04/27/16 - April "Round Robin" Challenge

Hi!

As you know I participate in a lot of challenges over at Scrapbook.com.

One of my favorites is the "Ugly Paper" challenge; I shared April's layout a couple of blog posts prior to this one: April "Ugly" Paper

I have another favorite called the "Round Robin" challenge.

I've also shared a layout from a past challenge on my blog: March "Round Robin" Challenge

 

Here is a brief explanation of the challenge:

 

"There are teams of 4 people, one person for each week, similar to a relay race. The person assigned for week 1 in each group will start their team off with a layout depending on what the specs and twist will be. Then the following week, everyone assigned to week 2 will lift off their week 1 team member and so on. It's fun to see how a lift progresses from the first week to the fourth."

 

I am sharing w/ you my creation for the April Round Robin challenge, but unlike the last time I shared, I am the last person on my team instead of the first.

In order to get an idea of what inspired my layout I will share the proceeding layouts as well.

The first 4 images were NOT created by me:

 

Starting Inspiration - Twist = Includes Negative Space:

 

Week #1:

 -Inspired by the colors of the original image-

Week #2:

Week #3:

 

 

Mine - Week #4:

 

"San Francisco  4.16-4.19/2016"

 Journaling:

"Alcatraz

Golden Gate Bridge

China Town

Fisherman's Wharf

Union Square

Pier 39 - Sea Lions

Boudin Bakery

Bay Bridge

Sight Seeing

Food &

Quality Time

Long weekend getaway

San Francisco 4.6-4.19/2016"


 

As I was writing this post I realized, tt's been such a long time since I've done an actual blog challenge.

I think it's because not only do SB.com Challenges keep me busy, but there is more traffic there than on my blog...
Participating in challenges were there is more/frequent interaction inspires me (obviously)!

 

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Included in the following additional April SB.com Challenges:

>"Round Robin" - I am #4 (last week) for my team
*Includes twist of negative space

>"Four Categories" Challenge - Category #4 ~ Theme: April Showers
"Rain, baths, lakes, oceans, rivers, pools… Create a LO with at least one photo that has water in it. "
No Twist

>"Sticker" Challenge - I used 6
*Includes twist of using 4 or more stickers from the same package
-"Today" (with bridge)*
- Anchor *
-"Make Memories"
-"Great Times"*
-"#Snap"
-Polaroid Camera*

> "Hoarder" challenge - film strip washi tape
No Twist

>"Use Your Scraps" - The black paper is from my scrap stash
No Twist  

 

 

 

04/26/16 - April "Ugly Paper" Challenge

 It's "Ugly Paper Time"!

 (A Scrapbook.com Monthly Challenge)

 

A reminder of how the challenge works:

1. After signing up, the host gives your name and address to another participant

2. The other participant sends you 2 "ugly" papers and at least one ugly embellishment

3. You MUST use both papers; the embellishment(s) is optional

4. You are allowed to use other items as well, as long as the 2 "ugly" papers are included in the layout

5. You are allowed to alter the papers and, if used, the embellishment(s) but they must still be recognizable

 

 

Here are my April "ugly" papers (and embellishments) and what I created w/ them:  

 

 

 

 

 "My Monkey Man"

The Monkey Paper (BG) and Blue/Multi-color Paper the photos are on are the ugly papers.
I also used 2 of the stickers from the "ugly" sticker sheet I was sent:
The black and white circle behind the wood button (it was originally a speedometer but I covered it w/ the button to hide that)
-and-
The "Non Stop" sticker on the right-hand side.

Funny story about this layout.
The day before I received the papers my husband sent me some "selfies" he took at work.
He was hot and bored which is why he took the "selfies" (and why he's frowning in one of them).

Then next day I received my papers and I chuckled to myself.
When my husband got home I told him how the photos he had just sent me the day before were perfect for the papers I received: his monkey face and the blue/graffiti style paint in the BG of his photos were the PERFECT match!
And despite the fact that it really is a very simple layout, I love the way it looks!
As I expected the combo was perfect and throwing in a few "manly" embellishments rounded it out nicely!

