Page Maps Scrapping Contest

Have I told you lately that I LOVE sketches???

They are truly one on the biggest inspirations I have when it comes to my scrapbooking. I really like the ones on Page Maps. Every month I hurry to their webpage for the newest set of sketches that are always released. I've also been checking out their blog.

I was thrilled to discover their latest Basic Grey Sketch contest. Becky Fleck posted this great sketch:



Once I saw the sketch and the GREAT prize that was being offered I was EXTRA inspired to see what I could create. A few days later, a little creative sweat, some inky fingers, and voila.....I created this:



Those two sweet people are my parents, who have married for close to 50 years. I can't imagine my life without one or both of them. They have both had some health problems in recent months, and that provided an emotional connection that helped me create this page.

The background is KRAFT cardstock spritzed with "Coffee Shop" glimmer mist. I used two different shades of distress ink to age the edges of the papers and then tore the edges of the blue cardstock behind my photo. I really wanted something kind of "vintage" looking for the edges of the patterned paper, so I searched through my laces and trims. When I couldn't find what I wanted I purchased some brown crochet thread and used it to add a scalloped trim at the top and some cross stitches along the sides and bottom. When I added the rubon, I was kind of disappointed because I couldn't find a brown one in my stash. Then when I applied it to the cardstock it kind of tore in spots. I think that just adds to the aged look though.

All in all, I think it is another successful layout for my albums!

It's Been Nice Knowing All of You.....

Am I going somewhere? NO.... but when my son sees this photo on the computer, I'm not sure how he will react....LOL!

First some background.... my son is a very serious, proud to be "grown up", teenager. For several years now he has not liked having photos taken, something that is rather difficult when your mother scrapbooks. He also hates costumes. I don't think he has been in one since he was 6 or 7.

In 2010 he was helping with the BETA Club Halloween dance and the candy distribution in town, so he had no choice. He HAD to have a costume! He and I went to a couple of stores and I finally convinced him to purchase this chef's costume. When the night of the candy distribution came I had to have a photo, since I knew I might not see him in a costume again. Unfortunately for him, the camera shutter did not want to close fast enough. He stood there smiling..... smiling..... smiling..... until finally the shutter closed.

When this photo came up in my camera's view window I knew that I couldn't delete it. It was just too funny!



The layout was a natural for some old Basic Grey "Color Me Silly" papers that I found in my stash. I used another Page Maps 2 sketch as inspiration. I am LOVING those sketches!

A Change is in the Wind.....

I am feeling bright and creative this year, so I've decided to update the look of my blog a bit. (As soon as I go to the hairdresser next week, I will update my photo too. I think you will all be surprised by how much my hair has changed.)

First a report on 2010 and my scrapbook efforts. I didn't quite make either of my goals for the year. I didn't scrapbook 100 layouts and I didn't use up my stash as diligently as I had hoped.

As for this year, I'm still working on using my stash, but I don't think I'm being quite so obsessive about it. When I just let myself go and use what feels "right" for a particular layout, I tend to be more satisfied with the results.

I'm allowing myself to purchase a few things, especially things that I know will help me scrapbook more and create more. One of my first purchases for the year was the Page Maps 2 book by Becky Fleck. I always make sure to download the pdf each month with new sketches and I had purchased her first book. When I found there was a second one I HAD to add it to my scrap resource library!

I proudly present to you my FIRST layout of 2011! It was inspired by one of the sketches from Page Maps 2 and includes MOSTLY items from my stash.



I used some old Bazzill carstock for the background and stamped snowflakes with some of my Stampin Up stamps and white craft ink. The patterned paper is my only new purchase: Bo Bunny Midnight Frost, a new paper that I just HAD to buy!

My favorite element on the whole layout though, has to be the icicle stickles on the word "Snow" in the title! I LOVE itt!!

My Latest

I'm not getting much time to scrapbook since school started back. It seems like I spend a lot of time grading papers, planning lessons, and doing other odds and ends connected to school.

I've had a 2 page spread laying on my scrap table for weeks now and it just isn't going anywhere, so today I decided to take a break from that one and work on something else. I visited Scrappin Mojo and decided to try my hand at one of the new September challenges. The sketch challenge seemed easiest: go somewhere and find a sketch, use it as inspiration. I LOVE Page Maps so I decided to look there. I found one from September 2009 that would work perfectly with a couple of photos of my poor son during his BETA Club initiation last year. I really like the way it turned out.

Another Page Done

This was a simple one. I used one of the new July sketches from over on Page Maps. If you're a scrapper and you are not using her sketches, you really need to check them out! I print out the pdf each month and file it away in a binder. Then when I get stuck for ideas, I just go through the sketches to see which one might work best with my pics.

Anyway, this page tells the story of the Mother's Day meal that almost wasn't..... You have to read the journaling to get the story, so remember to click on the pic to enlarge it. I used some semicircles of Stampin Up paper, SU cardstock, a border punch, some old stamps, and a metal exclamation mark. It was really very simple to put together, but I love that it allows the focus to be on the story. OH...I actually pulled out the sewing machine and sewed that circle!