January Sketchy Challenge

Once again I'm squeaking in my January Sketchy challenge layout.  Hmmm.  Maybe I should make a resolution about getting that done on time!

Here is Sue Sykes' awesome sketch, which I rotated 90 degrees counter clockwise:

Winter layouts are almost becoming a thing of the past for me.  That's because my teenagers don't really go outside much in the winter anymore.  If they do, it's only to take a bunch of goofy selfies. ha ha! Luckily, BabyOfTheFamily agreed to some pics a couple months ago.  I LOVE winter photos!

For my frosty layouts, I often use Bo Bunny, and each winter I'm excited about seeing their new papers.  I just love the colours and patterns in the Woodland Winter collection:

I put baby powder on the backs of my snowflake stickers so the edges would lift off my background.

BoBunny's matching embellishments and stickers always make designing so easy.  I must admit, I'm kind of a matchy-matchy type of girl :)

The navy twine is May Arts.

Every season I say how much I don't like winter, but I love creating winter layouts! 

I hope you have a chance to design a layout for Canadian Scrapbooker's Sketchy Challenge!  In a few more days, the February sketch will be posted.  Click HERE to visit the Sketchy Gallery and be inspired!

Stay warm...

Nordic Pines from Bazzill Basics Paper

I have come across a winter collection that I really love…. Nordic Pines by Bazzill Basics Paper… and was inspired to design a layout for Canadian Scrapbooker's December Sketchy Challenge.

BabyOfTheFamily and her sweet friend surprised me by asking for photos outside during a blizzard! What?  I don't have to beg? Ha. 

Here is Sue Sykes' wonderful sketch:

I sure don't like winter, but strangely I always enjoy creating winter layouts! I think I was also inspired by the amazing landscape at the scrapbook retreat where I was working on this layout.

Isn't the Nordic Pines colour palette awesome? 

The Bazzill package of paper snowflakes worked perfectly as embellishments, along with the Kraft "Edge" card stock strips:

There were 3 different snowflake shapes:

I outlined the title with my American Crafts white Galaxy marker to make it stand out more on this cool piece of chalkboard patterned paper and added some stitching with red embroidery thread.

 My Stampin' Up! paper piercing set helped with all my stitching:

I also did some cross-stitching to enhance the homespun patterns and the tiny cross-stitched stag heads:

I stamped and cut out this stag using a Sizzix stamp/die set.

I just love that Bazzill pleated paper ribbon!  Just pull it out of the package, and you have a really pretty embellishment.  Easy!

At this busy time of year, it's so nice to use a collection that helps your layouts come together quickly and easily.  

If you need some inspiration with your designs, click HERE to visit the Canadian Scrapbooker Sketchy Gallery.

My New Double the Fun Sketch

I am hesitant to announce this, but I have a new Double the Fun layout sketch up on the Canadian Scrapbooker website….for SUMMER 2014! Ha ha.  That is how the magazine industry rolls.  Everything is planned waaaaay ahead.  While working on my Christmas cards and crafts, my creative mind is also thinking about Spring and Summer.  

Here is my new sample layout…

 After weeks of harassing my teenagers, I finally wrangled them together for our annual fall photo shoot.  Ok, so the picture snapping only lasted 4 minutes just before our Thanksgiving dinner last month, but this is better than nothing! 

Here is my new sketch, which I hope you'll try using for one of your layouts…

I used the gorgeous DCWV "Industrial Chic" Stack which is full of deep, rich patterns and colours, perfect for fall, vintage, masculine and so on.

Plus, the larger photo in the centre has a burlap mat, from the DCWV Burlap Stack.  I love the texture that it brings to the layout.

Some close-ups…

The small black type alphabet stickers are Glitz Design and the heart and 'ticket' and key are all cut from the patterned DCWV papers.  

The hearts are just cut freehand from that red paper, and I inked the edges with Clearsnap black chalk ink.

My journaling tag is cut from the DCWV paper as well.  Then I punched two holes at the top corners and wrapped my twine through.

The bottom border of the layout has a May Arts twill ribbon running across.  

I hope you enjoy this new sketch…and you have LOTS of time to submit your layout before the deadline: February 15, 2014!

November Sketchy Challenge

I'm doing a little better than last month's Canadian Scrapbooker's Sketchy Challenge in terms of posting earlier.  Who knows?  I might get December's challenge done on time!