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Also included in the following SB.com April challenges:
>"Sticker" - I used 24
-Letter stickers (17)
-Word stickers (4) *
-(Covered) speedometer
-Heart *
-Pointing hand *
*Includes twist of using 4 stickers from the same package

>"Use Your Scraps" - The black circle is from my scrap stash

 

>"Hoarders" challenge - All the "Dapper Dan" Products are Hoarded items:

http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/48155/view/5624909/-1/0/0.html
 

04/25/16 - Beer and Justin Timberlake

 

Hi there!

It's been a while since I posted...I've been busy but I have managed to sneak in a bit of scrappy time.

Here's a couple of my most recent pages: 

 

"Butter Beer Fail"

  Journaling: It was Madison & David's first trip to Harry Potter World. It was also their first taste of Butter Beer. I was excited for them to try it because I love it so much! But neither of them cared for it so I wound up drinking all 3 of them! 3.21.2016"

 

*I'm a bit irritated with this layout because I accidentally wrinkled the edge of the purple paper at the top! Ugh! * 

For those who don't know what Butter Beer is, its a drink that Harry Potter and his friends drank in the movies.
To simplify it, its basically like a Butterscotch Float (like a root beer float but with Butterscotch instead of root beer).
In the movie it had a bit of alcohol so that's where the "beer" part of the name comes from.
In the real world there's no alcohol in it at all...
Which is why my daughter can drink it.
But it looks like beer with its brown coloring and white frothy top. So its funny to see so many people, including lots of children, walking around drinking it.

If you want more detail check out this link: http://www.momsminivan.com/butter_beer.html

Below the photo of the 3 of us I included 2 stickers from a Harry Potter scrapbook sticker sheet I recently purchased:
The "Welcome" -and-
The Harry Potter Glasses and Lightning Bolt border
I can't wait to use the rest of my HP items on future layouts, cuz (you know) I have lots more photos to scrap!



 

"The 20/20 Experiment"

 Journaling:"11.28.14 - Justin Timberlake.

An amazing concert; I was impressed! Thanks to my husband for such a great birthday gift!"

 

*I have since added the word: Vegas to the layout since I forgot to include it in my original journaling.*

 

My birthday is actually in October, but I love Justin Timberlake so when David saw he would be playing in Vegas, he bought me the tickets early, in August, as a "late" birthday present.

So for me I got to kinda got to celebrate my birthday 3 times: August, October, and November.

Not bad for someone who doesn't usually celebrate her birthday at all!

 

It was definitely a present worth waiting for!

As I said in my journaling: Justin put on an amazing show!

 

 

I have 3 more layouts to share but I'll share them in their own, separate posts.



 

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"Butter Beer":

 

For the following SB.com April Challenges:

> "Multi-pic" - Must have at least 3 Photos

> "4 Categories" - Category: Color
Color = Purple and Gray
- Also includes twist of wood
The button is wood

>"Sticker" - I used 19 stickers:
The alpha letters (14)
The journaling/filing labels (2)
The heart
The "Welcome"
The Harry Potter Glasses and Lightning Bolt border
No twist

>"Hoarders" - the following items were hoarded items:
The heart sticker
The alpha letters
The 2 purple papers
The journaling/filing labels
No Twist

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 "The 20/20 Experiment":
 

For the following SB.com April Challenges:

> "Music" Challenge - Category #3 Artist.
Obviously mine is Justin Timberlake
Includes twist of Journaling - At least 2 sentences

> "Four Categories" Challenge - Category #3 Technique/Negative Space
Includes twist of including "a number other than the date"
My title has numbers in it: 20/20

>"Sticker" Challenge - I used 5
Includes twist of using 4 or more stickers from the same package
1. Star sticker (at the bottom right of the JT photo)
2. Blue tab*
3. Orange heart*
4. B&W heart*
5. "Dreams Do Come True"*

> "Hoarder" challenge - The Project Life card (journaling)

 

 

 

04/12/16 - March "Gallery Inspiration" Challenge

Do you remember when I wrote about signing up for 2 "Inspiration" Challenges in March?

If not, here is the post: March Inspiration Challenge.

 

Unfortunately I  never got around to completing the 2nd Challenge...

I ran out of time during the month; it was the month of Madison's Spring Break and I had forgotten I would be "unavailable" for a week.

Fortunately for me the lady hosting the challenge is someone I've known at SB.com for a while now and she knows I'm not normally a "flake" and allowed me not only to complete the challenge and post whenever I could, but to participate in April's Challenge as well!

I'll be sharing a post about April's challenge at a later date!

 

Today I'm sharing March's (2nd) Challenge.

 

This is the layout that was chosen for me to lift:

 

"If The Shoe Fits"

SB.com link: If the Shoe Fits

 

I love circles and polka dots so it was definitely in my comfort-zone (That's kind cheating, isn't it? Well, I didn't choose it so it's okay).

 

 

 

 

And here is my lift:

"Like I Love You"

 Journaling:

"You never love yourself half as much as I love you

You'll never treat yourself right darling but I want you to

If I let you know, I'm here for you

Maybe you'll love yourself like I love you"

 

This photo is almost a year old and before I lost 28 pounds.
I don't particularly like it but it's one of the only photos I have of me and Madison because she hates to have her photo taken.
As I've mentioned before, in another post,  "You Don't Know You're Beautiful",  she has been going through issues w/ her self esteem and this is why I choose to include this photo along w/ the lyrics.

Even though the song is actually about a "romantic" type of  love, I really felt that these particular lyrics capture how I feel about Madison and how I wish she could see herself like I see her and love herself like I love her.

It took me YEARSSSSSSSS (yes that spelling is intentional) to learn to love myself and I'm really, truly hoping that w/ my love and guidance, Madison will discover that love for herself a LOT sooner!

I think it's moments like this that make it especially hard to have a daughter.

 

I don't want to leave this post on a "sad" note, so let me share one more thing...

 

I stated the inspiration piece was w/in my comfort zone, and it's true.

In fact I had created a layout similar to it, years ago, in 2012, although this one was based on a sketch:

 

"Madison and Joseph @ Laguna"

And to this day, it's still one of my favorite layouts!
So in that sense, the inspiration layout "inspired" me to go back to a design I love!
Challenge, successful!

04/04/16 - MIM #57

Happy Monday!

I  feel like it's been forever since I shared a MIM sketch from the Memory Nest...

 even though I  it's really only been 3 weeks.

I guess it's because the past 3 weeks have been very busy for me.

Madison was on Spring Break last week.

And one of the most fun things she did, according to her, is the topic of the layout I'm sharing today.

But first, here's the sketch:

 

 

 

 

 

And now my layout (w/ a few modifications):

"Batman VS Superman"

Journaling: "Madison is antisocial and hates to leave the house.

But she's also a huge Batman fan and a "Daddy's Girl" so when the new

"Batman (VS Superman)" movie was announced David promised to take her.When the

day came David also invited me and Joseph.

We declined though because we knew how much Madi was looking forward to her

"Movie Date" with her Daddy.  Joseph and I saw it 2 days later"

 

 

I loved making this layout! I loved trying to incorporate all the Super Hero colors...

And that blue BG was perfect; it was like it was made for a Superman Layout!

 

The only aspect of making the layout that I did not enjoy was trying to figure out how to incorporate the journaling.

I loved the clean design of my layout and didn't want to clutter it w/ anything extra, even journaling...  but I also wanted to include the story that went w/ the photos.

I finally decided that "hidden journaling" was the route to go... but where to hide it was my next obstacle.

I started lightly pulling at the different pieces of the layout and was pleased to discover that the top piece of yellow/white PP was not completely glued down.

Normally that would upset me , but in this case it was just what I needed!

I wrote my journaling on a PL card and then safely tucked it away w/ just a bit sticking out to invite the reader to "pull it out to read".

 

 

It was the perfect solution and I love how the little bit of the PL card showing fits in so well w/ the other layered pieces!

 

Also, as a side note I also love these "Days of the Week" stickers from Echo Park.

They came in the Echo Park "My Life" Collection but you can buy them separately and I think I'm going to stock up!

 

BTW - if you're wondering what I thought of the movie, check this out: Batman VS Superman