Sketch N Scrap November Crop Challenge #3

Hello and Happy Sunday! I hope you are having a good weekend. The weather switch has flipped to winter for a couple of days here. The high temp for the next couple of days is supposed to be the upper 30s... I'm not quite ready for that kind of cold! At least it only lasts for a couple of days, and then we are back to the 60s again.

Today I am sharing the layout I made for Sketch N Scrap's November Crop Challenge #3. This challenge can be found at Sketch N Scrap's Monthly Challenges private Facebook group, and this is our small-format sketch challenge. Along with the challenge, there is an added twist. This month's twist is a 5,4,3,2,1 challenge. You need to add 5 of one item, 4 of another item, 3 of another, etc. For example, 5 patterned papers, 4 stickers, 3 enamel dots, 2 hearts, and one photo. Keep reading below to find out what I used on my layout.

Here is a look at the sketch:

I am working on my 2023 December Daily, and this sketch was perfect for one of the stories I wanted to tell. 

I know I say this every time, but I loved working with this sketch! I love that I was able to use so many different papers, and I always love it when a big circle is included! 

To satisfy the challenge, I used 5 patterned papers, 4 sticker-backed brads, 3 gift stickers, 2 hearts, and 1 photo.

This story is of the day I took Shane to pick out his wrapping paper. We have been doing this for several years, and it is one of the things he looks forward to most during the holiday season. We were later than usual this particular year, but he had no trouble picking out a couple of rolls! 

I will pair this layout with a pocket page that will hold more photos and the story.

Here are a couple of close-ups:

The "I (heart) the holidays" sticker and "a (heart) full of cheer" sticker were perfect for the title. Shane loves Christmas so much and talks about it all year long!

I used the Simple Stories Make It Merry collection for this layout. I love, love, love this collection, and while it was hard to cut into some of my favorite papers, I am so happy to have them on this layout.

Here is how it looks paired with the pocket page:

Be sure to check out the private Facebook group for all of our November crop challenges. You can find it here - Sketch N Scrap's Monthly Challenges.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! Have a great day!

Sketch N Scrap November Crop Challenge #5

Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a good week. 

Today I am popping in to share the layout I made for Sketch N Scrap's November Crop Challenge #5. The crop challenges can be found in Sketch N Scrap's Monthly Challenges private Facebook group here. The sketch for Crop Challenge #5 is always a smaller format sketch designed for a 6x8 layout, but you can adapt it for any size you like! 

Here is the sketch:

I have made a 6x8 layout for my 2023 December Daily:

Yes, here it is getting closer to December 2024 and I am still working on my 2023 December Daily! That's really nothing new for me, but I do think I need to set aside a day or a weekend to get this thing done! This layout is for Day 4 and is all about the tragedy of losing one of our most cherished Christmas decorations - a paper angel Abby made when she was in second grade. That sweet little angel sat on the branches of our Christmas tree for 27 years! But, sadly, that all ended last year.

I had just taken photos of my favorite ornaments the day before, and I am so glad I did! I had no idea that would be the last picture this little angel would be in. After supper, I walked into the living room and found bits and pieces of paper on the floor. When I started picking them up, I quickly realized one of the dogs had found the angel and had some fun. I have no idea what caused her to fall from the top branches of the tree, maybe a gust of wind when someone walked through the door, or maybe someone walked a little too close to the tree and caused a little breeze, whatever the case she wound up on the floor, the dogs found her, and I was heartbroken. Her story was definitely worth documenting in my December Daily!

Here are a couple of close-ups:

I had found this little angel on a piece of paper from Echo Park and there was also one on the sticker sheet. She was perfect for this layout!

I wanted to be sure to have plenty of room to tell the story so I made a flip-up with the photos. I stamped "This December story" and made it into a tab of sorts to lift up to reveal the journaling. I still have the bits and pieces of the angel and will add them in a little envelope on the top of the flap.

Here is the journaling:

If you haven't checked out Sketch N Scrap's November challenges - head on over and check them out!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! Have a great day!

Pumpkin Hunting - Sketch N Scrap's October Crop Challenge #5

Hello, everyone! Happy Sunday to you! I hope you are having a good weekend. It's been unseasonably warm for the last few days, and today is supposed to be around 80, but it looks like the upcoming week is going to feel a little more fall-like! Yay!

Today I am sharing the layout that I made for Sketch N Scrap's October Crop Challenge #5 over in their monthly challenges private Facebook group. Here is a look at the sketch:

This is a smaller format sketch but it would work well for any size - a traveler's notebook size, 6x8, 8.5x11, or stretch it out and make a 12x12 layout. The choice is yours!

Here is my layout:

I made a 6x8 layout for Ada's school album using this month's sketch. This layout is of her kindergarten class trip to the pumpkin patch. I had started out making her school album in a traveler's notebook and just adding her first day, school photo, spring photo, and last day of school photo. Mostly because I started back in 2020 or 2021 when school's were mostly remote. But, as I went back through some of my photos, there were so many other things I wanted to include - the photo of her kindergarten class with the first book they got to check out from the library, class trips (once they were a thing again), artwork that she had made and was hung in the hallways, Christmas concerts, fun things her class was doing, field day, etc., and I decided to change it up. Making it a 6x8 size and not working in a notebook has given me the freedom to work on whatever I want and not have to worry about counting pages and making sure I have left enough space to include everything that I want. 

For this layout, I have used my October kit for Lisa & Lori's Great Stash Bash. At first I had the hexagon paper for the strips on each side and I just didn't care for it. When I changed and put them together in the middle I liked it much better. Here are a few close-ups:

I was struggling with the embellishing since that hexagon paper is so busy and I did change up the placement of the embellishment clusters on the left side of the page and just made one cluster joining the two photos. I don't have any of the embellishments from Simple Stories Harvest Market line - just a few of the 12x12 sheets and the 6x8 paper pad, so I relied on fall-themed sticker books from Echo Park for my embellishments.

Luckily, one of the sticker books had this alphabet in it for my title. It was the perfect size!

I am really enjoy working in a smaller size lately, whether it's in a traveler's notebook or a 6x8. 

Be sure to check out the Sketch N Scrap Monthly Challenges group on Facebook and join in the fun! We would love to see you playing along!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Smores - Sketch N Scrap's Crop Challenge #5

Hello, hello! Happy Wednesday to you! I hope you are having a good week. We finally got rain yesterday and I am hoping it will bring a little green back into our yard! Our grass was starting to look a little sad. 

Today I am sharing my take on Sketch N Scrap's August Crop Challenge #5 -  our smaller format sketch - posted in Sketch N Scrap's Monthly Challenges Facebook group. Here is a look at the sketch:

And here is my layout:

I am working in my larger (almost) 6x8-sized traveler's notebook. Earlier in the summer, Ada asked for smores, so when Pops and I went for our nightly walk, we gathered some wood for a small fire. We didn't need much for smores and Ada was so excited to see the fire later that evening. All three of us had a smores - YUM! I love this sweet treat and am so glad Ada requested it!

I used my July kit for Lisa & Lori's Great Stash Bash for this layout. Yep, I still have my July kit by my desk, AND, I was able to use up two full sheets of paper and a part of another from that kit! Yay!

Here are a couple of close-ups:

I was so excited to use the marshmallows on a stick and smores stickers on this layout!

I added my journaling to a stamped journaling spot from Elle's Studio. I love it when I can use my stamps on a layout.

Be sure to stop by Sketch N Scrap's Monthly Challenges Facebook group and join in on the August Crop Challenges. You don't have to make a smaller size. Adapt the sketch for a 12x12 layout - or any size you like!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! Have a great day!

Little Joys - Sketch N Scrap Smaller Format Sketch

Happy Saturday! I hope your weekend is off to a good start. We are having a much-needed break from the rain today and crossing our fingers that the storms that are supposed to move in tonight weaken before they get here!

Today I am sharing the layout I made for Sketch N Scrap's Challenge #5. This is a smaller format sketch that is shared in Sketch N Scrap Monthly Challenges private Facebook group. Here is a look at the sketch:

And here is my layout:

I used this sketch to make a traveler's notebook layout. Well, I guess this could be considered a traveler's notebook layout. The dimensions are a tad bigger than the traditional size. This one measures 5.75x8.25, so almost 6x8. I found this notebook at Walmart for $1 and wanted to give it a try. The bigger size allowed me to use a little bit bigger photos than I would have used on a smaller size. 

For this layout, I used my Lisa & Lori's Great Stash Bash kit for April! I am so happy that I finally used this kit! Most of this layout was made using Echo Park's Our Story Matters collection.

The photos are of Ada flying a kite that I picked up for her on spring break. It was hard for us to find a day when the wind was just right. It's been so windy this spring. Like 30-40 mph winds consistently for days. We finally got a not-to-windy day and took advantage of it. We all went out - even Shane - and took a turn at flying the kites. There is something so relaxing about flying a kite!

Here are a few close-ups:

The title came from the sticker book from this collection. 

I used a view master reel that I die-cut from one of the papers in the collection as my cluster base. I added a couple of die-cuts and a sticker to finish this cluster off.

I added the date to this small cluster to bring a bit of black to the cluster.

I'm still sticking with my goal of using at least one stamp on my layouts. I stamped 'Best Day Ever' in black at the bottom of the page to add another punch of black to the layout. I finished off the area with a couple of enamel dots. 

I added hidden journaling behind the photo on the left side of the layout. 

Be sure to stop by Sketch N Scrap for more inspiration using our sketches. Stop by and visit our private Facebook group, too! We would love to see your beautiful creations!

Don't forget - we are getting ready to celebrate Sketch N Scrap's 12th Birthday in May! 12 years of free sketches for your enjoyment! I do hope you join us all month long for the celebration. We will have our regular sketches on the 1st, 5th, 15th, and 20th, a new - exclusive sketch to celebrate National Scrapbooking Day, 3 new - exclusive birthday bash sketches every Saturday starting on the 11th, and we will be having challenges every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the month! Be sure to join our Sketch N Scrap Monthly Challenges Facebook group so you don't miss out on the fun!