her gallery is full of such wonderful inspiration, it was so hard for me to choose only one layout in which to lift. I finally decided on this one:I loved not only the design and the colors, but the way in which she titled it down the side. Here is my scraplift:I used the Bo Bunny Gypsy line from the fabulous October kit by Simply Obsessed. The colors were perfect for my pictures of Andrew playing ball in that orange dirt!

Head on over to Karry's blog, so you can see more scraplifts of Mary Eason! And don't forget to give Mary some love too!

Scrap-Friendzy Birthday Blog Hop-Stop #6

2009-10-06T17:24:00.008-05:00

Happy Birthday, Scrap-Friendzy!!! I'm so glad that you have come by to visit me here on my little 'ole blog!

If you've just popped in and you've missed the other stops on the hop, go HERE to start from the beginning!!

October 10th will be the last day of the hop so keep visiting Scrap-Friendzy each evening to find out which design team blog to visit next.

Also, make sure you leave me a comment and again at each stop to get your name in the drawing for an awesome prize. If you visit and comment on all 10 blogs for the 10 days of the birthday blog hop, your name will be entered 10 times.

At Scrap-Friendzy we have a point system called friendz points. For each challenge that you complete, you will earn FPZ which could earn you another great prize at the end of the month!

You have until the end of October to complete all of the BLOG HOP Challenges for Friendz Pointz, but only until October 15th to leave a comment on all of the BLOG HOP STOPS to get your name in the bucket for the BLOG HOP Prize Drawing!!!

Now on to the fun part! I love birthdays! I also love giving homemade gifts and most everyone enjoys getting them too. I have come to discover that mini albums make great gifts for just about anyone. There are all sorts of mini albums: chipboard, acrylic, and accordian-fold just to name a few. You can buy these albums and decorate them as you wish. I like to make them as well. Here are some examples.

Paper Bag Albums:There are several ways to make these cute and inexpensive mini's. I have put together a tutorial for you in another blog post that you can see here. These are so much fun and VERY easy to make. My daughter likes to make them too.

Altered Picture Albums:Here, I took one of the $1 picture albums that you slide your photos in and added my own paper. I punched holes into the spine and added some coordinating ribbon.

Altered Chipboard:This album was made from pages of an old board book and coasters. Simply sand them down, cover them with your paper and pictures and you have a mini album!

Cardstock and Transparencies:This may be one of the easiest mini albums to make because you probably already have these supplies on hand. Just use some scrap pieces of cardstock, transparecies or other items and voila...you've got a great mini album to give.

Now for the challenge! I want you to create your own mini album. Use one of my examples, or create something completely different! Upload it to the October Challenges Gallery and then link it to this thread and you will receive 30 FPZ!!!!

Paper Bag Albums

2009-10-06T14:54:00.009-05:00

Here lately, I've been making Paper Bag Albums. I am in the midst of preparing to teach a class on these this weekend and so I thought I'd share with you how easy they are to make!

Supplies:
4-paper lunch bags (brown or white are fine)
6-pieces of pattern paper (double sided is best) 7 1/2" x 5 1/4"
4-pieces of pattern paper (double sided is best) 3 1/2" x 5 1/4"
Stickers, Diecuts, other embellishments
Coordinating Ribbon
3- Binder Rings (found at Walmart or local office supply store)
Alphabet stickers of your choice

Tools:
Paper Trimmer
Scissors
Adhesive
Ink Pad for inking edges (optional)
Corner Rounder (optional)
Crop-A-Dile or other hole puncher

Instructions:
1. Fold all four paper bags at the bottom where the flap is.2. Take two of the bags and glue the small flaps together. Repeat for the other two.
3. Punch holes in one set of bags. Line up and punch holes into second set.4. Adhere to the two sets of bags together by placing glue/tape to the backs of the two large sides.5. Choose 3 sheets of 12x12 double-sided paper and cut them in half (6x12). Then use each half to cut one of each of the specified sizes. This will give you the six large pieces, 4 smaller pieces, and two leftover. Lay them out and decide which paper you will use for each page. Because they are double-sided, you will have plenty of patterns to choose from. * From here until the end of the tutorial, I am using different sheets of paper from the above finished albums, but you can still get the idea.6. Attach papers to each page with glue or other adhesive. Trim any edges necessary. Do not worry about it being perfect. Use an inkpad to ink the edges of your pages. Go ahead and cover all your pages first. Make sure you punch the holes in your paper after attaching to each flap.
7. Use one of the leftover pieces (or a piece of cardstock from your scraps) to use on the cover. Cut this piece 3 1/2" x 4 1/2". You many round the corners and ink the edges. Use this piece on your cover and then add title on top of it.8. Decorate your cover with sticker or die cut in the corner and anywhere else you choose.9. Now you may go ahead and add embellishments to the corners of your pages OR you may wait and add your pictures to the pages first and then embellish at the end. You may add your rings and put some fun ribbon on them to finish up your album!10. There will be openings where you can stick extra pictures or memorabilia into and attach ribbon to pull them out with.That's it! I hope that I have been able to show you just how easy these albums are and that will give them a try!

Scrap-Friendzy Birthday Blog Hop!!!

2009-09-29T20:23:00.003-05:00

As you may remember, I joined the team at Scrap-Friendzy on September 1st. Well, October marks their 2 year birthday and we are ready to celebrate in a BIG way! Please make your plans now to join us for a 10-day Blog Hop Extravaganza. That's right....10 days of blog hopping and 10 awesome challenges from our design team that are sure to inspire your creativity! And wait...there's more! Everytime you visit and leave comment on the DT's blog, your name gets entered for a prize.

We would love to have you join us and become one of our Friendz at SF. Why not head over there now and sign up! You will meet some fab ladies, be inspired by a gallery full of amazing yumminess, and have a blast. I have a special RAK that I want to offer. If you go sign up for SF (or if you are already a member but make yourself active), I will enter your name into a drawing and pull out a winner on October 1st. The winner will receive the Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses paper pack!
Hope to see you at SF very soon!

Fun Times

2009-09-27T23:15:00.004-05:00

We had a blast yesterday at Scrap Pink in Cullman! Thanks to Kathy for all your hard work putting this together. Here are some pictures from the day.I managed to get 2 layouts completed over the 6.5 hours we were there! LOL I also finished up the example paper bag album for the class I will be teaching at Scrapin Kats on October 10th. If you are interested, contact Kathy to reserve your spot. Here is a sneak peek:

Scrap Whispers Blog Hop

2009-09-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

It's that time again! We will be featuring a "Guest Designer" each month from the Scrap Whispers participants. If you did not start from the Scrap Whispers blog, you will want to go back there to begin. This month we are featuring the work of "RedSquirrel". She has been participating in the team challenges as well as the weekly challenges for as long as I have been on the DT. Her work is always wonderful to see and so inspiring! I chose to use this layout she did for one of our weekly challenges.I really liked the black border and all the layering. Here is what I created:And here is a picture with the hidden journaling revealed:
For more scraplifts of Rosey, head on over to Karry's blog! Thanks for stopping by!

Twisted Sketches GDT Appearance

2009-09-09T11:16:00.004-05:00

I'm super excited to let you know that today's challenge on Twisted Sketches has my layout featured as the guest designer! Twisted Sketches is an awesome site that gives you weekly sketches for inspiration, but there's a "twist" to each. The twist is something to add to your layout and is different from week to week. This week the twist is to add something metal. Here is the layout that I did:
There is a metal charm hanging between the bottom two circles, staples on the ribbon, and also a black metal index tab on the right. I used October Afternoon's Road Map pattern papers and other embellishments that all came in the August My Scrapbook Nook kit. Thanks for Looking!

Dixie Pieces, Scrap Whispers and Some Good News

2009-08-28T10:40:00.005-05:00

I'm still playing in the End of Summer contest over at Dixie Pieces. I'm nowhere near being one with the most points, but I'm having a great time and getting some layouts done in the process. Here are my last couple of layouts.

