December 2015 The Memory Nest MIM #50

Hello my Scrappy Friends.   Happy December to you all!

Before I share this month's Make it Monday Challenge, from over at The Memory Nest Blog, I want to let you know that this is my last Design Team Inspiration Layout, that I will be submitting for tMN.

To say that I have had a BLAST being on this very Talented Design Team for ALL of 2015, would be an understatement.  I have so very much enjoyed working with this lovely group of ladies, and have gained inspiration from them each and every month.

I send out a BIG GIANT THANK YOU, to Leslie Germain, the Admin and Owner of The Memory Nest Blog. Your patience, understanding and support have been very much appreciated, and I am THANKFUL to have you as a supportive friend!

Okay - Now on to this month's MIM #50 Sketch  ( Please also note - there is only ONE MIM Challenge this month, as we all know December pulls us in so many ways, that scrapping usually goes on the back burner.)

LOVE LOVE LOVE this sketch - there are SO MANY possibilities !!  Here is what I did with it:

With WINTER here on the east coast, I am still dreaming of the lovely time I spent this summer out on our deck, in my backyard "oasis" or my "Happy Place" - usually accompanied by my 2 Portuguese Water Dogs, Maggie and Valentino!  This is really my favorite place to relax, and really miss it in the cold winter months.

Here is my Layout

I decided to go with 2 larger photos, and put the 2 sets of vertical rectangles together, leaving the 2 smaller photos as they are in the sketch.

 

Besides mating the photos in black cardstock, I also popped them with 3D Foam Adhesives, to give the layout some dimension. I also added a pocket to one of them, so that I could slip a Tim Holtz Idea-ology ticket in it with a little journaling.  I just love the Tim Holtz Small Talk Sticker messages too!

I thought it would be fun to drop some black India Ink on the layout - to make the colors pop a little.  Love this technique!! - What do you think?  I then added some "blobs/dots" of Ranger White Enamel Accents to brighten / highlight a few spots.

The Thickers I used for the Title are new, and I am so glad I got the chance to use them - I actually cut 2 of the words apart - "the" and "wish" to form the "this" in title!  I seem to be "hooked" on this Tim Holtz  Kraft paper pad that I used for the base of this layout. I have had it in my stash FOREVER, and I have used it on 3 of my last 4 layouts!!  I am having a creative / inky time playing with it and my Ranger Distress Stains and Inks!

Here are a few more close ups for you:

Love the flowers from Petaloo, along with the Gold We R Memory Keepers Sequin Stickers, and the different color Robbin's Nest Doo Drops too!  The patterned papers are from Pink Paislee's Prairie Hill Collection - "Country Meadow"

Thanks for stopping by, and THANKS again to Leslie and the DT at The Memory Nest Blog!  I hope you will continue to play along and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

December Challenge YOUrself Blog - "We Are Family"

Happy December Everyone!  Can you believe we are at the end of 2015?!  My how this year has flown by!  All the more reason to document it with a layout that includes YOU and your Family too!

That is the added challenge to this month's SKETCH Challenge over at the Challenge YOUrself Blog.
Use the sketch below, and be sure to include YOU and your FAMILY in your photo, and you could WIN a PRIZE too!  Please Click HERE to check out all the Challenge Details / Rules, after you are done reading below.

I love this awesome sketch!

The photo I wanted to use was not square, so I thought it would work best to turn the sketch clockwise, or one turn to the right, so that I could add more/wider patterned papers from the top and bottom of it, since those sides were longer.


I had so much fun using the Simple Stories "Summer Vibes" collection for my November DT Layout for Scrap Our Stash, and since I had another photo from our "Get Away" to Turks and Caicos, I thought I would continue to use that same collection, and make a complimenting page to that layout.  (You can view the first page HERE!)


Here is my Design Team Inspiration for this month's SKETCH and Challenge from The Challenge YOUrself Blog!:

This is a photo of my husband and I, along with his 2 brothers, and our 2 sister-in-laws, who we vacationed with.  To say that we had a FUN time would be an UNDERSTATEMENT!!  This was our first trip to an "all inclusive" resort - and hopefully, it won't be our last!!  We had an AMAZING time laughing together, and created memories that we will cherish and laugh about for many years. 

Here are some close ups for you:

I also decided to "pop" my photo, and include a place to insert a journaling card, with a few memories about our trip.

Hop on over the the Challenge YOUrself Blog for all the details and PRIZE info!!  Hoping you will play along with us this month!!
Thanks for stopping by - wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy Holiday Season!  ((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items used:

Simple Stories Summer Vibes:
#6351 - Shine On
#6307 - #Selfie
#6304 - Just Beachy
#6308 - Pop Fizz
Bits and Pieces
Enamel Dots

Tim Holtz Kraft Resist Paper Stash

Petaloo Flowers - Darjeeling Collection "Teastained Spice"
Ranger Distress Stains and Inks: Peacock Feathers / Ripe Persimmon / Fossilized Amber / Vintage Photo
Royal Coat Dimensional Magic
Wink of Stella - Clear and White Glitter Brush
Sequins / Wooden Hearts
Washi Tape

December SOS Word Challenge "DIECUTS" - Under the Sea!

Hello my Scrappy friends!  Can you believe this is the last challenge from the Scrap Our Stash Blog for 2015?!!  My has this year flown!  I hope it has been a very happy and creative one for you.

This month SOS will only have one challenge?  Be sure to stop by the SOS Blog, for all the Challenge details / rules and see what this month's PRIZE is!! - YES, you can WIN a PRIZE!!

The WORD for December is.... DIECUTS  

There is that pesky "U" again! PLEASE don't let it deter you - I am sure you've got something in your "STASH" that will fit the challenge! 
To help you out, and get you to play along - here are some ideas for you - Uniball pen, The letter "U" in your title - (Love You, You crack me up, Bounce, Beautiful, Up and Away, ... so many possibilities!) Umbrella, the color Umber, something you "up-cycled," the color Ultramarine... What else can you come up with??

I can't wait to share my layout with you!  I've titled it "UNDER THE SEA." The photos I used are from our April 2013 cruise on The Disney Dream.  We had a great time snorkeling on Disney's Private Island, Castaway Cay.  That Island is truly Paradise, and we have been blessed to have been able to visit it 4 times ( so far! ) if only for a day each time!

I've used the following items from my STASH for the Challenge:
D - Dimensional Magic - to give shine and dimension to the fish and the shells that I fussy cut
I - Ink - Ranger Distress Stains and Distress Inks - LOVE them!
E - Embossing Pen and Embossing Powder - I can't tell you how long it has been since I've embossed! -check out the glittery coral!
C - Crab - look at that cute little crab sticker!!  (I was going to say cardstock too -but realized I didn't use any!
U - "U" in Under, Uniball white pen for journaling
T - Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher and Staples, Twine, Thickers
S - Sticker, Staples, Starfish, Seashells

Here are some close ups for you.  I really hope you will find time in your busy month, to play along with us at Scrap Our Stash.  I can't wait to see what you come up with!!

I used papers from a paper pack that I have had forever.  I embossed the coral with "Goddess Gold" Embossing powder from Ranger Inks.  The torn edges were inked with Ranger Peacock Feather Distress Stain

I fussy cut lots of shapes from the papers in the paper pack, added them with pop dots to the layout, then highlighted them with Wink of Stella Glitter Brushes, along with adding some Dimensional Magic too!

Thanks for stopping by!  I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a HAPPY and HEALTHY Holiday Season!
((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Stuck?! Sketches and Stairway to Heaven Challenge

I saw this great double challenge over at Stuck?! Sketches for November and decided to play along!

Here is the AWESOME Sketch from STUCK?!

As an added challenge, they are partnering up with "Scrap It With a Song" Blog - and they have selected the Led Zepplin Song - "Stairway To Heaven" as their inspiration.

(LOVE that song!)

I decided to use a photo of our first Portuguese Water Dog, Turnabout Princess Water Lily.  She passed away in 2011 and even though we have added 2 more PWD's to our family, who are both related to her great grandmother and grandfather, 

our Lily is missed everyday and will always hold a special place in our memories and hearts.

Here is my layout of our beautiful girl....

I used the first two lines of the song for my inspiration. 

"There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold

And she's buying a stairway to heaven."

I used GOLD accents and a GOLD title in the layout, and if I COULD, I WOULD buy a Stairway to Heaven, to see our girl again. 

Here are some close ups for you too...

Here are the items I used:

I thought that the BoBunny Star-Crossed Collection would be PERFECT for the theme of this layout.

I used the following 12x12 papers: Stripe, Washi, Altered, Love

and the following embellishments from the Collection too: Ephermera, Noteworthy, Layered Chipboard, Stamp Stickers

We R Memory Keepers Gold Sequin Stickers and Gold Foil Words

Distress Stain colors: Black Soot, Evergreen Bough, Tarnished Brass

Distress Ink: Black Soot

Stencil

Thanks for stopping by!  

((Hugs)) ~ Sherri

November's Scrap Our Stash Sketch Challenge "Get Away"

Hello my Scrappy Friends!!   Another FUN Sketch and Challenge from Scrap Our Stash is up on the SOS Blog and I can't wait to share it with you!!  Just take a look at this month's awesome Sketch along with the added BINGO Board Challenge below as we hope to kick it up a notch for you, and really get you to use your STASH this month!!

Just use the sketch as your guide, and ALSO select ONE Line of Elements, either up and down, side to side or diagonally, to include in your layout. Full details and PRIZE Info can be found on the  

SCRAP OUR STASH Blog!

I call my layout "Get Away"

For the Bingo Challenge, I selected the "G" Column for my layout - Wood, Sequins, Leaves, Kraft, and Flair ( I LOVE FLAIR!) I decided to flip the Sketch one turn towards the right, or clockwise. I'm not really sure why.... I just thought it would work better for the layout I had planned.  We were blessed to have had the chance to spend a week in Paradise - aka - Beaches -  Turks and Caicos Resort, with my husbands' brothers and sister-in-laws in October.  It was a well needed and true "Get Away" from it all - filled with sunshine, food, laughter and lots of frozen mojitos!

Here is my Design Team Inspiration layout for you:

I wanted to use up some of the DELICIOUS Simple Stories "Summer Vibes" Collection, that has been calling to me ever since I bought it at my Local Scrapbook Store www.shopthedoo.com ! 

Speaking of "KRAFT" paper....

This is how I started my base.  

I used a piece of Tim Holtz Kraft Resist paper, and inked the edges with Ranger Distress Stains, and a foam applicator - just around the edges. I used Peacock Feathers around the top, and Ripe Persimmon on the bottom, to match the Simple Stories base I was going to put on top of it after tearing.

Here you can see the torn, inked edges, with the inked kraft paper showing through. I LOVE this technique!  You can also see few of the "BINGO" embellishments in this photo too! ( Kraft, Sequins, Leaves and Wood )

I also had this AWESOME custom die cut, made by my good friend "Mama Doodle" from Scrap-a-Doodle Doo at www.shopthedoo.com  It has a kraft paper base.  I used Distress Stains, and Wink of Stella glitter brushes, in clear and white, to highlight and accent the details on the die cut title to give it a little more dimension.  You can also see the last item from the Bingo Challenge "Flair" in this photo as well.

Here are a few more close ups for you...

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you will join us at Scrap Our Stash for this Sketch and Bingo Challenge!  Check out all the details and PRIZE Info on the SOS BLOG, and come get Scrappy with it!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Stash Items used:
Simple Stories Summer Vibes:
#6351 - Shine On
#6307 - #Selfie
#6304 - Just Beachy
#6308 - Pop Fizz
Bits and Pieces
Enamel Dots

Tim Holtz Kraft Resist Paper Stash
Fancy Pants Making Waves - Sunny Days "Flair"
Heidi Swapp Wood Veneer "Get Away"
Petaloo Flowers - Darjeeling Collection "Teastained Spice"
Ranger Distress Stains: Peacock Feathers / Ripe Persimmon / Fossilized Amber / Vintage Photo
Royal Coat Dimensional Magic
Wink of Stella - Clear and White Glitter Brush
Sequins / Wooden Hearts
Washi Tape
Turks and Caicos Custom Die Cut from www.shopthedoo.com

Challenge YOUrself #23 Tic Tac Toe Board ~ "BFF's"

Another FUN CHALLENGE is up on the Challenge YOUrself Blog!!  November brings a Tic Tac Toe board, for your "Scrapping Pleasure!"  Just pick a column or row - up and down, side to side, or diagonally, and include those elements in your layout - also being sure to include a PHOTO OF YOU too!  All Challenge Details and Prize info can be found on The Challenge YOUrself Blog!

Now let's play some Tic Tac Toe!  For my DT Inspiration Layout, I selected the middle column, because who doesn't LOVE "Friends" and "Bling!"

And here is my DT Inspiration Layout for you:

Where do I begin with this layout?  First, let me talk about the photo.  This is a picture of my good friend Janice and I.  We met in 2008, at a scrapbook weekend retreat, about 3 hours from our homes. We happened to sit at the same round table during a lunch break.  I noticed her last name on her name tag and asked her if she knew a plumber, named Joe with the same last name.  She said, "Yes, he is my husband!"  We've been great friends, scrapbook retreat roomies, and BFF's ever since!! :-)

I love this photo of the 2 of us!  When I saw this paper collection at my Local Scrapbook Store - Scrap-a-Doodle Doo,  www.shopthedoo.com, I fell in love with it, and knew right away that this would be the perfect collection for this photo!. The colors, along with the gold accents were just unique, and nothing like I had in my "STASH."  I asked the wonderful owner, Stephanie, to order "One of everything" for me, as I knew I just had to have it!


Here are some close ups of all the little details and the wonderful bits and pieces:

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope I've inspired you to play along with us at the Challenge YOUrself Blog this month!  This Tic Tac Toe Board was LOTS of FUN - go ahead, give it a try!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Supplies used:
My Mind's Eye "My Story" Collection
MYS108 - Heirloom Roses
MYS106 - Take Aim
MYS102 - Look at This
MYS101 - This Moment
Chipboard Elements / Mixed Bag / Decorative Brads
Teresa Collins Wanderlust Ephemera
Ranger Distress Stains - Ground Espresso / Abandoned Coral / Fossilized Amber / Picket Fence
Quick Quotes - Powder Puff Chalk - Pink Cheeks