Circlemania?

Happy New Year, everyone!  I've been busy "winter cleaning" and purging this week.  It is my last week of "vacation" and I wanted to feel like I accomplished a lot while I was off.  The result?  A cleaner house and TONS of things to donate to Goodwill!

I've also been busy scrapping.  I set my layout goal for the year as 52 again.  Even though it seemed as though I did a lot of scrapping and creating in 2013, I did not meet my goal. Enter sad face here.  However, there is no doubt in my mind that I will exceed my goal this year.  All I have to do is commit to doing a minimum of 1 layout a week and I am in there!  Now that I am on 2 design teams, that is going to be a breeze for me.

In the meantime, I've been sharpening my sketch skills.  Not creating sketches (which I must admit, I'm becoming more and more interested in that,) but following them to produce layouts like this:

Here is a layout of my son and I on my wedding day.  He is walking me down to the cart that whisked us away to the wedding destination.  I absolutely love this picture, so when I came across the perfect sketch, I jumped at the opportunity to use it...along with this paper from MAMBI.  It's perfect!

Then there is this one.  Aren't those pictures hillarious!  My husband had been drinking since early that day.  I didn't realize it until the reception.  He was definitely on "10!"

As you can see, I had a little bit of the circle fever this week.  LOL...banners as well, apparently.  I was too excited to be able to use my "old school" Creative Memories circle punches, blades, self healing mat and templates to make these circles!  That just goes to show, a combination of "old" and "new" techniques can definitely manifest into masterpieces!  OH, and a great sketch is just the beginning!  Like this one:

This is the starting sketch being used on Scrapbook.com for JusLyn's Round Robin Challenge.  We are supposed to take our inspiration from this sketch.  I interpreted that as not having to use the entire sketch, which I didn't want to do because I had already created a sketch using a lot of trees.  Instead I decided to use the top right hand corner of the sketch to create this:

This is my first layout for 2014.  It is a layout of my son and my husband's best friend at the reception.  He had obviously had enough!  He slept through the final 2 hours of the reception on two chair put together and a suit jacket over him.  That is one of the things I love about this child...when he is sleepy, he goes to sleep AND he can sleep through anything!  The sketch had just one circle and one banner, but as you see, I went nuts with it!  I also accidently tore my paper when I was distressing it, but fixed it easily by tearing it all the way out and adding little "peeks" of lighter color there.  I absolutely LOVE how it turned out.

Look for more circles and banners in my layouts as I follow more sketches to create.  It does seem to be the craze, doesn't it?  Be sure to catch on!

SMOOCHES!



Random Acts of Kindness

Back in January of this year I responded to a Facebook post where the poster was to send the first 5 people to respond to the post a random act of kindness sometime throughout the year.  The catch was that I had to post the same "challenge" and pay it forward.  I remember getting envelopes ready for the ladies who responded to my post and making them cards, never to send them.  Why not?  I was waiting on the "perfect time," a time where they would have forgotten and would really be suprised when they received my gift!  Well, now I'm racing against the clock...lol!  There is no doubt that those ladies forgot.  I know other people who initiated the challenge probably forgot too...it's easy to forget.

Outside of this Facebook challenge, I can't even tell you how many random acts of kindness I have performed this year.  I've used my giftcards in stores and passed the rest off to the person behind me.  I've bought and mailed items for people that I thought they would like, just because.  Why?  Because it makes me feel good to give or do things for people...something to put a smile on their face, make them feel special or let them know I am thinking about them. 

Seems like my son is catching on as well.  He had been asking me to make clipboard for his teachers for a long time!  I got up this morning and decided to finally make them.  I guess it's his random act of kindness.  I'd be broke if I acted on every demand he has to buy something for his teacher...he absolutely adores them! Here they are:

One teacher LOVES monkeys and the other has her room decked out in a Rock Star theme.  Both were very easy to find paper and embellies for!

Here is close of up of the monkey topper.  Is that not the cutest monkey you have ever seen?  I went into my stask of chipboard and found this in a K & Company pack.  I also added some silver stickles to the zebra ribbons around the Rock Star one...to add a little more pizazz.  I churned these out in about an hour...modge podged them and everything!  It's something I know they will use over and over again.  I can't wait until he gives it to them!