Challenge #3: Textures of SummerChallenge #4: Tastes of SummerWe just finished the latest round at Scrap Whispers! Our last weekly challenge was to do a layout inspired by the Karoke Finale of the movie Shrek. I used the colors of Shrek to inspire this layout.
The big reveal for the 8 week long "whisper" game was this past Sunday! Congrats to our team...we won! Here is the layout I did that I scraplifted from Georgina and then passed on to the next team member.
It's time to sign up to play with us for the next round! Head over to Scrap Whispers now to join us!

And last but certainly not least, I was asked to join the Design Team at Scrap-Friendzy! I found this forum back in June when they started the Scrap-Cation contest. I played along with that contest as well as their Survivor contest. I finished 2nd place in the Survivor contest and really had a great time. I'm looking forward to working with the rest of the DT as well as meet new people! They are currently holding a DT call for a few more girls, so if you are interested, please check that out!

What's Been Going On?!?

2009-08-15T08:10:00.007-05:00

I've been pretty busy lately doing some projects for a couple different online sites. First of all, I've been playing along in the Scrap-Cation games on Scrap-Friendzy. These games started back in June and are wrapping up this weekend. There have been some really terrific challenges that have gotten me inspired. Here are some of my most recent layouts I've done for them:

Secondly, the Big Bummer End of Summer Sense-ational Contest at Dixie Pieces is going on now! It's all about the senses! Here are the layouts I've done for their challenges.

Challenge #1: The smells of the Summer

Challenge #2: The sights of the Summer

I accidentally forgot that there was a color scheme to follow so this first layout didn't count. I went back to do another one so I would get points.

Scrap Whispers Blog Hop Week #4

2009-08-05T06:22:00.000-05:00

"Turn on the Spotlight....Dun Dun Dun" Yep, that's right, this week we have a new gal in the spotlight over on Scrap Whispers. If you did not start the blog hop there, you may want to jump back over so that you can start from the beginning (we'd hate for you to miss seeing one of the awesome DT's scraplifts!). This week we are featuring the work of one fun and fabulous (and I would know because she's on my Scrap Whispers Team!), Sarah Higgins! I love Sarah's layouts...you really need to go browse through her gallery because it will inspire you! Today, I chose this layout of Sarah's to lift:I love the simplicity and clean lines on her page. I also like that she was able to use multiple photos here. And so this is what I did:Thank you for stopping by! Head on over to Karry's blog to see more scraplifts of Sarah!!

Scrap Whispers Blog Hop Week #3

2009-07-28T21:04:00.000-05:00

Welcome back! I have really enjoyed all the visits and comments that have come from you blog hoppers! This has really been a lot of fun so far. If you have joined me first, you will want to head back to the Scrap Whispers blog so you can start at the beginning. This week we are featuring the work of the very talented Mindy Miller. She is a such a fabulous scrapbooker among other talents! Here is her layout that I decided to scraplift this week:I love how she split the paper on the top and bottom. I've been wanting to do this myself with some of the large diecut paper. So here's my version:Mindy also provided us with a sketch to use:And here is my interpretation:

Thanks again for stopping by! You can head on over to see more showcase's of Mindy's work on Karry's blog! See you next week!

Scrap Whispers Blog Hop Week #2

2009-07-22T12:28:00.000-05:00

Yikes! Sorry I'm a bit late! This week we are featuring the work of Nadrah Maidin! She is a fabulous scrapbook designer and is very inspiring! Here is the fabulous layout of Nadrah's that I decided to lift:I chose her layout because I was drawn to the colors especially the yellow. I loved everything about this layout! I knew I wanted to keep the basic design and use the red, green and yellow. Here is my version of her layout:If you did not join me by the way of the blog hop, please head back over to the Scrap Whispers Blog so you can start from the beginning. The next blog you will need to visit is Karry! Have a great day

Scrap Whispers Blog Hop Week #1

2009-07-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone! The Design Team at Scrap Whispers are featuring a Guest Designer each Wednesday for the next 4 weeks! We will be choosing one of their layouts and lifting it Today we are showcasing the very talented Jamie Elmore. I am privileged enough to be friends with Jamie IRL(in real life). We found each other online while blog hopping and discovered that we lived only minutes away from one another. We have been scrapping together for nearly 3 years now!!

I chose this digital layout that Jamie created about one of her sons.I loved the simplicity of the design. I did my layout featuring our youngest daughter so I used flowers and butterflies in place of the stars. The cardstock is Bazzill, the patterned paper is Basic Grey Lemonade, the pre-made flower are Prima, and the alphas are AC Thickers and Doodlebug Designs.
To see more scraplifts of Jamie's work, please head over to visit Karry on her blog. If you just popped in here "accidentally", please head back to the Scrap Whispers Blog to start at the begining. And don't forget, there's a special surprise for you at the end!

I WON!!!

2009-06-21T21:51:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it, but I won the Last Scrapper Standing contest over on Memora ble Seasons! I was up against some really talented ladies who created some beautiful layouts each and every time. I had a blast during the 6 week challenge period and am sad to see it come to an end. But I'm sure that when the awesome prize arrives, I won't be too sad! ;) Here are all the layouts and challenges that I did throughout the contest:

Challenge #1 Why Do You ScrapbookChallenge #2 Use Three Pictures & Matte them in BlackChallenge #3 Use at least Two Different AlphabetsChallenge #4 Use a List for your Journaling and include cirlces or dotsChallenge #5 Create a Layout about a particular person, but not someone who is a part of your daily lifeChallenge #6 Triple Threat: Three Pictures, Three-word Title, and Three textures

And The Winner Is.....

2009-06-16T20:47:00.000-05:00

The winner of the Lime Rickey Paper Pack is.......

K said...

I emailed her too...can't wait for the next round to start!!

June 8, 2009 8:05 AM

Congrats! Email me your address and I'll get it out to you!

Thanks to everyone that signed up for the next round of Scrap Whispers! We are going to have a great time this round, I just know it!!

I'm Addicted....

2009-06-10T23:47:00.001-05:00

to ribbon pleating on my layouts!! Here are just a few of my most recent and guess what they all have in common?

Scrap Whispers Sign Up

2009-06-07T21:10:00.000-05:00

It's that time again! Time for another exciting round of the Scrap Whispers game. What is it? Read this post to understand how to play. We have so much fun and it is so exciting to see the big reveal in the end. You have until June 13th to sign up and we get started on the 14th. So, if you are up for some fun, email Georgina (gh26@sky.com) and tell her you want to play. As an added bonus, if you sign up and leave me a comment telling me you have done so, then you will be entered into the drawing for this great prize:
The Basic Grey Lime Rickey Paper Pack (A value of $19.99)!!! So hurry up and email Georgina!!

Flip Flop Fetish

2009-06-02T21:57:00.000-05:00

Today I finished this layout for the Last Scrapper Standing Contest over on Memorable Seasons. The challenge is to use a list for your journaling and to also incorporate circles in the layout. Here is what I came up with:Here is what it says:

"Flip Flop Fetish: My Yellowbox Collection...And My Justification For Each Pair.
1st Pair: Brown with Dark Brown Dots
When I decided to buy a pair of these popular shoes, I chose the most pratical pair for me. I knew that brown would match a majority of what I wear.
2nd Pair: Bright Pink with White Dots
This pair was more of an impulse. I just loved the bright pink color last summer! (I actually had to buy new clothes to match)
3rd Pair: Bronze & Gold Sequins
I bought this pair because I felt like they were a bit dressier and could be worn when I needed to dress a little less-casual.
4th Pair: Red, White & Blue Plaid
Hey, I needed to be patriotic, Right?!
5th Pair: Brown with Blue Flowers
These are new for the season and I've been drawn to this color combo...even in my scrapping."

So what do you think about it?

