Unforgettable Vacation March 2022

Our rental house on our Lake Placid vacation. 2020 was so stressful this home was a leading character in the documentation of our vacation. Tastefully decorated and well appointed, this safe haven during our pandemic vacation was a true comfort.

Design Inspiration: I’ve had trouble finding an appropriate use for this particular mixed media background from the VB Let’s Wander collection. It’s one of the very last pages in my pack. The rainbow of colors was my stepping off point for this page, so I figured it worked well for the My Little Scrapbook Store (MLSS) March 2022 design challenge.

 

Material Inspiration: I’m old school when it comes to scrapbooking… 20 years ago ribbons, fibers, twine and thread were all the rage, and I’ve always loved the dimension and texture they bring to a page. I always jump a chance when I see a challenge that highlights fibers. I used 4 different types of ribbons, as well as embroidery thread on this page for the Lasting Memories March 2022 challenge #589.

Collections:

Vicki Boutin Let’s Wander from MLSS. (Paper, Stencil, Mixed Media Creative FX and Embellishments)

Simple Stories Happy Trails (Paper and Embellishments)

Reminisce Love your Face from MLSS. (Paper and Title)

Fibers:

Flowers: American Crafts.

Ric-Rac: Stampin’up!

Yellow and Vacation Ribbon: Unknown.

Embroidery thread: Making Memories Watercolor Brite.

Honey Bee Stamps Gem Stickers from MLSS.

Rub-on Transfer: Reminisce Phraseology.

Label Stickers: Echo Park Photo Freedom.

Brad: Eyelet Outlet Stitched Flowers Fall.

Chalking Ink: Quick Quotes Powderpuff Mocha Mama.

Stamp: Staples.

sdm-

 

If You Could Only See My Face March 2022

 

Continuing to document our summer 2020 vacation during the Covid 19 pandemic. I wanted to take note in this album that despite the unusual circumstances of this time and our concerns to travel safety, it was still important to create a special vacation with our family. So, this page within the album takes note of the circumstances.

I created my own background with horizontal strips of paper from the Reminisce Love that Face collection, and infused the black and white theme with some paper accents and embellishments from the VB Let’s Wander collection.

I own very few punches and dies, and only own a mini die cut machine, but I recently bought a notebook edge punch and was excited to use it for the first time on this page. I also used the die machine to cut a few hearts and circles to use as embellishments from some very old scrap Stampin’ up glitter paper. 

Finishing touches included Nuvo drops and twine.

sdm-

Seeing Stars & S’mores March 2022

I’ve been saving all the s’mores references on the sticker sheet from the Simple Stories Happy Trails collection specifically to use on this page since our Lake Placid vacation, and finally had the opportunity to execute it. It was “s’mo” much fun and the stickers worked perfectly with the Lasting Memories #588 challenge.

I also used a Vicki Boutin Let’s Wander mixed media base sheet, along with some vellum, wood and plastic embellishments from that same collection.

Finally, I used a saved ephemera clothing tag for the title and made and embossed my own tags for the background.

In addition, I focused on using as many complimentary metallic paper and embellishment products I could find in order to use this project for My Little Scrapbook Store‘a Lucky Us March 2022 crop challenge #17. I especially liked the glitter frame and confetti from the Hey Santa collection. Sdm-

Goldenrod March 2022

Continuing documenting our 2020 vacation to Lake Placid, NY. I made my husband pull over on the side of the road so I could take this photo. My late friend and mentor loved Lake Placid and constantly talked about this beautiful area of the country, and when I saw this field, I immediately thought of him. I had to stop and honor him for a few minutes in my memory. I'm so grateful that we got to finally explore this region.

Challenge Inspiration:

Color Scheme Inspiration: My Little Scrapbook Store (MLSS)

March 2022 Online Lucky Crop Challenge 16.

Sketch Inspiration: Scrap Our Stash March 2022 sketch challenge

Design inspiration: Lasting Memories March 2022 challenge #591 Finishing Touches. Nuvo drops and Enamel Dots.

Three paper collections: CM Meadow, Amy Tangerine Picnic in the Park from MLSS, and Doodlebug Land that I Love Petite Prints.

Alphas and Crushed Pineapple Powdered Pigment: Vicki Boutin Let's Wander.

Acrylic Flowers: Recollections.

Button/Ribbon: Unknown.

Flower Stamp: Hero Arts.

Date Stamp: Staples.

Nuvo Drops: Belgium Bluestone Stone Drops and Simply White Crystal Drops from MLSS.

Enamel Flower: AT Picnic in the Park from MLSS.

Enamel Dots: Pink & Main from MLSS.

