Sketchbook #10 Layout with Jillibean Soup Paper

Okay... the last post for the day...and the last layout for the night!  Recovering from sugery has it's advantages for sure.  The first being that I've had a lot of free time because my family took over the boy's day care for the week. Because of this I have had the opportunity to lay around all week, sleep and do scrapbooking too!  Next week, I'll be back to doing the night-time crafting thing and the day-time Nanie's Day Care thing! :-)  In the meantime, I still have a few more days that I can devote recovering from surgery (being lazy), sleeping and scrapping. 

Okay, I've gotten off subject here.  For this layout I used some Jillibean Soup Paper that I purchased a month or so ago.  I just love this paper... so yummy.  This particular pattern is the Coordinating Chicken Noodle paper.   I also used the Jenni Bowling Memo pad in brown to journal about the boy's visit to the farm. I also used some October Afternoon Farm Fresh wild cards and cardstock in Terra Cotta Tile  from Papertrey Ink. 

I paper-pieced some ears of corn using the From My Kitchen Cricut cart and used my Polka Dot Basics stamps to ink up the leaves of the corn.  I also used a couple of Copic Markers to outline the corn so it stood out a bit more and embossed them with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder.

I made my own banner using my brand new Fiskars Triangle paper punch (I'm gonna be using that a lot I think) and stamped the letters in Coffee Archival Ink.  Okay...that's all for now folks!

Studio Calico Anthology and Sketchbook Day 8

This layout is from my scrapbooking class, Sketchbook using the Day 8 layout.  For this I pulled out my Studio Calico Anthology Typo paper that I purchased recently.  Gosh how I love that paper!  I also used a transparency (for Shimelle's class, a project I hadn't tackled yet.. until now!). 

The especially wonderful thing about putting your title on a transparency is that you don't have to cover up that gorgeous patterned paper!  For this layout I also used some October Afternoon patterned paper from the Report Card pack and Spring Moss cardstock from Papertrey Ink.  I also put some chipboard buttons from Jenni Bowlin's Reader pack.  I used Boopee Font for the finger game poem and title and the transparency is from Ellen Hutson. 

Prompt #9 Chipboard and Layout from Sketchbook #6

Last evening I tackled a two-in-one kinda layout.  I had yet to complete Prompt 9 from Shimelle's Something from Almost Nothing class which was to bust out some chipboard and I also wanted to move forward and use layout 6 from my Sketchbook class taught by Kelly Purkey and Studio Calico. 

Although I had chipboard in my stash (from a purchase I made within the past several months)... I had yet to EVER use chipboard on a layout... ever!  I also had some Material Girl patterned paper that matched the chipboard so I pulled that out as well and put together this layout of three photographs I took of my daughter during the first half of her Senior Year (yep, still working on that album!).

I also used my PTI scallop border die and a new Maya Road library card for journaling.  My trusty Cricut came in handy for the title... I used George to cut the letters. I also used Accent Essentials to cut the patterned paper scallop circles. I finished the layout off with a new stick pin from JBS.  Pretty. Shiny. Aww.

April Challenge ... Scraplift and Stashbust

The final weekend challenge I had to finish from Shimelle's Something from Almost Nothing Class was actually challenge number 1... I had the hardest time picking a layout from all those provided during the class to scraplift from...as they were all so fantastic!  In the end I chose to scraplift from a classmate, Alissa Fast and her "So Happy" layout right here.  I love Alissa's style and you can fall in love with it too by visiting her blog right here.

My take on her layout allowed me to try out some new stuff I purchased recently as well as breaking into some old stash that I need to get onto some pages!  I used Tim Holtz's new patterned paper and metal timepiece as well as one of his Masks.  I also used the Cricut (both George and Plantin Schoolbook) for the tag and title.  Some Cornish Farms stamps and typeface stampblock dolled up the tag.  I also used Distress Inks and my handy-dandy Ripping Ruler.... whoot whoot!

Now I do believe I have been creative enough for one day (oh happy-happy day indeed!)...and I am off to heal my wounds and get a bit of shut-eye.

Sketchbook #5 Layout

I'm behind on my layouts for the Sketchbook class, yikes!  But while I'm sitting around taking it easy recovering from surgery I hope to get myself caught up... I gotta tell you, if you haven't ever taken an online scrapbooking class before, it is certainly something you should consider doing... I can't believe how it has got me moving on getting my scrapbook layouts done... and it's been so much fun too!

