Zoo Layouts

Hey there! I'm still working on my 2023 photos and had fun creating layouts of our San Diego Zoo visit.

I used lots of patterned papers from a paper pad from xxx. I also used a Freaky Fast Friday challenge from The Scrap Room. I know it's for May, but I still used it for inspiration!

I used the Cricut for the silhouette animals and sign posts, some enamel dots and random stickers to embellish the pages.

There's a flip flap for me to add more journaling and of course more photos!

Even though there are so many patterned papers, it doesn't overwhelm the photos. I also created this page for the title and more photos.

YouTube video:

Jenlee Schoolcraft Card

I tried something new with this Santoro London Gorjuss Owl stamp set from the Jenlee Schoolcraft website. I love the vintage black/white look and needed to try it.

I felt like this stamp would be perfect for my first attempt.

I definitely need to practice more, but it's not bad for my first attempt. I pulled all my grays and black alcohol markers and did my best with the shading.

I also made this into a fun fold front flap card. The patterned paper is from my scraps so I don't know where I got it but isn't it perfect for this vintage looking image?

In the inside of the card, is the word s*#t.  I wasn't sure if it was appropriate to show a picture!

What do you think? Check out the video.

Go to the Jenlee Schoolcraft website to purchase budget friendly crafty items. Use my first name, Dorlene, to get an additional 10% off the already low prices.

TGIF; Thankful Friday #370

I know, I know, it's Sunday and just a little late for the Thankful Friday post. I have an excuse though. I was out of town with the family in San Diego.

I gotta tell you this was a weird week. On Saturday, we gathered together to celebrate a new peanut to join our family. Sunday was Father's Day and on Monday we buried my mama. 

Lots of emotions, lots of family and lots going on. I won't even talk about the hospital and Urgent Care visits either.

What a week! But like I always say, there's always something to be thankful for and I'm thankful for all that.

To see the obituary, click HERE 

Scrapbooking With the Cricut

I love using my Cricut for scrapbooking. This time I did something different. I created a background square divided in three. I could have just cut three different papers, but in order for them to fit, I'd have to completely cut all three. I only need three pieces not nine!

Here's what it looks like in DS. If you want the DS file, HERE you go.

I know you can't see all the square on the final layout but it still looks so good with all that patterned paper!

Add stickers and a 3x4 card and that's all this layout needs.

Check out the YouTube video for the process 

National Fishing Day Card

I have joined a national holidays group on IG and on June 18th, it's National Fishing Day. Who knew?

I created this easel card for hubby's friend who is an avid fisherman. He had surgery a few weeks ago and whenever hubby asks for a card, I make one!

I purchased this stamp and die set called Cozy Bear Boater from Trinity Stamps at the Expo. It was a clearance item and I snagged it!

Watch the process video showing how these bears, etc were colored using alcohol markers.

To create this simple easel card, score a 5.5x8.5" piece of cardstock at 4.25" and then on the 2 1/8 on the front. Fold in towards the inside of the card. Add patterned papers on each side of the score line. (5 1/4 x 1 7/8)

Adhere the embellished oval to the bottom half of the card front. Make sure to only add adhesive to the bottom half. 

Add a sentiment or embellishment (I used the tackle box) about an inch from the inside bottom edge. This keeps the image up and creates the easel.

Our friend always comments on my creations when I post so I know he'll be excited to get this. 

If you want to see more cards, go to Instagram and follow me @3sons_and_astar

Dutch Bros Sticker Spread; Junk Journal

Do you have a Dutch Bros near you? Are you as obsessed with their stickers as I am? Honestly I'm not even sure why except that they are super cute and unique. 

But what am I supposed to do with them? Create a junk journal spread, of course!

Take a look at my newest YouTube video to see how great they look in my Little Golden Book Junk Journal 

This spread is on a pamphlet I received in the mail. I love the flip front and I thought it was perfect to give a sticker tease to what is coming on the inside page. I scraped colorful paints using an expired credit card and used a black paint pen to draw animal print around it to match the original pamphlet.

Some white paint splatter and hand lettering is pretty much it. There's plenty of room for more stickers!

Here's a new one that I'll have to add soon.

Dutch Bros announces sticker drops the morning of the drops with a limited supply. You gotta get yours early!

TGIF; Thankful Friday #369

TGIF and another week to be thankful. This week I spent a lot of time in the craft room and reading. It's only been a couple of weeks and I've already read five books.

By suggestion from a friend, I am writing reviews after reading the books and writing them on my Instagram account @3sons_and_astar

It's our 25th year with our Summer Reading Marathon challenge. Can you believe it?

Beautiful Day Polaroid Frame Card; Seguras Crafts

Ever wonder how to use small images on your card front? We'll, here's a suggestion...make multiple copies and frame them. 

And to make it more fun, use Polaroid frames. That's what I did to create this cute card using smaller images from the Emotions and Opposites stamp set from Seguras Crafts.

Watch the YouTube process video for directions on how I put it all together.

Seguras Crafts for the stamp set

Cricut DS for the Polaroid frames

Enamel dots, watercolor pencils, patterned paper and other supplies from my stash

Rainbow Crush; Rainbow

The Rainbow Crush YouTube Hop color for June is rainbow! I'm such a dodo that I forgot to press record when creating the first and main part of this layout!!

But I had to share this cute and colorful layout.

Check out my video and be sure to watch all the others!

