SOS January Stash Challenge & Sketches In Thyme Sketch #260

For this layout, I used the January Tic Tac Toe Stash Challenge from Scrap Our Stash as well as Sketch #260 from Sketches in Thyme.

The items I chose for the Tic Tac Toe Challenge:

Die Cut

Winter Theme

Paper Clip

For the Die Cut, I dug deep into my stash to find a stocking cap from My Mind's Eye. The card says copy write 2002 on it -- which means I've been holding onto it for 15 years. Funny thing is, I'll continue to keep it because there is still a frame and several button die cuts left on the card.

Here's Sketch #260:

I decided to turn the sketch (1/4 turn to the right) to work better with my landscape photos. 

Here is a closer look at the die cut on the page. The paper clip is to the right of the stocking cap.

Before I sign off, I want to check in on New Year Resolution progress. My goal this year is to "use more paper than I buy." I'm excited to say so far it's going great!

Paper purchased = 0

Paper used:

12x12 - 13

8 1/2x11 - 21

(I'm only counting full sheets of paper used -- but I also have a LARGE stash of paper scraps which are used on nearly every page I do!)

Until next time...Happy scrap booking and paper crafting!

Escape To The Zoo - LGS January Week 3 Sketch

Working with the January Week 3 sketch from Let's Get Sketchy was a blast! Making the 3 "banners" was quick and easy....not to mention...FUN!

For my layout, I used photos taken from a June 2016 trip to a local Zoo. I was looking through my stash for something to hold the page title and found the "Escape To" journaling card. "Escape To The Zoo" seemed like a playful page title to compliment the fun photo of my daughter in the "cut out."

Until next time, happy scrap booking and paper crafting!

Scrap Our Stash: January Sketch Challenge "GOALS"

Here's the January Sketch Challenge from Scrap Our Stash.

The challenge is to create a layout with this sketch AND add an item from your stash with each letter of the word - GOALS!

Here is a list of my stash items:

G - Glitter letter stickers

O - Orange paper scraps, Outline around page and focus photo

A - Arrow

L - Layered paper scraps and stickers

S - Stickers

Until next time.....happy scrap booking and paper crafting!

Color Me Happy! - LGS January Week 2 Sketch

  

Tonight I'm sharing a page created the January Week 2 Sketch from Let's Get Sketchy:

The pictures on this page were taken this past Thanksgiving weekend. When my sister and I get together, we try to find time to "do a craft." She received a gift of some lovely "House Mouse" rubber stamps (from Mom) and we decided to try them out! We did some other "adult coloring" together as well. I wanted this page to reflect the relaxed and fun feeling we had when we were coloring!

Until next time....Happy scrapboooking and papercrafting!

Crop 'Til You Drop & LGS January Week 1 Sketch Challenge

The last couple days, I've been at one of "Denise's Retreats." She holds them every-other month in a conference room at a local hotel. Over the years, a group of us have become friends through scrapbooking and we enjoy these opportunities to connect and papercraft together. Along the way, we meet new people and make new friendships! Here's a picture of many in our group....

At the Retreat, I made some cards with new House Mouse stamps my Mom gave me for Christmas. And, I completed about 20 scrapbook pages! Here are a couple pictures of one of the card designs and one of the pages.

As you might notice in the photos, I tend to bring a favorite punch to these events and then use it across multiple projects. This helps reduce the "load" of supplies I have to carry to/from the crop.

Here's one more page created at the Retreat. For this page, I turned to the January Week 1 Sketch from Let's Get Sketchy!

For this page, I used a "selfie" my girls took in the car last year. I cannot remember the exact date it was taken, but I do remember that on this particular day they were happy to see each other. Since I didn't have any letter stickers that were just right for this page, I decided to hand letter the page title for a change.

At "Denise's Retreats," there is often a "free table" where ladies share items they no longer want or need. Ladies share paper, stickers, embellishments and event rubber stamps....all free for others at the Retreat to take and use. The flowers and paper clips on this page were both "free table" finds!

P.S. Did you notice the corner punch was used on this page, too.? :)

Until next time, happy scrapbooking and papercrafting!!

New Year Resolution & Creative Scrappers: Sketch 302

The New Year brings the opportunity to reflect and set goals and resolutions for the coming year.

As an avid scrapbooker and papercrafter, I'm always adding paper to my stash. I LOVE PAPER! But, I honestly don't need to buy more.

I thought about making "not buying paper" my resolution this year, but I know I cannot do that....so, instead my resolution this year is to.....

USE more paper than I BUY!

I'll be keeping track of my paper purchases and paper use. From time to time, I'll record my progress in blog posts (to help me stay "accountable" to my goal...LOL).

It's the last day of my "holiday" break...back to work and regular routines tomorrow. So, I'm taking time today to work on my resolution (with some scrapbooking) and enjoy some family time (perhaps a movie on DVD and/or Lego anyone?)

For the scrapbook portion of my day, I've gotten some inspiration from Sketch 302 provided by Creative Scrappers!

To start on my resolution (to use more paper than I buy), I went through my stash of "winter" related papers and embellishments. I found all the papers for this layout as well as these CUTE snow related "Fresh Cuts." Does anyone remember using "Fresh Cuts" from EK Success? (If you remember when they were first released, please leave a comment and let me know.) .

Until next time, happy scrapbooking and papercrafting!

Guest Design Team Call: Let's Get Sketchy!

Hello and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

My #1 FAVE blog for sketches and inspiration is Let's Get Sketchy!

They are having a Guest Design Team Call, with this terrific sketch for inspiration! Even if you don't answer this "call," you can still use this sketch to create a page....ENJOY!

Until next time, happy scrapbooking and papercrafting!!