Here is my take on Sketch #5 for my class.  This is yet another photograph from last year ... I know, I know... you don't have to tell me how far behind I actually am!  Any whooooo.... this sketch featured a large circle format... I tried to keep the "idea" of that in mind while also using my new BoBunny paper and busting some of that stash I have sitting around but don't seem to use.  I also for the first time tried laying down a line of double-sided table and glittering it... I really like that... I seem to always make a mess with glitter and glue, the tape prevented me from doing that!  Yeee Hawwwww!!!

How Much is Too Much & Kite Fishing

Okay the April Challenge #2 for my Something from Almost Nothing scrapbooking class involved creating a layout using a challenge from the How Much is Too Much blog right here.  I chose to participate in the current challenge they have going there "Cloud 9" to use clouds and nine embellishments. I also intend to post this to the Cricutters Anonymous (formerly Just Bugging) challenge blog for consideration in their Design Team Call.  For this particular Cricutters challenge participants were to create an Easter or Spring-themed project, and for me, Spring and kite flying (or fishing as it were) go hand-in-hand!

I've had this photograph of my grandsons flying kites on Easter Sunday... of LAST YEAR (yes, last year) just waiting for me to scrap...and now, whaaaa.... laaaa.... after 365 days... here it is (drum roll please)!

 

I pulled out my Gypsy to help create this layout...see, so had I scrapped this photo last year (when I should have), I wouldn't have been able to do that, because I didn't have a Cricut or a Gypsy back then!  The cartridges I used included Gypsy Wanderings, Wild Card and Gypsy Font. I cut the journal box with the arrow and it's shadow from Gypsy Wanderings after flipping it so the arrow pointed in the right direction.  The paper pieced kites are also from Gypsy Wanderings and the font is from Gypsy Font which I welded together to form the title for the page. I cut the sun two times, once in yellow and once in orange with the Wild Card cart and then glued the two "rays" together.  I popped the center part of the sun up on pop dots for a 3d look.... and now finally, a scrapbook layout that proves there really is such a thing as "Kite Fishing!"

How much stash can you put on one page and still like it...

I answered that question for myself and it is: 81 pieces of stash busting goodness on one layout (excluding the photograph and the Pop Up Dots I used that I didn't think I should count)...Yee haw!  This layout is in response to the April Challenge #3 of the scrapbooking class, "Something from Almost Nothing".  Believe it or not, there are already other classmates who have far exceeded that number and their layouts look fantastic!

Here's the count of what I used:

1 Button, 1 strand Button Twine, 1 Safety Pin, 1 Straight Pin, 5 die cut flowers to make one flower, 2 patterned papers (these are from Webster's Pages...and man are they gorgeous!), 4 die cut butterflies, 4 pieces of  Vintage Ephemera, 2 journaling cards (also from Webster's Pages), 1 Ribbon, 1 Photomat (cut from the patterned paper), 1 Corner Cut Out (from the patterned paper), 6 felt leaves and last but not least, the biggest stash buster... 51 pearls!  Now that's a lotta stash baby! 

I would like to note that I first started this layout in response to a prompt from my other class Sketchbook and was inspired by Stephanie Howell's layout and the banner she used in that prompt...but my layout ended up taking on a life of its' own and not turning out at all like the sketch!  Go figure. Any who....

I am so pleased with both of these classes I am taking right now, it sure has got me moving on my layouts and oh am I ever loving my new printer I can't BELIEVE the huge difference in print quality and it was actually cheaper than the multi-function printer I was using!  It really paid off to purchase a dedicated printer for my photographs... or at least a higher quality photo printer!

Christmas Card Outtakes - Sketchbook #3

Here is another layout for the Sketchbook class I am taking based on Prompt 3...  My daughter took these photos back in December 2009 at my request so that I had a "nice" Christmas photo of my grandsons for our family Christmas Card... these were the outtakes...

In creating this layout I used my last cartridge in my No Cricut Cart Left Behind self-challenge (and way before the deadline no less... can we all say, "yee haw" ??!  I used one of the Chistmas tree cuts from Stretch Your Imagination.  I inked up the trees with various Distress Inks and cut the stars from PTI stamps.  Paper, ribbon and pearls are from my stash.  These photos are certainly priceless to me... and perhaps are the ones I should have used on my Christmas Card... the actual one is posted here on my blog at the top right...

Sketchbook Scrapping Class Layouts

A few days ago a second scrapbooking class "Sketchbook" from Kelly Purkey and the Studio Calico Design Team, that I am taking started. I'm loving this one as much as the other class I am just finishing up, Something from Almost Nothing.  Trust me I didn't mean to start one class before I finished another, but that is just the way it worked out... and if that isn't enough pressure I am also spring cleaning, caring for my grandsons AND getting ready to have surgery tomorrow!  Yikes. 

Anyhow... last night I squeezed in some crafting time and came up with these two layouts for my daughter's Senior Year album from the Sketchbook class.  This one is from the first day... Prompt 1. I loved using my new October Afternoon papers and my new Rick Rack and flower dies and  from Papertrey Ink!

This next layout is from Prompt 2 of the Sketchbook class.  I used my new "Green" Basic Grey products to showcase this silly photo of my daughter in her McDonald's hat...

My new photo printer arrived and I am off to set that baby up!  Can't wait to see the improved quality of my photo prints.... yee haw!

Several "Firsts" and a Couple of Layouts

I finally had a chance to spend some time working on my daughter's senior high scrapbook and completed two layouts using prompts from Shimelle's scrapbooking class (Something from Almost Nothing).  One prompt included using a page protector as part of the layout itself.  I opted to use one I cut up as a see-through pocket to hold my journaling tag and some shiny beads.  It is the first time I've ever tried a technique like that, it's the first time I used my new Martha Stewart butterfly punch and it is also the first time I have ever used a "rub-on"...can you believe it??  I am perhaps the LAST person in the scrapping world to ever try one of those babies!  I also used my new "Green" Basic Gray paper for the first time.... ah, so many firsts indeed!  I knocked out the title using Gypsy Font so I can also check off another cartridge from my "No Cricut Cart Left Behind" challenge.... 

This next layout is also from a class prompt that required us to use stickers in our layout... I haven't used stickers since I first scrapped via Creative Memories... I have literally hundreds of stickers all neatly organized in a Creative Memories notebook...and I haven't used a single one in perhaps a decade! yikes... anyhow, I used a whole page up and while it doesn't even begin to make a dent in my sticker pile... it's a start I suppose!  Sorry about the poor lighting on this layout once again... I never seem to get my photos taken during the daylight hours and so those sweet little vintage print flowers look kinda dark...maybe even a little scary!  LOL :-)

Speak Up Layout and No Cricut Cart Left Behind!

First I want to start by apologizing for the poor lighting used to take the photograph of this layout... it's late at night and I was forced to use my flash... yuck.  Never the less, this weekend our scrapbooking class was challenged to create a number of projects... this particular one required us to use, cardstock, patterned paper, ribbon and metal all on one layout.  I very often do use this combination of products to complete a project so I felt comfortable incorporating all of those elements in one layout. I also completed another layout that was less girly-girl mainly due to the fact that it is a photograph of two of my daughters and their father with a doe my daughter shot during gun season here in Michigan.  Due to the fact that this layout may be offense to some, I won't post it... but I mention it because I used a number of Cricut carts to complete that layout and in doing both these projects now have only THREE carts left to complete my April 15th deadline in the No Cricut Cart Left Behind!
Okay...enough with the chit-chat... here is the layout minus the journaling that I still have left to do on it, perhaps once I complete that I will update the picture with one under better lighting conditions.

Scrapbook Layouts for Something from Almost Nothing

Okay so, although I have had time to work on a couple of layouts in the last several days... I haven't had internet service.... argh!  Some young man decided to drive into a nearby electrical pole on Wednesday (which also happened to be my 49th birthday)...and took out the power and phone to several houses (including mine) on our street... power was back on in a couple of hours, but the phone took until late yesterday.

Prompts for the scrapbooking class I am taking included using ribbon and patterned paper scraps... so here are two layouts using those items!  Whoot Whoot... this class really has helped me use up items in my stash and get some layouts accomplished as well.... so exciting!

For the layout below I had a number of small packages of free ribbon that I received for ordering products from Ellen Hutson and I was never really sure what I was going to do with the growing pile of that ribbon...  until now. I love it when a plan comes together! 

