Combined Challenges

Ok so I don't want to turn this post into a diatribe for fear of offending anyone, but I just want to say I'm not a fan of combining a whole bunch of challenges to create a single layout. I mean, I totally understand combing a sketch challenge from one site with a recipe or color challenge from another site...but it's seriously ridiculous when people combine four or six challenges. Really?? I think they're just trying to get their name into as many prize pots as possible. Very unfair to people who are scrapbooking for the love of it (in my opinion). Anyhow, this is turning into the exact speech I was trying to avoid, and the whole reason I was even bringing it up is because I did something I normally tend to avoid...I combined challenges. But like I said, it seems more legit to me to combine sketch inspiration from one place with a list of requirements from another, which is exactly what I did. I used this fabulous sketch from Sketchabilities...

Coincidentally I was just asking my scrappy friends a few weeks ago for ideas as to how to use up those rarely-used letters & number Thickers that never seem to get used. I received some great suggestions from my friends, and then I saw this sketch...perfect!!

I combined the sketch with the current challenge at Scrap Our Stash which is to create a page about a male and to use 5 or more brads on the layout. And here is what I came up with...

I used photos of "my guys" when Santiago was 5 months old...now he's five years old! Thanks for looking.