Featured on Scrapidees Blog

I am thrilled to announce that I am the Guest Blogger on Scrapidees blog (a French sketch blog). Here's the sketch that I created for the DT. You HAVE to visit the site and see what the ladies over there created...they rocked it out!

I had fun playing with products here! I used Authentique's Journey collection, lots of different Cheery Lynn Designs dies, and masking.

I even added a little freehand doodles!


How fabulous is that Basically Bare chipboard dress form? I cut strips of film ribbon and layered the along the bottom and then added a die cut flower and butterfly wings and some rhinestones.

here's a close-up of some of the die cut flowers...


As always, thank you for stopping by!! Have a great day!

Quick Cheery Lynn Designs Post

Just a quick post to share a couple of Cheery Lynn Designs projects.

I created this layout using Creative Imaginations Beach Cottage Collection and one of the April photos that I took for the 52 Week Project and a sketch that I found on My Little Shoebox's blog. I used CLD's Floral Hearts die, Dimensional Butterflies Bundles, Scalloped Diamonds Border, Little Stackers Scalloped Circles, XL Nesting Stackers Coved Rectangles, and XL Classic Circles Nesting Stackers.

The layering dies are wonderful and so easy to used. I didn't want to use the entire Floral Heart die, so I simply cut small strips of paper, taped them to the portion of the die that I wanted cut (in this case, the flowers) and ran it through my cuttlebug.

I layered several different size circles, a border, and the dimensional butterflies to add interest to the center of the layout.

Just look at the amount of detail there is in the dimensional butterflies. They make me want to reach out and touch each one.

This card was created using Bella Blvd's Socialite Collection and collection andCLD's

Frills and Hearts Border, French Flair - Classic LG Stackers Nesting Dies, Little Stackers French Flair, and Dimensional Buttons 2 die

Thanks for stopping by today!

First Petaloo Post and Some Sketchy Inspiration

I have lots of goodies to share with you today!!!

First up is my first Petaloo project! I love how well the jewels in the Color Me Crazy Jeweled Florettes coordinated with this new line from Bella Blvd (All Inclusive). Although you can go crazy with coloring, stamping, inking these pretty petals, I chose to leave them plain. I like the touch of feminine class that the white flowers added to my layout.

I am so thrilled to be a part of Petaloo's very talented team and look forward to a creative and exciting 2010!

based on a sketch by Cherie

journaling: When I found out I'd won a scrapbooking cruise for 2 to Bermuda, I couldn't think of a better person to take as my +1 than my mom. She'd never gone on a vacation and I thought it was time she visited some place tropical. She had a ball...we both did! 10/2009

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Here are a few more layouts that I created for the Sketch Class at scrapfreak.com. You can read more about it in this post. I completed all 10 sketches and cleared 33 pictures off of my scrap desk...I'm so happy about that!!

Does Xander look like he's having a great time or what? I took these photos of him at the park this summer. This little boy mastered the slide!! He went up and down like an old pro....you'd swear he'd been on one before the way he's walking up the slide. He is my little dare devil! I remember taking Donovan to the playground when he was the same age and he was so apprehensive. I had to walk him through everything time and time again.

I used Cosmo Cricket's chipboard and rub-ons and Imaginisce Teacher's Pet papers here.

based on a sketch by Bree

This next layout is a testament to how quickly time flies! I remember this day like it was yesterday, but it was 3 1/2 years ago!!! Donovan was about 2 1/2 and the 2 of us joined a few of my friends and their kids at Sesame Place. I remember him crying so hard when he saw the characters. As long as they weren't in his site, he was fine. He loved the water park, though and the fact that I let him roam around instead of riding in the stroller all day! It was HOT that day, too!

I used new Graphic 45 and October Afternoon papers and Bella Blvd's new coin alpha here.

Based on a sketch by Tamara


I had fun playing around with Basic Grey Sugar Rush and smooch spritz on this layout.

based on a sketch by Diana of Sketchy Thursdays

journaling: getting a photo of the 5 of them has proven to be quite the task! Either someone makes a funny face or looks away from the camera or there's a distracting background. Xander's fingers...Jasmine's slouch...you get the picture. Though the photos aren't perfect, the love shared between certainly is! They look forward to spending time together and always have a great time together! Jan 2010

I got a little creative with the title here. I searched and searched the internet to find out what a person who loves the snow is called. I came across the word "chionophobia"which means "fear of snow". I figured if I changed -phobia to -philia or -philic, it would change the meaning from fear of snow to love of snow.

I have never known a child who loves snow more than Donovan! He could stay out in the snow forever if I let him. He's always loved it, too. I guess that has a lot to do with the fact that he was born in January and it snowed the day I bought him home from the hospital.

How perfect are these papers from My Mind's Eye. Can you believe they're Christmas papers? Love when I can get more than one use from supplies!


Thank you so much for your support and lovely comments!!! Hope you have a scrappy day!

