November Product Challenge Layout

I finally created my layout with the November product challenge kit from Two Scrapbook Friends. I really enjoyed this kit using some Scenic Route paper, Sassafras letters, and Bo Bunny dotted cardstock. It was perfect for this photo of Sara playing in the leaves.

Spooky

Each month Two Scrapbook Friends puts together a Product Challenge Kit. Participants are required to take the products in the kit, create a layout and post it in the gallery. At the end of the month one layout is chosen to win a gift certificate. 

This month we were given some papers from the Eerie line by Basic Grey, ribbon, black cardstock, an embossed spider and embossed bats. Here is the layout I created with those products:

I cut out the spider and the bats, and sanded the spider. I added the spider webs in the corners using white ink and an Inkadinkado stamp. I added some highlighting dots to the title. The photo is of Sara Trick or Treating last year.

Can't wait to get photos this year :)

September Product Challenge

The September Product Challenge kit at Two Scrapbook Friends used one of my favourite Scenic Route lines. I think this is such a fun line to work with. I took inspiration from Melanie's sketch challenge at the Scrapping Turtle in creating my layout. Melanie posted a card sketch by Valerie Salmon and challenged us to create either a layout or a card based on the sketch. I opted for a layout of Sara practicing her piano (she started lessons on the 26th of September).

Two Scrapbook Friends Online Crop

This weekend I participated in an online crop on the Two Scrapbook Friends forum. The challenges were posted on Friday, but I didn't get to them until late Saturday night. I was quite pleased with myself for completing all of them.

In my previous post I revealed the layout I created based on Karan's sketch challenge. It had to use one manufacturer, which for me was K and Company. You can see the layout in this post.

Laura's collage challenge was the perfect opportunity to scrap these photos taken of the children enjoying a carousel ride at the Strong National Museum of Play. You can't tell from the photograph, but certain key photos are pop dotted to give the layout a bit more dimension. I kept it simple with the photos circling the central carousel photo, and the photo of the sign for my title. The carousel horse paper is by Carol Wilson.

Shelby's challenge involved using the word "love", at least one heart, and the layout had to be about someone or something that we love. I used a new paper from Fancy Pants' Dancing Girl line, as well as a scrap from Little Yellow Bicycle, some bling (the word love and two hearts) and some Prima flowers to scrap this photo of Sara taken at Kelsey's on Saturday. I realized after I took this picture that I forgot to add the journaling. It has since been added.

Joanne challenged us with a photo for inspiration. It was a photo of a chair, covered in very large red flowers. I was inspired to pull out these old layering stamps I have and create this card. The white background and red flowers are inspired by the chair.

Corrina's challenge required us to incorporate several different elements: 

1. title must be only one word

2. must be a square on the layout

3. must be a circle on the layout

4. must be at least three different colours used

5. must be journaling somewhere on the layout

I used a die cut My Little Shoebox paper that had a circle on it. There is also a circle for the centre of my flower. My title "Diva" is one word. The square is the photo mat. You can see the colours and the journaling.

Patti provided us with an ad challenge. She posted an ad from West 49 that featured a motorcycle. I immediately thought of this photo Gary took of Jon Bon Jovi's motorcycle at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during our vacation. I found some paper that looked like bricks, added a tire tread (using an old hockey puck), and used the colours from the ad's title in my title.

Carolyn's challenge was "Something old, Something new". The old could be product and the new had to be a technique. I found some old paper for the old part. For the new I used my brand new Around The Page loop punches, stamped on a flower, and coloured with my Copic markers.

Thanks for the challenges ladies!!!!! I had fun completing them!!

Summerfest Week 13 - Final Week

This was the final week for Summerfest at The Scrapping Nook. I believe I have a couple of days to do the one challenge that I missed way back when, and then it is over. Patti and Elia have truly keep us hopping with the fabulous challenges they've posted all summer. I don't know where they come up with them all.

I finished the last of this week's challenges on Friday, but I haven't had a chance to post them until now. So on with the show :)

Our colour challenge was a good one. We were given a picture of the beach with lots of colours to choose from. We had to use at least four of them and couldn't use any colour that wasn't in the picture. I started with the American Crafts striped paper (red and white). I added some Dream Street (blue). Then I hand cut the flower from a Pink Paislee paper (red, black) along with some of the leaves (green). I then used my Technique Tuesday stamp and some black ink to stamp the sentiment. 

We were given the opportunity to find inspiration in the beautiful gallery of Deanna's work for the Doing It Like Deanna challenge. I found a really cute Hi card that she had created using apple paper. I immediately thought it would be a great design to use for trees. I hand cut the trees from an American Crafts paper, then cute the brown cardstock to shadow them. The American Crafts ribbon mimics grass. The owl is handcut from a Kaiser Craft paper. The letters are Thickers (and the same ones that Deanna used on her fabulous card). I love this card!!!!

Single and Loving It was a challenge to use only one manufacturer (aside from cardstock). I chose American Crafts. I hand cut the large flower, then hand cut the butterflies. The butterflies are attached to the card so that their wings are folded up. The letters are Thickers by American Crafts.

The Scrapping to the Oldies challenge required us to use five items from our stash that were at least two years old. I found two papers that are at least that old, some stringed beads that are about ten years old, a chipboard happy face and the word wish that are older than my Sara. It isn't my favourite card (what can I say? I was getting pretty tired by the time I got to this challenge), but it has the distinction of being my 100th card that I've made this year. One hundred cards!!!!! Woo hoo!!!!!! (Not bad, considering I gave myself a goal of one card a month this year LOL).

For the A Summer to Remember challenge we had to scrapbook something from our summer and use at least two photos. I used a sketch by Karan Gerber for the online crop at Two Scrapbook Friends. Not only did Karan challenge us to use her sketch, but she also wanted to see layering using papers from a single manufacturer. I chose these fabulous papers from K and Company and some pictures from our wonderful vacation to Pennsylvania. It looks a lot better in real life as the photo doesn't do the layout justice.

Our photo challenge this week was yellow. I couldn't resist posting this picture of Big Bird that I took at the Museum of Play. I was so excited that they had a Sesame Street area!!!!! (Can you guess that I'm a Sesame Street fan?)

So just one more challenge to finish (I think it is from way back in week five) and I will have completed all of the Summerfest challenges. I even managed to win Bingo this week!!!!!! Woo hoo!!!!!

Summerfest Week 8 Challenges

I finished all of the challenges for week 8 of Summerfest at The Scrapping Nook with just minutes to spare. The last two that I completed were, for some unknown reason, a bit more of a challenge for me than they should have been. But the important thing is that they are all finished and posted.

I scrambled to have just the right number of items to finish the Fifty is Nifty challenge. I used my kit for the Two Scrapbook Friends product challenge and added a few things. My fifty items were:

1 background paper

2 die cut clouds

1 paper circle

1 journal block

2 tickets

4 pieces ribbon

4 staples

3 waves

1 sticker border

2 stickers

1 ink

3 fish

3 buttons 

5 numbers

17 words

The journaling reads: "Hold all my calls please. I'm spending the day relaxing in the pool!"

For the $3.00 or Less challenge, I used this fabulous die cut paper from K & Company and some Bazzill cardstock (total $2.83). I highlighted with my Zig marker and my Signo white pen. I doodled the 'Before' and 'After', but I'm not thrilled with how they turned out. The photos are of Samuel's first haircut. Can you believe that I finally agreed to cut off his beautiful curls? He doesn't look like a baby anymore --- he's a little man. Sob!!!

One of our challenges was to scraplift something from Tara at the Nook. I found a beautiful card that she had created involving four sections, ribbon and a middle piece with the sentiment. I used Little Yellow Bicycle's Zinnia line, some American Crafts ribbon, and Inkadinkado's Boxed Wishes stamp.

Our sketch this week was a lovely one from the Prima blog. I attempted to combine a Quickutz Flourish border die with a Quickutz Flower (pop up) border die (which is one of the dies being highlighted for Quickutz Korner at the Scrapping Turtle). It was a bit more challenging than I anticipated and I'm not sure I'm totally in love with the end result. You can't tell in the photo, but the flower border was spritzed with Glimmer Mist. There are bling crystals in the centres of the popped up flowers. I also added Prima flowers on the flourish border. I used Bazzill cardstock, Collage Press and Making Memories papers, and Rusty Pickle letters.

Our photo challenge for this week was to take a photo of either a sunrise or a sunset. Here is my sunset:

July Product Challenge

The July Product Challenge kit from Two Scrapbook Friends was a fun one to work with. I found it perfect to showcase some photos of Samuel at the beach last summer. I used a Fiskars border punch across the top of the background. The blue Coredinations paper was put through a corrugator, then sanded to reveal the white core. All edges except the background were distressed. I hand cut the shapes for the Maya Road sheer tickets, as well as the sun and the acrylic piece. The only items I added to the kit, aside from the tools I used, were ink and the journaling block.

Scrappers Island Week 7

I made it through to week 7 on Scrappers Island at Two Scrapbook Friends since I won the immunity challenge last week. Our challenge this week was to create our own background using white cardstock, paint and Glimmer Mist. We also had to use layering, ribbon, brads, buttons, edge distressing, distressing with ink, and a chipboard title. This was a fun challenge -- even though it took me three attempts to get the background I desired. I even used one of my other attempts as the photo mat. I really like how this layout turned out - the background, the pleated ribbon, the distressed papers and photos, the layering, the Quickutz bubbles coated in Glossy Accents -- everything!!!! And who couldn't resist these adorable photos of Samuel taken by my dear friend Kim Munro!!!!

Scrappers Island Week 6

Even though I have immunity for this week on Scrappers Island at Two Scrapbook Friends, I had to create a layout in order to move on. 

Our challenge this week involved another great sketch by Karan Gerber along with three criteria.

1. We had to use "crappy" or less than perfect photos.

2. We had to use our "crap" - meaning our older papers and supplies.

3. We had to take our colour scheme from a provided image of a living room.

I had no problem selecting my photos. These photos from my brother's 50th birthday came to mind instantly. I can't say the same when it came to papers. I struggled with that one. I recently reorganized my papers by manufacturer and didn't know where to begin. I ended up asking a couple of friends if they could suggest lines that might work (thanks ladies!!!!). I ended up pulling out some old Sweetwater, Bo Bunny and Scenic Route.

I'm quite pleased with the finished creation.

My Sweet Child

I'm so excited!!!!!! 

I participated in this week's immunity challenge on Scrapper's Island at Two Scrapbook Friends (the final immunity challenge I should note). Our challenge was to use a Karan Gerber sketch to create a baby layout. I immediately decided to use some cute pics of Samuel and the awesome Baby Safari line from Little Yellow Bicycle. I also added some Bo Bunny and some DCWV paper. The title tag is from Little Yellow Bicycle. The bling is from Bazzill. The rub ons (yes!!!! I used rub ons!!!!!) are from DCWV. The floss for the balloons is from my stash.

The fabulous photos were taken by Melanie Cooper.

Now here is the really exciting part. There were eight of us who participated in the immunity challenge. Out of those, the tribal chiefs were willing to grant two people immunity for this week. I am thrilled to report that I was one of the two people chosen to have immunity!!!! Woo hoo!!!!! Now I know for sure that I will be around for next week's challenge!!!! I'm doing the happy dance!!!!

My layout for this week is finished. I will take a photo tomorrow, upload it and post it here.

Scrappers Island Week 5

I survived another week on Scrappers Island on the Two Scrapbook Friends forum. This week we were given another fabulous sketch by Karan Gerber to work from.  We had to use a die cut shape as our background. We also had to use lots of layers blending cardstock and patterned paper, have brackets surrounding our title, and include either a bling or chipboard photo corner.

I had so much fun creating this layout. I used papers from Pink Paislee and Crate Paper, my Fiskars border punches, Bazzill cardstock, my Quickutz Flourish border die, Prima bling, Pink Paislee flower, K & Company Naked Tag, Stickles, American Crafts Thickers, chipboard brackets, Catseye ink, and Glossy Accents. I cut the flourish out three times, out of patterned paper and cardstock, but them all in half, then layered them to create the partial frame around the photo. I was inspired to use the flourish die by my friend Kim, who has posted a challenge on the Scrapping Turtle blog. 

The amazing photos were taken by my dear friend Kim Munro (yes, the same Kim who posted the challenge on the blog). We had an awesome day visiting her a week or so ago and the pictures she took are breathtaking. These are just two of many. Can't wait to scrapbook some more :) Thanks Kim!!!!!

I will definitely be around for week 6 of Scrappers Island. Tonight I participated in a very challenging Immunity Challenge on the Two Scrapbook Friends forum. We were given a list of 50 scrambled words/phrases and challenged to unscramble them. Some of them were very difficult. I managed to unscramble 44 of the 50 words before the time deadline. I was pretty impressed with myself for that!!!!! Myself and two other participants now have immunity from this week's elimination vote on Thurday. Good luck to those ladies still in the vote. They've all done a fabulous job with the challenge this week.

Scrappers Island Week 4

This week the challenge was all about pink, flowers and bling!!!!!! Karan Gerber provided the survivors of last week's Scrappers Island challenge at Two Scrapbook Friends with a fabulous sketch to work with for week four. It was also added that the layout had to include some distressing --- which I love to do!!!!!

I went back in time to when Sara was only six weeks old and selected three of my favourite photos from the photo shoot we had done. 

