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I got rid of a bunch of scraps this weekend. I'm working on my friend, Helen's, birthday gift... her birthday is later this month... so I want to put together a box of diecuts for her. I started with this pile of scraps... haven't used them all yet... but made quite a dent in the pile making all those diecuts!!

I picked up a stack of branding strips and made this border. Nothing fancy. Oh, and I finished up some hearts and enamel dots (partial sheets).

Thanks All!

This one uses a sheet of paper that was in my use it or lose it pile. Shimelle used it for her first layout of her new class. Was I ever thrilled! I love that paper but had no idea how to use it.

I know I'm not the only one who tried out the monthly SCT sampler from Scrapbook & Cards Today, but I honestly hadn't done more with the three months I got it than look and stash. So I pulled them all out to make cards, use up, and not have them linger anymore. I also gave myself permission to put what I knew I wouldn't use in a baggie to donate to someone who would.... like that cute penguin stamps and die set for the February one that I just won't use no matter how cute I think it is. Or some of the embellies and papers that just... nope. Anyway, I've made six cards with the first kit, and am four so far on the second one, with plenty of papers left for more. I really think the first one didn't have as much paper, but perhaps I used it in something else and just don't remember.

While I was working on the first set I received a Studio Calico order in the mail, which had some of their state stamp sets. You won't see one card because I forgot to take a picture of the Maine one before sending it to my MIL.

And in the interest of using up, I pulled out a set of card blanks and envelopes I bought from Michael's to do the Valentines swap earlier this year, and also grabbed my little tin pail of enamel dots and bling bits to use on cards.

This is a two-fer - flag inspiration and Pam's monthly challenge.

My little square foot garden. We’ve been at odds for a few years. This year I tried the Back to Eden method (cue the angels singing). Mostly a success! I should have some potatoes and tomatoes soon!
This layout is based on video #2 of Shimelle’s current class. (http://www.backtoedenfilm.com)

Couple more, and that finishes off the one line of papers from that month.

I wasn't going to do much as far as vegetables this year, but I had some giant pots and decided to go all out. I am so glad I did. Everything is doing beautifully and these are the best tomato plants I've ever grown out here (19 years). I bought them at Walmart, of all places, and they are just loaded with blossoms and baby tomatoes. I don't know what I'm doing different from previous years, but whatever it is, it is working.

This probably could have gone into the UFO thread, too. I started this some time ago but wasn't happy with the colors - they're faded IMO. I worked on it some yesterday and ended up calling it as-good-as-it'll-get. Evidently I draw better than I paint.

The rest of the papers from that second kit... I struggled with them and eventually just did notecards and called it good. I love the 80s icons but it was just way too busy for anything I tried to do beyond pretty much just slapping paper to a card blank. On the up side, they'll be good to send to nieces.

The third kit was once again a split between pretty much two lines and companies as far as product. These are Doodlebug Designs, I believe. I added the umbrella man die cuts from a stash that Pam P. sent me years ago, so still using stash!! The black phrases are stickers from Joann's, and the ones with the umbrella man are also from a die cuts swap we did a while back. The one set didn't stand out so I ended up tracing them with Liquid Pearls to get the contrast I needed. Also used some washi from my stash.

And the last set, which I really loved! The colors are just beautiful together and I loved the lightning bugs and moths. The paper line is called Twilight from 1canoe2, and I may end up ordering a pack of 12x12 papers to scrap some photos I think would be perfect with this.

I really didn't know where to put this page, but there is a bird (I call it my bobble bird) on it, so here it stays.

We are not really into yard art, but about a month ago we went into a fun yard art store. My husband really liked the large Javelina and thought it might scare the rabbits away (um, no, not working). I liked the bobble bird, so we got both. Then a couple of weeks later, I found the baby javelina at Goodwill. Of course I had to buy it.

Hey?! Are you talking about me?!

Here’s a page where I used the last of that sheet of stickers. I thought about looking for a year they were made but it’s in the recycle bin now. Another page design from Shimelle’s new class and all but the background papers came from my scrap basket.

Perhaps this belongs here instead of the other thread as I used the last of this sticker sheet and all those paper layers are scraps. Yeah, didn’t make a dent in that scrap basket...