Friday, June 30, 2023

Two Wild 2 Page Layout

Another great 2 page sketch from Stick It Down for June. It was perfect for all the photos of my granddaughter’s second birthday party. 


This layout started and ended pretty basic but then I was inspired by Lindsay Bateman and Heidi Swapp and their stamping style. What a HUGE difference it made to the layouts. I’m so happy how it turned out!


The embellishments were made with the Print and Cut function with the Cricut. Stamps are from my stash as well as the variety of pink ink pads. 

Check out the YouTube video:


If you love sketches, check out Stick It Down.  And don’t forget to follow me on IG @3sons_and_astar and @lindsaydawnebateman for her amazing inspiration.





TGIF; Thankful Friday #274

Happy Friday and Happy Thankful Friday! Here's to another week of being thankful! I'm thankful this week for my daughter-in-law, Krystal and daughter for coming with me to get my memorial tattoo. I don't know if I would have gone if it weren't for you two.

Even though it's still healing, I love how it turned out. Did it hurt, you ask? Yup! But not so bad that I couldn't handle it.


I'm also thankful to Rising Sun Farm & Gardens which is our adult transition program in our district. We attended a lavender paint party earlier this month and in our gift bags was something I didn't know I needed. Apparently, calendula is a natural tattoo healing ingredient!



Monday, June 26, 2023

Graduation Card; Stick It Down

I had to create a quick card for my niece’s graduation party today so I used the June card sketch from Stick It Down.





I dry embossed the yellow cardstock with graduation hats for the bottom of the card and used patterned paper for the top. The yellow piece is cut at 4x3” and the patterned paper at 4x2.25.  This made it fit perfectly on a standard card base with a little border around the edges.

The circles were cut so I was able to stack them for more interest & to match the school colors. Very simple coloring was done to also add some color.

Check out the process YouTube video:



Be sure to click over to Stick It Down for the monthly sketches.


Sunday, June 25, 2023

Printable Cuttable Creatable Design Team Announcement


Woo Hoo! I'm excited to announce that I am one of the newest Design Team members for Printable Cuttable Creatables website. Oh, they make the most adorable SVG files that are perfect for your Cricut and project needs.


Start looking for super cute projects made by me on my IG and here of course. But also be on the lookout for blog posts on the PCC Blog for all the members.

They also have an affiliate program at no additional cost to you but I'll be able to earn a small commission from anyone who purchases using my link. Use THIS link for your purchases.

Thanks for your support!

Friday, June 23, 2023

TGIF; Thankful Friday #273


Happy Thankful Friday. Let's see...what am I thankful for this week?

I'm thankful for all the new Starbucks drinks that I'm enjoying because of my son's Starbucks Drinks I Want To Try list that he left for us. We started a 22 Drinks in 22 Weeks series aka Tony's Starbucks Bucket List.


Iron Crafter Challenge


I’m so excited about this challenge and YT Hop. The Iron Crafter Challenge is hosted by Tata O’Rourke of Piece Craft Love.  She gives the participants items that we must use from our stash and for this round the item(s) are eyelets, brads, and/or buttons. I pulled out a bunch of eyelets and brads and went to town on the top left side of my layout. 

The first thing I did is cut 11” strips of patterned papers at various heights. One each of 2.75, 2, and 1.25 and two of 2.25” height. I was able to use scraps for most of these except the beautiful orange leaf paper. These were placed on the base going from the thickest strip at the bottom and then going upwards. 

Once I decided the photo placement, I used a pencil to mark where to place the eyelets. I even got to pull out the ol' Crop-a-Dile for this layout! I attached the eyelets to the paper strips before adhering them to the cardstock base.

Then I added brads and other die cut pieces to finish the embellishments. Concentrating on the left side.

Definitely different and definitely fun!

Be sure to watch my video as well as all the other Iron Crafters in the hop! You can also check out the layouts on IG. My account is @3sons_and_astar.


I got the strip idea and measurements from the Scrapbooking The Day Away site. There is a free area as well as a paid membership - totally worth it! 

I love how simple this layout is but with the addition of all the eyelets and brads, it really became a WOW layout!

Here is a playlist with ALL the videos of the participants:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCfSqErOPJop0GnylMyJL5BFmzWqNl4po

If you want to learn about the mystery item and play along, come over to the Piece Craft Love Facebook group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/piececraftloveclubhouse





Thursday, June 22, 2023

Organizing my Dies

I just filmed this short video showing off a simple and doable project. I don't have many dies but the ones I have are in a box taking up way too much precious space in the Command Center.


I decided to punch some holes, make some dividers and place them in a super cute 6x8 binder.

Check it out!


Nothing fancy but exactly what I need for now.

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

SNS Peanuts Card Sketch #244


Sketch n Scrap has the best card and one page layout sketches. Check out their blog or Facebook page to find them. I created a fun Peanuts characters card using sketch #244.


I did some cleaning in the Command Center and came across these stamps that were gifted to me by Rubber Paws (read more about her HERE). I completely forgot about them.




I stamped and fussy cut a bunch of characters and used a variety of markers to color them. I also used a background stamp to create a tone on tone effect on the yellow cardstock base using Buttercup ink from CTMH.

Watch me put it together:

If you're not already, hit the subscribe button and the notification bell to be notified for all future posts. I post at least two videos a week and one is always scrapbooking and the other is whatever it is I'm creating in the Command Center.

Be sure to join the Sketch n Scrap monthly challenges and also check often for other fun challenges!