I found this fabulous glitter paper from Petaloo that I used in my Quickutz with my flower die. I turned the centre over so that I could use it for my journaling. The vellum flower was created by cutting out three of the roses and layering them together. I made another flower from the We R Memory Keepers paper using my Fiskars squeeze punch and a brad. I used a piece of white Bazzill embossed cardstock and chalked it with pink chalk to bring out the embossing and make it pink. I also inked the felt border so that it was a darker pink.

My fingers are crossed that I will be participating in week 5 :)

Here is the list of materials: Bazzill cardstock, Basic Grey Two Scoops Creme Brulee, We R Memory Keepers Tiffanys Andrews, Bazzill embossed cardstock (chalked with Catseye chalk), Daisy D's paper, Doodlebug Cupcake Dot Cardstock, EK Success Rose Vellum, Creative Imaginations Creative Cafe paper, Petaloo Glitter Sheet, Queen & Co. Felt Fusion border (inked with Peony ink), Colorbok metal tag, Prima bling and flowers, unknown brad, Making Memories Sabrina Tiny Alphas, Fiskars squeeze punch, Heidi Swapp Edge Distresser, Quickutz Flower die (for journaling flowers)

Multi Challenge Layout

I was able to combine three challenges, from three different sites for this layout.

First, I came up with the idea for the immunity challenge at Two Scrapbook Friends this week. Our challenge was to create a layout about ourselves and have it uploaded by midnight last night. Due to my Mom having to go to Emergency (she's okay) last night, I didn't actually get to this until after 11 p.m. I think it turned out quite well for a hastily done layout. We had to include a photo of ourselves. I couldn't get one I liked of just me, so I used this one of myself with Sara.

Second, one of the challenges for Summerfest at The Scrapping Nook this week is "Big Title, Bit Impact" so I hauled out my Quickutz Diesel font (love that font!!!!) and created my title. I used Chocolate Box Coredinations paper for the title and sanded it to reveal the green colour. I really like how the big title draws attention to the layout.

Third, Tara challenged us to "Hide It" on her blog. That meant creating a layout with hidden journaling. I decided to take the Making Memories journaling paper, add a big flower folded in half to the front, and put my journaling on the back. The flower flips down to reveal the journaling.

The journaling was actually the most difficult part of this layout to do. I wanted to share a very personal part of myself, something that I haven't told everyone. Yet at the same time I didn't want to go into too much detail as some things are meant to be personal. So it is a bit of a personal glimpse into my life right now.

I didn't win immunity in the challenge, but I'm still very happy that I did the layout.

Need H20?

I created this layout for the June Product Challenge at Two Scrapbook Friends. Everything on the layout, except the photos, was provided in the kit.

The patterned papers are from My Mind's Eye. I used my Cropadile to add the eyelets to the big chipboard N, then pop dotted it. The rest of the letters are cut using my Quickutz and my Diesel font. The 2 and the ? are pop dotted. 

Journaling says "It's never too early to start helping around the home. Sam loves to get me a bottle of water from the fridge when I need one. June 7/09"

This is a skill that Sam taught himself. One day he heard me say that I need a bottle of water and the next thing we knew he trotted out to the kitchen, opened the door and crisper, took out the bottle, closed everything up and brought it to me. He loves getting water for people and showing off his skill.

Scrappers Island Week 3

I safely made it to week 3 of Scrappers Island at Two Scrapbook Friends. Woo hoo!!!!!! This is quite exciting!!!!!!

This week we were given another wonderful sketch by Karan Gerber to work with. Additionally, our layout had to done completely in black and white -- photo, papers and embellishments. We also had to include some stitching.

I pulled out my sewing machine and gave it a go --- two different styles around the outside of the paper. I definitely need to practice my sewing technique LOL. Papers are from Daisy Bucket and Cherry Arte. Additional supplies are from Doodlebug, Making Memories, Kaisercraft, and Ranger. There are also some manufacturers that I'm not certain of because the items were either bulk purchases or I don't have the packaging anymore.

I hope I make it into week 4 of Scrappers Island. I'm enjoying the challenges. Thanks Karan for another great sketch!!!!!

Scrappers Island Week 2

Everyone who completed the challenge from week 1 was able to continue on to this week's Scrappers Island challenge on the Two Scrapbook Friends forum. This week we were given another fabulous sketch by Karan Gerber to base our layouts on, with the additional challenge that we had to get creative with our title. That meant that we had to create a "mixed media" title. For me that was the biggest challenge, but I am quite pleased with the results.

The photos on my layout are from a day Samuel was outside playing in the rain. He was quite pleased to tell us "It is raining again" -- hence the title of the layout. The journaling (on the umbrella on the lower left) reads: Sam loves getting into his raincoat and boots so that he can play outside in the rain. He's quick to tell us it's raining again. June 11 2009.

I used the fabulous Basic Grey Lime Rickey line for this layout. I had a lot of fun with the colourful and fun papers. I hand cut the birds from the paper and pop dotted them, adding Stickles for the eyes. I also used one of the border element stickers from the line (yellow one). I hope my friend Mellissa will be impressed with my Basic Grey efforts :) Instead of using a scalloped edged paper, I cut two half circles of different patterned papers, then surrounded them with umbrella tops I cut using my Quickutz Revolution and umbrella die. 

To create my mixed media title I used the following:

I - clear plastic sticker with added Stickles and outlined with black marker

T - Pressed Petals Scrap Metal

I - Martha Stewart chipboard letter doodled with black marker

S - Doodlebug sticker outlined with white Signo ink and covered with Glossy Accents

R - Scenic Route die cut letter, pop dotted and highlighted with Glossy Accents

A - chipboard disc (unknown) distressed with sandpaper

I - metal brad (unknown)

N - Scrabble tile (unknown)

I - K and Company Que Sera Sera metallic letter

N - American Crafts Remarks cardstock letter sticker accented with white Signo ink

G - Maya Road naked chipboard letter inked with ColorBox Cats Eye ink, outlined with Gelly Roll Clear Star pen and covered with Glossy Accents

A - felt letter left over from Samuel's first Christmas stocking, outlined with white Signo ink and highlighted with Stickles

G - American Crafts Thickers foam letter doodled with black Zig marker

A - American Crafts Thickers vinyl letter outlined with Gelly Roll Clear Star pen

I - Pressed Petals Scrap Metal letter

N - diecut paper letter (unknown), outlined with white Signo ink and covered with Glossy Accents

I had a lot of fun with this challenge and hope I am still on the Island for next weeks  challenge.

Thanks to Karan Gerber for the sketch and to all of the wonderful ladies from Two Scrapbook Friends for running Scrappers Island and offering us these great challenges.

Scrappers Island

It is week one of Scrappers Island over at the Two Scrapbook Friends Forum. Our challenge this week was to create a layout based on a fabulous sketch by the wonderfully talented Karan Gerber. As soon as I saw the sketch I knew what photos I wanted to scrapbook and what paper I wanted to use to do it. I LOVE the White Bean line from Jillibean Soup -- especially those really cute frogs. Gary took these adorable pics of Sara at the library for her last session in May. I think they are so adorable. I hand cut the frogs for the layout. Each one of the big ones is holding a brad (we had to use at least ten brads). We also had to use at least three buttons -- mine are on the hand cut flowers under the one photo. I used my Banana Split font for the title. 

Thanks for the sketch Karan and thanks for the challenge!!!! Looking forward to week two :)

Woo Hoo!!!!!

I entered a layout in the May Product Challenge at Two Scrapbook Friends. There were a lot of fantastic layouts entered into the challenge. I am thrilled to announce that my layout was chosen as the winner for this month!!!!!!!! I'm so excited --- I'm doing a major happy dance!!!!! 

Thank you Two Scrapbook Friends -- Joanne, Carolyn, Karan and the Design Team. I'm so honoured!!!!

Here is the layout I created for the challenge:

I'm looking forward to seeing this month's kit and deciding what I'm going to create with it.

Thanks again Two Scrapbook Friends!!!!!

You Are My Sunshine

I completed another kit designed by the very talented ladies at Two Scrapbook Friends. I love the pinwheels on this one and the bright colour. The pictures are of the children in our backyard having fun.

Happy Victoria Day

I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful Victoria Day!!!!! The sun is shining and it is a glorious day. We unfortunately had to change our plans for today, but that is okay. My precious girl is really sick today, but thankfully is resting comfortably on the couch now. We're hoping that she is over the worst of it now. We'll have our picnic and go fishing another day when she is feeling better.

I managed to get a little scrapping in yesterday. The first one I did was a kit designed by the lovely ladies at Two Scrapbook Friends. I love all the owls and I love the photos of Sara making faces while we were waiting for Daddy to come out of the store. She really is a hoot!!!!!

The second layout was for a product challenge at Two Scrapbook Friends. The incredibly talented Karan put together some mini kits and challenged us to create a layout. This is what I came up with for the month of May. The photos were taken on Friday when we stopped for breakfast (hence why there is food on Sam's face LOL).