My Inspiration

I am putting my Lasting Memories blog post up early as we are being hit by Hurricane Irene. I want to make sure it posts before we loose power. I hope everyone on the east coast is safe and dry.

I am very sad to be typing my last post as a design team member at Lasting Memories. This is the last challenge of my 2nd term and it's time to move on. Karen will be announcing the new team shortly and I cannot wait to participate in her wonderful challenges. She has been so great to work for and this was the most wonderful first experience being on a design team. Thanks so much Karen for giving me a chance. You are such a sweet and caring person.

Karen's challenge this week is to create a layout about what inspires you. Is it your parents, a song, a quote? She also included a sketch that you can follow if you choose. It's a very versatile sketch, and of course I chose to use it. Here's the sketch....


Such a wonderful sketch to go along with the challenge. Lots of space for journaling about your inspiration.

So my inspiration really has always been my children. As my journaling explains, it was just my boys and me for about 6 years. This was when they were small, and I had to work a lot. I always felt bad that they had to be in daycare, but they have told me that they think I did well, and they enjoyed their childhood.


I hand wrote the journaling on a piece of notebook paper that I inked to make it match the paper better. I am going to also enter this page into this week's challenge at Frosted Design, which is to use notebook paper, book pages or ledger paper on your project.

Check out what inspires the rest of the design team. Their pages look amazing. I hope you will share with us what inspires you.

Be safe and I hope everyone has a great, uneventful week.

Birthday Sundaes Challenge #24

Good Sunday morning. It has been such a strange week around here, on the east coast. First we had an earthquake. Wow.... There was another one yesterday in my area, near Albany, NY. And now we are dealing with Hurricane Irene. I hope everyone is safe and dry today.

It's time for the new challenge at Birthday Sundaes. The challenge is a photo inspiration one, and oh so yummy....


The inspiration comes from Urban Comfort.

I used the idea of flags to create a background of sorts on my card. I also included a dimensional cupcake, and the colors of the inspiration photo.

Hop on over to Birthday Sundaes and check out the wonderful cards the design team came up with. They are so cute. I hope you will let the photo inspire you and that you share your birthday creation with us. Don't forget the birthday sentiment on the front of the card.

Be safe and enjoy your week.

Tell Us Your Secrets

Good morning again. This week at Lasting Memories, the challenge is all about Secret ideas. This can be hidden journaling, some hidden photos or a hidden treasure. We want you to show us how you hide something in your layout.

For my layout, I used the current sketch at Sketches in Thyme. I thought it was perfect for how I wanted to hide a couple of elements on the page.


I decided that I would use a photo that I had taken of all of the ribbons that Willie earned at his first agility trial in June. Last week in the mail, I had received the certificate that he earned for advancing a title and I wanted to include it on a layout. So here is my page....


The mat that the photo is on is actually the cover for my hidden area. I scanned the certificate and printed it small enough to fit inside this area. I also printed a small photo of my very favorite picture of Willie from that day. The photo has already been scrapped, but I just love it so much. I included details of the runs that earned him the new title below the photo.


When I place this layout into the page protector, I will use a utility knife to cut around the area that opens so that the details can be viewed at any time.

I am using this page for my 52 Week's Challenge entry this week at Scrappin'-n-Chattin'. I am so excited that I have been able to keep up with this challenge, for 33 weeks. I haven't even needed to use a pass yet. It will also be entered into the Ticket challenge SnC which is part of the regular monthly challenges in the group this month. I used a ticket that came with my latest Artful Delight kit.

Hop on over to LM and discover the Design Team's secret. They have created wonderful pages. Remember, too, that LM is having a DT call. If you are interested in serving on the team in the next term all you have to do to qualify is to follow all of the challenges in August. Karen is so creative and wonderfully nice. She's awesome to work with. I can't wait to see everyone's work.

I look forward to seeing some awesome secrets this week.

Birthday Sundaes Challenge #23

Good Sunday morning. I hope everyone is having a wonderful, crafty weekend. It's time to show you the new challenge at Birthday Sundaes. And we have a sponsor this week - ME!! I am offering a set of Large Scalloped Oval Nestabilities. Nestabilities is my newest obsession.

The challenge this week is to make a Birthday card of pink, green and white. You can use some neutral colors if you need to, but it must be made up mostly of pink, green and white. You have got to check out the cards the Design Team created. They are all so beautiful.

I created my card using the August Week #3 sketch from Sassy Lil' Sketches. It's such a pretty sketch.


I used my Regular Scalloped Oval Nestabilities for this card. The base is a regular pink card base, but all of the papers used were from my stash.


I hope you will join us this week for our pink, green and white challenge. Be sure to include a birthday sentiment on the front of your card.

Just A Break

It's Wednesday and time to tell everyone about the new challenge at The Paper Variety. The challenge this week is to include threads of some kind on your paper project. This can be twine, yarn, ribbon - any kind of thread.

Be sure to check out TPV for the wonderful inspiration provided by the design team and to see the great prize being offered this week.
I created a layout this week following the current Artful Delight sketch. I just love it.

The subject I chose was a photo of a hummingbird I captured on a feeder outside of my scraproom. We have 6 feeders throughout the yard, and what seems like a ton of hummingbirds. It's really hard to count them. They are so fast. It's really cool seeing them stop to take a break.


I used twine to wrap the side of the paper under the photo and I glued some twine in a spiral for my lines to journal on.

I hope you will stop over at TPV and let us see your thread project.

I am also entering this layout into the following challenges:
ScrapFit - Weekend Warmup #11 - Flowers

You Are My Sunshine

It's time again for the new reveal at Lasting Memories. And this week's challenge is a real challenge. Karen is asking us to try a new technique, something that we have never tried before. Make sure to check out all of the wonderful pages the design team created for your inspiration and maybe even your technique.

I used a couple of different, new to me techniques. First though, I used this week's Sassy Lil' Sketches sketch for my page. Such a bright and sunny sketch. It really made me search for the right photos.


I also wanted to use this page as my off-week entry at The Paper Variety. The challenge is a color challenge:
The papers I used were a mixture of Echo Park and My Mind's Eye Lime Twist. The photo doesn't show the true colors, but they are very citrusy.

The techniques that I used were:
1. Machine stitching - I stitched green paper to the orange paper with a zig zag stitch. I have always loved seeing the stitching on all kinds of cards and layouts, but I have never been brave enough to try myself. I was always afraid of tearing the paper. I practiced a little with some scrap paper and then jumped in. I LOVE it. I will definitely be doing it again.

2. Paperclay charms - Inspired by some of DT member, Brenda's, wonderful projects, I got some Paperclay and created some charms that I wanted to include on a banner on my page. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy the Paperclay is to work with. I was afraid that the charms would break or crumble when I tried to remove them from the board they were drying on or when I hung them. But they were quite tough. I sponged them with some color from ink pads. Again, something else I will have to do again.

3. Colored chipboard - I have a ton of chipboard and I really am too intimidated to try to paint or cover them. On this page, the clouds are chipboard. I used white ink as an undercoat and then used some Stickles to cover them and make them sparkly. I really like them. Next step is cover some chipboard with paper.


Thank you Karen for really challenging me to step outside of my comfort zone. This page took quite a while to create, but it felt GREAT.

I am also entering this page into the following challenges:
ScrapFIT -Workout #49 - 'Put A Banner On It'
Flutter By Wednesday - #166 - Open, must include a butterfly, fairy or angel

And don't forget, Lasting Memories is having a design team call. To be considered, all you have to do is to create a layout in each of the challenges in August. When uploading your link, be sure to include DT after your name. We have a some really talented people submit entries so far.

I hope you will try a new technique this week. I can't wait to read all about what the design team did as well as our participants.

Birthday Sundaes Challenge #22

Good Sunday morning. We have had a couple of good weather days Friday and Saturday, and it looks like we will pay for it Sunday. It's supposed to be hot, humid and rainy all day. Oh well, we really do need the rain. Makes it a good excuse to craft right?
This week's challenge at Birthday Sundaes is all about the brads. We want to see at least 3 brads on your cards, along with a birthday sentiment. August is a busy birthday month for me. And this week my youngest son celebrate's his 23rd birthday. So I used this challenge to make his card. I used a bunch of scraps to make it. I love when I do that. I have WAY too many scraps.

I have decided I am going to try to use more card sketches. This week I chose the August Week #2 sketch at Sassy Lil' Sketches to create my card. I really liked this sketch and will likely use it again.


And here is my take....



Go check out the wonderful cards that the design team created. They are so talented. I love checking out the BS blog every Sunday to see what everyone made. I hope you will share your birthday card with brads this week.

Under The Table

I realized this morning, that I had not completed my weekly layout for the 52 Week Challenge at Scrappin'-n-Chattin'. So as I was processing the work for the guys for next week, I was pondering what to scrap.

I decided I wanted to do a page that showed how much Willie and Tessa look alike as puppies. Then I remembered that I had photos of both of them under the dining room table. They both seem to gravitate to the legs of the table. Every evening they snuggle together under it.

I used this week's sketch at Sketchy Thursdays. When I saw it yesterday it stuck with me. When I considered the photos, I knew I needed 3. Great sketch.


And here's the page....


I am also entering this layout into this week's challenge at Frosted Designs. The challenge to include animals on your project. I am going to link it at Wee Memories as well. Their challenge is to use at least 4 colors.

