Scrapbook Challenges: Say What!?!?

The latest challenge is now up on the Scrapbook Challenges blog. It's  a journaling challenge with a focus on using a funny quote or conversation. At first, this one had me stumped. I set the challenge aside for a bit, thinking I would come back to it and begin with a chosen quote. However, as I flipped through my December photos, I came across a photo of my son with our holiday ham. It was perfect to tell a tale about a conversation we had with him when he was younger.

What Part of the Pig by Christy Strickler |Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Crate Paper, October Afternoon; Letter's Elle's Studio; Wood Veneer: Freckled Fawn, Studio Calico; Stickers: Lilybee; Chipboard: My Mind's Eye; Die Cuts: Studio Calico; Stamp: Kelly Purkey; Ink: Staz-on; Flowers: Sassafrass, Maya Road; Other Tag, Twine; Based on a Page Maps Sketch; Inspired by a prompt from Scrapbook Challenges






During Easter dinner, my son suddenly blurted out a question, " What part of the pig is this?" We told him that it was the leg. He then asked," So you just chop his leg off and  the pig is just walking around?" It was very random and unexpected. Of course, everyone at the table was laughing hysterically. I didn't have a photo of my son at dinner that day. Instead, I used this one to share the tale. The story is a lot more interesting than just creating a layout featuring our Christmas ham.

Since this is a page about a pig, I chose a pink patterned paper as my canvas. As luck would have it, there was a pig themed carving chart available in an older studio calico kit ( what are the odds of that). I also added in other pig elements such as the fussy cut vintage pig and the wood veneer shapes. The striped paper is a fun addition. I added in gingham flowers to complete the farm theme of the page. It's a nice mix of old stash with new.

Don't forget to check out the journaling challenge. You can submit your take on the scrapbook challenges website.

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Scrapbook Challenges: Must Love Coffee

I love the look of the grid designs, but I struggle with them when it comes to make a large grid layout. You may recall that I have mentioned having issues cutting and adhering things on straight. Still, I am drawn to trying my best to create the perfect grid layout. Having a sketch helps quite a bit. I used the latest sketch from Scrapbook Challenges to jump start this grid layout.

Must Love Coffee by Christy Strickler |Supplies Patterned Paper: Cocoa Daisy,Pebbles,Basic Grey; Letters: American Crafts; Punch: Fiskars, Martha Stewart; Tag,Transparency: Studio Calico; Rub-Ons: Crate Paper; Markers: Bic Mark-it, Ranger; Stamps: Cocoa Daisy, Ms. Kimm Creates; Ink: Tsukineko; Enamel Dot: DoCrafts; Tag: Evalicious;Twine: Jillibean Soup; Other: Buttons, Ribbon; Based on Scrapbook Challenges Sketch #426 





The original sketch called for a 6x8 inch photo. I printed a 5x7 and then scaled my grid down to accommodate it. I mounted all of the grid blocks onto a piece of teal patterned paper, then adhered it to a 12x12 sheet. Using the picture as my guide made it easier to size the blocks and place them in a manner similar to the sketch. The letter stickers I chose were far smaller than those used in the title block of the sketch. Shifting them down and to the left part of the block looked most appealing to me and allowed me to add in the coffee themed transparency. As I embellished the blocks, I realized that I needed to shift the journaling tag upward and to the left. This helps me form a visual triangle between the 3 coffee themed elements on the page.

I think this grid is by far, one of the tidiest I have ever created. I guess you could say the sketch helped, along with a little practice over the years. For more grid based inspiration and to see Sketch #426, head on over to Scrapbook Challenges.

Supply Options

Some Supplies from the January Cocoa Daisy Kits.

View blog post for supplies

  Additional Resources

Would you like to see some of my past grid layouts? Check out the following posts to see how I have grown:

A Not So Straight Grid ( This was one of my first layouts as a member of the Get It Scrapped Creative Team. My how I have grown since then!)

Tales of a Craft Class Junkie: Scrapbook Coach and Load 513

Embracing A little Wonkiness

Tales of a Craft Class Junkie: Grids and Blocks with Masterful Scrapbook Design

The Get It Scrapped Membership has several classes which have helped me with grid design layouts. Try Scrapbook Coach: Two by Two or Masterful Scrapbook Design: Grids and Blocks.
Click here to view more details

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Welcome February!

February is here. That means it is the first day of LOAD 215. This month will be jampacked with scrapooking activity on my part. I have decided to add a little additional challenge for myself this month. I want to try to use a sketch on every LOAD layout I complete. I will be drawing on sketches from the archive of  Scrapbook Challenges, from the sketches available to Simple Scrapper Premium Members, my sketch Pinterest board, and from the templates available as part of the Get It Scrapped membership. I also have my Scrapbook and Cards Today monthly planner from 2014. Each month featured a Page Maps sketch. I never used any of them. Time to change that.

I will do my very best to keep up with sharing my LOAD 215 progress here on the blog. Meanwhile, I have a lot of great content to share...including today's projects.

No Longer Scared of Goats by Christy Strickler |Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper, Die Cuts: October Afteroon; Flowers: Pebbles, Maya Road; Wood Veneer: Studio Calico; Punches: Fiskars; Other: Buttons; Inspired by a Sketch and Story Starter from Simple Scrapper Premium Membership









This could have been a simple petting farm layout. Instead, I used a prompt from Simple Scrapper to tell a different story. When my son was small, an overzealous goat scared him. It took years of me taking him to petting farms and being patient with him before he realized not all goats are aggressive.There are 2 things I love about this page. 1. the story 2. I love that I was able to use up some older papers and supplies. 

Are We There Yet by Christy Strickler |Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper, Die Cuts, Letters: Jillibean Soup; Wood Veneer: Jillibean Soup, Pinkfresh Studios; Tissue Paper: Studio Calico; ink: Sei;Stickers: Jillibean Soup,Twine and Ink; Other: Doily, tag;Inspired by a Sketch and Story Starter from Simple Scrapper Premium Membership








Living on an island means travel by plane is inevitable. I never in a million years imagined that I would fly by jet plane so many times or that it would become a common place activity for my son. Which brings me to this layout.This is a typical photo that I would shoot and generally place in a Project Life Spread. By using a prompt from Simple Scrapper, I was able to bring a special story to a common photo.

Now it's time to get busy scrapbooking. That first LOAD 215 prompt is calling my name. If you are looking for a fun challenge and want to use more of your tools and stash, check out this month's challenge in the Get It Scrapped Forums. We will be using our stamps.





Supply Options 

View blog post for supplies

Additional Resources

Find templates and design inspiration in the Get It Scrapped Membership.
Click here to view more details

Enjoy a large selection of templates with the Simple Scrapper Premium Membership.Click here for more details.

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