Scrap Our Stash May Challenge "E-M-B-O-S-S"

Hi everyone!  I had a chance to get some scrapping in at my Local Scrapbook Store  - Scrap-a-Doodle Doo this weekend and was able to finish this layout, from our January 2014 cruise when we met Pluto, on The Disney Fantasy!

I found it a little difficult to work with the green color in the frame used on the photo, and was stumped at first. I wanted to use up some of my STASH of Simple Stories "Say Cheese" and "Say Cheese 2" but as you can see - there is NO GREEN at all in either of those 2 collections!  I think I "solved" that problem by adding a double mat behind my yellow/ochre chevron base page, using first black as the base and then green in between.

I then decided to really CHALLENGE myself, and play along with this month's challenge over at Scrap Our Stash.

Here are the details of the Challenge:

our challenge is to create a layout and include an item from your stash for each letter in the word 

E-M-B-O-S-S
(You cannot use the word embellishment for the letter "E" and you must use a different stash item for each S)

- See more at: http://scrapourstash.blogspot.com/p/current-challenges.html#sthash.T9x70AFD.dpuf

Your challenge is to create a layout and include an item from your stash for each letter in the word 

E-M-B-O-S-S

(You cannot use the word embellishment for the letter "E" and you must use a different stash item for each S)

our challenge is to create a layout and include an item from your stash for each letter in the word 

E-M-B-O-S-S
(You cannot use the word embellishment for the letter "E" and you must use a different stash item for each S)

- See more at: http://scrapourstash.blogspot.com/p/current-challenges.html#sthash.T9x70AFD.dpuf

 I had a difficult time photographing the shiny gold metallic viewfinder embellishment, and the word "magic" that I fussy cut out, and then matted on black cardstock, although it does look "shiny" in the photo! So what do you think about the green mat on the base, does it help to make the green around the photo work?

Here is a close up of the metallic embellishments and some of the chipboard ones too.

We had such a fun time together - I am so glad my hubby and "boys" share my love with Disney and Disney Cruise Line!  Even though that photo mat is green - I do love the bone they added to go along with the photo of Pluto! ( one of my favorite characters!) I matted and pop dotted that "prize ribbon" after fussy cutting it out of one of the papers in the collections.

Here you can see the stars that I inked onto the layout with a "Mango Mai Tai" Powder Puff Chalk, using a stencil.  I did this along the top of the layout as well.  Also - isn't that Mickey Head embellishment AWESOME!?  LOVE IT!

So - Here are the items I used for the Challenge:

E - Enamel Dots, Enamel Brads, "Ears" :-)
M- Metallic Gold Embellishments and Distress Stain, Mickey Ears
B - Black Soot Ranger Distress Stain, Brads, Black Mickey Head
O - Ochre Chevron Base paper
S -  Simple Stories, Say Cheese
S - Stars, Stencil

* Although all of the items in my layout were purchased at the store - Scrap-a-Doodle Doo has a BRAND NEW Website - and many of them can be found ON LINE too!

That was LOTS of FUN playing along - I highly recommend Scrap-Our-Stash Challenges.

You should give one a try! :-)

The Memory Nest's "MIM" #40 - "We are Family!"

Hello Everyone!
I'm back with our 2nd challenge for May from over at The Memory Nest Blog - this was another FUN one and can be interpreted in so many ways!  We can't wait to see what YOU come up with!

Here is Sketch #40 for the 2nd Make it Monday Challenge for May!

I am just LOVING all the goodies available in the

Simple Stories "I Am" Collection!  

I have to be honest and tell you that I think I purchased every bit of the line!  I don't think I have done that in a long time!  Something about the color combination and the whole positive message the collection has throughout just makes me smile.

This is a photo of my Mom, Dad, Brother and me,

celebrating my Dad's Birthday. 

I am so blessed that we live close to each other, and that we always make sure we get together to celebrate all of our birthdays!

I'll let you in on a little secret - I had first hand-written "Pop's Birthday" right on the layout - but wasn't happy with the way it looked. So I covered it with a little banner embellishment that I made, using a scrap of paper, letter stickers from the collection, and 2 brads from my stash!  I FIRMLY believe in the saying - "There are NO mistakes in Scrapbooking, only opportunities to embellish!"  I also LOVE that I was able to use some of my VERY Blingy American Crafts Gold "Story" Thickers! 

Don't you just LOVE how they *Sparkle!*

To prove to you that I am a "True Scrapper" - The 2 Lace "Doilies" on the left side of the page were "scraps" cut from a wedding invitation that we received earlier this year from friends.  

I just LOVED the intricacies of the paper cuts - and how they have a little "shimmer."  I even inked the edges of them with 

Gold Distress Stain too!   You can also see lots of the other "REAL" embellishments that I used in this photo too!

Here is a close up of some of those embellishments and the doilie. By adding the 3 of the Enamel Dots to the Chipboard Heart, I think that I successfully "Embellished an Embellishment!"

One last photo of the arrows and banners that I used to draw your eye towards the photo and "balance" the layout by added to the upper right corner - and I really loved the chipboard banner from the collection - so I had to use it!

Items used in this layout:
Simple Stories "I Am" Collection:
#4517 - Brave
#4506 - Thankful
#4505 - Courageous
Bits and Pieces
Decorative Clips
Self Adhesive Brads
Sentiment Stickers
Chipboard Stickers
Enamel Dots
American Crafts Thickers - Story / Gold
Distress Stains : Abandon Coral / Peacock Feathers / Picket Fence / Tarnished Brass

As always,  THANKS for stopping by!  I'd LOVE to hear from you - and REALLY LOVE it if you PLAYED along with us at

The Memory Nest Blog!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

"I Am" Simple Stories Kits are still available!

Hi everyone - I wanted to share a 2 page layout I created and designed for my last class at Scrap-a-Doodle Doo, my local scrapbook store in Ramsey, NJ.  

I used the beautiful New Simple Stories "I Am" Collection, along with Black Gesso, a Stencil, and Glimmer Mist.  There are a few Kits to Go left at the store if you are interested.  

Contact them at 201-818-7060 AND- CHECK OUT their BRAND NEW / UPDATED / BEAUTIFUL Website at www.shopthdoo.com - Get yours before they are all gone!

Here is the layout, and a few close ups too!

The kits come with complete instructions that include color photos, and cutting guides too!
Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to stop at www.shopthedoo.com too!
((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Challenge YOUrself #18 May Sketch Challenge!

Hi Everyone!   Here is this month's challenge for you, from over at the Challenge YOUrself Blog.

This month we are offering you a Sketch Challenge,

and a FUN one at that!

Please be sure to include YOU in one of the photo's too!

You can find FULL Details, Prize Info, and lots of LOVELY INSPIRATION from other members of this very Talented Design Team - Click on the LINK below!  We really hope you will play along with us this month!

Challenge YOUrself #18:  Sketch Time

Use this sketch and create a layout with YOU in it :)

and here is my Inspiration Layout for you:

I used 3 photos from our 2007 Disney Magic Cruise in the Mediterranean.   This was our day in Palermo, Sicily.  

We spent it on Mandello Beach, and had a "Magical" time!  

It was just beautiful!

Above is a close up of the lower right corner and my journaling.

Here you can see some real seashells mixed in with some seashell brads, dewdrops and the new Jillibean Soup Wooden "Sprinkles." You can also see the gold rub on "stitching" that I've had forever, and I thought was going to be brown, but when I lifted up the paper - Surprise! It was actually gold - and I think it looks super!

I LOVE the Heidi Swapp title stickers and I think the strips of pattern papers works so well with this sketch - I even added a layer of Washi Tape too!

Speaking of Washi Tape - I sometimes like to add it right on my photos. I did so on the center photo to hide an unwanted bikini clad swimmer that was in the background!  I don't know her, and she doesn't need to be in my layout! It is very versatile stuff! LOL!

Here is a close up of the chipboard circle from Dusty Attic.  I inked it with Ranger Distress Stain - Peacock Feathers, then sprinkled what I thought was CLEAR embossing powder on it -here and there.  MUCH to my surprise - it was actually WHITE!! - ANOTHER happy little accident! Again, I got lucky, as I think it turned out perfectly! I also smudged some bright blue Stickles here and there to make it sparkle and added that little starfish too!

One more close up for you!

Items used: ( I really raided my stash!!)
Close to My Heart Footloose Collection
Bo Bunny Double Dot - Limeade"
Dusty Attic Chipboard Circle
Jolies Sand Theme Stickers ( Castle) *the little flags were red, and I replaced them with green!
Heidi Swapp Title Stickers
Washi Tape
DCWV Rub On Stitching -Curly Q "Gold"
Studio Calico Wood Veneer Hearts
Jillibean Soup "Sprinkles"
Seashell Brads
Seashells
Distress Stains - Peeled Paint, Peacock Feathers
White Embossing Powder
Blue Stickles
Powder Puff Chalk - Mango Mai Tai

Thanks for sticking around to the end of this somewhat long post.  I loved how this layout came out, and wanted to share all the details with YOU!  Please be sure to play along with us over at The Challenge YOUrself Blog - we'd LOVE to see what YOU create!

~((HUGS)) Sherri

The Memory Nest MIM Sketch #39 - No More Snow!

Hello my Scrappy Friends!  

HAPPY MAY!  Can you believe it is MAY already!!???

Pretty soon we will be halfway through 2015! 
- where does the time go?!!

I hope you have lots of good scrappy FUN 
planned for this month! 

To help you along, I am sharing the FIRST Challenge for May from 
The Memory Nest Blog!

Here is the Sketch for
  "Make it Monday" "MIM" #39 Challenge:

I LOVE the simplicity of this sketch - There is not all that much to it - so it can easily be interpreted and transformed into so many directions - or you can follow it exactly, and have a Super Cute layout in your hands in no time!

But then there is me  - and my "need" to put EVERYTHING on the page!!  So the "Challenge" that I found with this sketch is its beautiful simplicity, because, as you all know, I am "all about the STUFF!"

(Many a scrappy friend has advised me to "step away from the page" while I sit there staring at it and try to figure out what else to add, and where to put it! LOL! )

As you can see, this Sketch only shows 1 Background Sheet, 2 Photos, 3 smaller pieces of paper under the photos, a Title and 4 embellishments.  I held true to the paper count for the sketch, 

BUT - I kind of  "embellished" on the embellishments!

So, without making you wait any longer - here is my take on the sketch:

I KNOW, I KNOW - enough with the SNOW!! But since we had SO MUCH of it this winter - I've got LOTS of pictures, and these are 2 of my FAVORITES!  It is actually the same photo, but I just enlarged and enhanced one of them.  This is my oldest son Nick, playing in the snow with our 2 Portuguese Water Dogs, Maggie and Valentino.  The close up photo on the right is silly Tino with his nose all caked with snow ( as he had been snorting it! ) and his mouth wide open! 

Maggie has her back to me in the photo, and Tino is mid jump! I just love the movement I was able to capture in the photo, as these 2 are always in perpetual motion!!  It is a little hard to see the 2 dogs since they are both black.  One of my new favorite embellies is "FLAIR" - and I added the "SNOW" flair that came with this collection along with a wooden snowflake and a coordinating red button.

I used a punch along the edge of 2 of the 3 papers.   I love this Fiskers edge punch - it looks like the edge of notebook paper and with a little distress ink on the edges, adds a little more interest to the layout.  I also loved all the little banners on the sticker page of this collection.  I decided to mat them and then outline them with a fine tip black marker to give them dimension, and then added them to the layout, along a piece of string with foam dots - to add a raised layer, also adding a coordinating chipboard element and a brad too!

Here is another close up showing the edge punch, and also how out outlined the bottom arrow sticker  from the sticker sheet, as well as used the black marker to create "stitching" on the top flag, and some "squiggles" made with the white gel pen on the teal flag - that I also added some chipboard elements here as well.

In this photo where you can see the outlined banners, and how I also outlined the month and year letter stickers as well.  You can also see the white squiggles added on the center teal paper too.  I think one of my favorite papers used on this page is the wooden pattern on the base page. This sketch really allowed the base page to be a "star" in the layout too!

Here are the items that were used in this layout:
Fancy Pants  - 
Timber Grove Collection 12 x 12 pack 
Timber Grove Sticker Sheet
Timber Grove Button Set and Flair
American Crafts Snow Wood Veneer
Ranger Distress Stains:
Fine Point Black Marker
White Gel Pen
3D Foam Dots

As always, thanks for stopping by.  I really hope that you find some time to play along with us at The Memory Nest Blog, and enter this first challenge for May - you can even WIN a prize!! 

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri