#JuneTweetSketch at Birds of A Feather Kit Co

*blowing dust away*

It's summer time so that means I am dusting off the scrap desk and catching up on some scrapbooking! A fresh photo and sketch always get me going so I grabbed a photo that I snapped yesterday with my phone, along with several instax mini polaroid prints taken with my daughter's camera, and this fun sketch by Kristin:

and I came up with this:

 I used the mini polaroids in place of the envelopes, threw some flair around until I was happy and called it done! This is the only layout I've done...probably all of 2014? But definitely the fastest layout in years! Thanks for the inspiration Kristin :)

I did use an old Birds of A Feather Kit for this - the paper and a few embellies. But most of the embellishments are from my own stash of project life items.

Ready for Santa {Cosmo Cricket: Jolly by Golly}

I have another two-fer to share today. This doubles as the July sketch challenge at Birds of a Feather and this week's challenge at The Paper Variety - Christmas in July! 

I always have a hard time using snowflake paper with my layouts because we never actually see any snow here...but I guess their pajamas have snowflakes so it all works :-) I have to admit I love scrapping Christmas in July!

Hours of Fun {American Crafts: Dear Lizzy}

This layout is for June's sketch challenge at Birds of a Feather:

I struggled with this sketch a bit...but was much happier once I added the banner in. (sorry this is so large...but you get the idea!)
  

I originally thought the title would be "lather, rinse, repeat" because the girls repeated the runs down the trailer ramp all afternoon long. (There is another set of photos under the flap) Instead, I used: (2 sisters) + (a trailer) + (one 4-wheeler) = Hours of Fun. Can you tell I'm a former Algebra teacher? lol 

Here are some closeups:

I hope you are staying out of this heat that we (almost) all seem to be having!

Happiness is... {Cosmo Cricket: Salt Air}

The journaling reads:

"Happiness is

a summer breeze,

sand between your toes

and your best friend

by your side" 

This is a two-fer layout. First off, I used all Cosmo Cricket products for Kayla's challenge at scrapbook.com. This months challenge was to fussy cut...The little yellow half-flowers are cut out from a 12x12 paper and then layered for a pleated look. I also cute the journal spot out, as well as the two PP strips in the upper right corner. Those actually came from the cover sheet of the collection pack as their size fit the layout better!

And for the second challenge, I used the May sketch at Birds of a Feather. I actually struggled with this one but making the page 8.5x11 helped :)
P.S. Sorry the sketch picture is so big!

Strawberry Picking {Cosmo Cricket: Garden Variety}

Two reasons I am impressed with this layout. First of all, it has 11 (ELEVEN!) photos on it! Second, I used my Silhouette to cut the title. It must be over a year since I last used it! :-o

 I chose to use the Silhouette since my stash of red alphas did not have enough Rs...and Michaels did not have a huge variety to choose from . Yay me for saving some cash! I broke out the stickles too...kinda hard to tell in this photo though, the strawberries, bees & some flowers are accented. It seems like forever since I've used stickles!

I've got to say that this layout feels different than any other layout I've ever done but I love how I fit so many photos on the page :) And it worked great since all I had left of the CC paper was scraps! I was inspired by a sketch of Becky Higgins in the Sketches 2 book.

Cute & Adorable {Basic Grey: Olivia}

I'm back today with more Basic Grey :) My largest stash based on manufacturer is definitely Basic Grey but I haven't used in any ages till just recently. I love the Olivia line and had forgotten how much until I was in search for paper for this picture. I've had this picture for over a year but wasn't sure what I wanted to have for the title & journaling...

Enter this month's journaling challenge at Birds of A Feather - to scrap a conversation. I ask my oldest daughter often if she likes being a big sister and the answer has pretty much stayed the same for the past two years. She really does love her little sister to pieces and I'm so excited to know that they have each other to grow up with! MY sister is one of my best friends :-)

This LO is also for the challenge at The Paper Variety to use polka dots!

I lifted this layout from one I saw in the My Mind's Eye April newsletter. The sketch is by Jana Eubank but the layout I lifted from is by Tamara Jensen. I tried to find a blog link for her but gave up (I admit, pretty quickly, lol).