It's Friday!!! I hope to get a bit of scrapping done tomorrow. I have 3 or 4 layouts swirling in my head now. I hope everyone will be having a wonderful weekend. Thanks for looking.

Brother and Sister

Good Sunday morning. I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend. I have been away for the weekend at a military event in Long Island (so I scheduled this post).

It's time to reveal the new challenge at Lasting Memories. This week's challenge is my favorite - a sketch. But this time Karen threw in a twist. We are to include buttons on our page as well. Here is the cool sketch:


I did another page of Willie and Tessa. They are my favorite subjects at the moment, lol. I used some Fancy Pants papers that I had won a couple of years ago. I rarely remember to look at them when choosing papers, but this time I did. There's some awesome, versatile papers there. I loved the fact that there was a ton of space for journaling. I have really gotten into writing a lot on my pages.



There are only a few more weeks left for the current design team. Karen is putting a call for the new team. If you are interested in trying out, all you have to do is create a layout each week for the month of August, and include DT after your name when you post your layouts.

Head on over to the LM blog and check out the awesome pages the other girls came up with. Very inspirational. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with using this sketch, and of course buttons.

Birthday Sundaes Challenge #21 and Blog Hop Winner

Wow!!! What an awesome turnout for the Birthday Sundaes Blog Hop!! I hope everyone enjoyed seeing the new team and saying goodbye to those that are moving on. Be sure to check back at BS blog on Wednesday to find out the winner of the grand prize of the blog hop.

The winner of my blog candy was determined by random.org. I had 82 people leave comments on my blog post. Thanks so much. I really enjoyed reading all the very nice comments. Thanks for those of you became new followers. I now have over 100 now!!! Woohoo!!! So the winner of the random number generator is #44, Laurie.

So cute and the colors are great!

Laurie
scrapsbysissy.blogspot.com

August 1, 2011 7:35 AM

Congratulations Laurie!!! Please send me your name and mailing address so that I can get your prize in the mail to you. My email is ssedlak815@gmail.com.


Now it's time to talk about this week's challenge at Birthday Sundaes. We are being sponsored by Gingerloft Digi Stamps. The winner of this week's challenge will get 3 images of their choice. Go check out all of the items that are available.


Our challenge is Birthday Card with a Birthday Sentiment. The design team was given a choice of 3 images to use on their cards. I chose the stacked turtles.


Go check out the wonderful cards the design team created with their image choices. I hope you will join us this week.

Who Needs To Make The Bed?

To go to the Birthday Sundaes blog hop post, click here.

Good morning friends. It is Wednesday and time for a new challenge at The Paper Variety!! The challenge is to go circle crazy.



I love challenges like this. It really gets ideas running through my head. Our sponsor this week is Scrapbook Circle. They are a monthly kit club. Their kits look awesome!!! Be sure to check them out. They are offering our winner a $30 gift certificate for use in their store.



For my page I used a sketch created by Jana Eubank. The more I see my page, the more I like the sketch. I think I may have to reuse it.


The photos I used are of my two dogs playing on the bed this past Saturday morning. I was trying to make it when Willie jumped up there. Tessa was on the floor jumping like she wanted to be up there too. So they started rolling around with each other on the bed. I had to stop trying to make the bed and get the camera. They were having so much fun. Willie is so good with Tessa.



This week's Fabulous Friday Challenge at Frosted Designs is also to use circles. So I am entering this layout there as well. Make sure you check out the wonderful projects on the TPV blog the rest of the design team came up with. They are so talented. I can't wait to see what you come up with.

My Birthday Sundaes Blog Hop Candy

To continue to the Birthday Sundaes blog hop, click here....

But wait!!!

I am offering blog candy for those leaving a message on my blog hop post. As I promised, here is a photo of the Echo Park 6 x 6 Walk In The Park paper pad and the Prima Mulberry Paper Flowers that I am offering. The flowers really coordinate with some of the papers in the pad well.

So, make sure that you check out the birthday card I created as inspiration for this week's challenge at Birthday Sundaes and continue on with the hop. You can click here for my original blog hop post.

Christmas In July - I did it!!!

If you are looking for the Birthday Sundaes blog hop, click here.

Well, now it's August. Where does the time go? As you may have read, I had been participating in a month long challenge to create a Christmas card each day in July at the Yahoo group Scrappin'-n-Chattin'. I was not sure that I would be able to follow through. I am so happy and proud to say that I did!! I loved creating each day. I really need to get back into real life now. My room is a disaster. So first order of business this week is to get that back in some sort of organizatin. Here are my last 3 cards for July. We have quite a stash of Christmas cards. I'm going to invite to the kids over to pick some they may want to give also.

Day 29

Day 30

Day 31

Thank for looking...