Sunday Sketch & Stamp #83

It's our fearless leader Maggie's turn to host the challenge this week at Sunday Sketch & Stamp

and she has come up with a great sketch that I decided to use for a layout. I dove into my CTMH papers in Holiday Red, Topiary, and White Daisy.  That fun pennants and letters are from the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge.  I chose tradition as we will be starting a new one this year- I picked up Elf on a Shelf this weekend while shopping and he will be making his arrival for my Lucas this week.  I am going to wrap it up like it came from Santa just like in the movie that was on this weekend, we watched it last night and he loved it!

Make sure to play along this week as we have a new sponsor, Crimson Cloud and the winner will receive 3 die-cut packs of your choice.  Here is a little about Crimson Cloud:   Crimson Cloud is a mother/daughter venture - a way to indulge our joint passion of cardmaking and crafting. We only sell products that we have tried, tested and love using. We have developed our own exclusive range of dies cuts, digital stamps, svg files and "Make Your Own Card" kits which reflect our styles of card making - and hopefully yours too!

Luigi Halloween Layout- Lollipop Crafts #49

If you are looking for Kaboodle Doodles post, please scroll down.

We have a fun and easy challenge for you this week at Lollipop Crafts, the challenge is "anything but a card" and since I am trying to get back to scrapbooking my pics this was the perfect opportunity to crank out a layout.  We are sponsored this week by Robyn's Fetish and it's T-team's (Tammy's team) turn to share their talents, so make sure to check out their projects when you enter the challenge this week.

Here is a little about our sponsor:

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More is proud to sponsor this challenge.

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More, a division of I Did It Creations, was created and is
is owned by Robyn Weinrib.  Robyn offers a wonderful variety of digital stamps and digital papers, designed to meet the needs of all digital paper crafting addicts for every occasion.

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More is happy to offer the winner of this challenge 5 digital stamps or 4 digital stamps and 1 digital paper set of their choice.

These are pics of my little Lucas last year at his school Halloween party, he was Luigi from Super Mario Brothers and he looked so cute with those little freckles and mustache.  They made ghosts from paper plates with streamers and played mummy wrap for their game.

Now now only did I create a layout, but I tried a new technique!  I created this fun little flower embellie, by pulling the stitching on one to gather it into a circle.  I then created a smaller one so I could have 2 layers, attached to a huger Glubber dot, and added a button to finish!

TSB Challenge #15- Recipe

It's time for another challenge over at The Stamping Boutique and this week April has given us a recipe. 

The recipe is as follows:

4~different colors

3~different embellishments

2~different DP's

1~digital image (please note I said DIGITAL image ;-) )

I started with the sketch over at Skipping Stones Designs for my card. I found this paper in my stash from EK Success called "beauty stripes" that had exactly 4 colors.  I used bling, button, and ribbon on my card for my embellies.  I paired my striped with this scrap of brown polka dot paper and used the 

"Think Happy Thoughts Sentiment" for The Stamping Boutique store.  Now when I got done I decided to create a matching layout and used "pinwheel journal."

Make sure to head over to The Stamping Boutique Challenge Blog and check out all the great things happening there, it's their 2nd Birthday and they are celebrating all month long.  There is something new daily from free images to opportunities to win FREE images- DONT MISS OUT!!! 

There is currently a birthday challenge going on and they will be selecting 30 winners, one for each day and you can enter as many times as you want and win multiple times!

Back to School Layout-2 Challenges

I just have start by saying I am in love with the new idea book from CTMH, the cover page layout is what I based this layout on this week.  This layout was created for the challenge over at The Stamping Boutique, which is "Stripes and Dots."  So to create my stripes I pulled out my score pal and created the pattern on the cream cardstock. Everything is inked with CTMH desert sand ink, the title is cute using the Cricut.   The fun little scalloped border is one of the Kraft Ready to Color borders that I have inked with my black ink pad (CTMH is discontinuing, so hurry fast to get those before they are gone).  I have added a digital image (which I have changed to sepia using Paint.net) of my Lucas on his 1st day of school so you can see what it would look like with photo (I will print the photo and add). There is a hidden journaling spot using this cute digital recipe card image from The Stamping Boutique.  

Now this layout is also for the challenge this week over at The Crazy Challenge, which just so happens to be "Back to School" also. Our sponsor this week is Hobbisimo and the TCC design team has created some fabulous projects to share with you!

I am entering this project in the following challenges:
Creative Craft Challenges- anything but a card
Going Grey with Scrap Creations- back to school
Papertake Weekly- using dies (stars/letters using cricut and  shape by photo mat is from a die)
Sparkles Creations-primary+ neutral
Use it Tuesday- Back to School (patterned paper, ribbon, & recipe card are all from stash )
Tuesday Throwdown-dimension and texture (popped up items & texture using score pal & cuttlebug)

Creative Stamp Friends- school
Heart 2 Heart-back to school
Make It Monday- anything goes
Paper Playtime-anything goes
Stamps R Us- anything goes

School Days Layout

School starts tomorrow here and I think I am more excited than the kids, lol!  It's not that I don't love spending time with my boys, but with a 15 yo and 6 yo they spend alot of time fighting as oldest doesn't want to play with youngest and all youngest wants is to play with oldest.  So needless to say I have been counting down the days for awhile, although it's bittersweet as I know in a flash school days will be over for my Micah as he is a sophomore this year and has in his mind that he wants to go to college far away from here.  When I look at Lucas, I see Micah all over again and think where did the time go!

This weekend I went to a fun crop and we created a layout for the CTMH club I am in that I knew would be perfect for the challenge at Cooking it Up With Katie this week.  We are sponsored by 2 fabulous sponsors this week, Robyn's Fetish and Gingerloft so make sure to play along!  Our challenge recipe this week is

"Use a die cut, some ribbon, and add a banner."

I decided to play with this adorable back pack image to add to my layout. First I colored the image using a sponge dauber and CTMH ink, next I started to layer it up by starting with a uncolored image. I used the same techniques with all the pockets/straps and then cut them out and added them. I colored all the items in the top of the back pack with copics and added them layer by layer.  For my banner , I used my cricut and Plantin Schoolbook cartridge for letters and cut diamonds using George cartridge which I folded over to create banner.  I added my triangles to a piece of CTMH juniper ribbon and papers are from the new CTMH idea book called "Type Set."

TSB Challenge #12/Cooking it up with Katie- We are back!!!

After taking a little break last month, we are back over at Cooking it up with Katie with a new challenge! I am excited to announce we have a "brand new" sponsor this week, The Stamping Boutique which I happen to also design for.  Up for grabs s 5 digis of winner's choice from the TSB store, how AWESOME it that!!! 

Our recipe this week is:

Something Old, Something New, and One of Your Favorite Things/Techniques

I chose to go digital this week once again, so I started with a quick page from Digi Scrap Depot called Birthday Boy which you can download from here. I have added this pic of my lil' guy Lucas' from his 1st birthday, he will be 7 yo next month.  I chose to color my TSB image called birthday bunny using Paint.net and then added this fun sentiment called "Birthday cake is yummy"
and you can download is from here.

Now I decided to kill to birds with one stone so to speak, as this layout is for the challenge this week over at The Stamping Boutique Challenge Blog also. The theme this week is "Happy Birthday for a young male." Come on over and join the fun and see the wonderful inspiration from the rest of design team and enter the challenge!

Challenge Masters- Scrapping The Boys

It's the 2nd Sunday of the month  so that means time for me to host the Scrapping The Boys challenge over at Challenge Masters. So for this month's challenge I want to see layouts of those special guys "Having some Summer Fun!" This can be a favorite activity like a baseball game, fishing, swimming, or maybe it's BBQing or eating an ice cream cone. How about a vacation or special trip planned for summer.

For my layout I have created a "Summer Bucket List" for my 6 year old Lucas. Lucas is always saying how he has nothing to do or is bored, so I thought I would create this fun layout that he could write what he would like to do this summer. I plan on taking a picture of him to put on mat at top and on bottom box he will write what he wants to do this summer. I think this is a great way to commererate this summer and will be fun to look back on how his writing changes over years. I am going to make a 2nd page that we can put pictures as he completes the items on his "bucket list."

So far his bucket list includes:

1. Reading 100 books

2. Playing croquet

3. Running his first 5K

I had so much fun creating this layout and actually broke out my Cricut to create the title using Sesame Street font cartridge.  Isn't that pail adorable?  It's from the Simply Charmed cartridge.  I have inked the edges of my pattened paper and pieces on sand pail with CTMH Cocoa ink.  The pattened paper is from a Storyteller's kit and I distressed the edges of some of my papers using the Tonic distresser I picked up at Archiver's this weekend.

Now what a you waiting for dig out those pics of your special guys "Havin' some summer fun" and come join us at Challenge Masters. 

Kaboodle Doodles #70- Whimsical Creatures

It's Monday so that's means another challenge over at  Kaboodle Doodles

and this week is all about those Mystical Creatures.  This can be fairies, unicorns, angels, gnomes, etc. and our sponsor this week is Whoopsi Daisy Designs. The prize up for grabs this week for one lucky person is 

choice of 2 sheets (8 images)- how cool is that!

Now if you follow my blog, you will see I have started to dabble into digital scrapping and I have once again created this super layout using a Quick Page from Digi Scrap Depot.  This page is located in the fantasy section and is by Susie Colbert Designs and can be found here.  I added the fairy stamp, which I also found at Digi Scrap Depot and can be found here.

Check out rest of team's creations here and join the challenge for a chance to win the AWESOME prize!

Shannon Sentiments #29-Graduation

For all my faithful followers, you may wonder where have I been?  Did I fall off the face of the planet? I discovered a couple weeks ago that I had a very large kidney stone, after many tests and being in ER for hours it was decided I had to be transferred to another hospital.  So I get to ride in an ambulance to other hospital and diagnosis is surgery next day.  So I have been recovering ever since and am now ready to get things rolling again, ook for me to be posting more often as things finally get back to normal!

It's Saturday so that means another challenge over at Shannon's Sentiments and this week it's all about Graduation! Well I have really decided to try my hand at digital scrapbooking as I think it might be a great way to keep up with all my kiddo's activities and help me catch up (lol). I decided to try the CTMH Studio J digital program, which is pretty easy to use. This is my Lucas as he graduated Kindergarten just last week, his teacher let the kids plan their graduation celebration and they all wanted to wear their pjs.  After creating my layout, I then opened it in Paint.net and added the diploma and cap images from the Follow Your Dreams set. Come join the challenge here and check out the Fabulous creations from rest of team!

Wonder Layout

I am so excited to be a part of the Challenge Masters Team, if you haven't checked us out yet you should.  Each weeks challenges are posted in several categories from color, sketch, trend, scrappin' boys/girls, etc.  The DT ladies come up with the most wonderful challenges to make you think outside the box when creating your projects and I have once again foun my love for scapbooking!

I made this layout for the "Color Challenge" and we were to use Kraft as our base and use this paper as our inspiration from My Mind's Eye.I grabbed this adorable pic of my lil' man when he was just a year old
(he's now 6), I just love the innocence and wonder in his eyes.  All these papers are pieces from Storyteller's kits and flourishes/title were cut using Cricut.  I made the flowers using scraps from pieces of papers I used, the poem I found online.

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Charima Cardz- no cards allowed
Paper Play- show us your style
Paper Romance- use your fave die (I love the QuicKutz die I used for poem)
Sassy Studios- handmade flowers
Crafts & Me- swirls (flowers & flourishes)
Papercraft Star- find your own sketch
Papertake Weekly- anything goes
Top Tip Tuesday- open challenge
Craft Your Passion-anything goes
Make It Monday-anything goes
Pollycraft-anything goes
By The Cute & Girly-anything goes
Catered Crop- follow the recipe (pp-stripes/polka dots, color-yellow/white/kraft/blue, embellies-ribbon, handmade flowers, ink- CTMH Cocoa, tools- Cricut/Storybook cartridge, Quickutz die)
Dream Valley Challenges-flowers
Scrappy Frogs-anything goes
Sparkles Forum-anything goes

EXCITING NEWS and Challenge Masters Chopped Contest Rounds #1 & #2

 Have you heard of Challenge Masters?

