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:

Remote Recital April 2021

Got a lot of satisfaction from this layout as it came together quickly, and I immediately used this very small collection of paper as soon as it arrived in my mailbox. It was nice to not contribute immediately to my stash for future use, but instead use it right away. Focusing on using mostly cool colors helped me edit out the distractions.

Sketch inspiration: Sketch n Scrap #222

 

Color scheme inspiration: Paper Issues

Just some additional fun inspiration: Lasting Memories #542

E - enamel hearts, A - alphas, S - stencil, T - tearing paper, E - ink edging, R - ribbon.

Supplies:

Featured paper collection: Kaisercraft Kaleidoscope: Blank Canvas and Mosaic.

Other patterned paper: Karen Foster Design: Band Stripes.

Supporting collection: Vicki Boutin Color Kaleidoscope: Odds and Ends paper, Sticker Book, Hello Friend cardstock stickers, Colorful enamel stickers, Kaleidoscope stencil.

Reflections Craft paper.

Alphas: Crepe Paper Fresh Bouquet Aster.

Mixed Media:

Vicki Boutin powdered pigment: Blue Hawaiian.

Ranger Texture paste opaque matte.

Vicki Boutin Matte Acrylic gel.

Quick quotes powder puff chaulking ink: Mocha Mama.

Nuvo crystal drops: Simply White and Ebony Black.

Adhesive Ribbon: American Crafts.

Musical Note Brads: Eyelet Outlet.

Date stamp: Staples.

Kingart fine tip pen: Saddle Brown.

Gelly Pen: Yellow.

Scotch ATG.

Tonic palette knife.

Red top fine line glue.

This Is 15 March 2021

Work is never done... still working on holes in my 2018 chronological album. Feels satisfying each time I reach back in time to infill our family history.

For the SOS challenge, I love the brand new washi tape I used with the robot that says “be a nice human.” It makes me smile. The gold washi is simply a pretty color from the Duck brand that I seem to reach for often.

For the Paper Issues challenge, I reached for my trusty Nuvo Mist and used both spray and splatter techniques. I find the antique gold color is very versatile.

Another satisfying accomplishment from this layout is that I killed a decade old Stampin’up mini kit to just scraps I received at a crop years ago. I love purchasing more supplies, but combining my old and new supplies on a page is especially satisfying.

Shimelle Never Grow Up embellishments and patterned paper.

Stampin’up patterned paper, glitter paper, Gold Glitz Dazzling Details Drops, and Gold buttons.

Washi: gold = Duck, robot = block21prints.

Alphas: Simple Stories Color Vibe Navy.

Nuvo drops: Vintage Emerald Isle, Stone Berry Burst, Belgium Bluestone.

Enamel stars: Doodlebug star-fetti.

PowderPuff chaulking ink: feather grey, mocha mama, lemon chiffon.

King Art brush pen Cool Grey #115.

Artist’s Loft blue illustration pen.

Nuvo Mica Mist: antique gold and fresh pear.

Nuvo Glacier Paste: Pineapple Delight.

FineLine RedTop glue.

Atg glue: unknown.

Ribbon: aqua = unknown, happy birthday = bobbin ribbon.

Grommet: unknown.

This layout was submitted to the March 2021 Scrap Our Stash sketch challenge and Paper Issues Love to Hear Percussion challenge.

sdm-

Lucky to Have You March 2021

Just a fun quick layout as I continue to try to fill in the holes in my older yearly chronological albums. When I’m working on a larger vacation album project, I purposely take a break and look back at other unfinished albums once in a while to make me feel like I’m making progress on all fronts... realistically, will I ever complete all the albums I hope to? Probably not, but it makes me smile and gives me some satisfaction to go back and look at these older memories.

I always say I’m going to stick to one collection for simplicity, and never seem to. My strategy of first pulling all collections that catch my eye for possible inclusion in a layout, always tempts me to throw the kitchen sink at the page, but he’s too cute, I couldn’t mess this layout up if I tried.❤️

Shimelle Never Grow Up embellishments, foiled polka dot acetate and patterned paper.

Vicki Boutin Let’s Wander stencils, mixed media card-stock, and tag journal pieces.

Reminisce Luck O’ the Irish patterned paper and die cut stickers.

Stampin’up patterned polka dot paper, Gold Glitz Dazzling Details, and Gold buttons.

Solid card-stock: unknown.

Crepe Paper Magical Forest embellishment.

CM scallop stitch border maker cartridge and 12” straight trimmer.

Marvy Lichida corner punch.

Washi: polka dots - unknown, gold - Duck, green dye - vilit design.

Distress Oxide Rustic Wilderness.

PowderPuff chaulking ink Coconut.

King Art brush pen Hunter Green #113.

Artist’s Loft green illustration pen.

Nuvo Mica Mist: antique gold and fresh pear.

Paper clip: unknown.

Tonic Double ended glue pen.

FineLine RedTop glue.

Atg glue: unknown.

Sponge daubers: Scrapbook.com.

This layout was submitted to the My Little Scrapbook Store March 2021 Shamrock Recipe Layout Challenge and Scrap Our Stash March 2021 Remix Challenge.

This layout was selected as one of three top designs for the March 2021 Scrap Our Stash challenges. Many humble thanks to the design team for the recognition.

Just Add Ice March 2021

I love when a layout comes together quick and easily and this one of my nephew playing hockey really did. I love the blue and orange tones on this page.

I started with a PhotoPlay base white cardstock and added Quick Quotes blue chaulking ink over a Simple Stories Winter Magic stencil. Then I used GinaK Glitter Gel in both blue and white to stencil extra snowflakes. 

Next, I distressed all the Ella and Viv paper edges with a Tim Holtz distresser I recently purchased and inked the edges... I’m not very satisfied with this product and would love any recommendations on another distresser that others use. I’d like it to create stronger edges.

I really liked using the Heidi Swapp Color Theory alphas so I could add my own custom colors (blue gelly pen and kings art orange marker). Finally, I used one of the only decorative punches I own, my classic snowflake punch to give pops of orange and baby blue contrast color. 

I submitted this layout to Lasting Memories Layout Challenges #538 and Paper Issues In Harmony challenge.