Last Scrapper Standing

2009-05-26T22:11:00.001-05:00

I've been participating in a contest called Last Scrapper Standing over on Memorable Seasons. And it is so much fun! I have had a lot going on with my family, but being able to come down to my scrap area at night to do a little bit of scrapping has really helped me. I'm backed up with projects to do for Design Teams, but sometimes it's good to just scrap for yourself. I tell you....it is like therapy! So anyway, we are in week #3 and I'm still alive (yippee). Here are the layouts I've done so far:

Week #1 Challenge: Why I Scrap
Week #2 Challenge: Use black to matte and use 3 photos:Week #3 Challenge: Must use more than one different font in your title:Thanks for stopping by!

How We Celebrated...

2009-05-05T22:45:00.000-05:00

National Scrapbook Day!! I loved everything about our day together. When I say "we" I mean the "girls". Annessa, Amelia and I got to spend the day together out "galavanting". Leah was suppose to be with us, but had to cancel last minute due to a migraine. Boo! But, nonetheless, we still had a great time. We stopped at two LSS, Hobby Lobby, Michael's and Costco (although that had nothing to do with scrapping except that I bought Annessa a two-pack of scrapbooks for her layouts). We also had a delicous lunch with two other scrappy friends of mine.
So what did we buy? Here are a few things....

Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper
Fancy Pants Kraft Kuts
Lots of MME Penny Lane papers
Basic Grey Lime Rickey
A Martha Stewart punch and pen
Annessa got lots of goodies too including stickers and Thickers (I have created a monster out of her!)

Oh...and to announce the winner of my NSD Blog Hop RAK!! I did the Random Number Generator thingy and #7 was the winner. That is you...Elizabeth!!! Congrats! Please email me your mailing address so I can get you some scrappy goodies in the mail to you.

National Scrapbooking Day Whisper Challenge!!!!!!

2009-05-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone! I hope you are all enjoying your National Scrapbooking Day as much as I am! First of all, I'd like to thank my fellow DT friend, Crystal for sending you over here to visit me! If you did not come here through Crystal, PLEASE make your way back over to the Scrap Whispers Blog so you don't miss out on this fun challenge we have going on today!! You will find directions there that will lead you through several other blogs, including mine.

As a part of our challenge, we have created special projects that have something to do with "Whisper". As you can see, mine is using the title of Harry Connick Jr.'s song "(If I Could Only) Whisper Your Name." Daniel and I bought this C.D. when we were dating. We listened to Harry all the time and this song is one that sticks out in my mind.

(I Could Only) Whisper Your Name - Harry Connick, Jr.

As my way of saying Thank You for visiting me today...National Scrapbooking Day, I want to give away a RAK. Please leave me a comment and tell me what you think of this song! I will draw a name and announce a winner from the comments left.

Now for your further instructions: You need to go on over to Sarah's Blog to continue playing this Blog Hopping Game. Also.....there is a secret letter that you need to remember from here. I hope that you were able to figure out what this letter is!!! ;)

Have a great day!

Recent Layouts

2009-04-28T20:29:00.001-05:00

Here are a few of the most recent layouts I have done:

4 Photos!

2009-04-13T22:02:00.000-05:00

This week's challenge at Scrap Whispers is do a layout using 4 photos....no more, no less. The rest is up to you! Here is my example layout:

Scrap Whispers Challenge #23 and Scrap City April Reveal

2009-04-06T22:24:00.000-05:00

This week's challenge over on Scrap Whispers is to do a layout about an object or item that you feel you would not be able to live without. When I saw this challenge, I knew right away what I would do mine about. My computer, or more so the internet! I can not let a day go by without checking me email, blogs, forums etc. Here is the layout I did:Head over and participate with us so you can get your name in the drawing for a terrific prize!

For April, the prize sponsor for Scrap City is Sakura Gel Pens. I loved using this pen and had a lot of fun with the layouts I created with it. Here are pictures of the ones I did along with close ups of how I used the pen:
The above two layouts were done using the April kit from Scrapbook Circle and sketches #12 and #13 over on 52 Sketches.
This layout and card were done using the March kit from Paper Popsicles and the layout used sketch #10.This last card was done for last month's reveal on Scrap City, but I used the pen on it too and wanted to show it again.

Thanks for stopping by and looking!

Hi!

2009-03-30T21:32:00.000-05:00

Fun title, huh?! Well, let's see. What can I tell you about this week? I've not scrapped too much and I believe it is because of the mess in my scrap area. I know that if it was all cleaned up, that I'd be much more productive. Right now, I have lots of other things on the to-do list that come in much higher than cleaning my scrap space. But it is on my to-do list and I will get to it.....eventually.

Here are a couple of things that I have done lately:

This layout is for Challenge #22 at Scrap Whispers. The challenge is to use every color of the rainbow. Now you know the easy way to recall the colors is Roygbiv (thanks Leah!). You can see that I used Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Well actually I left off the last two and used pink instead.
This card I did for a sketch challenge over on Dixie Pieces. I used Jenni Bowlin patterned paper as well as Cloud 9 Design. The stamp was from Gel-a-Tins.

Here are two more layouts from the retreat earlier this month:

A Few New Layouts....

2009-03-23T20:46:00.001-05:00

Here are some of my latest layouts. This first one was a sketch challenge over on Dixie Pieces. I loved this sketch and used some fun Daisy D's papers I got a few weeks ago from Paper Popsicles. I loved these pictures of Alex and Audrey. And they went perfect with the paper.This layout is for Challenge #21 over on Scrap Whispers. It is to do a layout about Mothers. I also used sketch #11 from 52 Sketches.This layout was Challenge #20 on Scrap Whispers. It was a scraplift of a layout done by Georgina.And here are two more layouts I did on the Scrap Retreat.
Thanks for looking!!

Scrap Whispers

2009-03-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

Today is your last day to get signed up to play in Round 7 at Scrap Whispers. It is easy and so much fun to play. The game is played like the old telephone game where you whisper something all around a circle and see what it ends up at the end. Only this game starts with a layout. You just scraplift the layout sent to you and send it back to your leader. It keeps going around your team and then when everyone has lifted a layout, the big reveal is done in the end. It is amazing to see how the "whisper" progresses down the line. So if you are interested in joining in on the big game and some fun weekly challenges too (for prizes!), then head over to the blog or message board to get signed up to play! Here is a direct link to where you sign up.

Scrap Retreat

2009-03-13T22:59:00.000-05:00

I had a wonderful time with 13 other ladies in Pigeon Forge last weekend! We rented a 3 story cabin where we scrapped for 2 and a half days (nearly nonstop)! It was wonderful! I had a goal to complete 15 layouts and I actually finished 18!!! Here are two of my favorites:

I will get the rest loaded into my galleries and then try to share a few at a time.

On Your Mark, Get Set.......

2009-02-18T07:47:00.000-06:00

Go!!! Sign up over at ScrapCity that is! You will want to get registered if you aren't already a member there. We are having a Grand Re-Opening Sketch-Fest Crop this upcoming weekend! We have recently upgraded our forum and to celebrate, we are having this fun, fun, fun sketch party! There are going to be tons of sketch-based challenges to do and you have a whole week to work on them. There will also be some fun games and prizes too!! Hope to see you there!

Where Have I Been??

2009-02-10T10:00:00.001-06:00

Honestly, I can't tell you! Crazy Busy as usual! Here are updates for my Design Team Creations.

ScrapCity: We had our February Creative Team Reveals last week. We did something a little differently this month and it was SO much fun! Our CT paired up two people and we each made up kits. We created one for ourselves and one to send to our partner. Here is a picture of the one I created and sent to Nessa.And here are the two layouts I created using this kit:This is the kit that Nessa sent me:And the two layouts I created with it:We also received kits from our sponsor for the month of February: Beatriz Jennings!! Here are my two layouts I did with her fun stuff:I also hosted the ScrapLift Challenge for this month. Last month, our dearly departed CT member Janice Neilson, hosted it and lifted a layout of mine. I wanted to pay tribute back to her by lifting one of her fantastic layouts. This is the layout of hers:And my Lift:
Join us in the fun challenges going on now for your chance of winning a prize from Beatriz Jennings!

