Penguin Fun

You know I absolutely love designing for the Kerst Christmas Challenge! I always try my best to follow the theme, even though it often pushes me right out of my comfort zone and forces me to explore completely new styles. Generally, I find myself scrambling at the last minute (just like today!), but the creative process is always so much fun.

For my last sample for the 'charm' theme, I kept coming back to the adorable freebie I just had to use. I digitally colored the All Dressed Up (Penguin Fun) image so I can print and reuse it anytime. The background features Glitter Orbs—a fantastic, textured paper freebie by Bonnie Kohane. I topped it off with one of Bonnie's charms, but opted to leave off any sentiment.

A Cherry on Top National Scrapbook Day Challenges

If there’s one thing you know about me, it’s that I absolutely love a good sccrapbook challenge over on A Cherry on Top. I always try my best to complete every single challenge for National Scrapbook Day! They push me out of my creative comfort zone and give me the perfect excuse to mix my personal style with fresh, new techniques.

Some photos, like the one I'm working with today, make it super tricky to find the right prompt. But the puzzle of brainstorming a solution is half the fun! Honestly, I wouldn’t struggle nearly as much if I didn't take every single instruction so literally—but that’s just how I roll. Sometimes I see other entries and find myself wondering if we even read the same prompt!

Full of "Charming" Goodness

This month’s Kerst Christmas challenge theme is "charms." I created a festive holiday card using digital charms and background papers designed by Bonnie Kohane. I absolutely love how the design came together—unquestioningly one of my favorite holiday makes this year!

Project Details & Supplies

• Focal Image: "It's Snowing" digital stamp by our sponsor, All Dressed Up.
• Background Paper: Designed by Bonnie Kohane (Available through the Kerst Christmas group).
• Charms: Bonnie's digital charms are a perfect match. The Merry Christmas charm is still available for free, so be sure to download it from the Kerst Christmas page before it’s gone!
• Corner Embellishments: I used a greens cut file to add extra holiday goodness to the corners. (Note: These greens are from M L Designs, but I seem to have lost the link—don't you just hate when that happens?)

I'm thrilled with the final result! Be sure to play along with the challenge this month.

Grab 5 - Happy Mail

I joined the National Scrapbook Day festivities over at A Cherry on Top! I had a blast tackling their challenges, specifically the Grab 5 Challenge. It was such a fun way to push my creativity—here’s the layout I created.

Designing with Digital Flowers

Sometimes, the best layouts start with a mystery digital freebie! I stumbled upon these stunning flowers today (probably from Creative Fabrica) and immediately wanted to use them.

1. Background: Started with this patterned paper to set the theme.
2. Layers: Added the flowers as the focal point.
3. Details: Used circular DSE image cuts to fill in gaps.
4. Title: Created a custom computer-generated title to finish it off.

Sometimes you just need to dig through your files and find that perfect, free, hidden gem. 

Join us at One More Page for inspiration from our design team - come join the fun and share your latest layout with all of us.  

Out with the Old: A Mesquite Tree Layout

There is something so satisfying about clearing away the old to make room for the new. I recently documented the removal of our mesquite tree, using these photos as my own personal "decluttering" project. While I originally thought I was following a specific layout challenge at A Cherry on Top, it turns out I may have just manifested that inspiration myself! 

Despite the missing challenge, I loved the process of putting this page together. It’s a great reminder that you don't always need a formal prompt to tell a good story—sometimes just "clearing out" the backyard is reason enough to get creative with woodsy images and earthy colors. 

Trying Out the Cut-Inlay Technique

I’ve been wanting to try the Cut-Inlay technique for a while, and I finally sat down with a design from Monica's Creative Room to make it happen!

This technique is basically like paper piecing, where you cut an image, then cut the same image with a design on top to give dimension. I went with Bonnie Kohane’s Circle Half Scene and I’m obsessed with how it turned out. It adds such a high-end, textured look to the card.

Why I loved this project:

• Layered Look: It offers serious depth, which you can see in the side view below
• Versatility: You can use any design you already own.

If you haven’t tried this yet, you definitely should!

Mid-Challenge Inspiration!

It’s time for some sweetness at Kerst Christmas Challenges for our Round Card Challenge! I’m featuring the adorable "Teddy Bear in Santa Outfit" from our sponsor, Last-Minute Manda. The beautiful background was created using Metallic Holiday Plaid from our own Bonnie Kohane.

Come join the fun and enter your round cards!

Oops! When a Challenge Theme Gets Misread

When I saw the theme for this month’s Music Challenge at A Cherry on Top, I immediately knew which advertising lyric I wanted to use for my title.

My problem lately? I've been skimming the requirements instead of really reading them! Once again, I created a layout I can’t actually submit to the challenge… sigh.

It’s a MUSIC challenge, and I used a SLOGAN.

I went with the slogan "LOVE AT FIRST TOUCH" from Pampers commercials, thinking it was a lyric. Ah well! The title is computer-generated, and the lovely word strips are from the Boho Elegant Christian Bundle from Creative Fabrica.

Sometimes a layout is just for fun!  Be sure to visit the One More Page blog to see the gorgeous inspiration from the team and come play along.  

Holly Wreath Deer - Stripes and Splatters

I’m head over heels for the Holly Wreath Deer by Bonnie Kohane! It’s such a versatile image, especially when paired with her gorgeous Stripes and Splatters papers. They truly are a match!

Taking a Trip Down Memory Lane: ACOT Rewind Layout

Taking a little trip down memory lane!  I’ve been having the best time playing along with the A Cherry On Top challenges. For this one, I tackled the 'Rewind' layout challenge, using the amazing Weekly Sketch #466 as my guide to scrap a throwback photo. It was such fun to look back and document this memory!  

Betcha' Can't Eat Just One

March is finally here!  While the sun is absolutely shining here in sunny Sahuarita—giving us beautiful HOT days—I know many of you are still experiencing winter weather.

I honestly appreciate the lingering cold right now because I am still working on winter layouts for my grandson! It’s the perfect time to wrap up those snowy, cozy layouts while looking out at blue skies.

Speaking of my grandson, while I was capturing memories, he was participating in his own "indoor hobby"—cooking! He made these incredible homemade potato chips.  They are definitely going into his memory album.

How are you wrapping up your winter layouts, or have you already moved to spring? Let me know in the comments!

Cozy Woodland Card

I’m absolutely thrilled with how this project came together! I used the gorgeous Woodland Crib digital stamp from our sponsor, Lili of the Valley, to create a delicate, whimsical accent.

However, the real star of the show is this week’s adorable freebie: the Holly Wreath Deer by Bonnie! I’ve even tucked in a little "sneak peek" for next week’s release... can you spot it?

Fleeting Beauty

Here is a layout I made for a challenge at A Cherry on Top – Three in a Row.  My three were a decorative border and word srips…and a free space.   The photos are from a few years ago when Saguaro blooming season were at its best…it’s been a while since we’ve seen such beauty.  What memories are you documenting this week? Let me know in the comments!

Thank You

I was supposed to make and send this card right after Christmas, but life had other plans! I’ve had a houseful of family visiting from Michigan, and while I kept telling myself I’d get around to posting, time just slipped away. Don’t you just hate when that happens?

I’m officially on a mission to get caught up. I had a few quiet minutes before heading to bed, so I finally sat down and finished this one up.

The star of the show is this gorgeous paper by Anna Griffin. Fun fact: I actually bought this nearly 15 years ago! It’s been sitting in my stash for over a decade, and I honestly thought I’d never find a use for it. I’m so glad I finally found the perfect sketch to bring it to life!

A Sweet and Simple Take on the Cherry on Top Challenge

I decided to jump into the latest Cherry on Top Cherry Lift Challenge!

The first step was finding the right materials. I managed to score some incredible patterned papers from my local craft group's freebie table—they were in the sweetest, most yummy colors imaginable. Sometimes, the best supplies find you!

Given how much was already going on with the bold paper patterns, I decided to keep the layout clean and simple (CAS). I didn't want to overwhelm the eye. The pattern colors provide all the "pop" this project needs, letting the fun patterns be the star of the show.

Head over to the Cherry on Top Challenge blog to see all the other amazing entries!

Wanda Wonka Scrapadilicious

Get ready for a visual chocolate feast! I'm thrilled to share my latest creation, crafted specifically for the double-page layout challenge hosted by A Cherry on Top crafting community. 

Valentine's Day "Fun"

So excited to share my entry for the My Mood Challenge! I brought out the festive vibes with the Green Valley Amateur Radio Club Valentine’s event. I loved using some of my favorite hearts from my stash. So pleased to get this scrapped... I mean, it’s only three years in the making.