Falling into Fall - SBC November Mood Board + a Sketch Challenge

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year.  I am sure it has to do with all of the warm and wonderful colors, that change all around us each and every day.

This month's Mood Board Challenge over at Scrapbook Challenges Blog includes lots of those colors, plus some beautiful inspiration, with a little "Golden Goodness" thrown in. ( Who doesn't like a little BLING!?) 

I also decided to make this even more interesting by making this a DOUBLE Challenge for me, and will also be playing along with the folks at The Memory Nest, - using their Make it Monday Sketch Guide #28:

 
I've had these 2 photos of our now 3 year old Portuguese Water Dog, Maggie ( aka Reel Life Princess Magdalena of the Sea) since last November and thought that they would be great to use in this "combined" challenge.  Maggie had just been to the groomer for her new hair cut. This is called a "Lion Cut" with a shaved backside and nose.  These dogs have webbed feet and use to help fisherman with nets, retrieval and even messages from boat to boat back in Portugal. Leaving her hair longer around the chest helps to keep their vital organs warm, and their shaved hindquarters help with swimming. At one time, there were less than 100 of them left in the world.  They are very smart, hardworking (aka -always "busy") and extremely loving and loyal.  Isn't she a BEAUTY!

Once again, I was able to "Scrap My Stash" with LOTS of goodies that I've purchased from my Local Scrapbook Store, SCRAP-A-DOODLE DOO.   (MAJOR Website upgrade is in progress -watch for their "re-opening" soon!)

I LOVE this honeycomb base paper, and have been holding onto it for quite sometime.  I've hesitated using it in the past because I like it so much and didn't want it to be "gone." - Do any of you do that?  Like a paper so much that you don't want to use it?  Is that wrong??  ( I think not! ) That is why I always buy 2 pieces of papers that I LOVE - ( yea, yea - I've got 2 of about everything - fess up - you probably do too!!)

Well, I am glad I saved it, because it think it works great with this sketch and mood challenge!  I used Vintage Photo Distress Ink, applied with a foam applicator around the edges to give the base page a little depth. - I haven't done that in a while -and I had a blast!

Below you can see where I decided to make a pocket, using foam dots, behind the photo of Maggie's new hair cut and stuck a tag in there for journaling.  ( By the way, did you know that Portuguese Water Dogs have hair, not fur?  They are non-shedding, and need to be brushed, groomed / cut regularly, as their hair keeps growing!)

I cut the 2 little Tickets from a sheet of Prima paper with lots of little paper embellishments, that I think I got from my friend who was "de-stashing" - yea, I know - who does that???!!!  (NOT ME!)

Anyway....  I thought they were PERFECT, so I cut them out and popped them with foam dots near Maggie's pictures.  The tickets say "These are some of my most favorite memories with you" and "Best Friends Forever" ~ Because they are - and we will always be.... Love my Maggie Girl!

 
I used a piece of burlap along the bottom of the patterned papers (that were also Distressed with Vintage Photo Ink) under the photos, and then began to "build" my pile of leaves and sticks.

I have to tell you,  I LOVE this Tim Holtz Die  - Autumn Gatherings! When it came out, I had to have it!!  I think I've only gotten the chance to use it one other time, BUT after cutting 4 different colored papers with it for this layout, and then inking the leaves and sticks with different Distress Inks with a foam applicator, to try to make them look "real" (and I am lovin' how they came out!) I know I will be using it more often!

I added a few leaves and acorns by the tickets too, to join everything together, then scattered a few gold sequins around to "Bling it up" a little!  - If you have seen my previous layouts, you would know that I am not one for leaving very much blank space, so this sketch was really a challenge for me!

I knew my bright gold letters from Momenta would make a great "Fall" title, and had them in mind when planning out the layout in my head.  The little strips of journaling at the bottom were also cut and then inked, from the sheet that had the tickets on it.  I journaled on them with a gold pen "#morningswithmaggie" and "#loveher"

You can see more photos of Maggie on Instagram if you search those Hashtags.  Oh - and if you think Maggie is cute - you should see her little "brother" Tino too!  You can follow me on Instagram "Shercara" or search for #morningswithmaggieandtino to see more of their photos and even their antics on video too!

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you join in on one of these challenges - or be daring and try them both too!!  ;-)

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Products used :
Momenta Gold letters
Tim Holtz Autumn Gatherings Die
Distress Inks - Colors: Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo, Crushed Olive, Aged Mahogany
Distress Stain - Tarnished Brass
My Mind's Eye - Lost and Found - "Oliver" Yellow Honey Paper
Prima Marketing - Songbird Collection from 2012 -"Title-it"
PinkPaislee - Prairie Hill - "Kit Strings"
PinkPaislee - Prairie Hill - "Spools"
Simple Stories, The Story of Us -SNAP Collection, Die Cut Cards Paper Yarn/Twine
Burlap
Sequins
3D Foam Dots