Anticipating a New Year

As I see a new year coming soon, I look back at 2012. There were a few challenges, accomplishments, and significant changes. My position at work will be coming to a close by mid-year 2013. I have the opportunity to find a new and different role within the company or start out fresh with a different bank. 2013 is bound to be very similar to 2012 with the number of changes in store! To pay homage to the good in 2012, here is a page I devoted to my team at work. We gave back to the community by volunteering at 3 Square.

 

At Color Me Scrappy, there is a color challenge. I used that to go with these photos. My journaling is hidden behind the file folder adhered with a line of tape, so it can open easily. The sequins and ink were used to show the celebratory feel I wanted to convey on the layout. It was hard work, but fun at the same time. It was wonderful that the team wanted to give back as a group, and everyone participated!

For 2013, I am ready to release something. Instead of One Little Word to focus on as a goal, this is one little word to stop! I want to release the stress I felt in 2012. There will always be stress, but maybe it will be more beneficial in the new year--more of the type that drives me to succeed in anticipation of a challenge instead of dread! I will relish the happy moments to release the day to day stress. That is my goal for 2013.

Here is a close up of my "release".

This topic was a challenge on Scrapbooking From the Inside Out. I think it is a great way to anticipate the new year. What will you release from 2012? 

Getting in the Spirit

This time of year is the best time of year, but I'm very behind! To get me up to speed and into the spirit of Christmas time, I created these two layouts. I also used sketches to jump start my creativity!

Here are my resulting layouts. I tend to stay close to the originals.

Food Pages

This week's sketch on Creative Scrappers made me think of a layered cake! This is my layout about my love for John and chocolate!

I completed another food themed layout for Thanksgiving about my son trying new foods. This one was inspired by the color challenge at Color Me Scrappy.

Scrapping Me

Last night I completed two pages with ME on them! Most of my pages are about the men in my life-my son and my husband. I'm proud that I was able to put my feelings onto my pages and get that creative release at the same time!

On this first page, I gathered inspiration from a number of sources:
Color Me Happy
Creative Scrappers
Club CK
Studio Calico blog

I used the color scheme from Color Me Happy challenge #17, the sketch from Creative Scrappers (#233), the free printable journaling card from Club CK, and the idea to use paint to color an embellishment came from Studio Calico. Put it all together and you get this:

This was such a fun layout to put together, and it really was simple! I love how I got to use flairs and random buttons!

On my second layout, I dug deep and journaled about how I good I think I am doing to take care of myself. (idea from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out) I think I'm doing okay, but I could be doing a lot better if I were more focused and disciplined. I'm sure many can say the same thing, but I feel like I'm letting myself down. I hope this layout will give me that motivation to turn it around.

 

I elected to use spray ink and swirly stamps to demonstrate how much fun the temptations are! (and out of control) The scale represents the consequences of my choices.

Here's my hidden journaling:

I've been honest with myself, and I hope this brings inspiration to others to create a page about themselves.

Color Me Scrappy #16

The people at Color Me Scrappy posted a color challenge with the twist of using the word "Enter" somewhere in the title or journaling. Here's the terrific  color palette. The trick is to use all of the colors; that can be difficult.



  

Here is my layout for the challenge:

 

The key word of Enter made me think of these chipboard Maya Road doors. I also found stickers of a key and key hole that went perfect with the theme. It's JJ's world, and we're just along for the ride!

Color Me Scrappy #15

Through Face Book, I discovered the Color Me Scrappy blog. They have a great color and sketch challenge on their page.

The colors:

 

And here's the sketch:

I had two pictures I wanted to use, but they are horizontal instead of vertical. I still wanted the grounding to be horizontal though. I used a tag border below my photos as my horizontal grounding. The strip journaling on the sketch was my inspiration for choosing this patterned paper with strips on the side border. It also has a flag banner to bring that rounded element! Perfect paper by Basic Gray!

My results:

For dimension and texture, I added the 14 game piece--it represents JJ's birthday and Danyelle's birthday celebration. I also used Studio Calico tapes, the Happiness bubble, Me and My Big Ideas stones, and a American Crafts gemmed and glittered flower. This was a really fun challenge! I didn't really know how I was going to scrap these photos, but the inspiration led the way!

Baseball--Way of Life

I did a 2 pager! I haven't completed a 2 page spread in a very long time! I was inspired by Creative Scrappers sketch 232 to make it 2 pages. I covered journaling cards with washi tape to create the circle bubbles.

 

washi covered circles!!!

 

Vellum as a New Fave

Recently, I've started using vellum as a layer for extra dimension on the layout. It is a subtle way to make a separation between the picture and the pattern papers.

For different textures, I added some corrugated cardboard, a transparency strip, sequined flower, and a lace doily.
This layout is inspired by a ScrapFit sketch:

Here's another layout I did using vellum as a frame and separator. This was inspired by a sketch on Creative Scrappers.

The resulting layout:

I used vellum to soften the orange text paper I used as a background behind the pictures.

Sunday Scrapping

Sunday afternoon was perfect for scrapping! I used two Creative Scrappers sketches for inspiration.

Here are my layout results:

I used My Minds Eye papers on both layouts and Studio Calico cardstock.

Batter Up!

I completed this layout for the Club CK Recipe Challenge sponsored by Queen & Co. The recipe: twine, tape, and bling! I really love Queen & Co products! When I attended the CK Convention in Las Vegas, I went to the Queen & Co trunk show. I got a wonderful trunk full of goodies, and I wouldn't mind being the random winner for a second trunk!

 

I  adhered and overlapped yellow bling flowers to look like a sun in the corner of the layout. I used goose bumps as corners of the pictures, and I glued twisted twine on three of the circles in the patterned paper. I used Queen & Co tape to frame the photos and another strip to join two patterned papers. I used a brand strip of MME to add a sentiment and journaling at the bottom of the layout.

My MVP

As everyone knows, my son JJ is our MVP. Yesterday, he did something very special. When he had the ball, he was asked to throw it to the referee at home plate. Instead, he walked it over there and placed the ball on the tee for the player. I had already put my camera away! It was the most precious moment, and this program is helping JJ connect with other kids in so many different ways.

To commemorate the game, I created this layout using a sketch from Creative Scrappers (#228).

 Supplies: SEI cs, pp. pp for buttons: Best Creation Inc. buttons: Queen & Co. stars: SC. sticker: me & my big ideas. thread: SC. ink: ColorSnap.

I used clear buttons and punched baseball theme items and stars from patterned paper to place behind them. I used glaze to adhere the buttons on the paper in order to add some shine and keep it clear.

 If you have any clear buttons, and you weren't quite sure you knew what to do with them, this sketch is perfect!

Baseball is Life

This is Fall Ball time! I will be doing lots of layouts of JJ at Miracle League Baseball. This is his 4th season since he plays both Spring and Fall ball! We look forward to this Saturday ritual, and JJ has formed some wonderful friendships with his teammates and coaches.

For this layout, I used a Studio Calico sketch for my inspiration:

 

I shrank the grid to work with my photos:

Days Just Sliding By

To celebrate my Columbus Day off (which I have never had before), I decided to scrapbook, of course! I found a great sketch over on Basic Grey's blog. The most difficult part was finding all my Basic Grey patterned paper and embellishments. I knew I had some, but I don't normally organize by brand. I put together items from their Simplicity, Lime Rickey, and Clippings lines to make this layout.

Here is the sketch:

and my completed layout:

 I think it's amazing how the different lines still come together! Everything on the page is Basic Grey. The punch is EK Success, and inking was completed with ColorSnap.

Sunbursts

The sunburst pattern is so popular now. You can buy patterned paper with rays of sun, stickers, rub-ons, or get creative and make one! I have a Studio Calico sunburst mask that I just love! Here are two layouts I made using the mask. On one, I used it as a mask for spray ink that I smeared to make rays. On the other layout, I used it as a template to cut patterned paper into rays. I hope they give you some inspiration to create your own!

My Ombre

Ombre is a very popular technique right now. It's a soft merge of colors going from light to dark or soft to bright. It can be all one color range or different colors. You can find examples all over Pinterest.

On this layout, I used chalks with my feather shaped mask. By using chalk, the colors just blend together where they start and stop. I really love this effect!

I created this layout for Scrapbooking From the Inside Out and Club CK's Thanksliving challenges. I scraplifted the design from Creating Keepsakes' Sept/Oct 2012 issue, page 96: Gut Buster by Kristy Cox.

Windows to the Soul

Scrapbooking from the Inside Out challenged its readers and members to scrapbook a page about your favorite alone time. Of course, my favorite escape is scrapbooking in my room! I had these old Piggy Tales windows and matching covers. They were perfect for this challenge.

3 to 5 Pics

This weekend was a sketchy weekend! I did layouts using these two sketches. They are courtesy of Scrapbook Olympics on Club CK and Studio Calico.

 This one from Studio Calico is turned on its side for my layout since my central photo is vertical.

The layouts:

My favorite was "Summer Art". Since it's an art theme, I used two different spray inks--Mr Huey green and a brown--to be arty.