Back to School

This is the paper scissors version of layout from the kids' first day of school. I did it a few posts back in digi for a black/red/white challenge (as well as a sketch challenge) so this one has a completely different look, in my opinion. Not sure which I like best. I love the nice clean lines of digi scrapping, but the process of getting in there and getting dirty is a lot more satisfying with paper/scissors! The picture is ridiculously blurry. I think my new camera batteries are already dying. I have taken A LOT of pics this weekend though :)

Monkey Business

I am absolutely LOVING the switch to 12x12. Here is my latest layout. I digi scrapped these pics a few posts ago of my son climbing the tree in my parents yard. Here it is in regular paper/scissors. Completely different layout and look, but I love it!

52 weeks sketch #36

This is my take on week #36 for 52 sketches. I'm a little behind, but that's okay. You can see the original sketch HERE. This site has some of the best sketches around so join in the fun each week. New sketches are posted on Sundays. My layout is a digi so I should note that to be eligible for the weekly prize you have to either make it a hybrid or paper/scissors layout. Otherwise it's just for the fun :)

Creative Scrappers #65 sketch

Admittedly I am a little behind on my challenges. I did bookmark this one however because I just fell in love with the sketch. You can see the original by clicking HERE. This was the first time I have ever used raw chipboard on my layouts, but the color matched perfectly to many of the little robot parts I figured why not keep the rough look. I found all the supplies at my local Joann's in a big ol' page kit. I was worried that the theme would be a little too 'young' for pictures of my 9 year old, but he thought it was cool so I went with it. What do I know?!?! Hahaha!

My love bug

I finally have passed the dreaded morning (...er anytime of the day it feels like hitting) sickness and actually got to sit at my scrap table!! Most of the time was devoted to finishing up some swaps, but I did get a few layouts done. Yay!

Just because...

My wicked step-mommy (it's a nickname of endearment...I promise and I'm her 'evil step-child...lol) is always sending me 'just because' cards. I have them littered all over the shelves and wall of my scrap area. Just looking at them always brings sunshine to my day. I wanted to return the favor and send her a card without a reason. I can honestly say I have NO clue who the maker is with these supplies. Every bit of it came out of my scrap baggie :) Even the base card it is adhered too! Yay for using scraps!!! I can tell you I used the Fiskars Threading Water border punch and then embossed the strip with the Divine Swirls Cuttlebug folder. Other than that.....it's a mystery!

Happy Blogoversary!!!!

Yay!!! Today this lil' old blog of mine turns ONE!!!! I've had so much fun sharing my work with all of you. I have learned so much from all the friends I've made in blog-land :) I would love to some of my favorites over the past year. Thanks for being so great everyone!!

2 more 8x8 wedding layouts

Here are two more of the 8x8 tropical pages I've completed for dad and step-mom's wedding album. Thanks for looking.

Ron Jon- the original

Here is another layout from my kids trip last week. They spent a few days in Long Beach Island and had a blast. I loved how this layout turned out!

A few digi layouts for my year of challenges.

My kids recently took a trip to Long Beach Island, New Jersey and New York City with their grandparents. They had a blast, but I'm so glad to have them home!!! I wanted to share a few layouts from their stay in the next few days. Enjoy!

These are all digi landscapes for my slideshow.

First up is the Creative Scrappers sketch for this week. It is an awesome sketch. Check it out here.

Here are a few more from the trip:

Tropical Wedding album

So far the only supplies I've used are a few inks and circle punches from my stash, the hibiscus quickutz die and on the first 2 layouts I used a few odds and ends from a wedding page kit I had left over. My dad and step-mom had a tropical themed wedding and The Tahiti Beach Stack from DCWV worked beautifully! I am nowhere near done, but had to share my progress so far.

The picture taking of my layouts needs some MAJOR improvement. I think my camera batteries are dying, because I've never been quite this bad at it. :) I hope you enjoy anyway.

