Scrap Our Stash December 2016 Sketch + 3 Challenge #45 Reveal

Happy Holidays, everyone! Hope you've been able to enjoy all the loveliest of tidings this magical season has to offer. On that note, today's the day I reveal my most recent design for Scrap Our Stash's December 2016 Sketch + 3 Challenge #45. Brenda Ragsdale created this great sketch for us to work with:

And here's what I came up with:

A dear friend of mine went on a mission trip to an African country a few years back. One day, she was showing me some of the photos she brought back and I absolutely fell in love with this one. I asked her if I could scrap it for her. I know, no shame! But I swear, it was calling to me! When I first saw the provided sketch, I started looking through my photos to see if I could incorporate four photos onto one layout. But then, I saw this photo and one again, was immediately drawn to it. So, I decided to switch the sketch around a bit and layer the photo on top of four different patterned papers instead. And yes, this is my second SOS design using Fancy Pants' Good Fellows collection. I mean, the colors are just SO perfect for the photo, don't you think? I used pieces of both the 12X12 and 6X6 patterned papers, corrugated cardstock, a tag, ephemera bits and puffy design stickers from the collection. I also incorporated some Magic Mesh, Studio Calico wood veneer stars, Stampin' Up cardstock and vellum, The Paper Company vellum, Making Memories staples, Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze, and yes, of course, hand-stitching using a Bazzill Basics stitching template and some DMC floss. There's also a flair piece on there, but I can't remember for the life of me who manufactured that. Any ideas out there? Elle's Studio, maybe? ;) Oh! And my plus 3 items? Stars, flair and a tag. 

Hope you're inspired to scrap photos out of the ordinary for you! And if you upload your own layout inspired by this challenge over on the SOS blog, you'll get a chance to win some sweet, scrappy loot! For more information about this challenge, please hop along right over here.

Happy scrapping!

Scrap Our Stash December 2016 Book Inspired Stash Challenge #45 Reveal

Hello, everyone! It's December already! Holy schnitzels! ;) I'm making the most of it by scrapping away to my little heart's content. And maybe, just maybe, shopping for some of my own scrappy Christmas gifts! Hee!Hee! Today's my reveal day over at Scrap Our Stash for its December 2016 Book Inspired Stash Challenge #45. Here's the inspiration piece:

And here's what I came up with:

Very much inspired by the holiday feel to the inspiration piece, I opted to search my stash of Christmas photos from years past. I've always particularly loved this photo of our son, Louis-Olivier, taken five years ago during Christmastime, but I had yet to scrap it. Perfect! I then went "shopping" in my stash (as I and a dear scrappy friend call it!), and found My Mind's Eye's Christmas on Market Street collection, c. 2015. I hadn't even broken into it, yet! I've always loved the color palette in this collection and that 12X12 background piece reminded me of the green background on the inspiration piece so away I went. I positioned nine different 6X6 patterned pieces in a grid formation (from the MME collection, but also from Simple Stories' SN@P! Basics collection). I then stitched a snowflake using a template a made myself and some DMC floss and layered some Stampin' Up and The Paper Company vellum pieces beneath my photo. I then layered some of the MME collection's enamel dots, cardstock stickers and chipboard elements along with the title I made using a brand new Close to My Heart die (L-O-V-E!) on top of the grid. Can't forget those journalling strips made with some Stampin' Up cardstock. And how about thos swirvy borders on each vertical side of the layout? Love how they bring the focus straight to the photo. Kudos to the inspiration piece for that one! ;) And the stash challenge? As mentioned above, I used enamel dots and yes, one of the pieces of patterned paper is indeed striped.

SO very happy with how this layout turned out. Nothing complicated. Simple, yet totally complete. Hope it inspired you to dig through those older photos you love and get them scrapped using pieces in your stash you have yet to use. And if you upload your own layout inspired by this challenge over on the SOS blog, you'll get a chance to win some sweet, scrappy loot! For more information about this challenge, please hop along right over here.

Happy scrapping!

Scrap Our Stash November 2016 Sketch + 3 Challenge #44 Reveal

Hello, hello! It's my turn to reveal my design for Scrap Our Stash's November 2016 Sketch + 3 Challenge #44. This month's sketch was created by Rochelle Spears:

And here's my design:

I'll admit it. I've been known to buy a collection or two or... twenty?;)... just because I find them absolutely beautiful. However, when it comes time to work with them, I get stuck. 'Tis was the case with My Mind' Eye's Stella & Rose - Hattie collection, c. 2011. Yes, that's right. It's been sitting in my stash for five years now, just waiting to be chosen for a project. Yes, I lifted layouts I had found on the internet when it first came out, but I had yet to use it predominantly on a layout of my own. But not anymore! So happy with how this layout turned out. Layered tons of different Hattie patterned papers along with some of its sticker chipboard, tags and labels. In order to create some matching embellishments, I even fussy-cut some of those flowers from the boldest piece of patterned paper. I also incorporated some MME patterned papers from its Lost & Found - Sunshine collection that came out a few months later in 2011. I had specifically bought them because they matched the Hattie collection so much! There are also some Sunshine collection buttons on there. Other than that, I added some Crate Paper chipboard title and sticker embellishments along with a Maya Road banner clip, some American Crafts alphas and corrugated cardstock, Magic Mesh, Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze, and some handy stitching using a Bazzill Basics stitching template and some DMC floss. And my +3? You guessed it! The colors - grey, harvest gold, and indigo. As soon as I saw the proposed colors in the lists, I immediately thought of this collection and thought to myself, "I am long overdue to scrap with this collection!" SO very happy I did!

Hope you're inspired to use those collections you've been hoarding since forever! It's so fun to fall in love with older collections all over again. It reminds us why we bought those products in the first place! And if you upload your own layout inspired by this challenge over on the SOS blog, you'll get a chance to win some sweet, scrappy loot! For more information about this challenge, please hop along right over here.

Happy scrapping!

Scrap Our Stash November 2016 Book Inspired Stash Challenge #44 Reveal

Hello, everyone! Today, I get to reveal my design for Scrap Our Stash's November 2016 Book Inspired Stash Challenge #44. Here's the inspiration piece:

And here's my design:

As soon as I saw the Dr. Seuss book cover for this month's challenge, I immediately thought of an old October Afternoon collection I've had on hand for years - Rocket Age. Remember that one? c. 2011? Oh, yes. But, never in a million years did I think I'd end up using it for a wedding layout! ;) Here you see very, very good friends of ours on their wedding day in 2008. Set on an Echo Park Fall Blessings patterned paper, I layered different-sized squares in a "random" sequence. I then layered the photo on top of Stampin' Up vellum, ripped cardboard box pieces, and a piece of ruled transparency in gold foil. There's also an OA Rocket Age ephemera piece underneath there. I then sprinkled some Studio Calico wood veneer stars (as per the challenge!) along with some Stampin' Up tiny brads, Heidi Swapp mist, and Tattered Angels glaze. There's also a Crate Paper brad and title sticker, October Afternoon alphas, stickers, and button, Stampin' Up cardstock, and of course, my go-to hand-stitching using a Crafter's Workshop stitching template and some DMC floss.

So there you have it! Another layout designed with scrappy stash of old. But it totally works! Hope it will get you digging around your own supplies to get some layouts done. And if you upload your own layout inspired by this challenge over on the SOS blog, you'll get a chance to win some sweet, scrappy loot! For more information about this challenge, please hop along right over here.

Happy scrapping!

Scrap Our Stash October 2016 Sketch + 3 Challenge #43 Reveal

Hello, hello! Today's the day I reveal my design for Scrap Our Stash's October 2016 Sketch + 3 Challenge #43. But before I do that, here's the Brenda Ragsdale sketch along with the second part of the challenge:

And here's what I came up with:

I know I've said it before, but I really do love how SOS is making me use some of the scrappy stash I've been holding onto for years. Recognize these patterned papers? Most of them are from one of Heidi Swapp's very first collections - No Limits, c. 2012. There are also pieces from BoBunny's more recent Pop Quiz collection as well as one of We R Memory Keepers's Shine collection. I also added a few extra pieces from Heidi Swapp's No Limit collection (the banner pieces and a journalling card), some Stampin' Up cardstock and transparency pieces, a Pink Paislee tab, some Magic Mesh, Basic Grey and October Afternoon alphas, a few splats of Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze, hand-stitching using two snowflake stitching templates - one from Bazzill Basics and the other, from American Crafts - along with some DMC floss, buttons I've had on hand since forever, and Fancy Pants chipboard alphas I covered with BoBunny patterned paper. Those chipboard alphas, my goodness, I've had for almost ten years, now. I used to use them as stencils - tracing letters onto the back of patterned papers and fussy-cutting them out so that I could keep the chipboard for other projects. Well. My alpha collection has grown exponentially since then. I still traced the letters onto the back of patterned papers, but I glued the papers onto the chipboard pieces and off they went onto my layout. ;) As for my items on the three lists? Yes, that's right! I was inspired by the three showcased colors and used them as accents on my layout. Love how this one turned out! Photos taken in 2004 by my sister, Ginette.

