Best Challenge Ever!

Two Peas has been hosting a CHA social on their website this week. Lots of fun, chats, and of course challenges are part of this event. As soon as I saw the list of challenges, I was drawn to #7 - use seven new items on your layout. How fun and easy is that?! We all love to use our newest products on our layouts. Perfect timing, since I just received an order last week. Here is my take on the challenge.

I adore the Two Peas exclusive items on this layout (star clips and wood veneer cards). Here is a link to see the other items I used. There is still plenty of time to participate in the challenges - here is the list, check it out and start creating! Thanks for stopping by; I'm off to tackle more challenges!

Girls' Roadtrip!

Just a quick post today, sharing my new favorite layout. My daughter and I recently went on a road trip, and I love this photo of us packed and ready to go! The Cocoa Daisy/Simple Stories Cabana paper from July's kit was perfect for the photo. This layout was created for a Two Peas challenge to use tags on the layout.

I just love this fun, colorful layout - it makes me smile! Don't you just love phone cameras and the spontaneous moments you can capture with them?

Monochromatic Challenge

Today's Scrap Your Stash Challenge at Two Peas was to use a monochromatic color scheme. Luckily, I also received Cocoa Daisy's July kits in the mail today so I didn't have to go searching for products. I selected blue as my color, based on my photos, and let my creativity run wild. I started with Elle's Studio Saltwater paper (endless summer) because of the blue text. I mixed Golden Fluid Acrylic paint (Cerulean Blue Chromium) with Golden Gel Medium (Soft Gel Gloss), and a little water to thin it down. I painted directly on the patterned paper to create my background for my photos. A Jenni Bowlin paint dauber was used to add color to the jillibean soup corrugated alphas. I then used Martha Stewart glitter and gel medium to give the letters a little more sparkle.

My Silhouette Cameo was used to cut out first and a Silhouette Sketch Pen was used for our. Glossy Accents was used to glue down the Dew Drops. The stamps from Cocoa Daisy's July kit were stamped onto vellum and heat-embossed with Zing (of course!) and I used foam dots to create dimension. Finally, I used StazOn, Gelatos, and paint to color the Studio Calico cork embellishments.

There you have it. Who knew a monochromatic color challenge would lead into so many fun techniques?! You cannot believe the mess I have created from just one layout! I'm going to grab a little snack and clean up so I don't have to face it in the morning. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Summer of My Success

Every day I anxiously await the Garden Girl videos on Two Peas in a Bucket. There is so much inspiration to be found on these videos and I'm blown away by the talent of these ladies. Yesterday I watched Corrie Jone's video and it really resonated with me. She does a layout once a month about herself - I think it's a wonderful concept. Not only is it therapeutic but it's also a wonderful gift to yourself - a journal without trying. Her challenge had several prompts: 1)Start with your favorite colors (Thank you, I think I will!) 2)Use arrows as an element on the layout. 3)Use fun paperclips. 4)The layout needs to be about you (that would be me.)

Since the layout had to be about me, I decided I would document my recent success in getting fit. In April, I jump-started my program with Advocare's 24 Day Challenge, joined a new, amazing workout class, and started clean eating. I truly can't believe the results! I'm sure I will do a full blog post about it soon. Gray is the consistent color in the photos I selected, so I decided to add aqua and orange (two of my favorite colors!) I pulled out a variety of arrows: stamps, wood veneer, stickers and got busy creating. The Prima Wishes and Dreams stickers from the June Cocoa Daisy kit were perfect for this layout. I just happened to have arrow paperclips in my stash - this layout was meant to be.

Today we are having a chilly, wet Fourth of July - I may make chili instead of burgers. However you're celebrating today, make it a good one!

Zany for Zing!

If you know me at all, you know my current obsession is Zing Embossing Powder. I love all the gorgeous colors and the fun dimension it adds to a layout. When I saw the Crate Paper's Carousel, I knew I wanted to jazz it up a little with Zing. I simply traced the lines of the chevron pattern with my Zig Emboss Writer and used 11 colors of Zing (my personal record on a layout!) to match the colors on the paper.

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I cut the words from Crate Paper's Splash to border the chevron paper. I then machine-stitched to add some texture & interest to the layout. It still needed a little something, so I used Cocoa Daisy's Confetti stamp and Zing (Butter) to create a subtle background for the layout. This layout is special to me because I used to love eating watermelon with my mom, out by our pool - the tradition continues! ♥