Scrap Our Stash October Sketch Challenge "BOO!"

 Hi everyone - it is time to share the October Sketch Challenge from the Scrap Our Stash Blog!  This month the rest of the Design Team and I challenge you to use our sketch as your inspiration and be sure to include FALL or HALLOWEEN patterned paper and - Mixed Alphas.

I don't have many Halloween photos, and thinking back as to why, I guess it is because I love Halloween and I am usually too busy enjoying the moments, 

and having fun instead of taking pictures!
It also seems that I do not have much Halloween stuff in my stash so this too was a challenge for me! But, I was able to find these precious photos of my sons from 1996 and thought they would work perfectly for the challenge.
I decided to rotate the sketch one turn to the left to accommodate my vertical 4x6 photos and cropped the 3rd photo I had to make it fit.
I hope you like it!

Since Halloween paper is in short supply in my stash - I made the background paper by dabbing different color Ranger Distress Stains on a plastic bag that paper collections come in and then spritzing it with some water - and then laying the white cardstock down on it and letting it get "kissed" with color!  I really like how it turned out. I only had a small amount of that purple patterned paper -so those are small pieces that I tuck under the papers behind it - and the strip of the little bats was less than 12" long so it too was cut and pieced to fit.  I sure did use my "stash" on this layout!

I also used 2 different kinds of Alphas - one yellow and one purple for that part of the challenge!

My oldest son Nick who was 7 1/2 at the time, was a character from Goosebumps - we bought the mask and I painted the skeleton on a sweatsuit for him
- including a creepy heart and some creepy bugs!!

My youngest son Jake was 2 and made the cutest Batman!

Here are a few close ups for you:

I created a tag and made a pocket with 3D foam tape behind the bottom photo, so that I could include journaling about the photos and my memories.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Please be sure to check out the Scrap Our Stash Blog for complete Challenge and Prize info - Check out lots more inspiration from our other designers - and Link up your layout!! I hope you can play along with us this month and I can't wait to see what you create!

Stay Safe and Be Well and PLEASE WEAR A MASK!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items used:

Fisker - Heidi Grace Designs "Halloween Spiders"

Bazzill Basic Paper - Arsenic & Lace, and Countdown

Ranger Distress Stains: Carved Pumpkin, Ripe Persimmon, Spiced Marmalade, Black Soot, Picket Fence

Thickers: Sunny and Fantastic

Jolee's Boutique -Glitter Spiders

Tattered Angels Raven Glimmer Mist

Smooch Spritz

Doodle Bug Design Chunky Brads "Spooky Town"

CY #82 Color Palette Challenge "Tapas in Barcelona"

Hi Everyone - It is time for the October Challenge over at the Challenge YOUrself Blog!!  

This month we bring you a lovely Fall Color Palette for your inspiration.

I used 2 photos from our 2014 trip to Barcelona, Spain, where we spent a few days before departing on our Westbound Disney Magic Trans Atlantic 14 night Cruise.  It was one of the best vacations, and we LOVE Barcelona - hoping to get back there some day!  When we do, we will be sure to stop at this amazing Tapas restaurant! It was beautiful and delicious! If you ever find yourself in Barcelona, be sure to visit Ciutat Comtal!

I went through my "stash" and pulled out papers that matched the color pallet.  I also used the leaves and colors in the photo for inspiration and this is what I came up with.  I fussy cut all the leaves, flowers and swirls from 2 different pattern papers, then I sprayed them with a Gold Glimmer Mist to give them a bit of shimmer.  I then accented them with Nuvo Drops to add yellow dots and pewter centers in the flowers and veins in the leaves. Below are some close ups for you - I used 3D foam tape for dimension and added a few small paper flowers too.

Thanks so much for stopping by!! 
I hope I've inspired you to play along with us at the Challenge YOUrself Blog and I can't wait to see what you create!  Head on over the the BLOG for more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team, and all the Challenge Rules and Prize info - you can link you layout up there too!
Stay Safe and Be Well ~ ((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

 

Scrap Our Stash October Challenge "Clam Pie"

Hello everyone!  How is it October already???

I hope this month treats you and your family well!

It's time for a FUN Mood Board Challenge over at the 

SCRAP OUR STASH BLOG! 

There is so much inspiration on this mood board!!  

I saw that PIE right there in the middle and love that teal color, so those were the main elements, along with other colors, and the gratitude that I have for family memories and traditions, all of which I used to inspire my Design Team Layout below:

I used lots of "stuff" from my stash of Simple Stories' "We are Family"

Collection - including stickers and lots of "fussy cut" elements.

I inked my edges with various colors of Ranger Distress Stains, and used 4 different color Nuvo Drops to add dimension to the items I cut out, and on the layout itself.

Clam Pie is a Secret "OLD" Family Recipe.  My Great Great Grandma Bella started making it before I was born, and her daughter, my Great Great Aunt Ethel ( who passed away at 98, over 30 years ago, and who's home we are blessed to now live in,) made it when I was a little girl. It was always a wonderful savory treat!

We took my Mom and Dad on a "road trip" down the shore, as we call it in New Jersey, back at the end of July.  We saw the "bungalows" that my Great Grandma and Great Great Aunt use to own, and where my mom, brother and I spent many many summers.  We picked up the clams / Quahogs that I ordered from the fish market there, and brought them home to make the pies the next day.

There is A LOT of work that goes into these, and the taste brought back so many wonderful memories - plus, my husband, mom and dad and I had a great time making them!  I can't give out the "secret" recipe - but if you are wondering what goes in them, it is salt pork, clams, celery, onions, potatoes and thyme - we then made lard crusts, just like Aunt Ethel's and Grandma Bella's and ended up with 4 pies!

They were so yummy!! - And YES - you eat it with ketchup on the side - believe me it goes great - The perfect condiment!!! 

Here are some Closeups for you:

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope I've inspired you to play along with us this month at the Scrap Our Stash Blog, 

and that I haven't made you too hungry!! 

I know I kind of wish I had another piece of that pie right now!!

Stay Safe and Be Well!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri