Back in the Day - SBC

   Last Wednesday, at Scrapbook Challenges we featured the talented crew member Kate. She loves all things bold and graphic patterns, who can blame her all those patterns are so yummy.  

   Here is my take on the graphic pattern challenge. 

Supplies: pattern paper (American Crafts, Echo Park, Teresa Collins, and Crate Paper), stickers (American Crafts and My Little Shoebox), ink (Umbrella Crafts), mask (American Crafts), doily (Doodlebug Designs), pen (Project Life), and diecuts (Basic Grey).

   Here are a couple of closeups. 

On the county fair ribbon paper I outlined all the ribbons to make it stand out more.

Taking Care of You - SBC

   Wednesday's Scrapbook Challenges crush was on Ester and love for die cuts. 

  

   Who doesn't love diecuts, they are  just so fun to use and fit in to those empty spaces perfectly. 

Supplies: cardstock (Bazzill Basics), pattern paper ( Echo Park and Studio Calico), velum (Seven Paper), stickers (Echo Park Studio Calico, Simple Stories and American Crafts, doily (Doodlebug Designs), border punch (EK Sucess), sequins (Hobby Lobby), die (Spellbinders), manual die cutter (Spellbinders), pen (Project Life), diecuts (American Crafts and My Mind's Eye).

Here is a close-up on the title work. 

Sold @ Kellies - SBC

This Scrapbook Challenges crush I am sharing with you today is all about Cathy. She loves doing double page spreads. 

   Me, on the other hand, have a love hate relationship with them. Only, reason is that I never have enough pics of one thing that justifies a two page spread. However, I thought doing a consignment selling of some furniture last year was worth documenting. 

Supplies: cardstock (Bazzill Basics), pattern paper (Crate Paper, Studio Tekturek, and Carta Bella), stickers (Prima and American Crafts), mist (Tattered Angels), doilies (Doodlebug Designs) and chipboard (Studio Calico). 

   I kept the embellishments very minimal since I challenged myself just to use some items I had on my desk at the moment. 

#Together Again - SBC

   Today's sketch crush at Scrapbook Challenges feature is on Carolyn. She is known in the sketch crew for her element clusters. 

I for one love that clusters add so much interest in a page. They keep your eye digging deeper to see all the little bits and pieces. 

Supplies: cardstock (The Paper Studio), pattern paper (Heidi Swapp and Studio Calico), twine (Bella Creationz), chipboard (Studio Calico, Pink Paislee and My Mind's Eye), stickers (My Mind's Eye and Studio Calico), wood veneers (Studio Calico and American Crafts), washi tape (Scotch Brand ), vellum (Seven Paper), doily (Doodlebug Designs), transparency (Studio Calico) and star rhinestones (Studio Calico). 

   I am almost scrapbooking the last of my Jido's (grandpa's) Bid Red 1 World War II reunion. I wished I knew more of the stories but these happened over 20 years ago. The only people who knew what was going on it the photos is my uncle and we haven't spoke in 15 years.  

Just Be You - SBC #471

   Last week's Scrapbook Challenges sketch #471  but with dealing with a sick dog over the weekend which led to saying bye to him that Monday I never got it onto the Scrapbook Challenges blog or shared here. 

   Here is my take. The page is of my dad when he was about 20.

Supplies: cardstock (Bazzil Basics), pattern paper (Fancy Pants Designs and Glitz Designs), die cuts and tags (Studio Calico and American Crafts), chipboard (Studio Calico), wood veneers (American Crafts), stickers (Prima, American Crafts and Studio Calico), washi tape (Scotch Brand), marker (Faber-Castell), and pen (Project Life)

   Here are a few close-ups. 

   I love the canvas alphabet stickers from Prima. They are super easy to color to match your project.

The Captain - SBC #472

   Hello. everyone. I am still here. I am just taking it day by day and trying to keep myself extra busy so I can zone out. It has been a week since the hole in my family has been made. It just seems everything is moving too fast. as, I just booked cxl surgery for my other eye, which will be in a few weeks. 

Here is this week's sketch reveal from Scrapbook Challenges.  This is sketch #472

This page, is us together at the last Halloween party at Petco. He was Captain America, which he loved watching the movies. 

Supplies: cardstock (Die Cuts With a View), pattern paper (Crate Paper), stickers (My Mind's Eye and Authentique), punch (EK Success), washi tape (Scotch Brand), doily (Doodlebug Designs), and paint (Americana)

Grieving

   Today, was a sad day here. This afternoon my family and I had to put down Buster. He had another seizure Friday night but was sick before it happen. Over the weekend he became super ill and couldn't keep anything down. Today, my dad and I took him to the vet, 3 hours later, the veterinarian called and said his stomach failed and he needed to be put down. We gave him the okay.
 
   Buster knew his time was running out. After his seizure, I picked him up and hugged him. He wrapped his head around my neck, as if he was hugging me back. This was the first time he ever did that. About 4 this morning he woke up acting better but kept walking from room to room to see my parents, brother and I as if he wanted one last look.

   Now, this house seems so quite. This little fur ball was the center of the household. He had a big personality and was always there to comfort you. He was a birthday gift when I turned 12. He has been a part of my life for over half of it.

   I will always remember him with full of life, his cute smile and his love with everything. I am finding comfort in knowing that he is not miserable anymore and that he is in heaven being taken care by my grandpa.

 Buster, we loved you. You were a great dog.

Crushing on Andrea - SBC

   Earlier this week we had a Sketch Crew Crush on Andrea. I love her work and while I was going through her blog I noticed she love white backgrounds and machine stitching.

Here is my take on it. 

Supplies: cardstock (Die Cuts With a View), pattern paper (Studio Calico), journaling card (Project Life),  mists (Ranger and Tattered Angels), stickers (Studio Calico and American Crafts), twine (Bella Creationz), stitching template (American Crafts), sewing machine and thread. 

The "He Said" card is where the journaling going to be on. I am going to have my dad write it, which will be about the types of cars he had at that time.

Time to Create Cards

   This year, I am starting to document the little things that I do but with more journaling. I think I will make the Tracie Claiborne proud, I am scrappy with a story in mind. This page is about my mom and I getting together every January to create Valentine cards .

Supplies: pattern paper (American Crafts, Pink Paislee and Crate Paper), stickers (American Crafts, Elle's Studio, Studio Calico and Simple Stories), journaling cards (Project Life), washi tape (The Paper Studio and Doodlebug Designs), doily (Doodlebug Designs), tag (?), stamp (American Crafts), ink (Momento), dew drops ( The Robin's Nest), wood veneer (American Crafts), rub-on (Maya Road), marker (Faber-Castell) and pen (Project Life)

   Here are the close-ups. 

   Here are the close-ups. I love how this page came together. I got to use up that old Pink Paislee "Secret Crush" scraps that have been in my stash for about 3-4 years. 

 To make the tab on the journaling card I just used the envelope punch board. It makes the perfect tab every time.

 On a few of the hearts I cut the outer edge from the background paper. I then patched the opening from the back with a blue paper. To keep the hearts up once it was in the album I just popped them up with foam squares.

Bride & Groom

   Scrapbook Challenges sketch reveal in #470. I love the simplicity of this design. I know me and simple is like water and oil, they don't just mix. however, some photos command a more simple design to highlight the moment. 

This page might shock some of my friends. I didn't use any doilies and sequins on it. I my might even faint. lol.

Supplies: cardstock (Bazzill Basic and Die Cuts With a View), pattern paper (Studio Calico and American Crafts), transparency (American Crafts), stickers (American Crafts, Studio Calico and Heidi Swapp), journaling card (Project Life), flair (Studio Calico), chipboard (Studio Calico), washi tape (The Paper Studio), manual die (American Crafts), manual die cutter (Spellbinders), markers (Bic and Faber-Castell)and mist (Tattered Angels)

   While going through my stash I came across the heart die cut and thought it was perfect for this page. I just cut out a couple more hearts and the banner to finish the cluster. 

Update on Life

   I know it has been a few weeks since I have did a personal update about everything.

   Last Monday, I went to the eye doctor for another contact lens exam. I am happy to say I am finally of an owner of a lens that fits, it only took 18 tries and countless trips to the optometrist :).
No more eye doctor visits until Nov., while there is the one that is next month but I am not counting that one since it is out of state.

   Yesterday, I took Buster back to the vet since he has been limping for the last week. My dad said it was because he he had another infection and I say it is because of arthritis. It looks like we both were right, he is now on an antibiotic and inflammation med. The vet did a blood test and x-ray and everything came back fine which stated he had no cancer.  He seems to be walking a little better today.
 
   This weekend, my family and I are celebrating the 8th anniversary of completing the home theater in out basement. We always watch a movie together on this day. We are going with the Minions.

   Lastly, I have been adding shop items to the Etsy store and creating layouts for upcoming challenges over at Scrapbook Challenges. That reminds me I have you seen this month's challenges. Certain days if the week we are focusing on a Sketch Crew member, Wednesday just happened to be me. 

MJ's Kraze - SBC #469

   It is February 1st and all I can say was that first month of the year went by faster than I was expecting. I guess being busy on the behind the scene details of the Etsy shop took longer than I anticipated.

   Today's sketch reveal over at Scrapbook Challenges is one that I love. It has some layers and I do love my layers. Maybe, that is why I love winter so much.

   For this page, I choose to document the restart-up of MJ's Kraze. I ended up using one photo that I took of my model modeling an item. I think my model is the cutest and was able to get quite a few photos of him that made my crackup laughing. 

Supplies: cardstock (Bazzill Basics), pattern paper (American Crafts, Echo Park Paper, Studio Calico and Crate Paper) vellum (Seven Paper), mist (Tattered Angels), stickers (American Crafts and Studio Calico), punches (EK Success and We R Memory Keepers), transparency (Webster's Pages and Studio Calico), doily (Doodlebug Designs), wood veneer (American Crafts), stamp (EK Success), ink (Memento) plastic phrase (Studio Calico), sequins (Hobby Lobby) and pen (Project Life)

   Here are a few close-up shots. I love that whatever phrase that came from a Studio Calico kit. I think that is what Buster is thinking during this photo shoot. 

   
   Since the business cards I designed for the store used two different black fonts I decided to take it to this page.

   Be sure to check out Scrapbook Challenges blog throughout the month because we are doing some fun challenges that are different than what you normally see there.