Simple Sketches Design Team

...and the new Simple Sketches Design Team members include.....little, old me!!!

Here is my bio and headshot.

I am: 38 years old, Christian, wife and mom, scrapbooker, sorority alumnae, mommy-group member, stay-at-home mom, Californian, dreamer, architecture/home lover, hiker, volunteer, pedicure lover, old-soul, friend. Scrapping is my passion and creating art though memories brings me joy. My playful style focuses on my two sons, my awesome husband, our dogs, my active social life with girlfriends, heritage memories, vacations and outdoor adventures along with anything else that tickles my fancy. I'm a super fast scrapper. My go-to style is thematic but I like to stretch myself with a bit of everything- distressed, masculine, clean and simple, classic, artsy, or whatever the photo or my whim calls for. I have been scrapping forever, specifically since 1993. Admittedly, I relish trying out the latest trends (like washi tape or banners) while still using tried and true favorites (paint, stickers, sewing). Recycling items like random kitchen trash, office supplies or old clothes onto layouts is a specialty for me.

Simple Sketches - SUPER!

A fabulous sketch designer, Melissa Williams is starting her own blog called Simple Sketches. What is fabulous about her sketches is their strong basic designs without all the fuss of extras, so you can start with the design and embellish how ever fits your needs. http://simplesketches.blogspot.com/

She has opened a Design Team call this month. Here is the sketch she provided.

Simple Sketches Design Team Sketch

And here is my entry. It showcases my youngest having a blast dressed as a super hero with muscles at a birthday party. I'm not usually one to scrap several pictures that are so similar, but something about the innocent youthfulness of these days of wonder and imagination just begged for me to capture every detail! I added some screen mesh (recycled from a screen door), white rub-ons, black stamped stars, doodled white borders, and plenty of fussy-cut pop-dotted accents. The playful papers are from Pebbles- Party with Amy Locurto - Save the Day & Incredible. I love how in the top right photo his little arms are up similar to the cut figure in the lower right.

And now I hope you check out Simple Sketches and take a look at Melissa's first official sketch on September 1, 2013 at Simple Sketches.  

Dandelion- Journal cards

Over at The Paper Girls, they challenged followers to create a page with 3 or more journal cards. Well I'm a Journal card junkie and could easily do this one!
http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/2013/07/challenge-35-journaling-cards.html
Buzz on by and give it a try yourself. 

I used a fancy shape from the Making Memories - Noteworthy Collection - Spiral Journaling book for journal on the right side. 

I then tore and used the bees from  Making Memories - Paper Reverie Collection - Spiral Journaling book - Brun Antique as an embellishment on the bottom left. Finally I used a brown chipboard journal card on the left for the date over the photo. 

Sleeping Boy

While "walking down memory lane" of my boys when they are babies, I ran across this sweet pic of my oldest son sleeping. They are such angels when they sleep.

One of the "tricks" I used here was to glue Baker's Twine around the center pic and patterned papers to frame it in a sweet, warm way...and without actually sewing! I like how the twine frame turned out.

My Precious One

I love challenges. They, well, challenge me to think outside of the norm and create something new.
I found 3 talented women who host blogs with challenges and each month, they have a group challenge. Each gives their own challenge and if you do all 3 on one page, you are entered for a bonus drawing.

Kristi B. challenge is to use clocks on a layout. http://devosmommy.blogspot.com/2013/07/scrappy-friends-july-challenges.html
Grand Diva offers up a sketch to inspire. http://granddivasscrappyplace.blogspot.com/
Rochelle asks us to be inspired with a title from a Celine Dion song.
http://rochellespears.blogspot.com/2013/07/july-inspired-by-challenge.html

Listening to Christian radio, I don't listen to much "main stream" music but in 2004 when I gave birth to my first son, I was given as a gift the "Miracle" CD by Celine Dion which is all about her love for her newborn son. I played that CD in my son's room while he slept so it looped over and over while I was in there in the wee hours of the night nursing or rocking him. Oh, what sweet memories.

Here is the page with the title "My Precious One" from the Miracle CD, as well as using clocks and the sketch.