A wonderful year with SWAT

Hello all! Today I must share some sad news - I'll be taking a break from the SWAT team. What a fun year it has been with these talented, kind, and beautiful ladies! I couldn't help but look back on the last year of drills, starting with my very first drill - All About Me. 

I've gathered together my favorite projects from the past year of drills. Join me in a little bit of crafty reminiscing...

Drill #3 Four Focus Fun

Drill #4 Color Combo

Drill #7 Tic Tac Toe Challenge

Drill #10 Sweet Summertime

Drill #11 Neon

Drill #16 Sketch + Twine

Drill #17 Fussy Cutting 

Drill #18 Sketch + Wood Embellishments

Drill #20 Feathers

Drill #21 Christmas Carol

After looking back, I want to jump right back on the team and start creating. Luckily, SWAT announced a new drill this morning. Make sure to head over to the SWAT blog to check it out and join in all the fun. Take my word for it - It's the best challenge blog around! 

Drill #24 : Button Up This Sketch

Have you seen the exciting Drill over at the SWAT blog? We're challenging you to take this sketch from Page Maps and create a layout with buttons somewhere on the page! 

Here's my take on the sketch: 

I have had these crazy photo booth images from Renegade Craft Fair sitting near my craft table for two summers now just waiting to be scrapped! They're the worst photo booth pictures in history -- which makes them the BEST photo booth pictures in history! 

I added different alpha stickers and chipboard words to create a title that fit well with the theme of the pictures. I decided to use the buttons the same way I would enamel dots or other bling. It was fun to dig into my stash and use them in a creative way! 

SUPPLIES :: Paper Cut White Cardstock, Studio Calico Black Tag, Vintage Buttons, American Crafts Amy Tangerine Cut & Paste Collection, Carta Bella Wildflower Collection

Drill #23 Word & Goals for the New Year

Good morning! Are you ready for the very first SWAT (Scrap Warriors Advanced Training) Drill of the new year? At first, I didn't think I was. The last two months of 2013 were the most emotionally draining days of my life. Things that were too hard to even put into words. I opened up to my fellow SWAT Design Team members that I was completely uncertain about a resolutions page for today's challenge. I was uncertain about anything. 

I spent hours pouring over what to leave behind and what to press onward with. God really has sustained me, showering me with His never-ending mercy and blessings. Now it's time to let go. And man, IT FEELS GOOD. I invite you to join SWAT this month in coming up with your own Resolutions, New Year Goals, or Word of the Year. Scrapbooking has really turned into my therapy, and creating this page was part of the process! 

Here's a look at the front and back of the project I created for this Drill. It will slip into a 6x12 Becky Higgins page protector and end up between the pages of my Project Life Week One spread. I'm so excited for what this year will hold, to focus on this word, to welcome change, and document it all! 

Discipline is something I really have always lacked. I have grand ideas, but horrible follow through. But rather than beat myself up over another year of missed opportunities, Im going to turn what feels like difficult chores into daily habits. I wrote on this and included an outlook of goals for the new year. In the coming months I'll look at those specific goals, creating an action plan. 

I'm encouraged to finally write all my fears and hopes down on paper. It's a great release. Of course, I couldn't just write. I had to make it pretty. I cut two pieces of 6x12 patterned paper and adhered them together to fit in the page protector. I also added layered paper, a doily, and some vellum to highlight my word. The word was cut from patterned paper using my Silhouette Cameo. I love that thing! I dressed it up with some wood veneers and ink splatters and stamped the year using Studio Calico Project Life Stamps. A single stitched line holds it all together. 

Now it's your turn! You don't have to come up with an insert like I did... Head over to the SWAT blog to gather lots of inspiration from my fellow Design Team members. They've created wall hangings and scrapbook layouts. No matter what you turn this Drill into, I hope you'll take a moment to reflect on the new year. Do you have goals, resolutions, or a word you'd like to focus on. Use this fun hobby as a bit of therapy. Then share your project on the SWAT blog. There's even a great prize for one lucky participant. 

SUPPLIES :: Studio Calico (Amsterdam Add On Stamp, Star Wood Veneers), Carta Bella Wildflower Collection Pack, Glimmer Mist, Paper Cut Vellum

TOOLS :: Silhouette Cameo, Brother Sewing Machine, StazOn Jet Black Ink, Project Life Journaling Pen

Drill #21 : Caroling We Go

Are you ready for a new drill from SWAT? We're starting December off right. For this challenge, create a layout with a Christmas Carol as a title. You have until December 28th to link up your creations - There's a fun prize up for grabs! 

For my layout, I chose an older photo of me hanging out at our family's cabin in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Friends have laughed at my snowman in this picture, but I think it's quite the looker! 

Papers from Bo Bunny's Elf Magic and Woodland Winter collections were used, including these gorgeous snowflake stickers. The title was created with a Silhouette Cameo and cut on white cardstock. I chose to use the negative space and allow the dark blue to show through! 

