What would you call your Scrap Style?

Lately,  I've been applying for a few different design teams.  And usually, on of the questions in the application is, "what is your style?".  At first I struggled with this question because I've only been scrapbooking for a few years. I learned from youtube process video, particularly Shimelle Laine.  From there I started scrap lifting layout I found online so I could practice different styles and techniques.  About a year ago, I developed my own style.  

One word that comes to mind when describing my style: Layered.

I do love tons of white space on my layouts.  To me, it draws more attention to the photo.

I created this layout for the CSI Case File #153:

What would you call your scrappy style?

SBC Scrapbook Challenges Design Team = Awesome

Is it true?  Did Scrapbook Challenges (aka-SBC) really pick me to be on their Design Team?  Heck yes they did and I'm so excited to be a part of their awesomeness.  They have weekly challenges to inspire your creativity.  

This week's sketch is #424: 

Isn't that an awesome sketch?  Their is so much you can do with it. Here's what I did:

I altered the sketch quite a bit.  I kept the basic design of the sketch, but moved stuff around.  For instance:  I used one photo instead of two, tightened up the layers, moved the embellishment clusters, and made it my own. 

To me, a sketch is a basic idea for me to make my own.  Sometimes my creations look exactly like the sketch, and sometimes totally different, but I always get some sort of inspiration in the process.

Do you use sketches?  If so, does your finished project resemble the sketch?

A Scrapbook Page Inspired by a Song

Good morning fabulous people! (sung in my best opera voice)

Is your morning as beautiful as mine?  

I found this awesome challenge blog and just had to tell y'all about it.  It's called Scrap it with a Song and it blows my mind.  Every month they post a challenge involving a Pop Song and a Rock song.  The idea is to create a paper project using inspiration from one of the songs.  Inspiration can come from the lyrics, the title, the theme, or  whatever inspiration strikes while listening to the song.  I think this whole concept is genius.  I mean, music can alter my mood on any given day, so why not look to it for creative inspiration?

This month's Pop Challenge Song is Katy Perry's ROAR.

Here is my creation:

I was inspired by the title of the song. "roar".  Sometimes when my son, Cole, is not getting his own way, he lets out this ridiculous roar.  He is a total actor and does anything in public to get what he wants.  He's so cute though.  

 I also usedStudio Calico's Sunday Sketch for inspiration.  Here's a peek at their layout sketch:

Thanks for reading.  Do you get creative inspiration from music?  

A Very Layered Grid Design and a Life Lesson

Top of the morning to you!  This month's theme at Lasting Memories Blog is Life's Moments.  As a scrapper, I love filling my albums with my perfect little family doing perfect little things.  All of us with smiling faces and eyes full of love.  Well ladies and gentlemen, NOT TODAY!

This week's challenge is Life's Lessons.  I scrapped a photo of my son on a fishing trip.  He learned about the role of a "bait fish"(a fish used as bait to catch a larger fish).  He figured out, in his innocent little mind, that the bait fish would die.  It saddened his sweet little heart, and broke mine.  

I don't know why I don't do grid designs more often.  They are fun and easy.  I used to think they were boring and not my style because the elements were separated and uniform.  But I figured out how to make it more "me".  I layered the photo and the cards with copy paper.  Then stuck in little die cuts and other bits in-between the layers, added the mist and called it finished.

Do you only scrap happy moments?  Share your thoughts.

My idea of mixed media layout

mixed media

pl.n. (used with a sing. verb)

1. A technique involving the use of two or more artistic media, such as ink andpastel or painting and collage, that are combined in a single composition. Found: HERE

I absolutely love mixed media scrapbook pages.  LOVE THEM!  I have so much fun playing with paints, stamps, and texture paste.  It's a whole new world to me.

I have a problem though.  Every time I use my artsy-fartsy supplies on a layout, I never like it.  Before I even start, I click through the CSI Gallery and get tons of inspiration.  For some reason, when I do it, I feel like it looks too messy.  Maybe I'm not a mixed media scrapper.  I want to be.  But maybe I'm not.  I enjoy getting in touch with my inner artist and making a mess, but I hate the outcome.  I'll keep trying.

Here is a "mixed media" layout I created for CSI Case File #CC-4:

I sorta like how this came out.  I used a stencil with texture paste that I tinted with a light blue ink pad, a stamp with black ink, and splotched of silver mist spray.  

Here is Case File CC-4:

I love everything about this layout besides the texture paste.  I think I just love a white crisp background.  I'm gonna keep trying to get this mixed media style to my taste. 

Wish me Luck.  Do you have a hard time with mixed media?  If not, any advice for me?

Happy Slappy Tap Dancer and a Layout.

Yes, I will proudly admit that I loved Tap Dancing.  I did it for 9 years as a child.  I loved it.  I still play with the idea of joining the adult class at the local dance academy. 

I made a layout highlighting a very awkward stage in my childhood:

Check out my bangs and my awesome shoulder poof things.  

Needless to say, I was the most popular girl in middle school.  NOT!

When I pulled out this photo to scrap, I was blinded by my costume and my creativity came to a sudden halt.  I need inspiration, PRONTO!

Scrap Our Stash is having a Stash Challenge.

The word is T-W-I-N-E.  The rules are to include an item from your stash for each letter in the word.  Here's what I did:

T-Tag

              W-Wood Veneer

             I-Ink Splatters

                  N-Notebook Paper

             E-Enamel Dots

I also used a sketch from Sketch-N-Scrap.

I used their Twistback Thursday Sketch #1:

Along with my old items:
The photo, some old cpu paper, mist, and and white card stock

and new items:
Everything else on my layout is new from my January Hip Kit & Add-on.

What embarrassing photos have you scrapped lately?

Exciting News and a Scrapbook Page

This morning I wanted to share a cute little page that I made for the January 1st Sketch at Stuck?!.

Here's the sketch:

I've always loved the sketches that Stuck?! provides each month.  They are always well thought out and full of layers.  

Here's the Big and Exciting News:

Stuck?! sketches asked me to be a Guest Designer for the month of February.  Isn't that awesome??  I'm so excited to work with them and their amazing team of designers.  Find out more about it HERE!

Boy Layout with Pink Flowers

If you've been following my blog for a bit, you probably know I have one child, a handsome 4 yr. old named Cole.  He is as tough and rugged as a boy comes.  However, I don't let that stop me from using the beautiful and delicate embellishments that call my name:

I used Maggie Holmes chipboard pieces from her open book collection.  

 How do I justify using pink flowers on my son's page you ask?  It's my hobby and I get enjoyment out of all different types of embellishments, including flowers.  Also, my son likes the color pink and also picks flowers for me when he sees them, so flowers belong on his page, right?

Well maybe I was stretching it on that last one, but you get the idea.  

I used a sketch from Scrap Africa.  I really like their sketches and find it easy to make it my own.  

Do you stick to a masculine theme on your boy pages?

CSI January Challenge: Case # 152

GOOD MORNING BLOG-WORLD!  CSI has another super fun challenge going on, 

Case File No.152.:

Here is my take on the challenge, as January Guest Designer:

Here's how I did the challenge:

1. The Scene- I was inspired by the cake in the photo.

2. The Scheme- I used all five colors.

3. Evidence- I used mesh, polka dots, bow, jewels, scallops, paint, watercolor background, and    

birthday accent.

4. Testimony- I documented a favorite gift,  wrote my journaling as a thank you note, and used the inspo word: gift.  

I had so much fun with this challenge.  I was glad to document my favorite gift of all time.  My son and husband make a cake for me every year.  Cole loves to decorate with tons of sprinkles on top.  It was the best tasting cake I've ever had.

What has been the best gift you've ever received? 

                                                                                                      

January Challenge #224 "Captured Moments"

This month's theme is "Life's Moments" over at Lasting Memories.  This week's challenge is all about "Captured Moments".  What is a captured moment?  To me, it's when I come across a photo of a moment that I completely forgot about.  For instance, the photo I used for this week's layout was taken at the Philadelphia Zoo during a visit to my hometown. 

 My son, my sister, and her boyfriend were all looking at this little monkey climb a rope to get to his buddies.

We all stood there and watched the monkey go about his daily routine. 

 We didn't say much to each other, we just got lost in the moment. In fact, the monkey wasn't doing anything amazing.  He was simple.  He would climb up one rope, look around,  jump to another rope and look around.  But for some reason, he captivated us.   I forgot all about this moment until I came across this particular photo of our trip.  It's more than just a photo, it a "Captured Moment".

My Story

No, no, no....don't worry.  This is not a blog post about my life story.  I'll save that for a rainy day.  "My Story" is actually the title to today's scrapbook page:

Maybe I will indulge you in a little chapter of my Life Story.  Did I ever mention that I was in the United States Air Force?  Did I mention that I was a firefighter?  Yup. Yup.  I can't lie, I am a little proud to say that.  I joined the military in 2007 because I always sorta felt compelled to do it.  My recruiter gave me a booklet of jobs to bring home and carefully choose a career that I think would suit me.  All the jobs sounded kind of boring to me, until I saw FIREFIGHTER.  So I checked the box.  Simple as that.  No tear jerking, inspirational reasoning behind my decision.  I was warned over and over that the training was brutal.  I was told several times that females rarely make it through the Physical Training, because women's bodies usually can't lift a human being off the ground, throw them over their shoulders, and carry them out of a burning building if necessary.  But hey, I like a challenge.  Long story short, I did very well in Fire Training and even did better than half my class which was all men.  Maybe I'm just built more like a man than a woman.  I don't know.  But it was the 4th greatest accomplishments of my life.  

The photo was actually taken in Disney World.  I was acting like a complete doofus and pretending to open to the hydrant.  

I followed along with My Creative Sketches' December Sketch:

Check out the challenge, you still have until Jan. 14th to enter.

Check out Paper Issue's Link Party

What is your 4th greatest accomplishment?  I'd love to know.

Two More Holiday Layouts

Howdy Folks.

How is everyone out their in Blogland?

I'm doing just fine.  I lost the bedtime war with my son this evening.  

I waved my white flag and surrendered.

He was way too smart and powerful for me tonight.

Looking back, I never had a chance.

Complete Defeat.

Oh well, tomorrow is a new day.

On to other news, I made a couple more Holiday layouts over the weekend.  The first layout I made is of a sweet little family we met shortly after we moved to the Florida Keys.  They are so awesome and I'm grateful to have them in our lives:

I used a sketch from a blog I found while browsing called Let's Scrap.  They have lots of inspiration and post new sketches all the time.  I used Sketch Challenge # 12-31-14:

It's the first double page sketch that I've ever worked with, but it was so much fun to change it to suit my style.

   The second layout is of my son and I hanging ornaments on our tree this Christmas.  The holidays were so fun now that he understands Santa Claus and was filled with holiday spirit:

I used Studio Calico's Sunday Sketch:

Thank you for visiting me today.  Happy Scrapping Homies!

Big News and Lasting Memories Challenge #223

Hello.  My name is Andrea and I have absolutely no patience & I'm so excited I could just pee my pants.  I was chosen to be a Design Team Member for Lasting Memories.  Seriously?  Somebody pinch me.  Really?  Me?  Are they sure about this??

I am so honored to be a part of such an amazing challenge blog.  These ladies (and maybe some men) are the nicest group of scrappers I've ever met.  They welcomed me with open arms and I am eager to learn from them and share my work with all of you.  This will be my first Design Team position and I'm stoked!  Slightly nervous, but more like "first-date-butterflies" type of nervous.  It's awesome!

With all of my blabbering out of the way,  I'd like to welcome you to our very first challenge for 2015 at Lasting Memories! We're celebrating the new year and new Design Team with a blog hop. Super fun right?! If you're just starting the hop, be sure to start at Lasting Memories so you don't miss anyone - if you're last stop was Paula,  then you're on the right track!

Our challenge theme this entire month is "Life's Moments" and our first challenge is "Life's Simple Pleasures" .. we want to know what one of your simple pleasure's in life is. Chocolate? Coffee? Adorable children, pets or grandchildren?? SO many things to consider and we're excited to see what you create! What's my Simple Pleasures?  Coffee, my son, my husband, coffee, and chocolate.  Here's what I came up with for this awesome challenge:

When I was searching for a photo to use, I came across this perfect photo.  It totally fit this challenge and spoke to me.  This photo is my simple pleasure.  Everyday, when my husband comes home from work, my son, Cole runs to the door with joy in his heart and the biggest smile on his face.  He jumps up for a hug, and for the rest of the evening, they are inseparable.  They truly are best friends and miss each other when apart.  Every night when I see them, my heart smiles and I know how lucky I am to have these guys in my life.  Pure unconditional love.

Your next stop is Suzanne and when you're all done visiting the new Design Team, we really hope you'll have time to join the fun! All our challenges run for the entire month, so you have time to play! Thanks for stopping by today!

Line Up

Lasting Memories

Lori

Tina

                                    Paula<----(came from here)

                                       Andrea<----YOU ARE HERE

                          Suzanne<----(next stop)

Lyne

Bea

Claire (returning member)

Renee

Kimberly (returning member)

Michele

Karen

Lasting Memories (time to craft!)

Another Christmas Layout

I thought I was over making holiday layouts, but apparently I still have Christmas Spirit.  I'm not sure how much longer it will last, but I'll take full advantage of it while it's still flowing.

I finished up a layout tonight with a photo of my son on his 1st Christmas morning.  The first year we bought our home, we didn't have much extra money.  That year for Christmas, I bought all of Cole's gifts from the thrift store and from yard sales.  I started a few month before the holiday and really had quite a collection.  It was so much fun to hunt down little treasures instead of going to the store and buying something brand new.  I've been a "thrifter" my whole life and love digging through piles of junk to find the "diamond in the rough".

To get my creative juices flowing, I participated in a challenge over at The Paper Girls Challenge.

The theme was ornaments for Challenge #70.

You can create your own ornament, make a layout or December album page about ornaments, use ornament paper, stamps or embellishments on a layout or card. 

To follow with the ornament theme, I used a piece of ornament paper and also used an ornament sticker at the bottom of my page. 

Are you still making holiday layouts or crafts?  Or are you sick of the mumbo-jumbo?