This month The Cut Shoppe Design Team is teaming up with Creative Scrappers for a fun sketch challenge!

For my layout I used A LOT of products from my stash! YAY! It always feels like such an accomplishment to use products from my stash! It is ever growing so I feel a little better about my shopping splurges when I’m actually using up older product that has been lingering for years!

The background paper is from an older American Crafts DIY Shop Collection. It’s a pretty watercolorish background that looks like it is set within a Polaroid frame. It reminded me of a sunset on a summer day so I naturally gravitated to my Heidi Swapp sunburst stencil to create sun rays on the background using Scattered Straw Distress Ink. Once the background was complete I needed clouds to complete the scene.

I used the Happy Clouds Cut File from The Cut Shoppe on white cardstock. I positioned them around the page and wanted to add more texture to the layout so I hand stitched around each cloud. BUT with the sewing on the sunburst plus the hand stitching it was a bit too busy…so I covered a majority of the clouds just by layering the clouds. I slightly offset the layers for a bit of dimension.

I then moved onto the photo layering. I used a doily, vellum and fun foam for a bit of dimension. Before adhering that down I added a couple strips of pink pattern paper from the Heidi Swapp Serendipity Collection. I also added a strip of clouds that I believe is from Hampton Art, but it’s been in my stash for a LONG time so I could be wrong on the label!! I also added a banner from the Serendipity Collection. The title are clear stickers from Little Yellow Bicycle and I also added a tiny word sticker from Heidi Swapp. I love that the word strip has all the journaling I need! There’s no place like home, except Grandma’s. It was perfect given that we were swimming at my mom’s pool on this fun summer day! I added a flair button from Hip Kit Club and a few black splatters to finish off the layout!

I’ve also put together a video so you can watch the process:

Did I mention the FREE cut file and DISCOUNT code that is available this month? Click here to download the FREE CUT FILE!

Be sure to head to the Creative Scrappers blog for all the info on how you can play along with this month’s sketch! Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to share your layouts on social media using the hashtag #CreatingWithSketches!!

I’m back again with another layout for The Cut Shoppe! I came across this photo of my son from 2010 and absolutely loved his expression!

I started this layout by pulling the Plus Infinity Background Cut File into Cricut Design Space and slicing out individual plus signs onto a patterned paper from Simple Stories-Sunshine & Happiness Collection. I wanted to add visual interest that patterned paper so I backed it onto a black & white pattern paper from Amy Tan’s Stitched Collection. I then cut both of those papers at a diagonal and placed them onto a piece of white cardstock.

I then started my photo mat which consists of lots of layers from my stash-including random pattern papers, vellum & pieces from the cut apart sheet from the Amy Tan Stitched Collection. I wanted to pull in a little more yellow to help bring out the yellow that is in the photo mat so I used a combo of Shimmerz No Yoking Coloringz & Heidi Swapp Mustard Color Shine. I then added my title from American Crafts-Amy Tan-Rise & Shine Thickers, a flair button from my stash & a scattering of the plus signs left over from the Plus Infinity Cut File. I also added a chipboard piece from Heidi Swapp & a fabric heart from Amy Tan. I wanted to add a little more visual interest around the photo so I grabbed a few rub-ons from Basic Grey. I added stitching, Black Heidi Swapp Color Shine & enamel dots.

I’ve put together a YouTube Process Video so you can see how this all came together!

Thanks for stopping by & remember to stop by The Cut Shoppe Etsy Store to check out all the cut files!