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!

Citrus Twist Sugarland

Hello friends! Today I am going to post my projects that I made using the Citrus Twist Sugarland kits. I received the main kit, embellishment and project life kit this month and will let you know which kits I used in making the projects.

My first layout uses only the main kit which contained that adorable pom pom fringe! This layout was also created specifically with the 3-to-inspire weekly challenge, and my prompts were to use a photo that you love, use the pom pom trim, and to stitch.

I have recently started using a Traveler's Notebook and have started an insert that is scripture based. This verse was a verse that I needed one day and I have found that when I am creating the pages that I am reflecting on the verse and finding comfort. This hobby is truly therapeutic. This is my favorite project this month and it was made using the main kit, project life kit, and patterned paper add-on.

Next up I have a sports page to share, and on this page I used the Main kit and Embellishment add-on. The puffy word stickers from Crate Paper Good Vibes are amazing. I love the font, and it contains a few phrases that I have not seen before in Thickers. I realized after I took the photos of the layout that I did not add my journaling. Underneath the top cluster I typed out something that my daughter said her first year of playing softball...."I have been waiting my whole life to play softball". Every now and then I actually remembered to write down a few of the things that my kids said, and I do try and work them onto pages when I can do so. 

My final project for the month used the Main, Embellishment, and Project Life kits, and the free cut file designed by Kira. It does take some time to back the cut file, but the process is quite enjoyable to me. I stitched around the outside edge using embroidery floss. 

I've linked all of the process videos below in case you'd like to see just how they came together. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope that you have a great day!

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!

December 1st Reveal for Stuck?! Sketches

Hello my friends! Today I have a fun sketch to share with you, and it is perfect for using up your scraps! The paper strips make a fun mat behind the photos. This sketch is easy to tweak as well by using a 4x6 photo, or turning it on its side with a vertical photo. 

I dug deep in my stash using scraps of paper that I have had for a long time. I know the music notes paper is by Echo Park, the navy blue is by Heidi Swapp, and the white with black open dot is by Studio Calico. 

I find it best when working with themed products to limit my use to one or two themed items on the page. The flair is by A Flair for Buttons, the puffy stars, chipboard word, and puffy camera are  by Freckled Fawn. The sequins are from SpeigelMom Scraps and Felicity Jane.

The Thickers that I used are older and from my stash, and I was unable to find a source for them. 

Stitching with silver metallic thread is an easy way to add some interest to the layout. 

We'd love for you to play along with us and use this sketch. Be sure and link it up to the Stuck?! Sketches blog for a chance to win a prize from one of our sponsors. Bramble Fox is also offering a discount with the code listed. 

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

Hello Punkin' for Citrus Twist

Every now and then I look back at a photo and fall in love all over again. This sweet photo of my baby girl following her daddy with her pumpkins is most certainly one of them. I can still hear her saying "punkin" and still remember her excitement at choosing her very own punkins to take home. 

To create this page I used both the main and PL Citrus Twist kits, as well as used one of the sketches for this month. I'm always looking for inspiration on creating pages that are a bit outside of my norm, and the title placement on this sketch is a bit different for me.

 

Stitching the paper strips adds a bit of texture and allows me to ruffle the edges of the strips for more dimension. I fussy cut a few leaves from the patterned paper add-on from October. The little acorns make such a sweet accent to the cluster.

Hello gorgeous teal thickers and puffy alphas....it was love at first sight! The hello Thicker nested perfectly around the label sticker making the title cohesive. I also added a little zig zag stitching to the cluster as well. 

It can be harder to add meaningful journaling to a layout when scrapping a photo that is several years old. I kept it simple and to what I remembered, and yet I still think that it brings a lot to the page. 

Here's a link to my process video in case you'd like to see how this page came together. Thanks so much for joining me today, and I hope that you have a great day!

Stuck Sketch Reveal

I am so excited to be sharing with you this sketch and layout! I pushed myself out of my comfort zone with this layout and am so pleased with the end result. 

I searched hard through my stash to come up with papers that would work with this layout. Everything except that background patterned paper came from my scrap drawer! I found two patterned papers that had the appropriate shade of green, but neither were the right type to back the badge. So, I pulled out my watercolors and Shimmerz, and created my own background.  

To create this Slytherin badge, I did a google search and found an image that was not too detailed so that it would cut nicely in my Silhouette. To make the different layers, I copied and traced it three times and cut it out with different colors of cardstock. Then, it was time to layer them on top of the watercolor paper and glue the pieces down. 

The glitter bats are from the Target dollar spot and I think they are a few years old. The sequins are from SpiegelMom Scraps and the perfect shade of green. I cannot tell a lie...I did specifically buy them for this layout. However, the shades of green are quite lovely and will work well for other projects.

The "Under Your Spell" sticker has been in my stash for a very long time. These Thickers by Pebbles are similar and have some great phrases.  The black word stickers are by Tim Holtz. I think that it is incredible just how versatile these phrases truly are...I would have never imagined that I could find one to work on a Halloween layout.

We would love for you to play along with this sketch! If you do so, be sure and link your project to the blog for a chance to win a prize from one of our sponsors. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I have linked my process video below if you'd like to take a closer peek at how this layout came together. I have also figured out how to share the link for the Slytherin silhouette file that I created. 

Slytherin Badge