Creative Scrappers Sketch #218 -Reveal!

An awesome new sketch has been unveiled at Creative Scrappers!  Whoot-Whoot!   I love that this sketch takes the guess-work out of layering, but still leaves a wide berth for interpretation.

Here is some good information from the Creative Scrappers blog:

"To win a prize package from our July sponsor My Creative Classroom,complete at least one layout from our sketches # 215-216-217-218 and upload it using our inLinkz at the bottom of our reveals. The deadline to submit your layout(s) is August 1 2012"

And here is my layout using the sketch:

Just an FYI, I started a new teaching position with the local ISD and am in training sessions from now until schools starts in August... so my scrapping and blogging time is going to be minimal. So, if I am quiet for awhile... this is why!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my latest! :)

West Texas Wildflowers

Many people say that West Texas isn't beautiful... some, in fact, say it is ugly.  Well, I disagree.  It may be a little harder to find beauty in this desert landscape, but there is beauty here.  I went on a photo walk around our neighborhood searching for beauty.  This is what I found:

For this layout, I had more photos that I wanted to add, but really only one good spot for a photo.  I had to get creative here and decided to make a simple little flip book.

When I put this in my album, I am going to cut an opening  in the page protector for the photo book to be on the outside. So, I added a transparency to the first photo to give it a little protection from wear and tear.

I like that I was able to include all the photos I wanted to!  I am definitely going to use this mini book concept again!  How do you include lots of pictures on your layouts?  Two-pagers?  Divided page protectors?  I would love to see your ideas!  Link me up, scottie!  :)

Starting Point Layout +

A new Shimelle's Starting Point challenge was posted earlier this week.  I LOVE these challenges and look forward to them every week.  Just saying. :)   

This is my take on the SP.   I used October Afternoon's 9 to 5 collection (mostly).  I have had these wood veneer typewriters in my stash and finally found a way to use them and the OA 9 to 5 collection!  I like that I was able to use an unexpected motif (typewriters) for a baby page.  Although a little cheesy, they go well with my title.  The title was inspired by said  typewriters.  LOL!

Some more layouts:
Another 2-Pager of our mini-vacation.  So proud of myself for using so many pictures!  :)   This layout is going in our Life 2012 album.

This layout of my son and his friend on our mini vacation is going into his 2012 album.

My sweetie-pie, Emery.  She turns 1 year old next month!  OMGosh!  Where has the time gone?  By the way, this little stinker already has 2 & 3/4 albums... and she isn't even a year old yet!  :)

Sable and Emery

A 6X12 Layout, of me and my sweetie, using up some scraps.  I use to create at this size frequently.  It was fun and I like the way the different size pages look together in a 3-ring album.  To me, a little differentiation in page size adds interest to an album and makes the viewer interact a little more with the pages.

Thanks so much for stopping by to see what I have been up to!  I  have "met" so many sweet bloggey-scrappey friends who are so talented and creative and inspiring.   I love to visit your blogs... you know who you are!  I appreciate so much the comments and support you offer.  Thank you!  Okay... gush over.  :)

July 4th Celebration Photos

I posted a few days ago about my preparations for our July 4th celebration, and the recipes I planned on making.  I did it! :)  I made them all, plus some.  I also did lots of decorating.  Fun! Fun! Fun!  We had lots of friends and family over and we all had a GREAT time together.  

Patriotic Cupcake Tower

I made the little star toothpick decorations using my paper punches. 

 (I will post a mini tutorial on how I made these soon!) 

The banner was a free printable I found  HERE on pinterest.  

Fruit Pizza

These were a BIG hit!  They didn't last long and everyone wanted the recipe!  SCORE! :)  I will definitely be making these again!  You can find the recipe HERE.

Fiesta Dip
Also a big hit!  I made two batches of it and all of it was gone except a smidgeon.  :)

Pinwheel Decorations

My sweet and crafty friend, Adrianna, made this adorable tutu dress for my grand-baby!
 Isn't it adorable on her!  

Creative Scrappers Reveal

Sketch #216 was revealed today at Creative Scrappers !  Also, the new Design Team layout inspiration were also revealed!   You MUST go see all the gorgeous interpretations of this sketch!  Talk about some serious eye candy!  

I love this sketch by Janice Daquila-Pardo!  I am usually a 4x6 photo scrapper but I really enjoyed switching things up and scrapping with smaller photos.  I also love the long banner strip that anchors the photos.  A very fun sketch, indeed! 

Here is my take on the sketch.  I used photos from our Cinco De Mayo Fiesta at school.  The wonderful parents really outdid themselves in putting this together.  My students had lots of fun!

Why not give this sketch a try and use up some of those July 4th celebration photos?  If you do, be sure to link up at Creative Scrappers for a chance to win  a prize package from our July sponsor My Creative Classroom!  

July 4th Celebration Preparations

I LOVE Pinterest!  I pinned this lovely Stars & Stripes Bunting project by Kierste and knew I had to give it a try!  We have lots of family & friends coming over to celebrate the 4th, and I really want the house to look festive!  :)    

I decided I wanted to create triangular banners as opposed to the rectangular ones.  I basically followed the directions in Kierste's tutorial.  Instead of  jute, I cut long strips of the burlap to "string" the banners from and instead of hot gluing I sewed the banners to the burlap strips.  It is very rustic looking and goes great with my decor. :)

This is another little project I worked on today:

We are cooking out hamburgers, hot dogs, etc on the grill, but here are a couple of recipes I pinned and plan on making for our July 4th festivities!

Fiesta Dip by Dishing with Leslie

 Loaded Baked Potato Salad by Dishing with Leslie

Mini Deep Dish Fruit Pizzas by Banner Boutique

Oh good... now I am hungry!  LOL!   I have a couple of more projects that I am working on... I will post those another day.   :)  

Two Pagers & Layout Love Linky

I signed up for May Flaum's & Nic Howards, Double Take class at Big Picture Classes the beginning of May and am just getting around to doing it!   Two-Pagers are not my usual go-to style, so in the spirit of challenging myself to expand my creative horizons, I thought this would be a fun challenge to take on.  I completed two vacation layouts in the past couple of days, using the sketches from class.  I really love that I was able to incorporate lots of photos, because I took about 500 on this mini-vacation and printed about 330 of them.  I NEED to incorporate lots of photos.  :)    

I am also participating in SoapHouseMama's , Layout Love Linky , to share our latest unblogged layouts.  :) 

So here goes: 

That is all I can share for now... I have a couple more layouts that I created for Creative Scrappers, but I can't share those until the July reveal.  :)  Speaking of Creative Scrappers and reveals, tomorrow the new sketch + Design Team "A", will be revealed first thing in the morning! Just read that the July Sponsor is My Creative Classroom -- they have some awesome classes!  Be sure to check it out and play along with us! :)

Pinterest Inspiration

Do you ever feel like you are stuck in a scrapping rut?  Do you ever feel like you are sort of doing the same thing over and over and your layouts are looking very similar?  Not that there is anything wrong with repetition and process, unless you are feeling bored with it.  I was feeling this way and wanted to try some new techniques and sort of break out of my comfortable little scrappy box.    So, what did I do?  Went to Pinterest, of course,  in search of inspiration!  

I have been on pinterest awhile and LOVE it!  The problem is that I pin all these great ideas, but don't often utilize the ideas.  I challenged myself to find a layout that inspired me and scraplift it.  

I found this gorgeous layout to scraplift:  I did a little research and found out it was created by Spica.  You should go check out all the lovely layouts on her blog!  She is a very talented scrapper indeed! 

What I love about this layout is the twine used sort-of-like a clothesline, with all the fun embellishments hanging off.  I have had these tiny clothes pins in my stash awhile and could never really figure out a way to incorporate them in my layouts.  Plus, I have had this same chipboard collection by My Minds Eye that I couldn't seem to find a good spot for either.   Bonus!  Inspiration and Stash Busting!  ---You know how I love stash busting! :)  ---
Here is my pinterest/scraplifted layout:

Overall, I am very pleased with how this turned out.  It felt really good to get out of my comfort zone.  It did take me a little longer than most of my layouts, but well worth the extra time spent.

If you are feeling in a scrappy rut, I encourage you to head to pinterest and find a layout that speaks to you... and don't just pin it... lift it!  :)

Good News & Layouts

I got the job!  The interview went well and I really liked the principal and vp.  We hit it off!   Come to find out, the school I will be teaching at is the same school my mom went to all through elementary school.  Kind of full circle, don't you think?  :)

Thanks to everyone for the "good luck" wishes and prayers!  I appreciate you very much! :)

I have a few layouts to share today.

This first one was based on Shimelle's latest starting point.  I love these photos!  That make me laugh every time I look at them!  

I am starting to work on pages from our Road Trip earlier this month.  We were gone 5 days and I took almost 500 pictures!  LOL!  All of those won't end up on a layout more than likely! :) 

My last layout to share today.  This is still Day #1 of our last Road Trip.  I have never really photographed food, but I think I will do more of it!  I really like how this layout turned out! :)   This is my sketch challenge #10 entry for ACOT.

Thanks for checking out my latest!  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Mother's Day -2012

A new layout using Shimelle's Sketch of the Week.   I used some Basic Grey papers from the PB&J collection which came in my June kit from Cocoa Daisy.  The floral accents are Sassafras Lass Foldies cut apart to work with my design. (I LOVE these!)  The alphabet came from Target, can't remember the manufacturer.  The red and white chipboard buttons are from Jenni Bowlin... I have had these in my stash forever!  I loved them and didn't want to get rid of them, but I never could find a good place to use them.  Now I have!  So glad I kept them all these years!  LOL!

*Side note:  I have a job interview in the morning for a Kindergarten or Third Grade teaching position.  Interviews make me nervous!  Ughhh!  Keep me in your prayers and feel free to share any interview advice! :)

Shimelle's Starting Point Layout

A new starting point from Shimelle, yippeee!  I love these challenges!  Here is a photo of Shimelle's starting point and a link to the original post.  If you haven't participated in one of these challenges... you should really give it a try!  It is fun and a great creative-muscle stretcher!  :)

Here is what I came up with:

These are photos my sweetie took during our Pre-K Graduation Ceremony.  It was a bitter-sweet event.  Sweet. because I loved seeing all my students celebrate this milestone.  Bitter, because it marked the end of my time with this group of students, who I came to love like my own.  They don't prepare you for that during college! :(  I was surprised by my own emotions!

Most of the products I used on this page are from Sassfras Lass (Cherry Delicious, Ellie"s Tale, Count Me In, & Paper Crush Collections), which sadly is no longer in the Scrapbook business.  I believe they are designing fabric now?  Anyway, I stocked up on their products awhile back and now I am taking Shimelle's wise advice to "use it while you love it." No hoarding! :)