I can't wait to see what project you create with a fun Christmas carol. Don't forget to link up at the SWAT blog, as well as view all the lovely layouts my fellow Design Team members created! 

SUPPLIES :: Paper Cut White Cardstock, Bo Bunny Elf Magic & Woodland Winter collection, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Paper Doilies 

TOOLS :: Silhouette Cameo, Fiskars Scrapbooking Rotary Paper Trimmer, MyStik Permanent Adhesive

Drill #20 : Feathers

Good morning! It's time for another Saturday with SWAT! For this challenge, we're asking you to use the sketch below from Page Maps, as well as use FEATHERS. 

I started out with some crazy photos taken with my roommate. The feather trend is one of my favorites, because, like arrows and triangles, it's an element that can be incorporated into almost any layout or card theme. 

I chose to use a feather stamp from A Muse Studio. I stamped it with black StazOn onto two patterned papers that coordinated with the layout. I used my fingers to fold the edges, creating some texture, before adhering them to the page. To add just a bit of glam, I added Stickles too! 

For the line on the bottom half of the sketch, I used two strips that I had previously cut off patterned papers. They're the strips along the bottom that hold the barcode and name of paper. These ones had patterns on one side. You would never know that they were meant to be trash! 

The products from this layout are a mixture of November's Studio Calico Scrapbook Kit and Amy Tangerine's Cut & Paste Collection. The tag in the scrapbook kit was a perfect place to add my journaling. I stamped the 'i love this' image onto the top of the tag, also from the kit. 

Thanks for dropping by the blog today and checking out my take on the challenge. Now it's your turn! You have until November 28th to create your own project - using the sketch and feathers - and link it up to the SWAT blog. As always, there's a fun prize up for grabs. I can't wait to see what you create. 

SUPPLIES :: Studio Calico (Cuppa Scrapbooking Kit, Yellow Twine, Mister Huey's), American Crafts (Amy Tangerine Cut & Paste Collection), Tattered Angels (Glimmer Mist), A Muse Studio Stamps, Star Dust Stickles, Paper Cut Vellum

TOOLS :: StazOn Jet Black Ink, A Muse Studio Acrylic Block, Bic Acid Free Writer

Drill #19 : Ice Cream Love

Good morning! It's time for another drill with SWAT! The holiday season is upon us, and let's face it, These times are all about the food. This challenge asks you to complete a layout that features a picture of food or a recipe. 

For my layout, I chose these fun photos taken at a birthday lunch for my dear friend, Hannah, where we indulged in ice cream. Sadly, I didn't have any ice cream papers or die cuts in my stash, so I worked with the Finely collection by Glitz Design. 

I love the 12x12 sticker sheets from Glitz. It makes it way too easy to embellish a layout. I used my finger to round the corners of a few of the stickers in order to add some dimension and movement. And I can never complete any project without a bit of paper distressing!

Make sure to head over to the SWAT blog to see the beautiful layouts my fellow design team members created. Then link up your own project for a chance to win this BoBunny Collection Pack!

SUPPLIES :: Glitz Design Finely Collection Pack, A Muse Studio Winter Sky Spray Ink, BIC Mark It Black Marker

TOOLS :: Fiskars Scrapbooking Rotary Paper Trimmer, CTMH Paper Distresser, MyStik Permanent Adhesive

Drill #18 : Sketchy Saturday

Good morning! I'm here today with a new drill from S.W.A.T and it's one exciting sketch! There's just a little obstacle - You must also use wood embellishments. 

If you're anything like me, you've got a stash of wood veneers. Pull those out, and get to work! I recently picked up the main scrapbooking kit and add-on from Studio Calico which contained gorgeous heart wood veneers. The rest of the kit matched the colors of my photo, and this layout was born. 

I started with this great wood background and a few layers behind my photo. To recreate the circles in the sketch, I used the Silhouette Cameo to create several sizes from patterned paper. The fun part was arranging them on the background with die cuts, wood veneers, and ink splatters. 

The Tiny Attacher by Tim Holtz continues to be one of my favorite tools. It's so easy to attach vellum and die cuts or just add a decorative element. The camera 'die cut' was actually cut from a 12x12 Dear Lizzy paper. 

After adding the stitch marks from the sketch with a black gel pen, the bottom left corner was still "needing something." To recreate the vertical lines in the sketch, I added a piece of BasicGrey washi tape. 

Thank you so much for looking at today's challenge. I'm so excited to see how you take on the Drill. Don't forget to go to S.W.A.T and check out my fellow Design Team Members and link up your own creation. As always, there's a great prize up for grabs! This month Creative Embellishments is our sponsor. 

SUPPLIES :: Studio Calico (Antiquary Scrapbook Kit, Amsterdam Add-On, Mister Huey's Sherbet)  

TOOLS :: Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher, Silhouette Cameo, Fiskars Scrapbooking Rotary Paper Trimmer, CTMH Paper Distresser, MyStik Permanent Adhesive, Scrapbook Adhesives 3D Foam Squares

Drill #17 : Fussy Cutting

Good morning! It's time for another Drill with S.W.A.T! For this challenge, we're asking you to get our your precision scissors and FUSSY CUT. As always, there's a prize up for grabs - Make sure to link up your project on the S.W.A.T blog! 

Let me start by saying I LOOOOOVE to fussy cut! Cutting and coloring are calming to me. Paper piecing, using cut outs, and transforming patterned paper is where. it's. at. 

Therefore, I was super psyched for this challenge. I had recently added a floral patterned paper to my stash and knew it needed to be used! You can see the full 12x12 paper by Echo Park here. I cut out a few of the individual flowers and used them as embellishments. 

Adhesive was added only to the center of the flowers, and I used my finger to bend the leaves upward. Love the texture and dimension this adds, along with the slight distressing of the edges. 

I finished off the layout with washi tape, super fun bling, and sticker letters. 

Head over to the S.W.A.T blog to see the other samples from my fellow Design Team members... They have lots of ideas to help you start your own fussy cutting project! 

SUPPLIES :: Echo Park (Flower Garden), Crate Paper (Decor, Maggie Holmes Lovely, Ephemera Pack), American Crafts (Cardstock, Mini Alphas, Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm Oatmeal Thickers) Queen & Co (Cotton Candy-Candy Stripes), Studio Calico (Seafoam), Close To My Heart (Arrow Paper Clip)

TOOLS :: Fiskars Scrapbooking Rotary Paper Trimmer, Close To My Heart Paper Distresser, EK Success Cutter Bee Scissors, MyStik Permanent Adhesive

Drill #16: Sketch & Twine

Happy Saturday, Paper Crafters! It's time for another Drill with S.W.A.T! This week we have a great sketch from our very own, Bev Code. 

In addition to the sketch, we challenge you to use twine on your project! One lucky participant will receive a $10 gift certificate to 3 Scrappy Boys... Just link up your project by September 28th.

I had this photo from a baseball game with dear friends this summer that just needed to be scrapped. I matted the photo with white cardstock and wrapped white twine around the bottom three times. I tied the twine together behind the photo and let the curly ends hang loose. 

Before adhering any of the layers, I added ink splatters to the background in place of the circle element on the sketch. After adhering everything down, it really needed an element there with more weight to it. Therefore, I took a colored pencil and my Martha Stewart Circle Cutter and created a fun half circle on the page. 

I can't wait to see your take on the sketch and how you incorporate twine! Looking for more inspiration before diving in? Check out the S.W.A.T blog to see my fellow design team members and their layouts! 

 SUPPLIES :: BoBunny Morning, Studio Calico (Cheerful & Love Wins Papers, Cork Washi Tape, Mister Huey's Silver), Crate Paper (Happy Day & Lifetime Papers, Storyteller Stickers), American Crafts Puffy Vinyl Thickers, We R Memory Keepers Brads, Queen & Co Dots, Ocotober Afternoon Travel Girl Washi Tape

TOOLS :: Fiskars Scrapbooking Rotary Paper Trimmer, MyStik Permanent Adhesive, Close To My Heart Paper Distresser, Martha Stewart Circle Cutter

Stamp, Stitch, & Splatter

Hello Paper Crafters! I'm here today presenting Drill #15 with the S.W.A.T Team! For this drill, we challenge you to use three fun techniques - Stamp it, Stitch it (machine, hand, or faux), & Spray or Splatter it! 

We can't give a great challenge without a prize! One lucky participant will receive a $10 gift card for 3 Scrappy Boys! 

I love all three of the techniques in this challenge and was THRILLED to use them all on one project! I started by adding brown ink splatters to my cream cardstock base. You can achieve this look over an even mist by removing the cap/nozzle and gently tapping the straw above the areas you'd like to ink. 

After Distressing the edges of two paper squares and adding a few patterned circles, I machine stitched a square to hold all of the pieces together. I love the added texture! 

I finished off the card with stamping! Looks like I did the three techniques in the challenge backwards! I paper pieced the bun and stove and adding it to the center. I grounded the image by cutting a small banner from brown patterned paper. I also stamped the sentiment onto a strip of cream cardstock, cut it up, and arranged it on the card front. Lastly, I embellished the card with a few star wood veneers. 

Thanks for stopping by! Make sure to head over to the S.W.A.T blog to see my fellow design team member's gorgeous creations. Link up your own project by September 28th to be entered for a chance to win! 

SUPPLIES :: A Muse Studio Cardstock & Doily, Lawn Fawn Plus One Stamp Set, Pebbles Walnut Grove 6x6 Paper Pad, Studio Calico Star Wood Veneers & Mister Huey's Dark Calico, StazOn Jet Black Ink

TOOLS :: Close To My Heart Paper Distresser, MyStik Permanent Adhesive, ZIG 2-Way Chisel Tip Glue, Cutter Bee Scissors, Fiskars Scrapbooking Rotary Paper Trimmer, A Muse Studio Acrylic Block, Brother Sewing Machine, Martha Stewart Score Board