CPS #219

Loved the simple but timeless sketch at CPS this week. I interpreted the sketch wide. Here’s my take with some new to me Sassafras Applejack papers.

A few LOs

Here's a few LOs I've made based on sketches some of which were old and others where I've simply missed the deadline. I have a hard time taking photos of LOs and I'm really trying to get better at it. I recently discovered a function on Gimp that has made the editing process easier but as you can see for some of these the lighting is still off but I just wanted to get photos taken and uploaded before I missed any other deadlines. The first LO uses Sassafras papers and is of me and my sister in NYC.

This LO used Basic Grey Origins papers and stickers. The pictures are from the local Raptor Trust where they care for birds of prey that are sick, have been injured, or are abandoned. It is next to a large wildlife preserve that we like to go bird watching at so we sometimes stop by the trust as well.

This LO was made for the Scrapbook.com Cosmo Cricket sketch challenge. I used the Joy Ride collection and some pictures from Universal Studios Florida from a family vacation a few years ago.

This last LO was for this month's My Mind's Eye sketch challenge but the challenge closed on Thursday and while I made it made before didn't take a pic in time, opps!

A Layout (shocking I know)

So I do occasionally scrapbook as well. Cards are so much easier and less intimidating to make but I really want to use all the fab goodies that I have to preserve some memories as well. I don't always share what I scrapbook because sometimes I can't (pictures of my students) or because the project wasn't made for a challenge or because the photos of the LOs are never to my liking. I completed a mini album this month, another simply needs journaling and I made 4 LOs. I'm happy to have the memories recorded. I figured I'd share one I made with a Pagemap from January. I made the LO with Sassafras papers and some bling. I love that Sassafras papers are bold, but then some are perfect for pages with a border already in place. I also love the borders that come at the bottom of the papers. It like having a bonus embellie. The picture is me and a crafty friend from college selling our wares at a local craft show.

One Little Word

I heard about Ali Edward's One Little Word project. I thought it was a great idea especially for this year. This year will be when I graduate from grad school and really enter the job market. I know that trying to get a job is tough right now and so I anticipate that this will be a challenging year. Also because I finished my first degree last year the pressure of my school loans has begun to hit so the importance of said job is clear. So these challenges and the everyday challenges of life that lay before me shaped my decision to chose the word PERSIST. I tend to procrastinate and avoid things that are unpleasant, but this year I intend to be tenacious and go after the things that I want. I created this wall hanging with some Sassafras Anthem. When I saw "more to do" on the paper I thought it fit perfect and I added the owl simply because they always make me happy. I encourage you to pick a word if you need something to get you going in this new year. Certainly beats resolutions that are inevitably broken in the first month.

I still have Christmas cards...

I'm still whipping up some Christmas cards because I will be meeting up for a Secret Santa on Jan 9th and I'll be meeting up with my dad and his wife tomorrow. So here's one more Christmas card. I used Sassafras Life at the Pole. I've been hoarding a few sheets of the paper and the stickers for a long time, but I really need to use it. What's the point of buying latest trendy papers to put them away (in my case in plastic 2 gallon ziplocs sorted by manufacturer and line)? I based this card on the Etsy Inspired Challenge featuring the Muffa shop. The cute little snowman in the link was my inspiration. The snowman is Christmas in such a cutesy way like the little reindeer on this card and the colors also inspired my color choices. Hope you're all having a wonderful New Year's Day. A good portion of my day will be spent studying for my Praxis exam on Monday. I will be taking two Praxis exams this month :( but I'm pretty confident I'll do well.

Happy New Year!

I needed to create just a few New Year's cards. I only have one new years stamp and no papers or embellies esp for the holiday. Which works for me because I only create a few cards a year. But I thought that these little monsters from Sassafras's Monstrosity line were super fun and perfect for a holiday is that about excitement. Also the Paper Playtime challenge to make anything for New Year's was super motivating because of the awesome prize offered by Cravin Scrappin!

Sassafras Box featured on the Blog!

I altered this plastic chocolate box recently for a friend. Cleaned it out and covered it in some fab Sassafras from my stash. A collection that I resisted buying because I wasn't sure what I could use it for but knew I loved it. I finally gave in and thought the fun whimsical nature would be perfect for the friend in mind. It was a cheap way to give a little welcome back to NJ present but the cherry on top is that it is being featured on the Sassafras blog today!

Thanks to Sassafras for featuring my project with "vintage" Sassafras papers and stickers!

Card Patterns Sketch 93

I was using Sassafras Anthem on a project and so it was still spread all over my desk when I saw the new Card Patterns sketch. I thought the collection would be perfect for the new sketch especially the zig zag bottom strips that I used on the side of the card. I also made this card for the Card Creations: Favorite Occasions Week Thank You Challenge in the Moxie Fab World. I encourage you all to visit the Moxie Fab World and take part in any of the challenges. I took some time for me this weekend and made a few projects for different challenges which I plan to share throughout the week.

Scrap It With a Song #20

After 20 fabulous weeks I'm saying goodbye as a DT member at Scrap It with a Song. We have lots of great new talent joining the team and I figured that with student teaching coming I didn't want to reapply for the team. But I had a great time and hope I can play along at least some of the time. For week 20 the song is Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder. I went a little untraditional with my take. I thought "lovely" "wonderful" and "precious" were great words to describe the cards that students made me during my last school placement. I thought the ABC Sassafras paper was great because it was school and the little monster worked because they were a trying group of kids but like that monster still very lovable.

We are being sponsored by Crafty Ribbons who will be giving the winner 20 jewel colored heavily glittered ribbon. Sound like a really fun prize so please share your creations for this week!

Scrap It With a Song #18

This week at Scrap It With a Song the song for inspiration is Get Here by Oleta Adams. I thought all the mention of travel would be a good reason to use it for a LO about a trip. Here's is my craft club's spring trip to Princeton (we got there by railway as in the journaling). I used Sassafras Anthem papers and stickers. I also used some pieces of the brochures we collected. This week we are being sponsored by The Paper Trail an online scrapbooking store who is offering a $20 gift certificate. We've had less than 20 participants these past few weeks. I would think great sponsors and the ability to create any type of paper craft would elicit a little more response. If you've never played along I urge you to give it a try. If nothing else who wouldn't want a 1 in 20 chance of winning a $20 gift certificate. So whip up a quick card or beautiful LO inspired by our song this week and share!

Scrap It With a Song #17

This week at Scrap It With a Song we are being inspired by the song With You by Jessica Simpson. Remember you can be inspired any part of the song and make any sort of creation you want. The event I'm scrapping was called Storytelling 'with you' and me so I went with it. We also have a fabulous sponsor in Crop Chocolate who has generously donated $20 in crop credits for the winner. Cant' wait to see your take!

Sassafras Goodness

All the news from CHA and the extra giveaways makes for an exciting blog week for scrappers. Sassafras is featuring their new lines on their blog so I thought I would share with you a card made with their goodies. They had a warehouse sale in the spring and of course I had to get one of everything. The package came with some adorable felties that I wasn't quite sure how to use but the Paper Sundaes challenge of a Back to School theme got me inspired and I paired the apple feltie with the apple paper. The two new lines are Count Me In and Mix and Mend. I love both these lines for the same reason I always love Sassafras. Count Me In is adorable and whimsical and then Mix and Mend is frilly and vintage. But both have a fun color palette. Check out the new releases and find out how you can get a chance to win them!

Paper Sundaes DT Call

Paper Sundaes is having a DT call. Now this is my kind of challenge blog because they a wide variation in their challenges. Some weeks it is a technique and others its a particular supply or maybe a color. Well for their call they asked for examples of favorite projects. I think its hard for me to choose favorites but I'm going to share with you and them some past cards I've loved and a new project inspired by their latest challenge.

I love color and funky paper. My first card featuring some SEI Bridgeport and my second card is made with Sassafras. In both cards I tried to mix lots of different colors in a complimentary way. As you can see and you would know from following my blog the only thing I like more than challenges is patterned paper.

For my last project I have my entry into their latest challenge to make your own flowers. GCD Studios shared a flower technique that I modified to create this 3D pendant for my cousin's birthday.

So check out the Paper Sundaes challenge blog to find out more details about the current challenge and the DT call.

Card Style Challenges in the Moxie Fab World

Cath from Moxie Fab World is issuing a week of challenges inspired by the new Card Style special edition. The new issue has cards divided by style so that you can develop your style or delve into a new one. Hop on over to the Moxie Fab World to get the challenge details and enter your cards!

