Happy National Scrapbook Day!

Happy (Inter)National Scrapbook Day! I hope that you are having fun with the Citrus Twist Hop and getting lots of inspiration. For this challenge I am up with Kristel and we are challenging you to stamp on your background.

For this challenge I decided to stamp a phrase down the side of my paper strips and underneath my title. I'll be honest, if it weren't for this challenge, I would not have done this. However, I am so pleased with the end result! It goes to show that playing along with challenges and creating something out of your comfort zone can pay off with a layout that you love.

The flamingo is from the Heidi Swapp Pineapple Crush line and I thought it would be a great addition to this layout. If you look closely you can see a bit of the tulle peeking out under the photo that is included in the main kit.

This chipboard toucan is absolutely adorable and he was perfect to include on this page as well. I have three different tropical birds on this layout, but I decided that instead of hoarding them I would use them on a layout that I love.

As far as the stamping, I decided to stamp one phrase multiple times above the photo and below the title. The repetition of the phrase along with 2nd and 3rd generation stamping brings visual interest to the border.  

 Be sure and check out the new Citrus Twist kits website! It is easy to use, and while you are there you can download the free files that are available for NSD.

Don't forget to write down my blog hop bonus word which is flamingo. Remember to collect all of the words from each of the DT blogs and the Citrus Twist website for a chance to win the $50 prize pack! I have linked the process video below if you'd like to take a peek at how this layout came together. Thanks for stopping by today, and don't forget to check out Kristel's Instagram @pinkhippiecrafts for her project and bonus word.

February 1st Stuck?! Sketch Reveal

Hello friends! It's time for another sketch reveal from Stuck?! Sketches and as usual it is a great sketch! The sketch calls for two square photos, but I chose one 3x4 photo and a journaling card instead.

 One of my favorite collections by Maggie Holmes is Chasing Dreams and that is primarily what I used to create this layout. The photo is an older photo and thus a bit muted in colors. Normally I wouldn't pair green with aqua, but for this layout I feel that the two colors worked beautifully.

I love birds and it doesn't matter to me one bit to put a bird on a cheering page. You do not have to use sports themed embellishments on pages that are documenting your sports photos. 

The black and white tag adds a bit of contrast and brings cohesion to the layout by tying in the journaling card and the chipboard title. 

Be sure and check out the Stuck?! Sketch blog and see what the other Design Team members created using the sketch. We'd love for you to play along with the sketch, and if you do so be sure and link up your layout to the blog for a chance to win a prize from one of our sponsors this month.

Here's a link to my process video if you'd like to take a closer peek at how this layout came together. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope that you have a great day!

Stuck?! Sketch Reveal

Hey friends! It's already time to share another sketch with you from Stuck?! Sketches. I hope that you are not sick of Christmas layouts, because today's sketch was perfect for me to document the kids and their visit to Santa.

I modified the sketch by substituting a vertical 5x7 photo for the two smaller photos. Santa visit layouts have their own album, and for continuity I created the beginning ones with a kraft cardstock base. White is definitely my preference now, but I did want to keep with the theme of the album, yet maintain my current style. Adding a gorgeous specialty paper to the background with a kraft border allowed me to do both!

Most of the products used on this page are from Crate Paper's Falalala collection. The Santa is from Carta Bella and I fussy cut him from the 6x6 paper pad. The specialty paper is Recollections, and the enamel dots are from various sources.

This little bird is one of my favorite elements in this collection. I think that I have now used them all with the exception of patterned paper.

Clips and banners are a bit of a challenge for me and I used them both on this page! Yay for me!! I am so happy when I am able to use things like this that challenge me on my layouts.

This month we have three amazing sponsors! We'd love for you to participate in the sketch challenge this month. Be sure and link up your project to the blog for a chance to win. I've included a link to the process video if you'd like to take a closer look at how this layout came together.

Hello friends! It's a new year and time for a new sketch from Stuck?! Sketches. This is a fun sketch and my layout doesn't really look too much like the sketch in the end, and that is okay. Remember sketches are to be used as inspiration in whatever form that you need them. Of course you can follow them exactly, which I will often do when I am lacking mojo. 

I love the diamonds that are falling down the page. I am not ready to stop scrapping Christmas though, so I challenged myself to create another page. This cut file by Paige Evans has the same feel which is why I chose to use it. 

I had a blast creating this background. I first used a clear gesso to prime the cardstock, then used Shimmerz mists to add color to the background. After that was dry I stamped tiny gold stars with gold ink and adhered sequins from SpiegelMom Scraps.

The letter stickers are an older collection from Pinkfresh Studios. The cursive font works well and stands out from the mix of serif fonts that are on the papers and stickers. 

Yes, I am just a bit crazy and I did stitch the entire cut file in gold thread. I can't help myself...it is a sickness, but I just love the end result.

All of the papers used are from Crate Paper's Falala collection. At this point I have almost used up the 6x6 paper pad and am wishing that I had a second one. I love it that much!

If you watch my process video you will notice that I stamped directly on the layout. I did not use the right ink though, and the top phrase bled a little and it was just bugging me. I pulled out some labels and layered the phrases on top to fix it. The stamp set is an older Citrus Twist stamp that is no longer available, the puffy sticker is from Pinkfresh Studio, and the gold alphas are Heidi Swapp.

I will be documenting the ornaments in my December Daily and will be telling the stories behind the ornaments. I did not really have room on the layout to journal and I did not want to cram it on the page and make it look like an afterthought.

We'd love for you to play along this month with this fun sketch designed by Laura. Be sure and link up your project to the blog so that you have a chance to win a prize from one of our fabulous sponsors.

Here's a link to my process if you'd like to see how this page came together. Take care, Happy New Year, and have a wonderful day!

Relaxing Moments for Citrus Twist

The end of the year is quickly approaching and I still have a few more projects to share. Today I have a layout using the Citrus Twist main scrapbook kit "Sonoma". The colors of this kit are so bright and cheery and a breath of fresh air among all of my Christmas supplies that are out. The photo that I am scrapping is my view from the balcony of the cruise ship while we were sitting in port. The water was a gorgeous blue, I was reading a good book, and all was well in that moment. 

One of my favorite things to do is to incorporate different fonts in my title. The mix of the green and gold just makes me happy. 

The cork embellishments included in the kit have great little sayings and are very versatile. I tried to incorporate the ampersand in the title, but could not get it to work. However, I think that it reads well with the cork phrase.

 Thanks so much for stopping by today. I have linked my process video below if you'd like to take a closer peek. Have a great day!

Xmas Jammies for Stuck?! Sketches

Oh gracious where did this year go? Today I have up my last layout for the year for Stuck?! Sketches. This is a fun sketch with a holiday feel and it was perfect for these pictures of my kids in their jammies.

The pictures that I chose are several years apart. I meant to add the dates on before I took the photos for the blog, but I forgot. Incorporating photos that show change are some of my favorite photos to document. I will either write the year above each photo, or use tiny number stickers on each one. 

To create this layout I used primarily Crate Paper's Falala collection, and the black patterned paper is from My Mind's Eye. The sequins are Shabby Chic Christmas from SpiegelMom Scraps. 

I thought that the contrast between these colors was nice and a bit different for me. The black chipboard phrases are from Freckled Fawn and they are quite possibly my favorite embellishment from them of all time.

The white background was a bit plain and I struggled a bit on what I could do to add some interest to the background. I pulled some dies from my stash and cut snowflakes out of vellum, and then glued a sequin in the middle. 

This sweet bird is one of my favorite icons in this collection (I'm sure that doesn't surprise anyone), so I had to get her onto this page. It was only fitting that I chose the phrase "my favorite" to go underneath the bird, because she really is my favorite :)

The holiday season is usually a busy one, but if you find that you have time to play along with us this month we'd love to see what you create. Be sure and link your project up to the blog for a chance to win a prize from one of our sponsors. 

If you'd like to take a closer peek at how this layout came together, here's a link to my process video. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope that you have a great day!

Citrus Twist November Stories kit

Oh my gracious I love this kit! It's gorgeous, and the exclusive paper this month seems like it was made just for me! If you have followed me for a while, you know just how much I love floral papers, and this paper is no exception. 

I've had this photo in a pile to be scrapped for years...yes, years! I was waiting for inspiration, and this kit certainly inspired me to get it documented. I chose cut file by Paige Evans that is available in the Silhouette design store. 

The orange floral paper is the first one that I chose to back the cut file with and since I love it so much it had to go in the center of the pumpkin. The aqua triangle paper and the yellow and white diagonal striped paper are perfect choices to place beside the floral since both colors are found in the floral. To finish off the ends of the pumpkin, I backed the file with the soft coral-red paper which pulls out colors in the photo.

 This cut file begged me to stitch around it...yes it truly begged :)  I used all six strands of embroidery floss and did a simple backstitch all around the pumpkin. I'm in love with the way that it turned out.

This photo makes me laugh because it is near impossible to get two toddlers to look at the camera at the same time, much less smile. The main kit has a lot of die cuts included and this circle one that says "not happening" needed to be on this page. 

I've included a link to my process video if you'd like to take a peek at how the page came together. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!

It's Time for Another Sketch

It's time for another sketch to be revealed by Stuck?! Sketches and as usual I love it! I stayed pretty close to the sketch for this layout and definitely will be using this sketch again for future pages. 

For this layout my inspiration was Maggie Holmes Gather collection. I know that she will be releasing a new collection soon, so it is easier for me to justify buying more of her products when I am using them! To change things up a bit, I chose the black and white paper and embellishments as my jumping off point, and then added pops of aqua and pink to the page. 

The layered heart die cut in this cluster is one of my favorites in the collection. The hearts are cut out and it gives the die cut dimension without adding bulk. 

I could use a few more of these chipboard flowers. I have said it before and I will say it again...Crate paper needs to release a chipboard set that is all roses. I know that I can't be the only one that loves them and needs more in my stash!

We'd love for you to play along with us this month. If you do, be sure and link your layout to the blog and you will have a chance of winning a prize from one of our sponsors. 

I have a process video if you'd like to take a closer look at how this page came together. Have a great day!