ScrapWhispers: Our Main Whisper layout is still going through our team, although we are nearing the end. Meanwhile, here are my creations for Challenge #14(Use the Title "All You Need Is Love"):
And Challenge #15(Make a card using felt, glitter and a heart):Join Us now in this challenge for your chance to win a fabulous prize: Lots of American Crafts Ribbon!!

JamieScraps Kit Club: Jamie has put together another fabulous kit for the month of February! You won't be disappointed when you receive these beautiful papers and all the yummy embellishments she has chosen. Here's what I did with the kit:I used Jamie's kit to make my card for the Scrap Whispers Challenge from above. Here are some close up pictures of the front and middle of the tri-fold card.I made tons of cards with this kit. Here's a collage of them all:
WiseScrappers: Leah and I are working a fun mini album for a class that will be later this month. If you are local and interested in taking this class, please stop by the store or contact them for more information. I hope to have some sneak peeks of the album up here by the end of the week!

OH....BTW....a friend of mine, Nicole is having a great give away contest on her blog...check it out!!!

More Recents...

2009-01-26T22:30:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to share some recent stuff I've done. I will start with my new favorite layout of all time. ( You know how every new layout seems to become your new favorite....until your next layout.) But I really like this one and how it turned out. I double-dipped with this one making it fit Sketch #3 over on 52 S ketc hes and the newest Scrap Whisper's Challenge: "Use a Song Title".Let me just say that I *Heart* these Little Yellow Bicycle "Love Letters" papers! I just can't say it enough!

I'm still doing pretty good at making birthday cards. This one was for a friend:I also did a quick alter of this little notebook as a small gift for her:And these are the layouts and cards I made using Jamie Scraps January Kit. I love the color combinations in this kit. It was very fun to work with!

Blogger Awards and some Layouts

2009-01-20T22:56:00.000-06:00

What a week! I've been blogging for over two years now and have never received a "blog award". And then all of a sudden, in less than one week's time, I have received 3 blog awards! So, Thank You to those people out there that actually come over here to read and see my scrappy stuff from time to time. Y'all are awesome!

Both Chelsey and Marie tagged me with this "Fab" award. Thanks Chelsey and Marie!!
I'm suppose to name 5 Addictions:

Mountain Dew (Chelsey, I see you are like me). I'm trying to give it up...or at least cut back!
Scrapbooking....I just have to do it. It's my passion, my obsession and my way to unwind after a tiring day!
My Family.....love 'em all!
New stuff.....seeing all the sneak peeks from CHA is killing me! I want it all!
Shopping...I love to buy stuff: scrap, clothes, house stuff, office supplies! It's so much fun!

And now to tag 5 more people, but I've not been a very good blog reader lately! So, instead, the next 5 comments I receive can consider themselves tagged!! I know I'm cheating, but please, give me a break! ;)

Lydia tagged me with this Funky Award. Thanks Lydia!!Same story....if you comment, you are now the proud winner of this same Funky Award!!!!!

Now on to some layouts.

I got to come up with Challenge #13 going on now over on Scrap Whispers. Since the 23rd is National Handwriting Day, my challenge is to journal on your layout with your own handwriting. Here is my example:I wrote to Annessa and Amelia about the special bond between sisters. Head on over to SW to do this challenge. Bittersweet is the prize for one lucky winner!!

I have some happy news to share! WiseScrappers, my local scrapbook store has asked me to be on their design team! Woo Hoo! I'm really excited about working together with Brenda and Sheryl. AND....Leah! She was asked to join them too. The above layout for SW was using products from their store. We are in the process of putting together some kits with our layouts as examples. I did this other layout on Saturday using the Basic Grey Periphery Line.
I used the scraps I had left over to make this card. Simple.

A Few More Things....

2009-01-16T10:26:00.000-06:00

I feel like I always have so much I need to update on. I guess if I blogged a little more often, I wouldn't feel this way. ;) But anyhow, here goes.

First of all, here is another layout I did using the Sketch #2 on 52 Sketches. I used the red, blue and cream colors to fit the Color Combo January Challenge on ScrapCity. I also used papers from the December Jamie Scraps Kit. Don'tcha just love it when you can do a layout to incorporate so much goodness!!
I also wanted to share a few other projects I did last week. Most all of these were for ScrapCity challenges. This is an altered bin to hold the cards I make.I'm trying to be good about making cards this year. I created this little mini-book to hold all the important birthdates in. I used the Stampin Up calendar stamp and made a page for each month. Then I just added in all the birthdates.

Here are some of the cards I've made so far. Remember, I am just now getting started with the card-making. These are so plain. There are so many better card-makers out there that I hope to learn some tips from.

If you know me, you know how much I'm hooked on monthly kits. December was a bad month for me....I ordered I don't know how many kits. I am still working on using them up before I order more. BUT....I couldn't help myself when I saw this kit on Paper Popsicles. It looked like so much fun! I am so glad that I did order it. Here are a few layouts I did using it so far.

I used a scraplift challenge over on ScrapCity to complete this layout. The funny thing is, that it was a scraplift of one of my own layouts! That was fun though! This is also for a challenge going on at Paper Popsicles that has to do with a First. This was Amelia's first Biter Biscuit. And speaking of Paper Popsicles, they are having a fantastic give-away right now. You can check out more about it on their blog.

Sketch #2

2009-01-13T22:12:00.000-06:00

I'm loving Julie's sketches over on 52 Sketches...52 Weeks! Check out Sketch #2:
Here's my take:
I picked up the Basic Grey Bittersweet collection over the weekend. I couldn't wait to use it. I'm happy how this turned out. I enjoyed the sketch and it is so neat to see the different takes on it in the gallery. I did another layout with it tonight too. My camera batteries are dead so I'll have to wait to get a picture of it.

Challenges Rock!!

2009-01-12T08:01:00.000-06:00

If you know me, you know that I love to use challenges and sketches to get me going! There are SO many awesome challenge/sketch sites out there. Just use them and you will be hooked....just like me! Here are a few layouts I did this week using either a sketch or a challenge.

Scrap Whispers offers a new challenge each week. This week's challenge is none other than one of the most famous TV shows, The Brady Bunch. You have got to go and check out the DT's work. There were so many great interpretations. I used the 9 square grid like you see during the open credits. I also went to Dafont.com to download the "Brady Bunch" font. I love how this helped put so many photos on one layout!The papers I used here are Chatterbox and so are the embellishments. I printed the words on Bazzill and then cut them out. I outlined the letters with the white Uniball pen.

Julie Bonner has been doing the 52 Sketches site for a while, but she did a total make-over and has drawn many newcomers to her site, including me! Last week, she posted Sketch #1. Yesterday she posted the Second Sketch...be sure to go check it out. I loved the way this layout turned out for me. I was struggling with it but it just came together and has quickly climbed its way up to the top of my favorites list. The papers are Dream Street and came out of the Dixie Pieces April 2008 kit.

Update Part Two

2009-01-05T10:00:00.000-06:00

Here are a few more things I did during the month of December that I didn't fit into the last post. First of all, I forgot one of the layouts I did using the Cosmo Cricket for ScrapCity. I love this one. I also used Sketch #121 from Scrapbook Challenges to create this layout.Scrap Whispers has started back up with Round 5. You can read here if you do not remember what this site is all about. While we are waiting on the layout to make it's way around the team, we do weekly challenges. Last Sunday was Challenge #10: To use the game Scrabble as your inspiration. Here is my layout I did for this challenge:Challenge #11 went up today. The challenge was to tell about your New Year's Resolutions. I did a layout about being silly. I want to spend more time with my kids having fun throughout this year. This is one of my goals for the new year.Georgina is doing a fantastic job with this website. We welcome you to join us on the challenges. You may just win a prize if you do!

