Another crop weekend, more projects done!

I love going to crops!! So fun AND you get stuff done!! But I will say I am looking forward to having the next weekend to myself (kinda...I have to work a short shift on Sat and I have a 5K race on Sun, but otherwise you will find me in my jammies, in my studio). 

So with getting all that stuff done comes a blog post...and a little bit longer than usual at that.

I created three layouts and 5 cards (posted my Unity KOM Sketch Challenge card already - see post below)!

A few of these projects were in response to challenges so I will share those too.

This first layout was a scraplift challenge at the Nook. I was to lift any layout/project by SamW from the Nook's gallery. This is the layout by Sam that I chose:

I was inspired by the composition of her layout. And I also love how she grouped the hearts in with the flowers. Here is my take on this page:

Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock; Sassafras for SC (SC10009), Pebbles Hip Hip Hooray (Yay & Happy Day); AC Dear Lizzy Neopolitan (Delightful Bouquet), Basic Grey Sweet Threads 6X6 Paper Pad; Jillibean Soup - Homemade 6 Bean Soup Alpha; Basic Grey June Bug Mini Monogram; AC Dear Lizzy Letter Stickers; Flowers by Prima and Recollections (Micheals brand); Kaisercraft Pearls; MME Stella & Rose Label Stickers; AC Slick Writer; Studio Calico Kit - Envelope & Butterfly (from the Gilded Bee on Etsy); Buttons - Misc.

I was excited to finally scrap this next layout. I have had a page kit put together for it for years (I did update it a bit, though). I found this paper from Imagination Project shortly after the ipod commercials came out with people dancing/rocking out. So it's an oldie, but a goodie. I love how this layout turned out...definately a little outside the box for me with all the layers built "up" (inspired by the wonderful Marcy Penner) as opposed to throughout the page.

Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock; AC Junior - Yay; Imagination Project Playlist (Dancing Dots); Crate Paper Toy Box Collection (Explore); Crate Paper Random Collection (Victorian); 7 Gypsies Paddington Paper (Kilburn); Sassafras; AC Slick Writer; Unity Stamp Co - Hearts of Old; Mister Huey's Calico White; Imagination Project Coasters - Jammin' Jumbles; Doodle Twine - Bright Assortment; K & CO Smash Black Dot Tape; Making Memories Distress Tool; EK Success Postage Stamp Edge Punch; Journal cards by Little Yellow Bicycle & Jillibean Soup; BoBunny Chunky Chipboard Alphabet - Licorice; Buttons - Misc.

 I stamped the background with the awesome Hearts of Old stamp by Unity Stamp Co. Instead of ink I used my Mister Huey's in Calico White to give it a sloppier look....love how it turned out.

 This little pocket holds the little personalized card that came with the ipod (of course I saved it!).

This last layout was a real challenge for me. I usually use lots of bright and bold colors when I scrapbook. This layout was created for the April Color Challenge over at the Nook. For this challenge we were to use this photo from pinterest for inspiration: 

The photo has mostly neutral colors with a few pops of color. While I did not follow the same color scheme, I did limit my color use in my layout:

Supplies Used: Basic Grey Basics (Index, Sphere, & Vocab); Echo Park For The Record (Newsprint); Creative Imaginations; Simple Stories Yearography Cardstock Stickers; Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher; MME Lost & Found 2 Breeze "Dream" Layered Stickers; MME Lost & Found 2 Breeze "Everywhere" Decorative Brads; Creative Imaginations Stickers (tickets & the big apple); Kaisercraft Rub-ons - Journey; AC Slick Writer; Buttons by October Afternoon (Sasparilla) & Misc; October Afternoon Sprinklers - Rocket Age - Rocket Blue

I was also inspired by the trend of using the negative space (or leftover pieces) from using your die cut machine. You can see that I used both the circles and the leftover piece here.

Okay so now the cards I created. 

With this first card, I participated in the Monday Card Challenge over at the Nook. This week's challenge was to "lift" one of the design team members card's. Well, of course I had to pick Danni Reid!! I just love her style so much. I haven't actually lifted her cards before, but I do find her style constantly inspiring. Here is the card by Danni that I chose to lift:

And here is my card:

Supplies Used: Basic Grey Sweet Threads 6X6 Paper Pad; Bazzill Cardstock; Ek Success Scallop Edge Punch; Martha Stewart Classic Butterfly Punch; Crafts Too Embossing Folder - Butterflies; Unity Stamp Co April 2012 KOM - Follow Your Own; Memento Ink - Tuxedo; Buttons & Lace - Misc

As you can see I stuck to Danni's design pretty closely. But I did add the embossed background (another classic Danni design element). And I also added the white scallop borders, which I have seen Danni use alot too. For more inspiration from Danni check out her blog.

