Scrap Our Stash "Star" Sketch Challenge "Magical Adventure"

Hello everyone!  I hope you and your families are doing well during these crazy times!  I'm sharing a layout I made for the Scrap Our Stash Blog's July Sketch Challenge  - Head on over to the Scrap Our Stash Blog for the Challenge Rules and Prize info - and lots more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team!

I decided to use a larger photo than what is in the sketch - and still try to stay true to the placement and elements of the sketch.  Since we are not traveling these days, I picked a photo of happier times -when we cruised out of NYC on the Disney Magic in October of 2017 to celebrate our 35th Wedding Anniversary with our family!

I used yellow star patterned paper and punch out stars from star pattern paper too and used them as embellishments.

Here are some close-ups for you:

A great time was had by all! - Wishing we will be able to cruise again soon, but I am doubtful when that will be.  I'll just have to keep cherishing and scrapping our memories!

Stay Safe and Be Well!

I hope you can join us and play along with The Scrap Our Stash Blog this month!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items used:

Simple Stories - 

Say Cheese 4 - Tags and Frames, Hooray, Fun This Way

Say Cheese 3 - Hello Adventure, Wish Upon a Star, Combo Cardstock Stickers

Echo Park - Magic and Wonder -Chipboard Accents

Hemptique -Baker's Twine

Nuvo Glitter Drops - Gold Coast

Ranger Distress Stains - Picket Fence, Evergreen Bough, Wild Honey, Barn Door

Wink of Stella -Clear

 

SOS - Sketch Challenge - "Chicago Pizza Tour"

Hello Everyone - I hope this post finds you all doing well!  

It is time for this month's Sketch Challenge over at the Scrap Our Stash Blog ! 

We encourage you to play along with us, using the sketch below as your inspiration - and also be sure to use KRAFT PAPER and at least ONE METAL EMBELLISHMENT!!

I decided to scrap a few photos that were taken at the beginning of February - while on a Chicago Pizza Tour, during a sales meeting that I planned for the new company I work for.

Everyone had a great time, and it was a great team building event. We took a beautiful luxury bus to 3 different famous pizza restaurants in Chicago along with a great guide who told us all about each location, pizza facts, and info about Chicago.  If you are ever in Chicago - be sure to check out Chicago Pizza Tours!!  The photos in this layout are from our visit to Flo and Santo's  - famous for their thin crust pizza.  It was really good -but they cut their round pies into squares in Chicago -  very different than the way we do it in New Jersey!

For my base page, I used a piece of Kraft Resist Paper, from a 12x12 pad of Tim Holtz Idea-ology, that I have had forever!!  I then used a TWC Mini Brick Stencil, along with a Nuvo brush and Taylored Expressions Earl Grey Ink to create the brick design in all 4 corners of the layout.   I also used it to ink all of the edges of my papers, including the torn ones - 

I like how it all came out. 

Here are the sales team members who attended the meeting  - It was so great to be able to put faces to names and voices! Everyone was so nice, and the Pizza Tour was really a hit!   

I created a little tag with journaling to tuck behind the photo of the group.

Here is the back of the tag and you can see the metal brads that I added for the challenge.

You can also see the splatters of Glimmer Mist that I used.

More metal brads some FUN metal Flair, and those cool inked/distressed edges! 

(and those square pieces of pizza too! LOL!)

I used different types and fonts of letters for my title.  I love how it turned out!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you can find some time to escape and play along with us this month at the Scrap Our Stash Blog!  Head on over there to see more inspiration from the other Design Team members, Contest Rules, Prize Info and where you can link up your layout too! 

I can't wait to see what you will create!!

Items used:

Tim Holtz - Idea-ology Kraft Resist paper pad

Simple Stories - So Rad "Authentic"

My Mind's Eye - Stella and Rose - Hattie n Happy, Polka Dots Paper

PaperHouse - NYC Collection

TCW Mini Bricks Stencil

My Mind's Eye Jubilee and Cut and Paste Brads

October Afternoon - Snapshots Tin Pins Flair

Nuvo Brush

Taylored Expressions - Earl Grey Ink

Jillibean Soup - Mini Alpha - Spicy Social Soup and AlphaBeans - Organic Orange stickers

Ruby Rock-it -Upstairs Downstairs Chipboard Alphas

Glimmer Mist - Jack O'Lantern, Raven, Burnt Red

SOS 2nd Sept Challenge - Sketch and 3 School items "Date Night"

In the spirit of "September" being a "Back to School" month - This month's Sketch Challenge at Scrap Our Stash has a little "extra assignment" for you.  Not only do you have a GREAT Sketch to work with - we've added the requirement that you have to "ADD 3 School Items."

Here is the SKETCH  - so put your THINKING CAPS on - as we'd love for you to play along with us!

I've been wanting to use these photos of my husband and I, from a "Date Night" we enjoyed back on September 8th, 2013!!  We went out to dinner and then to a club with a bunch of his friends from work.

Here is my DT Inspiration Layout for you....

I LOVE this paper line from Paper House - Color Ways: Sapphire Collection!!
Blue is one of my favorite colors and I thought it went great with my 2 photos 
from our "Night on the Town!"  

You can see all of the school supply items I used for the challenge in this photo.
They are:
(1) Staples - I used my big EK Success Fastenater Stapler with white and black polka dot staples
(2) Graph Paper for the journaling tag
(3) Black Paper Clip
and an extra (4) Note book edge punch

Here are a few more close ups for you:

One of my favorite necklaces broke, and I couldn't part with it, so I put the beads in my scrappy stash and pulled a few out for this layout.  You can see one of them here - I affixed it to the corner of the photo with an enameled brad.  I love the Silver letters - and decided to make the title "#NEVER2OLD2 Party" since we were the "oldest" couple in the group that night!!

Here is the rest of the title  and another bead from my broken necklace, along with some silver star washi tape and some more "bling!"

We really had a great night! Lots of laughs, good food, a train ride with more laughs on the way home  - and even if we were the oldest ones in the group - I don't think we look that bad for a couple married 31 years!

This is the tag (made with graph patterned paper,) that was tucked behind the photo on the right.  I added the photo with 3D Foam Tape on the bottom and sides, so I could slip the journaling tag behind it.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you will play along with us at the SCRAP OUR STASH BLOG!!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Sometimes we all need a little PUSH!

I've been participating in a GREAT on-line 6 week workshop that is provided through THE BRAVE GIRLS CLUB  called  SOUL RESTORATION  if you click on that link - you can find out how you can participate in the next 2 upcoming workshops.  There is an AMAZING group of women who are running this workshop, and women from ALL OVER THE WORLD are participating.  The workshop is very powerful and soul searching.  It causes you to stop, think, reflect, and realize what is really important in your life - and helps me personally to realize that it is OK to feel like I am important too!  I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

That is why I feel the need to share the horoscope that was in the newspaper yesterday.  Now, I don't usually read my horoscope, as most of my reading lately is on-line, and rarely do I have the occasion to have access to an actual printed newspaper!!! - but yesterday, there was one in the lunchroom in our office, and I happened upon it while turning the pages.

I'd like to share it with you now - because I think the message doesn't just apply to me, or just to yesterday.
I think it is a great philosophy and a positive message for everyone!

"There is no time to waste.  Put your ideas and plans into motion and refuse to let emotional issues slow you down or stand in your way. You stand to improve your status, your position and your future. Success awaits you."

How true this is!  YOU are the one who determines where you will go in life, and how you will deal with "things" that are not always easy. YOU are the one who makes choices and decisions.  If you don't make any - you will go nowhere and be stuck where you are.  This may not be a bad place, but if you wish for a change, it will only happen if you ACT and move forward.  Our days pass by so quickly, and should not be wasted. Always reach for the HAPPINESS that YOU DESERVE.  YOU ARE SO WORTH IT!

Have a wonderful day!

Sherri

Strength, Courage, Humor ~ a Remarkable Man!

Hi Everyone,  I have to share some GOOD NEWS - and maybe help everyone to take a minute and think about how BLESSED we are ALL are to be able to say that we are SO BUSY and don't know how we are going to "get everything done" before Christmas!

You see, my Uncle Bob is in the hospital, recovering from some major surgery - he has been a quadriplegic for the last 40+ years, after a swimming pool accident when he was 16, which in itself is a miracle!

 A recurring bedsore caused him to have to have his leg and part of his hip bone removed, about 4 weeks ago. He is an AMAZING and independent man, always in good spirits and joking, and he still has a long road ahead of him to recover.


Well  - the GOOD NEWS is that TODAY, with assistance,  he was able to get up, get dressed and get into his wheelchair for the first time since the surgery and......It went well!

He had to have a chest strap on to hold him up, but he wasn't dizzy or didn't lose his balance.....He even was able to eat his lunch sitting in his chair. He told my Mom, his sister, that maybe he can use the extra/empty pant leg as a scarf now that it is cold out!!  Just an incredible out look and crazy sense of humor!

I want to sincerely thank everyone who has been praying for him and ask you to please continue to do so, that he may heal quickly and be able to go home soon.

If you are able or so inclined and can send him a card or a note of encouragement in the next few weeks, I am sure he would appreciate it, and it would surely brighten the MANY days in the hospital that he has ahead of him.


His mailing address is:
Mr. Robert Zito
c/o Lehigh Valley Muhlenberg Hospital
2545 Schoenersville Rd
Bethlehem, PA 18017
(Good Shepherd Hospital)
(Room #4013)

SO -in this crazy busy season - when the only parking spot at the mall you can find is the furthest one away - be THANKFUL that you are ABLE to walk - what might seem like a mile - uphill in the cold - into the mall, but mostly be THANKFUL for the MOST IMPORTANT THINGS in life, FAMILY, LOVE & GOOD HEALTH - and take a minute to ENJOY THEM this Holiday Season ;o)


ALL THE BEST to you and your families,

Sherri

INSPIRED ~ but no time to get messy!

My hubby and I had a GREAT 28th Anniversary Get-Away this weekend at the BEAUTIFUL Brigdgeton House Bed & Breakfast, in Upper Black Eddy, PA  http://www.bridgetonhouse.com/

First let me say that I can't believe that I remembered my camera - but I FORGOT to check to make sure the memory stick was in it!!  Has that ever happened to you??  Let me tell you - it will be the last time it will happen to me ( I hope!)  There was really no where around to buy a new one - and I have quite a few at home - so all the photos I took were on my camera - they came out OK - but I wish I had my camera!

The Inn was AMAZING - each room and wall was literally a WORK OF ART! - I seriously felt like I was in one big scrapbook!! I think Phil picked the PERFECT room for us - The Garret Room - we were on the TOP - or PENTHOUSE floor, with our own balcony overlooking the Delaware River. The COLORS and TEXTURES and PATTERNS in our room were just so beautiful - and just "so ME!!"

ALL of the rooms were different and had their own style and character - one just as beautiful as the other - SUCH INSPIRATION!!  Here are some pictures of our room ~



The shutters on the window were cut and painted to look like a butterfly! COOL!


Here are photos of other rooms in the Inn - We arrived right at the 3pm check in time and the Innkeeper, Mark told us we could look in any of the rooms where the doors were open, and the guests had not yet arrived.  So I "snapped away!"

Tea anyone?

The staircase to our room

Chilling on the balcony

Sherri having sherry on the balcony ;o)

I can't wait until this weekend when I will be sure to make time to CREATE!!  I've got LOTS of ideas in my head and need to get them out!!! 

Watch out Phil !! - I feel the need to "re-do" some walls in our house too!!

I hope these photos INSPIRE you to just go ahead and DO IT - CREATE - MAKE - something!!
Try something NEW - GET MESSY - HAVE A BLAST!!