MLSS February Sketch Challenge "You are my Heart"

Hi everyone - I want to share a layout I made for the My Little Scrapbook - Scrapbook Layouts and More Facebook page! February Sketch Challenge.

Here is Sketch:

It is a 2 pager - but I decided to only use the page on the right.

Here is my layout:

This was an important layout for me to make. My husband Phil had a Widow Maker heart attack on August 13th, 2021.  He was moved from our nearby hospital here in New Jersey, to New York Columbia Presbyterian hospital in New York City on August 15th.

He was in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit from the 15th to the 28th, and on life support machines for almost the first week. He was in very critical condition and it was a very scary time. I drove into NYC everyday and stayed from 10am to 8-9pm. 

We are blessed that he was in such a great hospital and that he has an amazing team of Doctors taking care of him.  While he has heart failure due to damage done from the attack, and he has a long road ahead, as has been put on the heart transplant list as a "6" - he is doing so much better and getting stronger.

This photo was taken 10 days after arriving at NYP, 12 days after his massive heart attack.  We have been blessed with so much love, prayers and support. I shared this first photo of him on my social media with Phil sitting up in bed, smiling and giving a "thumbs up!" 

There is a journaling tag tucked behind the photo that I have yet to journal on as it is hard to put into words how I felt that day - but I will journal something eventually.

Anyway - I LOVED the colors and layers from this Simple Stories "HEART" Collection that I used to capture the blessing that I see in this photo. 

Here are some close ups, and a few process photos. I've listed the items used below some of the photos and at the bottom of this post.

YAY Phil!!!  I LOVE YOU!

This chipboard heart and heart beat is from a very cool Etsy Shop "Some Assemblage Required"  I used a teal gel pen to color in the heart beat, and painted the heart with Vicki Boutin Gold Glaze Creative FX and topped it with Nuvo Glimmer Paste "Celebrate Gold"

I love the large chipboard shape that I covered with the yellow patterned paper and then stenciled over it using a Brutus Monroe Jagged Heart Stencil and Ranger Distress Oxide Ink in Salvaged Patina. How sweet are those washi tapes too!

How cute is this heart!!  LOVE that Nuvo Glimmer paste!!

I also used the Distress Oxide Ink in Salvaged Patina with this fun Dotted Line Layering Stencil from Stamper's Anonymous.

You can see the beautiful gold and glimmer from the VB Gold Glaze and the Nuvo Glimmer paste that I painted on parts of the heart.

Look at that Nuvo Glimmer paste shine on that heart!  I also watered down some of the VB Gold Creative FX and splattered it all over the layout.  I cut out the teal "REMEMBER" from another sheet from the collection and popped it up for more dimension.

Below are a few "behind the scenes" work in progress photos for you:

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope I've inspired you to get crafty with it and try something new!

Treat each day as a GIFT as each one is precious!

Be Well and Stay Safe ~ (((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items used:

Simple Stories "HEART" Collection:  Chipboard Stickers, 2x2 Elements, Washi Tape, 6x12 Simple Set Cardstock Stickers, Papers used were: I Love You, Forever in my Heart, Treasured Memories, Element #2, I Never Forget, Remember, 4x6 Elements, Forever
Tim Holtz Stamper's Anonymous Dotted Line Stencil
Brutus Monroe Jagged Heart
Ranger Distress Ink - Mustard Seed and Oxide Ink -Salvage Patina
Ranger Distress Stain - Picket Fence, Tarnished Brass
Vicki Boutin's CreativeFX Gold Glaze
Nuvo Glimmer Paste - Glitterati Gold
Thickers - Navy
Some Assemblage Required Chipboard shape

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

Beautiful Bermuda - Triple Challenge Entry

I had so much fun creating this layout, using photos taken of my hubby and I, as we disembarked the NCL Escape, on out 37th Anniversary, last month - in Beautiful Bermuda!  It was our firs cruise on NCL and our first time to Bermuda and we LOVED them both!

For some reason, the NCL photographer decided to develop the photo as 2 separate black and white 5 x 7 prints.  We purchased them, and I couldn't wait to scrapbook them!

When I got home, I realized that the photos could be matched up, and a portion of them overlapped the other.  I thought these would be a perfect fit to use for the November Sketch Challenge over at the

  My Little Scrapbook Store Facebook Page!!  Here is the sketch:

I am also a follower of the CSI Scrapbook Challenges, and when I saw the colors on their Challenge #302, I decided I would play along with them and try to "Solve the Case!"

Here is the "Case File" and the "Clues"

And finally, I also follow the Lasting Memories Challenges, and since I used "PLAID" in my layout, I am entering it in the Challenge # 473

Here is my layout - I hope you like it!

For the My Little Scrapbook Store Facebook Page!!  Challenge - I tilted my photos a bit differently, but followed the basic sketch. I used different washi tapes to create the grid lines behind the photos.

For CSI Scrapbook Challenges Challenge # 302  - I used older papers that I had in my stash that matched the colors in the "scene" -  I also used the "Magic Number - 9" and added 9 hearts and 9 enamel dots.

For Lasting Memories Challenge # 473 - I used PLAID paper for my base and covered one of my chipboard flowers.

Here are some close ups for you:

I love to use foam tape to pop my photos and use 3 stripes of it to make a "pocket" to tuck a journaling card into, where I write a little note about the photos in the layout. 

Thank you so much for stopping by!  

I hope I've inspired you to play along with a challenge or two - they are so much fun and a great way to cherish your special memories!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items used: 

Simple Stories - "Heart" Collection :  Treasured Memories, Love You, Never Forget, Element #2, Cardstock Stickers

American Craft "Honey" Puffy phrase Thickers

Doodle Bug Designs - Petite Prints - Pistachio Dot/Stripe

Teresa Collins - Wanderlust Brads

Dusty Attic - Word Play and Chipboard elements

My Mind's Eye - Yes Please - enamel dots

Carta Bella  - Yacht Club and Snow Much Fun - enamel dots

Washi Tape

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