Current Issue...

Paper Issues has a challenge called, Current Issue.  It is such an unique challenge - it is awesome!  The challenge is incorporate the Current Issue, which for this round is titled, "Into the Woods."  The idea is to create a layout with one or more of the following:

• Use wood veneer embellishments, wood grain papers or wood grain stamps.
• Share your paper projects about camping and enjoying the outdoors.
• Use woodland animal embellishments or photos.

• Download the free Spring is Here printable, from the Paper Issues store and use one or more of the images on your project.

Of course, I just finished a layout about my son's fishing derby/camping trip!

Well, I took some liberties but here is my layout:

I used wood veneer, a woodland animal, and wood grain paper (turquoise).  In addition, this layout is about being outside in an amusement park.  I know a far stretch from the woods but none-the-less- outside.

To join me in this challenge, be sure to connect with the Paper Issues site on Facebook and link up by May 1st.

Materials Used: Project Life pocket page, Simple Stories - Summer Fresh collection (a lot of fussy cutting here), Paper Trunk - Benny alphabet, Basic Grey - Hipster wood veneer die cuts, and Momenta wood embellishments.

Love Challenges...

There is something about following challenges.  I think I enjoy them so much because they motivate me to use my stash, help me think differently, and encourage me to move along in my work.  Challenges are everywhere and sometimes, I think, it is hard to keep track of them all.  The page below was completed by following a challenge at Project Life Challenges on Facebook.

The challenge is to pick at least five items from the list below and include them on your Project Life page.  The list is as follows:

• flowers  
• hearts  
• tags
• stars  
• sequins  
• labels 
• stamps  
• gold  
• silver
• wood veneer  
• punches  
• banners

This is what I created:

I used:

1. stars
2. wood veneer
3. punches (hexagons)
4. silver (brads)
5. label

To participate in this challenge, you must be a member of the Facebook page and add a photo of your work in the comment section by April 30.  This challenge is hosted by the talented Ms. Lori Stroup.

Materials Used: Project Life pocket page, hemp, brads, hexagon punch, Basic Grey - Hipster wood die cuts, Studio Calico - die cut stickers (label), and Me & My Big Ideas pocket cards.

What A Girl Wants...

I am happy to help reveal the new challenge at Lasting Memories!  Staying with the musical theme, this week you are to be inspired by the music of 2000's.  I chose the song, "What A Girl Wants" by Christina Aguilera (#19 on the Billboard Charts for 2000).  One morning, my daughter approached me out of the blue and told me she wanted to work on one of her Girl Scout badges - and so - we did.  This day reminds me of the Aguilera's song.  Here is my work:

Since I misted the page, it is a little "wonky" so please forgive the photo.  In addition to being simply inspired, I wrote the chorus of the song along the edges of the layout.  I hope that you will join us in this challenge, I would love to see your masterpiece!  You have until April 29th to link up your work!

Materials Used: kraft paper, cardstock, Cricut - scrapbook design/page, Tattered Angles Glimmer Mist - Dazzling Diamonds, American Crafts - Flower Shoppe/Carmen flowers, and rhinestones.

Doing The Happy Dance...

Forgive me but when I finally finish an album, I get pretty excited!  Today, I finally finished my summer album from 2012 and as a result - I am doing my little happy dance!

To complete this album, I needed to do three more pages.  The first page was inspired by two challenges.  The first, is a sketch from Sketch N Scrap.  The second, was a music challenge with Scrap It With A Song.  Here is my work:

Due to the tons of sun (not complaining), the facial expressions are lost in the photos.  However, I love how my son just simply enjoys greeting the ocean and I couldn't resist scrapping these pictures.

Here is the sketch from Sketch N Scrap:

This is a fabulous sketch!  It is so simple but yet lots of room for creativity!  Check out what the design team did with this sketch!  To join me on this challenge, be sure to link up your work by April 30th.

For the second challenge which is hosted by Scrap It With A Song, I used the April Rock Song - "Hello, I love you," by the Doors.  Obviously, I used the word Hello in my title and I love my son dearly.  However, there is also line in the song that states "Let me jump in your game."  Though the song might have been referencing something entirely different, I was inspired to use this song and these photos because my son is jumping in the game/ocean.  This challenge also closes on April 30th.

As I mentioned before, I had two additional pages to do to complete my album.  With the desire to just get it done - I just quickly pulled together these pages.  No challenges - nothing fancy.  

Thanks for stopping by.

Materials Used: (main project) unknown paper manufacturer (base), DCWV paper (red), scrap paper - including the fussy cut flowers, brads, cardstock, and Cricut Jasmine/normal and Cricut Alpha/regular fonts. (other projects: DCWV papers, cardstock, Paper Trunk - Benny alphabet (small black & red), Sassafraslass - large alpha and stickers, Project Life - Tropical cards, eyelets, and random die cuts (arrow/circle).

Pull Out Your Sunglasses....

Seriously.  You may want your sunglasses for my next layout!  It is bright!  Check it out:

The layout is so bright that it is hard to see the subtitles by the photos!  (The small photo's subtitle is "1. Wait" the photo in the upper right has the subtitle "2. Jump", and the last photo's subtitle is "3. Laugh.") 

I followed the great sketch challenge over at Studio Challenges.  (The challenge run until May 8th.)

I also followed the Southern Girls Challenge, which is to use as many patterned papers (PP) as possible.  I used five PPs!  (One paper was fussy cut into the blocks.) How many do you think you can put on a project?  Why not give this challenge a try - you have until April 26th to link up.

Materials Used: Bazzill cardstock, scrap paper (bonus!), buttons, twine, silver heart charms, and Pebbles - Happy-Go-Lucky ABC stickers.

