Catch a Star!

Remember my cupcake card that I created for Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #49 and posted earlier this week?  Well, I really liked that challenge, and I still have a few ideas floating around up in my head.  So yesterday Brailee went to a friend's house to play, Trysten took a nap, and the older two were in school, so I took some time to play with my stamps, ink, and paper!  This card qualifies for the challenge in more than one way - besides the image of a mason jar, can you tell what else is 'from the kitchen'?

Take a closer stuff at the red mesh stuff on my card - can you guess what it is?  Well, when I was making our corned beef, potatoes, and carrots for dinner on St. Patrick's Day, the red potatoes came in this bag - I had just read the challenge so I decided to save it and use it somehow.  I cut it up and used it as a layer on my card.  For this card I also used Sketch #183 from Mojo Monday, along with some of the NEW Fanfare papers, retired Sassy Strands, a retired stamp set called Little Fill-Ups with Jar, and some silver star brads that I had in my stash, along with a bit of Liquid Glass on my top yellow star.  To stamp my stars in the jar, I used the Masking Technique to fill the jar - if anyone needs me to explain this technique, just let me know.
Thanks for visiting!

May Challenge

Yes, once again I'm a little - okay a lot - late getting this month's challenges posted. The main reason is because I've been so busy lately, which leads me to the other reason, I haven't had time to even complete my own challenges from last month! So, I've decided to change how I do the challenges. In the past I have posted one each for Cherish, Imagine, Reflections, and Originals - from now on I am only going to post only one challenge per month and I will rotate through all of CTMH's How-To books, including the NEW Wishes book! This way I can now have more time to participate in all the other fun challenges that I come across and not feel so obligated to complete my own first - KWIM? Also, since participation has dropped dramatically since I first started with the Cherish Challenge 3 years ago, it just hasn't seemed worth it. Because of this drop in participation, I will not draw a winner on a monthly basis. I will occassionally have a prize month, especially if participation increases, so spread the word and get more people playing in the monthly challenges - it's a great motivator to use your supplies and get cards and pages done!

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Okay, I'm done rambling - on to the challenge! This month the challenge is from Originals - Puzzle Backdrop on page 91. I have my card completed and scheduled to post on May 10th for my SOTM Blog Hop so stay tuned! I hope you'll join me in the challenge - if you create something using this card sketch, please leave a comment here or e-mail a pic to me at jvdevries22@hotmail.com

Reflections Challenge

Here is a super simple layout that I did for the Reflections Challenge - you'd never know it was so simple as it took me forever to finally complete it ;-P For some reason I had a hard time finding the time to sit down and work on it - I kept getting sidetracked! I've been doing that a lot lately. Anyway, hopefully next week I'll be inspired to get some projects done!

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This was my brother's HS graduation almost 5 years ago - I just used Honey, Vineyard Berry, and White Daisy CS, some White Daisy Dazzling Die-Cuts that I brayered with Honey ink and covered with Liquid Glass, the Tiny Typewriter stamp set, and the title SVHS was stamped using the Building Block Alphabet set and embossed using Vineyard Berry EP.

Thanks for looking!

April Challenges

Hooray - I'm finally on time getting these posted! I don't have any samples done yet, but I'm hoping to get working on them soon - I've been busy getting ready for this weekend with family coming. Next week is Spring Break, so with no extra kids to babysit and a chance to let the kids sleep in with nowhere we HAVE to be, maybe I'll get a chance to play.

Here are the challenges for April - scroll down for the March Challenge results, there was a lot of awesome artwork submitted last month! Remember, everyone who participates will be entered into a drawing for a fun pack of cards from my stash!

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Cherish Challenge - Echoes pg. 40-41

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Imagine Challenge - Salsa pg. 118-119

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Reflections Challenge - Quartet - Perfect Square pg. 108

Click here to view my sample

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Originals Challenge - On Your Left pg. 21

MARCH UPDATE

Congrats to Sandy who was our winning participant last month!
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Cherish Challenge - Harmony pg. 38-39
Click here to view my sample

Here is Sandy's:

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Imagine Challenge - Ensemble Piece pg. 40-41
Click here to view my sample layout

Here is Shirene's:

Here is Sandy's:

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Reflections Challenge - Main Frame Wrap Around pg. 65
Click here to view my sample layout

Here is Sandy's:

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Originals Challenge - Message In a Pocket pg. 28
Click here to view my sample

Click here to view Sue's

Here is Sandy's:

Thanksgiving 2003

I'm trying to get back on track with my goal for this year of scrapping my old pics before I print new ones. With a new baby in the house, it's been hard NOT to print all of his latest pictures. I've really struggled the last week or two and finally decided I need to take a break from the recent pictures and pull out some old ones. I pulled out my 2003 photo box and went through that until I found some that would work with one of this month's challenges. So I was finally able to complete a layout with pictures! This is the layout I did for this month's Imagine Challenge. Once again, I used a cut-up photo storage page to fit more pictures on the pages.

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Products Used (all CTMH): Abundance paper and Stickease (retired), Color Ready Alphabets (Oxford & Bold), Autumn Garden Organdy Ribbon - Goldrush (retired), Six Pocket Photo Storage Page, Autumn Terracotta Photo Clips (retired), and the Friendship Alphabet stamp set.

Here is the page with the hidden journaling and pictures:

I just love this picture of my Grandma with Kaylee and Brianna.

March Challenges

Once again, I'm a few days late getting these posted - February just flew by way too fast! Here are the challenges for March - scroll down for the February Challenge results. Remember, everyone who participates will be entered into a drawing for a fun pack of cards!

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Cherish Challenge - Harmony pg. 38-39

Click here to view more about my sample

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Imagine Challenge - Ensemble Piece pg. 40-41

Click here to view more of my sample layout

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Reflections Challenge - Main Frame Wrap Around pg. 65

Click here to view more of my sample layout

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Originals Challenge - Message In a Pocket pg. 28

Click here to view more about my sample

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FEBRUARY CHALLENGE UPDATE

Congrats to Shirene who was our winning participant last month - and don't worry Alanna, I haven't forgot about you - just haven't made it to the post office yet!

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Cherish Challenge - Abstract pg. 66-67

Click here to view my sample

Here is Shirene's:

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Imagine Challenge - Personalty Presence pg. 90-91
Click here to view my sample

Here is Shirene's:

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Reflections Challenge - Sidebar Photo Accent pg. 46
Click here to view my sample

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Originals Challenge - Peek-A-Boo pg. 70

Click here to view my sample

Here is Sandy's:

One Month Old!

I can't believe over one month has passed since Trysten was born. He went in on Friday for his checkup and he is now 9 pounds, 10 ounces. He is still such a good baby and I hope it lasts - he is so patient and just an overall happy, content little one. His long skinny legs are finally starting to fill out just a little, but his arms and fingers are still so long and skinny.

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I am proud to say that I got his Birth Day pictures scrapped. These pages are using this month's Cherish Challenge layout. It's dark outside so I couldn't get a decent pic tonight, but I wanted to squeeze these in before the end of the month for the Cherish Challenge ;-P I will get better pictures of this layout tomorrow since I did a couple of fun things with extra pictures and hidden journaling.

April Word Puzzle Workshop

I know I'm a little slow this month, I really took my time with this one, but here are the creations for this month's Word Puzzle Workshop. Click here for workshop details. We are using the Unforgettable paper pack, floss, April Word Puzzle, February Stamp of the Month (Easter Eggs), and on one of the cards, we are using the February special stamp set, Good Times.

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12x12 option

(this page uses the left side of this month's Imagine Challenge)

6x6 option

card option

(the HipHip Hooray card uses this month's Originals Challenge)

Fun with Floss!

Here are a couple of pages that I have done this week - both using embroidery floss.

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For this first one, I used the Playful Flourishes stamp set to stamp the flourishes, then I used the piercing tool and then needle and Chocolate floss to make them pop.

For this second one, I just free-handed the dashes with my piercing tool and then stitched with Black floss. This is also this month's Reflection's Challenge - I just flipped the layout once, so it's not really a Sidebar, but that's where I got my original inspiration!

February Challenges & January Challenge Update

Sorry I'm a couple days late getting this posted, but I have a good excuse ;-P Here are the new Challenges for February! Scroll down to view the January Challenge Update...

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Cherish Challenge - Abstract pg. 66-67

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Imagine Challenge - Personalty Presence pg. 90-91

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Reflections Challenge - Sidebar Photo Accent pg. 46

My page using this layout is scheduled to post tomorrow so stay tuned!

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Originals Challenge - Peek-A-Boo pg. 70

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Here is the January Challenge Update - thanks to everyone who participated and congrats to our winner Alanna! Send me your snail mail address to jvdevries22@hotmail.com and I will send your goodies!

