{a daily dose of scrap}

Late night scrapping anyone????

Well here I am once again scrapping in the wee hours :)  I was working on some DT assignments for A Scrappin' Friendsy - here is my layout for our March newsletter.  I had to create a layout based on a "lucky" quote or saying.  I was having trouble so I looked for some "lucky" songs & came upon some old-school Madonna lyrics :)

Here's a close-up:

This was a tough one - I usually buy paper from the same paper line when creating a layout but these were from 3 different lines - Love Elsie, DCWV, and Sassafrass Lass.  I was a little intimidated because the papers were not the style I'd normally use but I really like how it all turned it - that is the great thing about having someone else choose the paper for you - it really makes you STRETCH yourself creatively - work outside your "comfort zone".  The chipboard stars & letters are from Fancy Pants & the buttons from Autumn Leaves.  I also used rub-ons from Basic Grey, TLC, Autumn Leaves, and Jo-Ann Craft Essentials.   

Be sure to register over at A Scrappin' Friendsy for our weekend CyberCrop - it is going to be lots of fun - great challenges & all kinds of technique tutorials!!!

We currently have 4 AWESOME layouts in the gallery for this week's sketch.  I know this one is a toughy (is that a word???) but remember challenging ourselves is what makes us better scrappers :)  I am really amazed at what people came up with so far - great job ladies!!   Can't wait to see more :)

Happy Tuesday!

Today's Music Pick:  Satellite by Dave Matthews

The Winner of Challenge #7 is . . .

Mica with her layout "Daddy's Girl" - Congrats Mica!!

As always, we had so many wonderful entries - make sure to check them out in the gallery before I switch them to the past submission gallery!!  Thanks everyone :)

Please, please, please, don't miss out on an AWESOME weekend cybercrop over at A Scrappin' Friendsy this weekend (February 29th - March 2nd).  There will be a bunch of tutorials on a variety of papercrafting techniques and lots of fun challenges.  I will be doing a tutorial  "Details Make the Difference" and of course a sketch challenge :)  I will be randomly drawing a name from all entries for the sketch challenge to win a great scrapbook goodie!!!  In order to be part of all this fun head on over to A Scrappin Friendsy today and register (it's free).  I will share more details as the week continues :)

Also, don't forget about the weekly challenge at A Scrappin Friendsy.  Here is DT member Carolyn's challenge:

I enjoy stamping coupled with scrapbooking. I love creating my own patterned paper with background stamps, adding flow with flourish stamps, or saying something with word stamps.

Have you stamped on a scrap page? That is this week’s challenge. Use paint or ink, a big or small stamp, a foam or rubber stamp… you choose… just stamp on your scrap page.

Make sure to register if you have not yet done so at A Scrappin' Friendsy &  create a link to your entry in this week's challenge forum!!

  Today's Music Pick: The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson

Late, late, late . . .

better late than never - right?????  Well needless to say it has been a busy week and here I am working late into the morning finishing this sketch & sample up.  I'll warn ya - the sketch is a little tough this week, but what appealed to me about it was the opportunity it gives you to use lots of scraps where you see all the strips. 

 

Here's my sample:

The papers I used are by Scenic Route & the swirl stamps you see are from Autumn Leaves.  I made like a thousand mistakes on this layout but found some ways to cover those up :)  This week's prize will be 6 sheets from this paper line - 1 double-sided scrap strip, 3 double-sided patterned papers, 1 double-sided kraft paper, and 1 sheet off-white lined paper.

   

We ended up with 26 entries in the gallery for last week - make sure to take a peek - lots of AWESOME  layouts!!!  Can't wait to see what all of you come up with this week!!!  Happy Sunday - or actually Monday :)

You all make it tough:)

I have really poured over the submissions for the "10 Things" challenge for the past few days - such a TOUGH choice!!!  I received so many wonderful entries - thanks so much for everyone's hard work.  The winner for the "10 Things" challenge is Jenifer with "10 Things That Make You Smile".  Beautiful job Jenifer &  the ring of ribbon was such a neat idea!!!  Check it out everyone:

Congrats Jenifer & thanks again to everyone who submitted an entry!!!

Have a great Wednesday!

Happy Tuesday!!

