December is here

As our last month of the year arrives we have our last photo inspiration of the year for Pixels and Paper.  This month the photograph is a tribute to the aurora borealis (Northern Lights)

I had no snow photos to scrap so I concentrated on the sky.  It just kept drawing me in.  I used mists on my background paper to give it the colorful shimmer look.  I used the photo of our family about to go up in a Ferris wheel from this summer.  Then I added some colorful paper and the hot air balloon.  I used the string to give the page texture.

I love the shimmer of my "white space"

At Pixels and Paper we are happy to have traditional paper layouts, art journals, divided page protectors, smash books and more.  We also welcome digital entries.  We just ask that each entry be a new creation.

Enjoy September and Be Focused

 The photo from Pinterest is the inspiration for the November Pinspiration Challenge at Kitchen Keepsake.   

To create my LO I wanted to use fall elements.   I used this photo of my kids of their first day of school this past September.  I used fall colors.  I found the orange corrugated paper and lots of other scraps to layer under and around my photo.  I created a diagonal line of paint and little embellishments in the upper and lower corners.   I used some leaves. 

I do love clustering as you will see below.

I also scraped the photo of me again for the sketch challenge at Kitchen Keepsake.

I love how you can create something entirely different with the same photo.

I used all these papers that had the same colors in them.  I sometimes like the monochromatic.  Here is the journaling.

There is lots of inspiration out there for inspiration.  You can find many blogs with scrapbook ideas and challenges.  This forum is one of my favorites.

Mom...................yes more of me

At Challenge YOUrself I must include myself in the LO so I have been taking many more photos of myself.  Challenge #12 is this sketch.

For my LO I used a photo that my daughter took of me sometime last spring. To preare the background of my paper I painted the middle of it white.  Then I layered my photo and some frames across the middle of the page.  I added some twine and other small textured embellishments and my title.

If you are like me you probably are taking the photos.  Well it is time for you to be in some of the photos.  Use your timer or have your kid take photo for  awhile and see what you get.  You can always ask a stranger to take a family photo for you.  Then drop by Challenge YOUrself and and enter one of their challenges.  

A cake for being 50

I created my LO of the cake that my niece decorated for me for my 50th birthday for the Scrapbook Circle November Technique Challenge.  It is Embossing.  So I did lots of embossing for my page.  I embossed a piece of foil.  I roughed up all the edges of paper that I wanted to use on my page.  Then I inked all these pieces before I put them on my page.

I used lots of layering of papers and embellishments.

If you liek to emboss this may be a fun challenge for you.  To see the details go to Scrapbook Circle.

Stick it Down Double page LO for November

On this third Tuesday of the month we have our new sketch at Stick it Down (SID).

Here is the sketch.

This is what I created.

These are photo from last Christmas at my in-laws.  My husband and my son go their Hess trucks.  Each year they get one.  I think they both look forward to this tradition.  They take the trucks out of the boxes and play with them for a little while.

I used one of my kits that lots of coordinating papers and embellishments that were fun to work with 

You can create a double page LO or just use part of this sketch.  there are also cards and single pages sketches at SID.  

Sketch #421 at SBC

Here is another LO of my presents for my 50th birthday.

I used sketch 421 from SBC.  

I only had 3 jars of goodies so I switched up the sketch a little.  

To this sketch and on every Monday head on over to SBC.

Advent wreath

We celebrate Advent with our wreath every year.  I bought a basic metal candle holder years ago and usually just put the candles in it and it is set to go.  Last year I had some pine branches, pine cones, and a few fake berries left from a church project and put these around the base and Voila'.  A beautiful advent wreath.

I based my page on the November sketch from Studio Challenges.  I used a bunch of embellishments from a Christmas kit I had.

Here are a few of those stickers and ribbon that I used on the page.

The Studio Challenge scrapbook blog has 2 challenges a month.  If you are looking for some inspiration this might be the scrapbook blog for you.

Check this out....................Mom is 50 years old

Turning 50 was a milestone I celebrated this past August.  My sister made me a cake for our family celebration and my niece decorated the top.  She used lots of sprinkles and made a sign that says:  I thought your old when your 40.  Now you are even older.  So according to her I am OLD.

 

I used the sketch for November 15th from Stuck Sketches.  I used the black paper with stars and then several colorful patterned papers to go along with the sprinkles.

Some more looks at the page.

 

Merry Christmas for xoxo

I always have a lot of Christmas photo to scrap.  For this LO I used the photo of the red Christmas hat that I have had for years.  It was given to me my first year of teaching.  I usually use it for decorating and many times we wear it while handing out presents.

I used the November LO from XoXo Scrapbooking for my inspiration.  I basically flipped the page upside down and put a skinny piece of paper at the top and kept my bigger piece at the bottom.

Here are a couple close-ups of my page.  My title is side ways on my LO, but I photographed it so you could read it.  I know the green blends right into the background, but I just loved this sticker.

At XoXo Scrapbooking they have a monthly LO that you can scraplift to meet your needs.  

Party for Scrapbook Circle

Here is the November sketch for Scrapbook Circle.

I used a photo from last December for my LO.  It is of my kids before going to their work Christmas party.  The papers and embellishments all came from the November kit from Scrapbook Circle.

Here are a couple close-ups from my LO. 

If you are interested int he kits or to enter their challenges head on over to Scrapbook Circle today.  You have until November 26th to enter this sketch challenge.

I am so happy to announce that I have joined the Kitchen Keepsake DT.  I will be providing the On a Roll Challenge twice each month.

My first challenge is for November 15th.  For this challenge I am asking that you use one small photo on your page.  this is a great for when you have some background patterned paper that you really want to show off.  You can add as many other papers and embellishments as you want.

Here is the LO I created.  I used a photo of me from last Halloween.  I had it printed out in wallet size.  Then I used this great black and white with orange Halloween paper as my background.  Can you see why I didn't want to just cover it all up?  I then added a couple pieces of orange patterned paper and some embellishments.  I didn't use a title since the background paper said it all.

If you want to see this challenge and the others at KK head on over to the kitchen by clicking HERE.

Sketch 419 at SBC (Scrapbook Challenges)

Yup, another Monday is upon us.  It seems that this sketch got forgotten by me so I quickly put it together and sometimes these come out the best of.  Not over thinking it and just creating from the heart.  Maybe it was working with these photos of my hubby that inspired me.  So here is what I created.  Sorry there are no close up photos of it.  

Here is the sketch from SBC.

To see more inspiration from this sketch and enter their challenge go om over to SBC.  I would love to see what you create.  You can add your link here also.

Stick It Down DT Call

Design Team Call!

It's time once again for a design team call!  SID are looking for new members for each of our teams - single page layouts, double page layouts and cards.

Our next term will run from January to June 2015 so please do not apply if you cannot commit to this time frame.

What you will do:

• provide one project per month with a possible special event during the six month term
• comment on all submissions as you are assigned
• post our challenge to your blog and other social media outlets 
• have projects completed ahead of time in order to meet the deadline

What you need:

• an active blog
• a facebook account as this is where the DT "meets"
• a love for sketches

What we will do:

• provide the sketches at least one month in advance
• provide your posting schedule and commenting assignments
• be supportive and encouraging
• share your photo and your link on our blog
• share your project on various social media outlets

How to apply:

• send an email to Stick it Down with the subject line "Design Team Call"
• include your name and location
• include a list of current teams (no experience necessary!)
• include 3 of your favourite layouts or cards that best display your style and suit the requirements of the team you are applying for (ie, submit cards if you are applying for the card team)
• introduce yourself in few brief sentences

This call is open to everyone including our current team members and will

run from November 1st to November 21st. The new team will be notified

by November 28th and announced by December 1st. The new team's projects

will be revealed on January 1st.

I have enjoyed being on this scrapbook team and would love to some of my scrapping friends join us!!

SBC Sketch 418

The weekend has gone already and Monday brings a new sketch from SBC.  Here is sketch 418.

I used the rest of the selfie photos my daughter took on my phone to create another LO.  In these she takes a selfie with her cousin and a regular photo of the cousin and the sign saying good-bye to our priest.  My daughter certainly does take many selfies using her own phone so it will certainly be a fun memory for her to see these selfies in her scrapbook.

Here are a couple close-ups of the LO.

Thanks for stopping by.  If you need a sketch to get you started on your next LO head on over to SBC for some inspiration.

Enjoy Life

Many times I trod through each day doing what I need to and never really stopping to smell the flowers or enjoy life. Well last summer when I went to New York City with some college friends I certainly enjoyed life that day.  It felt like it did 30 years ago when we were at college.  We laughed much of the day and enjoyed each other's friendship.  It was with this in mind that I created my LO for ChallengeYOURself.  The October Challenge #11:  Scrap an Affirmation.  

I combined the October 26th:  Mixed Media from The Studio Challenges with my LO.  I used 2 blue mists on my page.  Then I used blue paint on the edges of my background paper.  I love to use my  mists and my paints.  I do use my mists more than my paints, but when I do paint on my page I am always happy that I did.

You may need some words to inspire you or encouragement to get messy on your page.  So go ahead and pick your challenge from The Studio Challenges or Challenge YOURself.