Easter 09 and a sketch

For my latest layout, I took one of the 8.5 x11 July page maps and made it into a 12x12 layout. I think it fit quite nicely. The lyrics to the song 'Here come Peter Cottontail' are confettied all around the page. I also stitched for the first time on a layout. I've done faux stitching with pen a few times, but this was my first attempt at using a needle and fiber. You can see the original sketch I used here. The purple border is trimmed with the 'cloud' fiskars deco-edge scissors. The letters are a Cuttlebug alpha die. The flowers were just cheap embellies I found at Walmart in the craft section (not the scrapbooking part).

My Girl layout and a sketch

Another digi layout that I created for my digital picture frame. I love creating layouts for it because it pretties it up so nicely from just slideshowing regular pictures!!!

I used a sketch from pencillines.com that is just too adorable to not try out.

First layout in months!!

Hi all. A quick update and then a share. I haven't posted in over a month. I was trying to recover from my broken jaw when I seemed to come down with a horrible stomach flu. Well turns out that stomach flu is a new baby on the way. It was a total, 'woah' moment, but we're getting there. Now that I'm nearing the end of the first trimester I am starting to have less and less miserable days. I managed to get this layout done of my daughter's preK graduation.

It's totally not my usual style. I was trying something new with textures and I really like how it turned out. Thanks for looking.



I used one of the great sketches from this month's PageMaps releases.

Quick update

I have not disappeared completely. Just wanted to update all my great friends and family who have sent me comments, emails and phone calls to check on me. My surgery went well initially until 2 weeks out I was still in immense pain. A trip to the ER, a new surgeon and a slew of xrays have revealed a minor hairline fracture on my jaw. No doubt caused by the surgery as it was a known risk. I am healing and feeling better every day.

On top of THAT (as if it's not enought...right???), my computer crashed last week. We have McAfee installed and it never detected anything so I'm not entirely sure it was a virus and rather just user error of messing with important files. My husband DOES use the same laptop ya know ;) and he's done it before. LOL! We had to reformat the harddrive and start from scratch, but once I get my McAfee redownloaded and all my Windows and Internet Explorer stuff updated back to where they were (after reformatting they reinstalled the factory settings wich pulled my laptop back into '07 settings).

Anywho...my files are all gone. Thank GOODNESS my pics were all backed up, but files, music, sketches, scrappy stuff...all gone. As are all of my favorites and I had a HUGE scrappy favs folder. So I'm open to any comments you can throw my way that list some of your favorite scrappy sites, sketch resources, and anything else you think I may be needing :)

Thanks all....I'll be back at em just as soon as I can manage to sit at my scrap table without getting loopy from pain meds or being in too much pain to focus on much. Thanks again for all the well wishes!! You all rock!

xoxo

Do you need a challenge??

**this list is about as outdated as you'd imagine after 4 years.  Click the Challenge tab at the top for an updated list**

I had several people ask me if I had a good challenge blog I could suggest. Well, boy is THAT a loaded question. I may not have time to always share everything I create, but I do have over 30 challenge blogs that I subscribe to and participate in regularly. Rather than reply to each of you separately I thought I'd do a blog post so that maybe it can help others who didn't ask but were curious too :)

I've taken the time to detail just what kind of challenges each blog specializes in, so it should be easy to find just what you are looking for. Feel free to send friends to this blog post if you know of anyone looking for a great challenge. All of these challenges are open to anyone. Just post your creation to your own blog following the rules as described. Then post a link directly to the post on your blog detailing your project in the comments or Mr. Linky. You can always contact these blog owners directly for more details. These are the best of the best and all worth checking out!!!
Card Challenges
2 Sketches 4 You does several challenges. Every Monday, a new sketch is posted. It alternates between Laura's card sketches and Kazan's layout sketches. Sometimes you are playing for really great goodies.

Sketches! {by tamara} posts a card sketch every Thursday. You generally have a week to complete the card and the following Friday you could be chosen to be featured on her blog if you link up your work.

Mojo Monday posts a card sketch every, you guessed it, Monday! You just link your blog post directly to the Mr. Linky feature by the following Sunday and you could win a great prize.

Sketch Saturday puts up a card sketch every Saturday. Just post your card to your blog then post the link to that post in the comments of their blog.

Cucake Craft Challenges has a new challenge every Monday. Sometimes a theme, a sketch or even a recipe. They really mix it up. Every week 5 cards are chosen as the 'top 5' for the week and, if chosen, you are awarded a special blinkie to display on your blogroll.