#scrapbooking #scrapbooklayouts #rainbowcrushhop #scrapbookprocessvideo

Welcome to Rainbow Crush – a Social Media hop where we share projects that feature a color of the rainbow each month! This hop is hosted by Tara on her Facebook Group.  Anyone is welcome to play along.  This hop takes place on the  2nd Wednesday of the month!  The color for June is RAINBOW.  Please use this prompt anyway it inspires you. 

You can sign for the next month’s hop over on the The Paper Snob Community Facebook group: 

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

INSTAGRAM:

Brandi:  https://www.instagram.com/scrappy.boymama/

Tina:  https://www.instagram.com/tinamcmmvr/

DawnLyn:  www.instagram.com/dawnlynsdesigns

Laurie:  https://www.instagram.com/scrapbookingbits

Neyla:  Instagram.com/nelliepickles_crafts

My IG account is @3sons_and_astar but I'm not part of the IG Hop.

Here is the YOUTUBE PLAYLIST for this hop! All the videos in one place!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCfSqErOPJorP_dZzlcNCmUgB_J7sW_FK

St Patricks Day Layout; PCC

Hey there. I was in need of an embellishment for a Saint Patricks Day layout and knew the Leprechaun Feet in Hat cut file from Printable Cuttable Creatables (PCC) was the perfect image for it.

After creating the layout, I cut out the leprechaun cut file using my Cricut. As always, I lay the pieces before adding adhesive. You'll see in the process video that there was an oops in the cutting process. Did that stop me? No!

Then added some white pen accents before adding it to the layout.

Cute patterned paper, some lucky phrases die cuts from Keep it Simple and enamel dots equal the perfect complement to the cute photos we took of my granddaughters. 

We made Lucky Charms cocoa bombs. I gotta tell you, I have so much respect for those people who make these things. They were much harder than they looked!

Check out this file along with others on the Printable Cuttable Creatables website and use 3SONS15 for 15% off your order!

Have fun creating!

Balloon Cards; Jenlee Schoolcraft DT

I love making birthday cards and this stamp/die set from Stamps of Life on the Jenlee Schoolcraft web store is perfect to create some bright and fun ones.

I decided to stamp the balloons on different color scraps of cardstock using Versamark ink. This gives a subtle tone on tone look that I wanted.

A sentiment, inking, simple lines and sparkle make these cards easy to make and super cute! And since I had lots of balloons left, I made a couple more cards for my stash.

Watch my YouTube process video to see how it was created.

Jenlee Schoolcraft is the best place to go for budget friendly new and slightly used crafting products. These products are high quality and affordable. Check out the website and use my first name, Dorlene, for an extra 10% off!

Mermaid in a Bottle Card

Wow! This card has got to be one of the best cards I've made in a while. I got the cut file from The Bearded Housewife and it is spectacular! Honestly, it's easy to make once you figure out the slots and tabs.

The nice thing is there's instructions and a video tutorial on his blog. Check it out HERE.

Instead of adhering the blank cardstock completely in the back, I only adhered three sides to make a pocket. I added a gift card there.

Before I forget, there's a cut file for a coordinating envelope too! And I believe this is one of his many FREE cut files!

TGIF; Thankful Friday #368

Happy Thankful Friday. I have many things to be thankful for this week and they all revolve around my mom. She passed away on May 31st and we are heartbroken. I wrote her obituary which I'll share below. 

I think this week I'm thankful for mom moments and lessons and memories that are being played in my head. 

Honestly I'm doing ok. She lived a long full life and I know she's at peace.  Love you mom!

Mary Natividad Weatherby was born on September 8, 1936 and passed on May 31, 2025.  She was the fifth child of 12.  She lived a unique life beginning in Fowler, CA then Berkeley, CA to attend the California School for the Deaf.  (It was in Berkeley where she met her future husband, Dwayne). She moved back to Fowler after school to help take care of her youngest brothers and nephew. She reunited with and married Dwayne in 1962. They were married for 51 years and raised four daughters together in the Bay Area.  She worked full time outside the home alternating between graveyard and day shifts throughout the years. She retired from Lockheed after 15+ years of service to take care of her grandkids.

Mary was a tough cookie. She survived fatal childhood illnesses; adjusted to being away from home as a young child; and raised four daughters to be strong, independent women. She lived a long life full of adventures, travels, lifelong friends, and an amazing family. Mary was a social butterfly. She loved to laugh, dance, sing, and was very competitive when playing games. People were drawn to her. If you wanted to have a good time, you would definitely invite Mary!  

She was an excellent seamstress and made quilts for all her loved ones. She loved the Lord with all her heart and was a devout christian. She was beautiful inside and out. 

She will be missed, but we are happy she passed peacefully with a big smile on her face.

Mary leaves behind four daughters Caroline Reed (Ben), Sherry Bejarano, Dorlene Durham (Kenny), and Marlene Wilkendorf (Greg). Seven grandsons, three granddaughters, three great granddaughters and a great grandson on the way.  She also leaves behind many family members and lifelong friends.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Dwayne Weatherby and grandson, Anthony Durham.

Shaker Card Using Cricut

I've made this card before and may have shared it but I had a request for more so I decided to share it again. This shaker card is saved in my file in Design Space if you're interested in creating your own. Click here.

This file includes some cut files and a Print/Cut file. 

Watch the process video to see how to make it: