It's National Scrapbooking Day - Hooray!

Happy, happy Saturday to you! Are you playing along with any fun challenges for National Scrapbooking Day? I am, and I decided to keep a running blog going for today with each project I complete. First, I am playing with ECHO PARK, whose first challenge is to create a quick card. I did this one in under an hour using their Note to Self Collection - really good for me considering it's been a looooonnnggg time since I've made a card. I have handwritten on the inside, "Today and Every Day" (It's for my hubby, of course!) What do you think?

Next challenge for the day is a challenge over at PAPER SECRETS,where we were challenged to use machine stitching. Machine stitching? Uh, don't have to ask me more than once! I used the May Sketch for Paper Secrets, and I drew additional inspiration from HEATHER LEOPARD's bright colors on a recent layout (which I tend to shy away from)and from AUDREY YEAGER's fussy cutting accents. I used my fabulous BIRDS OF A FEATHER May Kit, which was full of Amy Tangerine and Christy Tomlinson papers and goodies. Here is what I came up with:

I had so much fun with this little cluster.

I wasn't quite sure what to do with the page of crepe paper - until I decided to tear it into strips and use them for the ras of my sun.

I think I've got about two more projects in me before I call it a day. So, stay tuned for more to come...

More Practical Scrappers - Using a White Cardstock Background

Over at Practical Scrappers today we are showcasing our layouts using white cardstock backgrounds. I don't know about you, but I LOVE the use of white cardstock as the background because it makes everything else on the page really stand out so much more. My other papers and ephemera were mostly from Pink Paislee's London Market Collection. The papers were swoon-worthy, with lots of pretty designs that were perfect for fussy cutting, such as the birdcage and butterfly in this cluster.

When I was at Archiver's a couple of weeks ago, I saw a wonderful circle garland in one of the new Studio Calico collections. I loved it, but I didn't get it because I thought, "I can make that!" And that's what I did. I used my circle punch and punched out a whole mess of circles, then I ran them through my sewing machine. I think it turned out beautifully!

Anything and everything is fair game when I am scrapbooking, even the packaging!

I think this is a current favorite layout for me (even if that will most likely change next week or the week after that). I know I sure had a heck of a lot of fun creating it, and you know I appreciate YOU stopping by to look at it, too! Happy Wednesday!