Card Positioning Systems posts a new card sketch every Sunday and you have a week to link your blog post into their Mr. Linky. One lucky winner wins a prize every week

Cute Card Thursday posts a challenge every Thursday. They are a card making blog, but if their challenge inspires you to create something else, they will gladly accept it. They have a Mr. Linky feature as well and if you are linked by the following Wednesday you are entered to win a goodie.
365 Cards has new challenges daily. Link your blog post of your creation to their Mr. Linky and share your work. They offer prizes from time to time too.

Just Christmas and Birthday cards is a blog that is focused on just what they say. Creating birthday and Christmas cards for your stash. There are sketches posted every Monday and you can choose to create either a birthday or Christmas card following it. If you participate in more than two challenges in a month you will be entered to win the monthly RAK.

Stamp Something will post a challenge every Friday. Use any line of stamps and create a card and upload it to your blog then link to their Mr. Linky and then leave a comment. They offer up blog candy to participants.

Sketch and Stash Challenge posts a new sketch every other Monday. You must follow the sketch AND use your newest stash on the card. You must list the items that are your 'new stash' when linking in the comments. They have nice prizes awarded to a lucky pick.

Our Creative Corner posts a new challenge every Saturday. You can link your take on the challenge in their Mr. Linky feature by Friday to play along. You could be entered to win a goodie.

My Time to Craft posts a new challenge theme every Tuesday. You can create a card following the challenge and post a link to your blog in their comments to share.

Creatively Yours alternates between posting card and layout sketches. You are welcome to use their sketches for challenges if you give proper credit. You can also share your work in their comments if you create something based on one of their sketches.

Color Throwdown Weekly Papercrafting Challenge is a fun challenge that gives you a color combo every week to create a card with. The colors listed are Stampin' Up colors but they are open to you digging through your preferred brand of cardstock and finding coordinating colors. Link using their Mr. Linky and you could win a prize.

Taylored Expressions has a great line of cupcake stamps. Every Friday, she posts a new sketch that you can use to create a card with her stamp sets, although it's not required. You can use any stamp you have...just follow the sketch. If you are chosen as the weekly winner you might even win a goodie....maybe even one of her awesome stamps.


Layout Challenges
52 Sketches 52 Weeks offers a new layout sketch every Sunday night. They require you to subscribe to a website rather than post via your blog. She has such amazing sketches though that make it sooo worth joining. You have a week to upload your creation to your own gallery on the site for a chance to win a prize. Digi layouts are not accepted however.

Creative Scrappers posts a new sketch every Sunday. You are welcome to share your creations based on their sketches weekly. Goodies are awarded once a month to a lucky blog follower.

2 Sketches 4 You does several challenges. Every Monday, a new sketch is posted. It alternates between Laura's card sketches and Kazan's layout sketches. Sometimes you are playing for really great goodies.

Sketches! {by tamara} posts a layout sketch every Monday. You generally have a week to complete the layout and the following Friday you could be chosen to be featured on her blog if you link up your work.

Pink Sketches posts new layout sketches on Sunday. Just create a layout based on the sketch and email it to the blog owner to be included in the gallery.

Got Sketch? is another sketch challenge that is hosted on a gallery site. They also have a blog though. Valerie's sketches are some of the best so it's worth checking out anytime! You can follow the blog HERE as well. New sketches are released bi-monthly.

Pencil Lines posts new sketches every Sunday night. You can create a layout based on the sketch and email it to the blog owners. It will be entered into the monthly draw for a great prize.

Use Your Stash will give you one item the 5th of every month to dig out of your stash and use in a layout. A few limitations though. Layouts only. All new work (meaning no using sketches or scraplifting). I also do believe digi is exempt. On the 15th you are welcome to come back and share a card you made from the layout scraps and more of your 'stash item'. You have until 20th to upload your layout to be considered for the goodie.

Gettin Sketchy posts a new layout sketch every month. You have until the 25th of the month to link your layout post to the comments to be eligble for the prize.

Creatively Yours alternates between posting card and layout sketches. You are welcome to use their sketches for challenges if you give proper credit. You can also share your work in their comments if you create something based on one of their sketches.

Blueprint Sketches posts new layout sketches often. You are welcome to use them if you give proper credit to the brilliant sketchers that made them. You can share your creations by joining their community. You can also simply follow the blog and enjoy her great sketches.

Mix It Up posts a 'mixer' every Tuesday. You will have a challenge to follow and an optional sketch to help your creativity flow. The challenge must be followed, but the sketch is just a bonus...not required. You link your blog post to them by the deadline shown and you are entered into the monthly drawing.



Misc Challenges
Cuttlebug Challenges posts a new Challenge every Wednesday and you can create a card or a layout based on the theme/technique announced. Just make sure you use your Cuttlebug to emboss or cut something for your project.

Sketches! {by tamara} posts a recipe challenge every Tuesday. You generally have a week to complete the layout or a card using the items listed and the following Friday you could be chosen to be featured on her blog if you link up your work.

Tag You're It is the blog for all of you tag makers. I've seen other items created from their challenges, but they are primarily inspiration for creating tags. Every Friday a challenge is posted and you just link your blog post to their comments to be included in the contest.

Daily Inspirations is just the blog for you if you need a big ole kick in the butt to get moving. They post a new challenge every single day. Sometimes it's a link to a popular challenge blog, a recipe, a sketch, a theme, or a specific idea. You are free to create anything (card, layout, altered item, etc) and share the link to your creation in their comments.

Crafts 4 Eternity is another great blog that provides limitless inspiration. You are given a sketch every Sunday and you are free to create anything with it. Just link your creation's post directly to their comments to share.

The Cuttlebug Spot will post a new challenge every Monday. You are almost always free to create a layout, card or altered item. Post your link to Mr. Linky to share and lots of times there are prizes!! You always need to use a Cuttlebug product in your work though. Emboss something or use a Cuttlebug die.

Papertake Weekly Challenge posts a new and random challenge every Monday night. You are welcome to create anything. Link your blog post in their comments to share and you might win a prize.

Friday Sketchers allows you to create any craft item but you MUST follow their sketch. Link in their comments to be entered to win a goodie from one of their sponsors.

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I hope you find inspiration in some of these challenge blogs. Whether you are new to participating in challenge blogs or not there are a few bits of etiquette that you should keep in mind. These may not be listed in the rules everytime, but they are known as 'the right way to do it.' I hope sharing these tips will make it easier for you to jump right in.

• Do not ever use something you didn't create to enter a challenge. A given right?
• If you enter a creation you made based on someone else's work (scraplifting) or by following a sketch, it is the right thing to do to make sure you mention in your post where you got your inspiration.
• Don't post the challenge idea or sketch alone with your work. Give credit to the brilliant minds that took the time to think it up. It's best to show your work along with details AND a link back to the original challenge that inspired it.
• If you use one card/layout that covers multiple challenges make sure you say so in your post. Most blog owners don't mind just be upfront about it. In fact, it's a great way to cross-promote. People who follow one challenge may find a new favorite by seeing your link to another challenge.
• Post directly to your blog post showing the creation for THAT challenge. Do not post your simple blog URL. Go directly to the post that shows your creation and copy and paste the link in the URL bar. For example, my blog is http://sameoldscrap.blogspot.com/ however if I want to direct someone straight to a particular post (for instance my latest) my URL would look like this: http://sameoldscrap.blogspot.com/2009/04/new-year-100-challenges.html
• Posting URLs is not as simple as copy and pasting the link. Blogger does not support clickable links. You will need to create a simple html code. Just type the following in the comment replacing yourURLhere with the URL you copied from the goto bar and replace the postnamehere with what you what to call your link. Some will put click here or my blog, etc in place of postnamehere. When using Mr. Linky you only need to copy and paste the link directly. It takes care of the coding for you.
  
• Take the time to read the instructions in the post. If you are unclear read the left or right sidebars. Blog owners often post details there. You can always ask if you need set straight.
• Some blog challenges have 10-20 entries a week. Other's can get several hundred. You aren't expected to have time to comment on every single entry. However, as a general rule you will be shown the consideration you put out there. If you enter a challenge, make time to pick a handful of links that also entered the challenge and view their posts and comment on them. It's the best way to get traffic back to your blog viewing your hard work.
• If you win a challenge, be grateful. Whether you win a prize or just bragging rights, it's very thoughtful to take the time to post to your blog that you were chosen to be featured on a blog. Link back to the original contest and the winning announcement. Make sure you thank the blog owner that hosted the challenge as well as the sponsor that may have provided your goodie.
• If you find a challenge blog you really like, subscribe to their feed by 'becoming a follower'. Most will have a easy link on the sidebar. If not you can always follow by following the instructions at the bottom of your blogger dashboard.
• When showing off your creation make sure to list as much detail as possible. If you don't remember the brand names, that's not a big deal, but share what you do know. Share details and how-to's in case someone viewing wants to give your techniques a try.
• Last, but not least. Follow the rules. Some blogs are very vague because they want your creativity to flow wherever it naturally goes. Other's however have set up very specific deadlines and/or limitations. It's cool to still share your creation, but make sure you mention that you strayed from the specified path. A simple, "I loved your challenge and I know I did my own thing a bit, but I still wanted to share." will make the difference between someone looking at your blog and thinking "what was SHE thinking," or thinking, "woah...what a cool spin on THAT!"

**If your blog is listed here and you would rather it not be...just drop me a message and I'll gladly remove it. Also let me know if you see any errors!

Update on me =)

I set a post or two up in advance to auto-post so that I wouldn't be too behind. Be sure to check out the 100 challenges post HERE. Lots of good ideas to spark your creativity.

On Friday, I finally had my oral surgery. All four impacted wisdom teeth were removed along with one molar cracked from one of the wisdom teeth. Two of them had to be dug out of the jaw bone with some grinding technique that I didn't especially want the details of. I was doing great Friday. I was also 100% numb. Saturday the swelling got really bad and that was contributing to my pain I'm sure. I was blessed with an oral surgeon who was quite generous with the pain killers so I thought I'd be okay.

Today it seems to be the worst yet. I can manage to sit up in bed and type on the laptop (even though I'm barely forming a thought right) for about 2-3 hours after I get to take the two pain killers together (I have one I take every 4 hours and one every 8 hours). Other than that, I am in bed cuddling the Vicodin bottle and icepack crying. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. I'm really hoping this is as bad as it gets.

No dry sockets yet, I have taken great precautions to prevent that from happening and I'm following the oral surgeon's instructions to the letter. Wish me happy healing and I can't wait until I can be back full force sharing my creations and enjoying catching up on all of yours!!!

A new year 100 challenges

**WARNING** LONG post...but lots of ideas and worth the read IMO ;)

I had shared with several people my new years resolution of getting 100 layouts done. I decided to inspire me along the way, I'd make up a list of 100 challenges of things I don't do often on layouts or things I've always wanted to try. Well it's already 3 1/2 months into the year and I haven't accomplished a whole lot. So I decided to try to make myself accountable, I'd share my list with all of you! When I create layouts from the list in the future, I will share them too! If any of you would like to take on this challenge, I'd love to check them out. Drop me a line.

1. Use photo corners

2. Dry Emboss an embellishment

3. Dangle something from the title

4. Mix letters for the title

This is a digi page for my landscape digi album created on scrapblog.com

5. Journal on a photo mat

6. Weave a fiber behind title

7. Use a photo for a template letters

8. Make a monochromatic layout

9. Chalk edges of a torn photo mat

10. Decorate one side of photo mat with eyelets

11. Dangle tags from photo mat

12. Cut graphics from a patterned paper to use as embellishment.

The bracket is cut from My Mind's Eye Just Dreamy 2 patterned paper.

13. Use a flower cluster

14. Do a vellum overlay over a photo

15. Find one item in your DHs toolbox to use as an embellishment

16. Use your favorite shirt as inspiration

17. Rubber stamp on the page

18. Hand write your journaling

19. Journal using a list

I decided to list the kids 10 favorite gifts from Christmas this year rather than do multiple layouts.

20. Journal two points of view for each picture or a he said/she said layout

21. Use pop dots

22. Make a shaker box

I created this shaker box following my tutorial found HERE.

23. Use fabric

24. Use ribbon in a unique way

I looped the ribbon through the hole on each layer of prima and then tied it into a bow.