Picture Perfect {Bo Bunny: Mama-razzi Collection}

Just in case you live under a rock and didn't hear me scream last night in excitement...my LYB layout was picked as a finalist in their sketch contest! Thanks to LYB and Liz Qualman for the great opportunity!! I'm honored just to be chosen as a finalist but I would still love your votes for the grand prize :) The link to the blog post is right here!

Today I wanted to share a layout I did for the March sketch challenge at Birds of A Feather. Every month there are 5 challenges that Amy posts and you have the whole month to complete them. If you complete all 5, you have a shot at being her next guest designer ;)

When I saw the sketch I knew immediately what paper I wanted to use because of the film strip! I've had the whole collection for a looong time now and it feels so good to use some of it :)

Thanks for stopping by :)

Welcome to the Jungle {Little Yellow Bicycle: Baby Safari}

I made this layout for a sketch challenge on the LYB blog using pictures from my little one's first day....first moments, actually! If you click the link, you can see the sketch - I didn't stray too much from it as usual :)

We were supposed to use the new Twig line but they still let us participate if we don't have any as long as we use another LYB line. This is a retired line, Baby Safari, and I bought a ton of it when I was pregnant with her. {I have a thing for giraffes ;) }Hard to believe these pictures are almost 2 years old!

February Challenge @ Scrapbook.com {Cosmo Cricket: Togetherness}

This month, Kayla's challenge at scrapbook.com is based on a sketch.

And this is what I came up with. {Using some of the goodies that CC sent me :) }

You still have time to play - layouts are due on the 27th. Thanks for looking!

3 days left to crop!

Friday was the beginning of this weekend's crop at Birds of a Feather and you still have 3 days left to submit your layouts. There are 8 very different challenges (a few games, too)!

This is for the sketch challenge:

 And these were using sketches I had on my desk using grids. Chelle posted a challenge to use a grid or lines on a LO - and I love using photo grids! Both of these next two are mainly using the February kit.

 The above is a PageMaps sketch and I think the next one is sketch #6 at Sketch Support

I'm already working on another challenge and doubling it as my January Project 12 page :-)

Birds of a Feather February Kit {Lily Bee: Lovely; Glitz Design: Love Nest}

I was awarded a guest designer spot for February at Birds of a Feather Kit Co. and I was so excited when I got my kit - I think it was made for me and pictures of my girls! ;) This first layout is of my youngest at less than a week old. The green background goes so well with the greens in the paper! I used a PageMaps sketch but it's from 2009 I think?

And then this layout is using a picture of my mom. One of the few pictures that I have of her! My PSA of the week: Be sure you get out from behind that camera so that your kids will have pictures of YOU! ;) This is the very first layout I have made using a picture of her...and I felt so pressured to make it a great one!

 A double using pictures of my girl taken by my boss. The girls had a tea party! The colors of this kit are perfect for these pictures :-D I used sketch #7 at Sketch Support for this one and have since added journaling along the bottom curve. My brown journaling pen dried up and I forgot to buy a new pen before I took the picture!

 I also made a mini album of my girls with the pictures from the tea party. (sorry for the dark photos, we had several days of rain around here!)

 And lastly, a card using a PageMaps sketch that I had seen on Scrapbook & Cards Today blog earlier this past week. Kayla made a better card and I've shortened my strip of yellow stripe paper after seeing hers ;)

If you'd like to see closeups and read more details about these projects you can read about them here on the forums - it's free to register! This kit is so much fun to work with - I still have plenty more paper & accessories for a few more layouts, hopefully I will get some more of those done soon. If you'd like to checkout the kit, you can purchase & view more details here and don't forget to check the extras section, too!

Recipe LO {Cosmo Cricket: Garden Variety}

I made this layout for Janet's sketch challenge over at Kitchen Keepsake. It was for a crop a couple weekends back but I'm just now getting around to getting a good picture & posting it! It also works for Kayla's January CC challenge over at scrapbook.com.

 Speaking of the CC challenge at scrapbook.com - I won for December! Thanks to everyone who voted for me ;) Just a few days after the vote, THIS arrived for me. Isn't it the cutest delivery box?! They are so clever! Get it CC, like CiCi's Pizza? Or is that just a coincidence?

 So I'm not eligible this month for the challenge, but you still have time! The challenge bonus was to use at least 3 pieces of chipboard - I've got lots with the layered flowers and the cute corn :)

Here's a closeup of the recipe for you - but I'm still not sure you can read it. Basically, get a variety of colors in your veggies, chop them up, add some garlic, salt & pepper, EVOO. Roast it at 400 degrees for 15-20 mins. I chop my veggies and make 3 servings, then freeze 2 for another time.

Gifts at Grandma's

Back today with more from the crop! I saw this sketch and immediately thought of presents - you know, good old fashion boxes decorated with bows :)

And this is what I came up with (many grueling hours later, lol)

 I love the design and think it works great with the pictures...but I only wish that I had taken the time to do computer printed journaling! I was so frustrated with all the different boxes that I was rushing to just get done and didn't take the time to get my lines straight :( I still love it though - this is one of those that looks much better in real life!

The paper is from an OLD collection of Stampin' Up! It sure felt good to use up lots of my stash this weekend - especially since I still like that paper. I can't say that about all of my stash!

Balls a.k.a. Pumpkins {Bo Bunny: Kitchen Spice}

I came across Birds of a Feather Kit Co last week when they were in the middle of their grand opening online crop. I've been following Amy's blog for a while now but had missed that she was starting up this company :-\ Luckily, Suzanne wanted to win some goodies and referred me over to the site :)I completed 2 challenges...this first one obviously a sketch challenge! I used pictures of my little one at the pumpkin patch. The circle immediately make me think of these pictures - she's at the stage where all things round are balls {said with MUCH enthusiasm :)} and where she wants to THROW all things that are balls! Pooooor pumpkins, lol. I love this sketch and will be using it again :) The best part is that I was able to use scraps of pattern paper! Can you believe I was fussy cutting those flowers after midnight on Saturday? What was I thinking?! lol

Cookbookin' October Sketch {Basic Grey: Nook & Pantry}

Here is this month's sketch for Cookbookin'. And here is my take on it.

I got this recipe from a friend, and my husband really likes the dish but hates ANY thing that is named "casserole". So I've started renaming all of the recipes :) Pizza casserole is now known as Pizza & Pasta, lol.

I chose this recipe because it was the only recipe I had a picture printed for Suzanne's challenge at Challenge Master's was to scrap a casserole recipe. A two for one layout :D

Thanks for stopping by and I promise to share my other two layouts this week!

Cookbookin' September Sketch Challenge {Basic Grey: Nook & Pantry}

Cookbookin' has a new blog and Kristie gets to be in charge of the blog! She is VERY talented and I get tons of ideas (including the pinwheels from a few posts back) that aren't even all recipe scrapping related.

They are having a monthly sketch challenge - yay! September's challenge is to use this sketch: And this is what I came up with. This is an 8 1/2 x 11 page which I'm finding I like most for most of my recipes.

I haven't personally made these cookies yet but they are super delicious and sound super easy to make! Here's the recipe:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

1 chocolate cake mix

2 eggs

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 package of Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Miniatures

Mix the first three ingredients together until well blended. Mold cake mixture around the Reeses PB Cups and bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 mins.

Grid designs {Cosmo Cricket: DeLovely}

I saw this layout: on Scrapbook and Cards Today magazine (Monday's challenge) and I just loved the grid design. I have been dying to use the Cosmo Cricket DeLovely paper so I broke it out for this. I also used this layout for the September CC challenge at Scrapbook.com. This month's challenge was to use 2 or more lines of CC paper. Most of mine is DeLovely, but the sweet pea embellies, pear and yellow chipboard flower are from Garden Variety & Early Bird. I have to be honest....DeLovely was the only line I own that didn't flow really well with all of the others! It truly was a challenge for me ;)

And then I had this bright idea that when I like a sketch/design and I'm using a picture of only one of the girls, I should make another layout for the other one! Two layouts, one design...but totally different looks. Loved it!

This is using the same retired Stampin' Up! paper from my last post....

I love these little Scrabble letters and was so excited when I realized I had the right letters for her name! I'm really getting down to the end of those letters though :( Does anyone else use the same design for multiple layouts at one time? Any other tricks you can think of like this?