Remember this Moment- Crafting Family

Hello and Happy Halloween!! yesterday was my day to post at Crafting Family, and I shared a layout featuring my son and his best friend at their winter concert last year- so glad to get a pic of them after the show, the one time of the year my son is "dressed up"!!

I owe a lot of challenge blogs thanks for inspiring this layout. First, I started with this color combo at Play Date Cafe:

A fabulous sketch from Sketchbook 365:

And combined with the Music challenge at Bird is the Word:

Discovering Bentley Brook- Twisted Tuesday

It's Tuesday, and that means it's time for another Twisted Tuesday challenge. This week's an easy one, it's a free for all. No twist, just show us what you've been working on! Here's my contribution:

You can't really tell from the photo, but the "Destination" is part of a 12x12 transparency that I've had in my stash for YEARS!! I lined up where I needed the subtitle to be and wrote that on the background PP in white gel ink. Waited for it to dry and then layered the transparency to the PP by stapling it in the 4 corners.  I then layered the photos over the transparency and added a bit of scallop kraft wrapped with twine as a simple accent.

So what are you working on? Link up with us at Twisted Tuesday by Sunday, we'd love to see your project! =) T

"Destination" linking up to:

-Twisted Tuesday anything goes

-Love to Create lots of layers

-Paper Crafting Journey twine

Silly Little Monkey- Sketches in Thyme

I've had these pics of my daughter for a while and have had a severe case of scrappers block with them. They're not the greatest quality pics, and it's of no particular event or moment of importance. Just my daughter having a snack after her shower. her hair's wrapped up in a towel and she's acting goofy. That's all- but I LOVE the photos and wanted to use them, but how?? I finally chose 3 favorites (I think there were 6 in all) and used my latest sketch design at Sketches in Thyme to create this little gem:

I was stuck for a title too- for the longest time all I could think was "Turban Girl" and that just didn't seem right at all!! I ended up with "Silly Little Monkey" because she was 1-acting silly and 2-wearing monkey pajamas, very clever huh?? You still have a few more days to get in on the sketchy fun over at Sketches in Thyme, link up by October 31st!! =)T

"Silly Monkey" linking to:

-Sketches in Thyme sketch

 

-Color Me Scrappy colors

5 Kids-In the living room- with the crayons

This week the challenge at Child's Play Challenges is the board game Clue. To be honest, I was stumped on this one. I didn't have any board game pics to scrap, and didn't feel like going with the colors of the game. Every time I thought of Clue, all I could think was, "Mr. Mustard, In the Dining Room, With the Candlestick". So...

I went with, "5 Kids, in the living room, with the crayons". It's not a particularly fabulous photo, but I'm kind of proud of the story behind it. See, along with my own 2 kiddos, I have 3 extras most days in the summer. So that's 5 kids all ages 10-12. And while some days are a breeze, there are days when humid temperatures, bad attitudes and just general middle-school moodiness can really put a damper on things. And this was one of those days! So I printed up some elaborate stained-glass coloring pages, set them out with a collection of fancy crayons and there was an hour of quiet (which I can tell you does not happen often!) while all 5 kids agreeably colored on their bellies under the cool air of the ceiling fan. It was kind of magical!! 

In addition to this page being made for the Clue challenge at Child's Play, I've also incorporated a few other challenges, starting with this fabulous sketch at Sketch with Color for their DT Call! 

 

 

I've also used the BROWN, ORANGE and CREAM color scheme at For Fun Challenges and a TON of ORANGE brads from my stash for the challenge at Use It Tuesday! (seriously, how many brads does one person need??) =) T

Simple Things- Crafting Family

Time for my weekly Tuesday post at Crafting Family. Today I have a layout of my son and his cousin having a sleepover. These 2 are so sweet together. They might be 7 years apart, but they share a special bond I was happy to scrap about! Same crazy high-energy personalities with a love for life and a sweetness and caring for others (especially their little sisters) that is amazing!

Fun thing to note on this layout: I had a great piece of double-sided paper to use for this layout, but was in love with BOTH sides! I ended up cutting the paper into thirds and flipping the center piece to reveal the opposite side. Great way to get the most of those 2-sided PPs you love!! =) T

"Simple Things" linking up to:

-Crafting Family weekly post

-Lasting Memories double take

Life Is Better at the Beach

Yes, life really is better at the beach, don't ya think? While I don't live on the beach, I am lucky enough to be only an hour away, which means we are there at least once a week in the summer. And that equals and TON of beach photos to scrap!! I'm still working on our various beach adventures from 2011, have not even begun to think about the 2012 days! Maybe next year I should just do a beach mini-album instead!! Anyway, here's a little sample of beach life for today:

"Life is Better at the Beach" linking up to:
-Punky Scraps photo inspiration

-Stuck?! Sketches sketch

-Color Me Scrappy color combo

-The Crafty Bloggers Network anything goes

Spooky- Child's Play Challenges

Have you seen my 20 MINUTES OR LESS CHALLENGE I have going on right now? Link up by October 31st for your chance to win some goodies from me!! 

The eyes have it at Child's Play Challenges this week....Googly Eyes that is!! We're playing along with those wiggly little fun craft supplies, here's what I came up with:

 

Yes, this another 20 MINUTES OR LESS  layout, nothing fancy going on here- just a quick layout with 7 photos! I trimmed my pattern paper to 12x4, put 2 pieces going across the entire 2-page layout, and one going down the right side. Added a felt rick rack piece across the paper and then filled in with photos. My little fun moment of inspiration is replacing the "o"s in my title with googly eyes, and adding a few to the ends of my journal strips instead of brads or buttons. Quick and easy!! 

Check out the rest of the Googly Eye layouts over at Child's Play Challenges, and link up your own takes on any of our October challenges for a chance to be a guest designer with us in December! =) T

"Spooky" linking up to:

-Child's Play Challenges googly eyes

-All Sorts too cute to spook

-Anything But a Card Halloween

-Shopping Our Stash Trick or Treat

-Desert Island scrapbook page, popped up my photo mat, party theme

Crackity Jones- Twisted Tuesdays

Time for another challenge over at Twisted Tuesday, this week we're working with a sketch and the added twist of glimmer mist. Here's the sketch:

and here's my layout:

My funny (and usually grumpy) cat was just looking so relaxed sunning herself on a rock. i was glad to have snapped a photo of this because she's almost 10 years old and this will be her 1st time in the scrapbook! Our other pets are so involved with the family, they make it in all time, but Miss Crackity Jones likes to keep to herself!

If you'd like to see the rest of the DTs takes on this fun sketch, pop on over to Twisted Tuesdays, and link up your own take on it too! =) T

"Crackity Jones" linking up to:

-Twisted Tuesday sketch + mist

-Lasting Memories flourish, brads, color combo and diecut

-The Crafty Bloggers Networkanything goes

-The Happy Scrapper pets 
-Use Your Stuff  brads 
-The ABC Challenge Z is for zoo

20-MINUTES-OR-LESS challenge for you!!

It's Tuesday, and that means it's my day to post over at The Crafting Family! Today I have a layout of my daughter and our Fresh Air Fund daughter making some yummy 4th of July treats.

Yes, this is another one of my 20-MINUTES-OR-LESS layouts- I simply won't allow myself to spend more than 20 minutes on a page now that I know it's possible!! I've had many people ask how I get a layout done in under 20 minutes, here's how I get my groove on:

1. I search through the list of My Favorite Blogs for the latest challenges to see what would work (sketches, color combos, themes, these all help give me a creative boost).
2. I pull any papers/embellies that might work. This includes cardstock, ribbon, journal cards, pattern paper- anything that might fit with the photos I'm scrapping.
3. Set the timer for 20 minutes, stop over-thinking everything and just GET SCRAPPING!! Now, keep in mind that #s 1 and 2 are part of my planning, we'll call it pre-scrapping, so I don't count that in my 20-minute deadline. I could spend hours (and often do) online looking at ideas, but the challenge blogs really help to get me focused! 

So, do you think you're ready to give the 20-MINUTES-OR-LESS challenge a try? Head to your craft room and give it a try. Then blog about it, post your own layout and then leave me a link to your post here in the comments. Don't forget to include my cute little 20-MINUTES-OR-LESS photo in your post, and I would LOVE if you were a follower of my blog too! One lucky commenter will receive a little packet of goodies from me- I'll draw the winner on November 1st!! =) T

"Make Everyday Beautiful" linking up to:
-The Crafting Family weekly post
-Unscripted Sketches sketch #180
 
-Dynamic Duos color combo

-Scrap Our Stash hot chocolate

Sunday Best- Crafting Family

Time for our monthly sketch at The Crafting Family, and it's our last sketch challenge of the year before our Design Team's holiday break. The feature sketch we did a take on this month was from Page Maps:

and here's my take:

This is my sister and her beautiful family last Easter-they had just arrived at my house after church and were all dressed up. So glad I snapped a pic, because about 5 minutes later my oldest niece was back in her usual "uniform" of jeans and a t-shirt!

Submit your take of the sketch  at The Crafting Family by October 31, 2012 @ midnight (eastern time) and our design team will pick a winner  by Sunday November 4, 2012. =)T

"Sunday Best" linking up to:

-The Crafting Family sketch 

-Southern Girls tie a ribbon round it
-Pin and Tack anything goes

-Alphabet Challenge R is for Recycle/Re-purpose, I used a cupcake liner as an embellishment

-Delicious Doodles monochrome

 

Play- Sketches in Thyme

So excited to see my name chose as a winner this week at Southern Girls Challenge blog for my spots and stripes page I submitted. Thanks for choosing me!! 

 

I have a new sketch design over at Sketches in Thyme, this week it's a 1-photo sketch with a few fun circles along the side. 

Here's the sketch:

and here's my layout:

Instead of the circles, I decided to go with 3 little butterflies. I punched these out of cardstock and then dressed them up by embossing and inking. I attached each with a brad and accented with a rhinestone daisy. Would love for you to give the sketch a try, link up with us at Sketches in Thyme by October 31st! =) T

"Play" linking up to:

-Sketches in Thyme sketch #90

-{Pin}spirational Challenges photo inspiration

 

-Tip Top Tuesday things with wings

-Shopping Our Stash bingo, I did 2 rows: black, ribbon, flower and embossing, ribbon, sparkle

 

Boys Best Friend- Crafting Family

Today I have my weekly post at The Crafting Family to share with you! I have been really good baout sticking to my "20 minutes or less" rule for layouts, and it's really helping me to be more productive and get in and out of the craft room in less time! Here's my latest creation:

Stop on over to The Crafting Family for inspiration, the DT posts daily!! =) T

"Boys Best Friend" linking up to:
-The Crafting Family weekly post
-Use It Tuesday all about fall
-Sketch N Scrap sketch
 

-Use Your Stuff  journal strips
-Papercraft Star photo inspiration

 -Anything Goes Challenge animals
-Purple Mailbox Layout Linky Love

Eliza and the Oobleck and Halloween Loot- Childs Play Challenges

Two layouts for the price of one blog post today! Have 2 challenges from Child's Play Challenges to catch up on! First up, we're getting messy with a slime challenge this month, and I just so happened to have the PERFECT photos to use!

Second we're getting inspired by Its The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, don't you just love that movie? I pulled out the pics from last years Trick-Or-Treat night and made this layout:

Stop on by the Child's Play Challenge blog to see the rest of the DT layouts, and link up with us by October 31!! Thanks for stopping by today =) T

"Halloween Loot" linking up to:
-Child's Play Challenges Great Pumpkin
-Sketches in Thyme  sketch #89

-Paper Issues Halloween
-Scrapmuch color combo
-Paper Playtime trick-or-treat and diecut

Awards Night- Black with 2

We have a new color combo up at Black with 2, this month we're crafting with BLACK with Orange and Lime:

 

Here's what I came up with:

I decided to add an xtra challenge just for myself- to use the colors on a non-Halloween layout, which was actually easier than I expected!  I also just realized that I never blogged about the layout I created for the September challenge, which was BLACK with purple and mint:

 

Here's my layout:

I hope you'll join in the challenge at Black with 2, we'd love to see your take on Black with Orange and Lime! =) T

Cousins- Sketches in Thyme

Have a new sketch design over at Sketches in Thyme:

and here's the layout I created:

Would love to see your take on my latest sketch, hope you'll link up with us at Sketches in Thyme! =) T

"Cousins" linking up to:

-Sketches in Thyme sketch

-Southern Girls Challenge spots and stripes

-Papercraft Star anything goes

Make a Wish- Crafting Family

Wow- busy busy busy in the craft room this week. So many photos to scrap....and just not enough hours in the day! Today I have my weekly page for The Crafting Family to share with you:

This was a quick layout to put together, another one of my "under 20 minutes" creations! For the squares of blue PP at the bottom, I cut three 3" squares from a sheet of double-sided pattern paper, flipped over one of the squares to the polka dotted side, and then inked the edges before adhering. A great way to take advantage of both sides of those pretty pattern papers! Thanks for stopping by, now it's back to the craft room for a bit more scrapping before the kiddos get home! =) T

"Make a Wish" linking up to:

-The Crafting Family weekly post

-Classy Girl sketch

 

Devilishly Cute- True XOXO

This month at True XOXO we're scrapping our Halloween pics, but leaving out the orange, black, witches and pumpkins! Which is actually a relief...year after year I try to work with my stockpile of fabulous Halloween supplies, but my kids are NEVER wearing anything orange and black, there are very rarely any witches in the photos, and nothing seems to match up! Today I have a pic of my cute little devil, and a cute little layout of red and blue:

Ready to go scrap a non-traditional Halloween page? Check out the rest of the True XOXO DT members and their great examples, and then share your creation with us! =) T

"Devilishly Cute" linking up to:

-True XOXO non-traditional Halloween

-Purple Pumpkin sketch

 

-Corrosive Challenges Villains and Monsters

-Allsorts Challenge Blog scrapbook page

-Dynamic Duos cherry cobbler and blue

-The Happy Scrappers buttons and bows

Little Miss Sunshine...and an Announcement!

Thrilled to finally get to tell the news...

Yes, I'm a new DT member over at Twisted Tuesdays! There are new challenges posted every Tuesday, always with a little twist. I've been really excited to announce this and get started with the challenges over there, so here we go...

Today's challenge is "Rock Paper Scissors", use patterned paper and hand cut with scissors on your creation. The twist is to add a "rock" to your creation in the form of diamond glaze, diamond stickles, clear rhinestones, whatever you think of when you think "rock" or "diamond". Here's what i came up with:

Had a lot of fun putting this layout together. Obviously you can see the pattern paper on here, but a little fun note- my yellow strips of PP are from the same sheet of double-sided paper. I cut my paper into 1" strips, and tucked them behind my photo, just flipped over every other strip to reveal the other side! For my title I wrote the word sunshine on cardstock with a white gel pen, and then fussy cut around the word. be sure to let the gel ink dry FIRST- otherwise you'll get a smudgy mess!

I hope you'll stop on by the Twisted Tuesday blog and say hello to the rest of the new DT members, and give our "Rock Paper Scissors" challenge a try! =) T

"Little Miss Sunshine" linking up to:

-Twisted Tuesday rock paper scissors

-Creative Scraps

 

-Color Me Scrappy

 

-123 Challenge "miss" + yellow + paper strips

-The Pink Elephant banners