The Creative Team over on ScrapCity made cards for the month of January. Making cards is one of my downfalls. I do not do it nearly enough. This is another goal of mine: to do more cards this year. Here are four cards that I made using a kit sent out to us by the owner, Wendy.We also have 11 different challenges for the month of January. You can do layouts for these challenges to get you name in the hat for a prize drawing at the end of the month. I did the sketch challenge and the quote/saying challenge. For the sketch challenge, I used Sketch #005 from Scrapbooks Etc. Here is the sketch:And here is my layout for this sketch:
For the quote/saying challenge, I want you to choose a saying or a quote that has the word happiness in it. Here is the quote I chose for my layout:
"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude." -Denis Waitley
And here is my layout:
Kids Can Scrap is now in it's 4th Challenge! It is going so well over there. I love that we have so many kids participating. December was our greatest month with over 40 entries! If you've not been over there lately, go check out the galleries set up on the right side bar for the past challenges. For January, Annessa and I came up with the challenge of a teamwork layout. The mom or adult helper will begin the layout. They will stop at a point and take a picture of it. Then the child gets to finish it up however they choose. And then after another picture of the final product, you can send them to Kids Can Scrap. Check out what Annessa and I did for this challenge. Here is the layout after I finished:And here is the final layout after Annessa finished:
I think she did a fabulous job with it!

Last but certainly not least, one of my LSS, WiseScrappers, is holding a Layout Contest. I spent nearly an hour in there the other day picking out paper to use for my layout and talking with one of the owners, Brenda. They are looking to try some new things for the new year and I enjoyed chatting about some exciting things with her. They have a new website and a blog. Today I found out that my layout for the contest is up on both their website and blog! How cool is that?! Thanks Ladies....you guys are awesome. I look forward to seeing you lots more in the future! BTW, they were also one of the gracious prize sponsors for our grand opening over on Kids Can Scrap in November! Here's the layout I did for the contest:
Incidentally, this was my first layout of 2009! Hopefully there will a lot more to come!

Where Oh Where Did December Go?

2009-01-02T00:07:00.000-06:00

It certainly flew by for me! I stayed pretty busy getting things ready for Christmas. I made several gifts this year. I'm kicking myself for not getting pictures of everything I made, but here are a few to share with you.

The first two pictures are of a clipboard/calendar I made for Andrew's Kindergarten teacher using Cosmo Cricket's Jack's World. This was our sponsor for the month of December over at ScrapCity.
This second clipboard was made for Annessa's Third Grade Teacher. I used some Chatterbox paper to cover it. Love those colors together!

For the last several years, my two sister-in-laws and I have been exchanging homemade gifts for each other at Christmas. This year I made them family trees. I loved how they turned out and plan to make one for myself soon!

I also made my nieces and nephews gifts, but that is what I do not have a picture for. I made the girls memo/message boards out of pizza sheets. I covered them in paper, punched holes around the edges for lots of ribbon and made magnets to match. For the nephew and my boys, I made them dart boards using foam darts with magnets on the ends.

I was able to scrap some this month with my friend Jamie using her December's Jamie Scraps Kit. I loved everything in it especially those felt snowflakes. Here are the layouts I did and some cards I made too:
As I mentioned earlier, Cosmo Cricket was our December Sponsor over at ScrapCity. They sent us an awesome pack of supplies. Here is what I created with them:I have several more things to share but it's getting late. I'll update more soon!

It's Been A While....

2008-12-29T10:30:00.001-06:00

I know that I've nearly let the whole month of December go by without posting much! It has been a very wild and crazy month to say the least. BUT.....the holidays are nearly over and I am ready to do some major scrapping! I've already done 3 layouts since Christmas! I have a whole list of things to do this week too. Give me a day or two and I will get some more stuff up here on my blog. I have LOTS that I want to share with you. See you all real soon!

Random Scrappy Musings

2008-12-01T16:22:00.001-06:00

Just wanted to share a few random layouts that I've not posted yet.

Layouts, Layouts, Layouts...

2008-11-23T22:27:00.000-06:00

I've not had too much time to get a whole lot done. Here are a few that I have done but haven't posted here yet.

This layout was my submission for Scrap Whispers Challenge #8 which was to use a handmade pillow from Etsy as my inspiration.
This layout is using Scrapbook Challenges #117 and I also used it for my "Family Feud" challenge over on the ScrapCity Crop this week.For challenge #7 on Scrap Whispers, I did this layout which was inspired by a cartoon character.
This layout is done using a PageMap and was one of the ScrapCity's CT reveals.
Another layout for the ScrapCity CT reveal, we had to do a layout about one of our obsessions.
With Thanksgiving coming up this week, I'm not sure what I'll be able to get done. I do have a huge Scrappy To-Do list though! I'll have more to share as soon as I can.....

A New Look to Scrap Whispers

2008-11-09T22:43:00.001-06:00

I just wanted to share the news with you that Scrap Whispers has a brand new look! It's so great and is just the beginning of some new and exciting things that are about to start happening over there. Please go check it out. Also, now is the time to sign up for the next round of the Scrap Whispers scraplifting! Remember that the object here is to send around a layout one person at a time to scraplift so you can see the progression of the "Scrap Whipser" at the end. If you head on over to this thread, you can sign up to play. And when you do, be sure to tell them that Telah sent you!

And while I'm at it, there are great weekly challenges with wonderful prizes to take advantage of on the Scrap Whispers blog. Here is what I did for Challenge #6-Sticky Situations:

A Few New Layouts....

2008-11-06T12:47:00.000-06:00

Here are some layouts and a card I did recently using the Sweet Pea Scraps October Kit. I loved that kit. It seemed like after each layout I did, I liked the kit that much more. I still have a good bit left so I should be able to do some more soon.

2008-11-06T10:22:00.000-06:00

Mark your calendars now for this crop over on ScrapCity! All of the games and challenges are based on Television Game Shows or Board Games. I've gotten some sneak peeks at what some of the games and challenges will be and you are going to love them. We will all have so much fun during this week. So head on over and sign up to play in this thread: Tracking Thread

Some Halloween Goodies

2008-10-31T11:09:00.000-05:00

Here are a few things I've made this year for Halloween. I signed up for this workshop with Jamie to create a Spooky Spider Jar, but I was unable to attend. I got all my supplies from Jamie and finally put it together today. I love the look with all the candy inside! With some of the leftover supplies, I made this card using the sketch from a Card Challenge on ScrapCity and 2 Sketches 4 You . I'm going to let Andrew give it to his teacher at his party later today.And speaking of cards, I made this one for the Inkadink challenge last week. Annessa is going to give it to her teacher today.And lastly, here are their treat bags they'll be giving out today at their parties. I printed the wording, "Have a Safe and Happy Halloween From Your Friend Annessa/Andrew" on the cardstock, cut it out and added the stamps from Close To My Heart.I picked up these cute bags at Big Lots on sale yesterday. They are made out of a canvas material and I am planning to get them monogrammed on the back with the kids names. Maybe "Annessa's Loot" and so on!

Some Recent Layouts

2008-10-28T21:18:00.000-05:00

I got some scrapping done this week. Here's a run down on what I've done lately.

Challenge #3 over on YMBD. This contest had to be cancelled due to some unfortunate circumstances. Too bad because I had moved onto round #4. Oh, well. Here is the layout I had done:
This next layout is a Two-fer. I used Sketch #114 over on Scrapbook Challenges and used the "recipe" for the Scrap Whispers Challenge #4.
I also did a few layout for the Scrapbook Circle Boo Bash that was held over the weekend. Here are the three I did. Hey, and I was lucky enough to win 3 RAKs! I smell happy mail on it's way to me!
Dixie Pieces is celebrating their one year birthday with a month-long challenge celebration. Here are a couple layouts I've done for them.

I've got several more layouts I want to get done this week. And for this reason, my housework is surely suffering! Hope you are having a great week!

Please Go Vote!

