Busy Scrapping

The last few weeks I have been scrapping it up and finishing a lot of pages. I used to scrap chronologically, but the last few years, I've started scrapping based on the stories I want to tell. It feels so much better to do it this way than to do a page because there happens to be photos. I will eventually get "caught" up though too, because I'm also a type A personality and I can't not. Ha!

The first page is from my niece's fifth birthday. I love this photo of her blowing out her candles. She looks very determined to get all the candles in one blow.

I've tried making banners in the past, but never quite got it right, but I really like how this one turned out. The varying sized triangles turned out pretty cool. I also masked the title using mist, which was a first for me. I've never used a mask before, but it was fun, and I think I'll try it again.

and a few close-ups. I love that little bird, so cute.

Next up is a layout using the shadow picture I shared in a previous post. This is one of my favorite pictures of the summer so far. I had fun misting and being messy with ink. I don't normally use two different alphas on a page, but I've been trying that out more lately and I like the results. I'm trying to stretch my creativity and change up what is possible on a page.

and a close-up.

And the last layout for today is from a trip to the local arboretum. It's one of my favorite places. I also get great photos! I used a bunch of different collections on this one; American Crafts, Basic Grey, Jillibean Soup. Even though they were different manufacturers, I think it all looks good together. I especially like the cluster of journaling sprouts and the title.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have been busy doing something fun too.

Crate Paper Sketch Challenge

I'm back already with a Crate Paper sketch challenge. The challenge is geared toward card makers, but they encouraged scrappers to try it too. I love a good sketch challenge. I turned the sketch one time counter clock wise. (You can see the sketch here) I used the Brook collection and I love it. So versatile!

I scrapped about my love of playing 4 square with my family. We always laugh a lot when we play and I admit, I still love being in the A square. Before the summer season starts we need to get a proper 4 square ball. No more of these weak plastic balls. Rubber is what we need. Rubber is what we had as kids. Going old school never fails.

A Flurry of Layouts

Hello my blog. Hello my blog readers. Thanks for staying around while I was busy, busy with work. Now, that things have quieted down, I plan to start blogging regularly again.

I haven't shared any layouts in awhile, so here are a few I've created using Crate Paper products. I recently found Crate Paper and I love their collections! I love the coordinating papers and the colors they choose for each collection. I can always create a layout very easily using these products. They are so fun!

Crate Paper also has a great blog, full of inspiration. They are just beginning to have challenges, which I'm certain I'll be participating in.

So, first up is a layout from Thanksgiving a few years ago. These flowers were really fun to make. I got help from a tutorial in the Scrapbooks Etc. magazine. I used the Lemongrass and Cottage collections.

Second up is a layout without a picture. This is fun to do every once in awhile. This layout is about what TV shows I've been watching this year. This is one of my favorite layouts I've made. I used the Brook Collection.

Next up is a layout about my youngest niece and a conversation she had with my brother. When he emailed it to me, I laughed out loud and knew I would create a page about it. I used the Paper Doll collection, which is one of my favorite collections. I also used brown mist on the background and I inked up the paper edges. I like both of these effects.

And finally is a layout about my oldest niece and I going to MagiQuest again and finally becoming Master Magis. We had such a good time casting our wands at everything. I used Paper Doll and Cottage collections on this one. I also misted. It's quite addicting, but can get over everything if you're not careful!

Thanks so much for reading through this long post! I hope you've enjoyed seeing what I've been creating lately.