Ben's Birthday with LM sketch challenge

 I'm back on a creative roll.  It definitely helps that I still have page kits and pictures paired from the last retreat I attended.  I always get more materials together than I can work through in a long weekend.  Anyway, I put together a Birthday layout for my husband using the current sketch challenge at Lasting Memories.  Lori K has selected another Alison Davis Sketch that was perfect for my small bits of paper and photo.

Here's the sketch

I only had a little paper left from my TSR kit but almost a full 12x12 sticker page so this is what I did

Started off by staggering my stripes side to side with a little bit of overlap from top to bottom.  That way if my cuts were a little imprecise you wouldn't be able to tell.  In the end, most of the edges ended up covered by stickers so you can't tell but I liked to have options as I create.  As I mentioned before I had nearly a full sticker sheet so instead of die-cutting a bunch of shapes I used the themed stickers instead. Some are directly on the layout while others are popped up on foam to give added depth.

Since it's been a while since I've shared my tracker sheet I thought it would be good to add it too

Took most of August and September off to work on some building projects.  Not on target for 10 layouts a month but the retreat weekend will help with the year-end total.

Thanks for stopping by

XC awards banquet

 My scrappy project for this wet and cold Sunday is some fun table decorations for the upcoming Cross Country banquet.  I have a big pieced-together sign for the food table and some smaller decor for the seating area

I cut some flat cardboard to be a base for all the layers so that it would be semi-rigid. Glued and wrapped the wooden dowels to camouflage them.  The backside isn't super pretty but that's okay

For the smaller decor, I used balloon weights with winged shoe cutouts attached to the top.  A little curling and twisting of the wires and I have a quick and easy centerpiece.

Getting back on track with spending some time creating daily

Halloween at UYS

  In honor of the spooky day Use Your Stuff, would like to see your Halloween or black/orange projects this go-round.  Anything having to do with Halloween or a project primarily in black and orange will do!  Be spooky, be cute, be sarcastic....most of all be fun and use up that stash!

My layout has nothing to do with Halloween at all but the Spring bonfire photos worked well with Black and Orange.

I'm also playing along with the Lasting Memories Sketch challenge.

I love Allison Davis's sketches.  I just did a 4x6 photo layout class so I was excited to see that LM choose Sketch Support #3 for this week's challenge.

 I did just the Left side and only used two photos but you can see the overall design.

Here's my take:

I pieced together some scraps to make the stripes that the photos sit on top of.  Great way to make my paper stretch as I'm getting to the midpoint of my Simple Stories "Take a Hike" kit.  I also threw in some Creative memories Halloween paper on the B side was the floral that I used to back the main photo.

Here are my tips for the split stripes:

1. Use pencil marks to measure a quarter inch shorter than the photo.  That way you have enough paper tucked under the photo and the line doesn't show

2. Use a ruler so that the top and bottom line up

Thanks for stopping by and make sure to join us at Use Your Stuff

Die cuts at UYS

 There’s still time to enter the die cut challenge at Use Your Stuff. It’s not my week to post a DT creation but couldn’t pass up using the fun die cuts I picked up at the recent retreat I attended.  I stretched the frame behind the photo by hiding the cuts behind the layers.  The tag at the top and the notebook paper are also die cuts.

For more details on the challenge make sure to stop by Use Your Stuff 

Lasting memories color inspiration

 Lasting memories has a new color palette up for inspiration and it’s perfect for fall /back to school photos. I’ve been plugging away at the kids school albums at the retreat I’m attending this weekend.  All caught up again.  Good thing as I have a small collection of newspaper clippings from cross country season.  Thinking I should scrap it as it comes in instead of waiting till June now that everyone is in High school and teachers don’t amass a body of work to use at conferences or send a file home at the end of the year.

Here is the color palette 

And here’s my creation based on the colors 

She has changed so much since starting JCHS.

TSR Jumpstart

 Finally getting some time to scrap at a retreat and tried the Jumpstart sketch at The Scrap Room

I’ll share more layouts during the week.  Right now I need to get back to scraping.

Scrap your stash sketch

 I’m playing along with scrap your stash October challenges.  I combined the tool challenge with the sketch as I haven’t used my jumbo circle cutting system in years.  Which is what lead to the oops cut that I covered up with the title card and embellishment cluster.

I tried to minimize the amount being ct by starting at the edge but the blade lift the paper and shift my template causing a funky double cut.  It’s hidden so not too big of a deal other than I shifted my journaling placement to the edge of the page instead of around the circle.

Here’s the October sketch 

I choose to use paper with circles as per the challenge.

  The basics of the sketch are there with a few minor tweaks 

Thanks for stopping by 

Fall at UYS

Hey everyone!  I'm sure wherever you are, the signs of fall are starting to sprout up, the leaves are definitely changing color and are falling from the trees...

In keeping with that, our theme is Autumn or Fall.  It could be the colors, or anything associated with the season, basically anything that makes you think of it! For me, it's back to school.