2008-10-25T12:12:00.000-05:00

It's that time again. YMBD is taking votes for the layout you like the best for Challenge #3 in the "So You Think You Can Scrap?" Contest. This week's challenge was to complete a layout using something other than the normal squares, rectangles, circles, ovals, etc. that are generally used as the main focus on the page. Eight contestants will be eliminated after the vote. You have until Sunday evening to go vote (remember only one vote). Here's the link: Vote Here

Scrap Update

2008-10-20T22:47:00.000-05:00

Where oh Where to begin! I feel like every time now that I come over here to post, I have a billion things that I want to share! I guess if I posted more often, I wouldn't feel that way, now would I?!

First of all, I'll share my layouts I did over the past week. This first one is from the "So You Think You Can Scrap?" contest over on YMBD. Challenge #2 was to use your favorite ice cream flavor to inspire your layout. Here's what I did:Any guesses as to what my favorite flavor is? The vote was this weekend. Would you believe that I totally forgot about the whole thing and didn't get my vote in?! I'm so ashamed.....But happy that someone voted for me. Enough to get me to the next round! I'll be working on Challenge #3 this week.

The next layout is what I turned in for Challenge #3 over at Scrap Whispers (on time this go around I might add). Tic-Tac-Toe was the theme to use as your inspiration. Here's what I did:While I was working on it, Nessa came down and asked me what I was doing. I explained the challenge and what I had decided to do with it. She told me she wanted to do one too, so she did. It was SO good. I emailed it along with mine to Georgina and she asked if we could put it up with the rest of the DT as a guest layout. Don't you know that just made her day! Here is Nessa's layout but be sure to go see it over on Scrap Whispers too. And while you're at it, jump in there and do this challenge! There's a cool RAK up for grabs!

Lastly, I finished up my layout for Sketch #113 over on Scrapbook Challenges. Simple, yet it still took me three days to complete!
And now for some BIG news! If you have children that scrapbook, if you know children that like to scrapbook or just some crafty kids in general, Mark your calendars now for November 1st. This is the start of our (Me and DD) Challenge Blog for Kids! There are tons out there for us big scrappers, but not that many, if any at all for kids. So the idea for KidsCanScrap was born and the concept has been growing nicely. I have felt around to see if many would be interested and have gotten a good response. I have also gotten confirmation on some pretty awesome prize sponsors! Two of them are Scrapbook Circle Kits and American Crafts! Check out the new Teen Line from AC:Are you as excited as Nessa and I are?! I hope so! Come on over and visit KCS and be sure to bookmark it so you can come back on November 1st for our first challenge!!!

A Couple Layouts from the Weekend

2008-10-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

Friday night was our monthly crop night. I had done so many layouts the week before that I really didn't have anything that had to be done, so I just enjoyed myself and scrapped whatever. I did really want to go ahead and do this above layout because I had taken some pictures of Amelia in the cutest outfit ever and already had in mind what patterened paper I wanted to use on a layout. Am I the only one that does that? Is it bad to buy clothes because you can already picture what a great page it will make? LOL, anyway....I finished two layouts.

Isn't it wonderful to have a BFF to scrap with? I get together with Leah nearly once a week. And if we don't get together physically, we usually try to scrap together virtually using IM or Skype. As Leah did her layouts, I watched and loved what she was doing, so why not scraplift her? I scraplift people I don't know all the time, so why not?? So if you go over to her blog, you may see a couple of hers that resemble these. Thanks Leah for your inspo!!I've only done two layouts this week so far. I plan to try and scrap tonight? Anyone up for skype?

Who's Up For A Challenge?

2008-10-13T23:20:00.000-05:00

Ok, so if you know me well, you know that I LOVE challenges! There's nothing like a good challenge to get that mojo going and to get some serious layouts done. So anyway, I wanted to share a few with you that are going on now!

1)Scrap Whispers: Head on over and check out this week's challenge-to create a layout with no faces. Georgina just announced today that these challenges are up for everyone to participate in now AND she's got an awesome RAK to give away to one lucky winner this week. Here's what I did for this one:
2)Scrapbook Challenges: Need a Sketch? How about this one over on SC. There are also two great challenges given by two of the talented DT members over there.

3)I am a new DT member over on Scrapcity and they have tons of challenges offered up on their forum. Please go check them out too!

There are lots more out there too! I have some of my favorite challenge sites listed in my sidebar. I wanna know which challenges you participate in. Leave me some links in the comments about some of your favorite challenge sites!

What's Been Going On?!?

2008-10-09T09:20:00.000-05:00

A whole lotta' scrappin' is what! I have gotten so busy with challenges and contests and submissions here lately, I had to go buy myself a calendar to put down what I want to get done and when I need it done by! Do I sound as crazy to you as I sound to myself? Ha!

First of all, I've been famed! Check out Unpubbed to see me as the featured famer! Ahh....I'm soaking up my 15 minutes of fame..... Here's the layout that I won with:
And here is the layout that I picked as my recent favorite to share on the site:I used my new October kit from Sweet Pea Scraps to make it. I cut out a lot of flowers, swirls and even the tree branch, but it was so worth it. I love the colors in it too! If you are looking for a kit, you need to get this one!

And speaking of kits.....I got to pick up my kit from Jamie Scraps last week and I just about tore that thing to pieces. What I mean is that I used so much of it, all I have left is scraps....and I am even planning to use those too! It is so good that I just cannot let it go to waste! Here are some of the creations I did with it:
This kit is fabulous and works so well with this time of year! It too is a must have! Go on over there and place your order now!

I haven't officially announced that I was picked as a DT member for the challenge site, Scrap Whispers. It all happened so fast. I submitted, I was picked, I accepted, I had to do the first challenge and get it returned all in a matter of a few days. So a little info: Scrap Whispers is a great challenge blog that uses the idea of the "telephone" game where you sit in a circle and whisper a phrase into the ear of the one next to you until it gets all the way around and then you announce what you heard and laugh at how it progressed into something different from what it was originally. Well, this is all done with a layout and gets scraplifted by each member of the team. In the end, the layouts are all revealed and you get to see each persons take on the one passed to them and how the "whisper" progressed. You can read more information about it here. The whole process takes about 2 months and there are also weekly challenges to do in the meantime. Points are awarded to the winning team and then there is also an individual winner who has the most points. I will be reminding you all when it is time for sign ups to play again so you can all join in and play this fun scrappy game!

I used the above layout from Jamie's kit, as my example for the Scrap Whispers 1st Challenge. The challenge was to use Nancy Drew as your inspiration.

There is a new sketch over on Scrapbook Challenges and this is my week to host a challenge. You can see my challenge HERE.

Thanks to all those who went over to YMBD and voted in the "So You Think You Can Scrap?" Contest! I made it to Round 2. This week's challenge is to do a layout based on your favorite ice cream flavor. I'm a chocolate kind of girl, so that's what I did. I can't post my layout here until after the voting takes place this weekend. Don't forget to go over and vote for your favorite layout! Just look for the link to vote for Challenge #2.

So You Think You Can Scrap?

2008-10-04T07:10:00.000-05:00

There's a contest going on over on Your Memories By Design. This is round #1 where everyone enters their favorite layout and then they are all voted on over this weekend. The bottom 8 will be announced on Monday and out of the contest. So head on over there and vote for the layout that you like the best! There are 53 great layouts to choose from!

A New Month and Some News to Share

2008-10-01T02:00:00.000-05:00

I'm excited to tell you about my dear friend Jamie and her new business venture! She has created her own kit club as a demonstrator for Stampin' Up and today is when the first kit debuts. I'm so excited for her and wish her the best of luck with this new endeavor. And I've been honored as she asked me to be one of her designers for her kits! I will be meeting up with her today to get my supplies. I will be making layouts/projects for her to use as examples on her website. I am SO excited to get started on this project.

AND, today also brings you the new challenge over on Inkadink where I am guest designing this month. Please go over there and check it out! I know that the team has done some awesome work and will have some great RAKs for prizes at the end of this challenge.

And speaking of RAKs, Kim S. is the winner of the RAK giveaway from September 1st. Contact me, Kim to set up a delivery of your goods!

