Scrap Our Stash - Stash Challenge #18 - Back to School

This week has been busy busy busy! I love the fall but it is truly our busiest time of the year! Anyways, I am popping in to share my layout for the Scrap Our Stash - Stash Challenge #18 - Back to School. The challenge is as follows:

For this challenge you are required to shop your scrap stash for school supplies, create a layout and include the school supplies on your page found on the lists below:

(1) or more items from list A: 

Lined or ruled paper (striped paper does not count)

Chalkboard paper

Dictionary paper or a page from a book

AND…

(3) or more items from list B:

File Folder

Library Pocket and/or card

Pencil or pen

Paper Clip

Alphas

Numbers

Apple

Book

Ruler

Chalkboard embellishment

When uploading your layout, please list the items you used from both lists.

You can use additional items, and your layout does not have to be school themed.

Even though the layout does not have to be school themed, I ended up doing a school layout. Here is my take on the Challenge:

"For this challenge, I decided to scrapbook my oldest's first official day of Pre-K. 
I used a lot of the Studio Calico August Kit on my layout. 

The lined notebook paper was perfect for the background and challenge guidelines. 

For my other 3 stash items, I added alphas, an arrow paperclip and a number die cut."

The sponsor this month is My Kreative Pursuits. The prize is their You Make Me Happy September Workshop Kit:

My Kreative Pursuits is not only awarding our September winner their September Workshop Kit, they are also offering a 20% discount for SOS followers as long as supplies last. 

You can use coupon code SOSSept to get it. 

We would love to see your take on the challenge. Just link up your blog post or gallery image at the Scrap Our Stash blog and you will be entered to win this month's prize.

Thanks for stopping by!
Megan

Scrap Our Stash - May Sketch Challenge Layout

Hi All - Today my layout for the May Sketch Challenge at Scrap Our Stash is up on their blog. The challenge is as follows:

Create a layout based on this sketch below.  You must create your own background by using cardstock, a stencil and/or mask and using some form of medium (ink, paint, etc) from your stash. 

Below is my layout for the challenge:

For my layout, I ended up flipping the sketch and making a column of pictures to the left. For my title, I laid out Heidi Swapp letter masks (that have been in my stash for quite awhile!) and colored over the letters with an ink dauber. I also used a circle star mask on three spots on my layout. I sprayed over the masks with Mr. Huey in Shell. After making the background, I added in my column of pictures, added my journaling and a few embellishments. A lot of the items came from the Studio Calico May kit.

The prize this month is a $30 gift card from Scrapbook Circle. To be entered, just link up a layout on the Scrap Our Stash blog that meets the Challenge Guidelines. We would love to see your work!

Thanks for stopping by!
Megan

Sweet Cousins

Happy Monday! I cannot believe December is already here! Seriously, where has the year gone? Nevertheless, I am excited to get started on my December album. I am still deciding if I want to do daily or just include 25 memories. I am not the best at the Daily thing....hmmm...we shall see.

Anyways, today I am sharing a layout I made a month or so ago that I just have not gotten around to sharing yet. (I actually have quite a few of these.) I found the background paper for this layout when I was reorganizing my paper at my new house. I picked up the Studio Calico Penn Station add on during a Last Call sale and this paper from Glitz Design came with that kit. (I actually broke up the kit when I got it but still ended up using some other paper that came in the kit...kind of funny when that happens!).

As soon as I saw the paper again, I really wanted to use it right away so I set it aside and thought about a picture I could use with it. Since it is rather "girly", I did not think it would go that great with my everyday pictures of my boys. I ended up using a picture of Max with his cousin, Mia, who he adores! She is about 6 years older than him and he thinks she is the greatest thing! Here is my layout:

I really like how it turned out. I used various items from my stash so if you have a question about a particular one, just let me know. Thanks for stopping by!

Megan

Thoughts on Kits

Hi All - I thought I would share a little bit of my thoughts on kits today. I listened to the Paperclipping Roundtable episode on Kits and it really got me thinking as to why I like kits and what makes them a good option. (Also, I am referring to kit clubs in this post not really kits you put together yourself or a collection kit.)

I just got back into scrapbooking "regular" layouts (i.e. not Project Life) about a year and a half ago. I subscribed to Studio Calico's scrapbook kit when I started scrapbooking again. I have also tried other kits as well. All I have tried have been great clubs but I ended up with Studio Calico Card kit as my ongoing sub (which I explain why later in the post).

Here are some of the main reasons I like kits:

- A good jumping off point - Whenever I want to create a layout, about 1/2 the time I start with a kit. For me it is a "good jumping off point" - meaning I rarely just stick to the kit contents but it definitely gets me started which can be one of the hardest things.

- Have someone select the supplies you can't "see" - This one has really hit home recently since Archiver's in my area closed. I really don't have a place where I can physically see products. Hobby Lobby has a few of the newer items, but that is it. I know I have bought things online that looked better online than in person and vice versa. Buying a kit they find those supplies for you as they do get to see the physical product. For example, I wasn't really sure about Studio Calico's new Printshop line but I got a few of the products in a kit and was sold - It has been one of my favorite new lines!

- Supplies I wouldn't have bought on my own - A lot of times you get things you would not have bought on your own in the kit, whether it be because you don't think it is your style, not very readily available or maybe the price point as they sometimes do partial packs. This has pushed me to find things I wanted have tried on my own and find things I really like.

- Creative Team Galleries - Kit clubs all have creative teams that make layouts with the kits. You can view what they did with the supplies and get ideas - or even exactly copy a layout. This can help when you are first scrapbooking (or scrapbooking again!).

- Exclusives - This is probably why I decided to on the SC card kit as the sub I wanted to keep. I do make cards but not as much as layouts but I love their exclusive 6x6 pad and the stamp set. I use the paper and stamp sets for cards and for Project Life, as well as layouts. Also, SC has a lot of different exclusives that come in their other kits. I have the option of purchasing those as well during presale (or after) and they will ship with my Card kit as long as I buy between a certain time period of the month.

I do think the key is to find the kit that works for you. They talk a lot in the Roundtable episode about this. The reason I ended up sticking with Studio Calico was I find their kits the easiest to use for me and they have items I can't purchase otherwise. In addition, they have a decent size shop where you can buy extra supplies, combined shipping from the 27th-end of the month, and quick shipping to me (I only live about an hour from them so I always get my package the next day).

If you want to check out a good listing and review of kits, check out Ruth Bosner's blog where she did a great job of breaking down kit clubs. It is a little older but most facts are still the same. (She also did one on pocket page kit clubs that you can find HERE.)

I will leave you with a layout I made with (or at least started with) the Studio Calico Marks & Co Scrapbook and card kit. I ended up getting the main scrapbook kit that month as well as the card kit. (I usually purchase at least one add on or the main scrapbook kit with my card sub.)

The Amy Tangerine pocket is a good example of something I would not have purchased on my own but actually really liked using on this layout. We also got a partial pack - just two pockets in this kit.

The Studio Calico bow from their Atlantic line was actually another item I received in a different kit that I most likely would not have purchased. I really like what it added to this layout.

The yellow letter stickers are by Bella Blvd. The glitter dots are from Freckled Fawn

The die cuts and sticker are from the Dear Lizzy Polka Dot party line from my stash.

I used the pocket to hold my journaling. This card came from the Amy Tangerine Cut & Paste die cut pack also from my stash.

I hope this gave you some insight into why I like kits. If you haven't ever tried one, I say give it a try! Most you can buy just the single kit so you can try it out.

Thanks for stopping by - Hope you have a happy Tuesday!

Megan