February Leap Challenge by Ange

Design Team Member Ange submitted this project for the February Leap Challenge. She said:


This month the challenge is LEAP and you are to interpret it however you want. So I leapt into a project. I'm really more of a layout girl, so projects don't happen often around here. I really love doing them tho, so it's about time I added in a few more don't you think? Being the month of Valentine's and watching my TEENage daughter chow down on a mini hershey's bar made me think about the upcoming Vday parties my younger kids would need Valentine's for and there you go, project idea in mind. So I gathered my supplies: candy bars, stamps, stamp ink, scissors, glue, pop-dots, super old Valentine papers (Scenic Route anyone? but still so cute!) and my ever handy trimmer (not in photo) and went to work.First I determined the length of the paper wrap by measuring around the bar and adding enough to have the papers overlap plenty so I could double up on the glue-ing (which was 3 3/4 an inch), then I measured the width (2 1/2 inches) and used my scallop trimmer blade to cut the papers (I'm thinking any border punch or decorative edge scissors would be fun for this too). Add glue to the edges, wrap paper around the bar and press (the bars slide out easily as my 2yr old has proven). Then stamp and cut or punch your wanted embellishments, glue and pop-dot them to the paper and you're done! I planned to let my kids add their own To/From on the bigger hearts, so I stamped and cut them out and they're waiting on the kids to fill them out before I add them to the bars (or let the kids). But there you have it. Super simple and fun, handmade Valentine with a sweet treat inside. These would be great for nearly any holiday, birthday party treats, thank you's the list could go on and on.


:)Ange http://scrappingcompulsion.blogspot.com/


Now it's your turn to take the February LEAP Challenge. The February Challenge is anything to do with LEAP - it could be a Leap you've taken in buying or using a new tool, a new product, a new technique, or your project could have somehing to do with your taking a leap. Anything goes! Take a leap and take the challenge. To participate in the February LEAP Challenge - just email a picture of your project along with a description to Scrappinpsycho@live.com

All submissions will be posted to The Scrap Our Stash blog and on February 29th a winner will be chosen, and given the opportunity to be a Guest Design Team Member for the month of April. This challenge ends at midnight central time February 29th.

Meet November Guest Design Team Member - Denise

Our November Guest Designer Denise lives in Southern California, which she loves because she can wear flip flops most of the time. She is a stay at home mom to two lovely children who are the main focus of her scrapbooking. She scrapbooks layouts, cards, and home decor. You can see a fabulous Halloween banner she made with Graphic 45's Halloween in Wonderful at http://lalasworldblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/trick-or-treat.html. She keeps busy with her kids, her addiction to scrapbook challenges, managing a group that creates lifebooks for adopted children, and the occasional fluff novel.

Denise submitted this layout for the October THAT Project Challenge. She said "for me my THAT project was scrapping a page about my life as a young adult. There are a couple of reasons I have put it off. The first is that I knew I would have to go through several shoeboxes to find the pictures. This actually turned out to be really enjoyable as I went down memory lane. The other is that I keep very busy with all the pictures of my children. So after I went through my boxes and found some pictures I wanted to use, I scrapped this layout.


I went crazy with my Fancy Pants rub-on and the paper is also from Fancy Pants. The blue flowers are from Prima. The vellum quote I cut up was from Quick Quotes and reads,” Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'WOW! What a ride!'”

Can't wait to see what further contributions Denise will make to Scrap Our Stash. Check back regularly, there is something new posted here everyday. And don't miss our Pagerize This Challenge. See all the details in the Pagerize This Challenge below.

October Challenge by Kathy

I was finally able to complete my THAT project. I really needed this challenge to make me complete this layout about a special time my sisters and I spent with my dad before his Alzheimers took his mind from us. The pictures are not very good - but the most important part was the journaling. I have procrastinated doing this layout for a long time - I'm not big into journaling - but knew that this was important to capture my memories of that special time.

Now it's your turn to take the THAT project challenge. Hurry, the challenge ends at 6 PM on October 31st. See all the details in October Challenge below.

October Challenge - Finish THAT Turtle

In my recent blog post when I came around to carding with felt, I alluded to having some (or many) crafting items that are still considered work in progress (or WIP). One such item, for which I have no excuse, was a little amigurumi turtle that I started in June 2009. Yea - I have many projects where I am ashamed to state out loud when I started something ;)

I was showing a friend how to crochet, which included learning how to read a pattern and following the instructions. He decided on an amigurumi pattern due to its bite-size nature (in comparison to a blanket which takes forever), 3-D aspect, and its complexity (which included learning how to sew parts together). So I crocheted one with him to show him how to get started. Half a turtle shell later, he went home and started on his crochet frenzy. I showed my friend in total one turtle shell, and one leg. So for the longest time, Todd, the non-existing turtle that I had already named, comprised of one shell, one leg, and a partially finished head! Kinda macabre...no?

