Baby Book...Month 2

I started this layout so long ago, I can't even begin to tell you what site I took the layout from.  It's a little rough, but, I got it done is the important part!!!  Hopefully, they'll all improve from here.  I should mention, I have no idea what pictures my sister will want to put on her pages.  I just steal them from anywhere I can as long as they fit the time frame and some are less than ideal quality!!  I figured my sister can print the pictures she prefers once she gets the whole album.  This page actually looks a lot more cohesive in person than in this picture.  I REALLY miss daylight/sunshine! 😉⛅

Patterned Paper and Stickers:  Echo Park Bundle of Joy
Cardstock:  CTMH Glacier, Blush, Flaxen, and Cocoa 
Ink:  CTMH Blush (to color banner) Cricut Cartridge: Create a Critter, Plantin SchoolBook (title)
Accessories:  Recollection Adhesive Rhinestones, Stickles, Heidi Swapp Banner, and Art Chix Studio wood cloud.

Baby Book..Month 1

This is another super simple layout, but, it helped me get started.  I really love it though, but, I think it has more to do with the super sweet picture than anything!  I copied the layout almost exactly from the cover of Close to My Heart's Summer 2010 Idea Book.  They used the Cherry-O paper pack, it was super cute!

Patterned Paper and Stickers:  Echo Park Bundle of Joy
Cardstock:  CTMH Glacier, Blush, Baby Pink, Pear, and Cocoa
Ink:  CTMH Glacier and Blush
Cricut Cartridge: Flower Shoppe (leaves) and Plantin SchoolBook (Circles on flowers, tag, and title)
Accessories:  Stitch'z Bazzil Floss, CTMH paper flower, Martha Stewart border punch, Icicles Stickles, CTMH ribbon and chipboard flowers.

Baby Book...Cover Page

So, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm trying to put together a baby book for my beautiful niece Lizzy.  I'm ridiculously behind the eight-ball as she's already a year and a half old, but, sadly, I'm further along for her than my own kids!! 

Please excuse the poor lighting, but, there's not a lot of natural light to be had lately with all of our snowfall so that makes for a lot of adjusting!!  I used the "Backstage" layout template in Close to My Heart's Magic book to get me going.  I was really struggling to get my scrapbooking mojo back and the templates in the book are a great way to get started!!

Patterned Paper and Stickers:  Echo Park Bundle of Joy
Cardstock:  CTMH Glacier, Blush, Baby Pink, and Cocoa
Stamp Sets:  CTMH Playful Flourishes (Sorry been too long, not sure which flower stamp I used)
Ink:  CTMH Hollyhock and Pear
Cricut Cartridge: Create a Critter, Plantin SchoolBook (heart and title) and Flower Shoppe
Accessories:  CTMH and Recollection Adhesive Rhinestones, Stitch'z Bazzil Floss, CTMH paper flower, Martha Stewart flower punch, Icicles Stickles, Fiskars Border Punch, and  (title is done with stickers that came with the paper pack).

Two in ONE MONTH!

So, completing two layouts in one month is probably not all that impressive for most, but, kind of a big deal for me considering my long hiatus!!   Although, I've actually scrapped more than you might think, just didn't post.  Anyway, this layout was so much fun and went together so fast, that never happens for me!

I combined several challenges for this one which I hope is o.k.!  First and foremost, the sketch came from Let's Get Sketchy.  Such a fun site and they do a new sketch challenge weekly, so amazing and so much great inspiration on their blog!!  

The second challenge that I used for inspiration was the Tic Tac Toe Stash Challenge from Scrap Our Stash.  For their challenge you had to dig through your stash and use three items in a line from their tic-tac-toe board.  This challenge blog is new to me, but, I LOVE it because I have SO much stuff to use and they encourage you to add more to your layouts...I may not have been a prolific scrapper during my time away from my blog, but, I was definitely still a good shopper! 😜 I chose Paint/Mist, Winter Theme, and The Color Blue.  I've had this picture of my son and pup for a year now and just think it's too cute.  Max is getting older and not doing well, Owen will be devastated when we have to say goodbye, they've been inseparable since the day we brought Owen home from the hospital.

