Purple seaweed July 2020 single

Still working on our New England summer vacation album from last year. The rainy, misty Sand Beach stop along Acadia National Park's loop road is one of the most popular sites in the park. The bright white sand and beautiful purple seaweed was so pretty.

 I based this layout on Stick It Down's July 2020 single page sketch layout. I layered 4 colors with a stencil to represent the large triangles in the sketch. I saved some mirrored confetti from some packaging that came with a gift in the mail a few years ago and used to represent the small arrows. I love recycling found items to use as embellishments.

I also submitted this into My Little Scrapbook Store's July 2020 White challenge. The warm, golden lights in the above mood board reminded me of the mirrored confetti I had been saving to use in my stash.

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UPDATE: This submission was chosen by the Stick it Down design team as the July 2020 single page winner.

Collection:

Simple Stories Happy Trails.

Stencil.

Patterned Paper.

Chipboard Stickers.

Packaging.

Ephemera. 

  

Mixed Media:

Supplier: My Little Scrapbook Store West Orange, NJ

Vicki Boutin. Let's Wander. Stencil.

Nuvo Glitter Drops. Sugar Plum.

Tim Holtz. Distressed Oxide Ink. Speckled Egg. 

Nuvo Glitter Marker. Wild Blackberry. 

Catherine Pooler CPMinis Icing on the Cake Ink.  

powder puff Coconut Chalking Ink by Quick Quotes.

Acrylic Paint: Unknown. Purple, Magenta, White.

Artist's Loft 0.3 illustration pen. Supplier: Michaels.

Paper:

Craft Consortium. Dark Grunge. Supplier: My Little Scrapbook Store West Orange, NJ

Close to My Heart. Urban. Representative: Kristine Teanse Easton, PA. Solid: LInen.

Recollections. Supplier: Michaels. Solid: Ultra Violet.

Solid Neutral: Unknown.

Polka-dot Vellum: Stampin' Up!

Title:

Boxer Scrapbook Productions. Palooza Transparency.

Fussy Cut:

Pink Paislee. Horizon.

Embellishments:

Scrapbook Customs. National Park Stickers. Acadia National Park.

DCWV Page Tabs. White. Supplier: HSN. Stickers.

Mirrored dots: Packaging. Unknown.

Sticky Back Jewels. Supplier: Eyelet Outlet.

pink & Main. Preppy Brights Enamel Shapes. Supplier: My Little Scrapbook Store West Orange, NJ

Binder clip: Stampin' Up!

Washi Tape:

Stampin Up!

Stamp:

Date Stamp. Supplier: Staples.

Fibers:

Ribbon. Unknown.

Adhesive:

Supplier: My Little Scrapbook Store West Orange, NJ

Tonic Studios double ended Glue Pen. 

Pop up dots. 

ATG: Unknown.

Acadia kayak July 2020 double

Continuing to work on my album documenting our New England vacation last summer. We rented an ideal house on Long Pond Lake, and couldn't wait to try out the kayaks and canoe. We knew rain was forecast for the remaining days of our visit, so in one day we biked biked a carriage road loop, lunched in Bar Harbor, took a nap on luxurious teak lounges, kayaked, and then my husband and son explored another carriage road loop with a run. Talk about a lot of exercise in one day!

I based this layout on the Stick it Down Double page sketch from July 2020 above. I found a great scrap booking and quilting store in Bar Harbor, ME called Fa*bri*cate which prints their own, unique and beautiful custom photograph paper specific to Maine scenery. I bought a bunch while planning this album, but regretted not buying more of the kayak paper included on this page. (They sell their paper double sided and I used the other side which was a nautical rope photo for our day trip to Portland, ME in the same album prior to doing this page!)

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Collection:

Simple Stories Happy Trails.

Stencil.

Patterned Paper.

Chipboard Stickers.

Packaging.

Ephemera. 

  

Mixed Media:

Supplier: My Little Scrapbook Store West Orange, NJ

Vicki Boutin. Let's Wander. Prism Glaze.

Nuvo Pineapple Delight Glacier Paste.

gina k Glitz glitter gel. Gold. 

Tonic Palette Knife. 

Catherine Pooler CPMinis Icing on the Cake Ink. 

powder puff Jade Chalking Ink by Quick Quotes.

Artist's Loft 0.3 illustration pen. Supplier: Michaels.

Paper:

Photographic Image Paper. Fa*bri*cate Bar Harbor, ME

Collection:

Scrapbook Customs. Acadia National Park.

Stickers.

Patterned Paper. Acadia National Park Watercolor. 

Collection:

Close to My Heart. Urban. Representative: Kristine Teanse Easton, PA.

Solid Paper. Linen, Peacock, Sapphire.

Wood Arrows

Embellishments:

Creative Memories. Collection: Beneath the Pines. Die Cuts.

Stickers: DCWV Page Tabs. Supplier: HSN.

Stamp:

Date Stamp. Supplier: Staples.

Fibers:

Ribbon. Stampin' Up!

Adhesive:

Supplier: My Little Scrapbook Store West Orange, NJ

Tonic Studios double ended Glue Pen. 

Pop up dots. 

ATG: Unknown.

Pigtail Party July 2020

Going back in time and documenting gaps in our chronological scrapbooks is always a fun and satisfying break from whatever larger album or project we are working on.

This two photo sketch from Sketch N Scrap was a quick way for me to design a page and remember a simple and cute day together when I got the rare opportunity to babysit my niece. She was almost two years old, and had the reputation of not permitting her mother to style her hair at all. Her hair was baby soft, long and wavy like her beautiful mother, and always hanging down in her face. Since I only have boys I was excited to have the opportunity to 'play' with her hair like I used to do to my little sister when we were kids. So, I styled her hair in both pony and pigtails as the day went on, and my son loved having a playmate an friend to enjoy lunch with, as you can see from his cheesy smile!

This is one of my favorite photographs of my niece and I especially liked the purple tones of her shirt, so I thought it would also be appropriate to also submit for the July 2020 Red Challenge from My Little Scrapbook Store. I thought the purple in her shirt would compliment the collection of red paper and elements featured on the page. The challenge was to be inspired by the following mood board:

I thought the grid of the board complimented the 'grid' of images on the patterned retro paper, and I also focused on the ladybug image and rotated it because it also reflected the sketch i was using for inspiration. I used the Vicki Boutin stencil because it reminded me of the ladybug spots and the splatters on the sketch.

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Mixed Media:

Supplier: My Little Scrapbook Store West Orange, NJ

gina k Glitz glitter gel. Red Velvet.

Vicki Boutin Let's Wander Stencil. 

Tonic Palette Knife.

powder puff Coal Miner Chalking Ink by Quick Quotes.

Artist's Loft 0.3 illustration pen. Supplier: Michaels.

Prismacolor Marker. Broad tip. Crimson Red. PM-4

Paper:

Supplier: Michaels.

Solid: Recollections.

Patterned: Studio Calico.

Stamps:

AlPhaBeT. Wood stamps.

Alphas:

Thickers. Celebrate. Supplier: My Little Scrapbook Store West Orange, NJ.

Alpha Brads: Unknown.

Embellishments:

Pop-Up Dot Stickers. Crafter's Square. Supplier: Dollar Tree. 

Washi Tape. Unknown.

Grommet. Supplier: Eyelet Outlet.

Shape Templates:

KiwiLane. Elements1. Brackets1.

Adhesive:

Tonic Studios double ended Glue Pen. Supplier: My Little Scrapbook Store West Orange, NJ

Liquid Glue: Unknown. Supplier: Michaels.

ATG: Unknown.

Sketch N Scrap June 2020 Challenge #203 Allagash Brewing Co

Continuing to work on our family vacation album from last summer to New England.... ever get 3/4 of the way done through a project and feel like you are loosing steam? ... just want to be done already! Thankful for these little challenges to make the task more fun along the way. I'll journal once I finish the entire album.

On the way out of Portland we made the obligatory short stop at the famous Allagash Brewary for a tasting. We try to embrace the local specialties on all our travels. Our son made fast friends with a huge, old dog named Blitzen, whose owner was having alot of trouble trying to convince Blitzen it was time to leave the beer garden and move onto their next stop. Blitzen was enormous, and doesn't go anywhere fast!

I struggled for a long time with this background. I wanted to focus on soft yellows and oranges to compliment the golden colors of beer, but realized I didn't have a large selection of paper to choose from in my stash with those color tones. I also wanted to incorporate both wood and the soft silver colors of brushed metal to reflect the materials in the beer garden. I even created a completely different background before settling on this one, and took a straw pole here at home before deciding. In the end,  my unofficial opinion sampling group of my husband and two boys agreed the colors of this background complimented the beer colors better, which was my goal to begin with.

I also wanted to try a tone on tone technique after I was inspired by Stacy's layout with the white grid background and white stenciling. So, I tried to stencil over the patterned paper background with Nuvo Glacier Paste, and then again on a solid cardstock with the powder puff chalking ink to create some subtle stenciling. Both are hard to see.

sdm-

Mixed Media:

Supplier: My Little Scrapbook Store West Orange, NJ

Nuvo Pineapple Delight Glacier Paste.

Vicki Boutin Let's Wander Stencil. 

Catherine Pooler CPMinis Icing on the Cake Ink.

Tonic Palette Knife.

pink & Main Blender Brush. 

powder puff Orange Slice Chalking Ink by Quick Quotes.

Stampin' Up! Dazzling Details Silver Sparkle Drops.

Artist's Loft 0.3 illustration pen. Supplier: Michaels.

Adhesive:

Tonic Studios double ended Glue Pen. Supplier: My Little Scrapbook Store West Orange, NJ

ATG: Unknown.

Paper:

Supplier: Michaels.

Solid: Recollections Neutrals.

Patterned: Studio Calico. Chevron and Polkadots.

Journal Cut Aparts: Recollections Let's Get Lost.

Patterned:

Corrigated Metal. Close to My Heart Urban. Representative: Kristine Teanse Easton, PA.

Wood. National Park Collection Acadia National Park by Scrapbook Customs. Scrapbook Supply Companies.

 

Stamps:

Alphas. craft smart wood stamps. Supplier: Michaels.

Date stamp: Supplier: Staples.

Embellishments:
Supplier: Stampin' Up!

Ribbon.

Bakers Twine. Wisteria Wonder.

Little Birdie. Juicy Jars. My Little Scrapbook Store West Orange, NJ .

Wood Arrow: Close to My Heart Urban. Representative: Kristine Teanse Easton, PA.

Stickers: DCWV Page Tabs. Supplier: HSN.

Ephemera:

Drink Coaster. Allagash Brewing Co.

Flowers: natural life boho bandeau packaging.

Sketch N Scrap June 2020 Challenge #202 My Main*e* Man

Continuing to work on an album documenting our New England trip last summer. I chose this sketch to try from Sketch N Scrap because it worked perfectly with the two vertical photos I planned for this page.

After a long morning of walking (mostly uphill!) and shopping around Portland, we stopped for a fresh pasta lunch at an Italian fusion inspired restaurant, the Corner Room. Portland is known as a foodie town. We also enjoyed another well known industry of Maine: Shipyard beer.

I decided to try the technique I'm seeing many using lately, the 'kissing' or 'packaging' technique on the background with acrylic paint and prism glaze. I wasn't that happy with the results, but I think it was because I didn't have the exact shades of paint combinations I was hoping to use.

I love this photo of my husband, because he is enjoying a rare moment relaxing away from his busy office and focused on our family.

After I finished the sketch challenge, I decided to expand the layout with a complimentary second page, keeping this background solid and plain to balance out the randomness of the sketch page background. I really love the orange Pink Paislee Horizon flowered paper, so I decided to continue the color across the second page with the orange ribbon.

I documented this wonderfully relaxing and unscheduled afternoon together along the slope of the Portland promenade overlooking what seemed like hundreds of little white sails in the harbor. Our teenager loved exploring the area from the air, taking photographs of the beautiful landscape with his drone camera. Our little guy with boundless energy loved running up and down the steep soft grassy slope over and over again. My husband an I simply enjoyed laying on a blanket in the grass, reminding ourselves that vacations are not only for traveling, but for stopping to breathe.

We love exploring new places, and Portland didn't disappoint. I'd love to go back again some day.

sdm-

Mixed Media:

Vicki Boutin Let's Wander Prism Glaze. Supplier: My Little Scrapbook Store West Orange, NJ (I also entered this into the MLSS Summer 2020 crop challenge #15.)
Nuvo Vintage Drops Emerald Isle. Supplier: My Little Scrapbook Store.

Powder puff Jade chalking ink by Quick Quotes.

Acrylic Paint: Unknown.

Artist's Loft 0.3 black illustration pen. Supplier: Michaels.

Marker: Prismacolor PM-6 Carmine Red fine tip.

Adhesive:

Tonic Studios double ended Glue Pen. Supplier: My Little Scrapbook Store.

ATG: Unknown.

Paper:
Patterned: Pink Paislee Horizon. Supplier: My Little Scrapbook Store.

Solid: Close to My Heart Urban. Representative: Kristine Teanse Easton, PA.

Recollections Let's Get Lost. Journal Cut Aparts. Supplier: Michaels.

Alphas: Supplier: My Little Scrapbook Store.

Thickers Hipster.

Thickers Happy Life.

Embellishments:
Date stamp: Supplier: Staples.

Little Yellow Bicycle Burlap Shapes Flowers.

Wood Arrows: Close to My Heart Urban. Representative: Kristine Teanse.

Metal Paperclip: Unknown.

Ribbon: Unknown.

Humble thanks to the design team who choose this entry as their featured design in June 2020.

Challenge YOUrself May 2020 challenge Mother's Day Natirar Cooking School

My wonderful husband gifted my mom, sister and I with a fabulous Mother's Day gift in 2018. He surprised us with a reservation to an Italian vegetarian cooking class at a luxurious hotel/restaurant/spa located on the grounds of a beautiful turn-of-the-century mansion and grounds in Somerset County, NJ called Natirar. He wanted us to have a fun experience together, as the three of us had suffered through the death of my dad months before. We had spent three years focusing all our energy on advocating for him and rotating care of him in three shifts, and as a result, the three of us had spent very little quality time together while he was sick. This cooking experience was so unique, and it brought us together for a special evening. We learned how to make homemade pasta, biscotti, risotto and a delicious salad. I can't wait to go back some day. I'd love to bring my husband and experience this as a couple. The grounds of the mansion are a dedicated county park, so I also hope to bring the whole family some day to explore.

I won this Stampin' Up collection years ago as a crop door prize, and thought the flowered paper would be pretty for a mothers day layout. I tend to shy away from large floral prints, but gave it a shot.

sdm-

Manufacturer: Stampin' Up!
Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper
Sweet Sorbet Accessory Pack: Cork Embellishments and Twine

Supplier: My Little Scrapbook Store (www.mylittlescrapbookstore.com) West Orange, NJ (I also entered this into the MLSS May challenge.)
Nuvo Glitter Marker Pink Peony
Nuvo Emerald Isle Vintage Drops
Vicki Boutin Let's Wander Prism Glaze
Catherine Pooler Stone Blue ink
Adhesive: Pop Dots and Tonic Studios double ended Glue Pen.

Supplier: Michaels
Recollections Let's Get Lost fussy cut paper
Artist's Loft 0.3 black illustration pen

Alphas: Sticko
Grommet, Mini Alpha Brads: Eyelet Outlet
Date stamp: Staples

Feature paper: Echo Park Made from Scratch.
Silk Flowers, Brads, Thin Cork Veneer, ATG Adhesive: Unknown
Ephemera Chipboard: Unknown.

Scrap Our Stash May 2020 challenge tictactoe boston dinner

Top left to bottom right diagonal:
Wood Veneer arrow embellishments: Close to My Heart Urban Collection.
Enamel Dots: Close to My Heart Seas the Day Collection.
Twine: Stampin' Up! Wisteria Wonder

I'm about 1/3 done with my album documenting our family vacation to New England last summer. I purchased the Urban Collection with this trip in mind, as we spent time in three cities on this trip: Boston, MA, Portland, ME and Newport, RI. I'm finding that I love this collection so much that I've used almost my entire stash on just the first few pages of the album...... and I haven't finished documenting Boston yet, never mind Portland and Newport! Oh well.

We met my college friends in Boston and joined them for dinner at a local brew pub (the first of what would be many brewery and brew pub stops on this trip). We celebrated the kids' achievements at the end of the school year and their new suburban Boston home. It was a lovely night together with my first and oldest college friends.

sdm-

Supplier: Close to My Heart: Representative: Kristine Tanase Easton, PA
Paper: Urban Collection.
Wood Embellishments: Urban Collection.
Cardstock Stickers: Urban Collection.
Cardstock: Peacock, Sapphire, Saffron, Toffee.
Enamel Dots: Seas the Day Collection.

Supplier: My Little Scrapbook Store (www.mylittlescrapbookstore.com): West Orange, NJ (I also entered this page into the MLSS NSD Challenge #1)
Nuvo Emerald Isle Vintage Drops.
Die Cuts and Fussy Cut Paper: Pink Paisley Horizon.
Tonic studios double ended glue pen.

Supplier: Michaels:
Artist's Loft 0.3 black illustration pen.
Hole Punches.

Baker's Twine: Stampin' Up! Wisteria Wonder
Powder puff coal miner chalking ink by Quick Quotes.
ATG Adhesive by Scotch.
Date Stamp: Staples.
Large and Small Alphas, Button, Grommets: Unknown.