Challenge YOUrself Blog #97 - "Team Turkey"

Hello everyone!!  Happy New Year!! Wishing YOU and your families a very Happy and Healthy 2022!
It is time for the first Challenge of the year from the Challenge YOUrself Blog!! Below are the details:

This was a fun challenge and I used a photo of my wonderful Dad and I from this past Thanksgiving.

2021 was a very difficult year for my family, with my husband's heart attack in August, but we are blessed with his continued healing and improvement. We had SO MUCH to be THANKFUL for this Thanksgiving!

Here is my Design Team inspiration layout for you:

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday!  I love hosting it and cooking all of our traditional favorite foods. Dad and I are always "in charge" of the Thanksgiving Turkey. I cook it and he carves it!

Hear are a few close ups for you:

I fussy cut a bunch of leaves from one of the papers in the collection, and matted some of the stickers on a brown cardstock. I inked all of the edges of the papers and embellishments.

I used 3 pieces of Flair from Dotty About Flair on the page and added some fuzzy fiber behind and around them. You can also see how I splattered the Ranger Distress Sprays over the layout, before adding my photo. I love the way that technique looks, and it is fun to do too!

Here you can see 2 more pieces of DAF Flair, along with the journaling card I have tucked in the pocket I made behind the photo.

I am entering this layout in the Lasting Memories #580 Challenge - New Beginnings - Add a Pocket to your layout.

I love adding a pocket behind my photos to create a place for hidden journaling and an added layer of depth.

I am also entering this layout in the Dotty About Flair Facebook December Happy Holidays Dec 30th Challenge "All about the Papers" - using a sketch, at least 8 papers/cardstock, Teal, Black and Butterflies.

Thanks so much for stopping by - I hope you join in on the Challenge YOUrself Challenge and can't wait to see what you create!

Stay Safe / Be Well / Wear a Mask! 

((Hugs) ~ Sherri

Items used:

Carta Bella Our House Collection:

Black Gingham

Country Floral

Home Sweet Home

Baking Time

3x4 Journaling Cards

Element Stickers

Brown Cardstock

Ranger Distress Oxide Sprays - Salvaged Patina, Crackling Campfire

Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo

Ranger Distress Stain - Picket Fence, Black Soot

Mr. Huey's Colormist - Gold

Wooden Hearts

Twine

Dotty About Flair - Flair

Pink Fresh - Metallic Gold Pearls

Thickers - Avenue

 

Dreaming of Vacation - Challenge YOUrself Blog #78

HELLO my scrappy friends.  Sending Love and Hugs from New Jersey. The world is a crazy place right now, and I hope you are all doing well.   This month's challenge from the Challenge YOUrself Blog makes you think about Summer Dreams - and be sure to include a photo of YOU!

Summer makes me DREAM of Vacation - and one of our favorite vacations to take is a Cruise!  I decided to use a photo of my hubby and I from our last cruise this past October. We had a delicious dinner at Le Bistro Restaurant on the NCL Escape - on our cruise to the beautiful Island of Bermuda.  We have hopes to sail again on the NCL Encore this November with our sons.... we will have to wait and see if we feel safe in taking that trip!

Here is where I used the "Dream" prompt in the challenge - I used these Tim Holtz stickers that I have had for ever - to create the journaling on my tag.

I hope I've inspired you to play along with us at the Challenge YOUrself Blog - Please join in the fun - and escape and find a little YOU time this month!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items used:

Carta Bella "Deep Blue Sea" -Element Stickers, Sea Creatures, Row Your Boat, Anchors Away, Ephemera, Frames & Tags

Carta Bella "Ahoy There" - Sail Boats

My Mind's Eye - By the Sea - Open Seas

Nuvo Crystal Drops - Simple White

Ranger Distress Stain - Blue Print Sketch, Barn Door, Picket Fence, Vintage Photo

Twine

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Chit Chat Stickers

Brads

Challenge YOUrself's April Black and White Challenge - "Hashtag Awesome"

Hello everyone!  WOW - what a difference one month makes!!  Who would have thought so many of us would be staying at home and tying to stay safe from COVID-19.  I am so happy to have my scrappy crafty outlet where I can try to escape from the crazy reality - I hope none of you are directly affected and that you and your families are and stay safe!

This month the Challenge YOUrself Blog is challenging you to use a Black and White Photo - with YOU in it!  I love this challenge - Black and White photos give you so many options - you can either go with any or all colors, or, like I did - stick to black and white and one or 2 complimentary colors.  I chose to add different teals  - papers, washi tape, cardstock, alphas, brads and ink.

I decided to use a photo of my friends and I when we went to NYC last January.  One of our stops was Ground Zero and we took a selfie in front of the Oculus.  I love these ladies, and cherish the fun times we have together! 

Here are some close ups for you - can you see the glossy accents that I used on some of the camera lenses?

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I really hope you and your family are doing well, and staying safe, and that you can find some time to destress from the worries of the world these days.
Please give yourself some YOU time and join us at the Challenge YOUrself Blog - stop by the Blog and check out all of the wonderful inspiration layouts from the rest of the Design Team along with Prize info and Challenge Rules!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items used:

October Afternoon  - Camera Bag

Echo Park - Capture Life - Good Times

Simple Stories - "Heart" Element #1, I Love You

Washi Tapes

Ranger Distress Stains - Picket Fence, Tarnished Brass, Evergreen Bough, Black Soot

Studio Calico - Chipboard Cameras

Heidi Swapp - Alphas

Selfie Brads

My Mind's Eye - Cut and Paste -Enamel Shapes and Decorative Brads

CartaBella - Snow Fun -Enamel Dots

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Alpha Parts

American Crafts Thickers "Skyler"

Ranger Glossy Accents

SOS December Pick a Side + Challenge - "The Good Stuff!"

It's time for the last challenge of 2019 - from the Scrap Our Stash Blog -  Again this month - we are asking you to Pick a side - of the 2 sided sketch below - as your inspiration - and be sure to also use 8  - or MORE DIFFERENT types of scrapbooking items on your page! See the examples noted at the bottom of the sketch below -   

This is a great way for you to use some of your stash!!

And here is my inspiration layout for you!

I loved using the Carta Bella "Pack Your Bags" Collection for this layout!!  

So many FUN papers and embellishments!!

Last October, when we visited London for the first time - and we had to make a trip to the Borough Market!  It is a must do for any foodie fans!  So many different things to choose from!  Phil had a knockwurst from one stand and I had THE BEST Mussels I've ever had in my life!! OMG!!!  I would fly to London just to have them again!! The Chu Chi Sauce was MIND BLOWING! ( Slurp Slurp!!)

I've got to try to re-create it someday!!  It was really - THE GOOD STUFF!! LOL!!

I picked the LEFT side of the sketch for my layout. 

For the 8 Scrapbook Item Challenge I used WAY MORE than 8 items!!! 

- Here is the list of the Items Used!

1. Cardstock
2 -8. Patterned Paper ( Bo Bunny -Passion Fruit Journal - Double Dot, Cartabella "Pack Your Bags: Away We Go, Hello World, Journaling Cards. Happy Place, Border Stripes.  Doodle Bug Designs -Petite Prints - Lady Bug,
9. Enamel Dots
10. Twine
11. Wooden Embellishments
12. Carta Bella "Pack Your Bags" Element Stickers
13. Carta Bella "Pack Your Bags" Frames and Tags
14 and 15. Thickers -Wonder Glossy Puffy, and Colorful Puffy Stickers
16, Staples ( Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher)
17 - 20. Ranger Distress Stains - Candied Apple, Evergreen Bough, Picket Fence, Ripe Persimmon
21. Crate Paper - Hello There - Flair
22. My Mind's Eye -Jubilee - Decorative Brads

Here are some close ups for you:

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you find some time to create along with us this month at the Scrap Our Stash Blog!  Challenge Rules, Prize Details and more inspiration from our FABULOUS Design Team can be found on the Scrap Our Stash Blog!

Wishing you and your families a very HAPPY, HEALTHY and WONDERFUL Holiday Season!  ((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

SOS October Pick a Side Challenge - Pizza in Bath, UK

It's time for this month's Pick a Side Challenge from the Scrap Our Stash Blog!  All rules, prize info, and more inspiration can be found on the blog!

I chose the sketch on the LEFT for my Design Team layout and your inspiration and used photos from a wonderful day on our vacation to London last year. We first visited Bath, and then Stonehenge - it was a truly amazing day - and the pizza was pretty good too!

You can see that I used lots of twine and tags in my layout - so much fun!

Here you can see the TAB I used too - ( ABOVE) 

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!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items used:

Carta Bella - Pack Your Bags Collection  -

Border Stripes, Road Trip, Away we go, Hello World, Happy Place, 4x4 Journaling Cards, Element Stickers, Frames and Tags

Twine

Ranger Distress Stains - Spiced Marmalade, Picket Fence, Evergreen Bough, Blue Print Sketch

White Gel Pen

October Scrap Our Stash Blend-a-Sketch Challenge "Ahoy There!"

Hello Scrappy friends - It is time for this month's Blend-a-Sketch Challenge for October!  All of the details, rules and PRIZE info, along with more inspiration can be found on the
 Scrap Our Stash Blog  - Please join us and play along!

I used the background from the left sketch - but I flipped it so the larger piece of patterned paper was on the top of the layout. I also  used the "tag" element from that sketch by making the banners into tags, and I also added round circle embellishments.  From the right sketch, I used 2 photos, the patterned paper layering and the banner shape.  I added the 2 red circles to go along with the dash circles on the sketch.  I also used the diagonal patterned paper for the banner on the far right.

Here is my layout for your inspiration:

I used photos of my hubby and I enjoying a "drink of the day" on our 2016 Disney Wonder Westbound Panama Canal Cruise.  I've collected lots of "cruise" paper over the years and actually mixed papers and embellishments from 3 different manufacturers in this layout!  
I am very happy with how it turned out.

 Here are some close ups for you!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope I have inspired you to join us at the Scrap Our Stash Blog, and play along with this SUPER FUN Challenge!

I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items Used:

My Mind's Eye: "By the Sea" Collection:

 - Anchors Away

 - All Aboard

 - Set Sail

 - Chipboard Elements

 - Mixed Bag

 - Decorative Brads

 - Enamel Shapes

Carta Bella - "Yacht Club" - Decorative Brads

Basic Grey - "Adrift" Collection:

 - Adrift (Diagonal paper)

 - Die Cut Cardstock and Transparencies 

 - Mixed Brads

Ranger Distress Stains - Fire Brick, Faded Jeans, Evergreen Bough, Picket Fence

Red "Doodle O's" - from Scrap-a-Doodle Doo

SOS April Blend-a-Sketch Plus - Challenge -"Beautiful Friends"

Hello Scrappy Friends-  It is time for our Blend-a-Sketch Challenge over at the 

Scrap Our Stash Blog!

This month's challenge is to blend 2 sketches below, 

and add either  "Polka Dots" or "Enamel Dots" 

Here is how I blended the sketches - I used 3 photos, as in the Sketch on the LEFT, and Circles and the basic layout - (tweaked a bit,) from the layout on the RIGHT.

I used photos from a very special trip into NYC, with my friends Melodie and Kimberly who were visiting from out of state, on Thanksgiving Weekend before their cruise, 

and my friend Marianne from NJ -who kindly drove us into the city that night.   

We had such a fun time, and the play was just “Beautiful!”

As you can see here - not only did I add black, red and yellow enamel dots, I added some red Polka Dot paper Washi Tape, and I used BoBunny's "Double Dot" Yellow Cardstock for the Polka Dot Challenge too!

Okay, so we didn't ride in a Taxi - as Marianne was our wonderful driver, but this sticker and that paper were just so adorable, I had to use them - and who doesn't think of a Yellow Taxi when you think about NYC?!!  (Plus the yellow went perfectly with the Playbill and Billboard colors too!)

Love these ladies - and blessed to call them my friends!

Yup, that is more black and grey Polka Dot paper that I had in my scrap paper bin. It was perfect for my hidden journaling tag - and that little taxi sticker is just so cute!!

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you give our Blend-a-Sketch Challenge a try, and invite you to join us this month over at the Scrap Our Stash Blog.  

Click on the link for challenge and prize details!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items Used:
Bella Blvd - Let's Go "Taxi"
                  - Just Add Color "Star Struck" and "Daily Details"
Basic Grey - Ambrosia
BoBunny - Mellow Yellow "Double Dot"
Echo Park - "Capture Life" Element Stickers
Carta Bella - "Yacht Club" - Enamel Dots
Recollections - Neon Brights - Enamel Dots
Jolee's Boutique - NYC Sticker
Custom "NEW YORK CITY" Title - buy www.shopthedoo.com
Ranger Distress Stains - Fossilized Amber, Picket Fence, Black Soot, Fired Brick

November SOS Sketch Plus Word Challenge "My Crew"

It is the middle of November already!!  How did that happen??  I think the older I get, the faster the years fly by! I can't believe the photo in my layout is from 2016!!  It seems like it was taken just a few months ago at an AWESOME Girl's Weekend "Circus" themed Scrapbook Crop hosted by Scrap-a-Doodle Doo www.shopthedoo.com   I am so glad I was able to capture this fun moment with my scrappy friends, and save the memory using this FUN Sketch Plus Word Challenge from the Scrap Our Stash Blog!

Below is the Sketch, and this month's added WORD Challenge is to use something from your Stash that starts with the letters in the word "THANKS"

Here is my Layout for your inspiration.

For the WORD part of the Challenge, I used:

T - Tim Holtz Distress Stains, Tag, Twine, Tape, Thickers

H - Hearts

A - Arrow

N - Numbers

K - Kites

S - Stars

Here are some close ups for you:

Numbers, Stars, Heart

Star, Heart, Arrow

Twine, Kite, Tape

Numbers

Tag

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you find some time this month to play along with us at the Scrap Our Stash Blog - Click on the link for more inspiration, along with Prize info and full Challenge details!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items used:
Fancy Pants - Everyday Circus, My Circus
Carta Bella - Banners, Journaling Cards
Dusty Attic -Arrow
Epiphany Crafts Circle acrylic embellishments
Washi tape
Baker's Twine - Hemptique
Bella Blvd - Illustrates Faith -mixed hearts
Thickers -Dear Lizzy Snapshots
Freckled Fawn Puffy Camera Stickers
Tim Holtz Distress Stains - Fossilized Amber, Picket Fence, Fired Brick, Evergreen Bough