Sketch Challenge ~ Mexico

This week at Frosted Designs we are having a Sketch Challenge!!!

Here is the sketch!

I started out with a 5x7 photo of Mike and I from our recent trip to Mexico.  I loved the bright orange and blue papers and even found a fishy paper at Michaels that matched!!

I cut out the center of the blue cardstock so I could mat my photo with the same color.  This creates less waste, not to mention I only had one piece of that shade of blue left!!  I trimmed 1/4 inch off of two sides (top and side) of the orange and white patterned paper to layer on top of the blue.

Now that I had my photo and papers set, I turned on my Gypsy and got to work!

I used these shell shapes from Life is a Beach.  The sand dollar is sized to 3.94 inches and the shell trio is sized to 3.59 inches.

I cut them out of white shimmer cardstock

I inked them with blush ink before I took the paper off my cricut mat.

The border you see was made by welding four shell borders from Life is a Beach.

To size borders on my Gypsy, I know I can cut as wide as 11.6 inches.  I put four borders on my mat and  welded them together.  Instead of adjusting the height of the welded banner, I adjusted the width to 11.6 inches.  The height ended up being .96 inches.  If it were too big, I would weld one more border piece.  If it were too small, I would delete one border piece.

I needed a little tag and a title.

I found this tag on Elegant Edges.  I hid the cut out and sized it to 3 inches.

I used DoodleType for my font and sized the letters to .88 inches and the numbers to .63 inches.

I cut them both out of orange cardstock.

I used a circle punch and some twine to create my banner out of the scraps.  I folded the circles in half and used a glue dot to hold them in place.

We recently went to Mexico to celebrate 20 years of marriage.  It was so beautiful there ~ I hope to go back again someday soon!!!

Cricut Craftin Friends Blog Hop Day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of the Cricut Friends Blog Hop!  

If you are looking for Scrapbooking SOS 1st Blogaversary Hop, please go HERE.

If you are looking for my project from Day 1 of Cricut Friends Blog Hop, please go HERE.

Here is the entire line up in case you found me first or get lost along the way.

Suzanne

http://cricutcraftingrammy.blogspot.com/

Also posting for Cindy who does not have a blog

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge
Blog  Friends

Charlotte  http://alittlebitofdetail.blogspot.com/

Robyn  http://robinscreativecottage.blogspot.com/

Melanie  http://melaniemakes.blogspot.com/

Beckie  http://justbcreativecrazy.blogspot.com/

Faith Abigal http://www.faithabigaildesigns.com/

Kate  http://smallbitsofpaper.blogspot.com/

Lasting Memories

Stacia http://happyandscrappytoo.blogspot.com/

Michele F http://fishmememoriesandmore.blogspot.com/

Elizabeth http://visionsofpaper.blogspot.com/

Karen  http://creationsbykw.blogspot.com/

Denise http://thruthelookingglass-glassgraffitix2.blogspot.com/

Michelle http://scrappinforkenzie.blogspot.com/

Jennasa  http://findtimetocreate.blogspot.com/

Kimberly http://leokc34.blogspot.com/

Amy http://www.lovetocrop.com/

Message Board Friends

Terri  http://craftmeaway.blogspot.com/

Brenda http:// friendscraftinwithfriends.blogspot.com/

Rachelle http://creationsbyrachelle.blogspot.com/

Shawnee   http://quiverofangels.blogspot.com/

Sweet Sassy Diva Blog Friends

Lori  http://www.scrappinmystressaway.blogspot.com/

Mindy http://grammiescraftroom.blogspot.com/

Tina http://tiggersscrapplace.blogspot.com/

Jen http://3catsandabug.blogspot.com/

Don't forget to comment on every post in the hop in order to qualify for the Blog Candy!!

I wanted to make a special layout about Tanner rollerskating.  This is his kindergarten year and his first time going to skating parties.  The first party was very difficult for him and I.  Those roller skates are not easy to use!!!  We went out and bought our own rollerblades.  I moved some furniture in the basement kitchen (my day care kitchen) and we practiced quite a bit.  He is now skating without me at the parties and I am so proud of him.  I love skating, but it can be dangerous with all of those kids!!!

