4X2=FABULOUS!

 Back in the 1990's when I began scrapbooking it was about getting the pictures on the page and writing about them and adding a title and you were done.  The more pictures on the page, the better.  Scrapbooking as an artform has evolved so much over the years.  Now it can be a much more creative and artistically challenging endeavor.  The trend has become that less pictures on a page is more.   Most of the time I agree with that and most of my current layouts only have 1-2 photos on them.  I think these pages are more impactful and make more of a statement.  With that being said, I have a trilllion pictures to get on the page and if I only do 1-2 pics on every page I will never catch up!!!  So this week at S.W.A.T. Drill #3 challenges us to use 4 photos on a layout.  I was so excited about this that I did a double layout with 4 pictures on each page!  

I fell in love with the My Girl collection from My Mind's Eye when I first laid eyes on it!  It was perfect for this fun layout!  

I made a tiny little pinwheel for the center of the 4 photos on this side.

Simple, yet perfect title "Girl Time"

This was my first attempt at these trendy little bows! So glad I gave them a try, they were the perfect compliment!

Such wonderful Brads in this collection I could not choose so I created a trail from the journaling to the title!  

I hope this inspires you to get more pictures on some of your pages.  

Follow me for more great scrappin' ideas! 

Ribbon Roses

Look how pretty these roses are!! What a great tutorial I followed on S.W.A.T. Basic Training!!

This is the very first layout I have ever done of vintage photographs from my childhood.  I thought theses great roses were the perfect compliment to the feel of the photo.

I was amazed at how easily these roses came together.  And they give the layout such a rich feel.

Check out S.W.A.T to check out the tutorial.  F.Y.I: I used my Scotch Tape runner instead of liquid glue and it seems to be holding very well as long as you press firmly!

Here Come 2 Layout Sketch Layout

This layout was created from an amazing sketch on S.W.A.T.

My journaling is in the form of a little letter to my daughters as she turns two.  I think she will cherish things like this as she grows up and becomes a woman herself.

I just love the finished feel girly feel these gemstone flourishes gave the layout.

Lasting Memories Numbers Challenge!

Lasting Memories Challenged us to use numbers on a layout this week.

Goodbye 214, Hello 1526 is the title of this Layout. I chose the colors from the moving truck, my daughter's shirt, and our old house numbers.

Some cute little embellies  complement the photos perfectly!

My little map of our journey which includes my journaling.  I had fun with the twine!

 The twin was super easy to work with and I just added a few dots of glue along the trail to keep it in place!  Love it!

Sketch 16: My Scraps and More Sketches

Today I am sharing my layout for Sketch #16 and My Scraps & More Sketches 

I rubbed ink around the photo mat to create the appearance of fading.

 I added these pretty little flowers, some washi and gooseberries!

Journaling: The important part!

Pretty little detail stickers

I love these Studio Calico little wooden people!  and a Simple Title to finish off a pretty page!

Time to Go Out of My Comfort Zone!

Hi! If you are a regular reader, you will have noticed that I have been participating in a lot of new challenge sites and I think this trend is going to continue!

There are so many challenges out there from color challenges, sketches, page recipes...Keeps it exiting! I find that these challenges really encourage me to get more pages done and they help foster ideas that I may not have come up with on my own!  Even more than getting more layouts done, they encourage me to go out of my comfort zone and try some great new techniques and ideas and products!  Today's layout uses the #15 Sketch from My Scraps and More Sketches as inspiration and the Paper Girl's Challenge is Twine so there are lots of little Twine goodies on this page!  I surprised myself with the final product on this layout because it is not really my "style" but I LOVE IT!

Washi Tape is my new Best Friend!!

I hand sewed the buttons on, then wrapped the twine around them!

I love the Chevron pattern on the journaling block.  I followed the lines with my writing.

I secured the twine along the top banner by tying it around a straight pin and inserting it into the paper.

And a little twine bow!

Hope this inspires you to get a page done!

Come join the fun at the Paper Girls Challenge

 and

My Scraps and More Sketches

You might be amazed at how inspiring it can be!

Resolutions to Focus on Me

Here it is!!! My submission for the very first S.W.A.T Drill!  This was definitely out of my comfort zone...The focusing on myself thing is not my strong suit for sure, but here it is!! The color combo is so soothing.

This layout was also created for the Lasting Memories LO Challenge for Resolutions!

Lots of blessings to be thankful for in my life!

Love this cute little felt arrow!

 Really...34!! I do not feel like that is possible!!

Come play along with us at the brand new challenge site: S.W.A.T.!

Or play along at Lasting Memories! 

Sketchabilities Layout Sketch Challenge

Sketchabilities has an amazing sketch this week and I wanted to share my layout for the challenge!  You may recognize the color scheme from the CSI challenge, I decided to make a sister page because I loved the colors so much with these photos!

With this amazing sketch to work with, this layout came together so easily!

I used sandpaper to create my journaling spot.  I was a bit nervous trying this out as the page was almost complete when I decided to try it out, but it came out great!

Thanks Sketchabilities for the great sketch!!

CSI: Color Stories Inspiration Case 57

I have been out of the Scrapbook Challenge front for a while and I am working on getting involved again! It is such a great way to motivate and inspire me to get those pages scrapped!  One of my favorite challenge sites is CSI:Colorstoriesinspiration.  They give you a new case file each week.  Basically a recipe and a color scheme and you get to go to town creating!  This layout is my creation for the 57th Case file!  Why not come play along!

I absolutely fell in love with this color palette and the products I used...Be on the look out next week for some cards inspired by this color scheme!

Again, CSI: Colorstoriesinspiration, New Inspiration and challenge each week!

Card Contest 2013

Hi Everyone! Happy weekend!! I wanted to invite all of you to join in the Card Making fun over at Practical Scrappers!  We have our Card Contest going on right now and would love to see what you can come up with!  The Sponsors of the contest are: SRM Stickers, Robins Nest, Precious Remembrance Stamps,Gina's Designs, Scrapmag and Scrappin' Sports so that's going to mean some great prizes!  Come on over the Practical Scrappers to get the rest of the details!  Feel Free to use one of these card sketches to get those creative juices flowing!

Round 1 closes February 1st! So get Crafting!

Coral, Navy, Kraft and White Color Combo

Happy New Year!!  With a new year comes new challenges!  We have started a new color scheme entry at Practical Scrappers and I challenge you to join in and create a project using these colors too!  Today we are using a really neat color combo:

Coral

Navy

Kraft

and

White!

Come on by and check out what the other designers came up with and check out my contribution below!

This layout is perfect for the Child's Play Challenge for paper snowflakes going on now! Come join the fun there too!

Whenever I am in a scrappin rut, I find searching out a color palette that I love at first glance, really helps to get those creative juices flowing!  Give it a try! We would love to see what you create!