Sister Chicks

Another month has come to an end!  Can't quite believe it.  This month for the Thanks Living challenge, we were taught about using odds.  The eye like things to be grouped in odd numbers and we learned that it will see pairs of things ordered and not necessary for further thinking on.  We want to capture people's minds with our layouts and other design projects, so we can use odd numbers to do that.  The brain will have to look harder at it in order for it to make sense.

In my layout this month, I talk about how thankful I am for the women of my church.  They really are like sisters to me and I am grateful for each of them.  Yes, I used 4 photos, but I used 3 groups of embellishments to give the brain that little puzzle so it will linger and take in all the details.

The layout

Growing

The Challenge:
Use one of the many free downloads at CK blog.

I decided to use the cute alpha designed by Kim Hughes.  I printed them on white cardstock, cut them out, used the cuts as a template to trace onto patterned paper, and cut those out to add to my layout.  I used a fatter pen to do the tracing and cut them out with a slight margin, so the pen lines added to the charm of the letters.  They are super cute and fit this layout of my nephew well.

This layout actually started as something quite different.  I had another photo in mind and a totally different title picked out too.  When I was digging through my papers, I came upon these rulers and an idea was born.  I was actually wondering what I was going to do with these three photos and I thought the rulers would be the perfect way to tell of how quickly a new baby grows.  I really like the direction this layout took and these three photos are now scrapped and in the book!

The layout:

Make A Wish

This week's case at CSI was such a cute one!  Every week Michele Singh creates coordinating papers and embellishments to go along with the case files.  They are always very nicely done, but this week's were just adorable!  I loved the paper that I used for the matte, the mushrooms and snails are just adorable, and one of the quotes she added fit what I was trying to do perfectly!

For my evidence I used: mushrooms, bugs, dots, kraft background, staggered heights, and paint drops.  For my testimony I journaled 4 things; 4 things I am wishing for right now in my scrap/art life.

The layout

Close ups

The Case File

A Thought About Hand Stitching

It's Thoughtful Thursday at Thinking*Through*Designs.  Today's thought is all about hand stitching and the interest and texture it can bring to your next project.  Come check out what Joni and Steffanie have brought you and the amazing layouts created by the Thoughtful Girls!

My Binkie

I had a little time to scrap on Mother's Day, so I pulled a photo of my nephew out and scrapped it.  I really like how it turned out.  Just a simple design to go with a really cute photo.

The layout

Cold Paddle

The colors this week at CSIwere perfect for these photos I took of my hubby doing a paddle workout in some very cold weather. There is still snow on the ground even!

For my evidence I used: pleats, circles, book patterns and border punches. For my testimony I placed some of my journaling around the circle stamp "Genuine Article" that talks about his dedication to his training.

The layout

The case file

Solder Chick

The Challenge:
Use black, white, green and pink for your layout colors

I was wondering what in the world I was going to do with this color combo when I came across these photos of Leah learning how to solder.  Her stereo wasn't working very well and Bryon and Cody decided to teach her how to do it herself.  She did a great job and the stereo was fixed in no time.  I thought the color combo was a really good mix for a girl doing a, traditionally, boy hobby.

The layout

Color Ablaze

I loved the colors this week at CSI and knew that these photos would be perfect!  I took them with the macro lens I got for Christmas.  I have always loved the bright colors of these tulips in my backyard.

For my evidence, I used: twisted tissue (that would be a cool store name!), flowers, an oversized flower, pearl bling, and a ribbon buckle.

For my testimony I wrote: Grow always. Grow until your full color bursts from you!

The layout

The case file

Duck Fan

The Challenge:
Use a twine technique on your layout or project.

I was so happy to be able to participate in Big Picture Class's online crop during National Scrapbook Day.  They have 12 challenges, posted on the hour all day long.  We had until the next evening to get them posted for a chance at some awesome prizes.

Megan Hoeppner issued this challenge and she showcased several ideas.  I really like her idea to wind the twine on a glue dot and then place in the center of a button.  It was a great idea, so easy and adds just another level of interest.

I picked this photo of my nephew making the Oregon Duck "OOOOOOOOOOOOO".  His parents are die hard Duck fans so I am sure that they were ecstatic about their baby boy joining in.  I had this green and yellow paper just begging to be used on a Duck fan layout.  I added some Oregon themed Os, some football die cut stickers, a nice loopy punched piece of yellow, a piece of chevron ledger paper with Os and tied with twine,  and some fun yellow letter to my buttons and BAM! cute layout complete.

The layout

Thoughtful Thursday - Sky

Today is the premier thought for the new teaching blog Thinking*Through*Design.

Today we are learning about analogous colors.  Analogous colors are ones that live next to each other on the color wheel.  They go well together, because they are closely related.  Come on over to read the editors' thoughts on the subject and see how the TGs thought this through.  Be sure to think through your own project using analogous colors and link it up!

My layout

Spring!

The Challenge
Use photos from you phone on your layout or project.

I was so happy to be able to participate in Big Picture Class's online crop during National Scrapbook Day.  They have 12 challenges, posted on the hour all day long.  We had until the next evening to get them posted for a chance at some awesome prizes.