For this layout, I used Nifty Fifties for the roller skate title.  I sized it to 2.61 inches.  I also cut out the roller skates but decided not to use them.  I used Elegant Edges for my circle photo mat sized at 5.59 inches.  I rotated it on my mat to conserve my paper.  I welded three circle borders together and then sized them to be 11.60 inches WIDE (1 inch tall) to use as a page border.

I cut these out of black cardstock.

I put the layers to my rollerskate cuts on another Layer and cut them out in White, silver and black cardstock.

I trimmed the photo down to fit the mat and adhered the title together.

I wanted to keep this layout simple to showcase Tanner's art.  The most important piece is the picture Tanner drew at school of his rollerblades.  Part of scrapbooking is recording some of his pictures that he draws me!  What is your favorite non-photo item to scrapbook?

Thanks for stopping by today!

Your next stop in the hop is Mindy.

Fall Decor Blog Hop (Frosted Design Fancy Trim) 10-14

Welcome to the Fall Home Decor Blog Hop!!  This is also my project for this week at Frosted Designs Fancy Trim Challenge.  You should have arrived from NANCY.  If you found me first, please go to the BEGINNING so you don't miss anything!

I started with an 8x10 canvas and some fall scrapbook paper.  I adhered the paper to my canvas then painted the edges with brown acrylic paint.

I inked the edges of the paper with the brown paint as well.

I found this border strip from Elegant Edges cut it out at .88 inches.

I cut it out in orange cardstock.

I cut out this "So Grateful" from Calligraphy Collection last fall and ended up not using it.  I did not save the file, but I believe it was cut at 3 inches.  I cut it out in a brown shimmer cardstock.

I folded the brown ribbon and used glue dots to hold it in place.

I tied knots in my gold sheer ribbon to add some texture.

I added some gems to the bottom of the canvas.

The sunflower adds the perfect touch to my fall wall decor!  I have this hanging in my entryway.

I have a little blog candy today.  In order to qualify you just need to be or become a follower or subscriber, and leave me a comment with your favorite thing about fall.  Mine is the changing leaves and the smell of a bonfire.

Your next stop in the hop is MARIA Gonescraphappy!

Royal Treatment Makeover ~ Frosted Designs Fussy Cutting

This week's Fabulous Friday Challenge at Frosted Designs is to use a "fussy cut" in your project.

One of my friends nominated me for a Makeover at our local outdoor mall.  There were three of us who won!  We got to model clothes (mine were from Coldwater Creek) and have our hair and make up done at Ulta.  I was so nervous, but had so much fun!!

I love this paper from K&Co. and had to work it into my layout!!

Here was my original sketch.  I knew I wanted to hide some photos, but I changed the background a little bit.

I opened a 12 x 24 mat on my Gypsy and started my layout.  I put a fancy page from Elegant Edges on my mat at 12.01w x 11.46h and rotated it -90 degrees so the flourish/swirl was on the side.  I put the border on the mat at 11.06w x 2.38h and rotated it -90 degrees.  I moved both of these items to Layer 3.

I found this flourish on Home Decor sized at 9.11w x 3.09h.  I copied a second one on, flipped it and welded it together to create this corner.  My good friend Sheila from ShesASassyLady first did this on a project a while back and I love the look!  I also copied a second border, sized it to 6w x 1.29h and welded a rectangle to it so I could sandwich it between a photo and photo mat.

Here is a close up.  I cut these pieces out in light blue shimmer cardstock.

I took a piece of 8x6 cardstock and folded it in half at the 4 inch mark.  I opened it up and adhered the two pictures I wanted hidden inside.  I sandwiched the blue border piece between the top photo and the cardstock to create a flap.

This is the photo I put on the top.  This young lady did a great job on my make up.  She graduated a year after my oldest son!

Here are the two inner pictures.

I found my title on Storybook and sized the letters to 2.23 inches and cut them out in silver paper.  I also found the word "beautiful" from Home Decor and cut it out at 1 inch.

I saved the negative piece of paper and used it as a template to adhere my letters down.

I accidentally threw this piece away and had to dig it back out!!!

I added some gems and flowers to my flourish.

I tucked in a few flowers by my photo.

I adhered the word beautiful right on my photo of the "after" shot.

Here is my before shot on the stage.  We went on stage before the concert started.

Here is my after shot after an hour of pampering.

Here is my fussy-cut layout all together.  Join us this week at Frosted Designs with a fussy-cut layout, card or project this week ~ we would love to see you!!