Then

Now that the month of December has started, it's only fitting that your Auntie Em's design team use Christmas-themed paper and embellishments for this month's challenge.

The collection used this month is Holly Jolly Christmas by Echo Park. It's from a few seasons ago but that just goes to show how you can find a use for past collections, even if you've past it many times in the store. Plus, it's Echo Park and how could that be bad? (It's no secret - I love Echo Park!)

Following the 2012 PageMaps calendar sketch for December, I decided to use one larger picture for this layout.

This picture brings back so many fantastic memories for me - and isn't that what scrapbooking is all about?! It was taken Christmas morning 2008 of my husband Matt holding our exactly 2-month old son Samuel. I just happened to be snapping a few pictures of papa and Sam when I saw it...Sam's first smile! Seriously. I managed to get a picture of Sam's first smile! How lucky was that??! It was such a special day to begin with but this made it even more special - my kid smiled for the first time. As any parent will tell you, this is an amazing moment that you'll never forget. Such a big moment obviously deserves it's own scrapbooking page!

I layered several patterned papers and matted the picture with the chevron pattern. I first used the Big Shot to emboss the paper with a snowflake pattern. To add some sparkle, I used Glimmer Glam in Chandelier. I also added a piece of brown trim to the bottom. Lastly, I distressed the edges of my picture and wrapped it with twine. My bow wasn't as perfect as I would have liked so I added a white brad.

The collection was accompanied by chipboard stickers and I used to the pendant in the top left of the page.

Journalling is always an important part of the scrapbooking process for me. I used the Big Shot to create my own journalling box.

Now that my husband and I are expecting our second child, I realize how fast time with Sam has gone by. It seems like yesterday that I was celebrating my first Christmas as a parent. Preserving memories through scrapbooking allows me to look back and remember these good times that fly by so quickly.

Happy scrappin'! I hope everyone has a safe and happy Christmas/holidays filled with family, friends, love and good food.

~Sarah



A little Snowman Love!

Our kids love snow - they love winter - they are a little nuts that way!  They love building snowmen when the snow is just right.  This particular snow man was made with the first real snowfall of 2012 after that warm thaw we had. But, when Frosty was finally completed he had so many fall leaves stuck to him he looked like some sort of camouflaged, deer hunting snowman!  But we made it work anyway.

This month Emma gave the DT Echo Park's Holly Jolly collection to create with.  I knew the other girls would be pulling out the blues and pinks from this collection so I tried to keep it with the traditional reds and greens for my layout.  The challenge on the sketch this month was to incorporate ribbons and bows.  I used some cute little pom-pom trim under the photo, and a few pieced of ribbon and a hand-tied bow.  I then fussy cut a few of the characters from this paper line, used some stock snowflakes to give this layout a polished look.  I know from the photos this background paper looks like wood grain, but it's just a sheet of Bazzil textured cardstock, but the late evening lighting has picked up every little crevice in this paper - notice how much shadow the title cast too?  Lesson learned - don't wait until too late in the day to take your photos Lorena!!!

 

 

 

 

I do hope you have enjoyed this sketch challenge this year.  I know the DT has loved playing with the sketches.  You too can play along by bringing in your layout that you created based on the sketch using products purchased at Auntie Em's.  Be sure to incorporate ribbons or bows into your layout.

December Design Team reveal

This is your final installment of your Auntie Em's Design Team layouts for the year 2012!

This month we all got to play with the Holly Jolly collection from Echo Park, full of bright blues, pinks combined with traditional reds and greens.  Plenty of selection for every type of scrapbooker!  The theme this months is Ribbons and Bows - use them on your layout but make sure to leave some for the gifts under your tree!

Here is what the girls came up with:


Lorena's Take:  "Snowman Love"

 

Nancy's Take:

 

Stephanie's Take: Ho Ho (Ho)

Sarah's Take:



You too can play along with this sketch challenge.  Use the Scrapbook & Cards Today sketch calendar and products you have purchased at Auntie Em's to come up with a layout featuring ribbons or bows and bring it into Auntie Em's for a chance to win a fantastic prize!

Stay tuned for next month when we will be announcing some new changes to the Auntie Em's design team.