i'm always up for a fun challenge. just having some direction … somewhere to start … it helps me narrow down my choices. and this time i'm playing with my good friend, mary macaskill. i actually came across mary's blog earlier this year … and right away i recognized her work. she is the sweetest person … love her designs … her daughter is the cutest little thing ever … and she has this wonderfully amazing way with journaling. for our little challenge … we decided on the following things:

1. the color orange (which i really don't use all that much)
2. paint (which i do use often, and love … but have gotten away from a little lately)
3. chipboard (what layout is complete without a little chipboard)

4. lots of photos (love using lots of photos to get more done)

you can read all her details on her layout HERE!

and here is my layout:

Alyssa_sarah_webkinz 

this layout was in no way planned. we had chosen the color orange … and i had this sheet of orange pattern paper that i had just bought and was still sitting on my desk. it was as easy as that … just decided to make it work and never considered any other papers. i went to find some photos that would match … and came across the pics of the girls with their webkinz from monhts ago. they matched pretty well … so i went with it. lol! i decided to do the photo collage … using a template that i downloaded from the scrapbooks etc site. just used some photos i've taken of the webkinz in different set-ups i've found them in. the large photo of them all set up on the stairs … that was a photo that sarah took on her camera that i dug up.

Alyssa_sarah_webkinz_detail 

when it came time to add some paint … the first thing i thought of was my foam stamps. i seem to use paint either with chipboard … or foam stamps. i used to use these things ALL the time … but have to admit that they've been tucked away for a while now. this font called "jersey" from making memories has always been my favorite. i love to stamp with paint onto white cardstock … and then cut out the letters leaving a little white border. i ran those black chipboard strips through my cuttlebug embossing folder (the swiss dot one of course!) … and then sanded them down a little with sanding paper.

Alyssa_sarah_webkinz_detail2 

a piece of lined paper for my journaling … and a few more chipboard pieces to finish it off. pretty simple. i seem to be doing a little more hand-journaling lately … mainly because sometimes it's easier than doing it on the computer. but that also means i end up with more mistakes. lol! i just start writing .. and a lot of times i run out of room when i get to the end. and i write too fast and mess up. or i don't like my handwriting that day. but it's all good … i know it's important to get your own hand writing in the albums for your kids to look back on some day.

supplies:
pattern paper – WeRMemoryKeepers (orange), scenic route (ruled)
chipboard, photo corner, brads – heidi swapp
foam stamps, paint – making memories
embossing – cuttlebug

i had so much fun with this challenge. when i did the last challenge with nichol … it was fun to see how alike our layouts were. and i think this is just as cool … to see how different our layouts ended up. using the same basic quidelines … and yet we came up with two completely different looks. thanks for playing along mary!!!

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16 responses to “challenge time with mary . . .”

  1. Alicia King Avatar

    turned out great~I’ll have to try that template, I’ve been wanting to do that lately! and no kidding Chipboard is a MUST on every page! lol!

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  2. Nichol Avatar

    amazing, stunning layouts ladies!!!
    I love both of the layouts. Such a fun challenge! 🙂
    Laura, such a great idea to document the things that are important to our kids, their collections and favorite toys. Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂

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  3. Christine Avatar
    Christine

    Love seeing the results of these challenges you do – These are FAB LOs you have both done. Love your choice of photos, a great idea.

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  4. Sara Rossi Avatar

    You know how to ROCK a FUN challenge Laura!! I think it’s great how both LO’s came out & how different they each are. LOVE how you used the stamps & collage template for all the cute pics! Makes me want to stage my girls with their Webkinz!! LOL!!

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  5. Carla Avatar

    What a fun LO and great colors…this the stuff I like to SB! Little things that the kids love!

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  6. Brenda Hurd Avatar

    I love both layouts! Super cute – i love love orange these days! Great challenge – to bad i’ll be cruisin (well really not to bad) – but won’t be able to play along! Thanks again for the layout!

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  7. Leslie Avatar
    Leslie

    Both lo’s are SO cute! Love the orange glitter swirl in the middle of Mary’s lo & of course I knew it had to be coming – the Webkinz lo – I love it!!! Those little things are too cute!

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  8. Cheryl Avatar

    Wow! I love both layouts! I have that Jersey foam stamp set too and it’s my favorite. I should take it out again and make something.

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  9. Linda Avatar

    I’m really enjoying seeing the results of these little challenges you’ve got going Laura..it’s a great idea. I hadn’t been to Mary’s blog so that was cool too. TFS.

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  10. Sandi Avatar
    Sandi

    Laura and Mary
    Both of these layouts are so cute! It is nice to see the style of both designers.
    Mary love your butterfly idea with the many layers. Your baby is so cute!
    Laura you really rocked this page. My girls love Webkinz! Your colors are perfect for these photos. I need to get back to “Scrapbook Etc” site and finish loading all those templates.
    Have a great weekend!
    Sandi N.

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  11. Amanda Andrews Avatar

    These are so fun!!!

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  12. Shaun Paddock Avatar

    Another awesome layout. Loved seeing your work in Scrapbook Etc. this month!
    Have a groovy weekend!
    Shaun

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  13. kristan martin Avatar

    Laura, I love the color choice of the orange, green, and black. Very nice.

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  14. Marissa Avatar
    Marissa

    You remind me that I need to scrap some pictures of the girls with their Webkinz- definitely something they will want to remember when they are older! And Littlest Pet Shop too…the circle journaling that Mary used, do you think she used the CK font cds that had the shapes you can journal inside? You can hide the outline, then cut out into a circle using a circle cutter thingy…love that you used your foam stamps- remember how much we all used to use those? They are as cute as ever..thanks for all the inspiration lately!

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  15. michelle lanning Avatar

    Beautiful – both of them – love how you challenge eachother!!

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  16. KristaLund Avatar
    KristaLund

    So fun! I love the photo collage.

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