Challenge YOUrself Blog # 108 - Use Black and White Photo(s)

Hello Scrappy Friends!

I hope you are all doing well and want to wish everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON!

It's time for December's Challenge at the Challenge YOUrself Blog! 

I decided to use the awesome new Print Shop Collection by Vickie Boutin -that I purchased from My Little Scrapbook Store to document a memory from our 40th Anniversary Trip to Gloucester, Mass, this past October.  It was a rainy day and we had fun exploring this unique castle!

I decided to stay with the Black and White theme and picked one of the pre-made base pages, and used a handwriting stamp in some places. I added some red by using enamel hearts, and the new Ranger Distress Oxide Stain - Lumberjack Plaid - by inking the edges, kissing and splattering some too!  I used the fun stamps, rub-ons, chipboard and ephemera from the collection too! - Oh and I purchased a pin from the castle while we were there and used it as an embellishment too!

Here are some close-ups for you:

Thanks so much for stopping by - please head on over to the Challenge YOUrself Blog for challenge info and more great inspiration from the rest of our Design Team!

I hope you get some YOU time to play along with us this month!

Wishing YOU and YOURS a WONDERFUL HOLIDAY!!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Happy Birthday Sugar!

Our white Portuguese Waterdog turned 3 this week!  Her name is Turnabout Sugar Magnolia - Our Sugar! She is just as sweet as her name and gives the best Hugs and Kisses.

I'm entering this layout in the Lasting Memories Challenge #581 - New Year - New Beginnings - using LOTS OF LAYERS

I used the stencils from Vicki Boutin's Color Study collection and added dimension and texture with Picket Fence Glimmer Paste and Ranger Textured Paste Matte. I used lots of different papers with different textures and even used a die-cut!

I printed the photo 3 times and fussy cut Sugar out of 2 of them, and then popped the 2 with foam in between the layers to give it and her more dimension.

Here are a few close ups for you:

Thanks for stopping by! 

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Graduation! SOS's September ABC-123 Challenge

Hello everyone!  I hope you and your families are doing well in these strange and crazy times!

I hope you can escape and join in the Scrap Our Stash Blog's September Challenge!!

I have 2 grown "boys" so I chose a few photos of our youngest son's Graduation for my take on the challenge.

1 word title - Graduation

2 photos

3 of the same embellishments - I chose to triple that - 3 Stars, 3 Brads and 3 hearts

Here are some close ups for you - I used lots of scraps of black and white papers that I save all together in my stash. I also used a star stencil and added some stars in the background.

I hope you like my take on this fun challenge and that you will play along with us at the Scrap Our Stash Blog this month!  Head on over to see lots more inspiration from the rest of the the Design Team, as well as see the challenge rules and prize info!

Take care and be well ~ (((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Challenge YOUrself March Challenge #75 - Polka Dots

It's time for the March Challenge from the Challenge YOUrself Blog!! This month, we challenge YOU to use POLKA DOTS along with a picture of YOU in your layout!

I used photos from our 2014 cruise on the Disney Fantasy.  They had an Italian Cocktail Tasting, and Phil, Nick and I had a very enjoyable time.  (Our youngest son Jake, was not old enough to join us at the tasting, so he is not in the photos.)

I decided to use the GOLD column in the photo as my color inspiration for this layout.  

I used My Mind's Eye - "Yes Please" Collection, along with "Dream" Thickers for the title and some Mambi Chipboard elements.

Here are some close ups for your inspiration:

I love to create a pocket using 3M foam tape, and tuck a tag behind a photo, on which I journal info about the layout, photos and memories.

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to visit the Challenge YOUrself Blog and check out all the other amazing layouts from the rest of the Design Team, Challenge Rules and PRIZE info!

 I can't wait to see what you create!

(HUGS) ~ Sherri

Challenge YOUrself Blog Announcement and -December "Snowflake" Challenge #72

Hi everyone!  Happy December!  

I am so happy to be continuing on with the amazingly talented Design Team over at the Challenge YOUrself Blog!!  I look forward to sharing another year of happy scrappy FUN - and inspiring YOU and challenging YOU to get out IN FRONT of that camera, and share YOUr layouts with us!

This month's challenge is to use Snowflakes on your layout and BE SURE to include YOU in one of the photos too!

I used a black and white photo of my hubby and I while we were "down the shore" this past winter, for a get-away weekend to celebrate his birthday.  I decided to keep with the black and white theme, and found some fun chipboard and wooden elements that I painted white and embellished.  Here is my Design Team inspiration layout for you:

I am always making my hubby take selfies with me - he is such a good sport!  I love this SELFIE Paper by Reminisce and all the fun sayings on it!  I picked a few other black and white patterned papers and layered them under the photo.

Here are some close-ups for you:

I love this snowflake corner flourish - I added dimension to the snowflakes using Nuvo Simply White Crystal Drops.

 After painting this chipboard white - I hit it with brushed pewter Distress Stain. I filled in the hearts that were on the chipboard circle with Nuvo Ebony Black Crystal Drops to add dimension - I love how it pulled in the white paint when it dried and created the surprise marble effect!! 

