Sketch Time for Retro Rubber

 Such a wonderful sketch to work with from Retro Rubber for our challenge for the next two weeks. The design team has really out done themselves in the variety shown with this sketch by our own Claire.

 

 

 This sketch had me thinking about all the card scrap "kits" I have in my stash from past projects.  The first set I pulled out was perfect for this sketch.  With the paisley printed paper and a recent challenge to use up naked chipboard I was ready to roll!

 

• The patterned papers are all from Boxer Scrapbooking, a company that I loved that left the industry several years ago.  Originally they were used to make a mini album so I had a plethora of scraps to work with for each element of the card.
• The fishtail banner is easy to punch using the Paper Studio punch that accepts 1.5", 2", or 2.5" strips.  
  
• To match the colors of the patterned papers I used Memento Luxe inks in Tuxedo black, Rose Bud, and Pear Tear to color the Paisley #1 from Deluxe Designs Plain Janes, the naked chipboard that needs a little love in my stash.  I applied the color with an ink dauber and set them aside to dry while I assembled the rest of the card.
  
• Elizabeth Craft Designs Stitched Circles was perfect to die cut the lime green cardstock.
• The image is from 2019 Ms. Sparkle & Co, one of the bargain sets you can find at Joann's.   

Working from a sketch is a really quick and easy way to put together a beautiful card.  This card came together in about 30 minutes total!  Please do come play along with us at Retro Rubber Challenge Blog.   

We have a few simple rules to play along with our challenge:  1) Use at least one stamp that is more than a year old 2) Tell us how old the stamp is 3)  Enter up to only ten challenges including Retro Rubber and 4) You may enter our challenge up to three times.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I enjoy reading your comments if you happen to stop by!

Christmas Theme for Retro Rubber

For our last Retro Rubber challenge of the year is a Christmas theme board.  We have a couple of simple rules 1) Use at least one stamp that is at least one year old 2) Tell us how long you have the stamp 3) Enter no more than ten challenges including ours 4) Enter our challenge up to three times.  Have some fun and join us at Retro Rubber. 

I decided to dig through my really old Christmas themed papers.  The old ones from Paper Pizzaz that came in 8 1/2" x 11" tear out books, from about 1996 or so.  The prints are smaller and coordinate well together.

 

• The sentiment manufacturer is unknown, but written on the back is 1998 and a price of $4.75.  My guess is Sonshine stamps?  It is stamped in Memento Cottage Ivy, then trimmed and edged in the same ink.
• Patterned paper is trimmed to fit the front of the 5" x 6 1/2" card front and edged in Cottage Ivy as well.
• Sizzix Winter leaves is used to die cut three layers of red, green, and brown cardstock to assemble the greens.  
• Stars are die cut from patterned paper, then backed with three layers of white cardstock to create "chipboard" stars.  
• Snowflakes are die cut from Elizabeth Craft Designs Entwined Circle, and Spellbinders Four Seasons. 
  
•  The add to the country feel theme, a strip of burlap ribbon is added and the embellishments are adhered with glue dots.  

Another Christmas card ready to send greetings is finished!  Please come join the fun of our last challenge of the year over at Retro Rubber!

Styling

It is not often that I am able to used purple on a boys layout, but withe the purple drapes the boys wore during their professional haircuts was a perfect opportunity to use a favorite collection by Basic Grey from 2008, Euphoria. 

Euphoria was a collection I like so much I bought EVERYTHING!  Many elements show up on this page. 

• Spellbinders Labels Four Grand is used to die cut bracket shapes used in the background.
• Several papers from the collection are used in this layout: Elation, Frenzy, Trance, and Delirium.  This layout was completed in duplicate, so I was careful with the use of my papers.
• Sticker letters, Chip Stickers, and Buttons from the collection are used to complete the layout embellishments.
• I can never leave button holes empty, so white craft thread is used to tie up the buttons.
• All the edges are inked in Versa Magic Eggplant.  It helps to delineate and add depth to the page.  
• Journaling is completed in Zig Writer Orchid.  

Thanks for checking out this fun layout that documents one of the few times my boys had professional haircuts.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Aviation Museum

The first summer our boys were home from Russia we took a road trip to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the annual EAA Airventure convention.  We've been many times since, but this layout hold particular joy as my young son was so enthralled with all the interactive exhibits related to aircraft and piloting.  You can just see his amazement in the photos.  

The bright orange in his shirt was great to match the All About a Boy collection by Lori Whitlock for Echo Park. 

• Matching Blue cardstock is used for the base layer.
• Super hero is trimmed to 9 1/2" x 12", split to 5" on the left and 7" on the right.  The corners are rounded.   
• Games is trimmed to 7" x 7" on the left, and 5" x 7" on the right.  
• Curious is trimmed to 1 1/2" x 7"on the left and 1 1/2" x 5" on the right and layered below Games.  
• Various embellishments are selected from the collection Sticker Elements, Alpha Stickers, and Chipboard Accents and added to complete the layout.  
• Journaling on the journal card is completed in Zig Writer Blue.  

Sometimes using one collection really simplifies putting together a great layout, and Echo Park collections are great for this purpose.  Both A and B sides are all coordinated and the patterns repeat in the embellishments. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and know that your comments are appreciated!

Redwood Shores for SID June Double Page Reveal

This is such a great sketch for the month of June.  Come have some fun with us at Stick It Down!

This time last year I visited the San Francisco Bay area with my husband.  He was speaking at a symposium, and I took the opportunity to explore the area around the hotel by walking around the Redwood Shores Lagoon.  It was a lovely walk.  I modified the sketch a bit by using five photos instead of four, with the center photo being one that could straddle the two sides of the layout.  I also had some fun with the diagonal pattern paper.

The colors of the photos worked perfectly with the Euphoria collection by Basic Grey that I loved so much I bought all of the embellishments too!  A few are included in this layout.

• A trick for making diagonal strips for your layout is to cut the paper on the diagonal, rather than trimming straight 1 1/4" x 12" strips.  for this layout I measured down 3 1/2 inches from the top edge and trimmed the diagonal.  Using a paper trimmer I cut 1 1/4" along the same diagonal to create the strip.
• All the strips are trimmed with this measurement to keep the them parallel for the layout. 
• The green pattern needed four strips to complete the line across both sides of the layout.
• The pink pattern needed three strips for the layout.  After adhering the stripe I trimmed the excess from the back of the layout.
• The blue strip was actually from a scrap and started as 1 1/4" x 12".  
• The darker pink pattern used one strip.
• The patterned paper is adhered to Bazzill cardstock.
• I selected a few Euphoria Chip Stickers and Rub-ons to complete the embellishments. 
• Each of the photos has a small journal strip caption from Coordinations cardstock.  Zig Writer in Orchid was used for the journaling.

Stick It Down is a monthly challenge that includes sketches for double page layouts, single page layouts, and cards.  Do come join the fun!

Dogs by Sergey

Doctor Suess' birthday is this month, so it is great time to scrapbook about books!  This layout is about a book my son wrote in fourth grade.

Both of my sons are adopted from Russia, and he completed his book project about 6 months after he came home to the US.  Our older son still used his Russian name, but changed his choice just a few months later.  Both our oldest, my husband's daughter and our son had the same fourth grade teacher.  They did the same project four years apart.  So this layout is not just about a school event, but the parallels between the two kids.

I have a great collection from My Mind's Eye, Academy by Jen Wilson that is subtlety glittered and has a bit of grunge feel.  Combining several patterned papers from this collection and two colors of coordinating cardstock pulled together a cohesive double page layout.

• Four sections Burnt Red cardstock are trimmed to 1/2" x 12" to break up the pattern between the large polka dots and the glittered stripes.  
• The striped pattern is trimmed to 1" x12" and 2" x 12".
• The center Sage Green cardstock is trimmed to 5" x 12".
• The title is die cut fro the Burnt Red cardstock using Just a Note by Sizzix.
• Journaling is done in Zig Writer.
• A few dog themed brads by Around the Block are added by the title.
• I still wanted to add a bit more, so two Brackets #1 by Plain Janes Deluxe Designs were inked up with Red Brick Versa Magic.  

Even though the photos aren't the best, I am pleased with the final layout.  Another memory preserved.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you enjoy my little creative space!