Most Recent Layouts

2008-09-29T21:11:00.000-05:00

Well, I finished up the challenges over on the Scrapbook Nook. I find out what place I finish tomorrow. It was a lot of fun, although I know I am nowhere near the top! There are some really awesome scrappers over there.
**ETA: I finished in 19th place!**I wasn't able to start scrapping until Thursday, but I still got quite a bit done between then and now. Here you go:

This was Core Class: Music. We had to use a song title for our title on the layout. I used Shania Twain's "You're Still The One". The next three layouts are all using the Pink Paislee Vintage Moon. I LOVE that stuff!

This was an elective class about your education or job title. I did this layout to show my transition from being a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA...which I still am, actually) to being a Stay At Home Mom.

This layout was for Core Class: Foreign Language. You could not use any words of your own tongue. I titled mine Dormido which is Spanish for asleep and then added Uno, Dos & Tres. I journaled in English and it is tucked behind the picture.

This elective was for Theatre Ed. Use a famous quote from a movie in your title. I used part of the quote, "Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'" from The Shawshank Redemption.

The last Core Class was Library Science: Make a Mini Album, must use softness (ribbon) and stamps. I did this one for Andrew. It was nowhere near as good as the other gals, BUT Andrew LOVED it and that's what matters MOST!!!

I found a new challenge site (well, new to me), SYC, a while ago but haven't done anything for it yet. This was a challenge to doodle on the layout. I broke out those doodle genies for this one!

This layout is for Sketch #110 that is up now over on Scrapbook Challenges. It gets me in the mood for Halloween!

I love how this layout turned out. I love the "Superman" colors about it. I did it for the Unpubbed famer lift for this week.

That's about all for now. I did the OLW challenge too, but haven't got a pic of it yet. I'll show it along with any others I get done this week at a later time. Hope you have a great week! Go get Scrappy!!!

Inkadink Challenge #1

2008-09-26T15:29:00.000-05:00

Here is my layout all about me for the Inkadink September Challenge.

Now go on over there and get this challenge done! They have an awesome RAK just waiting on you!

Ode to all My Scrappy Chicks!

2008-09-25T12:14:00.000-05:00

This is the outside cover of an accordian album that I made about my scrappy friends in a class back last fall. I've yet to post it, but when I saw the first challenge over at The Pretty Committee, I knew this had to be the one! I love this little diddy because it shows all of our silliness when we get together to scrapbook! I love each and everyone of you guys! So, if you haven't seen this before, here you go:

Front Cover:
Inside pages:

These are the back pages turned vertical:
Now, you need to head over to The Pretty Committee. They are a new challenge blog and you have to check out the work of their awesome DT!

Layouts from Last Week and Some News!

2008-09-22T12:07:00.000-05:00

We finished up Week 2 over at Nook University. I am in no way winning the challenge, but I am having such an awesome time and getting lots of layouts done! Before I show what I have done, I just want to add something. I have heard or read several people saying that they want to scrapbook, but they just can't seem to get themselves motivated to do so. Let me say, "I know the feeling". I was SO feeling the same way for most of this year. I did seem to do some when we would all get together to scrap, but hardly took time at home to scrap by myself. And then in August, Leah encouraged me to join her in the Dixie Pieces online crop. I completed maybe 4 or 5 of their challenges and came away with a year subscription to Scrapbooks, Etc. and a nice RAK. This got me inspired and I found other challenges to participate in and haven't stopped. It is so much fun and it keeps me motivated to do more. I may win some, but mostly I don't. My satisfaction comes in seeing how productive I have been. So if you are one of those who feel the same way as I did for most of 2008, jump in there and do a challenge and just see what happens! If you are like me, there won't be any stopping you after that!

Ok, on to some layouts. This first one was for an elective in Dance 101. The rules were to use a number #1-8 (because dance is based on 8 steps) and if you did it about dance you got extra credit. I used all 8 numbers and did mine about Annessa and her friends doing Libby Lu and then getting to perform their dance.This layout was for History and was a Core Class, meaning it had to be done in order to go on to the next week. We had to scrapbook about us, our heritage and use something old on the layout. The picture had to be at least 20 years old. I used a picture of me when I was about 4. I don't really like scrapping old pictures, but I was glad to do something a little different from my norm. My old something is a page from The World Book Encyclopedia from 1968....I used it to cut out flowers.Another Core Class was Chemistry. We had to scrap about someone whom we have chemistry with, about meeting them and why we like them. I did some pictures from our wedding. I love all that red in this layout.This layout was done for extra credit in History. We had to use a Michael Jackson song title. I used The Way You Love Me because it went so well with these pictures. The journaling says, "Little Miss Amelia, I absolutely love the way that you love me! I love you so very much that I could just eat you up. Obviously, you love me that much too! Love, Mamma."
This elective for Psychology/Socioloy was to scrap about a ritual or routine. I chose our yearly ritual of pumpkin carving to do.
This was an interesting assignment. Another core class...Economics. We were to use a sketch and do a layout specifically about what we love and what we hate to spend money on. I took pictures of different things and journaled around the picture why I loved/hated to spend money on it. The things I loved were kit clubs, clothing for the children, clothing for me, and things for the house. The things I hated to spend on were home repairs, copays, gas and taxes. This isn't a layout that fits into the albums I have, but I think that it will be neat to look back on.
For extra credit, we had to make a birthday card that had a place to hold money. I'm not a card-maker, but here is what I did.
That is all for Nook U. We have some interesting assignments this week to work on.

This is the layout I did for Scrapbook Challenges Sketch #109. Come on over and give us your interpretation to this awesome sketch. There are also 2 great challenges posted as well. Remember, for every layout you do, you get your name in the drawing this month for an awesome RAK from American Crafts. See the picture of all you get here!
And last, but most certainly not least, I've been asked to be the very first Guest Designer over on the new challenge site, Inkadink Designs. Please stop by and see all the work of the talented design team! Currently they are on Challenge #1 which is a great one. I will be working this week on it as well as the challenge Andrea has issued to me for next month.

Please Go Vote!

2008-09-13T20:46:00.000-05:00

My new friend Pamela Young, who is the owner of Scrapbook Challenges where I am a DT, is in a contest over on Scrapbooks, Etc. She is one of the 10 finalists left competing for $2500! The last assignment was for them to complete a mini-album about themselves. You can see this mini on the Scrapbooks, Etc. site and even more of it on Pamela's blog. Please go HERE to vote for her. She's an awesome scrapper and deserves to win this one! BTW, you can go back everyday until the 20th, so bookmark it and go back daily to vote! THANKS!

Published!

2008-09-12T07:42:00.000-05:00

I sent in a few layouts (15 to be exact) to an online scrapping magazine called Scrapbook News and Review in hopes that they may pick one of my layouts to put in their next issue. Well, much to my surprise, I received an email on Monday that they not only wanted one of my layouts but they chose 14 out of the 15 that I sent! I was blown away to say the least. The issue #6 releases tomorrow. The only problem is none of you will be able to see it unless you purchase a subscription. Ha! I guess you'll just have to take my word for it that the layouts are actually in there. Or you could pay the $4.99 a month and see for yourself. LOL

Back To School

2008-09-11T13:39:00.000-05:00

Yep, that's right. Leah and I have started back to school. We are attending Nook University over at My Scrapbook Nook. This was our first week of assignments. There are 3 core classes that we must complete to stay enrolled in this contest. And then several extra credit challenges and elective challenges that can give us more points. Here are the layouts I completed this week.

Math Class: Do a layout using multiples of 3. I used 3 papers, 3 pictures, 3 word title with 12 letters total, 3 different styles of Thickers, 6 flowers, 3 stickers, 3 ribbons and 12 staples.English Class: The assignment was to do a layout with a picture of you reading a book. The journaling also had to have at least 50 words.

Art Class: The assignment was to find a piece of art and use it as inspiration in your layout. Here is the artwork I chose by Pablo Picasso, entitled Les Menines:

And my layout based upon it.

This next layout was for an extra credit math assignment. We were to use a number sentence in the layout and explain it. I think you can figure it out.

