Still Scrapping!!

I have been out of the blog loop for a while, but I have been busy scrapping!

I have been working on a beer album for my husband.  He is an avid craft beer collector. We are both really enjoying his new hobby.  I decided to photograph each of the beers he tries and all the adventures that go along with his hobby.

To help me complete lots of pages, I have turned to sketches. I really like them and how I can make them my own! I have joined the Scrapbook Challenges message board and am having lots of fun with their challenges.  Go visit this great site here.

This page is for the blog hop challenge.  I used the two page sketch.  This is our visit to Pizza Planet in Carlsbad, California.  We loved that place!  Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned for lots more beer pages!

 Enjoy Everything,
Natty

A Blog About...

Okay, so I have fallen off the wagon...Yup, I admit it.  I don't know why I thought I could keep up a crafty blog during the school year.  I finally realized that I can't commit to having a project done once a week to put on my blog during the school year.  However, I also realized that I really enjoy blogging and reading blogs, so I have decided that I am going to continue to blog regularly, but my posts won't always include a craft!

I love reading other blogs, and with the help of Google Reader, I am keeping up with my favorites.  I decided that I can share with you things that I find in the blog world along with things I do manage to make of the crafty nature!

So, let the sharing begin!  I have been rather crafty lately, but that's not what I want to share.

I am a HUGE Nikki Sivils fan.  You can check out her blog here.  Well, I have been very sad that I can't get her items anywhere near here or on my favorite scrapbook sites.  To my great delight, she just announced that she is going to be starting to release collection packs with all of her new collections, and I know that my favorite sites will start carrying those, yay!  Also, her newest release is a school line, which of course, is something I love!!!  Here is a pic of the new line:

Isn't it adorable!!!  And....for my stamping friends...Nikki is going to be co-branding with Unity!!  Yep, she's gonna have stamps that coordinate with her new collections!!  I think I may need to drag those inks out and dust them off!!!

Enjoy Everything,
Natty

Life...It Gets in the Way...

Yes, I am still here.  I truly apologize for not blogging recently.  Life caught up to me in the last three weeks.  Around here, we have had: a car break down, a tree fall on our house, a broken refrigerator, all three of us with the flu and...I am sure I have blocked something out.  All of this is on top of our normal busy lives of basketball practice, Academic bowl practice, book club, Zumba, etc...Whew!!!

Therefore, crafting has been on the very back burner!  But, never fear, I have some things that I did before the craziness and did not get posted.  These are not challenges from the book, but are a challenge anyways. 

Altering!!!  I never thought I could alter items when I first started crafting.  However, in the past few years, I have turned out some pretty cute things!  So, I challenge you to try to alter something.  If you see an item that has potential, give it a shot.  I am horrible at seeing something, then having a vision of what I want it to look like and making it come together.  I am always amazed at the home design shows where designers do this. 

My husband is a beer collector (and drinker) but more as a connoisseur, than just to drink, so he asked for a "special place" to keep his beer caps.  We turn these caps into jewelry, so we keep them.  I altered a cookie tin for this purpose, and here is the result:

It says Bottlecaps wrapped around the middle.

The can is decorated with Tim Holtz paper that has soda bottlecaps all over it.  I used ribbon and put foam adhesive under some of his favorite caps to decorate the outside.  I punched individual caps for the top and used Thickers for his name.  I think it turned out pretty good, and so does Mike.  He uses it, so that says a lot to me!

I have another altered item to share, but I am going to save it for later in the week, so I will definitely have something to blog about!  I can't wait to see your altered items!

Enjoy Everything,
Natty

Challenge #5

As much as I would love to see more players and others being challenged, I know in my heart that this blog is mostly to challenge myself, which is fine.  I have done some pretty outside of my comfort zone things just since I have started this blog, and I have completed more layouts in such a short amount of time than I ever have!

I do hope those who have played along continue to do so, and I hope for new players each week!

This week's challenge is #16 in the book: "Use the shape of your journaling as a design element." The book  says to "put journaling to work as an added visual element on your page" and to "arrange your words in a shape that reinforces the theme of your design."  I actually did this before I saw this challenge, go me!!

This layout is the last one for my son's fourth grade year in his elementary school album.  He received the Rose Award, which is to not receive a grade below an A- the entire school year.  I used a layout from the Sketches Crop at CKC Des Moines.  I added the rosebud swirl and journaled on it to complete the challenge.  Since photographing the layout, I have added a rose cut from the Cricut on the far right strip.

