Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Sketchy Thursday -- Full Circle

Last week, I stumbled across the Sketchy Thursdays blog and I decided to play along. Here's the sketch:
And here's my layout:
The journaling (which I printed on vellum) reads: Mark, I love how Thomas is looking up to you in this picture. It reminds me that we have come full circle because just 14 years ago, you were looking up to Michael in much the same way. I am so proud of the choices you make and hope you will always be someone your little cousins can look up to!

The layout is pretty self-explanatory. After adhering the various strips of patterned paper to the cardstock, I stamped the Tattered Angels clock right onto the Pebbles patterned paper. Like the sketch, I stamped part of the clock off the page. For the hands, I stamped off onto a piece of scrap before stamping on the page so that they would be lighter. I wish I could say that the time I chose has some significance but it doesn't. I felt that 10 o'clock would balance out the image which was a little bottom heavy and not get in the way of the phase (life moves so very fast FREEZE) which I stamped in blue.
I stamped another circle partially off the bottom right of the page and added my title with rub-ons and Thickers. I am usually a pretty symmetrical person but I decided to add a 6-inch Crate Paper border to highlight the picture. I topped that off with some Lime Twist twine from My Mind's Eye and a button from my sewing box. As for the metal clock, I have no idea where I got it. It has been in my jewelry box for years!

Supplies:
Cardstock: American Crafts
Patterned Paper: Pebbles (Happy Go Lucky); Crate Paper (Toy Box); Basic Grey (Life of the Party; Basics/Kraft)
Stamps: Tattered Angels (Clock); Technique Tuesday (Studio AE April; The Family Circle);
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Vintage Photo); Stampin' UP! (Blue Bayou);
Punch: Martha Stewart (Scallop Dot);
Alphabet: American Crafts Thickers (Sweet); Fancy Pants rub-ons;
Twine: My Mind's Eye (Lime Twist).

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Ad-spiration

Mark is turning 16 in a little over a week. Yikes! A year of learning to drive, PSATs and college trips is upon us. Realizing this, I thought I would share a birthday layout I did last summer. Don't know why I never got around to posting it. The inspiration for the layout came from this advertisement for the Imaginisce paper:


When I saw those colorful papers, I just knew that this was a layout I wanted to scraplift. Since I didn't purchase all of the embellishments, I made my own. Here's my layout:

Let me walk you through some of the handmade touches I made for just pennies! The banner at the top of the page of the inspiration piece was actually two different packages of paper ribbons, one with flags and the other with the sentiment. I created my banner by fussy cutting a piece of patterned paper which I purchased at just a fraction of the cost. After stitching the banner string, I added the sentiment on foam adhesive.

I also didn't purchase the Springing Stackers so instead, I die-cut a circle, stamped random dots using the back of a patterned circle stamp and added a chipboard number to create the "Celebrate 4" embellishment.
I did purchase two Snag 'Em stamps at $1 each. I heat embossed the "Make a Wish" stamp on red cardstock to add another texture to the layout.
I stamped the "For Me" stamp three times and used paper piecing and foam dimensionals to create a custom embellishments.
Journaling reads:
7/99 -- Knowing how much you loved firetrucks, cousin Marie sent this for your birthday.

This layout is not all I made with my three pieces of patterned paper and two stamps. You can see the cards I created with this collection on this blog post.

Supplies:
Cardstock: American Crafts
Patterned Paper: Imaginisce (B-Day Bash);
Stamps: Imaginisce (B-Day Bash); Papertrey Ink (Label Basics); Technique Tuesday (The Family Circle);
Ink: VersaMark; Stampin' Up! (Riding Hood Red); Ranger (Coffee); Ranger Distress Ink (Vintage Photo);
Embossing Powder: American Crafts Zing! (white);
Pen: Stampin' Up! (Chocolate Chip);
Embellishments: Recollections;
Tools: EK Success Circle Punch.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Acadia

I have been in such a card-making frenzy lately so I thought it was time I shared a layout. I am determined to finish scrapping last summer's vacation before we go on vacation this year. Wish me luck on that one. LOL! Anyway, today's layout is based on Nichol Magouirk's Scrapbook Stamping class from March. I love how Nichol uses lots of pictures on her pages and she has inspired me to keep my stamps handy as I work on a page. Here's Nichol's sketch:


And here's a layout of one of my most favorite days from our cruise to New England and Canada:
As you can see, I stretched the sketch to include four small pictures on the top half of the page. I also balanced the circular title mat with a circle for journaling. The bicycle was stamped four times with the help of my Stamp-a-ma-jig and heat embossed. Since I don't have fringe scissors or a grass punch, I created the grassy border underneath the four small pictures with the help of my Martha Stewart Icicle Punch!

For the title block, I cut the circles using my Spellbinders Nestabilities. After stamping the leaf, I added some of the Basic Grey stickers on foam dimensionals. The leaves from the Basic Grey elements sticker sheet were a perfect fit!

I typed the journaling and ran a piece of patterned paper through my printer. Then I cut the circle using the same Nestabilities. Finally I added the Basic Grey elements sticker as a subtitle. I used element stickers and glazed brads to add more circles and finished off the layout by stitching a border around the top half of my page.

The journaling reads: The Sweetest Memories. It was a 1-mile ride on the scenic carriage roads around Acadia's Eagle Lake and Jordan Pond for Sal, Melissa and me. Add a couple of extra miles for Mark who kept riding ahead and doubling back with words of encouragement for those of us who "lagged" behind. Oh to be 15 and in incredible shape!

Supplies:
Cardstock: American Crafts;
Patterned Paper, Stickers, Brads: Basic Grey (Marjolaine);
Stamps: Unity (Bicycle); Papertrey Ink (Turning a New Leaf; Library Ledger);
Ink: VersaMark; Tim Holtz Distress ink (Shabby Shutters); Ranger (Coffee);
Embossing Powder: American Crafts Zing (Brown Sugar);
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities (Classic Circle): Martha Stewart Edge Punch (Icicle).