SFYTT Reminder

Just a quick reminder that entires for the July SFYTT are due by the end of the month.

Here's our sketch, sponsored by My Favorite Things:

And here's what I created with this sketch earlier this month:

Enjoy your weekend!

You're Amazing - DS62

It's Deconstructed Sketch day, and this week's sketch is super fun! Here it is:

I took a few liberties, some intended (changing the zigzag to a banner strip and omitting the scallops on the focal panel) and some unintended (never even saw these bottom right sentiment placement suggestion!), but that's the beauty of sketches. Make a few substitutions to suit, while still following the overall guide.

The stamps I used are from Verve: Joyful Blooms for the two flowers and Small Phrases for the sentiment. The flowers were stamped onto one of the patterns in My Mind's Eye's Indie Chic Ginger 6x6 collection, trimmed out and layered. For accents, I added a tiny punched butterfly, some buttons and jute string, clear rhinestones, a punched border, and three small areas of zigzag stitching. It's going to be hard to see in the photo, but I also dotted the flower centers with a black glaze pen for a little shine.

Have a peek at what my fellow design team members did with the sketch. Hope we've inspired you to play along! When you're ready, link up your creation HERE.

Amber Hight (off this week)

Arielle Gordon

Donna Wardle 

Jen Shults 

Jessica Diedrich 

Judy Rozema, Guest Designer

Kadie Ensley

Lori Boyd

Pam Varnell 

Sheri Gilson

It's a house cleaning day for me, so I better scoot! Have a great day!

TCPTuesday 220 -- Happy Birthday

I am hosting this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge, #220. We've circled back around to a sketch again -- hope you'll play along!

The focal panel was die-cut with The Cat's Pajamas Stamp Trio CutUps die. That sweet little white scallop border was done with the Queen of Hearts CutUps die. I used an assortment of stamps from Commemorating You to create the postage stamp look. The papers are from a favorite older My Mind's Eye collection (Lost & Found 2 Rosy).

Here are all the swanky details on how YOU can play along: 1. Each Tuesday we will give you a challenge. 2. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge. 3. Add your entry to the guestbook on Alma's blog and/or upload to the SCS Gallery, using the keywordTCPTUES220 for this week's challenge. 4. TCP stamps/dies are not required, but highly encouraged if you have them. 5. There will be one randomly chosen weekly winner, announced on Tuesdays. 6. There will be one winner, The Swanky Stamper, announced the 1st of each month. That lucky stamper will win several sets from an upcoming release and get to play along with us at our Pajama Party and Blog Hop.

Thanks for visiting! Wishing you a great week ahead!

Project Life, Week 25

Hi friends, I thought I'd pop in here and share something crafty that I've been spending a lot of time on this year -- Project Life. If you're not familiar with this scrapbook system, check it out at beckyhiggins.com.

I have to let you know I'm uncomfortable sharing my PL pages here on my blog, because a) they're not very good; b) I'm pretty boring; and c) I'm not much of a photographer. [Interestingly, I used to take much better family photos years ago, when I first got a DSLR and let the camera just do its thing in auto mode. Over the past few years, I've learned just enough about photography to be dangerous, but not enough to be any good (yet). Seriously!]

I intend to fix that, but until then, I'm not letting my familiar friend Perfectionism keep me from tackling this project!  I haven't really scrapbooked in years, and while I don't necessarily miss the scrapbooking itself (cards are a perfect size canvas for me, thank you!), I do wish I had more stories and memories recorded for my children to enjoy both now and in the future. Project Life, with its 4x6 and 3x4 pockets, is perfect for me!

Here's Week Twenty-Five, June 17-23:

And some close-ups:

(left side)

The Project Life Core Kits all come with pre-made title cards, but I thought this would be the perfect place for some creativity, so I'm doing my own thing for these. Even if I don't get very creative elsewhere on the weekly spreads, I think it's fun to make each of these unique and interesting. For Week 25, I've used the Echo Park This 'n' That Charming collection, both the papers and some sticker elements. The corrugated letters and numbers are by Jillibean Soup. I like how this one turned out.

Father's Day 2012 may get its own traditional scrapbook page someday, but I still wanted to include a snippet in this album. The base of the top left (3x4) card is by Echo Park (either Charming or For the Record?). I added the "Happy" sticker element and then an old "Father's Day" rub-on from my stash, as well as some yellow baker's twine. The right card is from the Project Life Clementine core kit. I added a photo, some washi tape, and handwritten journaling. (By the way,  my handwriting is definitely something that has deteriorated with age!) On the photo, the "we love" comes from Ali Edwards' We Word Art Brushes & Stamps (available at Designer Digitals). The letters are stickers.

"This photo tells a story" is another digi element by Ali Edwards: Little Bit of Messy.The journaling card is from one of the Echo Park Charming 12x12 patterns (I think).

More Ali Edwards digi elements (I may have combined brushes from two sets to create pool party) and more Charming papers and stickers. I need to switch out that smudged journaling label!

(right side)

A photo of my boys rough-housing. Behind the photo are two 3x4 Echo Park journaling cards, accented on the right with patterned papers. I used a craft knife to cut around those little flags on the left, then just tucked the photo behind them. Some Tim Holtz tiny staples hold everything together.

Another Charming journaling card, an oval punch/die-cut, and some yellow letters that I cut with my Silhouette (Postino font)

Two really bad iPhone photos of our first trip to a local ice skating rink, as well as our admission stickers and the receipt. The letters are stickers -- I think they maybe October Afternoon. (And I think I should take notes so I can I.D. this stuff better!)

A trio of random photos from the week. The numbers were punched from an Echo Park Charming pattern and correspond to items on the weekly summary card (included below). To make the trio, I used a free photo template from Persnickety Prints, 6x4 Tiny Templates.

Mr. Popper's Penguins was a free movie at the local theater this particular week. I just did an internet image search and saved the highest resolution movie image file I could find. The decorative card on the right is (I think) from the Project Life Clementine core kit.

Last is a week-in-review card that I pretty much loathe :) Just didn't turn out like I wanted, but I was too spent by this point to change it up. The numbers (again, punched from one of the Echo Park Charming patterns) correspond to the numbered photos elsewhere on the week's spread.

Whew! That's it. Let me know what you think!

WISH

I love this sweet little star-catcher bunny from The Cat's Pajamas set Wish. Here I've given him a cozy home atop some puffy clouds (done with TCP's Clouds border CutUps die) and surrounded him with silver glittery stars. I did my coloring with Copic markers. It's been a while since I made this, but I'm guessing the bunny was done with the lighter E40's range. The moon is anyone's guess ... maybe YR30 and 31, with a little Y35 on the dark side?

Quick post today, as a) I'm knee-deep in bushels of apples that need to be cooked and strained into sauce (a lot of work, but yum!) and b) I'm kind of in a funk. I'm calling it vacation withdrawal. As in, we're not having one this summer and I NEED one! Not the "just got home, wish I were still there" withdrawal -- I wish! I know, boohoo, stop complaining :) 

I might see you here tomorrow for a rare Sunday post. We'll see. I'm working up some required courage. Curious?

Best Wishes - VLV

Maureen has posted an awesome sketch for the July Week 4 Viva La Verve Challenge:

I started with some lovely papers from Cosmo Cricket's Tea For Two collection and added some ribbon, crochet, jute string, and stitching. For the focal panel, I layered a Cosmo Cricket Tea For Two card stock sticker on top of a Curvy Bookplate die-cut. The "best wishes" sentiment, from Verve's Small Celebrations, was stamped in black Staz-On onto the decorative sticker. This came together quickly thanks to Moe's cool sketch.

Play along for your chance to win Verve goodies. Details HERE.

Don't miss the current Diva Dare Challenge, going on each day this week and next over at the Verve blog. And don't miss the big BIRTHDAY SALE, going on in the Verve store all month long. Free goody bags with purchases over $75.

Happy Friday, sweet friends!

Don't Go Breakin' My Heart

I'm combining a couple of challenges with today's card: a brand-new Deconstructed Sketch (#61) and this week's TCP Tuesday challenge (#219). First, the sketch:

(which I rotated a quarter-turn)

And next the TCP Tuesday challenge. Susan, our hostess with the mostess, is asking us to use any bear image, along with either the Apron or Queen of Hearts die. I chose the sweet bear from Bear Hugs, partly because it's just so dang cute and partly because I knew it would fit the {rotated} sketch perfectly. The papers are from My Mind's Eye's 6x6 Love Me collection. The bottom border strip is where I included the Queen of Hearts CutUps die. I kept this one pretty simple, with just some Divine Twine, a button, stitching and distressing as accents.

More sketch inspiration:

Amber Hight (off this week)

Arielle Gordon

Donna Wardle 

Jen Shults 

Jessica Diedrich (off this week)

Judy Rozema, Guest Designer

Kadie Ensley

Lori Boyd

Pam Varnell (off this week)

Sheri Gilson

To play along with this week's Deconstructed Sketch, link your creation HERE.

Here's all the swanky details on how YOU can play along!: 1. Each Tuesday we will give you a challenge. 2. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge. 3. Add your entry to the guestbook on Alma's Blog and/or upload to the SCS Gallery, using the keyword TCPTUES219 for this week's challenge. 4. TCP stamps/dies are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp/die, like this week) 5. There will be one randomly chosen weekly winner, announced on Tuesdays. 6. There will be one winner, The Swanky Stamper, announced the 1st of each month. They will win several sets from an upcoming release and get to play along with us at our Pajama Party and Blog Hop.

Happy Thursday, and stay cool (depending on what part of the world you're in)!

July Diva Dare - Birthdays + SALE

Psssst, I want to give you a look at something I've posted over on the Verve blog. We've just started a brand-new birthday-theme Diva Dare. Hope you'll join me at the Verve blog for my project and all the challenge details!

