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.

Stuck?! Sketch Reveal March 15th

Hello everyone! It is time for another sketch to be revealed at Stuck?! Sketches. As always, Laura created a gorgeous sketch!

Here is my take on the sketch.

I primarily used an older Felicity Jane kit that I purchased on sale just a few weeks ago. Other products that I used are sequins from SpiegelMom Scraps and alphas from Freckled Fawn.

I used an old Martha Stewart punch, layered vellum over the cardstock butterflies and then stitched through them. 

Felicity Jane kits contain some of the best stamps. I used a stamp tool to help stamp the You Rock! phrase multiple times to get a clean image. The ink that I used for this image is a Prima chalk ink calledTin Can. The phrase stamps and border stamp under the title were stamped with my favorite black Versafine ink.

These gorgeous tassels were also included in the kit. I used a needle to thread crochet thread in the tassel and then just tied a knot. I am going to journal on the tag about how my sweet girl makes me smile with her smile. She is truly a ray of sunshine in our lives.

We'd love for you to play along with us and submit your take on the sketch. Be sure and link it up to the blog for a chance to win a prize from one of our sponsors.

If you'd like to take a peek at my process, I have linked it below. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope that you have a great day!

March 1st Reveal Stuck?! Sketches

I am so late with this reveal...life has a way of getting crazy and it is all I can do to hold on. But this sketch that Laura created for Stuck?! Sketches is fantastic, and I really wanted to share it even if I'm a bit late to the party.

Here is the layout that I created using the sketch as inspiration and the January kit from Felicity Jane.

 I cut the snowflake die cut out with my Silhouette Cameo, and lightly adhered it to my background. I then chose two different colors of embroidery floss and stitched through the snowflakes. This did take some time, and my fingers were a bit sore afterwards, but I love the end result.

I added a few layers of vellum underneath the photo for some added interest. The rose gold heart clip is my new favorite tiny embellishment. 

A few sequins from SpiegelMom Scraps added to the side of the photo brings subtle bling to the page. 

Unfortunately I lost the footage for half of this layout, so there won't be a process video for this page. I chose to add several close ups so that the details could be seen.

Be sure and and link up your projects with this sketch for a chance to win a prize from our  amazing sponsors that I have listed below. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope that you have a great day!

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!

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!