Sweet & Sassy

Well, folks, here we are again with another layout. The challenge deadline has passed, but I'm still planning to work on those prompts. It's been fun to add new pages to my scrapbooks.

The name of this challenge is Hot Pink Hoopla. I thought this summery photo would work so well with a blast of hot pink! I think this layout turned out okay, but not one of my best. Something about the tag is not quite right. However, I'm perfectly comfortable with the fact that not every page can or should be stellar. For me, the point is to have fun and to capture a memory.

Norah has a sweet, sparkly, fun-filled personality. (The word "sassy" in the title is meant only in the best way. She's not naughty sassy at all!)

Till next time!

Grandparent Love

This layout is for the Signature Accent challenge. I was stumped at first, thinking that I don't really have a signature accent that I use on each page. It dawned on me that my pages do have recurring elements, so I decided to go with that. I used my favorite paper line, Basic Grey. They offer beautiful patterned paper! I also used a favorite technique: inking. Most of the paper I use has inked edges. I like the way it helps things stand out against the background. Next, I chose my tried and true favorite shape, a scalloped circle. Marvy Uchida makes several sizes of scallops that can stand alone or be layered - love their punches the best!

Normally, I don't go in for oval shapes in my photos - that's very "old school"! But in this case, I did have an oval frame left from the front of a pad of decorative paper I'd bought. I cut out all the pretty parts from the cover that I thought I might someday use, and stuck them in my drawer units that I keep for small scraps of paper. The frame seemed just right for this, so being the greenie that I am, I enjoyed finding a use for it! I also used a couple of rub-ons, which can be fabulous or terribly frustrating. I've learned that it pays to buy quality rub-ons - the cheap ones will just make you mad, and you'll end up throwing them in the trash!

I noticed with this layout that I'm seeing a lot of the same placement of photos and elements on my pages. I seem to gravitate towards that lower right-hand corner of the page. I guess that means that I'll have to work extra hard to keep from getting into a rut! I've still got several challenges to go, so I'll have to try to mix it up  a bit.

Till next time!

Summer Love

This layout is a result of the Chop Your Paper challenge. The guidelines were to use one or two sheets of paper without any additional embellishments. This was a hard one for me, but I'm pleased with the way it turned out. I cheated by using some alphabet stickers, but the rest is paper and ink. (All the paper edges are inked.) I also used a couple of punches to make the scalloped circles - Marvy Uchida makes really nice punches that are easy on the hands.

I don't know why kids love sunglasses, but I've got some great pictures of my grandkids posing in sunglasses. Maybe it makes them feel grown up to wear them. Norah certainly seems very proud of herself, posing with Mommy.


My goal is to get through all these challenges; I will have quite a few pages to add to my scrapbook by the time I'm done!

Till next time!

Paper: Basic Grey, Echo Park
Alpha: K & Company
Ink: ColorBox
Punch: Marvy Uchida

He's Jolly

Here's another layout based on a challenge. You can read the original post here. The challenge was to use only half of your paper, leaving plenty of space for the eye to rest. This has been a popular approach to scrapbook pages for a while, although there are still plenty of pages with multiple photos and little "wasted" space. I also used another popular technique here of clustering accents.

I like this approach for a couple of reasons. It's pleasing to my eye, and allows a single photo to be the focus. Sometimes you want to tell your story with only one photo, as is the case here. I love this photo of Isaac. I think it shows so clearly the resemblance he has to his daddy's side of the family. Something about his expression really makes me think of one of his cousins.

It's so much fun to scrapbook photos of children! They have such cute expressions on their faces. Seeing this just makes me want to squeeze that boy!

Till next time!

Paper: Basic Grey, Bazzil, Cloud 9, Unknown
Alpha: Making Memories
Ink: VersaMagic
Punch: Marvy Uchida
Tape Measure Accent: Somerset Studio

Sugar & Spice

Sometimes a challenge is just what I need to get going. I've really been out of the habit of creating scrapbook pages. I find that the hardest part is getting started. If I wait until I'm "in the mood", it's so easy to put it off.

I came across a challenge on this blog to use stickers from more than one line on the same layout. Stickers have been in and out of popularity with scrapbookers. In the early days of current scrapbooking (people were keeping scrapbooks long before my time), stickers were used with great abandon. I once saw the phrase "sticker sneeze" to describe that approach, and it fits perfectly. I've done many pages that way myself!

I've wanted for some time to create a page around this photo. She has such a sweet expression here, and the backdrop of flowers is perfect. I'll be linking this post to the challenge just for fun, so I will list credits below for the products I used.

It's amazing what fun can be had with a few stickers and some paper!

Till next time!

Products used: Paper by Bazill and Artist paper courtesy of Stampington & Co.; Stickers from Deja Views, K & Company and Creative Imaginations; Metal "bliss" accent from Marcella (K & Company); rub-ons unknown.