Scrappy Friends

Happy Saturday everyone! I hope you're enjoying your day. We have some fabulous weather here so we've been getting some yard/pool work done. And now that those chores are done I just wanted to pop in and share a layout I put together last night. I was inspired by the April challenge at Scrappy Friends that was just posted yesterday.

I loved all three of the sketches and had a difficult time deciding which to use! But in the end I was especially drawn to the unique design of the sketch on the lower left, and I set to work...

Along with using one of the sketches I also used Rochelle's "This or That" challenge.

I did a little thinking outside of the box for this one. I didn't see a place in the design of my layout for me to use an entire "card" so I decided to fussy cut two Project Life cards. I used one as an element in the top right corner (the "hello there" speech bubble"), and I used the other as the title (Star Student). I was very glad for this challenge as I have quite the stash of PL cards that have come with paper pads or kits. Since I don't do Project Life style scrapbooking it was helpful for me to find a creative way to use them on a traditional page.

Thanks for looking and enjoy your weekend!

Stuck?! Sketches

Happy Friday and Happy April Fools Day! Have any of you fallen prey to jokes or pranks today? I thought for sure my son would get me this morning...seven-year old boys love that kind of thing. But I guess he just forgot about it. Of course the day is not over so I suppose I had better keep an eye on him after I pick him up from school!

On a "serious" note I am super excited to share with everyone my first layout as a Creative Team member over at Stuck?! Sketches. Here is the fabulous sketch I had to work with...

And my take on it...

Instead of using two photos, I decided to use a single picture from our family photo shoot at Crystal Cove Beach, California, back in 2011.

I got pretty messy with the background. First I covered the entire paper with clear gesso. Then I used the packaging technique with my gelatos for a watercolor effect, Over that I used some white acrylic paint with a stencil by The Crafters Workshop. I finished it off with splattering some Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and Heidi Swapp Color Shine. I created the layers behind the photos with lots of scraps from my stash...Basic Grey Kioshi and some older 7Gypsies papers.

I decided to move the embellishment cluster that's on the right side of the sketch to the opposite side for my page. The little chipboard clock is Prima, both of the dimensional butterflies are K & Company, the doily is from Hobby Lobby and the alphas are American Crafts Thickers.

I really hope that you will take the time to head over to the Stuck?! Sketches blog. We have such a talented team, and I would love for you to see what they have all created with the April 1st sketch. We would also love for you to join in by linking your layout over in the blog's sidebar. You will have until April 29th to link up for a chance at winning one of our randomly drawn prizes.

Thanks so much for looking!

Sketches in Thyme

Happy Wednesday everyone. I hope you all would take the time to check out the Sketches in Thyme blog. I've recently become a Sketch Designer at their site and my sketch is up on the blog this week!

Tomorrow, March 31st, is the last day to add your links for the chance to win this prize...

Have a great day!

ScrapMuch? Part 3

And now for my final installment of ScrapMuch? inspired pages for the month of March. This layout was based on their March 18th sketch.

And here is my take on it...

Let me start off by saying how much I am in love with these papers. They are so bright and make me feel so happy! A few weeks ago Michaels had this ridiculously amazing sale. Their Hot Buy paper pads which are regularly priced at $19.99, were only $5 each! I've been eyeing this pad for months, but even when I had my 50% off coupon I just couldn't justify buying more paper. I was especially nervous that even though I was attracted to the bright tropical colors, I would never have pictures to use with it. Boy was I wrong! I've already used it for three layouts and have "bookmarked" it for two more. Oh and not only have I been using it like crazy, but I've also been using the papers from the pad exclusively on the layouts. You heard correctly, my friends. I did not mix and match with other collections. I've barely even used embellishments. I've just been fussy cutting the flowers & leaves.

Anyhow, I did do a bit of mixed media work on this page. First I applied some gesso to tone down the extremely bright background.Then I used some gold Heidi Swapp texture paste on a circular 6x6 stencil from The Crafters Workshop to add some shine and texture. When the page was almost complete I splattered some white and gold Heidi Swapp Color Shine.

Thanks for looking at yet another page today. Have a great one!

ScrapMuch? Part 2

Next up is a page I created using the ScrapMuch? March 11 sketch...

And here's my take on it...

I started this page by choosing the background paper from the Heidi Swapp Hello Today collection. If you've followed me for any length of time then you know that I rarely create pages from a single collection. I love to mix & match! So my next step was to go through my scraps to see what would coordinate with the background. Lo and behold, that blue dotted paper (leftover from my last layout) was still sitting on my desk, and it looked perfect with it. Score! An entire sheet used up on two projects. I also used some paper scraps from Echo Park's Creative Agenda, Amy Tangerine's Finders Keepers, and some older Basic Grey & Dream Street Papers. I had just purchased some new washi tapes from Michaels that I was itching to use, and they also coordinated perfectly. I didn't do much mixed media on this page...just a few paint splatters at the end.

Thanks again for looking and please stay tuned a little bit longer for my final installment of ScrapMuch? inspired pages.