The final challenge that I came across when looking for new inspiration was on the scrapbook.com challenge forums.  MarciLB challenged us to scrap a pet using a winter theme....I live in Alaska and have plenty of pets, so, maybe not much of a "challenge" after all, haha!!  The forum has quite a few challenges and I am looking forward to playing along with more soon!

Patterned Paper and Stickers:  Little Yellow Bicycle Winter Twig

Cardstock:  CTMH Sky and Twighlight

Stamp Sets:  CTMH Snow Flurries and All Decked Out

Accessories:  Paint and Dauber from CTMH distressing kit, Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black, Comic Markers, Versa Mark and CTMH embossing powder, Fiskars border punch, Maya Road Mini Chipboard Snowflakes, Martha Stewart Glitter (used on snow flakes...hard to see in pic), Plantin Schoolbook Cricut Cartridge, and Zig pen.

Belated Baby Book...Month 3

I cannot believe it's been SO long since I last posted.  I think having a little princess in the house was kind of my crafty undoing, I don't get the "alone" time I had before with just a boy in the house!!  She's my constant companion and NEVER stops talking!! 😊  But, I can't blame her for it all, I've been struggling with back issues since she was born and would rather lay down and take a nap than sit to scrapbook or post a layout on the blog.  Fortunately, I think, I finally have had someone take a closer look with xrays/MRI and determined I have three tears in my lumbar disks...turns out I'm not just a whiner!  I'm currently working with a chiropractor that seems to be helping.  I've gotten actual quality sleep the past couple weeks!!  It's amazing what a difference being rested does for your entire life, I'm SO thankful and hopefully, will be on here more often.

Anyway, enough about me!  After being away for so long, I realized, most of the challenge blogs I used to follow have called it quits.  So, I went on a search for some new ones!!  I'm trying to do a baby book for my sister's now 18 month old...nothing like being behind!!  So, I was especially looking for layout challenges.

I've always loved the Stuck?! sketches, but, this may be the first time I was able to play along and submit on time!  I'm still trying to get back into it, it's amazing how hard it is to put a layout together when you haven't done it in forever.  Scrapbooking is definitely a skill that takes practice to make it look good like the design team on Stuck?!.  I had hoped to participate in the second challenge this month too, but, thats not going to happen this time!!  I had fun with this one though!

Patterned Paper and Stickers:  Echo Park Bundle of Joy
Cardstock:  CTMH Glacier and Blush
Cricut Cartridge: Create a Critter, Plantin SchoolBook (heart and title)
Accessories:  Fruit Punch and Icicles Stickles, Wilton Heart Doilies, Recollection Adhesive Rhinestones, Stitch'z Bazzil Floss in Geneva Brown and stitch guide, Recollections Embellishment-flower button (that's really all the packaging says), paint/brush from CTMH distress kit, and lace by the yard from local scrabpbook store (no brand available).

Chasing the Clouds Away...

I was SO excited about this week's CSI "Case" (Case #58), especially since this was the monthly challenge with the sketch from Page Drafts tied to it and the colors were totally geared to earth tones.  But, when I actually got started, I really struggled!! I ended up adding a LOT of pink which is REALLY not like me!!

Anyway, how could I lose with these shots of Olivia! ;O)  I found a tutorial online at tipsquirrel.com by Photo Gavin and was able to make my own film strip...complete with texture, color of my choice, and a drop shadow...not to shabby eh? ;O)  This layout really came down to the wire for the CSI deadline, so, it got rushed.  But, I actually really like it even though I'd probably have done some things differently given some extra time.

Evidence Used:  Clouds, wood (heart button), and jewels

Testimony:  Document a Getaway or take inspiration from the word "escape" (whichever you think is applicable...as in Olivia let's you "escape" or "getaway" from reality with the way she makes you laugh even when she's sick...I really pushed it this week with my Testimony, not sure it qualifies!!)

Cardstock: CTMH Baby Pink, Cocoa, Juniper, and Grey Flannel

Paper: My Little Shoebox Sky's the Limit (clouds), Three Bugs in a Rug Happy Bird-Day (both polk-a-dot papers), CTMH Let's Get Together (yellow stripe), and CTMH Chantilly (pink)

Ink: Buttercup (around journal strips) 

Other: Fiskars Border punch, CTMH Bitty Sparkles with Copic marker to color, Cricut Elegant Edges and Paper Lace 2 cartridges, Recollections Button, and Zig Pen

Stole Our Hearts...

