Sketchy Thursdays...Man With a Plan

I printed this picture with a different sketch in mind, but, decided it worked better for this week's Sketchy Thursdays sketch if I rotated it.  The challenge at Lasting Memories was to do a spring layout.  We don't really get spring here, we have winter, break-up, and then summer...but, with spring does come dirt, so, I thought this was still fitting!  I just went to link up my layouts to Lasting Memories and realized the DT challenge closed at noon, not midnight!  Oops!! Next time I guess, I should pay closer attention next time! ;O)

Paper:  Cosmo Cricket-Early Bird
Cardstock:  Sweet Leaf, Juniper, Goldrush, and Colonial White
Ink:  Goldrush, Sweet Leaf, Juniper, and Tsukineko Memento in Rich Cocoa
Stamps:  Field Trip Alpha, Friendship Alpha, Grown with Love, and Journaling Jots
Other:  Martha Stewart border punch, CTMH twill ribbon, Owl sticker from Recollections, and Zig pen

Sketchy Thursdays..."Egg"sperts

My first layout in FOREVER!  Yaay!  I had so much fun with this one, although, I did struggle to get it started.  I printed my pictures too big, or cut my paper too small...I'm not sure which way it went.  I'm happy with the final outcome though which is what counts!  I'm a day late to submit it on the Sketchy Thursdays blog, but, thought I'd post it anyway!

Leisa Hubley of Big Red Scraps is on the design team for Lasting Memories, a fun scrapbook challenge blog which I had just barely had the chance to check out prior to the madness that was the first part of my year.  Now that I am back, I noticed that they are looking for new Design Team members and all you have to do is submit a layout for each of their four challenges this month by the 29th.  I'm not sure I have a shot, but, thought it would be a blast to try and get all 4 done in a week.  I love that their challenges aren't just sketches, they make you stretch just a bit further...this layout is for Challenge #34, Easter Theme.

I stole the title from scrapbooks.com, how clever is that!  I love it!!

Paper:  Best Creation Inc Bunny Love line

Cardstock:  Citrus Leaf (retired), Sunkiss Yellow, and White Daisy

Stamps: Bohemian Alpha

Ink:  Sky

Other:  Martha Stewart border punch, CTMH chalk (ears and cheeks on bunny), Egg Brads from my stash, Heart Brad JoAnne Essentials, and Bitty Brads (bunny eyes) from CTMH, Cricut Plantin Schoolbook (grass) and Stretch your Imagination (Bunny), Zig pen, and cotton off of a Qtip (bunny tail)

Sketchy Thursdays...Family Ties

I follow a Russian blog that I really love, but, can't understand a thing that's said!  Anyway, I have had the beautiful layouts shown in this post stuck in my head for a year now where each layout includes a picture within a picture.  I loved the idea and was reminded of it when I saw this sketch at Sketchy Thursdays.  I found this picture of Owen with his grandparents at the glacier in Valdez and attempted to make the 3 of them pop by making the background a little more monochrome.  I actually printed two pictures with the intent of using foam tape to make the photo really stand out, but, changed my mind at the last minute and just glued it down.  The difference in the photos is a little more obvious in person, but, I still liked it.  I'm going to have to try this again and get out of the box a little more!!

I had so much fun with this one, it was SO nice to take a break from work...of course, it just set me back that much further!  

I didn't think I'd ever use this paper from My Mind's Eye because there was so much pink, but, I think it worked well and the colors make me happy regardless!!  I absolutely love these flowers too...they were on an example layout in the latest CTMH catalog and I thought they looked like "manly" flowers...;O).

Anyway, if you'd like to play along with this sketch, you have a couple more days!!  Make sure you use spring colors for the extra challenge!  I am dying for spring!!  I think we got about 6 more inches of snow this morning...it makes the already 40 minute commute that much LONGER let me tell you!!  

Paper:  My Mind's Eye Pretty Please
Cardstock:  Juniper and Colonial White
Stamps: Bohemian Alpha
Ink:  Sunset, Juniper, and Tulip 
Other:  Fiskar Circle Punches (flower petals), CTMH brads in Colonial White, Juniper, and Tulip, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Zig Pen, and of course, lots of Photoshop!

Sketchy Thursdays...Do Dragons Roar?

I had this post ready to go and then decided I wasn't entirely happy with this layout.  I made some adjustments and took a new photo.  I'm still not entirely thrilled, I think I lost my mojo thanks to the 2 sick "boys" I've been taking care of!!  I love these pictures of my little man in his "dragon" costume though!  He's SO much fun lately and this particular day was no exception... I may be bias, but, I think he's the cutest thing ever...hehe...I know, every mom is obligated to think that about their munchkin...I guess the real test will be if I still think so in about 12 years! ;O)  I'm working through the weekend again, so, no more layouts will be done any time soon.  I'm hoping I can really get some reports knocked out this week and get my weekends back to myself!

Paper:  My Mind's Eye Boo to You 

Cardstock:  White Daisy, Black, and Barn Red
Ink:  Honey and Black
Stamps:  Rustic Alpha, Fright Night, and Spellbound
Other:  Martha Stewart Border Punch, CTMH Bitty Sparkles, Cricut Designer's Calendar (font) and Wild Card (bat) Cartridge, and Zig Pen

Sketchy Thursdays...For The Bird

I started this layout using yet another of Sketchy Thursdays sketches a couple weeks of ago and unfortunately, just finally wrapped it up last night.  This is one of "those" papers for me.  I've had it for a couple years now, just waiting for the right photos.  But, when I started to cut into it, I started having a panic attack and beads of sweat were running down my face!!  Haha, not really, but it WAS painful.  I don't know why, but, I absolutely love it and the thought of making a wrong cut and rendering the paper useless, was more than I could bear (or is it bare?).  Anyway, it was one of those moments when you realize this whole paper crafting biz isn't as much a hobby as it is an addiction!! ;O)

Despite the drama of cutting up the paper, I'm happy with the results and absolutely love these pictures.  How cute are these two together!!  This bird absolutely adores Owen and we have trouble keeping them apart!  Owen's very gentle, but, with such a little bird, you just can't risk it!    

Paper: Three Bugs In a Rug Happy Bird-day

Cardstock: Vineyard Berry, Creme Brulee, White Diasy

Ink: Vineyard Berry, Juniper, Creme Brulee, and Cocoa

Stamps:  The Works Alpha, Small Chocolate Alpha, Your a Hoot (branch), Twitterpated Exclusive set (leaves), and Dream Wishes

Other: EKSuccess border punch, CTMH Ribbon, CTMH Spring Blossom Mini Medleys and brads, Making Memories Embroidery Floss and Bazzill Basics In Stitches Circle Guide, and Zig pen

Sketchy Thursdays...Rudolph On Ice

I had so much fun with the last sketch from Sketchy Thursdays, I decided to keep the fun rolling with the current one!  This one goes against the engineer in me...I do better with big pieces of square paper...strips of paper are outside my comfort box!! ;O)  I'm sad, I know...I'm working on it!!  This was a great way to use up some scraps though!

How cute is my little man as Rudolph...he had to take beginning skating lessons over again this year...he was quite the pro by the end of the winter last year, but, we didn't stick with it over the summer and he informed us the ice was "too swippery" when we got him on skates this year. Anyway, the rink had a Christmas recital at the end of the lessons and we decided he might as well participate in it since we skipped out last year.  Owen likes being in front of a crowd, but, didn't feel the need to do the dance moves.  So, mostly, we went to watch him stand on the ice...I think we'll stick to hockey and avoid any possibility of another skate recital in the future! ;O)

Paper: BoBunny Tis the Season

Cardstock: Cranberry, Clover Meadow, and Colonial White

Stamps:  True Friends and I Believe

Other:  Cricut Plantin School Book Cartridge (title), MS Snowflake punch and border punch, Stickles, CTMH pearl colored red with Copic markers, Glitter Dome Crystal Stickers by Mark Richards, and Zig Pen

Sketchy Thursdays...Only Exception

I don't know what it is about the Sketchy Thursday Sketches, but, they totally get me inspired and motivated!!!  I've had a really hard time getting back into the swing of things since the holidays and I haven't loved my last few projects.  But, I LOVE how this one turned out and it went together so fast!!

I've been wanting to document a special thing that Owen does and this was just the layout to do it!  He and I were listening to Paramore's song "The Only Exception" in the truck one day and Owen started singing it with me.  Ever since then, any time the song comes on the radio, Owen always says "It's our song mommy!" and stops whatever he's doing to sit with me and sing it.  It's the sweetest thing EVER!  He's such a little love bug, I don't know how we got so lucky!

I was so excited to get started with this sketch, it wasn't until I was looking at everyone else's entries that I realized this is a contest sketch!  Not only will the winner get the prestigious honor of being a Guest DT member in February, but, there's also an AMAZING kit up for grabs from Artfuldelight.  You have until the 22nd to post your take on the sketch!!


Paper:  Kaiser Craft Shaken Not Stirred Collection
Cardstock:  CTMH Black and White Daisy
Ink: CTMH Black and Cranberry
Stamps:  Felicity Alpha
Other: CTMH Sparkle brads, Cricut Designer Calendars (heart), Making Memories Embroidery Floss, Ribbon was by the yard from LSS, Zig pen, and White Gelly Roll Pen from Sakura

Sketchy Thursdays...A Perfect Fall Day

I heard about the Sketchy Thursdays blog a while back while on another scrappers blog, but, haven't had much time to stop and check out their sketches.  I finally got around to taking a  peek last week and absolutely couldn't resist this sketch!!!  This was so out of the box for me, but, SO much fun!!  It all just kind of fell in place...that never happens for me! 

I had big plans to put the pictures in a circle using Photoshop, but, it turns out I'm not that good!  I can't figure out how to do the wedges.  So, I did what I could and opted for five pictures instead of six.  I'm pretty happy with the results regardless and look forward to trying more Sketchy Thursday sketches!!

I've actually had this layout completed for almost a week now.  But, with very little daylight these days, I'm having trouble getting a good picture.  I will make another attempt tomorrow and see if I can improve it.  In the meantime, I should mention that the leaves are edged with gold glitter (they came that way) and I added gold Stickles between the scallops on the circle for the "sparkle" part of the challenge.

Paper:  Memory Box Blackbird and Basic Grey Ambrosia
Cardstock: CTMH Colonial White
Stamps:  Field Trip Alpha and Many Thanks
Ink: Autumn Terracotta, Brown Bag, Honey, and Cocoa
Other:  Recollections Mulberry Paper Holly Leaves (Michaels), Martha Stewart Punches, EKSuccess Corner Rounder (scallops), Champagne Stickles, Funky Ribbon from LSS (it was by the yard don't have manufacturer info), and Zig Pen