My Mind's Eye Challenge Layout

 

Let me start by apologizing because the quality of this picture is not that great - and I really DO apologize.  The weather here is forecast to be pretty crappy for the next few days, and I could NOT get a good picture today.  (and I am too impatient to wait).  Moving right along...

There are some really fun challenges going on all over the web right now - so many that I really, really, really want to play hookey from work and stay home and play with my scrappy supplies!  But that's not a very smart idea, so instead I have had to choose just one or two - including this fun Groundhog Day February Challenge over at My Minds Eye, found HERE.  The challenge - to scrap Groundhog Day (Duh!) - any way you want to (including using the movie idea, which is kind of what I went with). 

So, in the movie, you know how the day keeps resetting - over and over?  I have been having that feeling quite a bit watching Little Lula.  She has the same temperament, similar likes and dislikes, even the same looks and facial expressions as Hunter.  I feel like I am seeing a repeat of Hunter in Lula.  And that worked perfectly since I wanted to use this picture of the two of them pretending to be wild animals and chasing each other around the house.

 

My papers are from MME's Follow Your Heart Collection, which I found after doing some heavy duty re-organizing this past weekend.  Most of my embellishments are also from various MME collections (with maybe one or two October Afternoon embellies added in because they went so well with the other MME stuff).  The hexagon background was cut out using my Silhouette Cameo (yes, I have to say it - LOVE my Cameo) and then distressed a little (read: cut up) by yours truly.  And that's it - other than I had just been saying how I have been gravitating towards brighter, bolder colors lately, but all it took was one look at the lovely papers in this collection to remind me why I have always loved pastels. 

That's it for me, except for a few close-ups:

I pop-dotted a few random hexagons for visual interest.  I splattered some glimmer mist because - it's just no fun if you can't get a little messy.

Another angle...

Loving that pom pom ribbon that was part of MME's Christmas Collection.

 

Handmade pennants that I doodled on and sewed across:

 

I love clusters!

Challenge Me Tuesday with Practical Scrappers

So, the challenge this week over at Practical Scrappers is to use something related to word games - crossword puzzles, scrabble tiles, bingo cards - you get the picture. As soon as I saw this, I knew I had to use some "flash cards" given to me several months ago by my bestie ALISSA. I really liked them, but I didn't have a clue what to do with them so into my horde junk stash they went until they spontaneously combusted...er, I needed to build an extra-large house of cards...so, um, anyway...luckily this challenge came along and I immediately knew exactly what to do with them. Well, with three of them. My papers are Authentique. My embellishments are a little bit of everything. I even used "faux" scrabble tiles, which were really stickers from a Simple Stories collection. See?

A close-up of my flower and simple number banner:

That's it for today, except for this one simple question - have you challenged yourself lately? If not, you know what to do... *smile*

Working with my First Sketch

For those of you who have been following along, last weekend I created my first sketch. But what good is a sketch if you don't use it, right? Right! So, when I saw a challenge over at LCOM's Scrapping with the Stars Challenge that required me to create a layout using at least three pictures...and my sketch was designed for three pictures...I took it as a sign that it was TIME!!!

I also had to use only patterned papers, lots of embellies, and handwritten journaling. So, with those parameters in mind, I came up with this:

These pictures were taken last summer when we took my Uncle Johnny and Aunt Lucinda to Kemah for the day when they visited us. It was a really fun day-trip, despite the fact that it seemed to be a billion degrees outside. So to keep our fair skin from getting burned, we all made sure we wore our hats. (Actually, the Huntress and I were trying to keep our fair skin from getting burned; Hubby just wore a hat because he knew it looked good on him!)

I used wonderful Authentique papers that came with my BIRDS OF A FEATHER March Kit. I am really loving the weight, texture and, most of all, patterns on Authentique's paper. To think, this time last year, I didn't even know who they were and now they are quickly becoming one of my favorite paper lines!

Of course, what's a layout without layers and clusters...

Another small cluster at the top and a pretty butterfly layered over one printed on my paper for a shadowed effect.

I don't know about your neck of the woods, but Spring had definitely arrived here in Texas. I plan to be outside as much as possible with my camera in tow - taking as many pictures as I can of whatever I can before I get the stink-eye from my kid or a random neighbor. And when I absolutely must come in, I am sure I will be getting as crafty as possible this weekend!

Here's hoping a sunny, crafty weekend is in store for you, too!

Saturday Challenges with BOAF

The BIRDS OF A FEATHER February Kit is full of goodies that include papers from Basic Grey's Kissing Booth Collection. So, when I found some free time yesterday to play along with the BOAF February Challenges, I first took a peek over at the Basic Grey site for a little inspiration. I found this great SKETCH (and you know how much I love sketches), and decided to use it for the February Color Challenge.

Lately, I have been gravitating more towards layouts with the placement of "random" bits of paper and odds and ends, and this sketch definitely fit the bill! I edged everything in orange ink that came with this month's kit, and I added pop dots to various parts to add dimension and layers.

I also created this layout using a picture of my older daughter and her fiance that I found by stalking Facebook.

Not exactly the most brilliant idea for a journaling challenge when I have no idea where the picture was taken or anything else about it, other than the date it was taken and who is in it!

I loved fussy cutting these hearts and putting pop dots under them to make them stand out. I also added a few little charms.

A few punched stars to the ends of my flourish, and I was done.

Today, my schedule will once again focus on housecleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping. But I really enjoyed taking a break from chores yesterday to challenge my creative side. I hope you have had time this weekend to challenge yourself, too!

Challenge Yourself!

Are you sitting around trying to get a little scrappy inspiration this Sunday afternoon? I was in the same boat until I found this GREAT challenge going on over at the LET'S CAPTURE OUR MEMORIES forum. It's the 8 Week Challenge, which is exactly what it sounds like. A new challenge is posted each week. You can complete the challenges in any order, at your own pace, as long as all are completed at the end of the 8th week. What's the prize? A $50 gift card to the LCOM store!!! I created this layout for Week 1, and I am getting ready to work on a Monochromatic Challenge for Week 2. Week 3's challenge has just been posted, so there is lots of time left to play!!!

Want some more challenges? Check out BIRDS OF A FEATHER , which has 4-5 new challenges posted each month. They run from the first of the month to the end of the month, so there is plenty of time left to play along with the wonderful Scrap Chicks!

Still need a little inspiration? Well, then, head on over to PRACTICAL SCRAPPERS , which has ideas for every type of layout imaginable over at Idea Central. And while you are over there, take the time to vote for the FANTASTIC layouts that have been submitted for the Layout Contest.

And now, a few words about my layout before I sign off and get started on my next project. The LCOM Week 1 Challenge was to use more than 3 pictures, use a square shape, and have "2011" in the title. I knew immediately that I wanted to do a grid layout, but I had just recently completed a LAYOUT with my favorite pictures taken during 2011 so I had to think of something different. I decided to go with completely random favorites (a book, a movie, a website, a drink, and a take-out food) and chose a (long) title to reflect my idea.

This bottom cluster of...randomness...started as just an envelope and journaling tag behind my picture. But I kept adding little bits and pieces until I ended up with this:

Signing off and heading back to my scrap table!