I love the photo apps on my phone and the cool effects you can use while taking them.  I took some photos of flowers in my yard, using some cool vintage/grunge/saturation settings.  I really love how they came out and especially love the bright colors of the flowers.  I decided that such vivid photos needed vivid papers to support them.  These papers by Echo Park were just perfect.  I also fussy cut some of the flowers from the paper to be my embellishments to keep the page simple, yet fun.

CKC Portland

The Challenge:
Use staples on your card or layout.

I love staples!  They come in all sorts of color now and have the duel purpose of holding stuff on and looking good.  I have found myself using them a lot lately.

Recently I went up to Portland to meet up with some peeps and shop the vendor fair at CK's convention at the Convention Center.  It was a blast!  There were so many great ideas and fun stuff to woo scrappers of all kinds.  We then had dinner and I stayed over in a super nice hotel in downtown.  I even met Megan Hoeppner!  I just brought along my little point and shoot camera, but it worked out nicely and I thought staples would be a great embellishment on a layout about scrapping.

I also joined in the all day crop Saturday during National Scrapbooking Day at BPC.  They had challenges every hour for 12 hours.  That's a lot of scrapping in one day!  I managed to do 9 of the 12.  The very first challenge was to make a fanciful frame around your photo.  Ah...staples to the rescue.  I made an actual frame, even miter cutting the corners.  Then I just stapled them together.  They work quite well.  The frame is pretty sturdy.  When I was finished, I added a few more staples to "hold" the strips on the page; added a fun banner and bingo bappo!  After I took the photo and posted, I realized that I forgot my journaling.  Um, hello?  I will be adding the stories behind these photos very soon, lol.

The layout

St John's Bridge

The colors used this week at CSI are some of my favorite colors.  I love the earthy tones and  I love them together.  I took these last weekend while my husband raced in an outrigger canoe race. I started right under the bridge.  A very cool looking one.

For my evidence I used: bird and branch, white space (I have a hard time with that one), circles in my punch.

For my testimony I journaled on the mystery of bridge design and beauty that was accomplished without modern technology.

I also used this layout for BPC's National Scrapbooking Day challenge to use 3 colors next to each other on the color wheel.

The case file

Mother's Day Blog Hop!

Ahhhhh a day to celebrate Mom.  Mom deserves to be celebrated!  She does so much for us.

I hope you are joining us from the beginning at Amanda's blog.  If you are starting here, or just plain lost, hop on over to Amanda's to start at the beginning.

Today I have 3 cards for you, all a little different, and a cute story.

The story with this card is that I showed it to DH and the first thing he said was, "Oh, it's ripped." and tried to "fix" it.  Then I went to show it to DS and he says, "Oh, bummer, it's ripped.", and then tried to smooth it out.  What is it with guys and their need to "fix" everything?!?

This is just a sweet card.  I like it.  I spray inked a piece of white paper with green and then stamped on the still wet background.  It made a cool effect, I think.  I fussy cut the doily and flower, added gems and letter stickers, and voila!

Now, doesn't every mom want to be Queen for the day.  I think this is a great way to celebrate Mother's Day.  Doing whatever you want!  Both the cards and the chair are stamped and cut out.  I used watercolors to color in the flowers and dots on the chair.  I used some packing tape over the images, before I cut, to give them a sheen and to make them sturdier.

Thanks for stopping by!  Head on over to Jennifer's blog for some more fabulous ideas to celebrate the mom in your life.

One Day

The Challenge:
Make a button banner on your layout.

Banners are really big right now and for good reason, I think.  They are super cute and just speak of celebration.  There is something about showing up for and event that is well decorated.  You just know it is a time of celebration and party when you see festive banners.  Same holds true when moved onto a layout.  You can instantly alert the viewer of the mood of your layout by a well used banner.

I chose these photos of our church's work day called One Day.  We asked the question, "If you could get 100 people together to do service for others, how much could you get done in one day?"  We asked and we found out!  We had about 140 people descend on Malabon Elementary School one day in June to give it a spruce up.  With school budgets so tight, we provided a lot of free labor and a fair amount of supplies to fix it up for the coming year.  We weeded, trimmed, planted, painted, mowed, and left the school looking so much better than it did!  We also blessed the neighborhood with potted plants and picked up trash.  Not only did we help a building look better, we helped the community feel loved.  This was the first of what we hope is an annual event.

The layout

Some Big News!

Today is the launch of a new kind of scrap site.  Thinking*Through*Designs is all about learning, sharing, growing and being encouraged.  This site has been months in the making and I am so excited to finally get going.   I am joining Erika, Steffanie, Joni, and a team of creators to bring lessons, encourage growth, and just support the scrapper's journey.  We will be hosting lessons, called thoughts, every other Thursday, known as Thoughtful Thursdays, and give you the chance to create with us.

More than anything, we want to provide a supportive place for scrappers to come learn and begin to go deeper into their process, to think out their designs.  It is a journey that I am super excited about and hope you will join us!