I wanted to challenge myself to use the same line on two different styles and considering the styles chosen I went with Monstrosity by Sassafras. My first card is for the Fun and Cute category. This card has the friendly patterns, the whimsy, and the simple design necessary for Fun and Cute!

My second card is Clean and Graphic. I have lots of 'white' space, clean lines, and simple shapes. While it isn't exactly minimalist, I must say I struggle to use only a few supplies when there is so much lovely product in my stash begging to be used. I also created this card for the Caardvarks birthday card challenge. Hope you liked my takes on the challenges. I will hopefully be back with Vintage or Shabby Chic and Classy and Elegant later this week. I must say I'm a bit worried that those will be even more of a challenge but fun because of that.

Scrap It With a Song #12

This week the song at Scrap It With a Song is America the Beautiful fitting with the holiday. We have a generous sponsor in Nikki Sivils Scrapbooks. Check out the prize package and other DT inspiration at the blog. Since it was before the holiday I didn't have any patriotic photos so I scrapped about a beautiful place in America that I've been too. Lake George New York is a gorgeous place. I used an old sketch from Creative Scrappers #107

Scrap It With a Song Challenge #11

This week our song at Scrap It With a Song is I Can See Clearly Now as performed by Jimmy Cliff. My intereptation might take a bit of explanation but first… Our sponsor is the wonderful Michelle’s Scrapbooking and More home to Pixie Cottage Stamps. They also sell patterned paper, copics, and even more stamps. They are offering a $10 gift certificate to the winner.

As for my take I went with the sunny day theme of the song and scrapbooked about a sunny day spent outside. This goes to show you were are looking for creative takes on the song but just give us a quick explanation for the connection you’re making. I used a Sassafras Lass background, some Thickers for the title and CC Tiny Type for accents. Please check out the rest of the DT on the blog for extra inspiration, including members of the Michelle’s Scrapbooking and More DT, and then share your take on the song.

Scrap It With a Song Challenge #10

Another week, another song at Scrap It With a Song. This week's song is Ridin Solo by Jason Derulo. I took a lyric right from the song to make this graduation card for my younger cousin. She listens to all kinds of music, but I thought she would be a great person to appreciate the hip-hop inspiration of the card. I used Sassafras Lass papers and Cosmo Cricket tiny type for this card. When I first got tiny type I didn't know that I would ever use it but I find that I love it and want more. This week is being sponsored by our DT member Angela's shop Toucan Scraps. The winner will get a 6 pack of 8x8 digi papers. Check out the DT inspiration on the blog then share with us your take.

Scrap It With a Song Challenge #9

Back with a new song at Scrap It With a Song. This week is Could Not Ask for More by Sara Evans. It is pretty touching and quite frankly a bit sappy, but I decided to go another way with it. My LO's title comes from the lyrics "these are the moments." I paired that phrase with a picture of my cousin and I that really exemplifies are fun together attitude and relationship. That picture is from my 21st birthday where she is pretending to steal a lick of the whipped cream off the top of my first legal drink. The rest of the DT has some great inspiration so please visit the blog to see that and then show us your take. It can be sappy or silly a card or a LO. Anything goes as long as you link it to the song.

Scrap It With a Song Challenge #8

This week's new song at Scrap It With a Song is Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. This song has so many possibilities. For my DT LO, I focused on a LO about FUN with 'fun' in the title. Here is a LO about me and my cousins having fun feeing dolphins in Sea World. I've used some Sassafrass Lass background paper and Basic Grey letters.

This week is being sponsored by the fabulous YourScrapbookStash.com! They have generously donated a $25 gift certificate to one lucky winner. I can't wait to see everyone's take on this song and I'm sure that gift certificate is some serious motivation as well. Check out the blog for more DT inspiration.

Pink Elephant Scrapbooking Challenge #9

There is a new challenge at the Pink Elephant and its a theme challenge. I love theme challenges because they are so open. The theme is summer and this is a picture from one of my summer family vacations.

I combined the theme with the sketch at Creative Scrappers. I used the Sassafras Lass Monstrosity collection. I love SL's bordered and sometimes lined papers like this that are perfect for backgrounds and even journaling right on the page. It makes everything come together so much faster.

I can't wait to see what everyone does with the challenge! Check out the blog to see all the DTs creations and inspirations!