A CAS Challenge: Blog Candy

Do you scrapbook?

Prepare yourself for a super long post here! I first want to share a bit about how I got started with paper crafts. About four years ago my friend and neighbor, Amy, invited me to a crop. She was a Creative Memories consultant at the time and I was completely naive to the whole industry. I went, I scrapped, I left a bit confused.

Stickers, paper, and pictures oh my! What is this scrapbook stuff about!

Amy, recognizing my frustration with the limits of the precut card stock and stickers and introduced me to Stampin' Up!. An addict was born! But, I stopped scrapbooking....after the 3 or 4 layouts I had made...and started card making. Scrapbooking has always seemed so intimidating. To many rules, to many embellishments. My style didn't fit. I could always come up with some reason to not scrapbook. (....little side note....I must apologize to Amy...sorry, I tell this story all the time! ;) I'm sure you are so tired of reading it! ;) Thanks girly! I'm so glad you introduced me to this world! You're the best!)

So here we are. If you are here reading this today, you are here for the inaugural of my Clean and Simple (CAS) scrapbook challenge. Because one of the things that I have come to realize is that there are NO rules! We are creating for ourselves...for our friends....for our family....we should create what we love. ...and we should NOT be intimidated because we feel like our style doesn't quite 'fit'. If you were to come into my home you would find yourself in the midst of 'CAS'. I am a minimalist type person so it's no wonder that is often reflected in the projects I design. I'm also, now, quite the scrapbook fan.

So are you ready for some fun, EPLS (easy peasy lemon squeezy) scrapbooking? Would you like to win some yummy prizes? If so I hope you will play. Even if you don't get that 'lucky' random number you will walk away with a beautiful memory to either add to your ever growing scrapbook, put in your new scrapbook, or frame and hang on your wall.

So on to the challenge! This weeks challenge is a sketch. I actually had the idea when I posted my layout for Thursdays hip hop. Here's the layout I am talking about.

This is one of my favorite pictures ever! As I was picking the paper and title, I kept thinking of the day I took it. I really didn't want to showcase anything other than the picture. It's a pretty basic layout, but what better way to get started. So here is the actual sketch......

The one thing to remember is there are NO rules! This is a sketch. It's always a plus if you can recognize the sketch when you are finished but I have participated in enough of these to know that sometimes your vision will lead you in a totally different direction! If that's the case just go with it!

Here's my new sample for this sketch.....

I added a few more chipboard pieces to this one but otherwise the sketch is the same. I'm uploading to Splitcoast using the keyword CASSB01. If you decide to play please upload with the same keyword so that we can all see your creations. ....and of course, link back here so that you can be entered in the drawing for the blog candy.

Want to know what you are playing for this week? Take a peek.....

You are playing for a 12X12 package of designer paper from Stampin' Up! Sell-a-bration catalog. The stamp set and ribbon are also from this catalog.

Wowzers! Sorry for the long post. I feel like I owe you all a prize just for reading the whole thing! ;) I hope you get to play. Next weeks posts will be much shorter! There is no deadline to play but if you want to be entered for the blog candy please have your project linked by Friday March 27 at midnight so that I can announce the winner Saturday morning.

...and one more FUN addition....my sweet friend AJ is also playing and has made one of the cutest samples ever for this sketch! Be sure and stop by her blog to see her creation.

Thanks for playing! I can't wait to see what you come up with! :)