Scrapbook Steals Challenges

I made it home from a relaxing week of vacation just in time to join my friends at Scrapbook Steals for an on-line chat and crop night.  I did more chatting than cropping, and thanks to the time difference,  I had to retire early, but I still had a great time.  It's amazing what a connection I feel to a group of people that I've never even met in person.  Who says you can't find love on the internet!?  I love these scrappy sisters of mine.  I only wished they lived closer so I could chat with them in person.  They are so inspiring and so uplifting and always give me great feedback.  In addition to the on-line chat, they issued four extra challenges in addition to the regular mid-week mojo.  I somehow managed to get them all done (just don't expect the same of my laundry).  Hey, a girl's gotta have priorities, right? 
Here is my version of this week's mid-week mojo #48 (also challenge #1):

 For challenge #2, the number challenge, we had to use one die cut, three spray mists/inks, five patterned papers, 7 brads, and 9 buttons.  I continued with page 2 of my Epcot layout to include more photos.  I used a die-cut Mickey head to try a masking technique I saw on the October Afternoon blog:

For challenge #3, Summer Inspiration, we had to make something inspired by a photo.  The photo had lots of bright pics arranged in a grid.  I had to make a card for someone special, so I used the grid and bright colors to make a simple card with squares and my new corner punch.

Challenge #4 was Gender Swap.  We were challenged to create a layout using products for the opposite gender.  I chose papers from Echo Park's Little Boy collection to do a page about myself.  Not surprisingly, I found that I actually like boy papers better than most girl papers anyway, so this was easy for me.

Challenge #5 was based on a sketch designed by my scrappy friend Melissa Dehne.  I chose to do a layout about Caleb's wrestling camp.  Caleb loves when I scrap about him.  He watched over my shoulder and offered all kinds of "helpful" advice as I finished his page.

As always, I wish there were more hours in the day.  But the mountain of laundry isn't washing itself, and I have dinner in the crockpot that I need to finish off.  Maybe I'll get lucky enough to win some goodies from this week's challenges.  Thanks for looking!