Picket Fence Paper Glitz: Lime Christmas from MLSS.

Matte Acrylic Gel: Vicki Boutin.

Fineline Red Top Glue from Paper Issues.

Distress Oxide: Stormy Sky.

Quick Quotes Powderpuff Feather Gray Chalking Ink.

DCWV Green Page Tabs from HSN.

CM Circle Templates and straight trimmer.

Process photo: I struggled finding the right color and paper combinations for this project, and even ripped it apart and put it together several times. I was trying to force a lovely peacock blue paper and vicki Boutin stencil into the design, and in the end, once I let them go and introduced the better shade of lilac from the doodlebug collection, everything fell into place successfully.

I've put this hobby on hold for the last 8 months, but am so relieved to be back! sdm-

 

Sigma “Nu” Years Eve June 2021

I had the idea of using the two “zeros” in 2020 for a New Year’s Eve layout. This challenge from Lasting Memories provided the opportunity to get this yearly event documented.

Our college friends have been celebrating New Year’s Eve together for 25 years, so this Paper Issues was a great challenge to document our friendship. I purchased a great chevron stamp set at Paper Issues that I used for this layout.

I did a deep dive into my old stash and used some vintage StampinUp! paper, glitter cardstock and drops; combined with a small new CM New Years paper and sticker collection. Additional old supplies used were an old border sticker I got on HSN a decade ago and two washi tapes I've had for years. Some fun new items I used were silver Paper Glaze over a stencil, Vicki Boutin Let's Wander metal embellishments, crystal dots, and some foam alphas.

sdm-

Delaware Canal St Park May 2021

 

We had so much family quality time last year during Covid, it’s something I’m going to really miss as

my oldest leaves for college soon. We explored the PA side of the Delaware River canal tow path, an area we often explore, but this was the first time we saw this specific area together. We walked, ran, hiked and biked, admired the wildflowers and the amazing historic covered bridge.

Sketch inspiration: Stick it Down.

 

Photo inspiration: I had this subject for a layout in mind for a while, but couldn’t edit down all the great photos from the day. This challenge from Lasting Memories reminded me I don’t have to edit out my favorite pics all the time.

Paper and ephemera inspiration: My Little Scrapbook Store monthly challenge. I really love this botanical paper from Dare2bArtzy I’ve been saving since last year with this event in mind. The soft floral patterns reminded me of the day. I combined them with ephemera from Vicki Boutin’s Kaleidoscope and Wildflower and Honey collections... because whenever u need a butterfly you can always count on finding one in Vicki’s collections!

sdm-

Mirror Lake Supper May 2021

Continuing documenting our summer vacation to Lake Placid last year. I used Amy Tangerine Picnic in the Park and Vicki Boutin Let’s Wander collections, as well as a sheet of Creative Memories Meadow paper.

MLSS Sketch Inspiration: We had so many lovely photos to choose from of our evening supper overlooking misty Mirror Lake, I knew I needed a double page layout.

Lasting Memories color inspiration: I love this mood board and colors. The blurry flowers reminded me of a lot of the photos we took that night.

Additional supplies not mentioned above:

Hero Arts stamp Daisy Border F2270.

Eyelet outlet brads Stitched Flowers.

Little Birdie Juicy Jugs.

CM 12” Straight Trimmer.

Distress Embossing Pen and Powder: Peeled Paint.

Staples Date Stamp.

Dina Wakley Leafy Stencil.

Quick Quotes Powderpuff Royal Blue chaulking ink.

Nuvo glitter marker Imperial Blue.

Ribbon, hole punch: unknown.

Crepe Paper Hey Santa Holly Jolly Thickers alphas.

DCWV textured cardstock Brights.

Scotch ATG and tacky glue.

Honey Bee precision scissors.

I ❤️ NY May 2021

 First page of a mini vacation winter weekend series. I usually don’t purchase themed paper collections often, but I thought the Echo Park Warm and Cozy and Winter Magic collections was so cute and perfect to document this short getaway trip to Gore Mountain, NY. We have been going to VT every year for over three decades, but Covid travel restrictions required us to reconsider our plans. We took some inspiration from our summer trip to Lake Placid and returned to the Adirondacks, and were so happy we did! We also made this ski trip earlier than years past, taking advantage that the kids had remote school and fewer December crowds. This much needed vacation was a perfect way to kick off the holidays for our family.

Scrap our Stash layout and travel theme inspiration:

MLSS Subject matter inspiration: I’m not me without him. It’s that simple. ❤️

Challenge YOUrself photo choice inspiration: I waited out in the cold for my husband to return from a rest stop to snap this cute photo with him... and had what seemed like lots of cold time to find a good pic of myself before he arrived!

