Weekly Challenge #49

I wound up with a nasty eye infection the same day the Scrapbook Steals challenge came out.  So, as any dedicated scrapper would do, I went to the doctor to get checked out, pumped my eyeball full of steroids and antibiotics,  and then got my scrap on!  Here's what I created:

It was based on this great two page sketch by Scrapbook Steals' amazing Kristy Lee:

I love that it included sooo many photos and I knew right away it would be perfect for another Disney layout.  I took more than 30 pictures at the stunt show and I had to incorporate as many as I could.  Many of my shots were from a far distance, so I used the 4x6 photos that I had already printed and hacked them up, leaving the smaller square photos.  I even cut up a large photo that I took at the entrance of the attraction and added it at the bottom of my layout as a secondary title.   I didn't alter the original sketch much at all, since everything came together so nicely.  I must say, it's my favorite two page, twelve photo, one eyed layout!

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!

Weekly Challenge #47

Here's my version of this week's Scrapbook Steals Mid-Week Mojo.

I used coordinating Disney papers from EK Success and added the felt "Believe in Magic" diecut for my title.  I put yellow cardstock behind the stars in the title and added some bling with my i-rock. I realized after I took the picture that one of the crystals slipped off, but it has since be reattached.  I'm just to lazy to take another pic.  I can't say enough how grateful I am for Scrapbook Steals, not just for the great deals, but for all of the friends I have made and for all of the wonderful inspiration.  Getting such flattering feedback from my girls at Scrapbook Steals is the highlight of my week!

Weekly Challenge #46

This is the layout I made for this weeks mid-week mojo challenge at Scrapbook Steals.  It was a one photo sketch, but I added another and made it my own.  This layout tells the story of our crazy bike riding adventure that occurred on our Disney vacation.  Who knew that one of our favorite rides at Disney would be on a surrey bike!?  I found myself laughing as I journaled, and it took me right back to the fun we had that day.  That's what I love so much about scrapbooking.  Just a few pictures and a story can capture and preserve such fond memories.  Hopefully 10 years from now, I'll look back at this page and giggle as I remember our crazy bike ride.

My Mind's Eye Blog Challenge #24

I decided to enter the blog challenge over at My Mind's Eye since I needed a good excuse to use more of their new Lime Twist collection!  The requirements for this challenge were to create a layout using 80% MME, including song lyrics, and based on this sketch:

 

  I chose a song from Rascal Flatts called "My Wish" that has perfect lyrics to include in a message to my boys.  I managed to use pieces from three different MME collections.  The red solid paper is from the Confetti collection.  The brad in the center of my pinwheel is actually from the holiday collection called I Believe.  And the rest is all from Lime Twist.  I wanted to do the title with MME letters but I didn't have any in the right color, so I spotted a piece of Lime Twist patterned alphabet paper and cut out the individual letters.  I went over the letters with Glossy Accents to help them stand out and popped them up with pop dots.  My favorite feature is the zipper, the only item that is not MME.  It's actually a regular sewing notion that has been sitting in my stash for some time. I thought this might be the perfect place to use it!

All in all, I'm happy with how it turned out.  I didn't really have a "vision" when I started out, but I'm pleased with the finished product.  Thanks for looking!

Scrappiness

I've fallen behind in posting my weekly challenges.  I've been too busy crafting and neglected the blogging.  Here is week #43, a page using one of my favorite Echo Park collections called Life is Good.  I actually had the papers before I had anything to use them with, so I snapped some pics of the house after we planted flowers.  Kind of like buying jewelry and then buying an outfit to match! 

I was so excited to use some of my new baker's twine, so I created a little pom-pom and added more twine along with buttons to make the border.  And I found the perfect quote to finish off my layout.  There really is something special about being "home" and making our house look pretty and inviting.  We've only been in this home 7 years, but we have made so many memories here!

For weekly challenge #44, I created a two page layout with some of my favorite pics from our Disney trip.  We were lucky enough to visit Epcot during the Home and Garden Festival and the park was full of beautiful topiaries shaped like Disney characters.  I wish I had taken time to photograph more of them. 

This layout uses more from a favorite Echo Park collection called A Walk in the Park.  One of my favorite things about the EP collections is their fun bright colors.  I thought these papers were a great way to highlight these beautiful pics.  This layout was especially special to me, since it wound up being picked by Creating Keepsakes blog as a gallery highlight. Check it out here.  I've always dreamed of being published in CK magazine, so this brings me one step closer.  

And for my #45 weekly challenge page, I created a fun bright layout based on a wonderful sketch by my scrappy friend (and Scrapbook Steals guest designer) Lisa Zubritsky.  This page features some of my new papers from My Mind's Eye from their new Lime Twist collection.

Lisa's sketch used lots of pretty girly flowery embellishments, which my darling son just doesn't appreciate on his layouts.  So I used some of the embellishments from the Lime Twist collection, glued on some flat washers from the hardware store, and made my own pennant using a toothpick and a scrap of paper.  I added a star sticker, drew some doodles, and tied on some twine.  It was such an easy addition.  You're probably going to be seeing more of these on my future projects.

In addition to my weekly challenges, I'm trying to complete a few extra pages for my Disney album.  I'm eager to get that one done so that I don't forget anything and can record our memories while they are still "fresh".    Thanks for looking!

And the winner is.....

I enlisted the help of my little guy in selecting the winner of my blog giveaway.

and the winner of my Making Memories Je t'adore prize package is.....Becci Manies!!!  Becky, please send me a PM on facebook with your address and I'll get this in the mail to you.  Thanks for playing along.  Now I can't wait to see what beautiful things you make with it!