I can't believe it!  I was mentioned under "On the Watch List" at CSI for my "Baby Face" layout, so incredibly honored!! ;O) Lots of talent over there, can't believe mine was even noticed!

Thought I'd share the other layout I managed to finish over the past couple of weeks and since it was fitting for Valentine's Day...I've literally had this sitting on my scrap table since last June.  Usually, when something sits there that long, I end up getting so sick of looking at it, I just throw some things on it to get it done.  But, I love how this one turned out and didn't really agonize over it like normal.  I used Case File #24 posted on 6/24 at the CSI blog for this one.  Evidence used are jewels and silver accents and my Testimony was to add jewels to the journaling spot.

Cardstock: CTMH Grey Wool, Baby Pink, and Tulip
Paper: Kaiser Craft Tiger Lily Collection and Echo Park Yours Truly
Stamps:
Ink: Tsukineko Tuxedo Black
Other:  CTMH crocheted flower and metal embellishment,  Cricut Elegant Edges, Designer Calendars, and Gypsy Fomt Cartridges, Recollections adhesive rhinestones, American Crafts TradeMarks (rubons), Inkadinkado Mini Stamps, KaiserKrafts Paper Flower, Stampendous Embossing Powder, Stickles, Making Memories Embroidery Floss, and CSI Coordinates

I'm so sad to say that this was my first and apparently last challenge with the Scrap Fit Blog as they have decided to end their challenges.  I didn't realize they'd decided to end the blog until today when I went to find "Workout #69", the sketch I had used from way back on June 1st to do the layout below.  I'm so disappointed.  Obviously, I didn't get to participate much after finding the blog, but, I did really enjoy the variety of challenges they had each week and found it very inspirational.  For example, I also incorporated "Workout #70" posted on June 15th to "Develop your Own Polarods"into this layout.  I found the free polaroid picture frames online somewhere, but, it's been so long, I wouldn't be able to tell you where to give them credit.  I think I also used a grunge frame from one of Jessica Sprague's online courses to give the photos more depth. 

Anyway, hope you are all enjoying what's left of your Valentine's Day!  Dave, Owen, and I all have tomorrow off which would have been great, but, Owen's come up with a nasty flu bug!  We'll be watching him and his sister very closely the next couple of days!!

  

Baby Face...

I FINALLY have had time to sit and scrap a little bit again over the past couple weeks and have not one, but, two layouts to share.  I should be working, it's reporting season and the company I contract to acquired another oil company's assets here in Alaska on the first.  But, I'm already burnt out!!!  Not a good sign for year-end reporting! ;O) 

The lighting is weird today, very green, I apologize for the photo.  I hate to tell you how many pictures I took and in how many different areas of the house!  Its overcast today and in the 40s...we've gone from one extreme to the other all winter, I'm SO over it!

Anyway, have you heard?  Inspired Blueprints is back!!  I'm so excited and used their Sketch #81 for my layout.  I also used Case File 57 at the CSI blog.  I just LOVE their site, it's so inspirational.

Evidence Used:  Hearts, Flowers, Leaves/Vines, Birds, Solid background, Die Cuts, and Punches

Testimony:  Heart shaped journaling spot

     

Paper: CTMH Floral Tapestry Paper

Cardstock:  CTMH Baby Pink, Twighlight, Sweet Leaf, and Tulip
Ink:  CTMH Baby Pink and Tulip
Embellishments:  CTMH Twinkle Brads, Kaiser Craft flowers (pink), CTMH Just Blooms Flowers (white), Martha Stewart Border Punch and leaves, EKSuccess Border Punch, Cricut die cuts, and CSI Embellishments

Sketch Savvy #77 and CSI #23...Olivia

Grrr....I literally had this done, photo taken, and was ready to post when the clock ticked down missing the deadline by minutes.  I don't pretend to think I would have won, but, it's the principle of the thing!!  Anyway, how great is this color scheme!!  I had so much fun with this one and was so proud of myself for mixing and matching all kinds of paper!!  Here's the Case File from CSI:

