Layout made with swapped items!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  And now my excuse for being absent:  I'm busy, busy, busy!  Aren't we all this time of year?  Since it's been a while since my last post, I want to share a scrapbook page I made using some swap items--and give my fave swapping site a little shout out!

I just got a huge box of swap items back from "It's a Scrapbooking Swap Thing"!  I've been so busy making stuff and trying to stay ahead of the current deadlines, but when I got my box, I wanted to start scrapping!  Well, I got one page done.  But it only took about thirty minutes (gathering pics, giving my toddler snacks, diverting her attention, etc.) to do the whole thing.

Oh, actually, this page kit swap came with the last box, but because I had some pics ready that were from last year's Christmas stuff, I thought I'd use it first.  There were a lot of items in this kit, but I just used the photo mat, journal block, and border (which happened to have a title on it!) since I only wanted a one-page layout.

I love all the details this swapper put into this border:  the words mounted on red with stickles glitter around each one, the snowflake with a red dew drop in the center, and the eyelets laced with red fiber.  So cute with the mixed patterned papers!

My only problem when starting my layout is that I love to use patterned paper, so I was struggling with what to do for a background.  I looked at those cute snowflake embellies and then thought, "Spray mist!"  I got out my Tattered Angels' Icicle Blue and LED Red, and misted over some snowflakes cut from Cricut's "Joys of the Season" cartridge (which were temporarily adhered).  You can't really see the shimmer on these pics, but it shines!

I have big plans for Christmas vacation:  I hope to use up lots of my swaps and get some layouts scrapped so we can enjoy those photos that have just been accumulating in boxes lately!  And I'm going to let my kids use some of the leftover pieces to make pages for their own albums.  They need to get into this hobby as well, don't you think?

Hope you enjoyed checking out my page, and if you're looking for a swap group, check out "It's a Scrapbooking Swap Thing" (IASST) at www.iasst.forumotion.net.  Thier big Birthday Crop is coming up on New Year's Eve when they have lots of challenges and new swaps to sign up for!  I'm excited about that, too!

My Very First Guest Designer Spot!

Yayyy!  I had to blurt out my good news in my title!  A couple of week's ago I won the challenge over at 3 Girl Jam, and one of the three (yes, three!) prizes was a guest designer spot on their challenge blog!  You can find it here.

This week's challenge is to use these beautiful Thanksgiving inspired colors:

And, here's my take on it:

I loved the burgundy and gold combo!  I used some more of that leaf patterned paper from Recollections and scraps from my stash for the rest of the papers.  I cut a decorative shape with Cricut's "Elegant Edges" cartridge and a leaf and shadow from "Doodle Charms"  The sentiment and its tag are from Papertrey Ink's Fall Friendship Jar Fillers set.

Then my embellishments include gold inking around the edges, the very last of my Halloween Harvest crinkle ribbon from 3 Girl Jam (I will be ordering more!), stick pins from My Little Yellow Bicycle, and a button and jute twine from my stash.

Hope you liked this card and its color inspiration.  You can check out my Guest Designer spot and the current challenge # 7 at 3 Girl Jam.

"Oh, barn." A Belated Birthday Card

I think I should just make up a bunch of belated birthday cards to have on hand for my friends and family.  I seem to always miss their big days!

Here's a card I made following the sketch on 3 Girl Jam Challenge Blog to give a friend. 

You can find their sketch challenge here.

I was an extra day later on giving it to my friend, because I had to take a picture to post, lol!  Good thing she understands me!

I used scrap paper from my stash, Cricut's "Country Life" to cut the barn.  I only cut it at 2", so the weather vane on top of the silo didn't make it.  I was in a hurry and ripped it right off the roof, lol.  I used "Lacey Labels" Lite cartridge for the mat.  The funny stamps are from Joy's Life "Barnyard Puns."  (I love her stamps!  You can find them here.)  I also used some gingham ribbon from Hobby Lobby, 'cuz you gotta love gingham ribbon with country-themed cards!  Then, to top it off and draw attention to the sentiment, I used 3 Girl Jam crinkle ribbon in Sunflower.

There's a little bit of time left, so if you want to enter that sketch challenge at 3Girl Jam, here's the link again:
3 Girl Jam Challenge #6: Sketch

Cross Memory Tray

My good friend recently lost her grandmother, and instead of sending flowers, I decorated this cross-shaped memory tray (from Hobby Lobby) for her.

We were shopping a few weeks ago, and my friend saw this saying that really touched her.  So I printed it with my computer and matted it, then I added a little crinkle ribbon from 3 Girl Jam.

Then, since it's "Anything Goes" at the Peachy Keen Stamps Challenge Blog, I had to "peachify" the little angel's face.  I used Cricut's "Paper Doll Dress Up" cartridge for the doll, dress, and hair.  Then I cut and inked a doily for her wings.  She is "standing" in front of a star from the "George and Basic Shapes" cartridge.  (I cut her feet off because I don't think you ever see angel's feet, do you?  I think they "hover" a lot, lol!)

I used Peachy Keen's "Cherub Face Assortment" and used various pens and markers to color in her eyes and lips.

 For the other openings of the memory tray, I cut a sewing machine and a label with the "Heritage" cartridge.  I wrote the word "Granny" and added some faux stitching to the label.  Then I used "George" again for the heart and tag in the final opening.  I used buttons, jute twine, pearls, and a little bling to embellish.  And the patterned papers were from Crate Paper's Farmhouse pad.  I LOVE that paper!  I might need to pick up another one, because I've used it so much lately!

Hope you liked this project; I had fun fixing it up!  And, I'm entering it in Peachy Keen Stamps Challenge #43 : Anything Goes.

"Happy Turkey Day!" card

I've been thinking about what I want to do for my Christmas cards, but before I really get started on a full-force mass production of Christmas cards, I'd like to make a few cards for some friends and family and let them know how thankful I am for them!  So, here's a little "Turkey Day" card I want to share with you today.

I used some patterned paper from Reminisce's "Autumn Harvest" line, and Bazzill cardstock.  I also used some pearlized copper paper, but I'm not sure where it's from.  All of the paper was from my scrap stash!

I cut the turkey from Cricut's Create a Critter 2 cartridge, but hid his face with my gypsy.  Then I stamped him a new face with Peachy Keen's "Critter Faces Set A Medium."  I added a little detail to it with my Sakura Gelly Roll white pen and Stampin' Up! markers.  Then I stamped my cute sentiment from Pink by Designs' "Simply Everything" set.  I added a little faux stitching to one of the banners and my turkey's hat!  Then some gemstones from The Paper Studio finished it off!

I used the following sketch for my card:



And this color combo was the inspiration for the turkey's color:



Here's a little close-up of the turkey in case you missed that cute little face.  Kinda makes me want to skip the roasted fowl on Thanksgiving.  Well, maybe for just a little while!  LOL!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Peachy Keen Stamps Challenge # 42: Sketch
Go Fish Challenge #28: Colors
Cut It Up Challenge #5: Give Thanks with a Twist
Love to Create Challenge #40: "Shades of Autumn"