Simple Stories and some Crop time!

This month I was fortunate to be given the Simple Stories Destinations line by my pals at Two Scrapbook Friends. I must say I ADORE this collection. Here are three layouts I made using this versatile line.

First (and my favourite!) is called EPCOT.

I printed the photos using Picasa and was able to get so many more pictures of my favourite places on a one page layout. I also used some twine and some hardware I had in my stash from Stampin Up! I fussy cut the airplane, cut some circles with my CM circle cutters (still a fav tool after 15 years!) and applied some vinyl letters from American Crafts.

Secondly was a layout featuring my son. We went to Discovery Cove this past May. The weather was hot and this attraction is like nothing I had ever seen before. My hubby and my daughter swam with the dolphins but Max and I were content to swim in the warm pool and play in the sand..(at least he played..I sat and read!)

I used the tiny words on one sheet of the patterned paper and cut them out to form a border after layering a slice of navy, yellow and the designed pattern on the left. I popped the largest sentiment up. A bit of stitching for my journalling and some ribbon.  The title is chipboard is Chipboard letters from Tim Holz. I painted them added crackle paint for some texture and glaze. I rubbed the dry letters with a bit of ink and VOLIA!

Lastly is a layout I did for my daughter's dance memory album. She and her BFF (and one of MY BFF's) went to Niagara Falls for a Dance Competition. After the awards, we went for dinner at the Rainforest Cafe and then down to the falls for an up close view.

This layout included some more of that Stampin Up! hardware, and more American Crafts Vinly letters in a different font. I used cream thread against the black for my stitching, as well as some twine and charms.

 I also wanted to share my first layout for the My Sketch World of this term. I showed you a sneal peek but here is the finished layout! I used My Minds Eye Lime Twist and some funky enamel brads. The photo is by the incompareable Angela Smith Photography.

Last but not least I encourage you to pop over to Practical Scrappers and check out their feature today called Update Your Stash. My layout called I Love To See You Blossom is featured there in addition to lots of other great ways to use up the flowers in your stash.

Wow, such great things going on with all my scrappy friends! I hope you'll pop over to the links and let them know you were there!

Watch out too for the Back To School Online Crop beginning September 9th at the Two Scrapbook Friends forum as well as the month long ABC crop going on at My Sketch World..(more on those to come very soon!)

Til next time, keep doing what YOU love to do!
Christa