I finally felt like scrapping again

I loved the sketch from Sketch Inspiration (#235) this week, so I got back into my huge stack of photos from the Phoenix trip I took in June with my twin sister, Karen!!!  I totally love to scrap simply and get a lot of photos in my layout. I used some Pebbles, My Mind's Eye papers, a fun flag from Nikki Sivils, some letter brads (maybe Paper Suite from Hobby Lobby), a fun journaling spot from Pink Paislee and some stamping/inking from CTMH for this simple layout from the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden. I found a fun new (to me) anything goes challenge  at CropStop, so I thought I'd give it a whirl.

Can't Scrapbook to Save My Life Weekend

So, I decided to make a mini book.  It is called an x-book!  It is an easy book that you make with just one sheet of 8 1/2" x 11" piece of paper and then decorate! The only thing hard about making this book was the Modge Podge.  It wasn't required, but I wanted to give the book some stability!  I had embossed a cool bird and flourish image with a Cuttlebug folder over the sun before attaching it to the cover.  I was also thrilled to be able to get 9 photos on the six "pages." The book is really tiny--about 4 1/4" by 2 1/4".  I decided to use some of the many photos from the Phoenix vacation to fit The Paper Variety's challenge this week!

Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens (many more to come, too)

My son says this layout is too busy, and that may be true; but that is just how the Desert Botanical Gardens seemed to me at times. There were so many plants to see and they had a wild, untamed quality about them even though they were carefully planted and maintained by the garden's staff.  I got the sketch from Inspired Blueprints, which is new to me.  And, I'm entering it into Simon Says Stamp & Show Travels!

Thank you so much for visiting! It makes my day to know that you stopped by to say hi!

Engrained - Tempe, Arizona - ASU campus

I was really excited when I saw this lovely paper and other goodies from Webster's Pages "box" sale! I knew they would go perfectly with the Engrained photos I took or had taken when my sister and I visited there!  Engrained is all about sustainable, fresh ingredients! And, if you can see the words I left showing through the paper, you can see that it could be Engrained's mission statement! The food was so good there that I highly recommend you make the effort to get out to Arizona State University's Tempe campus and eat there if you are in the area (near Phoenix). It looks really casual inside, and the food is kind of served "cafeteria" style (though it is made fresh and brought out to your table), but it is gourmet food. The prices are pretty reasonable, too, considering you get a drink and don't tip there! Yum! I wish I could eat there right now! I made this for Simon Says.....Who wants some FOOD & DRINKS????

Thanks so much for visiting! I hope your week is wonderful!

Phoenix - Sisters at the Desert Botanical Gardens Take 2

I realize this looks a little dark and boring in the photo, but it looks half-way decent in person!  I'm in the mood to scrap some of my many Phoenix photos from the trip my sister and I took in June, 2011.  I used Sketchy Thursday's sketch and a color challenge from Just Us Girls.  I'm using up some of my stash.  I decided to use 6 brads and some old Basic Grey paper that I've had for a long time. It is hard to tell, but I did use one of my favorite Fiskars border punchs on this, too!  And, I made a rosette out of some left over paper from Scenic Route that I used on the last layout I posted!

Thanks for visiting! It makes my day!

Phoenix - Sisters and First Day of School for Mitch

This is my twin sister and me at the Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens.  This was our FIRST trip that we have taken with just the two of us since we left home so many years ago that I don't even want to count!!!  I haven't played over at Artful Delight in a while, but I really loved this sketch and had some pictures that I thought would work really well with it!  I'm also entering this at Moxie Fab World's Fabulous Felt! challenge (one of the flowers) and Simon Says Stamp challenge to add bling (to the butterflies).

Oh, and here is a photo of the first day of the last year of high school for Mitch!

Thanks for visiting! Hope you are having a great weekend!

Point Loma brings about Contemplation

I decided to try out a new technique (to me) to fit with Lasting Memories layout challenge and added string to the bottom to meet The Paper Variety's challenge for this week.  My new technique was to paper piece using canvas.  I also used some crackle paint on the chipboard and boat hull.  These photos were taken at Point Loma! It was such a beautiful place. I could have stayed there all day!

Thanks for visiting!  I really appreciate it! Have a great day!