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

 

MLSS January Challenge - DT Inspiration Layout - Winter Magic

 Hi everyone!  This month's Challenge at the My Little Scrapbook Store - Scrapbook Layouts and More! Facebook Page is called "Baby It's Cold Outside"  See the details below, and join in the FUN!!

Click on THIS LINK - and

Please post your entries in comments below the photo you will see above. Everyone is allowed one entry to each monthly challenge. Your project entry should meet the challenge criteria and be made new for this challenge. All valid entries will be included in a drawing for a $10 MLSS gift certificate. 

All challenges should be entered by February 5th.

Here is my Design Team Layout for your inspiration:

I loved the photo I captured of our 3 Portuguese Water Dogs last winter. I wanted to mimic the movement in the photo with elements on my layout. I combined BOTH prompts and made a WINTER Layout using only BLUE and WHITE papers and embellishments!

How FUN are those 2 white clips from 49 and Market too!

Here are a few "Work in Progress Photos"

I used some very old "Winter Twig" patterned papers from Little Yellow Bicycle that I have had in my stash forever! The base is one of the awesome ready to use mixed media papers from the Vicki Boutin Color Study Mixed Media Pad! (If you don't have this - get one!)

I used Dina Wakley's Gloss Spray - white, and Ranger Distress Oxide Spray - Prize Ribbon and Speckled Egg to add some more splatters to the base page

Here are a few close ups for you:

How COOL are these chipboard swirls???!!!! I sprayed them with the Glossy White spray - Love it don't you!!

Here you can spot a cool piece of Flair from Dotty About Flair - which My Little Scrapbook Store will be carrying soon!

This is a close up of sequins and gems I glued down with Art Glitter Glue - but you can use any clear drying glue too.

I used the Nuvo Embellishment Tool to add the gems and some of the sequins too.

Gems: Pinkfresh Studio - Stargazer Gems and Picket Fence Oceans of Green  ( I picked out the blue ones! LOL!!)

Sequins: Picket Fence - Moonshine 

Don't forget to head on over to the My Little Scrapbook Store - Scrapbooking Layouts and More Facebook Page and Join in the FUN!!  I can't wait to see what you create!

Stay Safe / Be Well / Please Wear a Mask!

((HUGS))  ~ Sherri

Items used:

Vicki Boutin Color Study Mixed Media Pad! 

Little Yellow Bicycle "Winter Twig" papers

12x12 Flourish Word and Tag Chipboard set

Dina Wakley's Gloss Spray - white

Ranger Distress Oxide Spray - Prize Ribbon  and Speckled Egg

Nuvo Embellishment Tool

Pinkfresh Studio - Stargazer Gems

Picket Fence Oceans of GreenPicket Fence - Moonshine

49 and Market Shape Clips

Dotty About Flair - Flair

Washi Tape

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - Artic Blue

Thickers - Hope and Dream / Pink Paislee Truly Grateful / Dream

A FUN and Colorful Weekend Celebration Layout with "STARS"

Hi Everyone - It is time for the first of 3 Challenges we will have for you this month, over at the

My Little Scrapbook Store Layouts and More Facebook Page -

 Hop on over and join in the FUN! 

  To celebrate July, and in particular the 4th of July 

- the first challenge is to use STARS on you project!!

Click on the purple letters above to go to the Announcement on the Facebook page where you can post your entry in the comments!

And here is my Design Team Inspiration Layout for you - 
I used a fun selfie photo that I took when we went to Gloucester, MA to celebrate my parent's 60th Anniversary.  It was taken on the patio of our hotel room.  If you ever get a chance to visit that beautiful part of the country 
- I highly recommend staying at the Ocean House at Bass Rocks.

I used LOTS of Vicki Boutin's FAB-U-LOUS Color Study Collection  (I'll list the items below.)

Here are a few process photos for you - I used a piece of Vicki Boutin's Ready To Use Mixed Media paper on top of one of the stripped papers in the collection - it had those beautiful gold stars already on it, so I thought it would be perfect for the challenge! 

*and yes, I did cut out the stripped paper behind the Mixed Media paper 

- to use at another time! LOL!

I doodled some lines, x's and dots around the edge of the white paper to bring in the black color that is in the stripped paper.

I decided where I was going to place my photo that I matted in black cardstock and drew a light pencil line where it would go. I then mixed some Vicki Boutin Creative FX Gold Glaze with some water and brushed it on the paper outside the area where the photo would go - almost like another lager mat. I splattered some with my brush all over the whole page too. 

Once it dried - I used the small dot stencil from the Color Study Bubbles collection and some Ranger Distress Stain Black Soot Ink to add some black dots - here and there.

And here are a few close-ups of all the COLORFUL goodies in this collection with some added flowers from my stash!

Lovin' those rainbow sunglasses in the embellishment pack, and I even used some Star Stickers from the sticker pack!

Here you can see where I added some of the Gold Glaze mixed with water to the "binder clip" and also behind the photo.

A close up of the black Bubble circle stenciling, the doodling and the beautiful Gold Glaze!!

