Week 3 and 4 Sketch Challenge

These are the final two layouts I did using Pam's Sketches from April. I really enjoyed particpating in Pam's Sketch Artist of the Month on her blog. It really challenged me to get out of my comfort zone when doing layouts. I love all four layouts I did using her sketches and can't wait to see May's sketches!! Thanks Pam!!

Easter Cake

This is the cake I made to take to my brother and sister in law's house for Easter. It is a giant cupcake. I saw this pan on QVC a month or so ago and thought it looked so cute I just had to have it. Well, let me tell you as cute as this cake turns out you work for every ounce of cuteness!! The directions that came with the pan were useless. I scoured the Internet for other people who have purchased this pan and had tips. I actually found a lot of good tips!! This cupcake cake cooks in one pan with two halves. It has a spot that cooks the bottom of the cupcake and a half that cooks the top of the cupcake. Since they are different shapes they of course do not cook evenly, that proved to be the biggest challenge. I got that figured out almost, nothing burned but the larger bottom half was just very slightly undercooked. I wanted to decorate it really cute. I colored my icing and had all of my fancy decorating tips but no bag! I thought I would improvise with a plastic bag. Well that didn't work out, as soon as I squeezed the bag to force the icing through the tip it seams blew out and icing went all over my hands!! So I just had to ice this cake the good old fashioned way with a spatula. I had enough batter left over that I made some regular sized cup cakes to go with it. It was a huge hit at the dinner, so all of the trouble was worth it!

Week Two Sketch Challenge

Here is my week two Sketch Challenge from Pam's blog (http://sassygirlscraps.blogspot.com/ ) This is my layout based on Pam's sketch. You can see the origianl sketch and lots of other great sketches that Pam does on her blog.

Swap

This is a "treat hodler" that I made for my monthly scrapbook group's swap. The picture is a little blurry, sorry. I got this adorable idea from splitcoaststampers website. It is made with some cardstock, patterned paper and acetate (I used overhead projector transparencies). I was very happy how it turned out. There is 11 of us in this swap group so I ended up with 10 other really cute "treat holders" in addition to the one I made!

Sketch Challenge

Here is the first layout for my sketch challenge on Pam's blog http://sassygirlscraps.blogspot.com/ . I had a lot of fun doing layouts using Pam's sketches. Each Sunday in April she will post a new sketch and my layout I did using that sketch. I will post my layout each week here after Pam posts them on her site. Thanks Pam for the oppotunity to participate on your site!!!

Some other projects of mine...

A group of 11 of us who crop together monthly do a swap each month. We have done cards, calendar pages, altered paint cans, tags and this month we are doing candy/treat holders. I finished mine candy holders last night but didn't get a chance to take a picture of them yet. I will post it as soon as I get the picture. But here are my last two swap items --a "Spring" card and a gift tag/gift card I did for a swap.

For the card I stamped the Easter eggs with a CTMH stamp (Pumpkin Patch - they look just like eggs when you color them with spring colors!) cut them out colored them in. I used green mulberry paper to make the grass. And the saying is from another CTMH stamp set. Then I just tied some ribbon on the top to give the card a little extra flair. Not my favorite card, I know I could have done much better, but I had just come back from a week in Florida with the band and was sick with pneumonia!!

Below is my gift tag and card set we did for a swap in March. I used bazzill bling (pink) and I am not sure what what brand the patterned paper is (something I have had in my stash for a long time). I cut the card front a little shorter so I could add the lace and rick rack. Then I added two primas with a little stickles to give them some sparkle. For the tag I used the same pp and ripped it and inked it. Then attached the rick rack with a little green brad. I also added a prima using a pink brad.

Layouts I have done recently

These are some layouts I have done in the past month. I am trying to get my 2008 Disney pictures done since I have ton from when I just went to Disney in February! I have four other layouts that I completed but I can't post them yet. I am the Sketch Artist of the Month for April on Sassy Girl Scraps' Blog!! Pam did the skecthes and I took her sketches and created my layouts. One sketch and layout will be revealed each Sunday through April. Each month Pam featrues a different scrap artist and weekly sketches. You have to go check out Pam's blog she does awesome sketches! http://sassygirlscraps.blogspot.com/