And here's my layout:

Evidence:  Flowers, Monogram, and Border Punch

Testimony:  My journaling is written as a letter to Olivia

Paper:  CTMH Twitterpated and Discovery, Basic Grey Origins, and Kaiser Craft Tiger Lilly Collection
Cardstock:  CTMH Buttercup, White Daisy, Sorbet, and Blush
Stamps:  Journaling Jots
Ink: Pear (around journaling spot) and Grey Wool
Other:  CTMH flowers and Color Ready Wood Pieces (can't remember exact name), Martha Stewart border punch, Hero Arts and Recollections adhesive sparkles, Cricut and Gypsy, and Zig pen

Here's the layout from Sketch Savvy that I used.  Its another great one!

Sketch Savvy and CSI...Love

I was so excited to get to enter a CSI challenge, but, although my layout was almost done, everything went downhill...I dropped my letter "V" stamp and ripped it in two while I was trying to peel it off the photo.  Of course, the stamp itself peeled up the color off the photo anyway forcing me to place one of the journaling spots over top that specific spot.  Then, if that weren't bad enough, I'd messed with my rubons until they were stuck to the wrong side of the plastic and I made one heck of a mess of the other photo trying to use them anyway.  I guess since it's taken me an additional two weeks to get a picture and post it on my own blog, it obviously just wasn't meant to be!! ;O)  

Oh well, if you haven't tried a CSI challenge (Color, Stories, Inspiration) yet, what are you waiting for!!!  I can't believe how much fun they are and how much I've stepped out of my box and used product/ color challenges I never would have thought of without them!

Here's the Case File for this one...

Evidence: I used doilies and flowers (the doilies being the stretch for me!)

Testimony: I used both 3 different size journaling spots as well as 3 perspectives...each journaling spot is each one of us telling Olivia about our thoughts the day she arrived.  Owen wasn't so cooperative, so, I just told about what he was thinking/doing in the days leading up to her arrival. 

Now that I look at the case file and layout side by side, I was off on the color scheme some...the pinks aren't quite right are they!  Well, I tried anyway!

Paper: Basic Grey Urban Prairie and DCWV Green Stack
Cardstock: CTMH Colonial White, Hollyhock, and Sweet Leaf
Stamps:  Friendship Alpha
Ink: Hollyhock
Other:  Bazzil Basics flowers, Doilies from my stash, K&Company rubons, Butterfly sticker from Walmart, Robin's Nest Dew Drops, Stickles, EKSuccess corner Rounder, Cricut, and Spellbineders/Cuttlebug

The sketch I used for the layout was this one from Sketch Savvy.  I'm so loving her sketches and am so thankful, I wasn't sure I'd find another I loved as much as Sketchy Thursdays!!

Pencilines and Fly Boys...

This is another layout I started when I was still pregnant for my mother's album and have just now wrapped up.  To put it in perspective, I think it was the current challenge at Pencil Lines (who closed up shop months ago) when I first began!!  Sad I know.  Needless to say, I'm SO tired of looking at it and had little brilliant inspiration to contribute, so, its pretty simple.  I didn't glue the pennants down quite right and I see in my picture the "F" has slid off a little...I'll fix that! ;O)

Gotta love these pictures though...that was my little man at almost a year and my brother at 8.  They just happened to have coats that were almost identical, too cute! 

Paper:  Imaginisce (Can't find any name of the line)

Cardstock:  Barn Red, Desert Sand, and Colonial White

Stamps:  Pennant Alphabet, Confidential, and Star Struck

Ink:  Desert Sand and Barn Red

Other:  Hemp twine, Zig pen, and CTMH Cork Alphas

Pagemaps and Little Beauty...

Paper:  Basic Grey Wisteria

Cardstock:  Smokey Plum

Stamps: Vintage Type and Bohemian Alpha

Ink: Amethyst and Gypsy

Other:  Recollections Butterfly and flowers, various adhesive gems, CTMH Bitty Sparkles colored with Copic Markers, Dollar Butterfly Punch from Michael's, Fiskars circle and border punch, EKSucces corner rounder, and Making Memories embroidery floss

This layout is pretty simple, but, it took FOREVER and clearly does not resemble the Page Maps sketch posted on their blog here.  This one was so frustrating because of the way I insisted on printing the pictures and by the time I decided it wouldn't work, I'd wasted to much time/supplies.  So, I powered through and a month later, this is what you get! ;O)

Love...