I need to get caught back up with the kid's school albums as a new year is starting and I don't have the last few years done.  Good thing I have a scrap retreat coming up

Make sure to stop by Use Your Stuff to see the other DT creations

 

UYS- Food/Drink

I know it's been a while since I created a post for Use Your Stuff  DT.  I've been a bit overwhelmed with the number of projects going on here at the farm.  Besides all of the building updates that are happening, my husband and I have started a farm business.  Stay tuned for more on Amacher Farm LLC coming soon. If you missed my last post about the farm you can find it here.  Otherwise on to the latest challenge at UYS

Food and/or Drink

I have been digging through some of the photos my mom has sent my way and found this gem of a photo that's perfect for the challenge.  I think it's the summer of 1980 but not sure other than that we were in Michigan and features my brother and I enjoying sodas together.

aside from having soda in the photo I also have beverage embellishments on the layout.

Can't wait to see what you come up with

 

Overwhelmed this summer

 Hey, all I've been a bit overwhelmed with farm projects this summer.  We have a construction crew currently installing new metal sheeting on the barn.  It's been almost 40 yrs since any work has been done on the barn and we did a bunch of clearing and purging so that the crew could get in and around the barn.  

East wall removal.  It was just covered in rotting plywood.  Fortunate that the support beams were good

New plywood wrap

 Almost finished metal siding

However, we kicked off the construction/ rehabbing of the homestead this past spring with our cooler building.  The walk-in still needs servicing as it hasn't been used in 20-plus years but the compressor is still good as I accidentally turned on the breaker while working on other areas of the building. Currently, I'm purging my brother-in-law's collection of electronic equipment.  I've hauled off some Apple IIe for recycling (those were in use circa 1985) and a bunch of other equally as old monitors and keyboards.  So thankful that our local dump partners with Next Step of recycling and keeping e-waste out of the landfill.

 cleared blackberries and removed a crumbling bay wall.

New post/ beam and cement work

Right now it's a giant party paid but in a week or so it will become our outdoor canning kitchen

Next up is fixing the foundation on our bunkhouse/ cottage.  I think we are going to go with bunkhouse as we move forward as I just set up Amacher Farm LLC.  Our primary focus is going to be heirloom seeds and starts.  We'll probably branch out to produce as well but just getting started.  With my husband and I currently working regular nine to five jobs, we'll probably need a farm hand,  So we are fixing up the one-room bunkhouse in hopes of keeping it from completely crumbling. 

still have a lot more to clear from the south-facing wall

bunch of rot and a cobbled-together foundation that my father-in-law installed.

Trying to prepare for the future and leave a legacy the kids will want to take over and not a headache of broken down and not functioning things that we have taken over from my father-in-law.  He's definitely of a different mindset.  I foresee a bunch of dismantling of ramshackle out-buildings after he passes.  Tom is great at throwing up random spliced-together materials to fit the ever-growing mound of breaking down machinery.

Anyway just thought you all should have an update on what's been going on and why I've been so silent here.  I plan to get crafty again soon.  In the meantime go check out my two favorite challenge sites.  Use Your Stuff and Lasting memories.  

I did get in a bit of creative time with some ashes bottles for my girlfriend.

Now to get back to scrapping.  Thanks for sticking with me through the long read

Night and Day

  Welcome back for my last July layout at Lasting Memories.  I've enjoyed my time as a guest designer and loved seeing all of your amazing layouts.   Now onto challenge #609 for the final challenge. This week it's your choice to create a layout featuring either hot and cold, summer and winter, or night and day. 

I choose night and day featuring another of my son’s troop campouts.  I only had a few photos that I borrowed from the troop Facebook posts so not the greatest photo of the boys around the campfire.

I’m trying to finish off another of my simple stories "Happy Trails" kit and priced together scraps for the banner stripes.  Can’t even tell when the photos are in place

 Please make sure to share your layouts with us at Lasting Memories 

Spots and stripes

 Welcome to my third week as a guest designer for July at Lasting Memories.
This month's challenge is opposites attract.  Challenge #608 Spots and Stripes: create a layout featuring both spots and stripes on it. 

I really struggled with this one as most of my holiday papers are plaid.  I made it work by adding striped washi tape and embellishments.   I also added in some old stickles in a dark glitter green.  It was a challenge as the tip was dry and clumpy so not all the dots are uniform.

I’ll be back next week with another opposite attract layout but in the meantime please share your layouts with us at Lasting Memories 

Mood board at UYS

 

 It's time for some summer inspiration.  Select an image, color, pattern, or whatever from this bright mood board to guide your creative process then share it here with us at Use Your Stuff.  I went with the pool theme, sunglasses, and the colors pink and orange.

I was also inspired by this sketch by Laura Whitaker

Thanks for stopping by and I can't wait to see what you come up with.

New and Old

Welcome to my second week as a guest designer for July at Lasting Memories.

This month's challenge is opposites attract. Challenge #607- New and Old: create a layout with new and old.

 It might be a newborn with an older relative, comparing an old look with a new look, or using both old and new products.

For my new item, it’s the first time my son presided over the court of honor as a senior patrol leader.

