Taylaor Swift Challenge - A Cherry on Top

Playing with the latest Taylor Swift challenge over at A Cherry on Top! This round's theme is all about weddings, which gave me the perfect excuse to revisit some favorite family memories. I dug into the archives for photos from my sister’s wedding "a few years ago" to bring this page to life.

Grabbing the Challenge: My Latest Scrapbook Page!

I am playing along with the Grab 5 Challenge over at A Cherry on Top!

For this challenge, we had to pick five specific elements to feature on our layout. Here are the five fun items I grabbed for my page:

• Metal heart paperclips tucked onto a couple of the photos.
• A retro filmstrip accent.
• A 3x4 photo of my sister enjoying San Diego.
• Faux stitching details running around the page borders.
• A vibrant Vicki Boutin SVG ("Smile") cut file.

I love how these pieces came together to bring this memory to life!

Scrapbooking with the Grab 5 Challenge at A Cherry on Top!

Hey crafty friends! Today I am playing along with the latest Grab 5 Challenge over at A Cherry on Top, and it was such a blast to put together.

If you haven't tried this challenge yet, you basically "grab" five specific elements to feature on your layout. It is a fantastic way to break out of a creative rut and use up items in your stash.

For my page, the 5 elements I grabbed were:

• Scalloped border
• Cursive text
• Red, white, and blue title
• 3 stars
• Washi tape

I love how these random ingredients came together to create the perfect recipe for my layout. Head over to the A Cherry on Top community to join in on the fun and see what everyone else is creating!

A Cherry on Top - Manufacturer with a Twist Challenge

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I can never resist a good crafting challenge!

One of my absolute favorites is the Manufacturer with a Twist Challenge over at A Cherry on Top. I always try my best never to miss it. Why? Because it pushes me right out of my comfort zone and forces me to pay closer attention to the different manufacturers in my stash.

Now, I do usually face a bit of a struggle with this one. Almost all of my papers are digital downloads, and I have accumulated a massive online library of collections over the years. If I relied on just a few go-to sources for my supplies, this challenge might be easier—but where is the fun in that? 

The Challenge Rules

For this round, the rules were super creative:

1. The Base: Use any letter from the words MAY or JUNE.
2. The Twist: Take one letter from your chosen manufacturer's name, and add a physical item to your project that starts with that same letter.

My Project Take

For my base, I chose the letter N from JUNE.

I paired it with the manufacturer Nothing but Freebies. For the twist, I grabbed the letter E from their name and added some adorable Eggs to both the top and bottom of my project!

Sweet Fifteen

 Wow, that gorgeous gown totally steals the show! I am so excited to share this new layout I created for the A Cherry on Top Number Mix Challenge!

To play along with the challenge, my page had to meet a few specific rules:

• Theme: Wedding or birthday
• Color Palette: Pastel
• Title: Exactly two words

I decided to document a special celebration, keeping all the elements soft and sweet. To add a meaningful personal touch, I included a tag that Mikah specifically asked me to make for the guests’ favors! I also dug into my stash and found a heart-shaped cactus, which felt like the perfect whimsical embellishment to tuck into the layout.

I absolutely love the way it all came together!

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!

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. 

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.  

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!

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!

Mother's Joy, A Father's Pride

Created for the Make-the-Cut Challenge at A Cherry on Top.

He Got Game

Hollywood’s Finest Movie Challenge features a striking layout inspired by the film He Got Game. Perfect for showcasing a favorite Mackinac Island memory. it pays homage to our legendary dad's presence in the sport of baseball.

Birthday Wishes

I'm so thrilled today! After hosting a Christmas party and crafting 118 holiday cards—plus several sympathy and birthday cards—I finally have a clean craft table again. I’m feeling incredibly proud of that marathon session, but it’s already time to start on January birthdays. Fortunately, I checked the challenges at A Cherry On Top this morning. Their latest sketch saved the day once again, and I’m sure it won’t be the last time!

Picture Yourself - A Cherry on Top

This layout was inspired by this month’s Picture Yourself Challenge at A Cherry on Top: Create a layout about something most people don’t know about you. I chose photos from my Engineer-for-an-Hour experience on the Pere Marquette 1225—the real Polar Express.

First Visit to Organ Pipe

 A visit to the Organ Pipe National Monument.

Monthly Challenge - My Mood

These are my cousins when another cousin got married.  I used the title to show my love for my cousins.

Schnitzel Dinner

I used We Are 3 digital paper.  Title was computer generated.  The fork and spoon are from Creative Fabrica....and I can't remember who created the other clip art.

Prompt Challenge - Use Tags

I love challenges, and although I'm not real familiar with Cherry on Top challenges, I decided this year I would join in.  This is my entry for the Bi-Monthly Prompt Challenge #7 - Use tags.