Paper:  Basic Grey Urban Prairie

Cardstock: Blush, Creme Brulee, Hollyhock, and White Daisy

Stamps: Key to My Heart, Bohemian Alphabet, Hope, and Can't remember the "joy of life" stamp set

Ink:  Blush, Hollyhock

Other:  Spellbinders and Memory Box Dies, CTMH Clear Buttons, Making Memories Embroidery Floss, CTMH Bitty Pearls and Brads, Martha Stewart and Michael's Dollar Butterfly Punches, Recollections Pearls, Joann Essentials heart brads, Fiskars border punch, CTMH ribbon, Sizzix embossing envelope, Marvy and Zig pens.

I started this layout shortly after I found out I was having a girl and will use it as a cover page for her baby book.  The layout was on the cover of one of CTMH's catalogs with a paper I didn't like and I've been dying to recreate it.  I wish I'd done the stitching differently, but, I still like it overall!  

Freshly Made Sketches Baby Girl Card...

I was blog surfing a little today and came across this super fun card sketch blog called Freshly Made Sketches!  They are doing a special blog hop for one of their DT members who is expecting a new baby in the near future.  I loved the sketch and decided to keep with the theme and get a jump on the cards for all the new little ones my friends are expecting this year! ;O) 

I love this bear image, he's one of my two go-to baby images.  But, I think he's a little big for this standard sized card...I may have to rethink him in the future!  I also had to laugh because I've spent five years focused on little boy scrapbook supplies and have practically nothing in pink.  This stack from Basic Grey is about all I've got!  Olivia has a little outfit that is brown with, dark/light pink and grey spots on it and I thought I'd use that for my own little color challenge.  I like how it turned out, but, definitely not my typical colors!

Paper:  Basic Grey Urban Prairie
Cardstock:  Blush, Hollyhock, Grey Wool
Stamps:  Beary Much and New Arrival
Ink:  Grey Wool and Tsukineko Memento Rich Cocoa
Other: CTMH flowers and Clear button, Making Memories embroidery floss, Fiskars border punch, EK Success corner rounder, and Prisma Water Color pencils

Deepest Sympathy...

Cardstock:  CTMH Colonial White and Pansy Purple

Stamps:  Treasure Life, Universal Backgrounds, and Card Chatter Sympathy

Ink: CTMH Pansy Purple and Cocoa

Vicki Wizniuk posted a cute card on her blog the other day that was based on a card by Wanda Guess.  I love to look at new blogs, so, I ventured over to Wanda's and fell in love with this card here.  I thought it was so pretty and so simple, it would make a great sympathy card.  Sympathy cards are so tough for me and of course, they always get done in a rush because you never plan for a death.  I had all the supplies out for the "Family" layout still, so, I did my card in Pansy Purple with the Treasure Life and Universal Background stamps.  Easy Peasy! ;O)  Hopefully, I never have to use it though!

Family...

Paper:  Creative Memories-Nancy O'Dell's Hummingbird Collection

Cardstock:  Colonial White and Pansy Purple

Stamps: Treasure Life, Treasures, Journaling Jots, and The Works Alphabet

Ink:  CTMH Pansy Purple and Cocoa

Other:  JoAnn Craft Essentials Clear Embossing Powder with Versamark, Making Memories embroidery floss, JoAnn Essentials Brads, CTMH Bitty Brads, Ribbon from LSS, and Cricut 

I bought a scrapbook and matching "Hummingbird Collection" paper from Creative Memories over a year ago with the intentions of starting a scrapbook for my mother as a gift for her birthday last November.  Needless to say, with the year I've had, that didn't quite a happen.  But, I did manage to get this layout done based on this one here that I'd done a couple of years ago for Owen's scrapbook.  I hate to tell you how long ago I started this!!

CSI Case 20 and Sketch Savvy...Little Lady Bug

Happy Memorial Day!!  Don't forget to thank a service man/woman for their sacrifices today!!  Thats the least we can do while we enjoy our freedom...