I just recently found them, they are a wonderful site that hosts challenges on Sundays.  I noticed they were having a design team call, so I through my hat in the ring.  Guess what I was selected as a Challenge Masters Diva and will be hosting "Scrapping with Boys" challenges on 2nd Sundays of month.  Be on the lookout as my 1st challenge will be on April 10th and my challenges will be all about those boys/men in our lives!

 Well I wanted to get involved and start getting to know my way around on forum, so I jumped in head first to a challenge/contest.  Have you ever seen the show Chopped?  Well if not they have chefs and they compete in appetizer, main dish, dessert rounds using a basket of ingredients.  So the contest if along the same lines and we are given a list of "ingredients" to use.

Well I survived round one with this layout of my sweet Lucas wearing the new hat that grandma knitted for him.  Our challenge was to use "lime green, circles, and paint." So I started rummaging through my papers and found this patterned that had lime green in it and matched with some blues.  With some help from my scrappin' friends (thanks Kim S.) we decided on Simple Contrast layout on page 28 of CTMH Cherish Idea Book. For the painting part, I used a dark blue to paint the edges of all the white pieces as well as patterned paper.  You can see I have the circles covered, including some added circles embossed on blue paper on right side and I embossed the left side with distressed strips. Then I took the embossed pieces and distressed them by sanding to show white core.

I am entering this layout in following challenges:

 Now for round 2 our challenge was to use "yellow, scallops, and dimensional flowers.  What a dilemma as yellow is one of colors I have a limited supply of paper for.  This time I turned to my CTMH Magic Idea book and went with page 29 and layout called "backstage."  This is my niece Mya, isn't she the cutest? OK back to the challenge, the yellow scalloped circle is embossed with polka dots and then edges are inked with CTMH Creme Brulee ink. The patterned blue is from CTMH Miracle paper pack and inked with CTMH Crystal Blue and then I used my Stampin' Up border punch.

Now for the fun part, I made my flowers using my Stampin' Up scalloped circle punches (thanks Arielle for showing this to us at card swap).  To create these first you punch 4 circles, fold them in 1/2 and then 1/2 again.  Now what I did was ink the edges and then punched a 5th circle to mount them on. For the centers, I used my Die-Namics mini rose die.  The yellow paper was already embossed wit polka dots, so for my blue flower I ran it through Cuttlebug using Swiss Dots folder.  Some pearls from $1 section at Micheal's for center and ribbon for stems.

Cross your fingers that make it to the nest round!

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Catered Crop- use any of listed ingredients (recipe: pp ( mini print- blue pp/yellow-polka dots), colors- blue, embellies- flowers/ribbon/pearls, tools-border punch/scalloped punch/die cut-mini rose & Cricut, theme- spring/childhood (spring colors & flowers + pic of my niece), shapes-circles/scallops
Cupcake Inspirations- see photo (inspired by yellow & flowers)
Gingerloft- die cuts or punches
Paper Sundaes- embossing

Lucky Layout

Do you feel Lucky? I know I feel like one "Lucky Lady" when I look at these pics of my wonderful hubby and 2 amazing boys!

I wanted to make a special layout for these pics so I grabbed my CTMH idea books to pick out the perfect layout.  For page one, I grabbed these green papers and inked the edges using CTMH New England Ivy.  Letters are cut using Lyrical Letters and the Cricut. I found these fun little shamrock bling in my stash.

This is page two and I added this fun digital image from The Stamping Boutique called Horseshoe which is colored with Copics (E00, G14/19, Y15/17/21, C5/C7. YR04/07, B24/29, R27/59, 100, blender).  I used a gold gel pen to add some sparkle to the horseshoe and gold. The image was cut out using my scalloped Nesties. The scallop along bottom of layout is cut using Accent Essentials and the Cricut.

I am entering this layout in the following challenges:

Challenge Masters- One Little Word- Luck

Little Red Wagon-St. Patty's Day green

Penny's Paper Crafty-green

Sisterhood of Crafters- St. Patty's Day

Stamping Vacation- use anything from March
AI Factory- Luck of the Irish
Paper Play-shades of green/St. Patty's Day
Meljens Designs- green
Shelly's Images- something green
Stamp Insanity- anything goes+ pop of green
All Sorts- luck of the Irish

TSB Challenge #1

Today is an exciting day over at The Stamping Boutique Challenge Blog as we are starting our new bi-weekly challenges, so make sure to check in every other Tuesday for the challenge.  Also there will be one lucky winner of 5 images of their choice from TSB Store + 3 projects will be chosen as Top 3 and get a cool blinie/button for their blogs!

Are you ready?   Well grab those embellies and embossing folders becuase to start things off the challenge is all about:

The Stamping Boutique 

T=Texture, S=Sparkle, B=Buttons

So I decided to start things off with a layout for this challenge and am going to try to always make layouts for challenges to show how digital images can be used in scapbooking.  I grabbed my new fave scrapbooking idea book CTMH Magic decided to use this cute layout called BackStage, this is the left side of double layout (stay tuned for right side coming soon to coordinate).  I knew I wanted to make something fun and springy and this cute lil' gal called Bunny Egg was perfect!  I colored her with Copics and then added lots of sparkle with my black Spica pen and Sparkly Fluff in Cotton Candy Pink that I picked up at i {heart} papers store.  I also cut out the bow and egg shell and popped it up just a smidge.

I grabbed my fave Cuttlebug embossing folder, Swiss Dots to add a little texture to my half circle.  All edges are inked with CTMH Ink Pads- Baby Pink and Key Lime.  I added all those fantastic buttons, which are also from CTMH and a little ribbon and my masterpiece is almost complete.  Just need a nice Easter photo to call this one done!

Here is a close-up of my sweet lil' bunny friend all sparkly and ready for some Easter fun!  Now what are you waiting for, go dig into your fave embelllies (Kim- it's that box of goodies I always want to play in, LOL!) and show us your texture, sparkle, and buttons!  You can join the challenge and find all the deets here.

I am entering this in the following challenges also:

KB Cute Monday- anything goes with a digi
Woodware USA Challenge- anything goes
Stamp Fairy-anything but a card
Ooh La La Creations Challenges- pink, pink, pink (I used lots of that!)
Tellen's Place-buttons (got lots of those on this layout)
Gem of a Challenge-buttons, brads, beads, bows ( I used lots of buttons and fancy bow)

  



Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #56- 3/2/1 Recipe

It's challenge day at Kaboodle Doodles and this week we have a recipe challenge for you!  We are sponsored this week by Gingerloft and they have provided our DT with images- thank you Gingerloft! One lucky winner will receive FREE images as well, how cool is that!

The recipe this week is as follows:
3 designer papers, 2 solids, & 1 embellishment. I decided it was time I got back to scrapbooking, so I grabbed this fun image "You Rock" that you can find here. I thought it was perfect as this is my Lucas with his Student of the Month medal, he just started Kindergarten this year.

I used papers from the DCWV School Days stack and used a layout from my new CTMH idea book called  Magic that you can pick up here. All my papers are inked with CTMH Black ink. I also used my Cuttlebug embossing folder to add the numbers to the red strip.  I put his medal in this fun little keepsake holder that my friend Darla gave me.






I added my journaling by computer generating it and then cutting in strips, this is another first for me!  I am usally horrible about journaling on my layouts but am going to try to do better in 2011!

WOO HOO- go me, I actually completed a layout for 2011!  Sue ( my close friend and CTMH consultant) is gonna be so proud of me!

Now make sure you head over to Kaboodle Doodles to chek out what rest of team has done and join the challenge!

I am also entering this in the following challenges:

Card Creations & More-anything that sparkles (All my papers are sparkly, you can see best in photo with journaling- see all those sparkly stars).

 ECP Challenges-something for the boys (this layout is all about my sweet boy)

Enchantment Blog Hop with The Stamping Boutique!

Welcome to The Stamping Boutique where the design team will be featuring the new Enchantment line. This is a gorgeous line of fairies that Tracey has drawn that you can find here. Tracey has even drawn one that is just being revealed today one her blog which is your 1st stop here. You will want to make sure you hope along and leave comments at all stops because one LUCKY person will win the the newly released image. If you came here from Mary's blog you are on the right track.

I decided to do a layout for my project because I got the beautiful image called Hidden to work with. I am trying to get back into my scrapbooking and started an All About Me book for my boys quite a while ago and never completed. I do not have many pics of me because I am always the one taking the pics. So I thought this image would be perfect for some pics of me peeking out from behind my camera.

My journaling says "Hidden…yes this is me, always behind the camera and rarely in front. Do you see me? Will you remember me? I hope you will and know that while I may be Hidden I am always with you and watching over you! Love Mom!"

Here is a closeup of my fairy, I don't know if you can see it but i used my clear At-You Spica pen to add some glitter to all the flower petals and fairy wings. I used a sketch from 52 Sketches,52 weeks and it can be found here.



Now time to continue hopping, so head on over to Melissa's blog to see her wonderful creation. Oh by the way, during the hop and only until midnight Tracey if offering a 40% discount of images- what are you waiting for hurry on over to the TSB store to get all those cuties you have had your eye on!

If you get lost along the way-here is the entire blog list for you:

Tracey M
Lorie
Kym Kreates
Mary
Christy-You are here!
"Melissa
Jana
Maria
Kym W
Vicki
Rhonda


Hugs,
Christy

Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe #25

Crafts 4 Eternity brings another great recipe challenge this week. I have vowed to get back into my scrapbooking, so I am challenging myself to use these weekly challenges to make some layouts using the recipe. Want to join me?

For this week's recipe challenge-we were to use the sketch, some note paper, and a butterfly. I grabbed this paper that I thought looked like notebook paper from my Storyteller's Monthly Kit Club and the other pieces to make this layout. I have the perfect pics of my 5 year old helping me bake and licking the spatula, now to just find them. I really wanted to incorporate a digi image do I asked Tracey over at The Stamping Boutique to draw me an AJ the chef. Isn't he adorable? Let me know what you think of my layout, I have been away from scrapbooking for awhile and hoping my mojo is coming back!

Hugs,
Christy

TSB Thursday Sketch Challenge

Today is the Premiere of the new sketch challenges over at The Stamping Boutique and we are featuring the TSB scrapbook team using this sketch from Becky Fleck over at Page Maps.

I decided to use one of my kits from Storyteller's Club that I get monthly. I cut out and popped up the flowers, used my new SU border punch, and the image is one of the awesome sentiments from TSB which you can find here.

Come join the challenge, for you chance to win free images from The Stamping Boutique!

Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge #20

Sorry for the delayed post, but I was sick this past weekend and now am playing catch up.Crafts 4 Etenity has another great recipe challenge this week, our recipe this week is a follows:

1. Use sketch provided
2. Chipboard
3. Polka dots

So I grabbed this great My Mind's Eye stack I got a Hobby Lobby this weekend for 50% off, what a steal and fabulous papers to make this layout!!! The word forver are chipboard letters that I covered with a little CTMH White Daisy ink. Do you see that lovely scalloped border? Well that is with my new SU border punch that I got for free this month! Also the rectangle behond the word forver is using this same punch along with the coordinating corner punch I borrowed from my BFF Heather (thanks Heather). Head on over to C4E to join the challenge and see what the rest of the FABULOUS DT has come up with this week!

Supplies:
Paper: pp-MME, cs-CTMH
Ink: CTMH White Daisy
Miscellaneous: ribbon, chipboard, SU border/corner punch, Cricut

No Greater Love -SSC # 46

Hope you are ready for another fabulous SSC sketch at Crafts 4 Eternity this week. This wonderful sketch had so many fantastic elements that I decided to make a layout. The twist was to use something with G, my layout is titled " No Greater Love" and I plan on putting a photo of my wonderful boys on this page. Join us this week and show us your wonderful creations!

Sketch- C4E
Papers- DCWV Fall Stack
Sentiment- CTMH
Flower border- Cricut Storybook Cartridge

C4E Scraplift Challenge

This is for the scraplift challenge over at Crafts 4 Eternity. Come on over and show us your interpretation of sketch and check out rest of DT creations in the gallery.


I expanded the sketch from a single page layout to a double page layout. Again I used papers from a Breezy Design kit (formerly TLC). All papers/ribbons as well as heart brad and chipboard heart in sentiment are from my stash. Sentiments were already printed on cardstock and ready to use from kit also. Everything is inked using my cat's eyer inks. Aren't these papers cute?

Supplies
Paper: Breezy Design formerly TLC and stash
Inks: Cat's eyes
Tools: ATG
Miscellaneous: pop dots, chipboard, brad