Wednesday, March 30, 2011

One Fine Day - The Paper Variety 1, 2, 3 Recipe Challenge

Such an appropriate title for my layout, because it is one fine day over at The Paper Variety.
They've invited us girls from the DT at Artful Delight to join in on their new challenge:
1, 2 3 Recipe Challenge!
Choose any 1-2-3 combination/recipe you wish..  the possibilities are endless. Create a card, layout or other paper project not restricted to the 1-2-3 choices only. Add as much as you want to your project, just be sure to include in your description what your 1-2-3 items are. Sunday is Submission Spotlight where we feature a few participant entries from those submitted. Link up to Inlinkz on the challenge post before noon Tuesday, a randomly chosen winner is announced Tuesday evening. Our sponsored prize is the April kit from Artful Delight.
I used the April kit from Artful Delight!
My Recipe:
1 Button
2 Chipboard Frames
3 Pattern Papers





Hope you can join in on the 1, 2, 3 Recipe Challenge!
The winner will receive this:
There is a new sketch blog and what a creative DT!  It's called Once Upon A Sketch. Once lucky person will win this:


Monday, March 28, 2011

Robin - The Paper Variety Challenge and Scrapbookaholic By Abby

The weekend has come and gone.  It's chilly here,  a mere 28 degrees this morning, not what is expected for Spring.  Last night the evening air was brisk and filled with the aroma of smoke from my neighbor's chimney.  I closed my eyes for a few seconds and actually thought it was still winter.  Snow was in the forecast, but we were spared.  I found myself thinking about Spring, warmer weather and the growth of my plants in my flower gardens.   I remember a week ago looking out my kitchen window and seeing a  robin sitting on my fence rail. The image of the robin remained in my mind and I drew my from inspiration from it for my layout.

This week there is a Tic Tac Toe challenge at The Paper Variety.
Choose three in a row and create!  I chose the bottom row, make a layout, include a bird and use scallops.
Over at Scrapbookaholic By Abby Challenge #2 is all about Spring!
I discovered I had a kit I had purchased last November from My Creative Scrapbook filled with Basic Grey Curio papers and gorgeous Prima flowers.   The papers were perfect for my ode to the Robin.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

A Boy And His Dog

I've been on a roll lately and my mojo has too!!!  I was looking at all of the beautiful projects the DT has created over at Lucky Girl Crafts  and thought I would join in our their Friday Fun Day Challenge. 

To participate in their Friday Fun Day  challenge, you have to  create your own project inspired by any of the following from the March Friday Fun Day projects: overall design, color combination, title of the project or
use of embellishments.  I drew from the theme and colors in Sabrina's baby album.  You can see it here. The baby album she created is for a boy and I just love the cute little dog on the front of the album.  From the theme of boy and the little dog, I came up with this:
I used my March kit from Scapbook Circle.  So many of the colors in Sabrina's album were either identical to the March kit or very similar.
By the way the picture is my uncle back from 1939 with his pet dog.  Isn't it cute?   
Here are a few close ups:

Snow is in the forecast,  is it really Spring?


Friday, March 25, 2011

Dogwood Tree - The Scrappiest Sketch 112

When I look at the pictures on my layout I yearn for the warmer weather.  It's frightfully cold here and snow flurries are in the forecast.  It's hard to believe that a week ago I was outside cleaning out my flower beds and enjoying the sight of my perennials popping up through the soil.
I was drawn to another sketch over at The Scrappiest and when I first saw it posted I knew exactly what I was going to do with it:

I took their sketch #112 
and rotated it:
I had some beautiful papers in my stash by GCD Studios, which I am assuming must have been from a kit I had once purchased.
I edited my photos in a program Lo-Fi that I saw over at Julie's blog.  You can check out Julie's post here.
The program takes a regular picture:
and you can give it a retro effect:
You can download the program and give it a try for free for one week.  Check out the details here.
I added a crochet doily I had bought at JoAnn Fabric store a while ago, a felt ornamental gate by Prima, some dogwood flowers by K and Company and butterflies punched from a Martha Stewart punch.   It's amazing the goodies you can find when you go through your stash!



I am guest designing in April for Sweet Peach Crop Shop in honor of their one year anniversary!
My Anniversary kit arrived today and I'm anxious to start working on my layouts which I will share with you in April!

Over at Artful Delight is the reveal of the April kit!!!

You can check out all of the details here!   While you're there check out Leeanne's giveaway for her on year blog anniversary
Can't wait for this kit to arrive!  I'm going be busy the next few weeks!!
You still have time to join the challenge at These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things - Your Favorite Pastime. Julie is giving away a $30 gift certificate to Scrapbook.com, and there is a new sketch challenge at Frosted Designs Sketch Along Tuesdays Challenge, and the winner will receive the March Sweet Kit from Sweet Peach Crop Shop!
I would love to see you join in and enter for a chance to win these great prizes!!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

The Studio Challenges March 20th sketch, Sketches In Thyme and more . . .

I thought that Spring had arrived . . . now Winter is making a return with colder temps back in the forecast.   The weather here has been crazy.  Too much of the back and forth temperatures.  I so want the warmer weather to come and stay!
I finished up a few layouts and wanted to share them with you.  I found a challenge blog, The Studio Challenges and was instantly drawn to their sketch challenge with a twist.  I love the simplicity in the sketch and thought it was perfect for this picture of my daughter at age 6 months in her Christening dress.
 and here is their sketch:
and the twist, add ruffles to your layout:
I took some lace and ruffled it and topped it off with this cute ribbon from The Girls Paperie.  In fact all of the papers on my layout are by The Girls Paperie.
I also added a little lace ruffle to the dress form.  The pretty pink doily behind the clock I bought from Sam at The Purple Pumpkin.
Some more The Girls Paperie embellishments and a lace flower from the Purple Pumpkin.
I am also entering this layout over at Sketches In Thyme, as they have an open sketch challenge today.
Check out what the fabulous DT has created here.
My second layout I just love and I used my March kit from Artful Delight!
A few years ago my children and I went to the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts in Hagerstown, MD.  Right outside of the museum is the beautiful Hagerstown City Park.  There is a beautiful pond, surrounded by old stylish houses.



I apologize for the poor quality of my pictures.  It has been cloudy here for several days and we all know that doesn't make for a good picture day.
I'm anxious for April to arrive!  I'll be guest designing for Sweet Peach Crop Shop, and I got an email notification yesterday that my kit has been mailed out to me.  Can't wait!!!
Leeane at Artful Delight has put together a fabulous April kit and is should also arrive soon!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

You Are My Sunshine - Sketch Along Tuesdays March 22nd Challenge

I had so much fun working on this layout!!  I just love the Springtime Collection by Echo Park, the adorable picture of my daughter and a wonderful sketch challenge at Frosted Designs Sketch Along Tuesdays March 22nd Challenge!

We had another wonderful sketch to work with, created by Diana:

Here are a few closeups:


I placed a border around my layout using my new Martha Stewart Vintage Floral punch set.
  
Why not join in on the challenge?  We've got a great prize to offer, the March Sweet kit from Sweet Peach Crop:
Don't forget the Favorite Pastime Challenge at These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things
and
The March Sketch Challenge at Artful Delight!


Sunday, March 20, 2011

3 Sisters - The Paper Variety Sketch Challenge

A happy Sunday to everyone!!  It's a little bit chilly here.  I was hoping to get some yard work done today, but opted to work on a layout instead. 

The Paper Variety has a great sketch challenge going on right now with a wonderful sketch designed for them by Jana Eubank:

This layout came together quite quickly for me.  Believe it or not I completed it in less then one hour!
I combined a mixture of papers from Echo Park's For The Record and Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 chipboard elements.

The three women in the picture are my Nana, and her two sisters, my Aunt Ruth and Aunt Mil.
My Nana is in the middle. The picture was taken in 1960.
Here are a few closeups:




Hope you enjoy what's left of the weekend!
If you need some scrapping inspiration, here are a few challenges:

There Are A Few Of My Favorite Things - Favorite Pastime

Frosted Designs Sketch Along Tuesdays Challenge


 Artful Delight March Sketch Challenge

There are some great prizes up for grabs!  Check them out!