Add caption

Thanks for stopping by!  I want to wish you and your families a very Happy Holiday Season.  May your heart and home be filled with Love, Laughter, and Joy 
( and a few hours of scrappy YOU time too!)
Be sure to stop by the Challenge YOUrself Blog for Challenge and Prize info - along with lots of wonderful inspiration from the rest of our Design Team and be sure to GET IN FRONT of that Camera this Holiday - and document YOU!
((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items used:

Reminisce - "Selfie" 

American Crafts - Plus One - Peer

Bella Blvd - Just Add Color - Passcode

Freckled Fawn - Puffy Doodle Camera Stickers

Mambie Chips

Want 2 Scrap - Chipboard Circle with Hearts

Scrapaholics -Snowflake Corner Flourish

Bling

White Paint

Wink of Stella - White and Clear Pens

Nuvo Crystal Drops - Simply white and Ebony Black

Eyelet Outlet - Enamel Hearts

Ranger Distress Stains - Black Soot, Brushed Pewter

Ideaology - Big Chat Stickers - by Tim Holtz

White Gel Pen

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

May SOS Book Cover Challenge - "True Love"

It is the beginning of May - so that means it is time for another "Book Inspired" Stash Challenge from Scrap Our Stash!  Lots of creative possibilities on this one!  Be sure to keep checking the Scrap Our Stash Blog for all of the GREAT INSPIRATION from our very CREATIVE Design Team Members!

Here is this month's challenge:  ** Don't forget - you MUST include FLOWERS on your layout too!

When looking at this book cover - the "HEART" pops out at me - and makes me think of LOVE.  The ocean sunset was also inspiring me too....   I searched my collection of photos and found one of my husband and I, that was taken by our son, on our 2007 Disney Magic, Mediterranean Cruise. We were standing on the deck, at sunset, and I love how it captures the beautiful ocean, and our silhouettes. 

I can't tell you in words HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS MAN!  I hope this layout captures some of my feelings for him.  We are blessed to be able to say that we started out as High School Sweethearts, and we are still just as much In Love, as were were, back when it all began!!   Coincidentally, although we will be celebrating our 34th Wedding Anniversary later this year, in October, we will actually be celebrating 40 years of being together as a couple, tomorrow, May 6th!!!    

Here is my DT Inspiration Layout. I titled it "TRUE LOVE"

I picked up on the turquoise color in the ocean, as I wanted to use these beautiful turquoise flowers by Prima.  I also love black and white with turquoise, and pulled out a few of the papers from my stash ( I do have a bin labeled "Black and White" ) and selected some with hearts, xx's and oo's and flowers too.

I decided a few spritz of Dylusions Vibrant Turquoise Spray was just what the grey and white background needed -   LOVE this stuff!!

  

I made a pocket with the photo - by using 3M Foam Tape and popping it off the layout a bit.  I then decorated and journaled on a tag, and slipped it inside!

  

Here is the tag, pulled out of the pocket.  I used the same washi tape on the tag, that I used on the bottom left corner of the layout

I then added turquoise accents -

A few sequins here and there....  I have a thing about groupings of "3" - it is not a rule, per say, but more of just my thing I guess!

I also made my own "pearl-like" swirls using my new NUVO Crystal Drops!!  

LOVE how they came out!

And here is a close up of those beautiful flowers!

Thanks for stopping by!   I hope you will play along with us at SCRAP OUR STASH this month!  I can't wait to see what you come up with !

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items used:

Echo Park - Capture Life "Happy Moments"

Bella Blvd "Just Add Color - Daily Details"

Prima Flowers - Interlude

Ranger Distress Stain - Picket Fence, Peacock Feathers, Brushed Pewter

NUVO - Crystal Drops - Caribbean Ocean

Dylusions Vibrant Turquoise Spray

Washi Tapes

Fibers and glittery brads

SOS AUGUST Word Challenge "PAPER"

Hello my Scrappy friends!!   It is time for the first August Challenge from Scrap Our Stash!

This month - the word is " P A P E R "  so - your Challenge is to use "STUFF" from your "STASH" that begins with those letters  - FULL DETAILS / RULES and other DT Inspiration can be found on the Scrap Our Stash Blog!

So..... I went through my Stash, and came up with the following layout -

The Graduate!

I just am just LOVING these WORD Challenges!  This is a photo from my youngest son Jake's Middle School Graduation, in 2009!! I've had these photos printed for some time - only about 6 years!!!  - It is one of my favorite pictures of Jake.  I loved it so much that I printed it in 2 different sizes!  I sometimes like to repeat the same photo on a layout - if it is one that I feel is really special, and sometimes use it in different sizes, and/or using different filters too.  Since I had printed it in black and white, I decided to use that color(less) pallet for my layout too.

I've had these papers and embellishments since that time too, and I am so happy this challenge pushed me to finally scrap them, and use up some of my stash!!

I even used one of the 2 pieces of 12x12 Acetate that I have held onto, and wasn't sure what to do with, (why I had 2 of them - I don't know!)  After painting around the edges of the base black flocked and silver graduation caps page, I added the feather, and the 2 matted photos.  I then covered the page with the Acetate sheet, but added some score tape between the base and the acetate, under where I knew I would be placing the title.  I then secured it by using 4 Black Eyelets ( one in each corner)  I I love how this layout came out!  I hope you will play along with us this month too!  Here are the items I used for the challenge:
P - Photo corners ( the old school black ones)
A - Arrow (brad,) Acetate
P - Paint ( White Ranger Distress Paint)
E - Eyelets, to secure the Acetate on all 4 corners
R - Rhinestones, Reminisce "Hat Toss" Flocked paper

 Here are some close ups for you:

I hope you will play along with us at SCRAP OUR STASH this month too!  Thanks for stopping by! I'd love to hear from you and can't wait to see what you will create!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri