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

Happy Veteran's Day/Happy Marine Birthday...

Thanks to all the men and women who serve in our military and keep us safe!!!

I had hoped to have this posted on Wednesday, but, it was a really long week.  So, I'm just now getting around to it.  My uncle is a retired Marine and we're all very proud of him.  But, he prefers to celebrate the Marine Corps' Birthday rather than Veteran's Day.  So, here's the card I did for him this year.

To be honest, I was not prepared and had to throw this together at the last minute.  But, simple seems to make more sense in this case anyway.  I got to use my Sizzix Texture Boutique again to add a little texture, so, it was worth it!  The Marine Corps emblem is one that they had at the Wikipedia site of all things.  I printed it on photo paper and cut it out.

Cardstock:  Cranberry, Black, and Colonial White

Ink: Black (Sponged around the inside)

Other:  JoAnn's Essentials Gold Brads and Gold Glitter (Glitter is just pressed onto 2-sided tape), EKSuccess Corner Rounder, Sizzix Embossing Folder and Sizzix Texture Boutique

Owen was home sick with me the day I made the card, so, he made one too.  I thought it was pretty cute.  The circle on the lower left is a cake with a candle and just above that is his signature...it's quite elaborate! ;O)  He also included a few birthday stickers.  I think my uncle was far more excited to receive Owen's card then mine from the sounds of it!!  I can't hardly blame him though! ;O)

Colonial White Cardstock, Roseart Markers, and EKSuccess Sticko Stickers-Party Favors

Pagemaps...I'm an Artist

I really got good use out of July's Pagemaps Sketches!!  It may be time to branch out some! ;O)  This layout was super painful to do.  Again, the embellishment part got the best of me!!  I ended up giving up and going to Michael's and browsing through their stickers.  To me, stickers are the easy way out...but, I NEEDED an easy way out and am actually pretty happy with the end results!

It just so happened that they had a couple of MS edge punches on clearance while I was there too...so, how cute is my little bubble punch down the side?  I love it! ;O)

Paper: Twitterpated

Cardstock:  Outdoor Denim, Cranberry Red, and Sweet Leaf

Ink:  Cranberry Red

Stamps:  Journaling Jots

Other: Stickles, MS and EK Success Punches, Stickers from Sticko/EK Succes (Hoot), Jolee's Boutique/EK Succes (Little Artist), and Soft Spoken/Me&My Big Ideas (I'm an Artist and Renee-Stars)

Card Maps...Whoo Loves You!

I have organized a scrapbook day at one of the local churches for later this month and have offered to cut the cost in half for the girls that make and donate at least 2 cards to the Operation Write Home efforts.  I've wanted to contribute to this amazing cause for some time and just haven't had the opportunity to take the time and do it. 

Anyway, time is flying and I figured I better get on it!  I happened to have this owl from the Greeting Farm already colored and decided to try one of Page Maps Card Maps for the first time.  I chose the sketch above from the March 2010 Card Maps.  I took the sketch pretty literally, but, that was just coincidence, I swear! ;O)

I'm surprised how nerve-wracking this was for me to do!  I want to make sure it's just right for our men and women overseas who have sacrificed so much!!  The least I can do is send them a decent looking card to write home with, right? ;O)

Paper:  Life Delights and Magic Moments

Cardstock: Blush, Hollyhock, Cocoa, and Colonial White

Ink:  Cocoa, Sweet Leaf, Olive, Blush, and Tsukineko Memento Rich Cocoa

Stamps:  Greeting Farm Forest Friends, Whoo Loves You (branch), Exclusive Set from the Twitterpated Kit (leaves), Friendship Alpha Small, and Hugs & Kisses

Other:  Hollyhock Brads, Copic Markers, EK Success Corner Rounder (scallops), and White Gelly Roll pen

July Pagemaps...Mischief Maker

I've had this layout done for ages, but, just don't love it.  I had hoped an epiphany would come over me and I'd think of something to add.  But, I've decided to just let it go!  I love the Pagemaps sketch (from July) I used and putting the layout together went really fast...it's just those dreaded embellishments that I can never pin down just right!

Paper: Twitterpated
Cardstock:  Cocoa, Outdoor Denim, and Colonial White
Ink: Cocoa and Outdoor Denim
Stamps:  Giggle Caps and Lowercase, Star Power, Code It, Childhood Boy, Girly Girl, Wedding, and Journaling Jots (most retired)
Other: EKSuccess Corner Rounder and Border Punch, JoAnn's Essentials Star Brads, Twill Ribbon, and Zig pen

Northern Lights Card...Inspired by Lorrinda

I absolutely flipped when I saw Lorrinda's Northern Lights card last week for her guest DT project at the Heart 2 Heart Challenge blog.  You can see her card here along with her tutorial detailing how she did it.  My card looks a little plain next to Lorrinda's and this picture (below) that I used as inspiration.  But, it was SO much fun and I look forward to trying it again.  

We mainly get green Northern Lights up here in AK, so, I stuck with green and blue.  But, the most amazing show I've ever seen, was while I was in school in Montana, they were bright red one night!!!  Even knowing what they were, red lights in the sky was a little unnerving! ;O)

Cardstock:  Black, Olive, and White Daisy
Stamps:  The Beauty of Christmas (retired-trees) and Natures Gift
Other:  CTMH Chalk and White Daisy Pigment Ink, Liquid Applique, Versa Mark, White Daisy embossing Powder, sponge brush, and Gelly Roll White Pen

Early Trick or Treaters....

We have an annual family party that caters to my single sister who thinks she deserves an extra day because she has to buy gifts for 3 of us versus the one gift we get her each holiday.  Not to mention, she's never had a wedding or a baby, and therefore she's already down by at least that many gifts....  Let me just say, it's easier to go along with her than to argue...kind of like you can't argue with crazy...besides, she's scary when she's mad!!  Long story short, we started this tradition to do "Auntie Shawn Day" at our house with dinner, cake, and pumpkin carving every October.  

This year, Dave and I each carved a pumpkin and set them out on the porch late Sunday night.  By Thursday afternoon, they were gone!!!  At first, I suspected foul play...but, that's never been an issue here and upon further investigation, I noticed just a few bits of pumpkin here and there in the yard.  That's when it hit me, the moose are back...last year, it was December before they ate up our pumpkins!! I hadn't seen any in the neighborhood recently and quite frankly, it never crossed my mind they'd be by so early, let alone looking for pumpkins!!

This morning I was half awake stumbling down the stairs only to look up and see Momma moose filling the window on our stair landing!!  Both Momma and baby had returned to the scene of the crime and were scouring the porch for more "treats"!!  I guess we were the ones that got tricked this year!! ;O)  At least the pumpkins went to a good cause...but, at $10+ a piece, it would have been nice if the moose had waited for Halloween night to get the munchies!!

This is baby...I'm not for positive, but I think these two were here in the spring when this one was practically brand new. 

We happened to have one more pumpkin that I saved for Owen.  We just carved it today and have it tucked away safe in the house!!!  I'm hoping the twin girls that frequent our yard will get a chance at that one.  We'll see, these two are persistent little buggars...

Unscripted Sketches Take 3....

Alright, last one with this sketch, I swear! :O)  When I went to link my card to the Unscripted website, I realized they were doing a piggy back challenge to use pink in your card for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  I think everyone has someone in their life that's battled breast cancer and I thought the least I could do is make a pink card as a show of support!  

Not to mention, it was a great excuse to use the most adorable digi pony stamp that I just realized is a FREEBIE on Meljens Designs blog!!  Seriously, how cute is he!!!

Paper:  More to Adore (Retired)
Cardstock:  Colonial White, Hollyhock, and Blush
Stamps:  Meljens Designs Digi Sweet Little Donkey and CTMH Now & Forever
Ink:  Hollyhock, Chocolate, and Tsukineko Memento Rich Cocoa Ink
Other:  CTMH Summer Posies, Stickles, Copic Markers, Making Memories Embroidery Floss, and Favorite Findings (JoAnns buttons)

Unscripted and Heart 2 Heart...Thank You Take Two

I wasn't completely happy with my first card for the leaves and trees challenge at Heart 2 Heart today (see my last post), so, I tried again.  I used the same sketch from Unscripted and am happier with the results.  I just love these colors!  Phew, o.k., I can move onto something else now!!  Hope you have a great weekend!!

Paper:  Felecity (special CTMH promotion kit)
Cardstock: Twighlight and Colonial White
Ink:  Bamboo, Desert Sand, and Twighlight
Stamps:  Many Thanks and Small Chocolate Alpha
Other: CTMH Opaques Adhesive Pearls in Mocha

Unscripted and Heart 2 Heart...Thank You...

 This weeks Heart 2 Heart Challenge was to use leaves and trees.  I needed a thank you card and loved Unscripted's sketch, so, I thought I'd combine all three!!

I had so much fun putting this card together, but, I'm not entirely happy with it...the sentiment is too small for where I put it.  I may try again and repost.  I was super excited to get to use our new Opaques adhesive pearls in Mocha though!!  I buy a lot of pearls from Michael's Recollections line, but, they don't hold a candle to ours.  In fact, ours look so much more realistic, I can't even mix our white pearls with theirs...it makes the Recollections pearls look cheap!

Hope you are all having a great weekend...I'm still recovering from a nasty cold/ear infection, but, it looks like I'm being suckered into a trip to Lowe's...woohoo...makes my day. ;O)

Paper:  Felicity (Special Promotion)
Cardstock:  Twighlight and Colonial White
Ink:  Bamboo, Desert Sand, and Twighlight
Stamps:  Many Thanks
Other:  Opaques Pearls in Mocha

Heart 2 Heart...It's Owl Good...

SORRY Heart 2 Heart!!  I just realized I managed to post my layout twice...I thought I had forgotten to hit "enter", so I did it again!!  I'd remove if I knew how...it's been one of those days!

Heart 2 Heart had the greatest challenge this week...at least for me!  It's an ABC challenge...we were to use an "A"lphabet stamp set, create a project for a "B"oy, and use "C"hocolate or another brown color...  Since I tend to use earth tones and I typically only scrap pics of my little man, this "challenge" is pretty much my every day layout! ;O)

I used "Bottom Border-Overlap" (2i) from the Reflections book for this layout.

I started this on Thursday and am just now finished...how is it that other people can just whip stuff up!  It takes me forever!!  Of course, this little culprit didn't help the situation....I let him out to play and he ran right over to my layout and pooed in the middle of my main photo!!!  It's lucky for him that I print my own photos!!  With help like this, it's amazing I ever get anything accomplished!

Paper:  Twitterpated
Cardstock:  Indian Corn Blue, Cocoa, and Colonial White
Ink:  Olive, Cocoa, Indian Corn Blue, and Tsukineko Memento Ink in Rich Cocoa
Stamps:  Small Chocolate Alpha, Homestead Alpha, Whooo Loves You (branch), Exclusive set from Twitterpated (leaves), and Studio G i-clear Stamp
Other:  Copic Markers, Clear Buttons, In Color Organic Dimensional Elements, Creative Memories Embroidery Floss, JoAnn's Essentials Brads, and Zig Pen