Paper: Imaginisce Twitterpated, CTMH Let's Get Together (yellow) and Emporium (light green)

Cardstock:  White Daisy, Black, and Kraft

Stamps:  Just the Ticket, Rustic Alpha, Small Chocolate Alpha, Ambiance, and Fluttering Frames

Ink: Cranberry, Buttercup, Pear, and Tsukineko Memento Black Tuxedo

Other:  CTMH flowers, Imaginisce Brad and Twitterpated Rub-ons, Plantin Schoolbook Cricut Cartridge, Copic Marker (lipstick red), and Marvy Pen

While I was busy being pregnant and miserable, my favorite sketch blogs, Sketchy Thursday and Pencil Lines decided to call it quits.  I am still upset, Sketchy Thursday's sketches always struck a chord with me and between their great sketches and amazing DT, it was instant inspiration.  Anyway, I've been blog surfing a little trying to find new sketch sites and in the process, learned about CSI.  You've GOT to check out this challenge site, it's SO much fun!!  I desperately tried to put together my layout yesterday for Case #20 and get it submitted in time, but, I just wasn't fast enough.  I did however complete it from start to finish in one day...thats practically record breaking for me!! ;O)  Of course, I got no work done and my house is a disaster! ;O)


So, here's a quick synopsis of how it works, you have to complete a sketch (cards don't count) using all 5 colors provided, 2 options from Evidence, and 1 from Testimony.  They even provide digital papers and embellishments to download and print!!  I used...
Evidence:  Insects/Bugs and Kraft Background (I snuck a mushroom in just on principle)
Testimony:  Set Journaling on top of something and Inspiration Word: cute (in my journaling)

The other site I learned about while I was blog surfing was Sketch Savvy.  It's absolutely fabulous and reminds me a lot of Sketchy Thursday sketches, but, even better!!  I chose to use Sketch #70 from back on January 20th.

Mojo Monday Baby Shower!

Yaaay!  I finally got a chance to play a little this week and even had a good excuse!  I have a baby shower today and needed a card.  I was counting earlier, including me, I've known six different people that have had babies since September of 2011 and I know five more having babies between May and this September!!  It's like there's something in the water lately! ;O)  Stay clear of Alaska if you don't want a bundle of your own!!

I played along with this week's Mojo Monday sketch and used my favorite digi stamp from Meljen's Designs.  Believe it or not, she still has it in her freebies here!!  They currently have a blog challenge to use one of their stamps with pink and green.  Wish I had checked before I did this card...I may just have to do another one! ;O)

Paper:  DCWV Nana's Nursery Baby Boy (Really Old Stack)

Cardstock:  Pear, Gypsy, and White Daisy

Stamps:  Meljen's Designs Digi Sweet Little Donkey, New Arrival, and Card Word Puzzle

Ink:  Tsukineko Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black and Gypsy

Other:  Copic Markers, Stickles, Robin's Nest Dew Drops, CTMH Bitty Sparkles (Colored with Copic Markers to match), Fiskars Border Punch, Casa Collection Ribbon, Crop-a-Dial corner punch, and Nestabilities Die Cuts

Our Little Girl Is Here...

Olivia Laray finally arrived a couple of weeks ago and we are slowly getting into a routine and getting more sleep!  I hope to have time to be crafty soon.  In the meantime, here's some pictures I thought I'd share of our new little angel!!  Her brother is totally smitten! ;O)

Hip Hip Hooray....

I made this card this past summer for Dave's Granny and have yet to get it in the mail!!!  How bad is that!!!  I don't know what is wrong with me!  Anyway, figured I'd share it here at least and hopefully, it will give me the motivation to walk it to the mailbox! ;O)

Paper:  Key To My Heart

Cardstock:  White Daisy and Tulip

Stamps:  Card Chatter-Happy Birthday and Happy Forever

Ink: Tsukineko Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black, Juniper, and Tulip (Sponged around cardstock)

Other:  Copic Markers, Stickles, Recollections Adhesive Sparkles, CTMH Hollyhock brads, EKSuccess Corner Rounder, Crop-a-Dile Corner punch, and Celebrate It White Ric Rac Ribbon