Scrapbooksteals Mid-Week Mojo Sketch Challenge!

As you all know, I am a BIG, if not HUGE, fan of scrapbooksteals.com. After the success of their birthday week sketch challenges, they've decided to do a WEEKLY challenge every Wednesday. I, for one, am VERY excited about this! It means I'll have the chance to be creative at least once a week (provided the girls and husband cooperate!).

This past Wednesday was the first "Mojo" challenge. Here is the sketch:



And here is my interpretation:



Here is a close-up of the "pop-out" flower I did. I just recently discovered pop-out adhesives and I have to say, they add a whole new level of dimension that I wasn't aware I was missing out on!




I have to say, this is probably on of my favorite layouts that I've ever done. And, funny enough, the subject is ME! I've NEVER scrapped a photo of just me before, but I kind of had fun with this. And, after I was finished with it, my husband even chuckled when looking at it. :) I should add, he took the picture so he was pretty proud of the fact that I used it in the first place. As only a husband would be...

I used My Mind's Eye's Breaking Free line...which I LOVE. Well, I take that back. I pretty much LOVE anything and EVERYTHING that is MME!

Can't wait to see what next weeks challenge brings!

My Mind's Eye Challenge Time!

I thought I'd take a long shot and enter a layout in a sketch challenge hosted by a HUGE company...My Mind's Eye. Every month, they issue a sketch and apply the rules that the layout has to be 80% MME products. Simple enough, right? This month's add-on was that it was "hope" themed and the layout had to include the word in some way. It was a doozie!

Here is the sketch:



And here is my take on it:



The layout came together better than I expected despite me being anxious about the quality of work I would be submitting to such an amazing company! It was a good first step for me as I'd love to keep entering challenges...especially when there are awesome prizes! :)

It looks like I'm a CARD addict, too!

I guess there are worse things to be addicted to...being a card-making, craft-supplies-hoarding addict isn't too bad in the grand scheme of things. :) I just can't seem to get enough of making cards these days. To think...it all started with a challenge just 3 short days ago!

Here is a new card I completed this morning:



I hand-stitched the flower after tracing a flower from the patterned paper. I think it turned out pretty well! I've noticed that using hand-stitched elements on the cards adds so much dimension and character to them! It's a P.A.I.N. to do, but it's worth it in the long run!

UPDATE: It seems one card was not enough today. I just made the card I'm giving to my husband for our 8th anniversary tomorrow. Here is how it turned out:



And here's a close-up of the detail:



I attempted "distressing" for the first time around the heart. I wasn't happy with the way it turned out after I cut it out, so I got out my trusty nail file and made it look MUCH better! I think I have a new technique to add to my "bag-o-tricks." :)

I'm on a ROLL!

Ever since I made the birthday card for scrapbooksteals.com's card challenge, I've been making more cards than I know what to do with! I even went out and purchased more stamps, which I NEVER thought I'd do. I'm telling you, stamps come in handy when you're making cards. I think I might enjoy making cards more than creating layouts! They're super easy and FAST! Here are a few that I've made today:

Happy Birthday:



Here's a close-up of the embossing I did with my NEW stamps!



Cheers:



I used more NEW stamps and my Xyron to create the "Cheers" sticker. This card will be given to my in-laws, who are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary next month!

Birthday Cupcake:



This one photographed well, but it doesn't look as hot up close. I had to stamp the cupcake twice because it didn't have enough embossing ink on it to hold on to the powder and when I did it the second time, it was a little off (hence the "shadow" I created). For a first attempt at a window card, I think it turned out well.

I have to say...now that I've made 4 cards in the past two days, I think I'll be able to give up card buying for good! I'll be saving money left and right!

Scrapbooksteals Sketch Challenge, pt. 4

Today was the final day of celebration for scrapbooksteals.com's 1st birthday! FOUR new challenges were issued today. It will probably take me some time to get all four done, but here are the challenges:

1) Create a layout with 12 embellishments (buttons, brads, jewels, etc. NOT COUNTED!).
2) Create a layout with 6 different patterned papers.
3) Create a layout showcasing something you're thankful for.
4) Create a birthday card.

Here is what I came up with for each:

1) This is the layout I used for the 12 element layout:



This layout turned out SO GREAT! First of all, I had the perfect subject...my little Brutus. Second, I love how the colors from the papers and the buttons match so well. I've always been a little shy using buttons, but this layout made me a believer!

2) This is the layout I created using 6 different patterned papers:



I have had this picture laying around for, according to the date, about 6 years! It's about time I finally did something with it! I love how the layout turned out. I decided to make it somewhat patriotic since it the picture was from when Jeff got home from Iraq. This was from such a challenging yet exciting time in our lives and I'm so glad to finally have it displayed in a way that I'm proud to show off!

3) When asked what I am thankful for, my answer is always my family! I am so incredibly blessed that God trusted me enough to be a mother to Maddie and Erin. They completed my heart in a way I didn't know needed to be completed. I am also grateful for my husband who works day in and day out to provide for our family. Also, without him, my girls wouldn't be in my life! Here is the layout I used for this challenge:



4) I'm kind of, well, a novice when it comes to making cards. This past Valentine's Day, I made all of my cards for my husband and my daughters. They were SUPER cheesy compared to the cards I made for Father's Day and the card I made for this challenge. I'm not even going to post those because I don't want to embarrass myself. Here is the card that I created for the challenge:



Here is a close-up of the cupcake I made:



I have to say, I'm pretty proud of my cupcake. I can't draw worth a darn, but somehow I created this cupcake and then stitched with with multi-color thread. It might only be an inch in size, but it took me just under an hour to stitch!!

Thank you, scrapbooksteals, for keeping me busy the past few days! I've enjoyed being challenged!

Scrapbooksteals Sketch Challenge, pt. 3

Today's challenge was somewhat difficult for me. It suggested the use of an oddly shaped design. Something I'm completely unfamiliar with. But I made the best of it and this is what I came up with...

Here's the sketch:



Here is the final product:



I've been lucky enough the past two days to get my scrap on while the girls are taking a nap. It's not often that I CHOOSE to scrapbook while they're napping (as I should be napping as well), or that I finish and ENTIRE layout during that time. I guess that means I'm getting "better?"

Scrapbooksteals Sketch Challenge, pt. 2

As I mentioned yesterday, scrapbooksteals.com is issuing a layout challenge every day this week as part of their birthday festivities. I'm pretty proud of the layout I created today...all during my daughters' nap time, might I add!

Here is the sketch:



And here is my interpretation:



I love that these challenges are forcing me to sit down and scrap pictures that should have been cropped a long time ago. They're also allowing me time to sit down by myself and just think my own thoughts. Something I don't get to do a lot with a 3 year old and a 1 year old running around.

Happy Birthday, Scrapbooksteals!!

This week scrapbooksteals.com is celebrating their first birthday! In honor of that, they are having a new challenge each day this week. I decided to participate in today's challenge because I'm a glutton for punishment...just kidding, I did it because I was up for the challenge! I hadn't done any layouts in about a month, so I needed to dust off the creative side of my brain.

For today's challenge, Kristy posted a sketch of a layout and we were to use it as our guideline for creating a layout. Here is the sketch:



And here is my interpretation:



I always find it easier to create layouts when I have some sort of a guide, so this challenge was right up my alley! I can't wait to see what the next challenges bring!