Cards for The Paper Variety

There were a total of 5 challenges at The Paper Variety this week and earlier today I uploaded 3 layouts. I still wanted to complete the last two but they were challenges that I new I would struggle with on a layout...so off to card making I went! 

I knew I'd have fun making a Halloween card so I made this for the stamping challenge. The bat and "I'm batty for you" are all one stamp so I colored it with markers and then stamped. Can't pass up an opportunity for google eyes! All of the papers & the stamp are from Stampin' Up! (oldies but goodies!)

This next card is for the challenge to use your favorite color and ONLY your favorite color. Well, my favorite color in real life is purple but with two girls, my favorite scrappy color is pink and I have TONS of it :-) The papers and stamp are also from Stampin' Up!

Let me just say that I learned a BIG lesson with card making & sewing. I decided to sew on this one after I had already adhered the papers on the front of the card. BIG mistake! Although, that would be funny to give a card that way to trick the recipient ;-)

Fall Fun

This is my last challenge for the weekend crop. The challenge was to get dirty - with paint, inks, etc. I don't use paint on layouts...ever. I have used white pain to distress but I think that's only been on mini-albums. And I've painted on altered items...just not layouts. Until now! 

I used a paint dauber to create the red splatters, then I dipped several different round items in purple, orange and yellow to mimic the little circles on the green patterned paper (plus the colors that the girls are using to paint in the pictures). 

 I accidentally did too much black when I first started so I added the white circles to help balance the black. The spider webs are rubons, and I had a few other rubons that I placed on the chipboard and a couple of pictures. The pumpkins have google eyes so I added a few of those in some of the random circles and on the chipboard pieces to cover the holes.

I was having way too much fun with this - the splatters are SO FUN to make! Because of drying time though...I was up way too late getting this finished ;) I used a PageMaps sketch to get me started and the papers are OLD from Stampin' Up!.....5 years old! Sometimes I wonder why I hold on to papers for so long but they really couldn't have been more perfect for this page!

The challenge at The Paper Variety for week 45 is to use circles...so I'm submitting this layout for the challenge :)

{Sweet} Glitz Design: Love Nest

I was forced to spend quite a bit of $ at my LSS last week (unfortunately, I really mean forced in a negative way) and so I bought about 8 sheets of this PP from Glitz Design - LOVE IT! The cardstock for the photo frames & flowers as well as the patterned paper are kit extras in the BOAF Feb kit. The buttons & thread are from my stash (Stampin' Up!) and the Thickers are another "forced" purchase. That border/corner punch was also something I bought at the LSS and has got to be the messiest punch ever! lol

 I posted a tutorial in the forums for how to make these flowers. You can check it out here.

BOAF is hosting a crop this weekend - come check it out! Amy always sends AWESOME goodies ;)

Me Want Cookie

This layout is inspired by the colors for the December color challenge at Birds of a Feather.

 While I was scraping a couple weekends ago, I ran across an old collection from Stampin' Up! and the colors were perfect for the challenge!

I made a mistake on this layout, got stickles all over but you can't tell in the pictures ;)

The toy she's trying to eat is a Cookie Monster remote control - it was a favortie gift last year!

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I can't forget to mention that the layout is based on a PageMaps sketch! Thanks for looking :)

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!

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?

August Project 12 (and July, too!)

Back in January, I started scrapping one {double page} layout per month as part of Project 12. I was so excited about the concept and it is making me feel a little better about being so far behind on my scrapping. I can't even scrap all the current photos that I want, much less scrap something from years ago!

I am very proud of myself for having kept up with Project 12 so far even though I've only shown a few here on the blog. And I've never submitted for a prize before because the prize for me is just getting the month done. They are not usually my most favorite pages...but I really cherish them for all of the details they hold. I love how they all have something similar yet look so different. In mine, I've used Kraft CS as one of the two base papers for every month.

So here is August and I've got to tell you there are several parts I'm in love with. One is the title "August" how it's all scrunched up. I'm normally VERY linear ;) The pattern papers are all from a retired collection of Stampin' Up! I've had for years and it felt so good to use some of my stash. Another part is this little owl and the rubons I mixed with it. I'm a rubon hoarder so I was glad to use some up. I'm also an owl hoarder...I have a whole separate section in my stash that is devoted to owl paper, rubons, embellishments, etc. I'm glad to finally be using some of that, too!You can see more rubons in the tree - the owl and 'shrooms. I stickled the heck out of the flower paper and the tree cut out. It's a very pretty LO in real life :)

One thing I wish is that I had stitched instead of doodled...but I'm just not comfortable enough yet to sew on a layout - especially a double pager!

Here is July, which I also finished this week...

My favorite part on this one is the little word stickers on the photos in the collage. I saw that somewhere recently and was so proud of myself for remembering to try it ;)

Whew, that was a long post...as always, thanks for looking!

Christmas In July

I'm pretty sure that I scrapped a lot of Christmas last July, too. Must be that I'm trying to get a break from the heat! LoL

I've been hanging out with Suzanne at her new site, Paper Whores. This first challenge was spread out over a week or so and we had to follow daily instructions to complete a LO. Here's mine - I love it!

Then the next challenge was to scrap our addiction - which part of scrapbooking we are addicted to. Mine was the paper (I really do belong at Paper Whores!) and alphabets. I would say border punches are close to becoming an obsession, too! We had to use a punch AND it's negative space (flower in the center) and 4 different pattern papers. The alphabet for the title just so happens to be my favorite Thickers!

