November Sketchy Challenge

The beginning of the month means there is a new sketch by Sue Sykes over at the Canadian Scrapbooker Sketchy Gallery.  This time Sue designed a double page sketch...

Here is what I created using Pink Paislee's "Indigo Bleu" collection...

This year BoyGenius was agreeable about our annual Fall photo shoot, and I managed to get some decent pics of him.  I had been thinking about designing a layout about him to document the significant transformation he has undergone in the past year.
  
Gone is the selfish moody teenager.  His view of the world has dramatically changed, and he has embraced a new philosophy of peace and love, wanting to take action and make a difference somehow.

I am so excited about the possibilities ahead of him and finally feel confident that he is finding his way in this confusing world.

Here is the journaling spot...

These layered journaling spots on the two pages are actually speech bubbles in a package of die cuts, but I cut off those little pointy things to change the shapes.

I cut the title with a Sizzix Tim Holtz alphabet die from grey Bazzill card stock.  

The Itty Bitty alpha stickers are Pink Paislee. The twill measuring tape ribbon is Harmonie.

The Indigo Bleu tags come in a package of 6...and I used all of them for this sketch!

The little wood man is Studio Calico.

This quote by Jimi Hendrix is exactly how BG is thinking these days.

Sue Sykes surprised us with a 2-page sketch, and at first I was worried about the number of photos I needed, but now I do think this layout seems to capture a really happy time in the life of BoyGenius.

Click HERE to visit the Sketchy gallery at the Canadian Scrapbooker website and join in the challenge! 

Oh....SNAP!

It's the September Sketchy Challenge over at Canadian Scrapbooker, and here is the wonderful new sketch, designed by Sue Sykes...

On Sue's blog, she has an additional challenge going on, so you can post your Sketchy layout there too!  Click HERE to check it out.

 Here is my layout...

BabyOfTheFamily is transforming before my very eyes.  I feel like I need to capture this.  Sniff. [And she got braces this summer!]

Here's a deep dark design secret I'll share today.  I am afraid of graphic patterns.  Very very afraid.  Give me Graphic 45 flying pigs, fairies and vintage ladies and I'm ok.  But chevrons, dots, dashes....I run SCREAMING!

So I thought I'd finally face my fears and use some Studio Calico/American Crafts paper for the next Canadian Scrapbooker Sketchy Challenge.

  
EEEK!  Polka dots, grids, zigs and zags.....

I also decided to add more stamping to my layouts this year [ has not happened til now] and bought these WONDERFUL new Susan K. Weckesser stamp sets from Unity Stamp Company.  

Congrats Susan!!!  Your stamps are fantastic!

I used 4 of these sets on my layout:  A Little Bit Washi, Splatter It,  Insta-Cute, Celebration of Simple



Unity had a huge promotion last month for the release of Susan's stamps, so I went online and had a great time shopping!  When my package arrived, I was delighted to find these 2 bonus stamp sets tucked inside...

Thank you Unity [Angela!]

I used the polaroid frame stamp from "Insta-Cute"

I stamped both photo frames from the set and decided to use only the polaroid shape.

 But for the second frame, I masked off the argyle/chevron pattern across the bottom.  Here's how...

I used scotch tape across, covering the entire pattern.

I put the tape over the side edges of the stamp

Inked it up with Clearsnap Colorbox "Blackbird" Fluid Chalk Ink.  You can see the ink on the tape mask.

Then I pulled off my mask with tweezers [not that I'm afraid of dirty hands, as you well know!]

Stamped onto this Studio Calico "Executive" grid patterned paper [yep, facing my fears!]

Then used my stamp block to draw in those masked edges with my black marker.

  Love the "Smile" and "Say Cheese" stamps too!

I used the same grid paper to stamp washi tape border strips....

The "Splatter It" stamp and green ink helped me create a unique pattern...

Here's a close up look at all 3 stamped layers together...

And the perfect quote stamp also in Susan's set.

These banner stamps are actually quite large, so I cut them almost in half to create my banner.

 I stamped the banners with Clearsnap "French Blue" Fluid chalk ink onto the "Cubicle" patterned paper.

 LOVE these banner stamps....I have all kinds of design ideas in my head for these :)

American Crafts Thickers "Notarized" chipboard alphabet stickers and Maya Road twine.

I stamped the film and camera images onto transparency and cut them out...

To stamp onto transparency, use a solvent ink pad.[Is it just me or does anyone else LOVE the smell of the StazOn ink pad??]

I'm in LOVE with these itty bitty Studio Calico Wood Veneer people.

 I also have a package of Studio Calico wood veneer frames, so I cut one in half to make brackets for another stamp quote...

Some people don't clean their stamps, but I have these awesome products I bought from Stampin Up a long time ago....

This Stampin' Mist smells wonderful too.

A close up of the the scrub mat inside.

Give your stamp a quick spray

Then rub it around on one side to "clean" and then the other side to "dry".

 Every once in awhile, you can pop out these scrub mats from your case and wash them.

Honestly, I didn't know stamping could be so much fun!  And now I'm feeling a little better about grids, dots and chevrons, too :)  In fact I'm feeling REALLY good....maybe it was all the sniffing of StazOn and Stampin' up mist!

Hope to see you and your creations over at the Canadian Scrapbooker Sketchy Challenge Gallery!