Carving Memories....

These days, I have two aspirations...the first, to use up this ridiculously huge stack of paper I've accumulated and secondly to get better at color challenges!  It became glaringly apparent when I attempted Heart 2 Heart's last color challenge (Tulip, Buttercup, and Black) that I need work in this area!!  So, while I was contemplating taking on another color challenge, I came across this entry at A Creative Life.  Janine does amazing work and in my opinion, one of the best at color challenges!! 

I loved the colors in this challenge and immediately thought of the last of my Halloween pictures from 2009.  Plus, the color scheme was similar to the other page I'd already done (see details of first page here)...so, I kind of cheated.  O.k., I really cheated, plus there's absolutely no grey in any of my paper, I'm easing into it! ;O)  

I also used the Inspired Blueprint Sketch #28 to get started, but, rotated it to accommodate all of my landscape pictures.

My pumpkins look off in this picture, in real life they match the paper exactly.  Weird huh!  I absolutely love our Autumn Leaves and can't believe that CTMH retired them.  I've never seen anything like them anywhere else and use these very sparingly!!

Paper:  Felicity

Cardstock:  Desert Sand, Cocoa, and Colonial White

Ink:  Autumn Terracotta and Cocoa

Stamps:  Homestead Alpha and Homestead Alpha

Other: Recollections Rhinestones, Stickles, Martha Stewart Punches, and Just Blooms Autumn Sunflower flowers and Fall Leaves (retired)

Got Sketch? 105 Class....1st Haircut By Dad

Alright, rolling right along!  I started my third layout for this class on Monday and hope to wrap-up a few more this week so that I'm not so far behind.

This one was kind of tough, just because embellishments are my week spot and they were kind of the focus for this layout.  I always go with stars when all else fails and I thought it worked out pretty good here.

I truly am in love with the Got Sketch? sketches, they are so different and Valerie Salmon's work is so inspiring.  I love that she incorporated three vertical photos in such a cute way.  It's hard to use more than 2 of any one style of photo typically!  It's not too late to sign up for the Got Sketch? 105 Class, the classroom will be available online through April 30th.

Paper: Felicity and Caprice (retired)
Cardstock: Autumn Terracotta
Ink:  Autumn Terracotta andTsukineko Memento Ink in Rich Cocoa (so the Stickles wouldn't make the ink run)
Stamps: Journaling Jots, The Works Alpha, Wishing Star, and Star Power
Other: Stickles, 1.5" Fiskars Circle Punch, and a Zig Pen

Creative Scrappers #91....Best Friends

I totally blew my goal of keeping up with the February Creative Scrappers sketches.  I'll try again after my Got Sketch? 105 class is done...maybe start fresh in April.  Anyway, this one just seemed perfect incorporated in with the Felicity papers.  I absolutely love the Felicity kit and hope that it inspires some of the paper packs in upcoming catalogs!!  These die cuts were honestly some of the prettiest I've ever seen and they really aren't my thing in all reality.  But, I think these have changed me!  This is probably one of the most simple layouts I've ever done, but I really love how it looks.

Paper: Felicity

Cardstock: Bamboo and Cocoa

Ink: Bamboo and Cocoa

Stamps: Felicity (swirls and alpha)

Other: Zig Pen and When It's Cold Outside Cricut Cartridge

Inspired Blueprints #38...3 Years Old!

I intend on getting these sketch challenges completed and posted on time in the coming year. But, I didn't quite manage it for December, I'm still working on Sketch #37, hopefully I can post it later this week!!

I can't believe how old my little man looks in these photos. Definitely not my baby any more!
Hope everyone's Monday started out on a high note, I'm on pins and needles to see the Bachelor Premiere! Plus, in the next couple weeks, lots of new season premiers for old favorites that haven't been on in a few months. Yay!! Not much else to do up here when its still dark by 4pm and too cold to play outside anyway! ;O)

Paper: Felicity Collection

Cardstock: Colonial White, Autumn Terracotta, Desert Sand and Cocoa

Ink: Cocoa and Autumn Terracotta

Stamp Sets: Large and Small Chocolate Alpha

Other: Martha Stewart Double Loop border punch, Robin's Nest Dew Drops, Cricut "When It's Cold Outside" cartridge, Zig Pen, and Heidi Swapp Chipboard Number.

Inspired Blueprints #35...Trick or Treat

I had so much fun with this sketch from Inspired Blue Prints, especially since I got to use our amazing new promotion from CTMH...the Felicity kit! It's made up strictly of patterned paper, 12" die cuts, and the cutest stamp set. So much fun and totally my colors! CTMH tends to lean towards either pinks or bright colors and I am more of an earth tone girl myself. But, these are totally earthy! ;O)

These pics are from this Halloween, I am so proud of myself for having them all done already! ;O) The little man on the left is my son and my brother is with him on the right. My brother, Will, arrived in town just before Halloween after my grandmother's heart attack. It was too late to get a decent costume, so I did my best with make-up and tried to find him a cape but didn't have any luck. So, this is how we went. He had vampire teeth and make-up, close enough I guess. He mostly wanted to be with Owen on his very first time Trick-or-Treating. What a kid won't do for candy! I was shocked how willing Owen was to go house to house in 27 degree weather and total darkness!!! These pics were taken early in the evening when we made a quick trip into town on one last attempt to find a cape while we still had a bit of daylight.

Hope you all have a great New Year's Eve, be safe!!!

Patterned Paper/Die Cuts: CTMH Felicity Collection

Cardstock: CTMH Colonial White, Desert Sand and Cocoa

Ink: CTMH Desert Sand and Cocoa for distressing (journal spot)

Stamps: CTMH Homestead and Felicity Alpha

Other: CTMH White Daisy Embossing powder with VersaMark, Orange Sparkles and Black Pearls from Recollections, stickers from Jolee's, Martha Stewart fence punch, Cricut for journaling spot, and Zig pen.