Hope you're inspired to get some stashbusting done! It's so fun to dig around in your scrappy stash and find hidden gems that still totally work today. And if you upload your own layout inspired by this challenge over on the SOS blog, you'll get a chance to win some sweet, scrappy loot! For more information about this challenge, please hop along right over here.

Happy scrapping!

Scrap Our Stash October 2016 Book Inspired Stash Challenge #43 Reveal

Hello, hello! So happy to reveal my design for Scrap Our Stash's October 2016 Book Inspired Stash Challenge #43. Here's the inspiration piece:

And here's my design:

Now, for those of you following me these past few months, I've been on a Basic Grey binge. And I've also been using some of my older scrappy stash. However, rest assured that I do have newer supplies... ;) ... like this beauty of a collection - Fancy Pants' Good Fellows. As soon as I saw it released, I knew I had to have it. It's just SO perfect to scrap pics of my husband and son, or even to make birthday cards for my son's friends, When I first saw this challenge, I immediately thought of this collection paired with this photo. I used tons of the collection on here: patterned papers (both 12X12 and 6X6), tags, ephemera, a puffy dot sticker, and corrugated cardstock. I also added some 7 Gypsies patterned paper, Studio Calico wood veneer stars, Basic Grey basic alphas and metal stars, Prima alphas, an American Crafts title sticker, splats of Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze, a Heidi Swapp rubon, and hand-stiching using a Bazzil Basics stitching template and some DMC floss (perfect for using twine, thread or string as per this month's challenge rules). Sketch by Laura Whitaker. Photo by Philippe Dumas.

Hope you're inspired to start cutting into your newer stash to capture your favorite memories. And if you upload your own layout inspired by this challenge over on the SOS blog, you'll get a chance to win some sweet, scrappy loot! For more information about this challenge, please hop along right over here.

Happy scrapping!

Scrap Our Stash September 2016 Sketch + 3 Challenge #42 Reveal

Hello, everyone! SO happy to reveal my take for Scrap Our Stash's September 2016 Sketch + 3 Challenge #42. But before I do that, here's the Rochelle Spears sketch along with the second part of the challenge:

And here's what I designed:

SO love how SOS is inspiring me to dig deep in my stash and use scrappy goodies I've been holding onto for years! Such is the case with Basic Grey's What's Up? collection. As soon as I saw air balloons in the first list of items to use on this layout, I started looking for it. I knew there was this BG collection that had some in it. And ta-da! There it was. I used tons of it for this layout - patterned papers (I fussy-cut that air ballon - it's actually just half of a balloon, but tucked behind my paper layers, it still does the trick!), alphas, and chipboard stickers. I also layered a piece of BG's Wisteria collection as well as one from BG's RSVP collection. They matched so perfectly! YAY! Finally, I added a few buttons (item from list 2) as embellishments on the air balloon, Stampin' Up cardstock for my journalling and some of their vellum behind my photo, a Freckled Fawn title wood veneer piece, a few splats of Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze (my journalling is actually hiding a few splatting mishaps!), a run of the mill paper clip, and yes, of course, some hand-stitching using a Crafter's Workshop stitching template and some DMC floss. Oh! And my item for list 3 is the piece of patterned paper with chevrons on it. Photo by Jocelyne Roy, a scrappy friend who's been babysitting my sweet Éloïse for the past two years. Love these pics she takes of our girl while we're working. Merci, Jocelyne!

Hope you'll dig deep in your own stash to find everything you need to create something for this challenge. And if you upload your own layout inspired by this challenge over on the SOS blog, you'll get a chance to win some sweet, scrappy loot! For more information about this challenge, please hop along right over here.

Happy scrapping!

Stuck?! Sketches: September 15, 2016 Sketch and Reveal

Hello, again! So very excited to finally share with you all what I've designed using Laura Whitaker's latest Stuck?! Sketches sketch along with this reveal's partner, JustNick. Once again, here's the awesome sketch I was working with:

And here's what I designed:

Now, before you ask where are the JustNick die-cuts, they are there, I promise. As of late, many layouts created using digital die-cuts showcase the die-cut itself. And they are absolutely beautiful. However, in my case, I had already created this layout for this reveal before I found out that I had to add some JustNick elements to it. I was stumped. I really liked the original version. I still wanted to reveal it via Stuck?! Sketches, so... I brought it back to the basics. What shapes were predominantly found on my layout? Circles, rectangles, and... hearts! With this in mind, I went in my JustNick collection of digital die-cuts and found the Hearts file.

It was PERFECT! I cut a few hearts out of textured vellum, dry-embossed them and layered them in my patterned paper cluster. I may have liked my layout a lot before, but now, I L-O-V-E it! YAY!

So what else did I use for this layout? Went to my My Mind's Eye stash this time around (gotta give Basic Grey a break sometime... Hee!Hee!) and took out the Cut & Paste Adorbs collection. Used some of its patterned papers (both the 12X12 and the 6X6) and buttons. I also a few Basic Grey buttons and alphas (gotta put some BG somewhere... Hee!Hee!), wood veneer hearts (I believe from Maya Road, but I may be mistaken), Fancy Pants and MME title stickers, Crate Paper chipboard stickers, stamping using one of my all-time favourite sets ever by Prima Marketing and some Versafine inkm ink splats using some Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze, pieces of The Paper Company's textured vellum for the hearts I cut using the JustNick Hearts file, dry-embossing using a Tim Holtz folder with my good ol' Cuttlebug, and hand-stitching using a Crafter's Workshop stitching template with some DMC floss. And yes, you see two dates on there - one for each photo. Mm-mmm, that's right. I scrapped a layout with photos taken on different days. But do they ever show how my husband and our sweet Éloïse share such an amazing relationship. And that's what this layout is all about - just being happy with those around us.

Now, Stuck?! Sketches is celebrating its third anniversary for the whole month of September and is fortunate to be able to offer extra prizes for both of its challenges this month! For the September 1st sketch, here's what's up for grabs:

Creative Embellishments Prize = $25.00 gift certificate

ScrapMuch? Prize = $20.00 gift certificate towards their project kits

JustNick Prize = $25.00 gift certificate

Please link up your layouts over in the Stuck?! Sketches sidebar right here by September 29, 2016, at midnight EST to be in the running for one of these prizes!

Happy scrapping!

Stuck?! Sketches: Anniversary Bash Part 2

Hello, hello! The celebrating is still going on over at Stuck?! Sketches as it celebrates its third anniversary. YAY!

Today, it's reveal day for a brand new Laura Whitaker sketch that you can use to win some amazing prizes. Here's the sketch:

Amazing stuff right there. Mm-mmm, that's right. And the fun doesn't stop there! Oh, no it doesn't... From now until the end of the month, some of our team members (including yours truly) will be jointly revealing their designs with JustNick. SO exciting! AND... here are the prizes that are up for grabs for this sketch:

Creative Embellishments Prize = $25.00 gift certificate

ScrapMuch? Prize = $20.00 gift certificate towards their project kits

JustNick Prize = $25.00 gift certificate

Please link up your layouts over in the Stuck?! Sketches sidebar right here by September 29, 2016, at midnight EST to be in the running for one of our prizes! All prizes will be drawn randomly using Random.org to pick a number.

Happy scrapping!

Scrap Our Stash September 2016 Book Inspired Stash Challenge #42 Reveal

Hello, everyone! Today's the day I reveal my recent design work for Scrap Our Stash's September 2016 Book Inspired Stash Challenge #42. Here's SOS' inspiration piece:

And here's what I came up with:

Inspired by the outdoor and back-to-school theme, I opted for a fall layout featuring my two munchkins having fun in the leaves last year. Backed by a piece of My Mind's Eye patterned paper, I layered elements from one of my all-time favourite Basic Grey collections - Indian Summer c. 2009 (patterned papers, cut pieces from the card kit, and rubons). I was also very much inspired by the white picket fence on the inspiration piece which reminded me of that fence embellishment I've been hoarding for that one special project. This layout was perfect for it! The BG leaf motives rubons embellish the three Prima leaves I stuffed under my patterned papers. For my book or dictionary paper as per this month's challenge, I used a piece of Stampin' Up book paper I've had in my stash forever. The titling is a mix of BG rubons and a Heidi Swapp title sticker. Finally, I added a Maya Road camera clip, three buttons (one is from Jillibean Soup), a Crate Paper chipboard sticker, a few basic BG alphas, three small strips of Stampin' Up cardstock for my journaling, some Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze splats, and some good ol' stitching using a Crafter's Workshop stitching template and some DMC floss. Sketch by Laura Whitaker. Photo by Philippe Dumas.

Hope you're inspired to dig through your stash and use your favorite things you've hoarding for that one special project. And if you upload your own layout inspired by this challenge over on the SOS blog, you'll get a chance to win some sweet, scrappy loot! For more information about this challenge, please hop along right over here.

Happy scrapping!

Stuck?! Sketches: Anniversary Bash Part 1

Hello, hello!

For the month of September, Stuck?! Sketches has so much to celebrate! Like... 3 years of fun challenges with Laura Whitaker's sketches, the Stuck?! Sketches community (YOU), the joy we all share over the craft of scrapbooking, and the inspiration we gain from each other month after month! 

What better way is there to start commemorating our common love of creativity and storytelling than with an inspirational blog hop?! Join our design team and our sponsors, Clique Kits, as we show off our interpretations of the September 1, 2016 sketch.

Stuck?! Sketches is fortunate to be able to offer extra prizes for both of our challenges this month!
For the September 1st sketch, we are also thrilled to be able to offer prizes from the following sponsors, so play along with our sketch challenge for our chance to win!

Accent Scrapbooking Prize = $50.00 gift certificate to their online store! 

A2Z Scraplets Prize = $25.00 Gift certificate to their online store (including shipping)!

Lawn Fawn is a 6x6 paper pad and stamp set of the winners choice!

AND... (insert drumroll, please)... Clique Kits is offering a prize for our hoppers specifically!! So be sure to hop to all of the links that follow and leave some love on each blog along the way. One winner will be chosen from the commenters to receive a September Clique Kits kit! Half of our team and some of the DT from Clique Kits are supplying gorgeous inspiration for you, as you hop! Thank you to Clique Kits for sending our team members a September kit to play with!

Now lets get this party started!  Here is the sketch:

And here is your hop order:

Stuck Sketches http://stucksketches.blogspot.com/

Aliza Deutsch - http://peopleofthescrapbook.blogspot.com/...

Janice Daquila-Pardo http://www.theconstantscrapper.com/

Caroli Schulz - http://www.carolinaschulz.com/

Monique Liedtke http://moniquesscrapbook.blogspot.ca/...

Jenessa Frank Franco http://www.jenessafranco.blogspot.com/...

Leeann Pearce http://thepaintbrushgoesspottie.blogspot.com.au/...

Kerryn Fry http://www.harrysscrappinmum.blogspot.com.au/...

Maryam Perez http://maryamperez.blogspot.com/

Danie Ramirez Diakun http://scrappydanie.blogspot.ca/

Nicole Martel http://nicolemartel.blogspot.com/

Vivian Lake http://www.viviansdesk.blogspot.com/...

Clique Kits https://cliquekits.wordpress.com/

Please link up your layouts over in the Stuck?! Sketches sidebar right here by September 29, 2016, at midnight EST to be in the running for one of our prizes! All prizes will be drawn randomly using Random.org to pick a number.

Happy scrapping!

Stuck?! Sketches: September 1, 2016 Sketch and Reveal

Hello, again! Today, I get to share what I designed for Stuck?! Sketches' September 2016 sketch by the ever-so-amazing Laura Whitaker. Wanna see the sketch? Here it is:

And here's what I designed:

I just love this photo I took of my two kids a few years back. Éloïse had just sat by herself for the first time and Louis-Olivier was so excited to have seen her do it! Cuteness, right there! That's one of the reasons why I love scrapbooking so much - it gives me the chance to record the stories behind the photos.

For this sketch, the Stuck?! Sketches design team was given some awesome flair pieces from Accent Scrapbooking to be incorporated onto our pages. See where I put one of those I received? Yup! That's right! Between the reddish camera and the title. It was a perfect match for the Basic Grey Kelly Purkey's Mon ami collection I used for this layout. Set on what I believe is an old piece of My Mind's Eye patterned paper, I layered BG Mon ami patterned papers (both 12X12 and 6X6) as well as a piece of Imaginisce patterned paper. I also added some texture to the layering by stuffing in some bits of Bella Blvd transparencies and Magenta mesh in there. I grounded the layering by stitching a few circles using a Bazzill Basics stitching template with some DMC floss and then sprinkling some Studio Calico wood veneer stars with a few Creative Embellishments chipboard die-cut triangles. The title is a Heidi Swapp wood veneer piece that I jazzed up a bit using a Wink of Stella marker. Besides the Accent Scrapbooking flair, I also added a few Basic Grey Mon Ami alphas and stickers. Can't forget those Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze paint splatters. I just love the look they create to an almost finished page.

Now, Stuck?! Sketches is celebrating the whole month of September (stay tuned for more details!) and is fortunate to be able to offer extra prizes for both of its challenges this month! For the September 1st sketch, here's what's up for grabs:

Accent Scrapbooking Prize = $50.00 gift certificate to their online store! 

A2Z Scraplets Prize = $25.00 Gift certificate to their online store (including shipping)!

Lawn Fawn is a 6X6 paper pad and stamp set of the winner's choice!

Please link up your layouts over in the Stuck?! Sketches sidebar right here by September 29, 2016, at midnight EST to be in the running for one of these prizes!

Happy scrapping!

Scrap Our Stash August 2016 Sketch + 3 Challenge #41 Reveal

Hello, scrappy friends! Today's the day I reveal my take on Scrap Our Stash's August 2016 Sketch + 3 Challenge #41. Here's the Brenda Ragsdale sketch:

And here's what I came up with:

I went to a crop a month or so ago and brought this sweet pic of Éloïse and her Pépére (my father) and the Basic Grey J'adore collection. However, I never got to start a layout for this photo while I was there and the collection along with the pic were lingering on my scrappy table ever since. When I saw, Brenda's sketch, I thought to myself, there you go. I just had to wait for the right starting piece of inspiration! Thanks, Brenda! ;)

Set on a piece of Carta Bella's Rustic Elegance patterned paper, I layered a ton of elements from the Basic Grey J'adore collection - 12X12 and 6X6 patterned papers, die-cut cardstock and transparency pieces, chipboard stickers, stickers and alphas. I also added some Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze, a hand-stitched title using an American Crafts stitching template and some DMC floss, Queen & Co. washi tape, Stampin' Up vellum, a Prima tag, and finally random brads and a clothespin I found in my stash. See the three items from each challenge list provided? You got it - vellum, washi tape and the letter X (stitched one and on one of those brads!).

Hope you're inspired to start those layouts you've been telling yourselves you'd get to one day. And if you upload your own layout inspired by this challenge over on the SOS blog, you'll get a chance to win some sweet, scrappy loot! For more information about this challenge, please hop along right over here.

Happy scrapping!

Stuck?! Sketches: August 15th 2016 Sketch and Reveal

Hello, again! It's Stuck?! Sketches second monthly reveal today and I am SO excited to tell you all about it. Now, we can always count on Laura Whitaker for some great sketchy inspiration, but I am particularly in love with today's sketch. Here it is:

This is such a versatile sketch, it's not even funny! Hee!Hee! No, but seriously, isn't it amazing? L-O-V-E it! Here's what I created:

And OMG! Not one piece of Basic Grey on this layout! I know! It's a scrappy miracle for me! Hee!Hee! Set on a piece of Crate Paper's Storybook collection patterned paper, I then layered patterned paper pieces of Echo Park's Paper & Glue and Little Boy collections under one of my most recent pics of my son during his most recent science fair experiments. I also layered a piece of Bella Blvd alpha transparency to tone down the orange paper piece as well as some Magenta mesh and some random industrial mesh I received from a scrappy friend - thanks Isabelle E... or was it Cecile.. ;) In any case, I do believe we all have some of it in our stashes. Hee!Hee! There's also some pieces of random cardboard boxes I saved for a scrappy day, some splats of Heidi Swapp mist, Studio Calico wood veneer stars, a Heidi Swapp sentiment sticker, alphas by American Crafts and Echo Park, Echo Park stickers, a Maya Road arrow clip, stamping using a Close to My Heart stamp and Versamark ink, and of course, come stitching using a Bazzill Basics circular stitching template and some DMC floss. Just love how this all turned out. So scientific if I do say so myself. Hee!Hee!

Want to see what the other design team members came up with? Hop along right over here and be prepared to be inspired! And when you link your own design based on today's sketch over on the Stuck? Sketches blog, you'll get the chance to win some fabulous scrappy loot from these amazing sponsors: Lindy's and Evalicious. YAY!

Happy scrapping!

