Because I wanted to create a sense of continuum between this layout and the previous layout in my son's book that leads up to this layout, I decided to use the same paper collection, as well as the same lettering type for the title. I even formated the titles in a similar manner. I did focus on the Barn Red in this layout verses the Sunflower which toned down the layout to coordinate with the darker colors in the pictures.

Layout Design is Main Frame - Wrap Around from Reflections.

Layout Design is Half & Half - Four Photo from Reflections.
My Ultimate Scrapbooking Challenge: 150 layout designs. 44 completed. 106 to go.

The party planner...

I'm not sure if I should say I am ahead of the season, or behind. But recently, I have been inspired by fall, and have been chugging away on my fall layouts. I guess I am ahead a little bit of the season (as these layouts are from Thanksgiving), yet at the same time behind as they are from last year. Whatever the time-frame, I love the fall colors and pictures. I am sure that one of my friends would laugh at me as to my color choices...no, I didn't hire CTMH to create a paper collection to match my pictures, but oh, so much does it look like I did! But aren't the fall colors so inspiring to create with? I also adore this, now retired, paper pack as it has so many color choices that can be the focus color and regardless of the color choice, the other colors work to compliment beautifully!

Layout Design: Title Topper: Basic from Reflections.

Triple Play - Over the Top from Reflections.

My Ultimate Scrapbooking Challenge: 150 layout designs from three books. 43 complete. 107 to go. Supplies used: Magic Moments Scrapbooking Kit; Autumn, Winter & Basic Craft Buttons; Cocoa Ribbon; Irresistibles Color Ready Alphabets; Autumn Flowers;

Creating your own patterns...

So here is a fun concept to try...and you will need at least 10 strips of scrap pattern paper to play! This layout and the card below were both created with the Triple Play promotional kit from National Stamping Month. The patterned pieces were all small and cut from a mini-album format. Each square of paper was approximately 4" x 4". I personally fell in love with the patterns and the designs and wanted to savor every scrap. So, I collected all of the scraps, and cut them into 4" strips. Some were wider than others. I ran each piece through my Xyron to create my own patterned design. In the layout below, this piece is on the left side but to the right of the photo. In the card it covers the entire card. BUT, in my second attempt, I made a discovery...and John, you will love this one! Instead of running each individual strip thru the Xyron, flip the base upside down and run that thru the Xyron, then simply add the strips to the sticky side and trim off any excess. Much easier and less goop.

Layout Design: Front & Center - Focal from Reflections.

Layout Design: Front & Center Space from Reflections.

The featured colors are Outdoor Denim, Indian Corn Blue and Colonial White. Other materials used: Outdoor Denim Mini-Medleys & Color Ready Alphabets.

My Ultimate Scrapbooking Challenge: 150 layout designs. 42 1/2 completed. 107 1/2 to go!

10 cards from one one workshop!

A Christmas card workshop that creates 10 different card designs with very minimal paper! Perfect for Christmas cards or other cards that you need in bulk. .This workshop will be taught at the Shockers Crop on Friday. Participants will make 1 each of 10 designs for $15. Additional sets may also be purchased.

Nicholas' first day of school

This is my layout for Nicholas' first day of school. A little different than Gabriel's but within the same paper collection: the Exclusive School Act Collection in Studio J. I used a different pattern in Nicholas' which really made the colors pop! I love that I can change photo wells into journaling blocks and vice versa! This makes the concept of journaling much easier because more often than not, I tend to have more journaling than the initial space allows; changing to a larger well doesn't make me feel like I have to edit my thoughts as much to conform to space sizes. This also works well in reverse...if the journaling well is too large for what one wants to journal, then you can choose a smaller space and place a photo in the larger photo well! This optimizes the choices which is truly awesome!

Click on the layout to see an enlarged view. Layout Design is Conclusion Combo from Cherish. My Ultimate Scrapbooking Challenge: 150 layouts. 42 completed. 108 still to go.

Special Moments

This layout was created in Studio J. The pictures worked great with the layout, but the journaling was my true focus. Studio J allowed me to create a large photo well and overlap the B&T designs. Love the flexibility! I am known for being long winded in my journaling which in most cases I guess is a flaw...but in this case, my words needed to convey the importance of the day to my husband and I and the option to expand my journaling helped me to relay my words.

The paper designs are Veranda featuring the colors of Creme Brule, Juniper, Garden Green and Cocoa. The layout design is Powerful Trio from Imagine. My Ultimate Scrapbooking Challenge: 150 layouts. 42 completed. 108 layouts to go.

To see the layout enlarged, or to read the journaling, click on the layout.

Dance with me

So, who said there is a set "rule" that blurry pictures won't work in a scrapbook? No, maybe these pictures aren't perfect, but it is from a memory that I never want to forget, and I want Abby to be able to witness when she gets older...so, yes, I will include blurry pictures in my book! This was an awesome few minutes for Abby and I wanted to capture it for her (and Uncle Mike) so as they twirled around the dance floor, my shutter was going as fast as it could. I captured the moment a few times and am thrilled with the results. I actually created this layout several months ago on Studio J and it just didn't look right (besides a few spelling errors that I went back and fixed! :-). In the original version all of the light space was White Daisy and it was too bright for the B&T paper. Now, with the enhancements on Studio J, not only is there a spell check feature, but one is also given the choice of the entire CTMH color palette not just a few colors. I changed all of the White Daisy to Colonial White and the layout was perfect! Thanks Studio J!

And how appropriately, the layout design for this one, "Up the Tempo"! My Ultimate Scrapbooking Challenge: 150 layouts. 41 layouts completed. 109 to go.

Oh, so sweet Cherry o...must you go?

The time will soon be here for (December 2010 or while supplies last) when the Cherry-O collection will retire. I have loved creating with this collection, and my creations just couldn't be complete, unless I created with the adorable Level 1 kit as well! So, that is just what I did. These two layouts were created with just what was included in the Level 1 kit...no stamping was required! The only "enhancements" that I added were six Tulip Bigger Brads, Liquid Glass, and Chocolate Love Letters Rub-ons. That was it! With the kit, I created both adorable layouts and had extras to spare! Faster. Simpler. Easier.

Left Design is: Main Frame - Tied Up from Reflections.

Right Layout: Sampler - Photo Checkerboard from Reflections.

Left Design is: Sidebar - Photo Focus from Reflections.

Right design is: Title Topper - Equal Portions from Reflections.

My Ultimate Scrapbooking Challenge: 150 Layout Designs. 40 complete. 110 to go.

First day getting on the bus!

I sent my little four year old to all day preschool this year, and though their were many trials and tribulations with getting off and on, and transferring to the right bus, the bus has still been the highlight of each and every school day for Gabriel! This is a layout that I created in Studio J with the new Exclusive school set! I am so excited about the functionality of this collection...my mind is spinning with possibilities! Definitely for a busy mom of two preschoolers and a kindergartner!

Click layout for an enlarged view. The Layout Design is Silver Screen from Cherish. My Ultimate Scrapbooking Challenge: 150 layouts. 38 completed. 112 to go.

& Then There were Pumpkins...

My daughter's preschool class went on a Field Trip to a well loved Apple Orchard on Tuesday and much to our surprise, Mr. Paugh, the owner, let the children also go out to the pumpkin patch and pick a pumpkin. My daughter has much of her Mommy in her, and was super-duper excited! The timing couldn't have been better as I was planning this Scrap and Save workshop this weekend! Now, thanks to Mr.Paugh, I was even able to scrapbook current pictures on my layout! And the colors of the papers...beautiful!! I am so excited with this layout! I almost wish it was springtime so I could submit it for publications, but I would never wish away my favorite season! Of course, it also helps when one has such a cute subject!!

Layout Design is A New Perspective from Cherish.

The journaling reads: "Abby’s class field trip to Mr.Paugh’s Apple Orchard bestowed a few delightful surprises on the children! Once they had filled their bags with apples, Mr.Paugh announced that each child could also pick one peach from the trees and a pumpkin from his Pumpkin Patch! Abby was very enthusiastic with this! We hiked up to the pumpkin patch and she was off to find her pumpkin. With little searching, she found just the perfect pumpkin and had Mr. Paugh help cut the vines for her. The next thing I knew, Abby had found the perfect pumpkin AGAIN & had Mr. Paugh cut another vine. And THEN came the realization that she could only carry but one of the pumpkins back down from the patch! I watched as she negotiated with herself as to how to carry both pumpkins. Finally, trying not to laugh at her predicament, I offered to help Abby carry her pumpkins! Abby let out a large sigh and ran to offer her gratitude with hugs! What an exciting day it was! Sept. 2010. "

Supplies Used: Autumn Terracotta & New England Ivy Bitty Brads; Abundance Level 1, 2 & My Stickease; New England Ivy Grosgrain Ribbon;

My Ultimate Scrapbooking Challenge: 150 layout designs. 37 completed. 113 to go.

Fall Abundance

Yes, I know, I am on a fall kick at the moment! Can't help it! Fall is my favorite season! I feel like Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in the movie "You've Got Mail" when they talk about a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils! Love back to school time, the fall colors, and the pumpkins and of course the GOURDS (but that is a a conversation for another day! :-) Anyway, this is a layout I created for my Scrap & Save workshop this weekend. The colors of the papers worked beautifully with the more muted colors in some of my pictures, so it is definitely a keeper!

Left Layout Design is Front & Center Trio from Reflections.

Right Layout Design is Sidebar-Original from Reflections.

The journaling reads: "On this particular day, we were all delighted with everything that was fall! The vibrant colors of the pumpkins and the crisp smell of autumn in the air partnered to create the perfect day for our visit the pumpkin patch and corn maze. Nicholas, who at this point, was just really beginning to master standing up on his own, was fascinated with pulling himself to a stand and using the pumpkins that were almost as big as he was as anchors! It was delightful watching him explore the textures of the pumpkins with his little cold fingers and his wide-eyed curiosity at the corn stalks that towered above him. If only there were many more days just like this one! October 2005. "

To add a few "little" details to the layout, the pumpkins illustrated here are My Stickeases; I popped up the one in the fore-front on foam squares and then traced all of the curvatures of the pumpkins with Liquid Glass.

Supplies Used: Abundance Level 2 (oh, why oh why, is this the first time that I have created with this pack...now that it is retired?); Abundance Level 1; Abundance My Stickease; Liquid Glass; New England Ivy Grosgrain Ribbon; Autumn Terracotta Cardstock and Autumn Terracotta Bitty Brads.

My Ultimate Scrapbooking Challenge: 150 Layouts. 36 completed. 114 to go.

Still loving some Snow Friends...

I can't get enough of these little snowmen...in the words of Kewpee, a popular restaurant in Lima, Ohio ..."they make my heart go flippee-flop"! This season, I decided to use two of our new colors Sky & Cotton Candy and I believe they turned out to be adorable! I created these for a Christmas card workshop, but I believe I will also make some with sentiments like "Thinking of you" and "Happy Birthday" for winter-time too!

Card Design is Ricochet from Wishes.

Card Design is Simple Statement from Wishes.

Card Design is Simply Secure from Wishes.

Card Design is Attention Getter from Wishes.

Featuring the colors of Cotton Candy, Sky, Chocolate and Colonial White. Stamp Set Featured: Snow Friends (still one of my all time favorites!!). Other supplies used: Pearl Opagues, Red & Pink Sparkle Assortment, Blue & Green Sparkle Assortment, Snow Flurries Stamp Set, Colonial White Circle Cards, Liquid Glass & Glitz Glitter Glue.

My Ultimate Scrapbooking Challenge: 184 cards designs in one year. 79 cards finished. 105 to go.