Saturday, June 17, 2023

CCS Pinata Card


This card might be one of the favorite cards I have made! Now, it was my first attempt so there is room for improvement but it’s so different and fun!


I used Cougar Smooth White, Pepper Red and Black Licorice cardstocks from CutCardStock for the card to match the graduate’s school colors. I also used Cricut Design Space to design the card front frame.


Watch the process video to see how it was put together:


This is a picture after it’s opened 


Other materials needed are foam adhesive, tissue paper, crepe streamers, confetti and twine. Oh, and a pair of fringe scissors really helps too!



Be sure to click over to the CutCardStock Blog for more paper inspiration.

Friday, June 16, 2023

TGIF; Thankful Friday #272


TGIF friends. We're having some low temp weather here in the Central Valley and it's been nice. My garden is growing and I see peppers, tomatoes and zucchini in my future. I can't wait!

I have the complete opposite of a green thumb so this in itself is something to be thankful for. Can I be thankful for veggies that have not quite arrived yet? Yup! I am. It's so cool seeing these plants grow and develop into something that I can soon pick and enjoy.

I'm pretty stoked about my flower plants as well.

What are you thankful for this week? Leave a comment below or on my IG page which is @3sons_and_astar. 

Thursday, June 15, 2023

SNS Layout Sketch #275


Oh I had so much fun with this layout sketch! Do you use sketches as a starting point? Sketch n Scrap has great sketches for one page layouts as well as cards. Be sure to click over to their blog and/or FaceBook page to see more.


I had these two photos of my hubby & I from our 35th anniversary in 2021. I decided to use Navy as the main color scheme. The coloring is so off from these photos of the layout that you can barely tell that the two cardstocks are a dark Navy Blue and the main center cardstock is actually White.

I really love how I added a line of embellishments for a really long embellishment cluster. I used stickers, die cuts and some gold ink to show it off.

Here's the layout:

More photos & a close up:


The process video shows how I put it together from gutting the base page, lining up the layers and even a tip for creating clusters.

I used “It’s All Good” collection from Dear Lizzie. It's an oldie but definitely a goodie. The sketch shows a title over the photos which I decided not to add but I'm second guessing my decision. I may go back later to add one but for now the layout is finished.

Products Used:
It's All Good paper pad, 3D stickers, stickers and die cuts from Dear Lizzie
Cardstock from CutCardStock
Stamp set from CTMH
Gold Metallic Ink Pad from my stash
Gold Color Silk from Fun Stampers Journey/Spellbinders

Give this sketch a try and link it on the Sketch n Scrap blog or FB page. I'd love to see what you come up with!


Monday, June 12, 2023

YT Hop; Corn Maze Layout


I am participating in a YT Hop for Piece Craft Love on the Mix It Up Monday series. I’m really happy how my layout turned out and I hope you are too. We used this layout from Christine Steele Harden and it’s a good one.


And here’s the finished layout 


Check out the YouTube video and continue to watch the other participants!

Here’s a link to the lineup HERE.

Products Used:
Patterned Paper scraps by Simple Stories, Cozy Days
Cardstock by CutCardStock
Ink pads Oatmeal Cookie by FSJ/Spellbinders and Onyx Black Versafine Archival 
Sprays by FSJ Dark Roast Color Silk and White by Dina Wakely (purchased from CTMH)
Stamps tractor from Life Is Beautiful of FSJ, wooden block background and small letters from SU!, other two letter sets by CTMH, corn and journal spot from my stash


Saturday, June 10, 2023

Print n Cut Decorations

I was commissioned to make 20 of these toppers for a baby boy shower. The theme was Lion King and these simple Simba’s were perfect!

I uploaded the Simba picture into Design Space and added a crown image to it. I then added an offset to it. Moved the crown since I wanted to cut these out of gold glitter paper.  I flattened the Simba and offset so the Cricut would cut around Simba but also the crown border. 

Check out this short video:

I’m sure glad the print area expanded recently or this would have used a lot more paper! Another offset was created around the flattened image which I cut in green cardstock.

I used foam adhesive for dimension and tacky glue to adhere the sticks. Yes, those are wooden coffee stirrers!

I’ll post a photo of the finished project on my IG account. Be sure to follow me there @3sons_and_astar.

Friday, June 9, 2023

TGIF #271


I haven’t posted Thankful Friday posts for a few weeks because it’s been the most horrific four weeks of my life. I know I always say there’s always something to be thankful for and I still believe that.

In spite of everything, I am thankful for all the support we received from coworkers, friends and family but especially those that were unexpected. Unexpected in the sense that we hadn’t seen them in years. Unexpected because even strangers volunteered to help and unexpected to see family that don’t usually travel come to pay their respects.

If you’re one of these people, please know that you are so appreciated and special to me and my family. Love you all!

It’s definitely a “Pay it Forward “ moment. Words of advice, if you’re ever not sure about reaching out or mailing a card or anything to someone who has lost a loved one, do it! Do all the things!



Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Terracotta Pot Updo

A plain terracotta pot was not what my backyard needed so I gave it an updo!

I used an assortment of acrylic paints and just went to town! My daughter said it looked like something from the 90’s and I agree. And I love it!




Now with the plants:



Thursday, June 1, 2023

Life Update

I’m not feeling very crafty right now but it is good to sit in the Command Center to keep my mind off things.

On May 15th, my son who was battling lung cancer passed away. Oh my, I actually wrote that sentence. 

It feels unbelievable and I keep expecting him to text me at any time. But I know he won’t and it hurts so bad.

I have so much I can say but for now I just needed to write down as few words as possible.

Our Tony. ❤️💔😢