Have you heard about the current sale over at Verve?

It's Julee's (owner & illustrator of Verve) birth month, 

so we're having a SALE!

July 4 through 31, ALL stamps are 20% off! 

Plus, if your order totals $75 (after discounts and before shipping) we'll automatically include a free goody bag filled with papercrafting delights when your order ships! Now how's that for celebrating?

---

Sale prices are valid on in-stock merchandise, while supplies last. Verve does not accept backorders.No price adjustments for previous purchases.

A Note of Thanks -- SFYTT

Happy Saturday! I'm here today with another sample for this month's Sketch For You To Try (SFYTT), sponsored by My Favorite Things. 

I've been wanting to make a thank-you note for my daughter's piano teacher for a while, and the July sketch is perfect for MFT's Who's That Musical Girl? The papers are from Carta Bella's Beautiful Moments 6x6 collection. I paper-pieced most of the image and colored the skin and piano keys with Copics. The scallop border was done with MFT's Medium Scallop Border Die-namics die (to date, easily the most-used die in my entire collection). 

A few other SFYTT Sisters are posting today as well:

Amber Hight
Becky Carafa
Megan Lock
Kerry Johnson

When you're ready to play, link up your creation HERE.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Soar - Viva La Verve

I'm hosting the current Viva La Verve sketch challenge over in the Verve Forum. Hope you'll join in! The challenge is open to all. You don't have to use Verve stamps (but if you have 'em we love to see 'em). And if you complete all five of the July sketches (sketches are posted each Friday), you can enter to win the monthly prize. Good luck!

Here's the sketch:

I went a little scrappy with my sample, combining a layered butterfly die-cut (Verve's Flutterby and All Aflutter), Pink Paislee Prairie Hill papers, some Maya Road fringed twill, and a Jillibean Soup cardboard circle frame. I swiped the edges of the background paper and yellow polka dot tag with some ivory acrylic paint, then distressed with a distressing tool. Details include hemp, dark gray buttons, and some tiny Tim Holtz staples. I didn't start out with any specific sentiment in mind, and when it came time to add one, I wasn't sure where to put it. In the end, I tucked the small "soar" sentiment from Wings of Love into the circle frame - it fits the space and goes well with the butterfly.

This will be perfect for a friend of mine who is kind of starting over with a new house, a new-ish job, and even a new (but old) last name (back to her maiden name after a divorce). Soar is exactly what I hope she does as she rebuilds her life.

Thanks for visiting!

Bloom - DS60 + TCPTues218

I'm not sure which is taking more of a beating this summer -- my productivity or my mojo! Good thing for Jen's awesome Deconstructed Sketches. They're always perfect for getting the creative juices flowing. Here's the new sketch, #60:

I also combined with the TCP Tuesday #218 color challenge. Lori has a beautiful and classy combo for us this week:

I absolutely love this color combo, but I have to confess, it's always a challenging one for me personally. No idea why -- it should be an easy one!

I remembered some beautiful red and aqua patterns in Cosmo Cricket's Odds & Ends collection, and got right to work. The image and sentiment are from TCP's Bloom stamp set. In place of the tag, I cut a ticket out of some Basic Grey Basics paper using TCP's Big Ticket CutUps die. The dainty scallop border along the bottom (the kraft one) was done with TCP's Queen of Hearts CutUps die, and the larger open scallop border (red polka-dots) was cut from a My Mind's Eye Dilly Dally paper using a Spellbinders die. (Shazam! Folks, that's three different paper packs, from three different manufacturers. Pretty unusual for this matchy-matchy gal.)

My Deconstructed Sketch teammates have been busy creating sketch inspiration for you:

Amber Hight

Arielle Gordon

Donna Wardle 

Jen Shults 

Jessica Diedrich

Judy Rozema, Guest Designer

Kadie Ensley

Lori Boyd

Pam Varnell

Sheri Gilson

To participate, upload your creation to a blog or public gallery, then link it up to the Deconstructed Sketch #60 post. Can't wait to see all the creations!

The TCP Cat Pack has been busy, too, and will be posting their creations throughout the week. Links are on my sidebar. And challenge details are below:

1. Each Tuesday we will give you a challenge. 2. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge. 3. Add your entry to the InLinkz gallery on Alma's blog and/or upload to the SCS Gallery, using the keyword TCPTUES218 for this week’s challenge. 4. TCP stamps are not required for this challenge, but of course we love to see TCP fans use their TCP stamps! 5. There will be one randomly chosen weekly winner, announced on Tuesdays who will win a Gift Voucher for use on The Cat’s Pajamas website. 6. There will be one winner, The Swanky Stamper, announced the 1st of each month. The Swanky Stamper will win several sets from an upcoming release and get to play along with us at our Pajama Party and Blog Hop.

Hope you're having a great week, and thanks so much for choosing to spend a few minutes here!