Hello everyone - hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday.  I'm still out of town but will be heading back tomorrow.  We have 4 great entries in already for this week.  Check them out in the gallery!!  Also, I will be announcing the "10 things" challenge winner tomorrow night so make sure to check back :)  Here is a layout I did based on a sketch by Becky Fleck:

The papers are from Cross my Heart and the buttons from Autumn Leaves.  There are also a few felt flowers in there from Creative Imaginations.  I really liked how the circle of buttons/flowers worked out.  Enjoy!!

And the winner is . . .

Jen with her layout "Splash" - Congrats  Jen!!

Thanks so much to everyone who submitted an entry!!  They were  AWESOME!!!  I know I was not able to respond to everyone's because of this crazy week but I am doing my best to backtrack & do this :)  I will be moving these to the past submission gallery sometime today or tomorrow - we already have an entry for this week to place in the new gallery!!  As mentioned on last night's post, I will not be announcing the "10 Things" challenge winner until Wednesday - so many wonderful entries to look through - what a tough decision!! 

HERE'S THE NEW WEEKLY CHALLENGE FROM  SARA AT A SCRAPPIN' FRIENDSY:

Mix it up Challenge!
I really like the look and feeling of pages that incorporate both color and black & white photos. I think it is an easy way to create a focal point-using the color photo-as well as adding a timeless feeling by using a black and white photo.

I challenge everyone to create a layout this week that uses at least one color and one black & white photo.

Upload your creations to the gallery and link them back to this thread by Sunday the 23rd by midnight, so that we may all be super inspired! On monday morning I will draw a winner out of the hat for a little goodie from the Scrappin’ Friendsy store.

Sounds like fun - I've always wanted to try this but haven't yet - here's my chance :)

Have a great Monday!!

Today's Music Pick:  Fast Car by Tracy Chapman

Have you ever "bit off more than you can chew"

well I certainly did this weekend :)  I was up late Thursday preparing to be a vendor and teach a class at a weekend crop in Annapolis.  I went to the crop Friday afternoon, set up my vendor stuff, and tried to scrap a little myself (not too successful with scrapping).  I had prepared 7 kits for my class on Saturday but there was so much interest that the women running the crop asked me if I'd be able to prepare more kits for Saturday.  I got home Friday night around 12:30, then stayed up until 5 (yes 5 in the morning) preparing 6 more kits.  I slept until 8 then got up & went back to the crop - vendored & scrapped until 1:30, then taught my class (which was 2 hours), then vendored & scrapped until 2:30 in the morning.  I was planning on finishing up my sample for this week's challenge after I got home but I was soooooooooooooooooo tired I just called it quits & went to sleep.  Then got up around 7 with Ryan, fed him breakfast, read my emails, packed to leave to stay with my mother-in-law, drove 6 hours - ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Finally I have had a chance to attempt to catch up on my blog - I am really sorry guys.  Anyways - here's this week's challenge

And my sample:

Not the best pic because I finished it here at my mother-in-law's and had to take the picture without my photo tent.  This is also for the weekly challenge at A Scrappin' Friendsy.  You were supposed to scrap a song and has been Ryan's favorite since he was born.  I did not use any chipboard <<gasp>> - I know, I know - but I did sneak a few buttons in there :)  The paper is from Autumn Leaves - I didn't want to put too much on this layout because the paper is so beautiful - didn't want to take away from it.  The blue lined paper behind the pictures is from Creative Cafe by Creative Imaginations (which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE).  There is LOTS of fake stitching.  The zig zag stitching at the bottom and dash-dot on the blue paper are rub-ons.  I hand-drew the stitching on the circles and the journaling.  The title is a combo of EK Success stickers and Autumn Leaves & TLC rub-ons.  Oh & this week's prize that will be mailed out to one randomly drawn lucky winner:

An adorable little mini-album by 7 Gypsies!!!

We had 27 WONDERFUL submissions for this past week's sketch challenge - I still have many to respond to - sorry guys, I just uploaded because it was so crazy.  I will try to backtrack & give you all some feedback - I REALLY enjoyed seeing what everyone came up with.  I will be randomly drawing one winner tomorrow - be on the lookout :)

THE "10 THINGS" CHALLENGE GALLERY ended up with 26 AWESOME submissions - WOW!!  I was planning on posting the winner tonight but I am having such a hard time deciding - I told you I would chose the winner on this one which is sooooooooo difficult because there are so many awesome entries -  I am postponing the announcement of who won until Wednesday night - I want a chance to really look closely at them all.  I don't know how the next few days will go between all my MIL's doctors appointments so I want to give myself Wednesday night when I return home just in case I don't have the time while I am here.  Bare with me everyone - I know you are excited to find out if you are the lucky winner of all those wonderful prizes.  Speaking of those - I missed posting the last few so here they are:

   

Have a WONDERFUL Sunday!!!!!!!!!!

Today's Music Pick:  Push by Matchbox Twenty

Busy Weekend . . .

Hey everyone - just a quick heads up on my super busy upcoming weekend.  I will be in and out updating the galleries but will most likely not be posting any new creations until Sunday's new sketch challenge.  I have a weekend crop coming up that I am vendoring at as well as teaching a class.  So I am spending the next two days preparing - also I am organizing a bunch of page supplies so I can get scrapping done as well :)  Sunday we are leaving for PA again to stay with my MIL who is ill.  I will be posting the new sketch (finished it tonight!!!!) and my sample layout.  I'm hoping to get enough layouts done at the crop that I can post until I get back on Wednesday.  We currently have 7 entries for this week's sketch challenge - remember they are due by Sunday midnight (EST).  We also currently have 10 entries in the "10 things" challenge - they are due this Saturday by midnight (EST).  I will be announcing the winner Sunday along with the new sketch challenge!!  Make sure to check out the gallery - LOTS of great layouts & wonderful inspiration :) 

I  forgot to post yesterday's "10 things" goodie - here are goodies # 6 & # 7:

 

The first goodie is a set of Christmas cardstock stickers by Doodlebug Designs & the second goodie is a pack of mini pockets with journaling inserts. 

Have a great Wednesday, Valentine's Day, & weekend!!!!

Today's Music Pick:  You Got Growing Up To Do by Joshua Radin (I'm addicted to his music!!)

In the Nick of Time . . .

only 5 minutes left until midnight - well actually it is 3 am but remember my clock is wrong on this computer :)  I spent the past few hours working on a layout for a contest over at A Peek Into Yesterday - a sketch challenge :)  Here's what I came up with:

All papers are by Cosmo Cricket except for the lined paper which is by Scenic Route.  The paper is a bit "girly" but I don't care - I really liked it so I went with it :)  All the circles across the center are chipboard covered in patterned paper.   The scroll, heart, and letter G are also chipboard.  Here's a close-up of the journaling:

If you notice the heart in the top right corner of the layout has a little envelope attached - inside is a lock of Ryan's hair from his first real haircut :)

Well, in terms of OUR challenges - we currently have 4 layouts in for sketch #6 and 8 layouts in for the "10 things" challenge.  Check out the wonderful work people have done in these galleries!!  Looking forward to seeing even more as the week continues :)

If you are looking for even more challenges check out this week's challenge at my other home A Scrappin' Friendsy!!  You will need to register to play but don't worry - it is super easy :)

This week’s dare is from Dawn Hopkins! “For this week’s challenge, I want you to create a layout based on a song. You may want to include the title or lyrics - or both! Have fun, and I can’t wait to see what you create!” Post by Sunday&  link to the thread in the Challenges forum.

She will pick her winner Monday night!

Today's Music Pick:  What If You by Joshua Radin

And The Winner Is . . .

Valerie with her layout "The Crew's All Here":

Valerie turned my sketch sideways for her layout - great idea!!

Kudos to everyone who submitted an entry this week - we had 31 awesome layouts!!  I will be moving them to the past submission gallery tonight - make sure to stop in and check them out if you haven't already!!

I currently have 2 challenges going on right now - week 6 of 52 sketches . . . 52 weeks & the "10 Things" challenge.  We currently have 1 entry in for this week's sketch challenge - can't wait to see even more as the week continues.  The "10 Things" challenge is a special challenge going on through this Saturday at midnight - make sure to check all the details in the sidebar of my blog.  Also pop in the "10 Things" gallery to see the 5 entries that have already been submitted.  Here's the #5 of 10 goodie sneak peeks for the "10 Things" challenge:

A little sprinkling of some fun felt shapes.  There are 5 snowflakes and 6 cute little mittens.  Perfect for that winter layout!!

Happy Monday!!

Today's Music Pick:  Everything'll Be Alright by Joshua Radin