LOVE the Thickers from this collection too! - and here is a tip/hint - see those torn layers of patterned paper under the photo - they are just thin strips that I tore and stuck underneath - giving the appearance of being a full mat, under the photo ;-)

Thanks so much for stopping by - I hope I've inspired you to play along with us on this challenge - and if you don't have Color Study yet - what are you waiting for??!!!
CLICK HERE ---> to Get some before it is all gone - You won't be sorry!!!
Stay Safe and Be Well!
((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items Used:

Vicki Boutin's Color Study Collection:

  *Mixed Media Paper Pad, Color Study Pattern Paper Pad, Stickers, "The Details" Thickers, Embellishments, Bubbles Stencil

Vicki Boutin's Creative FX Gold Glaze

Kaisercraft Black Pearls

Ranger Distress Ink - Black Soot

Ranger Distress Stains - Back Soot, Salty Ocean, Picket Fence

Little Birdie Studios  - Pearl Petites Vivid Palette, Embossed Daisies Vivid Palette

Heart Punch

Ribbon

Challenge YOUrself #86 Celebrate "LOVE" February Challenge

Hi everyone!  Happy February!  I truly hope you and your family are doing well.  It is time for this month's Challenge over at the Challenge YOUrself Blog!  This month - we encourage you to Celebrate LOVE! - and remember to include YOUrself in one of your photos!

Here is my Design Team inspiration layout for you:

I made this layout using lots of stuff from Vicki Boutin's "Storyteller" Collection from the My Little Scrapbook Store, and a photo from my birthday dinner, with my hubby, (and our family,) at our favorite Chinese restaurant back in 2017 -All things that I LOVE.  We always have a great dinner there and look forward to indoor restaurant dining again someday...

I got back into using my sprays- new and old and had fun getting my “mixed media” mojo back in the groove! I also enjoy “fussy cutting” some people are not fans of it - but I find it so relaxing and love how it enhances my layouts! What about you? Do you enjoy fussy cutting?

Here are some close-ups and a few photos of when I sprayed the base page before assembling for you:

I am also entering this layout in the My Little Scrapbook Store Winter Wonderland Crop Mixed Media Challenge #10

I hope you find some time to play along with us at the Challenge YOUrself BLOG this month!  I look forward to seeing what YOU create!  

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Stay Safe, Be Well and PLEASE Wear a Mask

Items used:
Vickie Boutin - Storyteller - Wild Child, Stardust, Rendering, Mosaic, First Draft
My Minds Eye - The Sweetest Thing - Decorative Brads
Carta  Bella - Old World Traveler Enamel Dots
Thickets - Goldenrod and Skyler
Ranger Distress Inks - Vintage Photo
Ranger Distress Stains - Peacock Feathers
Ranger Distress Oxide Sprays - Crackling Campfire, Peacock Feathers, Picket Fence
Nuvo Sparkle Spray- Apple Spritzer 
Tattered Angels GlimmerMist - Golden Orange
Washi Tape
Tim Holtz Ideaology - Small Talk stickers

SOS August Sketch Challenge "Candytopia"

Hi Everyone - I hope this challenge finds you and your family doing well.  I am really enjoying scrapping memories of when life was "normal" and find happiness reliving those memories - ones that none of us will ever take for granted again I am sure!!

Here is this month's sketch challenge from the Scrap Our Stash Blog - Please use this sketch as your inspiration, and also be sure to include striped paper and paint or ink somewhere on your layout!

I selected photos of a girls day trip to NYC to the Candytopia Pop up - where we celebrated our friend Stephanie's Birthday - can't believe it was almost 2 years ago!  We had so much fun! Looking forward to spending time with friends again one day for sure.......

I used "Pool" Ranger Adirondack Acrylic Paint (that I've had forever) and a stencil to make the stars. The striped paper can be found in the 2 circles.  I used papers from Vicki Boutin's "Let's Wander Collection" 

Here are some close ups for you:

I hope I've inspired you to play along with me and the rest of the Design Team at the Scrap Our Stash Challenge Blog - Be sure to click on the link, and check out contest rules, prize info and lots more inspiration from the team!

((HUGS)) - Stay Safe and Be Well!

Sherri

Items used:

Vicki Boutin's Let's Wander 12x12 papers 
Thickers Loving Life Letters

My Mind's Eye - Tiny Word Stickers - The Sweetest Thing

Ranger Adirondack Brights - Acrylic Paint Dabber "Pool"

Nuvo Crystal Drops -Gloss -Ripened Pumpkin, Caribbean Ocean

Nuvo Crystal Drops - Glitter -Pink Champagne

Nuvo Vintage Drops - Yellowbrick Road

Star Stencil

Our Boy Tino - SOS Blog June "Recipe" Challenge

Hello everyone!!  How are you all doing??  We are still on stay at home orders here in New Jersey, and I will be working from home until the end of July at least.  I hope you and your families are doing well.

I find escaping into scrapbooking helps so much these days.  The Scrap Our Stash Blog has a fun "Recipe" Challenge for you this month - Follow the "ingredients" and "directions below and have some fun!