Sketch Happy

I don't know about you, but I love it when I find a really good sketch! Sometimes I'm in the mood to scrap, but the mojo isn't flowing, so I turn to some of my "go to" sketch sites for inspiration. Other times I need a blue print to help spark my creativity. I love how versatile sketches are and that they can be used as a springboard. Sometimes my projects end up looking nothing like the sketch that I started with.

I got all excited when I saw that scrapfreak's February class is Get Sketchy! Here are the details of the class:

There are 10 sketches in total, but 20 fun examples!

I will post one sketch per day for the next 10 days so you will have all 10 by the 10th.

The designer of each sketch is listed. We love to see you share our classes on your blogs and other sites, but if you do, please be sure to give credit to the sketch artist

To qualify for a fun RAK from me, you have until the 28th to finish at least 4 layouts. Every layout past the 4th gives you an extra chance to win.

Do all 10 sketches by the 28th for a special something!

You don't officially have to sign up, but I love to see who is playing, so post here if you are and I will add you to the list

Feel free to rotate sketches, add or subtract items, change the number of photos, etc. Make it work for you!

We really focused on multi-photo sketches to help you catch up on all those photos! So get some stuff printed But you can always replace a photo with PP or a journaling spot if you want to do single photo layouts.


I've already completed 5 sketches (1 posted previously) which equates to 15 photos that have been cleared off of my scrap table! YES!!

"Yummy Cupcakes" is based on a sketch by Amy. I used my fave smooch spritz and 3 different Bella Blvd lines (Flirty, Sweet Celebration, and Estate Sale) to create this layout of Xander enjoying a cupcake (well the icing anyway).


(Trimmings) is based on a sketch by Bree; I flipped some of the elements and added different size photos. So happy that I was able to put those Making Memories Christmas papers to use.


"Not So Scary" is also based on a sketch by Bree. I used Pink Paislee's Twilight papers to highlight photos of Donovan on his second Halloween. He's the same age in these pictures as Xander now. I remember ringing the door bell so he could say "frick a cheat!" "Put it in my bucket"!


"Eye Doc" is based on a sketch by Cherie. I mixed some new October Afternoon Papers with some existing Jillibean soup papers and new Bella Blvd chipboard to create this layout about Donovan's first trip to the eye doctor.



He is such a silly boy! Instead of smiling for the camera, he opted to make faces! That's so Donovan!

Lastly, is a layout created using Blue Media's February sketch. Bo Bunny's Love Bandit papers really offset the the photo of the boys and me nicely. Look how tiny Xander was!! I can't believe my baby will be 2 years old in 2 months!

Thanks so much for popping in! I hope my projects have inspired you to get sketchy with it! LOL! Just remember to give credit.

Have a scrappy day!

Creative Imaginations | Sketch

The newest sketch winner has been announced over at Creative Imaginations' blog...check it out! The winner will receive a prize package of CI products and join us as a guest designer for March.

Here's my take on the sketch! I pulled the colors directly from the photos to highlight Xander's mood on this particular snow day. He was not happy with being pelted with snowballs at the hands of Daddy and big brother!



February's sketch will be up soon, so stop by and join in the fun!

100% BOY!

Remember those cute photos that I took of Donovan showing off his mohawk? Well, I couldn't wait to put them on a layout! No flowers or ribbon here, I went straight boy style; these papers from Prima and 7 Gypsies were just right for the look I wanted to achieve!!! I did add some shimmerz paints, though because you can find a use for Shimmerz on ANY project! Just check out how I used gold glimmer blingz here. Do you see it?

How about a closer look! I painted the stars with yellow acrylic paint and then went over them with gold glimmer blingz. Just enough bling without sacrificing the grungy look!

I painted the edges of the layout and added some paint splatters all throughout to mix in more yellow with the red and black color scheme.

I ran my fingernail around the edges of the journaling strips to rough them up bit.

These alpha stickers have been in my stash since I started scrapping 5 years ago. I loved them then and was more than happy to revisit an old fave! Since the stickers have been sitting opened for so long, I didn't know how well the adhesive would hold up, so I added a little machine stitching to make sure they stay in place. I think it adds a nice little touch, too!

Lastly, I used a sharpie to doodle a frame around the main photo to highlight my cutie.

This layout was created using an awesome sketch I found on Design By Diana.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sketching It Out With Shimmerz

I don't know about you, but summer (my fave season of all) has come to an end a little too abruptly! Lucky for me, autumn is my second favorite season!

This week, Triple the Sketch and Shimmerz teamed up to create some really awesome work! When I saw this wonderfully versatile sketch, I knew instantly which photo I wanted to scrap. I dug deep in my stash and pulled some vintage Halloween papers from Daisy D's (remember them), a little Making Memories, Reminisce, and Graphic 45 papers and went to town.

After adhering the pumpkins to the layout, I painted them with Orange Sherbert shimmerz. The bats were painted with Gold Glimmer shimmerz.


Here's a close-up of the shimmerz.

I really love it when I can mix some old stash with some new! This layout has all of my favorite elements: a large shape (the pleated, stitched circle), lots of different patterned papers (8 different ones in all here), and lots of bling!

Stop by Triple The Sketch and join in on the challenge. Each participant has the chance to win some shimmerz!!!