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Cherish Challenge - Creative Rhythm pg. 36-37
View my Challenge Pages here
View Alanna's Challenge Pages here

Shirene's Challenge Pages:

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Imagine Challenge - Perfect Prelude pg. 26-27
View my Challenge Pages here
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Reflections Challenge - Bottom Border - Portrait pg. 28
View my Challenge Page here

Shirene's Challenge Page:

Cynthia's Challenge Page:

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Originals Challenge - Center View pg. 16
View Alanna's Challenge card here

View my Challenge card here

Shirene's Challenge Card:

January Imagine Challenge

Here is the layout that I did for this month's Imagine Challenge - I kept it really simple, just using the Magic Moments paper pack, and I also have the Magic Moments Scrapbook Kit, so I used some of the Stickease from that since I haven't touched it yet ;-) I also used the HodgePodge Alphabet stamp set and the HodgePodge Color-Ready Alphabet letters, stamped with the Spot On Background stamp set. I used a large window charm on the button on the left page, threaded with an Indian Corn Blue Sassy Strand - for the buttons on the right page, I just covered them with Liquid Glass. These pages go with the other pages of Brailee and T that I did here for one of last month's challenge - I will probably put them on a True Fit Folio to create a hinged page.

Thanks for looking!

January Cherish Challenge

So I've had these done since last year ;-P and I was going to post them on the 2nd but totally spaced it! Here they finally are - these are my pages for this month's Cherish Challenge. The right page is also the 12x12 option for this month's Word Puzzle Workshop. I will get the rest of the options posted soon - I promise! I used the NEW Emporium Creative Basics paper, StickStock Twill, NEW Pewter Designer Brads, March Word Puzzle, and this month's Stamp of the Month, Moments in Time.

December Challenge Update

Thanks to Melissa and Shirene for participating in this month's challenges! Melissa won the drawing for the stamp set! Here is what was created...

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Cherish Challenge - Aesthetic Balance - pg. 32-33
View my Cherish Layout here
View Melissa's Cherish Layout here
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Imagine Challenge - Three-Part Harmony - pg. 44-45
View my Imagine Layout here

Here is Shirene's Imagine Layout...

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Reflections Challenge - Main Frame - Quilt Blocks - pg. 62
View my Reflections Layout here
View Melissa's Reflections Layout here
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Originals Challenge - Diamond Duo - pg. 46
View my Originals Card here

New Year, New Month, New Challenges!

Happy New Year to everyone! Are you ready for some new challenges - I'm actually posting on time this month, too! Remember to post a comment with a link to your entry, or you can e-mail me with your entry, or even stop by so I can get a picture. I can't wait to see what you create! All who participate will get their name in a drawing for a fun pack of cards from my stash!

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Cherish Challenge - Creative Rhythm pg. 36-37

View my Challenge Pages here

View Alanna's Challenge Pages here

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Imagine Challenge - Perfect Prelude pg. 26-27

View my Challenge Pages here

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Reflections Challenge - Bottom Border - Portrait pg. 28

I posted my sample using this layout yesterday - you can view it here

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Originals Challenge - Center View pg. 16

View Alanna's Challenge card here

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I created this card using CTMH's NEW Ms. On the Go stamp set, For Every Occassion, Key To My Heart Paper, Flower Dimensional Element, Sorbet Dash ribbon, and Juniper brads.

Imagine & Reflections Challenges

Yes! I finally completed this month's challenges! I haven't scrapped for myself in over a month, I've been too busy doing gifts, so it felt good to get some pages for our personal books done, plus get a couple more done for this year's Scrap Counter. Here are the pages that I did for this month's Imagine and Reflections Challenges...
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Imagine - using Magic Moments paper, Rustic Alphabet, Color Ready Alphabet (stamped with a background stamp from Adorable Background), and fun Hollyhock Arrows and Cocoa Brads.

Reflections - using the NEW Daydream paper pack, plus NEW Framed Fun Dimensional Elements (stamped with stamps from the Circle Around set). I had planned on leaving a pocket for a journaling tag, but got a little adhesive happy and glued the entire layout together before I remembered, so I added my journaling along the edge. And suprise, I used my own handwriting! I really don't like my writing, but I'm glad I was able to include it, I really should do it more often! I'm thinking of adding something to the top left corner of the picture - I feel like this page is missing something since I don't have a large title - any thoughts or ideas?

Thanks for looking!

Cherish Challenge

Here is my layout for this month's Cherish Challenge - the left page is also a sneak peek at this month's Monthly Word Puzzle Workshop using the February Word Puzzle and the Key To My Heart stamp set. This month's featured products/techniques are Stamp Rolling, Second Generation stamping, and using Sculpting Foam and 3-D Foam Squares.