December sketch challenge {scrapbook circle}

It's time for another sketch challenge at Scrapbook Circle! Each month I create a sketch to get subscribers motivated to dig into their kits. If you use the sketch and a Scrapbook Circle kit, make sure to link up your layout to the blog post on the Scrapbook Circle site or to the Scrapbook Circle Facebook page. There is an amazing prize up for grabs this month!

If you do not use a Scrapbook Circle kit, that's OK, too! Feel free to still pin and use the sketch for inspiration.

I love the pink and teal that Lisa included in this kit. And the hearts! Swoon… just love them! There are so many fun little details in this kit. Enamel dots, wood veneers, a custom stamp and amazing alphas.

Here's the sketch I mentioned above. If you want more details about using the sketch with a Scrapbook Circle kit, head on over to the blog for more details. 

Here is a picture of the prize for one lucky participant.

Thanks for stopping by here today to see my layout and sketch! Have a great weekend!

"This Life" January kit {scrapbook circle}

If you haven't seen it yet, the January kit for Scrapbook Circle is pretty awesome! There are quite a few papers that are perfect for those upcoming Valentine's Day projects and cards, but as you can see below, there are plenty of pieces that still work for everyday moments.

The Studio Calico Printshop Journal Cards came in handy on this layout. I love the pieces where you can stick photos into the card (like under the ampersand and under the pennant flag).

We went to the Androids and Aliens exhibit at our local museum last month and snapped some pictures of Nate with Star Wars characters. Terminator, Aliens and Iron Man were also there along with great sci-fi story boards and a Mars Rover video. I just love the museum! Always good for a trip twice a year to see the new exhibits and re-visit old ones.

I also wanted to make sure to include the ticket stub (it has how many of us went and on what day), and this little layered cluster with a wood veneer pennant and journal card worked out perfectly.

Check out Scrapbook Circle if you are in the market for a kit or a kit club subscription! Use my code DIANAF20OFF for 20% off you purchase. 

Jolly sleigh ride {chic tags}

This Sunday I was looking online for some inspiration and stumbled upon a sketch from Chic Tags. I had this pack of Good Tidings embellishments that I got from Paper Issues not too long ago and was itching to use some of the pictures I had been collecting for my December album on a layout. 

I was also looking forward to getting a bit messy, so I grabbed my embossing paste and a snowflake stencil to add some fun wintery embellishments to the background of my gray card stock. 

If you are looking for a really great texture for snowflakes on your projects, try embossing paste! Use it on a gray card stock for a bit more kick than if it was white-on-white.

Add some sequins, mist and stitching to call it a day! I love how this turned out, and it was just what I needed for some scrappy happiness this past weekend. Thanks for stopping by here today to see my layout!

My One Little Word {lily bee}

One of the ideas for project work with month at Lily Bee is goals and resolutions. I saw the perfect opportunity to document my One Little Word (OLW) for 2014. I have made a sketch or mixed media project every year since I started OLW (which was 4 years ago — this is my fifth word!).

I used the We R Family and Urban Autumn collections from Lily Bee to make my layout. I love the wood veeners, enamel shapes and  Daily Deck cards in each collection, so I wanted to make sure those had a place on my layout.

I didn't take an up-close picture of my journaling, but I will share with you why I chose "LIGHT." It has many meanings that are important for my personal success in 2014: 

• To be the "light" for others who are in need of leadership.

• To "lighten" my commitments and share responsibilities with others where I can.

• To be "light hearted" and carefree when I can be. Some things should just be fun and not stressful.

Pretty good word, I think. I know I'm excited about it and ready to dig into 2014.

Today is also a challenge day, so here is the sketch that goes with my layout for today.

Thanks for stopping here today to see my layout and read about my OLW for the year.

Supplies: Lily Bee (We R Family: Pattern Paper (Game Night, Family Time), Tiny Tablet, Washi Tape, Daily Deck, Wood Veneer, Sweet Spots Enamel Stickers) (Urban Autumn: Daily Deck, Wood Veneer)

Copper Mountain Giveaway {bella blvd and studio calico}

Hi! Happy Monday to you all. Today I have a great giveaway for you from Studio Calico. 

Bella Blvd has a paper in the Copper Mountain January kit. It is the fabulous one with the yellow hearts. On the other side of that paper are these wonderful doodles (originally in the Snapshots collection). It is custom just for Studio Calico and this kit. 

There is the 12x12 version in the main kit, and then the yellow hearts pattern appears again in the 6x6 paper pad in the card kit.

I had fun working with the main kit and the paper pad in the card kit to make these three cards.

I loved the buck stamp! I used a mustard yellow embossing powder to make him stand out on this card. The Bella Blvd paper is the doodles side shown here as one of the strips in the background.

There is one great sheet of paper at the beginning of the 6x6 pad that has a snapshot of each paper in the pad and its name. I used that for the background on this card.

Then I fussy cut the camera and heart doodles from the sheet from Bella Bvd.

I was having so much fun with the doodles, that I wanted to make sure to also give that great yellow side some attention. Here I used the 6x6 paper pad version with the smaller scale hearts and stamped a sentiment and white-embossed frame on it.

This is such a great quote to start the year off, don't you think?!

Thanks for scrolling through to see what I made with this kit. One lucky commenter on this blog post will have a chance to win the Studio Calico Copper Mountain Card kit (pictured below).

Leave a comment using the Rafflecopter below letting me know what kind of project you think you would make if you win the Copper Mountain Card Kit.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You have until Friday night at midnight (ET) to leave your comment. I'll announce the winner shortly thereafter, so make sure to follow my blog or check back to see if you were the winner.

December Days {part 3}

It's finished! My December Days album for 2013 is finished and set aside to be enjoyed. If you missed Part 1 and Part 2 you can click on the links to see the beginning of my album.

This part of the book covered December 15th - 25th. I continued to use Pink Paislee Snow Village and Elle's Studio for the majority of the album.

Scroll on down to see the final pages…

I love how this turned out and am already looking forward to next year's album. I have some ideas for what I want to keep and what I'd like to change up a bit.

Did you make a December album this year? Link your album up in the comments section of this post, and I'd love to visit your site and see what you made.

Thanks for stopping by to see how my album ended up!

Made with love

Every once in awhile, I get to play around with some new supplies just because. For 2014, I am determined to do more of that! 

I hit up Paper Issues for a little bit of "just for me" shopping last month and landed on some amazing supplies from Chic Tags, Lawn Fawn and Fancy Pants. (The Elle's Studio on the page I had scooped up earlier.)

We had our first big snowfall in mid-December, and the boy had to go out and play in it. I snapped these pictures from the comfort of our front porch, and the Timbergrove collection was perfect for documenting it.

I also used the sketch from Paper Issues as some added inspiration. You have until the 5th to link up with the sketch for a chance to win a prize from PI.

Thanks for stopping here today! Have a wonderful weekend. 

Supplies: Chic Tags (Good Tidings Icons), Fancy Pants (Timbergrove collection), Lawn Fawn (Lawn Ornaments Mixed Sequins), Elle's Studio (December kit)

Hello happiness {bella blvd}

Since it is a blustery 13 degrees here today, I thought it might be best to share something sunny and warm as a way of ushering in some good weather. Not so sure that really works, but looking at this layout makes me feel like there's some hope for better weather.

I has some time last month to play around with the Bella Blvd Snapshots collection, and this is the layout I made. The cutie pie in the picture is my sister — missing her! I saw her in the beginning of December, but I'm sure it'll be months before I get to see her again. Living in different states makes it tough to see each other.

If you are looking for a bright, cheerful and fun collection that can be used for just about anything, I recommend Snapshots! I had fun making this, and the fun patterns and colors are a blast to work with.

Thanks for stopping here, and stay warm!

Supplies: Bella Blvd Snapshot Collection (Pattern paper: Point of View, Hurry Up, Pajama Day, Daily Details Snapshots, Family Chaos; Tabs; Paper Pieces) 

Trick or Treat {bella blvd}

The DT for Bella Blvd did some design work using the recent collection that are still in stock. Even though I am a card designer for Bella Blvd, I was happy to work with the Trick or Treat collection for a layout. 

I loved layering the black, orange and blue papers for this layout. It really is a good color combo for just about anything — but especially great for Halloween.

I punched some orange confetti to add to the stars against the black paper. I think it makes the whole stars pattern pop a bit more with the orange contrast.

Supplies: Trick or Treat (Pattern paper: Spooky town, Happy Owlween, Borders, Daily Details; Paper Pieces, Captions, Tabs)

Thanks for visiting here today — and HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope your New Year's Eve was a great one.