New "Starting Point" Layout: "Your Time to Shine"

The coolest thing about this page is that I didn't use a sketch.  What?!  I know, right?  I've been stuck in this mindset where I feel like I can only create a page using a sketch, but why?  Habit, maybe?  Anyway, when I read my good friend Alison's post, reminding me about Shimelle Lain's "Starting Points", I decided to break free and just go for it.  Here's what I ended up with:

This was surprisingly easy - I started with a 4.5"x12" strip and a 4.5"x6.5" rectangle layered onto my background cardstock.  The two smaller border strips were also part of the original starting point recipe.  From there it was just a matter of figuring out how I wanted to layer my photos and what embellishments to add.  That part was relatively simple, too - I only needed to dig into my Counterfeit Kit to find some suitable die cuts (the lacy border, doily, stars and title) and then ink them up to match.  

I've been wanting to scrap these pics for a while. I took them last spring when the kids were visiting my mom-in-law at her long term care facility.  I know it's hard for the kids to visit her there: there's lots of older folks who are less independent than their grandma, which can be kind of scary.  But they did really well and got her laughing so hard with their antics - definitely a memory worth preserving!

Well, I hope you enjoyed stopping by my blog today.  If you are stumped lately with your scrapping, I highly recommend trying a Starting Point layout - I will certainly be using this process again!  And considering it's only Saturday, I might even try it again this weekend!

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July 2015 CKCB Members' Blog Hop

Hey everyone, and welcome to my first ever post for a Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog Members' Blog Hop!  You should be arriving here from Gabrielle's blog, but if you got lost somehow along the way, you can always head back to the CKC blog to find the full list.  

If you would like to see the kit I put together at the beginning of the month, you can visit my post here.  Are you done with that?  Okay, well then, here is what I put together with my my mishmash bunch of supplies:

I freaking LOVE how this page turned out!  It is something entirely different than what I would normally put together, mostly because of the products I had to work with.  Individually, the papers are rather masculine and/or bold, but because of the feminine photos, doilies, and butterflies, I ended up with a completely girly page.

The Design Team members at CKCB put together a few challenges each month to further inspire members to deplete their stash, and this month's challenges are:

Challenge #1:  Picture This:  Use at least 4 photos on your project

Challenge #2:  Old Tool Challenge: Dust off an old tool and get creative

Challenge #3:  Project Altering Experience: Include an altered embellishment

I decided to go with Challenge #3 and alter an embellishment.  The doilies in my kit were originally white.  This is my take home message for all the folks out there who enjoy using a die cut machine - save time and effort by cutting a bunch of stuff at once using white or cream cardstock.  That way, you can colour them to match your project however you like!  In this case, I used a pale blue Gelato to add some colour to my doilies:

I've also been known to use Dylusions sprays or ink with this technique as well.  

Here's a close-up of another doily and my journaling:

And finally, this sketch from Stuck?! Sketches that seemed to go perfectly with my photos:

You still have time to try your hand at these three challenges, so give it a go!  And for more inspiration, check out the rest of the blogs in the blog hop:

CKCB          http://www.counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com

Jemma        http://just-jimjams.blogspot.co.uk

Karen          https://pinkycrafter.wordpress.com

Tina             http://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com

Julene          http://julenebydesign.blogspot.com.au

Susan          http://littlethingsbigdays.blogspot.com

Laura           http://intheairingcupboardcrafts.blogspot.co.uk

Leslie          http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com

Gabrielle      http://nomorelittlemonkeys.blogspot.com

Roxanne      http://roxyrolla.blogspot.ca  YOU ARE HERE!!!

 Lisa                 http://lisahausmann.blogspot.de  GO HERE NEXT!!!

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July Counterfeit Kit

Well, I decided since I was on such a scrappy roll in June to try and carry that momentum into July, starting with another Counterfeit Kit.  This month, the gals over at the CKC blog have challenged us to come up with a kit based in this one from Scrapabilly:

And now for my kit, starting with the papers:

Honestly, I don't even know how I ended up with this mix! I started pulling turquoise and neutral papers, and then I think I grabbed some of those "Swagger" papers from Fancy Pants, and it changed the whole look, so I decided to base my kit off the "Swagger" papers, and I kind of ended up in a whole other direction.  Do you have whiplash yet?

Then I pulled out my scrap box, and yanked a bunch of stuff that seemed to go:

Most of it is CTMH, but there's a bunch of other stuff too.  What is scrapbooking without scraps, I say?

Some bee-yoo-tee-full die cuts, most cut with my Cameo.  The butterflies are Bo Bunny:

And finally another bunch of die cuts and wood veneer.  I also made my own wood grain paper using some Kraft cardstock, an embossing folder, and a white Gelato rubbed and smudged over top.  Thanks to a tutorial posted on CKC for "Forgeries on the Fourth" for that inspiration!

So yeah, a very masculine kit for me, but I think with the extra flowers and butterflies I can make it work.  Don't be surprised if I sneak in a bit of pink!

I'm off with the two older kids on a little road trip tomorrow - Vancouver, here we come!  Not sure how much scrapping I'll be able to do this month when I get home, it'll be a rather late start, but we shall see what can be done.  Until then, my friends!

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