Additional supplies:

CM trains and automobiles collections, On the road boarder maker cartridge.

Grommet, twine, corner and hole punch: unknown.

Simply white crystal and Belgium bluestone stone Nuvo drops.

Distress oxide rustic wilderness.

Date stamp: Staples.

Kiwi lane brackets 1 template.

Scotch ATG and tacky glue.

12” CM straight trimmer.

Clickit grommet tool.

Artist’s Loft Illustration Pen: 0.3 brown.

Prismacolor fine tip marker PM-6 Carmine red.

Honey Bee precision scissors.

Shades of Spring May 2021

I had so much fun learning a new technique (for me) on this page. I own very, very, few stamps, so incorporating stamps into a page is a challenge for me. I finally broke open a Heidi Swapp Honey & Spice stamp set last week that I bought specifically for a journaling box stamp. I have only used one other stamp in the collection. Since I needed to incorporate flowers into the Scrap our Stash challenge below, I decided to try the flower stamp, and ended up using several others on this page.

In addition, I’ve only used my heat embosser a handful of times, so I decided to try it again. I started with an Altenew flower medallion stencil on Vicki Boutin Enjoy Today mixed media paper. It was only then I read the fine print on the back of the embossing powder that I realized I could emboss stamps using oxide inks. Once I started embossing stamps, I didn’t want to stop. I even went back and added more embossed stamping the next morning after I thought I was done.

I’m not a fan of this paper pad, and decided to start using it more aggressively to use it up. Indeed I covered up most of the design, and then cut up another page with colors I liked to use as photo mats.

Then, I looked for yellow paper to use similar to the marigolds, and found an old Stampin up! mini kit I was gifted as an crop door prize I’ve been hoarding for years. I also found a coordinating sheet of Honey & Spice paper that reminded me of the camouflage pattern on my son’s shirt, and started layering other patterned paper from the mini kit to match the sketch below.

Sketch and flowers inspiration:

MLSS stamp inspiration:

I loved the vibe my son is giving off in this pic, wearing his “shades” and saying he’s getting older and too cool for mom to snap his pic, hence the title inspiration. We had a lovely Saturday afternoon together eating lunch while watching planes land and take off from our little local airfield, and then I picked some flowers from our yard to freshen up our bedroom.

Other supplies used:

Simple stories large alphas.

Cloud builder stencil.

Tag, grommet, small alphas, wood and paper flower ephemera: unknown

Simply white Nuvo drops.

Pink & Main enamel dots. Happy mail.

Distress oxide speckled egg and stormy sky.

Powder puff chaulking ink: Feather grey.

Embossing powders: Distress salvaged patina and peeling paint, Wow Manuela’s honey, Nuvo happy daze.

Date stamp: Staples.

Scotch ATG.

12” CM straight trimmer.

Artist’s Loft Illustration Pen: 0.3 brown.

Kingart fine tip pen: Grey.

 

Winter Time May 2021

 

Beautiful sunny winter day to walk around downtown Clinton, NJ enjoying the lovely architecture. After an unusually bad winter, this was the first day in a long time that we could feel and see the world starting to thaw, and although we still had another month of winter, the pretty day provided just enough hope that spring would soon be upon us. We need to start getting used to, and treasure days like these with our younger son, as our older son will be leaving for college soon. Bitter sweet.

I created my own two color background with splatters of Distress Oxides on 80# photoplay white cardstock, then layered strips of paper on the bottom half.

Featured collection: Echo Park Winter Magic.

sdm-

Tuccamirgan Park May 2021

Our extra snowy winter this year provided several opportunities for the boys and their friend to enjoy our little town sledding hill at Tuccamirgan Park. So happy that even though they are growing up so fast, they still can enjoy fun ‘kid’ things together. They used the new toboggan they got for Christmas.

I did a pocket journal card for this layout. I learned about this technique last year, and have tried it a few times since, but I think this is my most successful attempt so far.

I thought I was done with this layout earlier, and even took a photo thinking I was done. Then, after a night’s rest, I looked at the layout in the morning decided to add more mixed media... sometimes I have trouble knowing when enough is enough as looking back I think I like the version without the mixed media better... oh well!

Featured Collection:  Echo Park Winter Magic.

Simple Stories alphas.

Picket Fence mixed media.

sdm-

Brews & Dudes May 2021

This is the 8th page of our family vacation album from a trip to Lake Placid last summer. I introduced paper from a new (to me) collection into this album’s color story on this page, Amy Tangerine’s Picnic in the Park. In order to provide color and pattern consistency in the album, I also used neutrals, blues and yellows from Simple Stories Take a Hike and Great Escape collections.

Color and pattern inspiration: I especially loved the tiny flowers on this Lasting Memories mood board and reflected that in my paper choices. I also loved adding little bits of blue, yellow, pink and green to an otherwise masculine layout.

Sketch and pattern inspiration: The wood, hearts and straightforward layout from this Paper Issues NSD challenge provided me a great jumping off point. I like this sketch because sometimes I don’t know when to stop embellishing and this guide reminded me stop before my page got too busy. 

Supplies:

Featured paper collection: Amy Tangerine Picnic in the Park pretty peace and you’re peachy patterned paper and glitter heart paper, clear vinyl alphas, paper bow.

Simple Stories Take a Hike: Happy Camper patterned paper, Ephemera Bits & Pieces.

 Simple Stories Great Escape: cardstock bits and pieces and chipboard stickers.

Washi: Kawaii Pen Shop. Vilit design. Green dye.

Enamel dots: Pink & Main. Happy Mail.

Little Birdie Juicy Jars vellum sticker.

Mixed Media:

Quick Quotes Powder Puff chaulking inks: royal blue, lemon chiffon.

Nuvo drops: Navy Blue Crystal Drops.

Nuvo Glitter Marker. Imperial Blue 184.

Foamies sticky back foam sheets.

Date stamp: Staples.

Scotch ATG.

Red top fine line glue.

12” CM straight trimmer.

My Heros May 2021

Taking a break from a vacation album I’m working on and filling in holes from my everyday 2020 album. Reflecting back on the dramatic and uncertain times a full year after the start of COVID-19 has helped me focus what I want to remember and document.

I love the colors in these photos of my boys on our front porch and thought featuring over a black and white background would make them pop. It reminded me how lucky we were that the boys spent so much more time together this year than they probably would have, and hopefully they will look back and appreciate that as they reflect back at this special time together fondly as brothers.

I love the unique challenges the blog Lasting Memories  offers monthly:

And I challenged myself by only incorporating one color for the following My Little Scrapbook Store challenge in honor of National Scrapbook Day:

I love that I busted a kit left over from this coordinating page I did last year. This kit has paper from a decade old, now defunct manufacturer, Boxer Scrapbooking. Such a satisfying feeling to have only scraps left over:

 

Supplies:

Featured paper: Treehouse Memories Main Street: Motor mouth.

Patterned papers: Boxer Scrapbooking: Large Black Dot, Black and White Stripe.

Stampin’up! Black and White patterned.

Fussy cuts, Ephemera die cut and patterned paper: Photo Play. Living the Quarantine Life. Stay Safe.

Vellum: Quick quotes.

Savannah College of Art and Design retro Mylar stickers.

Big Moods vinyl sticker.

Acetate prints: Magic Scraps clearly creative transparent artistic sheets.

Nuvo drops: Ebony black and Simply white crystal drops.

Red fiber woven translucent natural paper: unknown.

Quick quotes chaulking ink: Feather Grey

Little Yellow Bicycle: canvas shapes: Flags, flowers and Leaves.

Pretty Little Studio: Stitches. Clear stickers.

Alphas: Jillibean soup. Alphabean stickers. Rosy dot.

Reflections: Themed stickers.

Honey Bee Stamps: Love Letters gem stickers.

Date stamp: Staples.

Artist’s Loft Illustration Pen: 0.3 black.

Scotch ATG.

Red top fine line glue.

Not All Who Wander Are Lost April 2021

This is the 6th page of our family vacation album from a trip to Lake Placid last summer. I knew I wanted to continue using the Creative Memories Automobiles collection to document this road trip to provide some color and pattern consistency in the album, but also was looking forward to transitioning away from this collection within the contiguous album and introduce more of Simple Stories Take a Hike collection, as hiking was the focus of the next few days of our documented trip in the Lake Placid area. The furthest road trip destination had been reached, and it was time to transition the album graphically.

So, when I saw this Creative Memories Earth Day sketch challenge encouraging using only scraps, I knew this was a good starting point, although I likely lost some years of quality eyesight getting all those triangles to match up just right!

Next, I knew I wanted to incorporate my favorite feature of the Take a Hike collection to start transitioning the album colors and patterns; a flower graphic with an Art Deco feel that is repeated on patterned paper and accessories throughout the collection.... I love it so much I bought three sheets of the paper! I also saw a video on uTube by Tisa Browne (https://youtu.be/O2oOoOLKLSY) that featuring tags clustered together at the bottom of a page using Take a Hike that also combined two different collections, so that was also an influence and when I saw the Lasting Memories challenge below, I knew it was a good fit.

Supplies:

Featured paper collection: CM Automobiles patterned paper, stickers and die cuts.

Simple Stories Take a Hike Back to Nature! Happy Camper, 2x2 Elements and I Live Love Explore patterned papers, Journal Bits & Pieces, stencil, card stock and chipboard stickers.

Sunlit Tag diecut and embosser.

Big Moods vinyl sticker.

Mixed Media:

Distress Oxide: Rustic Wilderness.

Nuvo drops: Navy Blue and Ebony Black Crystal Drops.

Picket Fence Studio brush.

Foamies sticky back foam sheets.

Date stamp: Staples.

Scotch ATG.

Red top fine line glue.

12” CM straight trimmer.

Big Shot April 2021

I could feel this layout coming together well early on, and I knew I was going to love it! Ever get that feeling? Sometimes you finish a layout, and you may have a couple regrets, but you put it in the “it’s done” category and move on. And sometimes you can’t stop staring at when you finish because you can’t believe how great it came out!🥰

Everything just seemed to fall into place for this layout, I even used some scraps that I created with a stencil and left over mixed media from another layout. All the uTube scrap videos remind us to use up left over mixed media on scrap paper to use in the future, and I always forget. So glad I remembered this time!

Believe it or not, this is the first time I have ever made my own die cut and embossing on a layout! I asked for a cheap table top die and embossing machine for Christmas from my family, and I finally had the courage to break it out for the first time yesterday. I’ve never been a fan of spending my craft budget on big ticket items and cost of all those dies and folders still seem high to me, but I have to admit, I LOVED being able to create the exact paper shapes and especially texture I wanted on demand... I suspect you will see this technique incorporated into my layouts in the future... but I’m still not a fan of investing in a library of diecuts. That being said, I’m probably going to start searching my favorite suppliers for embossing folders by the end of the day...🙄.

I don’t have a dedicated craft room, and use my dining room (which we use as a family daily) as double duty. It forces me to keep my supplies tucked away and organized regularly, and limit my supplies. My theory has always been, paper and embellishments get used and they are gone from your stash, but permanent supplies take up permanent space.

I must give credit to three inspirations for this page:

Color and proportion inspiration: Paper Issues. I’m absolutely obsessed with the chevron stamp I purchased from Paper Issues recently, and this mood board is so pretty. As I mentioned, I’ve never been a huge fan of stash libraries full of stamps, punches, dies and embossing folders, but I’m so happy with this stamp investment.

I only had two photos to scrap form this very important moment with my mom, and this sketch from Scrap our Stash was the perfect size to accommodate. I recently tried to create my own sketch, and it’s a lot harder than it looks! I admire those who have the skills to look at a blank page and can create a design with visual and graphic balance. I’m so grateful that this group provides me the jumping off inspiration I always need to interpret.

Finally, I tend to forget to look at my photos in other ways besides rectangle proportions, perhaps because of my love of photography. I was so grateful that the Lasting Memories #543 challenge required a 4x4 photo, as it reminded me to consider cropping square more often in the future. I like the balance it gives to a 12x12 layout.

Finally, PLEASE, please, please seriously consider getting you and your families Covid-19 vaccinated. No matter what your hesitation, political officiation, etc., it’s so important for us all to support each other and keep each other safe going forward into the future.

Supplies:

Featured paper collection: Vicki Boutin Color Kaleidoscope: Odds and Ends, Kaleidoscope and Flower Shop patterned papers, Sticker Book, Hello Friend cardstock stickers, Colorful enamel stickers.

Fussy cuts: Photo Play. Living the Quarantine Life. Stay Safe.

Reflections Craft paper.

Alphas: Scrap die cuts. Scraparatus.

Sunlit Tag and paper diecut and embosser.

Mixed Media:

Vicki Boutin powdered pigment: Blue Hawaiian.

Ranger Texture paste opaque matte.

Vicki Boutin Matte Acrylic gel.

Stencil Girl.

Pinkfresh Studio Nested Chevron stamp.

Quick quotes powder puff chaulking inks: Royal Blue, Lemon Chiffon.

Distress Oxide: Rustic Wilderness, Crackling Campfire, Wild Honey, Victorian Velvet.

Catherine Pooler premium dye ink: Stone Blue.

Nuvo drops: Navy Blue Crystal and Emerald Isle Vintage.

Colorful button Brads: Stampin up!

Date stamp: Staples.

Kingart fine tip pen: Red Orange 122.

Artist’s Loft Illustration Pen: 0.3 blue.

Scotch ATG.

Red top fine line glue.

Tonic palette knife.

Silver grommets.

Blue striped twine.

Humbled and thankful of the recognition this layout received: