Scrap Our Stash August 2019 Pick A Side Challenge

Hi everyone!  I played along again this month with the Pick a Side sketch challenge at Scrap Our Stash.  Here's an image of their challenge:

And here's what I came up with, using the left side of the sketch:

The challenge requirements are to pick a side and also use 5+ patterned papers and twine.  I loved this opportunity to really dig into my stash & pull out this Photoplay Boarding Pass line I've had a couple of years.  The patterned papers I used from this line are the stripe, green map, navy blue compass, the polka dot & the plaid.  That's 5 right there...plus I used a wood grain background from EP's America the Beautiful line & a scrap of old EP grid paper for my view finder circle element & date tab.  LOVE using stash!  While I was at it, I also pulled out several pieces of wood veneer I've had for ages, too.  Thanks for stopping by!

August 2019 Scrappy Friends Challenge

Hi everyone! I played along again this month with the Scrappy Friends Challenge that combines the awesome sketch designed by Rochelle Spears posted below and the photo inspiration challenge on Scrap With Stacy's blog.  Here's what I came up with by combining both challenges:

Here's the sketch and a link to the challenge on Rochelle Spears blog:

Here's Scrap With Stacy's photo inspiration and a link to her challenge on her blog:

So many fun summer photos to draw inspiration from! I used lots in my layout...the pineapple drink sticker I used looks exactly like one of the photos!  Sunshine, pool, summer...it all came together.  I used several different kits from The ScrapRoom on my page, combining Echo Park, Simple Stories & Photoplay papers and elements. The background paper is from this month's kit, EP's Teen Spirit Girl.  The floral & stripes are from May's kit using Oh Happy Day from Simple Stories.  The "relax" I used for my title is from one of last year's SS summer lines. The yellow polka dot & blue wave papers are from my July kit using Photoplay's Squeeze in Some Sun.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch N Scrap Card Sketch Challenge #152

Hi crafty friends! It's August 20th and that means TWO things......it's my birthday AND there's a new card sketch challenge up on Sketch N Scrap!  I used the sketch to make a birthday card, of course LOL

And here's the fabulous sketch I used, designed by Lisa Hidy for Sketch N Scrap:

How many of you Cricut users have checked out all of the FREE images that are available in Design Space?  You don't have to subscribe to Cricut access....they're free....all the time!  I remember back in the day (not so long ago) when I had to have a scallop punch in order to get a scallop circle.  To get a different size scallop I'd have to buy another punch. That got pricey!  In Design Space I used the free scallop circle image and made it the exact size I wanted!  My Cricut Explore Air 2 continues to pay for itself again and again :)  If you haven't checked them out, simply select the filter in Design Space and check the box that says Free.  It's amazing how many images are available!

Moving on to the rest of my card, I used some woodgrain patterned papers along with a 6x6 paper pad from Jen Hadfield's Warm & Cozy line.  I've mentioned in previous posts that I'm really trying to stash bust, even if it's just one item, on every project. The layered flower has a Jillibean Soup canvas flower (I've had these FORever and never used them!), a prima flower & a random button. I liked the checkerboard design with my papers.  Inside the scallop I used a circle die set from Little B to get the dotted image around the edge. I haven't dusted these dies off in a while, I like the little bit of interest that the dots add to the circle.  The sentiment is an Altenew stamp and I hit the edges of my papers with different shades of brown Distress Inks.

Thanks for stopping by, and hope to see you join us at Sketch N Scrap!

Lasting Memories Challenge #457 - Trees

Hi everyone, I'm back again with another challenge for Lasting Memories.  I went in reverse to the first challenge for August, #457 - Trees:

I have trees in the background of my pictures and also a cute little tree die cut from the new Simple Stories line Happy Trails.  The plaid & floral papers are from the same line, the wood grain is an old EP fall paper and the map paper is a reeeaallly old Simple Stories camping line.  It's a scrap & so old I've forgotten the line LOL  I added a little touches with a Kaisercraft wood veneer gate piece & some little mushrooms from Jillibean's Mushroom Medley line.  The design is a Sketch N Scrap sketch designed by Lisa Hidy. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Lasting Memories Challenge #458 - Flowers

Hi everyone!  I'm playing along with a new blog challenge this week.  Lasting Memories is a really fun challenge blog that focuses only on layouts. This month their theme is Plants and they are posting a new challenge every Sunday.  I played along with this week's challenge - Flowers.

I used flowers as embellishments on my layout. Most of the patterned papers and embellishments are from Vicki Boutin's new Wildflower & Honey line.  I LOVE the rich colors & patterns in this line!  For my background, I used one of my go-to staples - Simple Stories' Snap Basics grid paper.  I also used a blending brush to add some Stormy Sky & Weathered Wood Distress Oxide inks.  I chose to use more of a "smoky" look on my background, rather than try to match the teal shades in the embellishments, to complement my black & white photo.  I think it gave it the more neutral, soft background I was going for.

I added a few droplets of water here & there to give it a bit of a watercolor look, which is really hard to see in the picture, it's more subtle with these shades than others.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch N Scrap Challenge #182

Hi everybody! It's the first of the month and that means a new sketch is up on the Sketch N Scrap blog!  Since we are in the midst of the dog days of summer, I chose to create a layout with one of my favorite summer pastimes.....baseball!

Full disclosure.....this is actually Spring Training, but in Florida it's practically summer most of the year!  Here's the sketch I used, designed by Lisa Hidy for Sketch N Scrap:

What I LOVE about this sketch is the layering and design for 4 photos, perfect for chronicling an event like this on one page.  Most of the patterned papers are from Carta Bella's recent Baseball line (the brick is a scrap of Jillibean Soup...I think LOL). But again, I wanted to challenge myself to dig out stash items & a tool or stamp I haven't used.  For my stash items I used an OLD piece of Simple Stories' Awesome line for my background.  It was literally the last piece I was hoarding from that line. I also used up some Studio Calico wood veneer stars and some foam AC Thickers for my title.  For my stamp/tool I used a CTMH baseball acrylic stamp that I just HAD to have and never used!  I was so excited to use the stamped baseballs in the spots of the sketch design where the flowers are. BUT....my dilemma was that I wanted to use the same paper as my background & it was my last piece.  So I used an old trick a fellow scrapper showed me years ago.  I cut out a square from the background....strategically....where the layering would cover the hole.  I then used that piece to stamp my baseballs & fussy cut them.

The sticker sheet from the Baseball line has SO many cute little images, perfect for embellishment layering & clustering!  I hope you are as inspired by this sketch as I was, and that you join us at Sketch N Scrap! Hope to see you there!