So when Kathy gave us our October Challenge to try to finish THAT project, the guilt immediately wafted up from the box of unfinished crocheted items. Todd was whimpering from the bottom of the box. The most challenging part was finding the right pattern. Back then I didn't bother printing the pattern out, since I was going to finish it in two evenings. Or so was the plan.



In case you wanted to see the seams, here is Todd's underside:



One year, four months later, I finished three more legs, a tail, and prided myself in sticking the safety eyes together with the project - so I had them at hand. If I had misplaced then, I would have sewed him some cute button eyes on...



While I sewed on his last limb, it occurred to me that Todd didn't have a home. But then I remembered that one of my other dear friends has a mom that loves turtles of all kind. Big, small, breakable display only, huggable and squeezable stuffed animals - you name it. She has a collection. And since I had the pleasure of meeting her this summer, I am going to send Todd across the Big Pond to join the already established turtle home.

Now, Todd, be good and remember to say "Guten Tag, Ich heiße Todd und möchte gerne hier wohnen." (Hi, my name is Todd and I would like to live here.)

October Challenge

The October Challenge is to do THAT PROJECT! 

When I was one handed (short story = Fingers - Garage Door - OUCH), I made the comment that typing one handed was a challenge - and someone suggested maybe the next challenge should be to JOURNAL! YUCK YUCK YUCK! I hate to JOURNAL! Buttttttttttt I have one particular page in mind that I HAVE TO DO - and it will mean some real heart felt journaling. It is about my last visit with my Dad - before the alzheimers had taken him from us. It was a precious time - and one I always want to remember. I have some bad pictures (from an advantix camera) that help to capture the memory - but the real story is my memories and feelings. I know I need to do this page - but struggle with the idea sooooooo in order to MAKE myself complete this layout - I am going to challenge MYSELF and the rest of you - to do THAT Project! You know the one I mean - the one you've been putting off. Your challenge is: to do a project you've been procrastinating about it may be a particular layout, cleaning up your scrap area; finishing all those started project - anything goes - and you are encouraged to Scrap Your STASH!

To participate in the challenge just send a picture of your project to Scrappinpsycho@live.com along with a description.  All entries will be posted here at Scrap Our Stash.  A winner will be chosen and given the opportunity to be a Guest Design Team Member for December.  All entries must be received by 6:00 PM central time on October 31st.  Can't wait to see what THAT Project is for you!

October Challenge by Karen Williams

Reader Karen Williams sumbitted her layout "The last day" for the October THAT Project Challenge.  She said, "the journalling is hidden it reads:

This photo was taken on a visit to my Nan, we took her out for lunch in the pub even though she did't want to go, she was struggling to walk that day. We went outside for photos before we left. The next day she collapsed getting out of bed, the cancer was back and the tumour pushing on her spine paralysed her legs. This photo was the last day before she went into the hospital. She never came home.

Now it's your turn to take the THAT Project Challenge.  See all the details in the October Challenge below.

October Challenge - Joni

Well, I don't have too much that I won't try or stuff that I put off....so this challenge was a little tough for me.  I was mentioning this to my husband when he pointed out that I never finished the "Canvas" I had started for "his room".   Ok...he got me there.  So, that became "THAT" project for me.


Here is the story...  He had seen these artsy canvases (4 diff ones) that said things like LOVE, PEACE..etc.
They were like $50 each...($200...total nope..)...  I said I'd make him something like that instead ...well, that was over a year ago.  I did finally pick up some wooden squares with words on them....but they sat around too.  Then I started this canvas practicing a technique with VASELINE (which I'll share later in this post).  It too sat unused.  So I decided to put them altogether... I added some extra paint to "block" the canvas into sections and then it sat for another 2 weeks while I struggled with how to adhere the wooden blocks to the canvas/paper.  I finally just decided to glue the darn things.  So now IT'S DONE....  here it is.     And I'll share the Vaseline Masking technique.

So this canvas is 16x20... I used modge podge to adhere paper to the canvas (on the back side only..no modge podge on the top of the paper).   Then when dry....  I took VASELINE and put in on the paper in a few spots.. (like just to the left of the PEACE block and also to the left of the HARMONY block & left of the LOVE block) -- NOTE the red wood signs are not adhered at this point.  Then I applied BLACK paint over the whole thing..Paper and vaseline.  Then wait for the paint to dry. .. Now, since Vaseline doesn't dry...  you take a paper towel and wipe off the vaseline (yes this is a messy step)...  but the vaseline acts like a mask and wherever you had vaseline there will NOT be paint...you'll be wiping it off!!! 

I added extra gold & white paint to help "section" the canvas into 4 parts. 

Oh, my husband is a Massage Therapist and Yoga Instructor so "his room" is a little sanctuary in our house where we do massages & Yoga.  Just so you'd know a little more of the reason for the project.

Now it's your turn to take the October Challenge - see all the details below. And don't miss the Pagerize This Challenge - details also below in Pagerize This Challenge.  

October Challenge by Laurie

Design Team Member Laurie submitted this layout for the October THAT Project Challenge.  She said, "Here's a page that is back from September 2009. Maybe not terribly long ago, but when it was such a fun topic, I don't know why it took me so long to do it! This page is about DH and my trip to see Monty Python's Spamalot in San Jose. Little did we know that I would have *the* seat that had the grail under it! I was then escorted up on stage during the performance to receive my Best Peasant Award from King Arthur himself! I got a foot statue and the award certificate shown on the layout. The polaroid is something the actors take during the performance to give to you as well. So I don't know why it took me so long to do this page, but I'm happy that it's done so I can be sure to remember the fun!
Now it's your turn to take the challenge.  What is your THAT project.  We'd love if you would share with us.  See all the details in how to submit your project in the October Challenge post below.  Also, don't miss our Pagerize This Challenge - details below.

October Challenge by Missy

Guest Design Team Member Missy submitted this layout for the October THAT Project Challenge.  She said, "When I read the challenge this month, I knew it would be a hard one for me. For the last three and a half years, I couldn't bring myself to scrap these pictures of my twins, born at 30 weeks. I haven't been able to scrap them, simply because they still make me so emotional. I felt so helpless, unable to do anything to help them get out of the NICU. And I felt guilty over not being able to carry them longer and guilty because I had to leave them to come home and care for my oldest son. It was a very emotional time for me. They stayed in the NICU for 22 days, mostly because they were too small to come home. (The hospital won't release them if they are under 5 lbs.) But you would never know looking at them today! This was a tough challenge, but I managed surprisingly well! Now maybe I can get some more of these pictures scrapped.

Now it's YOUR turn to take the THAT project Challenge.  See all the details in October Challenge - below.  And don't miss our Pagerize This Challenge going on right now.  See the Details below in Pagerize This Challenge. 

October Challenge by Irit

Guest Design Team Member Irit submitted this layout for the October Challenge. She said, "I finally decided to do my THAT project. For me it was to use more that 2-3 photos on one single page so, I did a page from our Morocco vacation and used 6 photos cropped thin. It was also very challenging to use Basic grey Marakkesh kit of paper. This was a very big mistake to buy it at all. These are not my colors and it was to busy too, but yet I used it here.

Now it's your turn to take the challenge. See all the details in October Challenge below.

October Challenge by Christy

Design Team Member Christy submitted this layout for the October THAT Challenge.  She said, "We all have them...projects that need to be finished. I personally have a list of them. I think that is because I take WAY too many photos. I just love photos though...so I refuse to stop. I love looking back on my son and my husband...enjoying all of the moments. Especially since, sometimes, little details slip my mind. So, here I sat, with all of my projects, trying to decide which was the one I was going to work on today. There is my wedding album, honeymoon album, the 2008 photos, current pictures (because, I try to keep up), and childhood photos(both from DH and I). I finally settled upon some photos from our trip to Vail in 2008.


DH was lucky enough to have to go to a conference there. This meant my son and I could tag along because hotel, rental car and DH's expenses were covered. We were so excited! I had seen snow, but never this much and this was my son's first time. We were told how lucky we were...it usually doesn't snow that much during the time of year we went. And here was this beautiful winter wonderland. My son was ecstatic! I captured these photos our first evening out. I had bought a ton of different winter theme papers to scrap them, but in the end, I chose to let the beauty of the photos accent the papers. To keep it simple, I stitched across some Ms. Elizabeth's stickers by hand. I did accent the photos with silver colorbox ink.

                              


I love the simple and elegant effect. I was inspired by a friend of mine ( Erika H) and her "nature" layout over at Club CK. I am also happy to finally be using up the stash I bought to scrap these pages over 2 years ago! So, now I'm off to work on some more pages... Don't forget to work on projects you need to complete and post them here at Scrap Our Stash!  See all the details in October Challenge below.  And don't miss the Pagerize This Challenge below.

