Sketch N Scrap Layout Challenge #201

Hi everyone! Thanks for coming by today to check out the latest sketch up on the Sketch N Scrap blog today. It's Sketch #201, designed by sketch artist Heather Hall:

And here is my take on it:

For this layout I used a photo taken at Ellis Island with the Manhattan skyline in the background on our family vacation in 2017.  I used some fabulous chipboard and papers from Vicki Boutin's Let's Wander line (LOVE it!!)  I had the hardest time picking out a background paper to use, so I decided to use one of Vicki's foundation papers and watercolor my own!  I used several different shades of Distress Oxides and a large brush to put some neutral brushstrokes on the background.  

I also added some texture with some tinted texture paste and machine stitching:

I hope you are as inspired to create with this sketch as I was, and that you show us what you can do with it at Sketch N Scrap! Hope to see you there!

Sketch N Scrap Card Sketch #169

Hi everybody! There's a brand new card sketch up on the Sketch N Scrap blog today designed by Heather Hall:

Isn't that so cheerful with the large flower & banner?  I immediately thought of a brand new stamp I got from CTMH that I wanted to use:

I used a few Spectrum Noir triblend markers to color the sunflower (light yellow and earth brown for the center) and I used dull green for the leaves.  The paper is some older CTMH that I've had in my scrap bin, along with a random woodgrain for the flag sentiment.

Come join us at Sketch N Scrap and show us what you can do with this sketch, hope to see you there!

Sketch N Scrap Challenge #199

Hi everyone! Thanks for stopping by today, I have a fun new sketch to share with you that's up on the blog today at Sketch N Scrap! Here's challenge #199, designed by Heather Hall:

And here's my take on it:

I mentioned a while back that I really try to challenge myself to use something older from my stash with each project, even if it's a tool.  On this layout I used up the last of my Simple Stories 24/7 papers!  The grid, the pattern & the notebook are from that line, I just love the colors!  There are old Prima brads on here, an old Kaisercraft camera die cut, the title is a CTMH wood veneer I painted black. I think it all came together pretty well for being different lines and manufacturers! When I saw the large banner on the sketch I decided I'd create a notebook page and finally write down the story behind these pictures, which I've been meaning to do for a while.

The picture on the left is of my Dad, around 1955.  The center picture is my son, and that's my son & I together on the right.  I normally will type journaling because I really do NOT like my handwriting...at all...I'm so jealous of scrapbookers who have lovely handwriting...not me! LOL  This story, however, was too personal to not put down in my own writing, and I'm glad I did.  My son has such a fond remembrance and connection with my Dad, who passed in 2008.  When he asked his coach for the #25 jersey to honor his Grandpa, he didn't realize his first game was on what would have been Grandpa's birthday.  My brothers and I were so moved.  Our loved ones let us know they are still with us in all kinds of ways!

I love the fun part of scrapbooking, the art and design of it.  I rarely journal.  Creating pages like these remind me how important it is to Tell the Story sometimes, too.  

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come by and visit us at Sketch N Scrap to show us what you can do with this sketch! Hope to see you there!

Sketch N Scrap Card Sketch #167

Hey everybody! Thanks so much for stopping by! I have a really great card sketch to share with you all today that's up on the Sketch N Scrap blog. It's card sketch #167, designed by Heather Hall:

And here's my take on it:

This is all straight from my scrap bin!  I even die cut the sentiment out of a piece of patterned paper.  I couldn't find anything decorative I liked to create the effect at the bottom of the banner of the sketch.  I even tried using a circle die cut but couldn't get it to look right LOL  I instead decided to make the banner interesting by using a Tim Holtz die for the diamond pattern, and backed it with a scrap piece of burlap.  I like the country feel the burlap and kraft gives the card, but it's still bright, cheery & spring-like with the striped pattern & floral die cut! I think the contrast in the elements make a cohesive card!

Come join us at Sketch N Scrap and show us what you can create with this sketch, too! Hope to see you there!

March Guest Designer Layout at Stick It Down

Hi everyone! Thanks for stopping by today, I have a really FUN project to share with you that I created for Stick It Down this month:

And here's this month's single page sketch I used:

As a mom of a boy, when I saw this sketch I didn't see flowers, I saw stars!  I opened up a star background cut file, unlocked it & stretched it just slightly to give the stars a fun shape.  Then I just randomly cut sections from it to place on the angled background.

When I back small pieces of a cut file I really like to use a 6x6 or 6x8 paper pad.  The smaller prints on those papers really look great peeking through small areas like these stars:

I used the coordinating 6x8 paper pad with my Simple Stories Say Cheese 4 12x12 papers.  I flipped the paper over and traced the inside the star on the opposite side.  Then I used my Cutter Bee scissors to cut around what I had traced, so that I could glue it without a gap or any hanging over.  It was kind of tedious.....but fun....and well worth the effort.  I just love the random pops of color and patterns showing through:

I hope you are as inspired by this sketch as I was, and that you come over to Stick It Down to show us what you do!

Sketch N Scrap Card Sketch #166

Hi everybody! The last sketch is up on the Sketch N Scrap blog for March and it's a fantastic card sketch designed by Lisa Hidy:

And here's my take on it:

I like to have a variety of cards on hand, and realized recently I had no welcome baby or baby shower cards left.  These aren't supplies I generally have on hand, so when I recently made a layout using Echo Park's Baby Boy line I decided to use some scraps to make a quick card.  The sweet polka dot background was made using a background die I recently picked up from a lady on Facebook Marketplace! I purchased several dies at rock bottom prices from her, she was clearing her sizable stash of dies...score for me!

Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you play along with us at Sketch N Scrap!

Sketch N Scrap Layout Challenge #197

Hi everyone! Thanks for stopping by today, I have a new layout to share with you using the latest sketch from Sketch N Scrap:

And here is the sketch, by sketch designer Heather Hall:

Many of the pictures from my son's first year are in pocket pages.  Now, I like pocket pages....but not as much as I used to.  I'm in the process of selecting some to scrap 12x12 layouts while leaving the extra pics in 6x12 pocket sleeves.  I really like using the 6x12 size in between my layouts, there's room for extra pics, journaling that doesn't fit on the corresponding layout, so many uses.  I went back and forth whether or not to include the one of me on the layout holding him minutes after he was born.  These young Mom's on Instagram nowadays crack me up with their full hair and makeup holding their newborns.  THIS is reality, girls....plus it was 4:30 in the morning LOL

When I saw this sketch I really liked the grid design that reminds me of a pocket page, but the placement of elements breaking it up in the center really popped to me. Especially the look of the string around the circle...

For the grid pieces I wanted some kind of definition so that each one became it's own little section with it's own "personality" so to speak.  I didn't want to pen outline all 6, though, so I chose to machine stitch each one in white.  It added the definition I was looking for, but in a softer more subtle way.  They looked like pieces of a quilt to me and I love the finished look.  I used almost all Echo Park's new Baby Boy papers and stickers.  The stars are actually from Vicki Boutin's new Let's Wander travel line using the stamp & die cut set.  On a couple of them I used some watercolor pencil and a water brush in corresponding shades.  That polka dot star is going to get a lot of use from me in the future!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll come over to Sketch N Scrap and play along with this sketch and the others we have running this month.  Hope to see you there!