The top picture is a picture I have taken every first and last day of school.  The first five years are in front of the same car (not the one pictured) and it is amazing to see how he has grown!  I have changed cars, but I can still see the difference in his height, and it is so neat.  I am so proud of myself for doing this picture every school year!

Okay, your turn!  Get creative with your journaling and share it with us!!

Enjoy Everything,
Natty

Snow Day Scrapping

Today was our fourth snow day this week!  We will go back to school tomorrow...not sure I can handle just working a Friday, hehehe!!!

I did try to get some scrapping done over the days off.  I had some mojo issues, but I barreled through them!  I must tip my hat to my friend, Shelly, who completed 35 pages!  That is a record for her!!!!  Unfortunately I wasn't that successful, but I did finish my son's school album through the end of 4th grade.  Which is great considering he's in 5th grade now!

Once again, I was inspired by a sketch.  I tell ya, I must have a challenge or sketch to get me moving.  Well, Shelly challenged me to do 5 pages today, and I came close.  I did four!

This layout came from this week's challenge at Sketchy Thursdays.  What a neat site!  Be sure to go check them out HERE.

good day son shine

If you know me, you know that I simply cannot mix multiple patterns on a layout.  Well, I did it here, once again, because I was challenged to.  It just pains me to mix patterns.  I don't know why, but it does.  My friend Christie aka Chief Chick of Scrapbook Chicks challenged me to make a layout with two different patterns.  So, I did, and I used three different patterns, that's right, count 'em!!!  I decided to go back to my son's baby album and do some catching up so that is why I scrapped these baby pictures.

Normally, I don't know or care who my paper is from, but this time I paid attention!
Background is Bazzill Swiss Dots, Large PP is Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday, PP strip is Basic Grey Sublime (I think), Little birds pp is Cosmo also.  The letters are Thickers and the little sticker is American Crafts.

Don't forget to play along with challenge #4 to win the cool calendar prize!!

Enjoy Everything,
Natty

Challenge #4 & a Prize!!!

This week's challenge is a fun one!  It goes right along with GYSO, so if you are gonna play along there, play along here, too!!!!  I am also offering a prize this week!  Read through to the end of the post to see what it is!

We are in the midst of a HUGE winter storm/blizzard, so you'd think I'd be scrapping away...Well, I have not!  However, I planning on spending my third snow day at home scrapping all day tomorrow!

This week's challenge is number 17 in the book, "Tilt your design on an angle."  I am typically not a "tilted" scrapper.  I like everything straight with clean lines, so this really was a challenge for me.  I used the sketch from GYSO because it matched the sample layout from the book and went with my pictures so well.  Here is my layout:

The banner reads "Academic Bowl"

As you can see, this is very titled!!  Okay, your turn!!!  Link it up in the comments by Sunday night, February 6th to be eligible for this prize:

This is a Making Memories 10 x 10 Seasonal Calendar kit.  You can see the contents included in the top picture to make a page to remember each month of your year.  It has 538 pieces!!!  Time to get scrappin'!!!

Enjoy Everything,
Natty

Challenge #3

I'm ahead of the game, so I am posting this tonight instead of Monday morning as promised!

This week's challenge is number 10 "Finish a page in 30 minutes".  I didn't intened for this week's layout to go with a sketch challenge again, but well, it did...The challenge is from GYSO and it spoke to me and a new package of paper I had, so there ya have it!

In the book, Elizabeth writes "When your aim is to make efficient use of time, you must take advantage of premade products." She also says "To inject visual interest without a huge time investment, use a shaped background paper."

Well, I did both!  Normally, I am not a matchy, matchy product girl, but a friend (thanks Lisa) picked up this paper pack for me, and I absolutely love it!  The paper I used is from Fancy Pants, Kraft Kuts {That Boy}.  I also used Thickers, my faves, and the rubber star is from Love, Elsie (another fave).  By following the sketch and having products that went so well together, I was able to put this layout together in 30 minutes!!!

Your turn!!!  All you have to do is complete a layout in 30 minutes.  If you use a sketch, great, if not, then great, too!!  Please link your layout in a comment to this challenge or email it to me at scrappynatty@gmail.com.

Enjoy Everything,
Natty

Winners & Pictures

Beware...this may be a long one!

Yes, this blog is for a weekly challenge for myself, and whoever else chooses to play along, but it is also a blog of my crafty creations.  I really have been busy recently.  The mojo has been flowing!!  It really helps that the weather has been yucky, and I have figured out Skropping (cropping while chatting with friends over Skype) and I have found a great space to work in, finally!  So, I have pictures to share of what I have been up to recently.  I also have pictures of prizes and the winners to go along with them!

Here's my recent creations...

This layout is for Sassy Lil' Sketches Jan. 21 sketch.  I love this site and all the sketches they have available besides the current challenge one.  Go check it out HERE.

Sassy Lil' Sketches Jan. 21 sketch

The following pictures are just layouts I have done in the last two weeks as I try to catch up my son's elementary school album. 

Finally...Winners!!! I am so glad a few people have chosen to play along in my challenges.  I won't give prizes every time, but I will give them frequently.

The first prize goes to Tessa for ALWAYS participating and being a great cheerleader to my efforts and great scrappy advice giver as well as my Skropping partner.  It's nice to know someone has always got your back.  She wins a Copic marker.  It is a skin color that I know she needs!!  I didn't take a pic of it.  I think we all know what they look like!

The next prize is for the circles challenge.  This layout was reluctantly submitted by my friend Shelly.  She is not an online or blogging person, but I told her the challenge and she did it when she found time to scrap, and she did such a fantastic job that she is my winner for Challenge #2.  This is her layout...

I love the simple color scheme and stamped bubbles!

And, this is what she wins...A package of 30 sheets of Bazzill Inspirations paper.

Last, but not least, I said I would do a random drawing of my followers, and I did!  I am sorry, but I don't know how to put the results from random.org on here, but I hope you just trust me...and the winner is...follower #10!!!  That is Stacey from Stacey's Creative Corner.  She has a great blog and you should check it out!  Congrats, Stacey!  This is what she wins...

Core'dinations Black Magic "Spell Caster" cardstock pad.

Again, thanks to everyone who plays along or just reads, and especially thanks for the comments!  I truly love feeling paid attention to!!!  Challenge #3 will be up first thing in the morning, so stay tuned!!
Enjoy Everything,
Natty

Winners & Followers...

Okay, so I enter challenges, and then I get discouraged because I don't win.  My husband, who is an artist in real life, will analyze the winners and tell me the reasons they won, etc., but he won't tell me how to make my layouts better because he thinks everything I do is great, and wants to stay married to me!!! 

So, the conclusion I have come to is that I do my layouts for me and my family, for our memories.  Therefore if they are not winners to anyone else, they are to us.  They will be in our albums forever, and we will have those memories to look back upon.

However, I did win something!!!  I didn't even realize it, but I commented on Tessa's blog on a post that was part of a contest to win 25 Unity stamps, and I was randomly chosen and won!!!  Hooray!!!  I am not a stamper typically, mostly because I can't color, but I do love how Unity's stamps fit well on layouts and look great without coloring.  I am so excited to receive my prize and start playing!!  Check out Unity Stamps HERE.

Now, to the Followers part...I have 30 followers on this blog!!!!!  WOW!!!  I am very excited about that, and I have decided to do a giveaway.  So, I am going to do a random number generator and choose the current follower who is that number to win a prize.  I am not sure what the prize will be, but I promise it will be good!

Also, don't forget that tomorrow is the last chance to enter your layout for the circles challenge.  I do have some entries, and I think I will give a prize for that, too!!

One more thing...I have been scrapping recently, and I know this is a challenge blog, but it is also my blog, so I am going to be posting what I have been up to soon, just to share!!

Enjoy Everything,
Natty

Coordinates Collections January Blog Hop Challenge

I love challenges and contests, so...I am using my circle challenge page to enter a blog hop challenge!  I am posting it again with the title for the blog hop so that I can join the fun!

I hope my followers and fans (hahaha) are busy creating circle pages to share with me soon.  I can't wait to see what you come up with!!

Check out the Coordinates Collections site HERE.  They have such cute kits!  I am learning to love kits, and I think I will be ordering very soon!!

Enjoy Everything,
Natty

Challenge #2

This week's challenge is #14, "Play Around with Circles".

I do like circles, and was excited about using them!  I also did this to tie it into the GYSO challenge.  I love that site and you should check it out HERE!

So now, I encourage you to make a layout using circles.  It does not have to look like mine at all, remember this is not a sketch challenge!  Just use circles!!!

Here is my page that is following the sketch from GYSO:

Okay girls, get busy!!!  I can't wait to see what you come up with!!

Remember to comment with where we can see your layout.

Enjoy Everything,
Natty

Reminder & Sneak Peek...

Just a reminder that all entries for challenge #1 are to be posted by tomorrow evening.  I hope to see lots of great layouts inspired by inking!

I want to share my newest favorite site...Get Your Sketch On.  It is a blog that is all about sketches and challenges.  My two most favorite things put together!!!  Go check it out, HERE!!  The sketch for this current week involves circles, which ties right into our next challenge...so...kill two birds with one stone!!

Check back tomorrow for challenge #2!!!

Enjoy Everything,
Natty

And We're Off!!!!

The time has come for challenge #1!!  I am soooooo excited!!!

This week's challenge comes from the "Techniques" section and is challenge number 44, "Get Yourself Inked".  The examples show using ink in layers on chipboard and other ways as well as using spray ink, which is what I did.

The layout I used is from the class "I Dare You" from CKC Des Moines.  That is the class that introduced me to this book and basically started it all!  We made the layout background page and glued down some of the elements there, and then I finished it off at home.  Yes, CKC was in July, and I just finished the layout today...

I apologize my photo is not the greatest.  I am working on a good way to take great pictures in my house!

Close up of the masking and inking.

So, your challenge is to use inking, but not just inking the edges of a mat, be creative.  I used Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and masking to make the stars.  The card stock is white, and the mist is light blue.  I would love to see anyone use inking and masking together!  The book suggests using ink on different surfaces such as metal and transparency or fabric and even glass!  I wish I could show you the layout from the book, but I am pretty sure copyright laws would frown on that!

My layout is of when Anakin was chosen to be in a street performer's show at Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California.  He was to mimic the "headband guy" doing break dance moves.  When the guy did a head spin, Anakin did the snake with his arms.  It was so funny!  In order to keep my posting from being incredibly long, I will post the specs of the layout tomorrow.

Okay, so now you know what the challenge is...Get Inking!!!

Check out my previous post for the guidelines.  Be sure to link us to your project in the comments or email a photo of it to me at scrappynatty@gmail.com.

Enjoy Everything,
Natty

Let's Get It Started!!

Welcome!  I can't wait to start this journey!!

First, to explain my reasoning for this blog...I love to scrap, however I often lack time and motivation and mojo.  When I went to CKC Des Moines with my good friend Tessa, (check out her awesome blog HERE) after working our tails off in the CKC store, we took the class "I Dare You".  It was based on the book 52 More Scrapbooking Challenges by Elizabeth Kartchner.  We did three different layouts using the challenges in the book.  I decided I really liked this book and could really use it as motivation to get some scrapping done, and the book came home with me (and Tessa, too!).  So, after getting the school year started and getting settled into a new grade level I finally decided the new year was the right time to get this project rolling, and here we are!!!

Now, to explain how this is going to work...
What I will do~
Each Sunday or Monday (depending on how busy my weekend was) I will post the challenge for the week.  It will come directly from the book, and I will tell you what page so you can follow along if you have the book.  Don't worry if you don't have the book, I will explain it and I will have an example to share. 

What you will do~
If you choose to play along that week, I ask that you leave a comment on the original post with a link to where we can see your project (your blog, facebook, a website's gallery, etc.) or you can email a photo of it directly to me at scrappynatty@gmail.com and I will post it on the blog.  I will post and accept submissions from when the challenge is posted to the following Sunday before 5pm CST.  I ask that everyone that looks please leave a comment on the submissions.  Some weeks, we will have voting for the best usage or interpretation of the challenge, and some weeks there will be prizes or RAKS!!

That's it!  I really hope that you play along!  Please, invite your friends, link my blog to yours, and whatever else you can to get the word out!

Now, Let's Get It Started!!!

Enjoy Everything,
Natty

Changes are A'Comin!!

Hello Blog friends!!!  I am still among the living!

I have decided to TOTALLY revamp my blog and take it in a direction that will benefit me and all of those who read it and wish to participate!

Please stay tuned!  I will have everything ready to go and the blog updated very soon, like maybe tonight or tomorrow if we have another glorious snow day!

Disney Scrapping

In exactly two weeks, we will be boarding a plane to Disneyland for our 8th trip as a family!  We are so excited!!!  We absoutely love evrything about the place.

So, today I wanted to share some pictures I took at CKC with Disney scrapping products and ideas.  I have done many Disney pages and albums, and I am always looking for new ideas.  Boxer Scrapbooks is one of my favorite vendors for Disney items.  If you ever attend a CKC, I highly recommend their class.  I can't wait to take the one in KC to make a Mickey shirt album. 

Without further ado....Here are the pics!

 

Enjoy Everything,
Natty

Candy Winners, Convention Report & a Layout...

Fist off...My apologies on being late drawing the blog candy winners.  Never fear, they are here now!!

Drumroll, please.......
The winners are:
Lisa F.
Tessa MS
gocanucksgo

My hubby did the drawing just now!  Ladies, go look at my garage sale post and give me your top three choices.  Some things are gone, but most are still available.  Also email me your address, and your goodie will be on the way!  Congrats!

July 8, 9, 10 Tessa and I went to CKC in Des Moines, Iowa.  This was the first year for the show in Des Moines.  We are used to the KC show, which is very big, but this one did not disappoint.  We worked for four hours on Thursday setting up and selling in the bookstore, and then worked for 8 hours on Saturday.  I was in the store on my feet all day, and Tessa did Teacher's Assistant and the bookstore.  Darn us for being such good helpers they wanted us to work a lot!!  If you are going to a CKC convention, I highly recommend that you volunteer.  You get compensated very nicely!  Oh, and did I mention that we worked with Lisa Bearnson's niece (by marriage) in the store?  Tessa and I were very excited about that fact!!  She was a real sweetie, too!  We did the Sketches crop of Thursday night, and got lots of great page kits.  We did not much enjoy the Friday night crop.  Of course, we loved the shopping!!!  We had to wait too long to shop because we did all of our working first, but it was worth it!!  We did enjoy the classes, and now we can't wait for CKC Kansas City in October!!

This is the one layout I completed at the Friday night crop.  I have many other layouts started from the classes and Sketches crop, but they aren't done yet.  This is also for a sketch challenge on sb.com.  The paper is all We R Memory Keepers Whiteout collection, my current fave.

I will not stray so long between blog posts.  I promise!
Enjoy Everything,
Natty

Blog Candy Extension!

I am extending the blog candy deadline to Wednesday, June 28th!!!

Chicks, Convention and Candy!!!

If you have not shopped at www.scrapbookchicks.com, I highly recommend it!!  They have the latest and greatest items, fabulous sales, and above all, amazing customer service!!  I have placed two orders in the last week, and as long as they keep doing Wacky Wednesday, I will continue buying!!  So, if you feel like shopping for great products, or watching a video, reading a great blog, or hunting for a funny scrap related t-shirt, head on over there!!





I am gearing up for CKC Des Moines in two weeks!!  I am so excited!  My friend Tessa (Krafty Mama) and I are headed there for three days!!  That's three days of no hubbies, no kids, and lots of classes, volunteering, scrapping and shopping!!!  We are so ready to learn new things and buy new goodies!!  I will also be seeing a good scrappy friend there, and I am very excited about that as well!  I just keep thinking about this to get me through the last week of summer school!

Okay, so I have my blog up and running again, and I even have followers and Blog Buddies!!  I love it!!  I am very glad to have my scrappy mojo back!  So, to celebrate that, and the fact that I have done well from my Blog Garage Sale, I will be doing some blog candy!  I will be choosing THREE names that leave me a comment (becoming a follower would be awesome, but not required) on any of my layout postings that I have made on my blog in the month of June.  You can leave a comment here as well, but leaving it on a layout will get you in the drawing.  I will have my son choose a name Sunday evening and post the winners Monday morning.  That should make Monday more bearable!  The winners will get their choice of any items shown in my Blog Garage Sale posting that are still available.  Don't worry!  There is LOTS still available!!!!  Good Luck!!

Enjoy Everything,
Natty

Garage Sale Price List

Okay, here it is!!!  I have finally priced everything!  Some prices are listed in the first post.  All the Stampin' Up set prices are listed here.  Sorry I didn't list them under the corresponding picture.  I just didn't have time!

Stampin' Up Sets-

A Little Bit of Happiness $3

Alpha Set (28pcs) $6

Recipe Fun $8

So Very $4

Make it Count $4

Warmest Regards $6

Heard from the Heart $6

Lots of Thoughts $5

Yummy (brand new) $8

So Many Scallops $5

Little Hellos $6

For a Friend $6

Celebrate in Style $5

Tags and More $4

Font of You (new) $10

Sassy Suzy $10

Cause for Celebration $5

Sweet Seasons $10

Fabulous Four $3

The Fine Print $4

Oval All (new) $10

A Little Birdie $10

Quick and Cute $4

Thymeless Herbs $5

Many Merry Messages $10

Sweet Seasons $10

Starstruck $2

Think Happy Thoughts $6

Snow Flurries $2

Puns From the Past $10

Espress Yourself $10

Wild Things $5

Crazy for Cupcakes $10

Around and About $2