A number of new projects

GCD Studios WIN!!!!
I recently received my long ago won 2nd prize from GCD Studios but wow this box was stuffed full of goodies. I got the ENTIRE collection of goodies from the Homespun Chic Collection plus 5 dies from the Chipart Tools.

XOXO Challenge
I picked a winner from the XOXO BLOG HOP. Sorry it took so long but the winner of my RAK was Darlene S. Congrats Darlene!!!
Another XOXO Blog Challenge is up. This month's challenge was BLACK and how that inspired the DT to create something. Since its around Halloween when I think of Black it reminds me of Trick or Treating in the dark so I decided to pull out some Halloween papers and Embellies. I decided on Bella Blvd's Too Cute to Spook Collection. I used lots of Black accents including a Black Title, accents and topped it off with Charcoal colored Chalkboard Glimmer Mist.

I created the pumpkin face banner by punching the images out of the Jacks-A-Glow paper with a pinking circle punch from Martha Stewart. I put the punched images on top of another sheet of punched scalloped circles for my handmade banner.

On this layout I decided to play with the October Afternoon Sidewalks Collection for these older pics of my youngest. I just loved the playful images of this collection. I heart banners and love the mix and match banners in the chipboard pieces.

This is a closeup shot of the title and topped with one of the Little Flyers. The flags are such a fun touch and so popular right now.

I enjoyed playing with the October Afternoon Sidewalks Collection in the above layout so I decided to create another layout with this collection. I pulled out some more older pics of the kids enjoying an afternoon watching a Professional Women's Basketball Game. I also added a couple pieces from the 5 & Dime collection. This layout was inspired by the Creative Scrappers Sketch #180. I loved that this sketch combined both a vertical and horizonal photo in the sketch.

A couple closeup/detail shots of the layout.

Two TaDa Creative Studios projects in one post

If your here for the XOXO blog hop check out the post below.

For this layout I pulled out the TaDa Creative Studios BFF Collection and didn’t know what I was going to do with it when I first sat down to scrap. After pulling out the papers and looking at them I had an idea and I ran with it.

I started with the Oooh La La Layers Petal Pals in Tank Green it was the perfect way to showcase pieces from all of the papers in the collection.

To make it easy to fit the patterned papers in the petals I traced a petal onto vellum and used that as a template. I used the majority of the Petal Pals, but I did cut it a bit so there was some empty space for my photo to rest on. Underneath the photo I cut a strip from the backside of the Pink Paisley paper, used a decorative edge punch and then folded some of it to act a little more like ribbon than paper.

When folding the paper like this it does add some bulk under the picture so I add a piece of cardboard from packaging just slightly smaller than the photo to keep the photo from shifting in any way. I then added the title and a couple Stickies from the BFF collection and done.

Items used from the BFF Collection
-Paisley Palooza (front and back)
-Pink Paisley (front and back)
-Word Play (front and back)
-Flower Friend-zy (front and back)
-Snippets & Clippets
-Oooh La La Layers Petal Pals in Tank Green
-BFF Stickies


Sketches in Thyme is having a DT Call right now. To be considered for the team you need to create a layout based on the sketch.

So I pulled out some American Crafts Amy Tangerine papers, Fabric Stickers & Thickers, Studio Calico Fabrips, mixed with some misc embellies from Sassafras, Maya Road, Authentique, Crate Paper and Kaiser Crafts crocheted flower.

Creative Scrappers
This week over at Creative Scrappers they featured sketch #177. Its a great sketch and worked well with this photo of my DD and DH which I recently had printed. We were at a Cowboy themed party and were supposed to dress up. I remembered about this great TaDa Creative Studios Collection - Goody Two Shoes. The plaid paper reminded me of the cowboy shirts and a couple of the papers which I cut to use more as an embellishment featured cowboy boots and hats, how perfect!! I distressed all the papers and added a touch of twine to the photo and title block to add the final down on the farm cowboy touch.

Close up of the fussy cut circles featuring the Cowboy boots and hat.

Sassy Lil' Sketches
While watching the baseball game, and our team LOSING badly I decided to scrap and created this card based on a Sassy Lil' Sketches card sketch #8. I'm very sad that October is the last month that Sassy Lil' Sketches will be open. I used a SRM Sticker and an older Bo Bunny Collection -Sophie which I LOVE and only have tiny scraps left of (I'm very sad).

XOXO Blog hop, Authentique and RAK available

XOXO BLOG HOP starts Oct 13 and ends Oct 20
If you just stumbled upon this blog hop and want to start at the beginning go to True XoXo blog

If you want a chance to be a guest design team member (with all its glorious perks) you need to
1) visit and comment on every single blog in the hop. One blog will bring you to the next, but the master list is available here, in case you get lost.
2) post back on the true xoxo blog when you're done visiting all the other blogs to let us know you're done.

That's it! One random winner will be announced in the end of October.

Completing challenges is optional. Some team members will be giving away their own prizes.

Ya know? I'll tell ya what. For every layout or project that you do based on one of the challenges or inspired by one of the projects of a team member, comment back on the XOXO blog and I'll throw ANOTHER name of yours into the hat for the gdt drawing. You could have as many as 15 entries in the drawing!

Ready? Set! GO!

I was challenged by Lindsey to use Sushi as inspiration, what a beautiful inspiration photo.

Well I don't eat Sushi so I wasn't sure how I was going to have Sushi inspire me, but when I think about Sushi I think of how they are rolled up, so I chose to roll some of my papers. They almost look like scrolls. In the inspiration photo some of the Sushi is made to look like flowers inside, so I also included some fussy cut flowers too. I used Authentique's Blissful Collection for this layout.

I challenged Michelle, she's the last blog so your almost done.

I also will be giving away a RAK, not quite sure what it will be right now, but everyone who comments on this post will be entered into the RAK. Want another entry into the RAK scraplift my layout (any way you choose) and make sure you come back here and leave me another comment with a link to your project. Want a third entry into the RAK then become a follower and leave me another comment letting me know your a follower. If your already a follower leave a second comment telling me that too.

Sassy Lil' Sketches I'm sad to report that Sassy Lil' Sketches is closing. Oct is the last month and they are doing a blow out with lots of layout and card sketches throughout the month. The deadline for participating is Oct 23. So the last sketch I got to play with over there is Sketch #5.

For each sketch we will be giving away one prize of the Sassy Lil' Sketches Ebook.

Did you know Authentique has a Sketch Challenge?
Well they do and I used the Authentique Sketch Challenge to create the Helping Dad layout. I used the Authentique Journey Collection and the products used from that collection are Jaunt (back), Itinerary, Voyage, Itinerary (back), Stroll (back), Explore, Ticket from Icons and Petite Type Circle.

I used Creative Scrappers sketch #175 for this layout. My layout turned out a bit different than the sketch but that's ok. I used Bo Bunny's Cambridge Collection. I'm happy that I finally cut into and used these papers I have had them for quite a while. These papers just called out to me to add lots of distressing. The small Prima flowers were a little more beige and were fading into the background a little too much so I added some Glimmer Glaze in Mellow Yellow and it was the perfect addition to add just a touch of color to the flowers.

Closeup shot of flowers and shield/pocket that is holding them.

Another Closeup- I loved the banner and wings it was the perfect place for me to add the tiny alphabet letters.

Apparently when creating this layout I really wanted to use some stick pins, considering I used one when creating part of the title and two more as accents on the picture. I used the Sept 29 sketch over at Sketchy Thursdays for this layout, I liked the clean design of the sketch, I also made it for the Paper Variety blog challenge which was to use a Nautical theme. The papers are from Bella Blvd's All Inclusive line the papers worked nicely for this photo from Puerto Rico, when creating a part of the title I took a Jenni Bowlin banner added some small round alphas from Authentique used some foam tape and attached it to a stick pin.

I added a closeup of the jounaling in case you were interested in reading it.

The Oct Challenge over at XOXO was posted. So this month's challenge is Instagr.am! Some of our girls prefer Hipstamatic, and that's fine, too!! Point is, the "app for that" generation is easily putting photo editing into the hands of ... well ... everyone! My Instagram layout is the ROAST layout in the post below.

Altered Bottle plus a Ta Da Creative Studios Project

When I was perusing one of the message boards I frequent for inspiration Majo had posted a link to a GORGEOUS bottle that Ingvild Bolme had created. I couldn't get her bottle out of my mind, I wanted to create one of my own and I knew just where I would display it. I have a ledge above my cabinets that is perfect so I also knew the colors that I would use. Know I just needed a bottle. We have a local antique store that I KNEW I would be able to find a bottle. So I made a shopping trip to the store and found a lovely old half gallon bottle that only cost a couple of dollars. The Paper Variety is also having a challenge this week sponsored by home, which was to use the word home or a house or make a home decor item. Obviously I chose to make a home decor item.

Now its time to decorate, I started with the INSIDE of the bottle and I drizzled several colors of Alcohol Inks. The colors I used were Cool Perl (which was very light and didn't show up well), Stream and Butterscotch. I wanted to add a touch of white to it and I had a Stazon Opaque Inker in Cotton White. Then while the Inks were still wet I sprinkled in some Glitter from Pink Paislee Pixie Stix colors (Licorice & Silver Berry).

Now that the inside is colored I turn to the outside of the bottle. I love using doily's and I love adding colors to them. So I misted the doily with Smooch Spritz in a turquoise color, and topped the doily with a Ticket from Webster's Pages. Now the Prima Say it in Crystals are the perfect touch of bling. I love the little lock from My Minds Eye and added it to the bling. The gold trinket on the top of the ticket is also from My Minds Eye and I topped it with this large pearl which I have had sitting in my collection for YEARS. I never use clothespins with my scrapping but I thought it was a great touch on this bottle. The finishing touch was putting the blue beads around the neck of the bottle. The beads were from a kit from Scrapdango over a year ago.

The Full finished bottle.

Tada Creative Studios I saw the Week 1 Switch it Up Sketch over at Sassy Lil' Sketches

and just knew it would work for this photo. The photo is the Restaurant sign of Roast in Downtown Detroit taken on my cellphone when the sun was starting to set, but I really like the look of the photo. The restaurant is from Iron Chef Michael Symon. My mom and I love watching all the food shows on tv and when we discovered this restaurant was so close we knew we had to go check it out. So for my birthday this year my mom and I went. It was yummy and we even tried the Brussel Sprouts, which Chef Symon had made on an episode of Iron Chef, soooo cool!!!

I felt the downtown edgeness of the photo went sooo well with Ta Da's Just Chillin' line. The distressing was the perfect gritty feel that I wanted for this layout. I had so much fun distressing everything. I used just about all the papers in the Just Chillin' collection plus one of the stickers and the oh la la layers above the title.

Close up detail shot of distressing.

Closeup of the Journaling block and more distressing.

For the title I pulled out some Thickers that had a very similar font to the restuarant but they were brown and I didn't like that, since they were a chipboard font I ripped off the top layer and added some Ranger Liquid Pearls in Pewter, while still wet I flipped them upside down which removed the excess and added a fantastic texture to the title.

Sassy Lil' Sketches

Sassy Lil' Sketches Week 3 Layout Sketch

Dressed Up for St. Patty's Day. The background paper is Moxxie, and the other strips are pieces from my Scraps. I fussy cut the banners from October Afternoon Seaside paper. The journaling reads " All in green including holiday beads & Shamrock headband to celebrate the Irish holiday of St. Patty's Day 2011".

September Sponsor:

Layouts must be uploaded to Sassy Lil' Sketches by October 5th, 11:59 P.M. EST to be eligible for the September random prize drawing*.
Specific rules for both Sassy Lil' Sketches site can be found on our Sassy Lil' Sketches "Rules" page.

Get Picky Blog
The Get Picky Sept 12 Challenge is sponsored by Best Creations. So I created the Picking the Perfect Pumpkin layout using Best Creations Hello Fall line. These photos are my little guy from last year, which I recently found when looking for some other photos. I also used it for the Home Ec Challenge at Scrapdango which was to use stitching (orange stitches by the top photo), use fabric (burlap ribbon behind top photo), use diecut (spellbinders die behind the chipboard title), and extra credit: use food in photo and embellishment.

I'm enjoying the kids being in school

because I'm able to get some stuff accomplished. I used the Week 2 card sketch from Sassy Lil' Sketches to create this Bo Bunny card. One of my all time favorite collections from Bo Bunny was the Sophie Collection. I was trying to use up an old kit from Scrapdango. I created this card plus the Smile card and the budding photog layout and still have plenty more scraps to create more. Crop Stop is also having a challenge to use buttons, so I added them to the card. Also, Paper Variety's challenge was to use stickers, so I used a clear sticker from SRM Stickers.

I used sketch #39 from Cardabilities, it was a perfect sketch to use up more of the Bo Bunny Sophie scraps that I had lying on my table.

On this layout I used more of the Bo Bunny Sophie Collection and created this for a challenge at Scrapdango. Besides the Bo Bunny papers, I used the Tim Holtz photo strip ribbon, which I purchased because I knew I had this pick of my DD that I wanted to scrap. The challenge was to use a visual triangle (which is the 3 photo strips), use an actual triangle (the triangle border stickers) and use another shape (the title block).

On this layout I used sketch #173 from Creative Scrappers and I also used it for the Science challenge at Scrapdango. It was to use hexagons or octagons, use green as a main color, and use a botanical item - mine is the wood title letters. I created the "Bubbles" on the layout by watering down white paint and then adding a layer of Glimmer Glaze on top to add a touch of shimmer. Since it was a science challenge I thought the Atomic Soup papers from Jillibean Soup was the perfect collection for this challenge, plus it gave me an excuse to ACTUALLY use it.

I was looking through my pics when I saw this picture of me at dinner while on vacation and a title popped into my head and I knew I had to scrap it right away. I thought the Creative Scrappers sketch #172 fit this picture and I decided to pull out Webster's Pages Ladies & Gents collection and then added extra Webster's goodies like the Bloomers, the blingy ribbon, the pom pom flower, and other extra goodies.

I added a closeup of the journaling.

A Ta Da Creative Studios project Friendship is a gift, so let’s make your friend’s day and make a great card to celebrate your friendship! That’s what this card is all about. I used the wonderful colorful Sizzlin’ Summer line from Ta Da Creative Studios to create this friendship card. Wouldn’t you love to receive a card like this in the mail?

I used the Mini Mes paper, this one is PERFECT when making cards because the pattern is smaller than the full size paper. I also used the Snippets & Clippets paper (which I LOVE) and fussy cut the Pink flower and used the journaling block for the sentiment of the card. The butterfly punch was an easy and quick embellishment for this card. Add a sentiment, a touch of ribbon/trim and you have a card your friend will treasure. Have a great scrappy week!!

A number of new projects

I found this great sketch over at Sketches in Thyme #55. When searching for what photos to use with it I found these cute pics of my son making a pizza. So when deciding what papers to use I wanted some type of food collection and I thought why not look thru my Jillibean Soup stash and I found this older but still soooo cute collection. When I saw the pig paper my decision was made. Everything on this layout is from Jillibean Soup except the twine and the Happy Ticket at the top.

I also created this layout for a challenge at Scrapdango for the Computer class challenge. The challenge was to use a digital image (the Happy Ticket) and use numbers or type on the page other than the title.

It also worked for the Paper Variety's blogaversary which was to use stamps or digital stamps, Thanks Happy Ticket.


A close-up, I just love the little pig!!


I made this cute card based on the Sept Week 1 Sassy lil' Card Sketch. I used Sassafras papers and stickers, the sentiment is SRM Stickers. I created this card for the Create: Blog challenge which was to use Toothpick flags. I actually didn't have any so I created my own with toothpicks in my cupboard and Sassafras banners. It was sooo easy and quick.

I also used a Cheery Lynn Designs die on the card, Its the oh so yummy Carnivale border. They are having an anything goes challenge right now it ends on Sept 15. So if you have any Cheery Lynn Designs dies create a project with it and add it and you could win.


I saw the 9.8 sketch challenge over at Sketchy Thursdays and just loved it, and knew I wanted to create with it. I'm not completely thrilled with it but its done. I also created it for Paper Variety's blogaversary which was to use your favorite manufacturer. There are soooo many favorite's. I picked Fancy Pants and one of my favorite collections from them is the Beach Bum collection. I just love it!!


This layout is based on the sketch over at The Scrappiest #135. I pulled out scraps for this one. It is always soooo gratifying to use up some scraps. I HAD to take a pic on this day because both Tiffany and Tyler lost a tooth on the SAME day. When does that happen.


The colors are definitely not quite right on this one. SORRY! I used Creative Scrappers sketch #171 for this one and I created it for a Scrapdango PE Challenge. Its was to use an action photo, use a circle, and convey motion. So I put the title letters at all different heights to convey motion.