Cocoa Vanilla "Daydream" ~ Together

 Hello Scrappy Friends!!

I want to share a layout I made for Dotty About Flair's December 7th Challenge - the prompts are Banners, Stars, Cut File (or Die Cuts.) I made the BANNER using baker's twine and some paper embellishments.  

I used the beautiful Cocoa Vanilla "Daydream" Collection to scrapbook a photo of my hubby and I when we were in Massachusetts.  If you missed out on this beautiful collection, you can click on the link in the name above, to grab some before it is all gone!!

For the STARS I used the fun Vicki Boutin Flower Stencil along with her Creativefx Gold Glaze. I really think they look like Starbursts don't you?!

Here are some close ups for you:

Here is a close up of the Banner and the stenciled Stars - and some Die Cuts too! I also splattered some Ranger Distress Spray on the layout too!

I used lots of DIE CUTS from this beautiful collection.

and of course - I added the perfect colored piece of Dotty About Flair too!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I hope I've inspired you to create and play along!

Be Well, and Stay Safe!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Challenge YOUrself Blog - "Keep Calm and.....?"

OH!!!  I was SOO Excited when I saw this Challenge come up at the 

CHALLENGE YOUrself BLOG!! 

Create a Layout using this quote:

"Keep Calm and....."

It is one of my favorite sayings - and I knew just how I was going to finish it - and had the perfect photo to scrap too!   Can you guess what I do to "Keep Calm???......"

Click HERE for all the details of the Challenge

 - and REMEMBER to INCLUDE YOU in your layout too!

Well...  if you haven't guessed by now.... I chose

 "Keep Calm and Cruise Disney!"  

- I know, I know - I bet you are all VERY surprised about that!! LOL!!

Here is the layout I came up with!  I've got a bunch of 8x10 photos that we have purchased while cruising over the years.  I think I will try to use them other "non-sketch" challenges in the future.      As you can see - I am in this photo, along with my oldest son, my hubby, and 2 of my FAVORITE Disney Characters!!

This photo was taken somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on our "WBTA" West Bound Trans Atlantic Cruise, on The Disney MAGIC, in Sept of last year.  I love how the ADRIFT Collection has a little teal in some of the paper and embellishments - I think it worked perfectly with my son's shirt and just "pops" off the page.

With the photo being so large - I had to find a way to add different papers, and embellishments.  I LOVE how the base page - Basic Grey's ADRIFT "Sailor" plays off of Goofy and Donald's striped Sailor shirts!!  I just about squealed out loud when opened my collection pack and saw how well it went!!  I then cut banners out of some of the other patterns in the collection and stuck them behind the top and bottom of the photo, adding bits and pieces of embellishments along each side too.

I found the "Keep Calm and Cruise Disney" during a Google search.  I printed it out on photo paper, and then triple matted it.  I was able to put it over a blank space in the top corner of the large photo. LOVE that Donald Duck!!

I've had this sticker/title for quite a while.... and I thought it was about time that I use it.  Here you can see how the banners have a little "lift" on the pointy ends - I usually only run a line of adhesive tape along the edge that I tuck under the photo - as I think it gives the layout more dimension/layers that way.

Here are the items used :

Basic Grey - Adrift Collection
- PAPERS:Anchors/Sailor/Ahoy/Starboard/Ropes
- Mixed Brads
- Diecut Cardstock and Transparencies
Bazill Cardstock: Admiral / Red Rock / unknown "Teal"
Ranger Distress Stains:  Blueprint Sketch / Barn Door / Peacock Feather / Picket Fence / Tarnished Brass
Mickey Bling
Brads
* All of these items were purchased at my local Scrapbook Store  Scrap-a-Doodle Doo - They have an on-line store too!  Check them out at www.shopthedoo.com

Thanks for stopping by -  I can't wait to see what  "Keeps YOU Calm!"  I hope you play along with us at the Challenge YOUrself Blog!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Hawaiian Mixology Fun!

I had a great scrappy weekend at my favorite LSS  Scrap-a-Doodle Doo, creating and laughing with friends.   I actually finished 3 - YES - 3 layouts!!  - I think that is an all time record for me!!

I want to share one of them with you now. 

The 2 photos on this page are actually the same shot.  I love duplicating photos in different sizes on a layout.  It was taken aboard our 14night Disney Wonder Cruise to Hawaii, in October of 2012, where we celebrated our  30th Wedding Anniversary.

Disney held drink "tastings" throughout the cruise ( for adults of course!) and on this day, we attended 2 of them!  First a Bloody Mary tasting - then this one, a Hawaiian Mixology "Class."

Needless to say, we didn't "learn" much - and our little section of the class was "shushed" a few times!!  - REALLY!  LOL!! - Like those other people were actually going to learn how to mix  ( and then remember how to make)  Hawaiian Cocktails after drinking 5 of them, out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean!!   Besides, our bartender, who by the way was VERY NICE, kept telling us (with a bit of a heavy accent,) that we didn't shake some of these drinks - we should instead "STEER" them, and proceeded to show us a "Stirring" motion.

Anyway - as you can see, we had LOTS OF FUN, and LOTS OF LAUGHS.........

I decided to use all kinds of papers, layers, and a combination of stickers that I had in my stash for this layout.   The layout was all centered around and started with,  the Reminisce Luau paper and the BIG Coconut Drink sticker, that I received as a great give-a-way at a previous Scrap-a-Doodle Doo Weekend event.  I loved how the cherry in the sticker (bottom right corner) complimented the red in my hubby's shirt in the photos.  I decided to mat the photos in red too. 

Since I only had 1 piece of the Luau paper - I cut out the Tiki God and leaves, leaving the bamboo frame.  I glued that to a piece of peach paper from Basic Grey's Marrakech Collection - the other patterned papers were from my stash too and from different manufacturers.  I used the back side of the center of the Luau paper too.  See the strip with the coconut drinks behind the big Tiki God - and the tags.  

All of the edges were distressed to roughen them up - and then inked with different colored Distress Stains.    I also am lovin' using twine or string, and hanging little banners/flags from them - I think the twine used on this layout plays off of the piece of burlap I used - don't you?


Thanks for stopping by -  I hope I've inspired you to play with lots of layers and textures and HAVE FUN documenting your memories!

~ Sherri

September Challenge at THE DOO!

Hi Everyone!   Sorry, I've been slacking in my blog posting, but I've had a busy last 2 months, with a Graduation Party for my son - then vacation prep, and a wonderful 2 week relaxing vacation with my family in August.  I almost started shaking, and going through "Scrap-Withdrawal" these last few weeks, and while I REALLY enjoyed the party and the vacation -I'm happy to be able to get "my scrap back on" again too!

It's the 1st of the Month - so that means it's Sketch Challenge time over at Scrap-a- Doodle Doo!
(FYI - THE DOO - is our Local Scrapbook Store - and an On-Line store too!  They have all the latest and greatest scrapbooking supplies - and lots of hard to find items too.  With THOUSANDS of items in stock - you are sure to find what you need! - Check them out - www.scrap-a-doodledoo.com and SUPPORT our Local Scrapbook Stores!)


They chose a sketch from Pinterest again this month - there is such INSPIRATION on that website!!
(CLICK on all the photos below to see the details)

Now, for those of you that know me - you know that I'm all about layers, and mixing patterned paper.   This sketch was a challenge to me at first, with all that white space!!  After a trip to THE DOO - I found this AWESOME NEW Paper Line "SNAPSHOTS" from Bella Blvd and I just "had to have it!!"  I decided it was perfect and used it to really put my own twist on the sketch by filling that white space in!  What do you think?......

These photos are from our trip to North Topsail Beach, NC, a few weeks ago. We had a great time relaxing, and I had a blast "Snapping Pics!"  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the layered banners!!!  I'm going to have to use this idea on layouts in the future!! 

Here are some close ups for you:

These are Tim Holtz Grungeboard letters that I bought at THE DOO -years ago!  I colored them with Distress Stains, then glittered them with my new  HOT NEW "ZIG" Wink of Stella Brush with CLEAR Glitter - the added a coat of DIMENSIONAL MAGIC to make them even shinier! - By the way D*O*T*D noted on the first photo stands for "Drink Of The Day" - which is a "must have" when Chillaxin' on the beach!

I also used my ZIG Wink of Stella brush to highlight and go over some of the doodling on the Bella Blvd "Family Chaos" paper below, and above on one of the elements that I cut out of that paper, matted, then pop-dotted as an embellishment on the layout.

More Glitter swirls from the ZIG brush, I highlighted the word "together" and glittered all of the heart doodles. You can see a close up of those lovely banners -edges inked with Ranger Distress Stains!
 

Here are the items from The Doo that I used:
Bella Blvd SNAPSHOTS - Family Chaos
Bella Blvd SNAPSHOTS - Point of View
Bella Blvd SNAPSHOTS - Borders

My Mind's Eye "Cut and Paste" embellishment pack

Ranger Distress Stain - Peacock Feathers
Ranger Distress Stain - Ripe Persimmon
Ranger Distress Stain - Black Soot
Bazzill Cardstock 
ZIG Wink Stella Brush -Clear
Scor-Tape
Dimensional Magic
Tim Holtz Grungeboard letters

SO - Head on over to THE DOO's BLOG POST with all the info on how YOU can play along!

Thanks for stopping by!
((HUGS)) ~ Sherri