My Design Team Inspiration Layout was so FUN to "MIX UP!"  I used a black and white photo of our handsome boy Tino - our 6 yr old Portuguese Waterdog!  He looks like his "Valentino" name in this shot right! LOL!!  I've listed all of my INGREDIENTS below too!

Here are some close ups for you:

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you can escape reality for a while and play along with us at the Scrap Our Stash Blog!  I can't wait to see what you "WHIP UP!"  Stay Safe and Be Well!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items used:
INGREDIENTS: 
5 Patterned Papers - From PhotoPlay "Fetch" Collection:
1. Kibbles, 2 & 3 Dog Tags -front and back, 4. Best Friend, 5. In the Dog House
(4+) Embellishments : Brads, Flair, Stickers, Washi Tape, Chipboard, Thickers foam shapes
3 Word Title: "Our Boy TINO"
2 Types of Alphas: Thickers - Maggie and Indigo
1 Photo - our handsome Portuguese Water Dog - Tino ( aka Valentino | Turnabout is Fair Play )
Ranger Distress Stains: Mustard Seed, Evergreen Bough, Blueprint Sketch, Rusty Hinge, Peeled Paint

London Calling - My Little Scrapbook Store May On-line Crop Live!

Hi everyone!  I hope you are all doing well! - I'm on the Design Team for the My Little Scrapbook Store, and this weekend, we held a FUN On-line Virtual Crop on Facebook  - filled with lots of challenges!

I was asked to create a challenge and do a Facebook Live video, showing some fun techniques - and I'll post a link below.

I showed to "water distress," how to mix patterns from different manufacturers, how to Gut your paper, and create a 3D pocket to tuck a journaling card in.

Here is the finished layout:

I used a photo of my hubby and I in front of Westminster Abbey, while on our first trip to London, in October 2018.

This is the journaling tag ( front ) and you can also the arrows pointing to the little star where I marked London on the map!

Here is the back of the journaling tag that I tucked behind the photo. You can also see the feathery edges created by using the water distressing technique to tear the edges.

I love this cluster of embellishments!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and thanks to all who attended my Facebook Live!  I hope I've inspired you to try these techniques and play along with the My Little Scrapbook Store's May On-line Crop!  If you weren't able to watch me "live" - here is the link for the video that was recorded -

https://www.facebook.com/sherri.deknightcaramico/videos/10221523441302806/

Thanks so much for stopping by - 

For more layouts that I used the "water distressing" technique on - 

CLICK HERE!

Items used:

PhotoPlay - Boarding Pass Collection - Ephemera Die Cuts, 12x12 Papers - Jet Set and Fly with Me

Echo Park - Go See Explore Collection - 12x12 Paper - A view of the World, Enamel Shapes, Chipboard Stickers

Simple Stories - Urban Traveler -12x12 Papers - Quote and Photo Mat, Chevron

Shimelle Puffy Heart stickers

Enamel Dots - CartaBella Floral and Pebbles

Ranger Distress Stains - Barn Door, Picket Fence, Peeled Paint, Faded Jeans

Twine and Flair

Simple Stories Green Thickers

April's Sketch Plus Challenge from the Scrap Our Stash Blog - "Unforgettable"

It's time for April's FUN Sketch Plus Challenge from the Scrap Our Stash Blog!  I hope you and your family are well and staying safe in these crazy times!  I also hope you had an enjoyable Easter or Passover, and pray that next year will be a better one, where we can be with all of our family and friends.

To keep you busy - we have a great Sketch for you this month - PLUS we ask that you use a FLORAL Pattern, and add a BUTTERFLY to your layout too!

Here is the challenge:

And here is my layout for the Design Team, and for your inspiration:

These photos were from an awesome day my hubby and I had together, at a Sunflower Maze about 1 hour from our home. I love sunflowers and we had such a great time!

I used the "French Country" Collection from Graphic 45 -one of my favorites, I am so glad I still have some in my stash!

Here are some close ups for you too!

I fussy cut out some of the sunflowers from the pattern paper, and pop-dotted the on the layout.

I've had this Prima Butterfly package for-ever!! There are still 2 left in the pack!

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you find some "you" time to escape and get creative - it is so important - now more than ever!

Check out more Design Team Inspiration, Prize Info and Contest Rules / Links over at the Scrap Our Stash Blog!  I can't wait to see what you create! 

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items used:

Graphic 45 -French Country Collection:

- Chipboard 2, Deja Vu, A La Carte, Bonjour, Montage, Abundance

BoBunny Double Dot -Orange Citrus Journal

Thickers - Right Here

TPC Studio - Bon Voyage -Bijoux Bling

Little Birdie - Handmade Flowers -Natalia Boho Vibes

Prima Flowers - Fantasy Broze Butterfly

Sequins

Nuvo Vintage Drops - Yellow Brick Rd

Ranger Distress Stains - Rusty Hinge, Salty Ocean, Barn Door, Mustard Seed, Ground Espresso