The Constant Scrapper

If I'm not scrapbooking I'm thinking about scrapbooking!

My scrapbook layouts

You are first place in my heart: DT layout for Stuck?! Sketches

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You are first place in my heart

Today Stuck?! Sketches launches our second challenge of August! Grab the sketch and play along for prizes from Lindy’s Stamp Gang and Evalicious.

Stuck?! Sketches August 15 2016

The story

I love this photo of us so much. It’s from August 1997, just two months before our wedding.

I’m not sure why, but Matt and I don’t have many photos of the time during our courtship and engagement. So this shot of the two of us dozing on the hammock in my parents’ back yard is extra special to me. I also just love the lazy, sun-dappled feel of it.

Product/technique notes

I used supplies from Maggie Holmes’ Styleboard collection and hand stitched the circles.

A cut above: DT layout for Stuck?! Sketches

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A cut above

Today Stuck?! Sketches launches our first challenge of August! Grab the sketch and play along for prizes from ScrapMatts and Scrapbook Circle.

Stuck?! Sketches August 1 2016

The story

My paternal grandfather spent 77 years as a barber. So, of course, he cut all 12 of the grandchildren’s hair when we were little. My cousin, Mike, is in the barber’s chair in Papa’s shop in this darling 1966 photo.

Product/technique notes

I used patterned papers from Pink Paislee’s Pen Pals collection for this page, mostly because of the red-, white- and blue-striped paper that reminded me of a barber’s pole. I also used my Silhouette to create the barber’s pole and the title.

Meet me in the sunshine

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Meet me in the sunshine

Last August Mom had knee surgery, so I flew out to stay with her, and my brother and I collaborated to take care of her during the recovery period. On the day we snapped this selfie, we were at the bus stop waiting to catch a ride to UNC Hospitals to visit her. It was a gorgeous (hot) day, and we were just enjoying being out together in the sunshine.

Product/technique notes

I used patterned papers from Echo Park’s Hello Summer collection and a Thickers foam title. I used this Let’s Get Sketchy sketch as inspiration.
Let's Get Sketchy: July 4 2016

Here’s looking at you, kid

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Here's looking at you, kid

On this beautiful Friday in May, Matt and I decided to cut out of work early and grab a late lunch at our favorite taco joint. While we waited for our order to be brought to us at our sunny spot on their patio, we snapped a photo of each other taking a photo of each other. Who said we don’t know how to party?

Product/technique notes

I used older product from My Mind’s Eye and Jillibean Soup and cut the title with my Silhouette.

Take a hike: DT layout for Stuck?! Sketches

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Take a hike

Today Stuck?! Sketches launches our second challenge of July! Grab the sketch and play along for prizes from DCWV and Creative Embellishments.

Stuck Sketches 15 July 2016

The story

I was home visiting my mom and brother in North Carolina in the summer of 2014. One day we decided we needed to get outside and see something new. So we did a little online research and found what looked like a good fit for our needs: It was a park with multiple hiking trails and a picnic area, and it was within an hour of Mom’s house.

We packed the essentials, donned walking shoes and sun hats, grabbed our cameras, and hopped in the car. Our moods and hopes were high as we sped toward an afternoon of adventure and oneness with nature.

And it wasn’t all bad. I wouldn’t have you picture it that way. But it wasn’t exactly rich with adventure and oneness, either.

As a family unit, we don’t usually get an early start to anything. So, by the time we got to the park it was already pretty late in the afternoon. It seemed nearly deserted, and that was really no surprise considering it was late-August-in-the-south hot and humid. We set up and ate our picnic lunch, and that was nice.

Now full on sandwiches, salad, and ranch-flavored Doritos, it was time for us to take a hike. We loaded up on mosquito spray, grabbed our water bottles, and headed into the woods.

That lasted for all of 10 minutes—and seven of those were excruciating. It was just too much. Mom’s bad knees weren’t faring well on the rocky, root-riddled path. The mosquitoes were epic. And did I mention that it was like visiting Satan’s vacation home in the southern part of hell (Chapel Hill, where my mom lives, has been called the Southern Part of Heaven since a book of that name was published in 1950 by William Meade Prince.)?

Were we wimps? Oh, yes. Did we achieve the health and wellness benefits of a strenuous hike surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation? Not exactly. Did we rescue the disappointing experience with a well-deserved stop for ice cream on the drive home? What do you think? 😉

Product/technique notes

The Echo Park Happy Camper collection was perfect for these photos, so everything but the title came from it. I hand stitched the circle.