This next card was in response to Kimber's Saturday Card Sketch challenge at Two Peas In a Bucket.

Here's the sketch:

And here is my card:

Supplies Used: Basic Grey Konnichiwa 6X6 Paper Pad; Unity Stamp Co KOM March 2011 - Just You; Classic Oval Spellbinders; Ek Success Scallop Edge Punch; EK Success/Stampin' Up Bird Punch; Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Vintage Photo; Embossed Daisies - Mulberry Street Red by Petaloo; Doily, Feather & Button - Misc.

My friend Katie created a card with a little bird on it a while ago. She used a feather as the wing, just as I have done here. This was definately her idea, even as obvious as it may seem after seeing it, I never would have thought of it on my own. Thanks for the inspiration Katie:)

It almost goes without saying that my all time favorite stamps are pretty much anything that Unity Stamp Co comes out with. But that being said I do have another love....Paper Smooches. I love these stamps for the absolute cuteness factor. When I want cute...these are my go to stamps. I just love the fun images they keep coming up with. These two cards were created using the stamp set Zoo Crew. I picked this set as part of my prize for winning the SPARKS challenge earlier this month. Thanks Kim and Paper Smooches for my new stamp sets...I love them!

Supplies Used: Paper Smooches Zoo Crew; Bazzill Cardstock; AC Botanique - Viola; Basic Grey Offbeat - Novel; Stickles by Ranger - Gold & Cinnamon; Copic Marker - Y26; Ek Success/Stampin Up Heart Punch; Memento Ink - Tuxedo; Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Vintage Photo & Walnut Stain; Twine - Papertreyink; Photo Corners, Googily Eye, Ribbon & Buttons - Misc.

I wish that I could photograph the sparkles better...they really add to these cards in a way that really isn't captured here. I do want to give credit to my very talented friend, Yvonne, for the coloring in of my stamp images using stickles instead of markers. This is something that she has done on numerous occasions, so thanks to her idea and talent I tried this technique myself...and I love how it turned out! So thanks Yvonne:)

Supplies Used: Paper Smooches Zoo Crew & Boob Tubes; Bazzill Cardstock; Basic Grey Basics; Reminisce Wild Things - Zebra Print; Memento Ink - Tuxedo; Spellbinders - Classic Circles and Lacey Circles; Stickles by Ranger - Stardust & Black Diamond; Divine Twine - Licorice; Buttons & Ribbon - Misc.

Phew! That was a big post!! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you found some inspiration today...now get off the computer and get creating!! LOL!! Have a great week everybody!

Unity KOM Sketch Challenge

I created this card in the nick of time....I have been wanting to play along with this Unity challenge since I saw the sketch. I have dreamed up many versions of this card based on the sketch but since I was only able to sit down and actually create my card today (the final day of the challenge), I only made one version. And it actually looks nothing like the visions in my head over the last month...ha! But I am extremely happy with it. I am just loving how the Sweet Threads Collection from Basic Grey works so perfectly with these stamps from Unity. I added just a touch of sparkle to my ice creams using some Stardust Stickles (a little bit hard to see in the photo) and of course, the cherry on top was finished off with X-Mas Red (thanks sweet Katie, for lending me yours). Delicious and sweet.....enjoy:)

The Unity Kit of the Month I used: Just You - March 2011

Other Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock; Memento Ink - Tuxedo; Basic Grey Sweet Threads 6X6 Paper Pad; Crafts Too Embossing Folder - Sweet Flowers; Doodle Twine - Bright Assortment; Stardust & Xmas Red Stickles by Ranger; Paper doily and button - misc.

Here is the original sketch. As you can see I flipped it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Crop for A Cure

I went to the 9th Annual Crop for the Cure this past weekend. I have been to this crop every year since the beginning. So as you can imagine this was a long anticipated event. My best friend said to me, when we were discussing getting ready to go, that her excitement and anticipation equated to getting ready for Christmas! So yup, we were excited!!!

This is an amazing "little" crop that runs every year in hopes to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society and Breast Cancer Awareness. My friend Val founded this crop in the name of her dear friend, Fran Cole, who has since lost her courageous battle to breast cancer. Cancer is no stranger to almost all of us now. So while we had a fun-filled weekend with scrapbooking galore, it is nice to know that we did a small part in battling this disease.

The week leading up this crop brought many a restless, sleepless night for me with ideas and visions of layouts and cards galore. I managed to pack up 21....Yup, 21!!! .....page kits plus stuff to make cards. As always my ideas are way bigger than I can possibly create....plus by the time I got there after a week of not sleeping, I was sooo tired. Luckily Friday night I had a wonderful sleep, allowing me to get some good creative time in on Saturday. I created a total of four layouts (so much for my 21 page kits...which I will get to, eventually...in fact I have another crop to attend this weekend) which I will share with you here.

This layout was inspired by two different challenges. Both are past their deadline but I still wanted to participate. I had my photos out on my desk and everything.....but just getting around to this now. I combined the Two Peas Weekly Challenge: Scrap A Series of Photos with the October Afternoon Thursday Sketch Challenge from March 29th. Here is Jill Sprout's sketch:

And here is my take on it:

Supplies Used: Bazzill Kraft Cardstock; Patterns - Crate Paper Pretty Party (Papercloth & Invitation), Echo Park Victorian Gardens (Cheerful Words), Hambly Screenprints Pen & Ink, Echo Park Yours Truly(Newsprint), & BoBunny Khaki Double Dot; Fabric Flowers by Amy Tangerine; Sassafras for SC Diecut Stickers; October Afternoon Sidewalks Label Stickers & 5&Dime Word Stickers; Jillibean Soup Kraft Mini White Alpha; Bella Blvd Superstud (Carla Mediterranean) Letters; American Craft Slick Writer - Black; Maya Road Diecut Kraft Doilies; Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher; Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Vintage Photo; Buttons - Misc.

This next layout was inspired by a couple sources as well....the October Afternoon Thursday Sketch Challenge from April 12. This is Amy Heller's sketch:

I was also inspired by this pinspiration posted  in the Nook's forum:

Combine these two challenges and what do you get??

I love all things rainbow so I had sooo much fun creating this layout!

October Afternoon Supplies Used: Patterned Papers - Campfire Collection (Sleeping Bag), Sidewalks Collection (Capture the Flag, Red Rover, Duck Duck Goose), Bright Light Collection (Louie), Farmhouse Collection (Guest Room), Holiday Style Collection (Toyland), Rocket Age Collection (Blast Off), & Daydream Collection (Poppy Garden); Label Stickers - Report Card; Word Stickers - 5&Dime & Farm Fresh; Mini Market - Black & Cream; Buttons - Sasparilla

Other Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock; Letters - Jillibean Soup, Sassafras, Basic Grey, Lilybee Designs; Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Weathered Wood; Unity Stamp Co - Worn Grid; EK Success/Stampin' Up - Star Punch; Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher; American Craft Dear Lizzy Date Stamp; American Craft slick writer; Buttons - Misc.

For this next layout, I used a sketch from Valerie Bishop that I came across on pinterest:

I translated this sketch pretty literally....I love how it turned out, but I would say that it is a little different from my usual style. I found myself wanting to add more "stuff", but I made myself stop! It feels pretty simple to me, but I think it is still quite effective.

Supplies Used: Crate Paper Storyteller (Chapter, Trademark, Legend, Document); Echo Park Happy Days (Diamond); Doodlebug Loopy Love - Beetle Black; Dream Street Papers - Just My Type; October Afternoon Word Stickers - 5&Dime; American Craft Slick Writer; Basic Grey Stitched Brads - Max & Whiskers; Crate Paper Sew Brads; Mister Huey's Atmosphere

This layout, again is a little different from my usual style. I followed along with the Glitter Girl challenge at Two Peas this week using a bold pattern on my layout. I have had this robot paper probably since it came out. I have been saving it, knowing that I wanted to do this layout eventually. Originally I was going to mix this pattern in with multiple others as I usually do, but the challenge inspired me to focus on this robot pattern. I am glad, because now you can really see the robots and the theme on the paper. Had I used it in another way with perhaps less of this pattern it may not have had the same effect! Thanks Glitter Girl for the inspo!

Supplies Used: Sassafras Serendipity Robotics; October Afternoon Label Sickers - Cherry Hill, Report Card, 5&Dime; Sassafras Label; Maya Road Sheer Robots; American Craft Dear Lizzy Date Stamp; American Craft Slick Writer; Making Memories Metal Mesh; October Afternoon Mini Market - Gray & Cream; Basic Grey - Picadilly Apha Stickers; American Craft Thickers - Fellow; Little Yellow Bicycle - Generations Metal Gears

Well, there you have it! All my creations from the weekend....hope you enjoyed them!

And just a note....yes, I took a lot of inspo from other sources this weekend...thank goodness for all the wonderful creations on the world wide web! I have decided that it is better to get something done when at a crop than sit there and stare at your paper uninspired. Normally this is not a problem (perhaps my sleepless week contributed?), but when it is, taking inspiration from around us is a great way to stay creative.