BUILDING SANDCASTLES!

I have another fun layout to share with you today from one of our beach trips back in 1996.  This is my sample page for challenge UUS20 that I am hosting over at Soul Scrappers.  It is for using up our scraps - and this month we are using diecuts.  I was so excited to get to use these particular diecuts as I received them in a swap I participated in at a Yahoo Group that I was in called KroppinKids.  

Here is the layout - 

and here is a close-up of the super cute diecuts - 

and some other fun close-ups 

 

this cute little guy is now 22!  It's my eldest son Robert...

Here we are relaxing when Robert tells us it's time to build a sand castle.

and HERE is our castle!

And, the papers are also from the fun Echo Park collection "SPLASH"!

I hope that you have enjoyed this blast from the past and will pull out some diecuts of your own and join in my challenge.

BE INSPIRED!

Today I am bringing you some cards I made for Soul Scrappers CC43 Affirmations.  The challenge calls for creating three cards with positive messages.  Here are mine - 

I hope that you will stop by the challenge and consider creating a few of your own to share.

Thanks for stopping by.  All comments gratefully appreciated.

TIME TO TAKE A JOURNEY!

Today I'm here to share a mixed media piece I created for Soul Scrappers Challenge #SSQ - On the Road Again...

How this challenge works is that we are sent an envelope filled with goodiers that we need to use to create a layout, card or off-the-page project. When I do the SoulQuest challenges I always end up opting to do an art journal page.

These are the goodies I received - 

The goodies came with a note that told us that all the goodies were selected in neutral colors so part of the assignment was to use color. I opted to use several bright colors which I did using one of my favorite colorants - Derwent Inktense Blocks. This is how it started off -

I discovered by being stuck in my tent all day in practically a monsoon that a great way to activate the colors is by rubbing them with Lysol cleaning wipes.

And here is how my background turned out -

Here are the items that were in my envelope as I used them - 

1.  A bus/train ticket-

2.  2 pieces of patterned paper - 

3. A piece of plumber's mesh -

(it's funny how in different places things are called by different names - I have this and it was sheetrock tape.)

4. A piece of muslin - 

(and here this would be called cheesecloth!)

5. Some road signs -

6.  A piece of ribbon -

7.  A piece of twine -

(here this would be rope!)

8.  Some die-cuts

9.  Some rub-ons (plus a cute little stamp I cut off the envelope we received!)

10.  Some Buttons 

(and a cute little piece of metal from my stash!)

And here are some other goodies I added from my stash -

Two pieces of chipboard

Two Quotes I like about journeys 

(including that cute little piece of metal!)

And now here is the grand finale!

(oh which also includes a photo I took on a very long walk I took at Lum's Pond last summer!)

I hope that you have enjoyed getting a look at how I used all those awesome goodies!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  

I hope that you will come visit again soon!

OFF TO THE RACES!

Here is a blast from the past. These fun photos are from 1996 and show my eldest son and his Dad doing all sorts of relay races.  They even won one of them!

The first page is for my challenge over at Soul Scrappers, UUS18 - Using up Buttons.  Itis the second challenge in a group that I am doing based on using up embellishments that have been building up in all of our stash!

Here's my layout -

and a few fun close-ups!

My next page is also for Soul Scrappers challenge TTT6.  Here is the Tic-Tac-Toe board.

I chose to do the center vertical row.  

Here is my 'something fabric' - 2 fabric ribbons

'Item of my choice' - chipboard swirl 
colored red and coated with 
Glossy Accents.

a butterfly

Here is my layout!

and a few other close ups-

CARDS! CARDS! CARDS!

Today I have a few cards to share with you.  The first two were for my Using Up Scraps challenge over at Soul Scrappers UUS18.  The challenge calls for using up metal.  As scrappers we have lots of metal in our stash already like brads, eyelets, metal sentiments and then there are plenty of other metal around the house that also could be used on cards, layouts and 'off-the-page' projects like paperclips, washers, bottle caps, wire, broken jewelry and more!

Here are my cards-

Here I used eyelets and a metal word.  (The butterfly appears metal but it's not!)

Here I used brads and another metal word.

Next is a card that I created for my Pastor from the congregation as she will soon be leaving us for a new church.  The size of the card was poster board folded in half.  I created the front using spray inks and mists.

Then I have this awesome metal cross that I felt would be great inspiration for the front.

It was a bit larger than the card but I decicded to use that and my favorite Pitt pen and traced the openings for the design.

and finally I added the beginning of one of my very favorite scriptures, Jeremiah 29:11.  I did this not only because I love it but because my Pastor shared with me that when she got the call offering her the change she prayed and opened her bible to this scripture and knew that the call was indeed divinely inspired.

I am entering this into 

Word Art Wednesday challenge #187.

My last card uses sketch #401 from Mojo Monday and was created for a family friend who graduated high school last week.  

Here is the sketch-

and my inspiration

and my card!

and a few close ups-

I am also entering this card in Craft for the Craic June challenge - the Big Occasion!

I hope you have enjoyed my cards! Tonight I hope to work on a layout, or maybe a mixed media piece!  I'd love it if you would leave a comment to let me know you were here and what you thought of my projects!