Scrap Your Story - favorites

We all have them. Favorites. And at Scrap Your Story this week we want to hear a little about YOUR favorites.

In case you've forgotten, our challenge schedule is:

Week 1: Use it (you will be given an item you must incporporate).

Week 2: Theme (your layout and/or photos needs to show this theme).

Week 3: Sketch (flip it, rotate it, tweak it...as long as we can see the basics there).

Week 4: Technique (we will describe/show a technique you must include somewhere).

And you'll have until Thursday, 11:59 p.m. CDT to get it linked up!

I know that I just emphasized the "your" in "your favorites" but I couldn't help doing another page about my older kiddo and his favorites. I'd compiled some of the questions from those "ask your kids this list of favorites every year on their birthday" from Pinterest and I *really* wanted to scrap them!

There's two tags in the pocket, one lists just favorite toys and the one with the twine has the complete list.

For those who like product listings I'm not gonna be much help here! This page is a page of scraps, but here's what I know:

American Crafts Chap

Amy Tangerine

3Bugs Blast Off!

Echo Park For the Record

Fancy Pants Rough and Tough

BasicGrey Origins

Kiwi Lane Templates Adventure and Tags

WRMK eyelet

MME All is Bright twine

Color Box Yellow Citrus chalk ink, Black pigment ink

Teresa Collins On the Edge griffin stamp

machine stitching, black thread

Stickles Turquoise

Studio G red glitter glue

Two Little Monkeys Hangin Around

Wow! After that (albeit inspiring) card class last week I am ready to get back to my normal page challenges. Though if you followed my posts last week and "learned" along with me you'll probably notice some of those techniques hanging around in the next couple of posts!

So without further delay I bring you Two Little Monkeys.

The title is very important because over at Scrapbooksteals the Monday Craft Madness challenge was to use the theme "Tea for Two" which could be interpreted literally as something regarding tea/picnics or with "two" in the sentiment/title as I have done.

The layout is based on a two page sketch by Gail Owens for Kiwi Lane's DT Doodles. I used Tags 6, Aspen Court 2A/2B mini, and Clara Lane 3B.

I'm also entering this in the S.W.A.T. Drill #4  which was based on this color scheme which I completed with the help of Echo Park's For the Record, Ranger Distress Fired Brick Ink, and a bunch of fussy cutting, foam dots, October Afternoon Black Keys and Mini Market alphas, AC Thickers, Ranger black Enamel Accents, and some Studio G glitter glue. I sort of skipped adding the cream as a paper since it was almost the same color as my boys' skin! 

Jade 5 - Play outside

Scrapbooking has been quite a struggle for me lately. My mojo seems to have left. In the end, I'm happy with my pages but getting them done is like pulling my teeth! Ugh. Thankfully, I've been a bit obsessed lately with my Kiwi Lane templates. They've been making my life just a touch easier.

This page is based on the Scrapbooksteals.com Jade 5 sketch by Kerys. I also managed to use some ledger paper and fulfill the Paper Girls Challenge Blog.

Thankfully, this week should put us back into a normal routine - no crazy trips, events, or life changes. *sigh*

On the Up and Up

This page is based on the Paper Secrets sketch with a twist. I used American Crafts Chap for most of it, but there's also some MME washi, a Glitz Designs journal sticker, Jenni Bowlin mini alphas and an assortment of chipboard alphas that have been chilling in my stash.  I used Kiwi Lane Clara Lane templates and inked  it up with Ranger Distress Inks. 

Paper Secrets' "twist" was to include washi on the page somehow. Using it in the bottom corner seemed pretty natural and I really like how it tied the title to the corner shape. 

Off

Wooohooo! 2013. We made it. Now it's time to get back to life as normal. I sure wish someone could tell me what that is. ;)

Day glow. Neon. Florescent colors. Whatever you call them, I have a love/hate relationship. You see, I'm a child of the 80s. I owned a *lot* of clothing in these colors and through junior high hot pink was my *favorite* color.

That might be why I tend to scrap in traditional colors, but love when others use them. Thankfully, I still have some of my Amy Tangerine Sketchbook that I won awhile back because the Paper Girls Challenge was to use that particular color range.

I also incorporated Let's Get Sketchy's challenge for this week - to use a photo that is Not Picture Perfect. This one is out of focus. I like the softness it gave the photo, but I'd given up on using it because it wasn't challenge worthy!

Not while I'm eating!

So this week I have jury duty. Now in my county that means that the night before you have to call in to see if you go to the courthouse the next day. Monday and Tuesday, didn't have to go in, so I dedicated the day to getting ahead on some things (like blogging and Christmas present making)- just in case I get to spend a couple of days doing my civic duty.

Without further ado, I present my December week 2 Let's Get Sketchy interpretation! 

I started with two groupings, like in the sketch. The elements just sort of morphed themselves. They're still sort of there. Sort of.

I used a bunch of mismatched Fancy Pants Designs papers, American Crafts Thickers, Jenni Bowlin Designs mini alphas, several Kiwi Lane Designs templates, a Lifestyles Crafts embossing folder, my sewing machine, and of course some good ol' inking. 

Let's Get Sketchy Dec. wk 2 sketch

And don't forget to checkout the Christmas present (aka giveaway) I have for one of my followers. 

Perspective

Every day can't be a mountain top experience, and we all have some valleys. I've been in sort of a creative valley for a few weeks now, my adventure as Scrapbooksteals MWM guest sketcher being an oasis of light in that sea of despondency.

I was in email correspondence with Kristy Lee, seriously my guru when it comes to scrapbooking and definitely an inspiration as a mom, and she pointed out how far I've come in the past year and a half. With that in mind, I thought I'd share some of my pre-blogging adventures with you all.

Ready for this?

My.First.Page.Ever. I was trying to find something to fill time while hubs was in class and I wasn't at work. I seriously felt that paper crafting was not for me (and quite lame!). My mom had started a book about me, I had all my pictures, and a less than half filled book. It's still not full...

in reality, it's not a horrible way to start, but it sure isn't an interesting or pretty page!

First layout of Vance, August 2008. It may not have been the first first, but it was definitely one of the earliest ones! I didn't date or photograph my pages back in those days so I really don't know. But you get the point.

Look! same sketch on each side. And lots o stickers. FUN!

My first Mid Week Mojo, August 2011, Topaz 5, but even though I started mid-series I did go back and catch up.

Better structure, colors, etc., but man oh man, this picture is worth a thousand words.

The page I made today. You know, I'm glad I stuck with this whole scrapbooking thing.

Beautiful moments 

I'm entering this page into the Paper Girls Challenge Blog. This week's challenge was to have a multi-photo layout (3-4 being minimum for a single page). I just love how Amy Tangerine Sketchbook matches my mom's energy and shirt! And my Kiwi Lane templates made it a snap to create during naptime. YAY!

And don't forget to check back tomorrow for information about that Giveaway that I have coming!

Wishes

Vance hasn't taken a nap since around the time Rylan was born - so for a little over two years now. And I can sense that I'm losing that time with Rylan now too. Which is so not fun! Today I barely got started working on my My Mind's Eye December Challenge - Wish List when the napper started playing which set the quiet player into full playtime mode.

I was thinking about doing something along the lines of the song "Grown Up Christmas Wish" but losing that time today made me realize how ::sacred:: it is to me. I'm going to have to figure out a new way to get "me" time in if this no/low napping business continues. So on my wish list this year I have one request: that my kids take naps. If you look closely you'll see that I actually wrote things and changed them, I was going for humor - changing "taking longer naps" to just "taking naps" and the like.

This page is Day 5 in my December Daily and will eventually include a picture of my scrap space which is of course a hot mess right now since we have several projects going at once! Part of what's on my desk is a Giveaway I'm working on, check back next week for more information. ;)

Noel, noel, noel

I don't know how many of you have heard of December Daily, but I only heard about it...4 days ago. And I love the idea! I think mini books are super cute but never have a "reason" to make one. The logic behind December Daily is to prep pages before the hustle and bustle and after the New Year you'll have a fab mini album. There's kits you can buy online to help with that process. 

Well, given that I only found out about it days ago, I'll be playing along with the concept and doing it totally on the fly. What I'm gonna do is just take lots of pictures and notes and if it takes me until February to finish it, well, it takes until February!

BUT I did get a start on it, for Kerys' blog challenge I completed my first page. Yay me! And by completed I mean, I journaled on it but there's no photo yet because I'm gonna print them all at once.

Kerys and some of her friends team up to provide a fun challenge every month. This month they chose to spell the word "Noel" through their recipe. Things needed to meet all the requirements for bonus entries are as follows:

N - Number in the title/subtitle (yep! Day 1 isn't much of a title, but it's what I gave it.)

O - Oval (tucked in on top of that tag)

E -  Eyelets (at least 5 - helloooo for an excuse to use these babies that I was given!)

L - List of three things -or- use lined paper (I went the lined paper route, you can almost see the lines in the pic)

Also really fun here, I used the Tiny Accents Star from Kiwi Lane to act as a mask and sprayed a whole bunch on the page. When the mist started pooling to much I'd shake the excess liquid onto the paper to make the splatters. 

Now to figure out what I'm gonna use for my cover. And how in the world I'm gonna bind the thing. Maybe if I'm really good Santa'll get me a Cinch for Christmas?

Jeans

I don't know what inspired my choice to use a photo of myself, but I did it. It was probably a lack of printed ones of the kiddos that I felt were scrap-worthy. Anyway, for the Let's Get Sketchy Week 4 challenge I use photos that I think were from my parents bringing me home from the hospital. I'll check on that before I journal it.

I'd been seriously inspired by Stephanie U.'s interpretation which used a slew of buttons as part of a shape element in the background. I have tons and tons of buttons - and I never seem to use them.

And once I saw the pictures I knew that the title had to incorporate "jeans" in some way so I could use my gorgeous Authentique Original (and then enter the page into their Inspiration Color Challenge).

Authentique products used:
Original Organized,
Elements,
Compound,
Different,
Independent

Other products:
AC Thickers,
stash buttons,
Ranger Distress Inks,

Kiwi Lane Templates (Aspen Court mini 2A/2B, Tags 3, Nature 3T/5T),
sewing machine

MWM Coral 9 - Trucks Up Close

I don't often push these things to their deadline, but with Thanksgiving this week I sure squeaked under the wire to finish up my Scrapbooksteals.com Coral 9 on time. I loved the sketch when it was posted - especially when I saw the initial interpretation. The papers just screamed at me to buy them. I resisted, partly because I was to busy! So here I am, blogging after the deadline so that I can find the link easily because at the end of the series there's always a little drawing for those who completed all ten. Sweet. I've never won it, but the prizes are normally out.of.this.world.

Favorite thing about this layout?! That I  used up a lot of  bigger scrappy leftovers from various collections. Don't get me wrong, I still have scraps from these scraps...the scraps seem to be neverending!

Kiwi Lane November Doodles

I've never done the Kiwi Lane challenges before. I have to say that the November Doodles were fun to play around with!

There were two page sketches (a single and a double) and a card sketch. 

My single page interpretation. Never one to leave a sketch alone, I flipped it so I could use vertical pics. My templates here are Tag 4, Nature 1T, Madison Avenue mini 3A/3B and Bracket 3.  I used My Mind's Eye Indie Chic Nutmeg and American Crafts Amy Tangerine Thickers.

For the two-pager (side-note, my roots in journalism would call this a Double Page Spread or DPS, so if you ever "hear" me call them that, that's why) I used Scallops mini 1B, Madison Avenue mini 3A, and Bracket 2. And that dear Nutmeg was still out so I plunged right into it for this spread too. And check out the cork board Thickers?! In person, they give such a naturalistic texture to the page. Cool.

For the card I used a couple pieces of scrap paper, including some MME Dear Santa. My favorite part is my attempt at altering one of the Holiday templates from a poinsettia (7T)  to a small star, eh my downsizing ability left a bit to be desired, BUT the tinsel with glossy accents over it is way fun! I also used the Holiday 8T for the tree. The rub-on is from Pebbles.

Building Words

I spend much of my day considering words. Not because I'm a blogger. Nope, because I'm a mom of an almost preschooler who has discovered spelling. We spell all day. I felt that that needed to be captured somehow so when Paper Secrets' newest sketch went up I knew it would be a good time to use the picture of our refrigerator. 

Clearly the most dominant element in the sketch was the starburst. Ohhh, how I hated trying to piece that together!!! But I think it turned out pretty good. Around the top of the page I did a little journaling border - those are all words he's made us spell most frequently. Frequency determined by number of responses to a text sent to family and friends asking them to tell me what they have to help Vance spell! These are clearly the impacting words in his life right now.

http://www.papersecrets.net/2012/11/november-15th-sketch-challenge.html

MME gratitude challenge

It's been a while since I played along with My Mind's Eye's blog challenges. Mostly because I didn't have the right stuff for the last couple. But the second challenge for November is to create something showing gratitude. I wrote a little message on this layout, thanking my guys for their genuine passion for life and joy of everyday moments.

All of the papers and embellishments are from Follow Your Heart. When it showed up on Scrapbooksteals.com again recently, well I just couldn't help myself! I had to get more ! I adore this kit and it was an awesome price. 

Play

I was super bummed last week, my favorite challenge was cancelled for a week! Eek! I really did miss the Scrapbooksteals.com MWM and am super glad that it made a reappearance this week with guest sketcher Venetia Holbrook. 

She was given Authentique's Carefree to work with, and while I don't have that particular kit I did decide to use her sketch with the same company, different line. I mean, you have to chose paper somehow, right?! 

I went a-googling for something about pretend play, hoping for something awesome about it teaching you about yourself and found this quote and loved it! It sort of sums me up so I had to include it on the page. 

You are my sunshine

I often talk about the connection that my sons have with my father. In reality, they love both sets of grandparents, I just happen to photograph them playing with my dad more frequently. Part of that is that my mom loathes, hates, is passionately against being photographed. 

I happened to catch her hugging Vance one day and snuck a pic. She has seen it and of course hates it, but she's part of his story too so I wanted to document it. Hopefully she thinks the page is cute at least. 

I used the November week 2 sketch from Let's Get Sketchy for this page. I also got inspiration from last week's Practical Scrappers about using embossing powders - Charity had "inked" with it and I thought it gave a nice touch to this layout. 

Speaking of my mom, I was at her house over the weekend and "stole" back my Kiwi Lane Design templates. I've kind of missed them. See how cute they can be?! Especially when paired with Amy Tangerine Sketchbook!