Heavy Metal Layout

As a result of the scrapbooking class, Something from Almost Nothing I'm taking over at Shimelle's I have two layouts to share today.  The prompt for the first class included using metal....and that I did, especially on the first layout.  Ten brads....yep, count 'em TEN were used in this first girly layout I did to start off my youngest daughter's Senior Year of High School album!  I do believe this is the most metal I have ever used in a single layout and that is exciting for me! 

Other supplies I used to complete this layout included: Webster's Pages Deluxe Journaling Card Set (on popped it up on foam tape to add dimension to the page), Prima's Shabby chic Collection "Sweets" patterned paper, Prima flowers, Brads from Basic Grey, pages I tore out of an old book to make the flowers, cardstock and the large scallop die from Papertrey Ink (love that!), glossy accents, ribbon from Ellen Hutson and the Cricut Expression using the Calligraphy cartridge (another cartridge used for the "No Cart Left Behind" challenge!  Life is good.

This second layout was quite simple and I didn't use nearly as much metal in the making - only three pretty sparkly brads.  The patterned paper and brads are from the new American Crafts Dear Lizzy collection. I also used Pure Poppy cardstock and swiss dot ribbon, sentiment stamp and small scallop die all from Papertrey Ink.

Something from Almost Nothing - Class Day One!

It's here!  The start of Shimelle's "Something from Almost Nothing" scrapbooking class has finally arrived. This morning the first lesson and prompt arrived via email. 

When I signed up for the class I had already decided that the scrapbook I want to work on during this class would be centered around my youngest daughter's Senior year in high school. So after reading the first PDF of the class, I got to work organizing, cropping, editing, documenting and printing all 53 photos I plan to include in this scrapbook. 

I wanted to do a mini album and finally use my new Bind it All for the project, but now I am wondering if I should do a larger size album than I first planned for my daughter's album AND do a mini Celebrate Life (the project this class is focusing on) for myself. Guess I'll have to make a decision quick if I want to get started on that album too. 

At any rate here is a photo of all the photos I printed for my daughter's senior year scrapbook!  I numbered each photo and have a cheat sheet that lists the topic of each photo as a journaling prompt. I know this will motivate me (as will the class) to use up some of scrapbooking stash and get this important album done for my daughter's Open House in June!  I might just get it done early to boot and have the extra mini album done as well....that would certainly use up a lot of my stash for sure! Yippee!

Scrapbooking Class: Something From Almost Nothing

I'm excited to tell you all about a class I am taking that begins on March 10, 2010.  Shimelle.com is presenting a unique scrapbooking class titled "Something from Almost Nothing".  You can learn more about this class that starts on Wednesday right here. During the class we'll be putting together a "Celebrate Life" album using the stash we already have amassed... and I have lots and lots of it.  The cost of the class is only $15.00 and I am certain that it will be money well spent.  Our preclass challenge is this: 

"Post a picture or two of your stash (bonus points for those who get creative with the posing of their supplies for the camera, of course!) and come clean to your friends and readers. Why do you have so many supplies and what are you waiting for? You can proclaim a goal: how many pages you want to make from existing stash in the next month or how many sheets of paper/sets of stickers/yards of ribbons/etc you want to move from your stash to your albums before the end of March."

Below is a photograph of just a small part of my stash (stuff I got in the last couple of days) but before you look at the photo I do want to say this for the record... I just started scrapbooking again back in late September 2009 when I finally got both a dedicated papercrafting area and a Cricut Expression.  At that time I started work on two scrapbooks, one for my mother with old family photographs (which I presented to her at Christmas - even though I still have more photos to add to the album) and one that I am working on for my youngest daughter's high school graduation open house this June.  However, I must come clean and admit that over the past several months I have been side-tracked because I have been spending so much time, learning new techniques, crafting cards for card challenges and shopping for all the supplies I want and felt I just had to have, that I haven't scrapped a single page since January!  Thus, the reason I am so excited about taking this class and using all the stash I have accumulated over the past six months... I have lots and lots of stash too... and because I was afraid that I might make mistakes with some of the "really good stuff" I bought two and sometimes THREE of all the best stuff (that habit of buying extra has certainly lent itself to creating a big big stash pile)... So, there you have it... why my stash is so HUGE and why I am SO EXCITED to begin this class next week. As for my goal over this class period... I would like to use up at least one of all the things that I consider to be "my good stuff" and create an album of at least twenty pages.  Hope you can join us!