Challenge week - why take the challenge?

I challenged myself this month with my scrapbooking. I wanted to create 31 pages - one for each day of May - even though it was a school month, and a busy one at that. I am about 10 pages short. I know there are still a few hours left in May, but I also know with my calendar today I won't complete 10 pages.

When I realized earlier this week that I probably wouldn't meet my challenge I was disappointed, and then I looked at all of the layouts I have created this month. More than 20 pages. How can I be unhappy about that? I've shared photos and stories and also played with paper and stamps. Seems like a win to me.

Also as a part of my challenge to myself, I started visiting challenge blogs again. I was totally inspired by what I found! Some layouts I shared earlier this week and entered into the challenges. Some, like this one,are too late to be entered.

This page was inspired by a sketch at Stuck?! I captured this memory because of the sketch challenge.

I love the way the white space in the design emphasizes the photo. A photo that has been in my box for about three years.  So, although I'm sad I missed the deadline, I am so pleased that I was inspired to create this page and share this story.

Why do I take challenges? Because they motivate and invigorate me. Because I get ideas and inspiration from them. Why do I take challenges? Mostly because they help me to share photos and tell stories. For me, that is what this all about!

Challenge Week - Let's Get Sketchy

I'm challenging myself this month and completing some challenges along the way.

Today's layout was inspired by this sketch from  Let's Get Sketchy.

Here is the layout I created:

I used a CTMH May special paper pack from two years ago to create this page. I also dug into my older embellishments to add a bit more pizazz.

The title, I promise, sums up the story. We were at the park for a fun day. I don't remember the special occasion now. Both kids decided to have their faces painted. They were very excited at the time, although I didn't capture that in these photos. Still, I promise, they were having fun!

Thanks for the challenge! Check back later in the week to see what other challenges I've taken on this month!

Challenge Week - Sketch N Scrap

I decided to celebrate May as scrapbooking month in a big way. I've set a layout challenge for myself (more about that later in the week.) I know that one way I get inspired to get pages started and finished is to participate in challenges from other sites.

Today's layout was inspired by this sketch from Sketch N Scrap.

Here is the layout I created:

I liked the triangle elements on the sketch, but the triangles I cut didn't work as well. Instead I substituted tags. I used paper and fabrics from the Jubilee pack by CTMH.

I love that this layout uses small pieces. All of my scrappy work this month has left me with a big scrap pile!

And the title and embellishment area. I love the flare badges in the Jubilee Assortment!

Thanks for the challenge! Check back tomorrow to see what other challenges I've taken on this month.

Throwback Thursday: Everyday Thoughts

I challenged myself recently to use one of the first Close to my Heart stamps I every purchased. The set was Rustic Flowers. I bought it at the first CTMH party I ever attended in 2007, and it is still in my collection. I used it to make the background paper on this layout about my everyday routines.

Since it is a layout about things I do daily, I used my go-to colors - Outdoor Denim and Bamboo - as well as a pop of Smoothie for contrast. I wanted to explain the daily significance of the photos, so I tucked journaling tags in behind each. 

 

I added interest to the Outdoor Denim cardstock using the dots embossing folder and rounded out the embellishments with some brads and word stamps.

Challenge to myself complete - I used Rustic Flowers, and I documented a bit of my daily routine right now.

Do you have a tool from your first party, crop, scrapbook night? Do you have soemthing in your stash from 2007? Why not use it on your next layout?

Timberline on the Paper Trail

Welcome to the Paper Trail Blog Hop! You're on the right track if you've arrived here from Linda's blog. If this is your first stop, I hope you'll continue on through our circular trail to see all of the creations.

This month we are hopping along with the Timberline paper packet. I love the rich colors of this paper, and the theme made it perfect for capturing memories of a summer hike!




I started with the Workshop on the Go. I love these kits because they make creating layout so easy since they include papers, patterns, stamps and embellishments that coordinate! The workshop layout wasn't a perfect fit for my photos, so I decided to take advantage of the flexibility of the kit and use the supplies to create my own layout!

I used the Hat Trick pattern from the Magic pattern book to emphasize my photos and two of the fun outdoor-themed patters in the paper pack. I personalized the layout to our specific adventure by stamping hiking boots - from the workshop exclusive stamp set - across the page in two different places.

The wooden signs from the Timberline assortment further added to my hiking theme. and I rounded out the embellishments with some brown buttons and fibers - even a bit of sewing!
 







I had many landscape photos from our day hike and struggled to choose which ones to include on my layout. In order to allow room for one more, I used the button slide technique also from the Magic book. Here is my interactive element in action:

Although I have created interactive elements before, I had never followed any of the technique directions in Magic. It was surprisingly easy, and I love the way it turned out. The technique directions even include steps to modify the page protector so that my interactive element can be protected in an album! I will definitely be trying more of these techniques in the future!

Thanks so much for stopping here on the hop! I hope you'll check back next week for more fun layouts. Until then, head over to Diane's blog. I'm sure you'll love what she has in store for you!