Inspired By Wrapping Paper

Remember this fabulous wrapping paper that was inspiring me?

I decided to take this challenge from CKCB:

Photo Credit

Challenge 2: Gift Wrap Challenge:  Find some cool gift wrap and use it to inspire you (perhaps the theme or for your journaling or the patterns)

I combined the challenge with some inspiration gathered in Shimelle's Inspired By Class (specifically, Stephanie Bryan's page), and came up with this layout:

It's a little hard to tell from this photo, but the polka dot paper on this layout is white with gold polka dots from Teresa Collins. I used my "way back machine" to dig a photo out of the archives-and actually scrapped one of my senior photos.

The Great Layout Makeover Challenge

I am here today with this challenge for the CKCB. It was my turn for the next contribution, and it kind of goes against my policy of not redoing my pages, but I'm always up for a challenge, so I powered on. First order of business was to go through my old scrapbook pages/albums, until I saw a page that I thought needed to be redone. I found one from way back in the early 2000s, and decided to go with it.
Here is my original page:

(Please excuse the terrible photo, it was a cell phone snap at night, and I totally forgot to retake the photo before I tore it apart).

Here is what the design team liked:
*the blue color
*the title
*the cute little guy ;-)
*the photos across the page(some felt it was too busy, though)

Suggestions:
*black and white the photos (I chose not to do this simply because they are so busy. I like my black and white photos to be simple and striking)
*having the journaling on a card or tag, and tucking it in somewhere
*use blues-some felt darker, some said lighter blue. The Shimelle True Stories collection was suggested
* bring in some red to tie in the red sweater
*use a square formation for the photos
*trim the photos to eliminate the background
*use Thickers
*use only the three photos on the right
*reduce the photos down to two

I tried to think about all of their suggestions as I was putting my layout back together, although I did have to do it my own way, and include the things that made the page feel complete to me. My favorite part of this challenge: I developed my story more in the process, as I was explaining the layout to the girls, so I included that on my finished layout design.
Would you like to see my finished product?

Here is the updated layout:

I separated the three dancing photos from the other one, which I gave a little more prominence with its own photo mat. I tucked the journaling in on tags, and used a kraft background to ground the photos and the wood tones. I added red as suggested, in bits from Say Cheese, Shimelle's True stories did make a small appearance (can you spot it?), along with a few bits from my September kit. I even got a little bit of light and navy blue in there! What do you think? Better? If you make over any pages, link me up! I'd love to see!

Counterfeit Kit Challenge #3:Mix a Sketch

For today's scrapbook layout, I am playing along with the Counterfeit Kit challenge
Challenge #3: Mix the following two sketches together to make a fun, one of a kind project.  You can mix any parts you want, but make sure to use something from each sketch!

Link to Sketch from Studio Calico: Photo Credit

Link to Sketch from Studio Calico: Photo Credit

I liked the pile of tags and papers in the first sketch, and the squares in the second sketch reminded me of the 6x6 papers that I had in my kit, so this is the layout that I ended up with:

I love how I can still see elements of both sketches, and I love the fun little stack of embellishments and tags, and how I was able to tuck my journaling away!

Disney Scrapbooking...Animal Kingdom

A few pages to share from Animal Kingdom, as well:

Disney Scrapbooking...Hollywood Studios

We went for a Star Wars weekend, and it was sooooo hot! Here's a peek at some of our memories:

Disney Scrapbooking...Epcot

Here are a group of scrapbook pages with our Epcot memories...

Disney Scrapbooking...Magic Kingdom

For  the next few posts, I will be sharing a bunch of my Disney scrapbook pages, so they will all be gathered in one place. Here are several layouts with our memories from Magic Kingdom:

A Football Mom's prayer...

Last night, I saw something that literally made my heart stop with fear.  A friend of mine posted a photo of an air evac helicopter in the middle of a football field, and said that an eighth grade football player had to be life flighted from their game after taking a hit. My heart stopped. You see, last night was an away game for my son, and the first game this season that I did not go to, since it was further away than most of his games. As I waited for my friend to respond about what game it was, and who was hurt, I prayed and hoped that it wasn't mine. But I knew even after finding out that it wasn't him, that another mama out there was watching her son and praying for his life. This business of being a mom is hard. I let him play for so many reasons. Sports are such a positive influence on kids, their self confidence, building relationships, learning to work and play well with others, and keeping them healthy and fit. But they can be hard as well. It is hard to watch your son's (or daughter's) team lose. It is hard to keep the right attitude and teach them good sportsmanship when they do. It is so hard to watch them go into potentially dangerous situations, and let them go. Even though you know that they are smart and careful, you know that bad things still happen. But I wanted the other mama's out there to know that I am praying for my son (and yours), and you are not alone in this scary business of raising a child.
And, for the son I am talking about; #85-

You keep doing your best, and I will keep praying for you. That you make the right choices. That you stay safe. And that you become a good man in the process!

Counterfeit Kit for September 2015

I know I say this every month, but how did it get to be September? It seems like I was just revealing my August kit... anyway, onward and upward!
The kit that we are being inspired by this month is the August Pop Art kit from Studio Calico:

I went with a very similar feeling, but softer, for my kit, "Sweet Citrus", for the lemon, lime, and orange loveliness in this kit:

This kit is fun, fresh, and bright, and I think I will have a great time with it this month! I found geometrics, text print paper, a mod floral, and the triangle embellishments immediately reminded me of this paper pad from Studio Calico. I even found a roll of white and gold washi tape.

Here is a look at the papers only in my kit:

I was feeling inspired by the fun colors and patterns of this kit, so I went ahead and took inspiration from this Project Life kit to make an embellishment mini kit:

My mini embellishment kit:

So, fun month ahead for me...how about you? Why don't you try making up a kit from your stash and link up with us at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge so we can see what you're making? But first, be sure to hop around and see what the other designers have pulled together out of their stashes, and how this kit is inspiring them!

Guest Designer:  Cindy: http://www.cindyscreations-cinmfoster.blogspot.com/

Lisa:  http://lisahausmann.blogspot.ca

Lynnette  http://www.sassyscrapper2010.blogspot.com

Margie:  http://scrappinmargie.blogspot.com *YOU ARE HERE*

Stephanie:  http://skylinepaperie.blogspot.com

Susanne:  http://snapsandsnippets.blogspot.com

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

Julene:  http://julenebydesign.blogspot.com

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