And the old is all of the uniforms hanging behind the boys.  The shirts are the scoutmaster and assistant scoutmasters from when they were boys.  Also the paper I'm using is several years old

Now let’s see your take on old and new.

I’ll be back next week with another opposite attract layout but in the meantime please share your layouts with us at Lasting Memories 

Big and Small

Welcome to my first guest design team layout for July at Lasting Memories.

This month's challenge is opposites attract.  #606 Big and Small: create a layout and include both big and small on it. It might be a big title with a small photo or both big and small embellishments.

I went with big and small font. The large font is fussy cut from a 4x6 decorative mat. 

 The two alphas are from my simple stories “Take a Hike” kit. 

 

Another Boy Scout layout is done and closer to finishing off 2021 troop photos.  I have a pocket page album to do for his big summer camp adventure as the troop traveled to West Virginia for Orion Project at the Summit.

I’ll be back next week with another opposite attract layout but in the meantime please share your layouts with us at Lasting Memories 

Guest Designer for Lasting Memories in July

 

 I'm super excited to announce that I'll be a guest designer for Lasting Memories for the month of July.  It seems like I'm making a guest appearance about once a year (the last time was June 2021) and am so glad to be back.  I love playing along with the challenges and getting inspiration from the design team.  I think their challenges are some of the best but I might be biased as I'm a former DT ( 2013-2017).  This year I'm on a DT over at Use Your Stuff 

Triangles at Use Your Stuff

 Welcome to a new challenge with Use Your Stuff- Triangles.  You can cut your own triangle as a featured design element or highlight a triangle patterned paper or even create triangular embellishments it's up to you.  

I went with cutting a large triangle as a design element on my layout of the troop's gift exchange party.

I kept it pretty simple with one focal photo that I created by aligning two 4x6 to get a 5X7 panoramic shot of the troop members and tree during the annual gift exchange.  The title was cut on my circut in an attempt to match the font style of the numbers.  I didn't have enough letters available in sticker form to make it work, plus I got to go larger to fill in some space. Added in two tags That are layered together) from the CM collection, I was using as well as a piece of epoxy flair to finish it all off.

Thanks for stopping by to take a look.  I hope you join us over at Use Your Stuff

Anything goes

Hello, I'm posting a couple hours early for the Use Your Stuff challenge,

so that I can play along with Scrap our stash

Welcome to the last challenge for May at Use Your Stuff. 

 This time it's "anything goes".  I'm still working my way through 2021 scout photos.  

I have one small brown butterfly hiding the bottom caption of the decorative medallion. 

Great way to use up some items from my stash.  

Make sure to join us at Use Your Stuff

 

Touch of Gold

Use Your Stuff wants you to incorporate just a bit of gold in your projects...maybe some glitter or glitter paper, what about some foil or gold paint?  Perhaps you have some gold thickers or brads laying around.  Pop that gold on your project and show us!

My son's troop went to an adventure escape room for one of their meetings which was lost temple-themed.  Perfect for breaking out some gold

For my layout, I backed the photos on gold paper and added gold chunky glitter to the embellishment clusters.

Thanks for stopping by and make sure to check out the other DT work at Use Your Stuff

 

May Scrap our stash

 This May at scrap our stash the challenge is twofold.  Use the sketch and stamp/ mixed media.

For this layout, I started off with cutting large chevrons from a sheet of patterned paper that I thought would complement the photo but I didn't like how it came out so I used the negative to smear my ink pad across to make the chevrons.  Not really a stamp- more of a technique, so I splattered it all with shimmerz "Taupe of the mornin' " and  "Granny Gray".  Also did a couple of clusters of black Nuvo drops and red enamel dots to get in a little more texture.

 The layout is close to the original sketch but I rotated the sketch and added a circle with a rub-on as we;; as added a a title across the bottom

Inspired by Cinema

 

  I'm late getting this post up for you.  We have a looming construction deadline here on the farm, so I spent the entire weekend building a new fence to house the goats.  Without further ado, this week's challenge is to be inspired by the cinema.  It could be a favorite movie, soundtrack, a role that a favorite actor played.  Maybe it was a movie night with you and the family...Whatever it is, incorporate it into your project and share it with us at Use Your Stuff.

  I chose "Into the Wild" as my movie as I'm still working on my son's scout album and the movie title fits the photos of the troop's campout and boating adventures.  I'm also playing along with Sketches in Thymes #515 but doing it doubled for a two-page spread as well as Lasting memories- wedding inspired “something old”

I pieced together the last of my EP “Boys Rule” from 2014”(Definitely some of my older stash) and mixed it with the last another line with similar colors.  I know it’s we are memory keepers but not the actual collection since there was so little of it left.  Feels good to use up scraps.

The left side of the spread is close to the sketch design minus a few layers as I didn’t have much in the way of large pieces of paper.  Hid some of the piecing with the tag and stickers 

Flipped the sketch for the right side of the spread and replaced one of the ring elements with a large circular sticker

Thanks for stopping by and remember to share your cinema inspire creations with us at Use Your Stuff