A Walk in the Park...

The July kits are live at Scrapbook Chicks!  I had the privilege of working with the "A Walk in the Park" kit, full of Echo Park and My Mind's Eye goodness :).  I made three layouts and have oodles of product left for more pages.

"Yummy" - Jaxon getting his first real taste of chocolate :).

"Virgins" - My sister and brother-in-law on their honeymoon.  There's an inside joke here, but I won't get into it now :).

"Mom and Dad" - a photo of my parents about a month shy of their 31st anniversary.  Do you see the 31?

And do you know the best part?  Each of the two kits are only $14.00!  There's tons of paper, great cardstock, and enough cute embellies to get you going.  I was sure to pick up the other kit, too.  I can't wait to scrap my 4th of July adventures with that one!

I hope your week is going well.  Thank you for stopping by! Tessa

Little Yellow Bicycle and Fancy Pants

Whoo hoo! Was I excited to see that I had the opportunity to design with some Snugglebug goodies by Little Yellow Bicycle from Scrapbook Chicks this month!  These papers are absolutely darling!  Well, almost as darling as my husband's cousin's baby boy, Ezra!

I created a grid with my photos and squares of this patterned paper.  I used this paper for my scalloped edge and to cover the chipboard brackets.  I created more of a border by layering stickers across the bottom edge of the grid and made flower and tab accents from Chick'n Noodles and Chick'n Feed.  I doodled a border all around, added a few little stitches, and used these sweet stickers for my title.  It all came together really fast, and I have enough patterned paper left for cards :).  Thank you, Cousin Candie, for letting me scrap your little guy!

I was also sent some really fun papers by Fancy Pants.  The teal, charcoal, pink, and mint colors in this line are so fun!  I decided to scrap a black and white photo to allow the colors to pop. 

I had fun with paint, added strips of this cardstock and this patterned paper, and adorned my photo with luscious Dear Lizzy ribbon.  I used Thickers and mini alphas that I had purchased previously at Scrapbook Chicks for my journaling and title.  Altogether, a pretty quick layout!  I think I spent more time waiting for paint to dry than actually assembling.

Be sure to stop by Scrapbook Chicks for the latest and greatest!  I am so excited about all of the lines appearing on Christie's shelves!  Follow Scrapbook Chicks on Facebook for news about fantastic sales - she really knows how to throw a sale :).  Have a great day! Tessa

DeLovely Monster

Happy Sketchy Thursday!  Have you seen the new sketch at Sketchy Thursdays?  I loved it!

The carnival was in town a few weekends ago.  We took the boys and spent an entire afternoon going back and forth from ride to ride.  My hubby decided to try his hand at darts and I decided I wanted a Domo.  After many well-placed darts and a trip to the ATM, I had my monster :).  Isn't he cute?

I used DeLovely papers and chipboard by Cosmo Cricket.  I LOVE this line!  It's so bright, cheerful, energetic, and perfect for carnivals and summer fun!  I picked mine up at Scrapbook Chicks, who is also featuring DeLovely in a new *affordable* kit ($19.99 with shipping - can't beat that!).

I painted my background with the lid of a Prima flowers bottle and some paintbrush splatter.  To emphasize the circle motif, I stitched some of the circles in the patterned paper with the colors from the striped paper.  I thought the circles went well with all those balloons!

Thanks for stopping by! Tessa

Dear Lizzy and a Sale

Scrapbook Chicks is at it again!  The First Friday sale for June is up and running, and there are some fantastic deals to be had! 

♥ 75% off My Mind's Eye Meadowlark, Kaisercraft, American Crafts Abode, and Pebbles

♥ 50% off American Crafts Dear Lizzy, Little Yellow Bicycle Clothesline, and MME Quite Contrary

♥ 40% off Jillibean Soup and American Crafts Adhesive Refills

♥ 25% off My Mind's Eye So Sophie Collection and American Crafts Cardstock

I already nabbed some Dear Lizzy and Meadowlark :).  Speaking of Dear Lizzy, here is a layout I made using Dear Lizzy papers, thickers, and embellishments, as well as a smidgen of October Afternoon.

I have to say, I'm in love with crocheted flowers now, thanks to that Elizabeth Kartchner!

Now I've got to run - I'm trying to entertain children and get new things for the shop photographed and listed.  Finding balance this summer is going to be a challenge :).  I'll be back with shop update news!  Tessa

New 'do and a New Chick'n Scratch

I got bangs!  I haven't had bangs since I was in junior high, I think.  I grew them out for dance and never looked back.  I got the itch to give them a go again, so my hairdresser sister hooked me up.  I think they're fun, but I'll probably grow them out soon.

This layout is based on this new Chick'n Scratch from Scrapbook Chicks:

I only used the right side and three photos.  All the papers and labels are by October Afternoon, found at Scrapbook Chicks, where I also got those cute thickers.  I added Prima roses and an ivory lace flower from my shop.

We'd love to have you play along with us.  Create a layout based on the sketch, try not to use anything from the May kit (if you have one - if not, what are you waiting for?), and upload a photo of your page to the Scrapbook Chicks Facebook page.  You have until Monday night, and there will be prizes awarded!

I hope your weekend is treating you well!  Thanks for stopping by, Tessa

Bridesmaids and Sisters

Unfortunately, I just didn't have the time this week to devote to the Spring Challenge Blog Hop that I wanted to.  I did manage to complete one challenge (besides the one for STP that I already had done as a DT member) for Sketchy Thursdays.

Materials Used: cardstock - Best Occasions; paint - Plaid; mist - Tattered Angels; papers, thickers, and fabric paper - American Crafts; buttons - Buttons Galore; thread - DMC; pen - Micron.

I loved the sketch and hope to find time to use it again soon!  I used Dear Lizzy goodies that I got from the Scrapbook Circle April Kit.  FYI - You'll see some other yummy Dear Lizzy in the upcoming Scrapbook Chicks kit, too :).  The flowers are made from the fabric paper - I just removed the adhesive backing and it creased beautifully.  You can find a tutorial for this kind of flower by my friend, Anna, here.

I also used paint and a new glimmer mist, Star Fish, to create my background (check off another embellishment challenge at Scrapfreak).  I took the swirly line motif from the Dear Lizzy "puddle play" paper and stitched it to frame out my photo space.

If you have some Dear Lizzy that you're looking to use, join in on the challenge at the American Crafts blog.  Use at least two items from the line on a layout or card, and you could win a big selection of Dear Lizzy yumminess!

I hope you are enjoying your weekend!  Tessa

2nd Chance Challenge - Funny Boy

First, I want to clarify - my son does NOT pick his nose.  He's 11.5 months old and only just discovering his nose :).  With that said, here is my layout for the 2nd chance challenge at Sketchy Thursdays. 

My friend Christie, owner of Scrapbook Chicks, recently challenged herself to do a layout in 15 minutes.  I can't do that, so I set a more realistic goal for myself of 30 minutes.  Not counting the time it took for my mist to dry (picked the kids up from school during that), this took me a little over 20 minutes.  I kept it really simple, and although it may not be as detailed as some of my other layouts, I still really like this one.  I mean, come on, isn't that picture enough?

One of the current embellishment challenges at Scrapfreak is to use alpha stickers.  This masking technique is one of my favorites right now.  You simply lightly apply alpha stickers where you'd like, mist, blot and/or let dry, then carefully remove the stickers.  I like to trace the inside of the letters for added definition.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a WONDERFUL weekend!  Tessa