For 2014, my goal is to perform a random act of kindness every month, minimally.  Imagine, if 12 people payed it forward 12 times each...that's 144 other people blessed!  Blessings were never meant to be kept...I'm going to share mine!  I challenge you to share yours as well.

Smooches!

2 Days to go!

It's Christmas time again!  In Texas, that means 60 degree weather and 2 weeks off of work (for me!)  I am so excited about my time off.  It gives me plenty of time to rest, scrap, and do some winter purging.  I started last week cleaning out things that I probably won't ever wear again.  My checklist for what to keep and what to give away goes something like this: Can it fit?  Should someone's mom be wearing that?  Will I ever be that size again?  Should an almost 40 year old be wearing that?  If the answer is no to all 4, it has to go!  I already have a big trash bag full of things to be donated to Goodwill.  It will probably be 2-3 when I am done purging my son's, my stepson's and my stepdaughter's closets as well.  In with the old to make room for the new...I mean, it is Christmas and everyone will be getting new things, right?

Speaking of Christmas, check out the most recent layout I worked on for a challenge over at Scrapbook.com:

This is a layout of my youngest last year for Christmas.  He cracks me up...the things that were on his list this year were crazy!  First of all, I didn't even know what some of that was.  Then he hit me with, "I want a crazy cart."  A crazy cart is a go cart that costs $399.  Needless to say, he won't be getting that!  I was able to talk him out of 2 things that I couldn't even find.  Parents are ON IT this year with these toys.  Somethings were sold out 2-3 weeks ago when I started investigating.  I thought I was getting a headstart, but no.  Good thing I was able to snatch that Skylander Swapforce starter pack during Black Friday!  Hope he is excited about that.  I guess I need to brace myself since he is getting older!  He also lost his 4th tooth last week.  Stay tuned for a layout with that cute pic...all he wants for Christmas are his 2 front tooth (which are both missing, by the way!)

Here is a layout of him that I did for the debut layout on the Stick it Down blog:

 

Here is the sketch I used to create it:



It was a lot of fun to use paints on this one!  The red and aqua "drizzle" makes the colors in the pics POP!  Quiet as kept, I love stepping out of my comfort zone and adding paints and mists to my creations.  However, my papers tend to warp a little if I use too much.  Right now, I have this layout sitting beneath some stacks in hopes that it'll smooth it out a bit.  Be sure to check out the Stick it Down blog and follow!

Smooches!

Too much good news NOT to share!!!

December has completely snuck up on this chic over here!  Not only is Christmas in 2 weeks (and I haven't even put up my tree yet,) but I also need to get myself in gear and get out there and start my Christmas shopping as well!  I know, I know...I'm pretty trifling right about now.

Anywho, I have 3 pieces of wonderful news to share with you!

First off, I received an invitation to join the Stick it Down Design Team!  Yes, I am now a member of the new sketch challenge blog that promises to provide WONDERFUL card sketches as well as one and two page sketches.  Check out the Stick it Down site and be sure to play along with us!  There are some REALLY talented ladies who will be creating over there and I am so very excited about being on the team with my scrappy friend Brenshevia Baker who will be creating the sketches!  She has a few wonderful sites herself.  Check out her personal blog here.

.  I don't know about you, but if it weren't for sketches, I'd probably still be using construction paper to create scrap pages...well, probably not.  HA!  I have come a long way though...there is no disputing that!

Secondly, I've been stalking the DCWV blog all week to see the top 10 scrapaholic picks for the month of November and guess what???  My submission was chosen!!!

Here is the DCWV sketch:

and here is my creation using the DCWV Teenage Dream Stack:

I really enjoyed this sketch!  It allowed me to use so many different papers from the stack which went PERFECTLY with the picture I chose to scrap of my boy!  Isn't that paper with the sneakers all over it the best ever!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE DCWV papers...there are my absolute favorite!  Now that I've made top 10, I'll be playing more often.  I think this is maybe my 2nd submission ever.  They sure do know how to make a girl feel special!

Last, but not least (and I don't know how much of an "announcement" this is, but) I've found a new crafty hobby!  Paper crafting will always be my first love, but I have taken on the task of making my own deco wreath this year for my door!  I know that's not "big news," but it is something I am very excited about!  I've bought many rolls of deco mesh and beautiful ribbons to make a few wreaths this year.  If this goes well, I'll be making wreaths for my school and probably every year for my son's teachers!  They are so beautiful!

Have you been checking out the Unscripted Sketches blog?  I am still so very excited to be a part of this design team!  This week I chose to make a card.  Those of you who know me know I am NOT a card maker.  Sure I buy cards, but I use them to create mini albums! 

Here is the sketch:

 and here is my creation based on the sketch...just in time for the holidays!

I used the MAMBI Holiday paper pad to make this card.  I cut out the mittens using the Simply Charmed cricut cartridge.  One trick I've discovered (which you might have already figured out) is to turn the paper backward (printed side down) to cut the 2nd mitten so that the thumbs are "pointing" different instead of cutting duplicate images.  I hope that makes sense.  I completely messed that up with the backsides of my onsie album so I just wanted to share that tip!

As you can tell, all is well in my scrappy world!  OHHH, I almost forgot...I'm debating on whether I should put the Cameo on my Santa list.  I don't know enough about it to determine.  What are your thoughts?  On another note, I picked up the cricut mini from Michael's for $69.99!  I thought that was a steal!!!

At any rate, be sure to check back for more scrappy projects and dt work!

SMOOCHES!

Oh Boy Mini Album

Outside of creating layouts, I would have to say creating mini albums from scratch has to be my 2nd favorite thing to do!  I actually sat down and finished this mini album in one sitting!  You can't even imagine how proud I was of myself.  Proud is actually an understatement!  Check out my YouTube video which details each page and give a little information about how I made it and the materials I used.

Made completely using kraft envelopes from Hobby Lobby and the Awesome Boy stack from Recollections, this mini album is filled with pockets, tags and other cutouts from the stack!  I didn't use alot of other product...this stack has it all!  In addition, I cut out the title using the Boys Will be Boys Cricut cartridge!

I plan on taking pictures throughout the year (2014) of my boy and using them in this album.  Who else is guilty of taking wonderful, candid photos using their phone and never doing anything with them?  Yeah...me too!

I also bought the Fabulous Girl stack from Recollections which has the same wonderful cut outs.  I plan to make a mini album using that stack as well!  I've also had a few friends ask for a tutorial and since I made this mini album "all by myself" (without the use of a tutorial or YouTube video) I think I might have figured out a new binding system using only the flaps of the envelopes and no additional gusset!  That's huge (if that is indeed true, lol!)

SMOOCHES!

Catch the Sketch Fever!

I am so excited about my first design team project for the Unscripted Sketches site!  Here is the wonderful sketch I had to work from:

 
  


 Here is my project...a baby book made from chipboard using the New Arrival cricut cartridge and the DCWV Little Mister stack.  Initially when I saw the sketch, I saw it exactly as it was  pictured and wanted to do something other than a card or layout (which is what my sketches always amount to.)  After I finished this mini album, I started to see other things I could've done...such as a pawprint or a flower.  Some of my other DT members interpreted it so cleverly...one saw wings of a butterfly and one use nothing but flowers.  That is the beauty of working with sketches...you can literally interpret it into anything you want it to be!  Over at Unscripted Sketches, you can create whatever you want, flip it around..afterall, it is unscripted!  Be sure to come over and check us out!

 

 Here is another layout I worked on for the monthly sketch challenge over at scrapbook.com hosted by JusLyn:



This sketch was so much fun to work with as well!  I decided to use squares instead of hexagons and follow the same "direction" as the original sketch.  I LOVE the way it turned out!  Be sure to check back later in the week for new projects!

SMOOCHES!

I'm an Unscripted Sketches Design Team Member!

I received the notification email on Thursday, but had to wait until today to announce my FABULOUS news!  After years of wanting to be on a Design Team, my desire has finally come to fruition!  I was chosen to be a part of the wonderful team of designers over at Unscripted Sketches!!!  I am so excited about this opportunity and can't wait to start!  Anyone who knows me knows that I am pretty serious about my crafting.  This just takes that passion to a whole different level.  Now I will be working on weekly projects for Unscripted Sketches, my work will be "published" and my blog will have more traffic!  How exciting! I've already prepared my first submission, so be sure to check the site and visit here often to see my projects in full detail.  I will also be sure to post a YouTube video so you can see the very first onein real life...cover to cover!

SMOOCHES!