After a ridiculous amount of begging and crying (and exaggerating), I finally got DramaQueen outside for her Fall photos.  Does she like them?  Probably not.  Honestly, I avoid showing her my layouts because she usually hates all of the photos I choose.  

Here is Sue Sykes' sketch:

I have to tell you, those circles in the background confounded me for awhile…until I looked through my DCWV "Cinnamon Luster" Stack:

I knew the colours and patterns in this stack would be perfect for these pics of DQ.  And then I added a few cut-out embellishments from the DCWV "Industrial "Chic" Stack. These stacks make designing layouts so quick and easy, with all the matching papers in one big handy pack.

Can you see that May Arts ribbon sparkle?  I love their glitter ribbon! This butterfly is cut from glitter paper using one of my absolute favourite Spellbinders die:  Donna Salazar's "Wonderful Wings."

If you love your Spellbinders and die cuts, then this is one set you must have!

I'm still hoping to scrapbook some more Fall photos, even though our landscape is looking much more like winter and Christmas!

And look what I saw in the mall downtown!  Yikes!

Can you see 'tiny Kelly' in that gold ornament? ha ha! Didn't plan that.  Hmmmm….now I'm getting an idea for Christmas photos this year! 

Yes, inspiration is everywhere…including the gallery over at Canadian Scrapbooker!  Hope to see your layouts posted there.  Click HERE to visit and see what everyone else is doing with this sketch.

Simple Stories Meets The Sketchy Challenge

Is it okay to post a Back To School layout at the end of October?  Of course it is!

BabyOfTheFamily first day of school Grade 8

This design is based on Sue Sykes' Sketch for October over at the Canadian Scrapbooker magazine Sketchy Gallery.

I've been itching to use these wonderful Simple Stories papers as soon as I saw them.  I mean, who can resist a collection called "Smarty Pants" ?  Not me...especially because this term describes BabyOfTheFamily perfectly.

The layered stickers are from the Simple Stories 'I heart Summer" collection...

That's what I love about Simple Stories....I can often combine collections and everything works so well together.



This fun title is cut out from one of the patterned papers.

I added stitching to the edges of my banners to make them pop a bit.

Not only am I happy to get a Back To School layout done, I'm happy that BabyOfTheFamily will still agree to pose for one! 

Good Bye September

This month has been a blur, and on the last day I am squeaking in my September Sketchy Challenge for Canadian Scrapbooker magazine.

Here is Sue Sykes' wonderful sketch:

I used the RSVP collection from Basic Grey, including the sticker sheets.

The butterflies were cut using this pretty Spellbinders die set:

I added Crystal Stickles to make them sparkly.

The sparkly leaves were created with Hampton Art green glitter and new Designer Shapes from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.  

This layout is actually being featured on the Crafty Power blog, and you can click HERE to see how I made these pretty glitter leaves.

My layout doesn't really look much like September, does it?  That is because I went to Phoenix, Arizona, for 5 days with my dear friend, Michelle Marks, a couple weeks ago. 

We visited the beautiful Desert Botanical Gardens and were delighted to walk around and see so many incredible desert landscapes and vegetation. This is where I took the photos of the cactus flowers on my layout.

I never knew that cactus could be so pretty!

Our other memorable part of this trip was visiting the Grand Canyon.  This was Michelle's first time here and my second. 

Words cannot describe the breathtaking panorama of this wonder of the world.

Along with lots of shopping and sunshine, this was a fantastic, relaxing getaway.  

I definitely needed some down time with the two Great Canadian Scrapbook Carnivals taking place in September too.  

My cropping cowgirls: Michelle, Roni and Sandra

I taught a "Double the Fun" layout class in both Edmonton and Calgary and had a great time meeting lots of wonderful scrappers. 

My Calgary class

Of course, it's always tons of fun to hang out with the Canadian Scrapbooker team. 

Katharina Doyle and Connie Nichol

Never a dull moment with this bunch!

Jackie and Madeline Ludlage

Jayme Loge and Cathie Allan

Christy Riopel

So good bye September, it's been a blast!  Next up...the October Sketchy challenge! Hope you play along and upload your layout to the Sketchy gallery....click HERE to check it out.