Sketches In Thyme, #192

The sketch challenge at Sketches in Thyme (#192), I think, is very whimsical.  Not only was it fun to work with but it was also a fantastic way to use some scraps!  Here is my work and the sketch:

I added a little doodling to my big, yellow circle since it looked a little plain.  Other than that, my work is pretty much straight forward!  To join me in this challenge, be sure to link up by April 30th.

Materials Used: cardstock, scraps, Scenic Route - Berkley alphabet, and brads.

Haste Makes Waste

It has been one of "those" weeks.  You know where chaos is consuming and being productive seems impossible.  As a result, I found myself rushing to get a layout done for the design team at Lasting Memories.  My impatience caused imperfections on my layout; I smeared the paint splatters, crinkled my chipboard, and messed up the glossy accent on my sticker.  Sigh.  Though not the perfection I was aiming for, it is another page done and I am moving on!

The layout was completed to help reveal the new challenge over at Lasting Memories.  The theme for the month is Musical Montages and this week is focused on the 80's!  Love the 80's!  I was inspired to use the song title, "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N Roses. 

Even though I was running late, I for some unknown reason decided to get creative with my gelatos.  I have had the urge to create an ombre page for some time.  The process was fun and easy to do.  Here is the link to the tutorial I followed.

I also used glossy accents on a sticker (round surfer dude) in an effort to mimic a Flair piece.   The more I play with Glossy Accents the more I like it!  

You have until the April 29th to join me in this challenge.

Materials Used: cardstock, Faber Castell Gelatos (cotton candy, metallic blueberry, and blueberry), Tim Holtz Distress Stain - broken china, Project Life card (fussy cut arrow), Scenic Route - Grafton Beach sticker, Glossy Accent, fun wire, brads, and Circuit's Ashlyns Alphabet/Block.

Getting The Hang Of Pocket Pages

I think I am getting the hang of this Pocket Page thing - of course I am a few years behind on this movement but none-the-less - I get it!  I completed another page for the Pocket Page challenge at Paper Issues.  The challenge is to use Elle's Studio product, or show 2016 pages, or use stamps.  I decided to use stamps.  This is what I created:

I stamped everything in blue!  You have until May 1st to join me in this challenge!

Materials Used: Project Life page and cards/Tropical, Scenic Route - Grafton Beach sticker (wipe out), unknown manufacturer for rub-on (palm trees), tag, twine, Summer Memories - vellum quote, Smash - date stamp, Stamping' Up - Cherish stamp, We R Memory Keepers - Beach Fun stamp, Studio G washi tape, and Stampin' Up Brilliant Blue ink.

Take 5

Over at Paper Issues, they have a challenged called, "Take 5."  I am honestly enjoying this challenge as it encourages me to dig in and use my stash.  The current Take 5 challenge is listed below.  To participate, you need to use 5 items from this list on your project.

Here is my work:

The five items I used:

• #6. stickers (alphabet)
• #7. stars (brads)
• #8. solid paper (blue)
• #10. tag (red)
• #13. square (photos)
• #14. mist/paint (white)

This was challenge was fun and I hope you can join me.  You have until May 1st to link your work.

Materials Used: DCWV paper, scrap paper (white), cardstock, Paper Trunk - Benny alphabet, Queen & Co Rhinestones - Brilliant Blue, My Mind's Eye - Sundress "Bloom" journaling card, gesso, ribbon, and twine.

Still At The Beach!

Do you ever feel like pictures from one event just multiply on their own?  I feel like that I have been scrapping beach pictures for decades!  In any case, I am bringing to you yet another beach layout.

Though it was not part of any challenge, I decided to stay monochromatic.  The cool thing is that I pulled the based paper, then used scraps, and then found an embellishment, which unknowingly to me, that matched the base paper perfectly.  I love when that happens!

I used the current sketch (#102) at Sketch N Scrap to pull my page together.  Sketch N Scrap offers a variety of layout and card sketch challenges during the month.  I find the sketches easy to follow and produce great layouts!  To join me this month in this challenge, be sure to link up by April 30th.

In addition, I am entering this layout into the current challenge at Southern Girls Challenge, Anything Goes.  Every now and then, entering into an Anything Goes challenge is a nice little reprieve.  It is fun to see the creativity on this blog!  If you wish to join me in this challenge, be sure to link your masterpiece by April 12th.

Thanks for stopping by!

Materials Used: Reminisce - Happy paper, scrap paper, Bazzill cardstock, My Mind's Eye - Lush 2 rhinestones/turquoise, and Doodlebug Design Inc. - Hopscotch alphabet.

What Do You Think About When You Think Of Disco?

The challenge over at Lasting Memories is to be inspired by the Disco era.  When I think of the 1970's, I think of the earth tone colors - especially orange and avocado green (like in kitchen appliances).  I also think of the many graphics and the block letters that were often used in print.

Therefore, in my layout I used green and orange and different patterns that reminded of me that time period.  Finally, in my title, I used block letters.

You have plenty of time to think of how the Disco era inspired you - links are due at the end of the month!  I hope to see your groovy layouts!

Materials Used: We R Memory Keepers cardstock, DCWV paper (green), Bo Bunny paper (fussy cut flags), Project Life- Tropical card, brads, Cricut - Keystone and Boys Will Be Boys fonts.

Spots

Are you seeing spots?  The current challenge at Archi-Scraps is to include spots on your work!  This is what I came up with:

The challenge was inspired by the Domino Building (see image below).  With that inspiration, I decided to create a blocky/mosaic design with my daughter's artwork.  And yes, my spots are small but they are there - they are on the letters that spell "Published."

This is a fun challenge site and their inspiration photos are gorgeous.  Give this challenge a shot - you have until April 27th to join in the fun! 

Materials Used: cardstock, Paper Trunk - Benny alphabet (white), Thickers - Elf alphabet (colored with Studio G marker).