Scrap Our Stash August 2016 Book Inspired Stash Challenge #41 Reveal

Hello, hello! Today's the day I reveal my take on Scrap our Stash's August 2016 Book Inspired Stash Challenge #41. Here's the challenge:

And here's my interpretation:

As soon as I saw the book cover in this challenge, it immediately made me think of Basic Grey's Out of Print collection, c. 2011. The color scheme, the fonts included in the background - it's all there. Set on a Bazzill Basics piece of cardstock, I created a grid with nine different patterned papers. I then layered this sweet pic of my sister's sweet dog on some Magic Mesh and Fancy Pants' flocked transparency pieces. Then, the real fun began. I began layering embellishments around the photo. You'll find some stickers and alphas from the collection along with some label pieces and that super sweet glittered bow paper clip (stapled on with some Making Memories staples) all by Heidi Swapp, Basic Grey rubons, a Studio Calico wood veneer arrow, an Amy Tangerine by American Crafts metal flair, splats of Glimmer Glaze by Tattered Angels, and some random buttons. However, what really brings this layout together is that stitched square around the perimeter of the page using a Crafter's Workshop stitching template and some DMC floss. On it, I stitched some punched hearts using a few Stampin' Up punches and a piece of coordinating My Mind's Eye patterned paper and a piece from the mentioned BG collection. Sketch by Becky Fleck over at PageMaps.

Hope I inspired you to see those products you've had in your stages for ages now in a totally new light. Head over to SOS' blog right here for tons more inspiration for this awesome challenge. And if you upload your own layout inspired by this challenge over on the SOS blog, you'll get a chance to win some sweet, scrappy loot! For more information about this layout, please hop along right over here.

Happy scrapping!

Stuck?! Sketches: August 1st 2016 Sketch and Reveal

Hello, everyone! It's reveal day over at Stuck?! Sketches where the amazing Laura Whitaker has done it again - designed a brand new, fabulous sketch for us all! Here it is:

Isn't it fantastic? I just love it! Here's my take on it:

I don't know what's going on, but ever since Basic Grey announced that they wouldn't be releasing any new scrapbooking products, that's practically all I've been scrapping with! Weird! Anyway, this layout is no different. Set on a BG Little Black Dress piece of patterned paper, I then orbited most of my attention on incorporating items from BG's Serenade collection on it - patterned papers (both 12X12 and 6X6), a chiffon flower, an eclectic button, stickers, alphas, and garland. I also added BG metal studs, a Maya Road clip, a Freckled Fawn wood veneer word arrow, American Craft alphas (isn't that L-O-V-E so perfect for the color scheme?), Magic Mesh, and some hand stitching using a Close to My Heart stitching template and some DMC floss. Oh! And that leaf button stuck between the chiffon flower and the eclectic button? A gift from a scrappy friend - thanks, Stampy Pam! ;) Photo by Philippe Dumas.

Want to see what the other design team members came up with? Hop along right over here and be prepared to be inspired! And when you link your own design based on today's sketch over on the Stuck? Sketches blog, you'll get the chance to win some fabulous scrappy loot from these amazing sponsors: Scrapmatts and Scrapbook Circle. YAY!

Happy scrapping!

Scrap Our Stash July 2016 Sketch + 3 Challenge #40 Reveal

Hello, everyone! So excited to reveal my interpretation of Scrap Our Stash's Sketch #40 by Rochelle Spears. And what's fun about this monthly sketch challenge is that there's always a twist - to make sure to use one item from each list provided. See?

And here's my take:

Now, I dug deep into my stash for this layout... Any ideas where those products come from? Let's go back to 2009, when Crate Paper came out with this fun Christmas line. Remember? Yes! It's Crate Paper's North Pole collection!! I've been hoarding that collection since it first came out. Imagine! With that cute pic of my sweet daugther, Éloïse, it was the perfect time to use it, don't you think? Patterned papers, brads, rubons, die-cuts, chipboard pieces and sticker elements - the sky was the limit with this collection matched with Rochelle's sketch. Set on a a 12X12 piece of Close to My Heart cardstock, I also used some Prima and October Afternoon alphas as well as some Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze. And that stitched title? I used an old Bazzill Basics alpha stitching template along with some good ol' DMC floss - two strands instead of my usual single strand hand-stitching. Oh! And what elements did I use from the three lists? A Maya Road star stick pin, Stampin' Up baker's twine and journalling using a Uniball Pen.

Hope you're inspired to start using those collections and items you've had in your scrappy stash for the longest time. And if you upload your own layout inspired by this challenge over on the SOS blog, you'll get a chance to win some sweet, scrappy loot! For more information about this challenge, please hop along right over here.

Happy scrapping!

Stuck?! Sketches: July 15th 2016 Sketch and Reveal

Hello, everyone! It's reveal day over at Stuck?! Sketches! Here's the brand new Laura Whitaker sketch just for you:

And here's my interpretation:

Once again, I turned to my Basic Grey stash for this layout - the Persimmon collection to be exact. And tons of it, too - patterned papers (both 12X12 and 6X6), mixed brads, label stickers, die-cut shapes, and alphas. I also added Echo Park stickers, a Maya Road metal camera embellishments, Studio Calico wood veneer shapes, American Craft cork alphas, Stampin' Up cardstock, Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze, and hand-stitching using a Bazzill Basics stitching template and some DMC floss. Photos by Philippe Dumas.

Want to see what the other design team members came up with? Hop along right over here and be prepared to be inspired! And when you link your own design based on today's sketch over on the Stuck? Sketches blog, you'll get the chance to win some fabulous scrappy loot from these amazing sponsors: DCWV and Creative Embellisments. YAY!

Happy scrapping!

Scrap Our Stash July 2016 Book Inspired Stash Challenge #40 Reveal

Hello, everyone! I'm SO excited to share my very first Scrap Our Stash (SOS) reveal with you all!! Today, I get to share my take on SOS' July 2016 Book Inspired Stash Challenge. Here it is:

And here's my take on it:

As soon as I saw this book cover challenge, my eye was immediately drawn to one thing - the color scheme. It brought me way back to my early days of scrapbooking and to a specific Basic Grey collection, Kioshi (c. 2009). Remember that one? ;) And for me, playing with at least 5 different patterned papers was right up my alley. Layering is actually one of my favorite scrappy things to do! How many pieces do I have on this layout? Let me count for you... 1, 2, 3... Wowzers! A whole whopping NINE!! I not only coordinated the Basic Grey patterned papers, but I also added a few other pieces by My Mind's Eye and Ruby Rock-It. And that piece of ruled paper? I've had that in my stash from my very first years of scrapbooking, but I have no idea who manufactured it. Would L-O-V-E to find some more, though... Hee!Hee! ;) What else did I add on my layout? A Stampin' Up corduroy button (my round embellishment for this challenge!), puffy stickers and alphas from Basic Grey's Kioshi collection, title elements by Jillibean Soup (I lightly painted that one with some Shimmerz Dazzlerz) and American Crafts, a heart-shaped wood veneer piece by Studio Calico, Making Memory staples, ink splats using Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze, and good ol' fashioned hand-stitching using a Bazzill Basic stitching template and some DMC floss. And finally, I couldn't help but adding the title of the book as part of my journalling for my sweet girl - "Oh, the places you'll go!" Indeed.

Hope I inspired you to dig deep in your stashes to finds some true treasures to use for this challenge. Head over to SOS' blog for tons more inspiration for this awesome challenge. And if you upload your own layout inspired by this challenge over on the SOS blog, you'll get a chance to win some sweet, scrappy loot! For more information about this layout, please hop along right over here.

Happy scrapping!

Stuck?! Sketches: July 1st 2016 Sketch and Reveal

Hello, hello! And for all my Canadian scrappy peeps, Happy Canada Day! Stuck?! Sketches is making this extra special with a brand new sketch by the fabulous Laura Whitaker (who just happens to be celebrating another very important day herself - Happy Birthday, Laura!). Here it is:

And here's my take on it:

I've been in a major Basic Grey fog ever since they announced that they were closing their scrapbooking department. Not that I want to use up all my stuff - quite the contrary. I think I want to hold on to it for as long as I can. But I have SO much Basic Grey on hand. I want to celebrate it! So for this layout, I did just that. I present to you, the Basic Grey Barista collection. I used some of its 12X12 and 6X6 patterned papers, chipboard and sticker alphas, and sticker elements. I also added a Maya Road metal paper clip, some Heidi Swapp gold stickers, Stampin' Up vellum, a Freckled Fawn wood veneer word arrow, a few pieces of Magic Mesh, My Mind's Eye enamel dots, Making Memories staples, stamping with some Prima stamps (I L-O-V-E that set!), stitching using a Crafter's Workshop stitching template and some DMC floss, as well as some random corrugated pieces from regular boxes I found around the house. Photo by Philippe Dumas. Oh! And I had a blast making those rolled flowers! Blast from the past!! ;)

Want to see what the other design team members came up with? Hop along right over here and be prepared to be inspired! And when you link your own design based on today's sketch over on the Stuck? Sketches blog, you'll get the chance to win some fabulous scrappy loot from these amazing sponsors: Wycinanka and DCWV. YAY!

Happy scrapping!