And then this last one is really from a kit that Suzanne sent us for being so chatty. 5 of us all had the same supplies and came up with at least on LO using ONLY those supplies. This is my first one...{I used an older Inspired Blueprints Sketch to get me going on this one}but then I went back to make a page to go with it. The only thing I added was the red twine on this page...and I still have supplies left to make at least one more page! Suzanne was VERY generous :) btw, the title says "{Fairy} Fun Xmas" because my oldest DD was sporting her fairy wings - which she pretty much wore every day of 2009 :D The are kinda hard to notice but she's wearing them in front of the tree in the first LO.

If you are looking for some fun challenges, come visit me at Paper Whores :D

Altered Clipboard/Recipe Holder {Graphic 45: Domestic Goddess}

I altered this clipboard (I think it came from Stampin' Up!... It's more square than normal) with Graphic 45 papers - from the Domestic Goddess line. I wasn't sure what to do with the silverware paper on a layout but like it on the clipboard. The apron is made from a template in the Pine Cone Press book that came with the paper.My thought was to use it to hold lists or recipes. It's perfect for the recipe cards I have from my mom...

Love the apron!

Although I think this is cute, I'm just not sure it's my style...so I'm thinking of opening up the Etsy shop to list this for sale! Must go clean the cobwebs ;)

First House - Sketch 47 at The Scrappiest

I had so much FUN making this layout. I totally scrap-lifted this page from Aphra...for sketch 47 at The Scrappiest. The only thing I'm not 100% pleased with on this lo is the button - it's a little large for the door! But I loved the color/texture of it...I think the fun part was this house - so stinkin' cute! Can you see the freshly applied stickles? shhh ;)

I'm not going to even try to give a list of the papers I used - I think it's one from every collection I own!

With this layout I decided that I think Halloween is my favorite holiday to scrap. I never would have guessed that but I'm pretty sure it's the most scrapped holiday in my albums!

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Don't miss one more photo here.

Sweet Princess {Little Yellow Bicycle: Baby Safari}

I had printed this picture for the 6 month page but chose to go with the others instead. I would have found a way to fit it in if I hadn't had this paper to go with it :) It's also Little Yellow Bicycle paper...I'm really excited about this LO!I used sketch #31 at 52 Sketches...52 Weeks for my inspiration and it came together very quickly. The only problem with this layout was that it was 10 PM, both girls were sleeping and I wanted to finish the one last step of putting glitter on that arrow. I needed to use the SU! heat & stick powder...the heat gun is not too loud but I guess it was loud enough to wake both of the princesses ;)Thanks for looking!

I *heart* my feet! {My Mind's Eye Tiny Dancer & Whirly Bird}

This layout is based on the Sept 15 sketch at Stuck? Sketches and I actually used recent pictures ;) I've had it done for a while except for the glitter on the heart. Last time I used this chunky glitter from Stampin' Up!, it was a disaster....so I wanted to use the heat & stick powder to apply it this time. After a little bit of waiting, I finally picked it up today and WOW! I'll never apply glitter again without using that stuff! I'd basically given up on using glitter (except for stickles, of course) but NOW I'm considering using it on holiday cards. I don't normally like the idea of that because the glitter gets everywhere when you open the envelope (not to mention when you make them) but I promise, this glitter is STUCK. DOWN!

Cute Sassafras flowers & Hero Arts pearls...

Hope you enjoy the LO :)

Spongey Bob Square Pants

My oldest's favorite show right now is SpongeBob - or as she calls him - "Spongey Bob". This is a pieced together picture of both pages - forgot to take a picture of them side by side...so forgive that they don't match in the middle. What do you think...should I add some stickles to the SpongeBob in the corner? The page seems very bland but I'm not sure how to spice it up...it feels very "Old School" to me :)

Or I could add stickles onto the logo....?

I had so much fun with the logo. I copied it from the Nick website, was able to download a SpongeBob font for free and then I used my Silhouette to cut the letters out. I actually used the negative space for "SquarePants" then free handed the turquoise bubble shape. And I was especially excited to find rub-on flowers in my stash that matched the logo! So do I need to create the pores with another shade of yellow & a punch...or with stickles? Any suggestions you have to improve this are welcome.

But seriously, isn't it awesome what I can do with the Silhouette????

Studio Calico & Pagemaps Contest

I saw this sketch contest on the Pagemaps blog and this is what I came up with: Ehh. It's not my favorite layout but I'm not sure why. I certainly strayed a lot from the sketch...that all started because I trimmed too much from the picture.

I cut the flowers out using the Silhouette and they needed something. But I didn't have enough of any one embellishment to have it consistent. I wish now that I had just embellished a few and used the same embellishment. Oh well... I did discover that I really like teal and brown together, and I bet it will look even better with Kraft CS!

I thought about not even posting this but wanted to prove that I am getting over my perfectionism! (That darn half-circle rub-on - I almost had it on there perfect!)

Cute Cuspids

Thanks to my non-scrappy but creative sister for supplying the title for this layout! Much better than "First Trip to the Dentist" ;)

I had a hard time getting started on this LO until I got over wanting the paper to coordinate with the dress colors. Then I was on My Mind's Eye blog and came across this layout - it all came together quickly after that. I had been planning on following another Pagemap sketch that was similar so mine is really a combination of the two. I was excited to find the free tooth font as well :)
I spent way too long deciding where to put the flower! lol

P.S. Please pardon the construction here on the blog :) I hope to have it all finished in a day or two...