25. Use buttons

26. Mix 3 or more patterned papers

27. Use "wood"

28. Put your title down the side of the page

29. Journal under a "lift up" layer

30. Use journaling strips

I let the kids look at all the pics of our visit to Crayola Land and describe some of the action they got to do. I wrote each on a slip and then used the slips of paper as journaling confetti around the page.

31. Put title letters on individual tags

32. Use one word adjectives to describe the person in a picture

33. Write a letter to the person in the layout

34. Pick key words in your journaling to highlight with borders or larger font

35. Embellish your page with a paper doll

36. Dot the "i"s in your title with an embellishment

37. White as a background

38. Use something you got in a swap

39. Use the name of a TV Show for a title

40. Use the name of a song for a title

41. Use the word Love in the title

What more is there to love than a pouty face like that! This is a landscape digi from scrapblog.com

42. Use the title only to explain your pictures - no journaling

I thought the title "My Monster...Not Too Scary" was pretty self explainatory. This is another digi from scrapblog.com

43. Use crumpled paper on a layout

44. Use metallic paper somewhere in the layout

45. Use vellum on a layout

46. Use at least 3 shades of the SAME color on a layout

47. Use embossed paper

I used the Cuttlebug Divine Swirls embossing folder on the white cardstock.

48. Use diamond dust paper

The word 'brrr' is cut from lily white diamond dust paper with the Red Tag Sale Cuttlebug alpha die set.

49. Use mulberry paper

50. Scrap any celebration

51. Scrap a family tradition

52. Scrap an event that includes some sort of food

Another landscape digi from scrapblog.com

53. Scrap a sports event or a game

54. Do a layout that includes toys in some way

55. Do an Animal layout (zoo, pets, could be Halloween, ??)

56. Do a Heritage layout

57. Do a WATER layout (beach, pool, pond, bathtub, rainstorm

58. Use a quote on a layout

59. Do a mosaic layout

60. Do a Totally Me layout

A 12x12 digi from scrapblog.com all about MOI!

61. Do a vacation layout

62. Use a poem on a layout (extra point if you write the poem!)

63. Do a Holiday layout

64. Do paper tearing on a layout

65. Do a HOUSE AND HOME layout

66. Do a SCHOOL layout

67. Do a BEFORE and AFTER layout (diet, pregnancy, dirty to clean)

68. Make a page that moves - Pop-up or pull

69. Make a layout without pictures - must have journaling

70. Put memorabilia on a page (like coins, baby bracelet, tassel from

71. Use a journaling genie or a coluzzle (shape), etc to make a journaling shape

72. Sew or cross-stitch on a layout

73. Use glitter or a glitter pen on a layout

74. Use 5+ pics

Another Christmas page from scrapblog.com

75. Use Circles on a layout

76. Make and use a paper piecing

77. Use stars on a layout

My son's birthday seemed the perfect occassion for a layout with stars as the focus. Page done with scrapblog.com

78. Use 10 or more eyelets

79. Do paper weaving

80. Do paper PIERCING on a page (with a needle or tool)

81. Use 20+brads on a layout

There are exactly 20 little brown brads on the curve at the top right.

82. faux-stitch on a layout

83. Use a decorative punch

The border to the right is cut with the Fiskar's Threading Water punch.

84. Use decorative scissors

85. Use black and white pictures on a layout

86. Use a 5x7 or larger picture on a layout

87. Crop a picture into a shape

88. Use a keepsake pocket

89. Use fibers

90. Use charms

Just below the pic is a ladybug charm tied to the page with a brown ribbon bow.

91. Scrap on an angle

92. Create a double page layout

93. Mat a photo multiple times

The larger focal picture is matted twice in yellow and then red cardstock.

94. Use staples

The first time I used staples. I used green staples to attatch all four ribbon pieces.

95. Use chipboard

The flower is a chipboard piece from My Mind's Eye.

96. Focus on one photo

97. Create a timeline

98. Scrapbook from a sketch

The layout I created about my husband was based on the sketch to the right. I am not sure who to credit the sketch too, but if anyone knows, do share ;)

99. Scrapbook about friendship

100. Scraplift something