Another elective I did was Graphics & Computer Technology. The assignment was to do a layout meeting 3 out of 5 specified criteria. I chose to use an altered photograph, computer typed journaling, and a computer graphic printed out (the swirl).

And lastly, I did an elective for Physical Ed/Health. The layout had to be about something that moves. We are sitting on a hayride wagon at the pumpkin patch.There are 4 more challenges that were given this week that I may still try to participate in...if I can find the time. ;)

First Friday of the Month

2008-09-08T14:30:00.000-05:00

....as you may know, is Scrap Night!! Woo Hoo! So, Leah and I decide that 6 hours just isn't enough, so we get there a couple hours early. We both had huge To-Do lists that we wanted to accomplish. So, 8 hours later, wanna guess how many layouts I got done? 15? 10? Nope! 5! I scrapped for 8 hours and only completed 5 layouts. That's like over an hour and a half per page! Crazy stuff. So here's what I did:This layout was done using Creative Scrappers Sketch #15. I almost didn't do it because the sketch had lots of circles where the flowers are and I just wasn't sure about that. I decided to do flowers instead and I love how this turned out. I think it is my favorite of the night. And don't you just love that Pink Paislee Pop Fashion paper!? All those materials were used from The Scrapping Spot's Sept. Kit (except for the primas and brads).
This one is another Creative Scrappers sketch. It is the sketch for the October GDT contest. I loved using this Jenny Bowlin paper. Also got some Cosmo Cricket chipboard in there and that's a Luxe journaling card. The red polka dot material is actually a velvet material. I wish you could feel it.
This layout was using Pink Sketches #3. I love the color combo here. I've been using mostly brights lately, so this seemed a little subdued. I like it though. Another JB die cut and that's Prima Marketing PP and flowers. Love those Thickers in Gold and in that Jewelry Box font.
This layout is for the Scrapbook Challenges sketch #107 that is revealed today over there! I haven't ever cut pictures up like that, but I really like how it turned out...pretty cool effect (except for poor Lilly's face that got all disconnected). I'll have to get better at that. This sketch also worked well for the Scrapjacked challenge going on now, so I'm going to link it over there today as well.
And last but not least, this one is for Pencil Lines 100th sketch! They are giving away all kinds of prizes for people who sent in layouts for this sketch. I hope I'm one of the lucky ones to win!

My First DT Layout and a RAK!

2008-09-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to bring to you today my first layout as a DT member and the sketch it is based on. Pamela from Scrapbook Challenges does awesome sketches. Here is what she sent me.
And here is what I came up with:
Now, in honor of this first for me, I am going to give away a RAK. What you have to do in order to get your name in the drawing is this: Do a layout using this sketch, post it over at Scrapbook Challenges and then leave me a comment with the link to it. Easy enough, don't you think?! Want another chance in the drawing? Then you can participate in my challenge for the week over there too. My challenge is for you to use up those leftover numbers in your pack of Thickers (or whatever your favorite alpa-pack is). You know how you use all those letters and then are left with a bunch of numbers. Create a title for a layout using as many numbers as you can and be creative! Here's my example for you:As you can see, I used the numbers 2, 4, 5 (as S), 3 (as E) and 0. Now let's see what you can do.

And to get you motivated, here is a picture of your RAK. All kinds of goodies in here, I tell you! If I wasn't the one giving it away, I'd be entering this contest myself!!!
Deadline will be Sunday, September 7 at 9 PM. I'll draw the winner and post it on Monday morning. Good Luck, now get to scrappin'!!!

Guess What?!

2008-08-26T22:40:00.000-05:00

I've been selected as a Design Team Member over at Scrapbook Challenges. This is a cool place that provides weekly sketches and challenges to help motivate and inspire you as a scrapbooker. The group is on MySpace and I would love it if all of you would come on over and join me in the fun. I will have a layout up for the September 1 sketch and will be presenting a challenge on that day as well. Thanks to Pamela for giving me this awesome opportunity!

More Layouts

2008-08-26T13:17:00.000-05:00

Leah and John came over again Friday night and we did our usual scrapbooking until we just couldn't stay awake. Here are the layouts I completed.

Did this one for the Unpubbed open call.This one has a transparency overlay. That is why the picture is kinda blurry.

Love using this SEI patterned paper on this one.
And then some Sassafras paper....
This layout seemed all over the place for me, but I like how it turned out.

Some Recent Layouts

2008-08-21T08:43:00.000-05:00

Leah came over yesterday and we did some scrapping. I love it when she comes over...we seem to be so productive. Even if we have to quit several times to take care of the kids...4 between the two of us! Here's what I did:

This layout was for a new sketch challenge site called, Pink Sketches. This was challenge #1. I used pieces from at least two different kits from Sweet Pea Scraps. Some Sassafras and Crate Paper.
This two-page layout was inspired by a PageMaps sketch, but then I totally went off on my own. Just so good to get those Easter pics from 2007 out of the way! Besides the Bazzil, the paper all came from a SPS kit...Crate Paper. Both stamp sets were Autumn Leaves.
This layout was completely on my own. I sometimes find myself depending on sketches or other challenges, so it is nice to do one totally by yourself. Most all of these products were from the August Sweet Pea kit. Wasn't sure what I was gonna do with that owl, but I liked how this one turned out. LOVE all that Sassafras!!
I actually completed this layout last weekend, but haven't posted it yet. I thought I was doing a recent Unpubbed when I did it, but later discovered that I lifted the winner's layout. Oh well, cause I really like how this one turned out too. Used some Making Memories, Basic Grey, and MME.
Thanks for looking. Hope to do some more this weekend!

Sweet Pea Scraps

2008-08-05T15:14:00.000-05:00

I just recieved this awesome kit from Sweet Pea Scraps in the mail yesterday. So today I had an itching to break it open. I decided to complete one of the challenges on their blog and at the same time, jack Leah. Leah has become such a great scrapper in just a short time. I remember going on a scrap retreat with her several years ago and she sat on the couch and watched movies while the rest of us scrapped. And now look at her! She's in the process of being published and has made it to be a Design Team member! Her layouts are so awesome. They give you so much to look at but are so clean and fresh. So I picked one of the layouts she completed this weekend and lifted it. Here's my take on it.

Thank You Leah!!!

2008-08-04T22:48:00.001-05:00

Friday night was our monthly crop and Leah encouraged me to participate in the Online Crop over at Dixie Pieces. I am SO glad I did. First of all, it really got me going and I was able to finish 6 layouts that night. Then I did another one plus a mini-album on Sunday night to finish up the crop. Today, they started posting some of the winners. They drew my name for the 1-Year subscription to Scrapbooks Etc.! Woo Hoo! I also won a RAK for the Self-Portrait Layout (for creative title). I seriously LOVE that place. And you know me...while I was there, I had to go ahead and order the kit for this month. I totally love those colors and can't wait to get it. So without further ado, here are my recently finished layouts:

I used the Pencil Lines Sketch # 52 for this layout.This is the layout I did for the Self-Portrait challenge and won the RAK for the creative title.

I used Pencil Lines Sketch # 09 for this layout.
This layout was a Sketch Challenge for the online crop at Dixie Pieces.
This was a challenge to use the words "Summer" or "Splash".
This layout was for the challenge "men 2 med". You had to create a title using these letters.And here is the mini that I did. I used the May kit from Dixie Pieces and then some other various products.

I can't wait until they do another online crop. I will SO be there and I encourage you to do it with us. It really does help boost creativity and it's fun to make new online friends!

Some Much Needed Scrapping....

2008-04-21T10:17:00.000-05:00

Well, I think I finally have my Scrap Mojo back! I told you about doing 10 layouts last weekend. This weekend I finished 11. Now, many of them were 2pg spreads and were done to hurry up and finish them. But nonetheless, I did it! I even finished up the year of 2006! That's a great feat for me!!! I will post a few of my favorites here, but the rest you can see in my portfolio on SiStv.
Ok. So that was a lot of favorites. Oh well.