October Challenge by Libeeti

Design Team Member Libeeti submitted this layout for the October THAT Project Challenge.  She said, "my layout fits both creteria - These photos were on my "to do" list for a very long time.  I waited for a good sketch, a good muse, etc. So here it is. I also journaled a little more than I'm used to.

These photos were taken on our holiday - Purim - 2.5 years ago, and with all the Halloween challenges all around blogland, I finally got to scrap them.
I hope you'll like it.


I also have some photos from our last trip to a very beautiful place, and I want to scrap them too (also on my 'to do' list...). I'm not sure if I'll make a lo or a mini album for them. If I get to make it this month, I'll email it to you (nobody said it's not okay to enter twice, right? LOL - Right- Kathy).

Now it's your turn to take the challenge.  See all the details for the October Challenge below.  And don't miss our Pagerize This Challenge also going on right now.  Details below.

October Challenge by Amy

Design Team Member Amy submitted this layout for the October THAT Project Challenge. She said, "My THAT project is using a photo as a background. I've always wanted to do one and finally got the push i needed to do the page! I used scrapbookpictures.com to print my photo, 12x12. This photo is of my son and father playing match box cars.

Supplies: Photo: scrapbookpictures.com; Paint: Making Memories; Letters: American crafts (green and orange), October Afternoon (black); Rub-Ons: Cosmo Cricket; Ribbon: Cosmo Cricket and other; Pin: Fancy Pants; Tag: Tim Holtz; Pen: Sakura; Cardstock: Recollections.

I wanted to document how my son always says "Papa! Sit down! Play cars!". I was able to make that my title in my negative space at the bottom. Next, i added hidden journaling, so i wouldn't distract from the layout.

Now it's your turn to take the challenge. See all the details in October Challenge below. And don't miss our Pagerize This Challenge #3 - see the details below.

October Challenge by Wendy

Design Team Member Wendy submitted this layout for the October That Project Challege.  She said, "
accomplishment when I am finished, hopefully adding a lot to my yearly page goal. I also do not like to journal, never have. I added more than normal to this layout in a letter format.I have a HUGE stack of layouts that are started and not finished. This is the start of that pile. They should all come together quickly and it will be a great

Supplies used: Diecuts With a View paper, Close to My Heart Big Pinks Flower, and Bazzill Really Big Brad.


Now it's your turn to take the October THAT Project Challenge. See all the details in the October Challenge post below.  

October Challenge by Malina

Design Team Member Malina submitted this  single 12x12 layout design for the October challenge.  She said, "I  JUST finished after my son's first day of school in 2009.  The paper purchased perhaps a year and a half ago in eager anticipation of that first day and those great photos were pushed into a project pack where it collected embellishments, cardstock paper, stickers, and photos and there it sat until 1 month AFTER his first day of pre-school for the second year. Maybe next year I will get around to scrapping this years first day of school.


Kathy thanks for the push to get something done LOL and I should also like to thank my local scrap store design team director Mary who helped bring this page together by allowing me to dig through her stash and then gifted me the stash I loved. LOVE that I can Scrap Someone Else's Stash too LOL.


P.S. If you haven't tried them yet, the title which was cut from another piece of paper was refaced with the new Glaze pens which provided some shine, texture, and a slight bit of height to the page. Easiest embossing I ever did :)

Now it's your turn to take the Challenge.  Just complete "THAT" Project for the October Challenge.  Email a picture of your project along with a description to scrappinpsycho@live.com.  Your submission will be posted here at Scrap Our Stash and you could be chosen to be on the December Guest Design Team.  See all the details below in October Challenge. 

Also, don't miss the Pagerize This Challenge - see all the details in the Pagerize This #3 post below. 

October Challenge by Stacy H-W

Design Team Member Stacy submitted this layout for the October That Project Challenge.  She said, "Here is "that" layout for me. A layout of my "Grumpy Old Man" who died last year.

This is probably the hardest layout I have had to make.

I loved this dog so much and when he died I just couldn't even think about honoring his memory with a layout. It was just too hard.

It has been a year since he died and I cried the whole time I was scrapping. So I guess it is still hard but doable now.  If you aren't a dog person like me, you will probably think I am being a little silly.

But this dog was like my kid before I had kids. He was my "son" for 14 years.  He was always grumpy even when he was a puppy and most people wouldn't have even wanted him because of it. But he was lucky to get me because I had a hole in my heart and he filled it. He was loyal and protective and loved me too.

Heck, I'm crying while I type this...so lets get to the supplies.

I used Basic Grey Max and Whiskers stuff that I won in a challenge and Sassafras Lass Alphas for the title work. I used a Sassafras Lass Stamp and a Basic Grey Stamp with some brown Ranger Archival ink. The great sketch is from Sketches in Thyme.

I made the leaves by stamping the leaf pattern on my pp and then used my bone folder to outline the veins and then folded each vein to give them depth and dimension.

So here is my "that" layout....where is yours??  See all the details on how to submit your "That" Project in the October Challenge post below.

October and Pagerize Challenge

Design Team Member Monica submitted this layout for both the Pagerize This and the October Challenge.  She said, "I wanted to do both challenges this month but have been so busy that I decided to combine them into one.

I decided to scrap these pictures of my son and my grandma who passed away in Dec.2008. She passed away just a few days before Christmas unexpectedly. She was my last grandparent to pass away and was only able to see my son twice. After she passed away I knew I wanted to scrap the only two pictures I had of her and my son. I printed extra copies but just couldn't get myself to scrap them, until now. Thank you Kathy for this challenge. I can look at these now and not get so sad about her being gone but be happy that she was able to hold my son!!

I loved Joni's layout and lifted most of it! I haven't used paint on a page in a long time so I tried that. I felt like it was a little messy but most got covered up! Thank Joni for the inspiration!

Now it's your turn - Submit your layout to scrappinpsycho@live.com.  You could be chosen to be a member of the December Design Team.  See all the details below in October Challenge or Pagerize This Challenge.

October Challenge

Reader Jeanette submitted this layout for the October THAT Project Challenge. She said, these were pictures she had been wanting to scrap for a while. Here is her description. From 2004 thru 2007, My husband and I traveled the US and parts
of Canada in our RV. Yep, we sold our home in Reno, NV, and took off to fulfill one of my dreams. I love to travel. I must say that being a full timer in an RV was the way to go for me. It was just wonderful.
This is my first ever page about my RVing life.

In the Beginning.
This was my home on wheels....a 2004, Southwind with 3 slide outs.
You would be surprised at how comfy we were.

Now it's your turn to take the October THAT Project Challenge. See all the details below in the October Challenge post.

October Challenge by Karen Williams

Reader Karen Williams submitted her layout "The gathering storm" for the October THAT Project Challenge.  She said, "when my Nan went into the hospital it was soon clear she wasn't coming home.  She was paralysed by the tumour on her spine and they could do nothing about it. It got harder to get her out of bed and outside the hospital.  I remember one day in August when we managed to get her outside into the hospital garden. We could hear the storm approaching, the sky darkening and the rain coming. We wanted to take her back in, But she made us wait until it rained. She wanted to feel it on her face for one last time.
Now it's your turn to take the THAT project challenge.  See all the details in the October Challenge below. And don't miss our Pagerize This Challenge - details are below.

October Challenge by Karen

Guest Design Team Member Karen submitted this layout for the October THAT Project Challenge.  She said, "In 2007, on the way home from a week-long driving vacation, I asked my husband to make a slight detour to visit the country town where my grandparents used to live. We sought out the cemetery and located their gravestones. I took some photographs, knowing that I may never visit again. The actual grave markers don't hold a lot of significance for me; I believe that once we pass on, our souls move to a better place. Memories live in our hearts and minds, not at a graveside. But somehow I thought it was important to visit and also to show my daughter the location of my grandparents' final resting place. So, I've had these photographs on my hard-drive for almost three years, not really knowing whether to scrap them or how to go about it. This challenge motivated me to print them out, and get them on a page. Because I didn't feel any deep emotional response to the visit, I also had no real compulsion to record the experience - so I kept the journalling factual.

As for "scrapping our stash" - I used a 6x6 sheet of Basic Grey 'Motifica' paperpad that has been in my collection for years and years, a journalling page fromMaking Memories, and a small strip of Cosmo Cricket from last year's 'Nutmeg'line. My scrapping tip: Dress up older papers by adding an interesting personal touch! I added some hand stitching to make the paper pop from the page, and it formed a subtle frame for the very plain photographs."

Now it's your turn to take the THAT Project Challenge.  This challenge is not limited to layouts - it can be anything that you've been putting off!  Send a picture of your project along with a description to Scrappinpsycho@live.com.  Your submission will be posted here - and you will be eligible to become a future Guest Design Team member.  See all the details below in October Challenge.