Time to say Goodbye

 Hello friends and happy June!

Bring on the summer please! I'm so ready!!

This month at Challenge YOUrself it's all about saying goodbye.  

All good things must come to an end and that's what is happening with Challenge YOUrself.  They have decided to bring the challenge blog to an end.  It's such a bittersweet feeling for me.  I have been part of this team for 10+ years.  

With that being said, I do hope you join in for our final challenge.

Create a layout about saying goodbye.  How do you say goodbye?  We say goodbye to so many things in our lives and this is a good way to express yourself about it.

Here is mine for inspiration.

My time on this design team has been incredible!  Working with Sharon has been such a pleasure, along with the rest of the team as well.  I have learned so much about designing along the way.

For this layout I used a mixture of product from two collections, both from PhotoPlay.  You Had Me At Paper and Best Friends.  They blended well and the theme was spot on.

Now it's your turn!  Really think about this one and get it down on paper!

How do you say goodbye?

Be sure to share with us at Challenge YOUrself before July 4 and be sure to include YOU in a photo.  I'm excited to see what you create.

Thank you so much for your time and for stopping by.  

It's much appreciated.

Happy Scrapping,

Tracy

Home

Hello, hello friends and Happy May to you!

Loving all the flowers, all the blooms this time of year. 

The temps have been so lovely too.

This month at Challenge YOUrself we want you to use black & white photos.  I love this.  B&W photos are so cool, and it makes it easier to use fun colors and funky prints with your papers.

Here is mine for inspiration.

I would like to give credit to Michelle Stokes on the inspiration for my page. I lifted her design because it's absolutely amazing and because I had the same product. Thank you Michelle! You can see Michelle's beautiful page on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/shelz626/

For this layout I did a white background and fussy cut all of the houses.  I just love to fussy cut, it's like therapy to me.  I also fussy cut the trees too.  These were from an Amy Tangerine's collection Finders Keepers.  It was perfect for my indoor theme at home.  I added in some miscellaneous pieces from my stash to balance it out.  I just love the turnout. It's so stinking cute!

 Now it's your turn!  Gather up those B&W photos and get to work.  I'm excited to see your creation.  Be sure to share with us at Challenge YOUrself for your chance to win some goodies.  Oh, and be sure to include YOU in a photo, that's a must.

That's it for now.  

Thank  you much for stopping by, I appreciate your time and support.

Happy scrapping,

Tracy

Love You 2

 Happy April to you friends!

So excited for spring and for the warmer weather to follow.  

It's also my birthday month so bring on the celebrations!!

This month at Challenge YOUrself we have a color palette for you to follow.  It's very springy.  Such beautiful colors.

My layout for inspiration...

These two... I just love them to pieces!  Grammie day is the absolute best.  They are so used to the camera and taking selfies that's it's just a natural part of the day.

For this layout the background paper is by Amy Tangerine's Cut & Paste collection.  I just added miscellaneous bits from my stash to balance out my vision.  It came together pretty quickly and turned out so cute.

Now it's your turn.  Just look how pretty these colors are.  The perfect springtime palette.  Go have some fun with it and get creative!  Be sure to share with us at Challenge YOUrself for your chance to win some goodies.  Including YOU in a photo is a must, don't forget that part.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Happy scrapping to you.

Tracy

The Best Besties

 Hello friends!

Yayyy!!  It's March!! Just the mention of it and I get so excited!  Meaning warmer weather is on the way.  I'm so ready for it.  This winter has been a long one and very snowy & cold.

This month at Challenge YOUself we are having you create a layout "celebrating friendship".  This is the perfect way to show off those special friends in your life.  I've got a special circle of girls to show off that are the best of the best and here is my inspiration for you.

Aww!  I just love these girls so much.  They are so good to me and I'm so proud to call them my besties!

For this layout the background paper is an older print by Pinkfresh.  I really like the large, checkered look and how it adds dimension.  The large doily adds texture and my embellishment pieces are from my misc stash that coordinated in color.  I had fun putting this one together and I love the turnout!

Now it's your turn!  Go have some fun with it and get creative.  Be sure to share with us at Challenge YOUrself by April 4th for your chance to win some goodies.  And don't forget to include YOU in a photo.  That's a must.

Thank you so much for stopping by and for your time.  I really appreciate it!

Happy scrapping to you

Tracy

Be Mine

 Happy February friends!

Did January feel super long?  Or was it just me?

Ugh, I'm so glad it's over.  Let's move this winter along quickly please.

With it being a new month, we've got a new challenge up and running at Challenge YOUrself.  This one is about "love."  Not surprising, right?  With Valentine's Day quickly approaching!  You can interpret it anyway you like, just make sure it depicts love and has a photo with you in the frame.

 Here is mine for inspiration

My true love!  Our 30th Valentine's spent together, along with our 30th wedding anniversary.  I always make a big deal out of it because I feel love is important and love is hard and with that being said... love needs to be celebrated!  

For this layout I used a mixture of papers by Echo Park and by Simple Stories.  I've had these misc tags laying around for years and was determined to make them work.  The embellishments are by Simple Stories from the Romance collection.  It all came together beautifully, and I love the turnout.

Now it's your turn.  We all have photos representing love.  Get them out and start creating.  So many possibilities with this challenge.  

Share with us at Challenge YOUrself and be sure to include you in a photo!  That's a must to qualify to win.  I'm really excited to see your outcome.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Happy Scrapping,

Tracy

One Little Word - Strength

  Happy, Happy New Year friends!!

Wow! Another year gone just like that. 

I wish you a healthy and happy 2026. 

I'm looking forward to making this year the best one yet.

For this new year's first challenge at Challenge YOUrself it's about that "one little word" created by Ali Edwards.  The concept is to choose a word that's important to you.  A word to focus on, to live with and to reflect upon throughout your daily life for the entire year. It can be a very powerful thing.

My chosen word is "strength" and here is my layout for inspiration.

"I am strong even when I'm weak." 

I love this quote, and it really stuck with me.  

We all have our weak moments but that doesn't mean we are weak. 

We are human.  

Rest, reset and then back to ruling the world. Ha!

For this layout I used very minimal product from my stash.  The background paper is made by Reminisce from the 2021 Hero collection.  I also had these older calendar stickers that worked out perfect.  Along with some misc embellishments to complete the theme. I love the turnout!

Now it's your turn!

Like I said, this can be as powerful as you want it to make it.  However, make the creating part fun.  Pick a word that really moves you and get it on paper.  

Be sure to share with us at Challenge YOUrself for your chance to win, and to view tons of inspiration as well.  I'm excited to see what you come up with.

As always, thanks for your time and for stopping by.

Happy scrapping, 

Tracy

Stop and Smell the Flowers

Hello friends!

Happy December to you and Merry Christmas!

Wow! The holiday season is here in full force.  I do hope everyone is enjoying it.

For this month at Challenge YOUrself it's a free for all event... meaning anything goes!  It doesn't get any easier than this.  It's the best challenge ever!!   

Here is mine for inspiration.

This beautiful flower park is located inside the San Deigo Zoo.  It was absolutely gorgeous and the smell was absolutely intoxicating.  

For this layout I did a lot of fussy cutting of the flowers and clouds from misc. papers in my stash.  Picked through my embellishment stash as well, to find coordinating pieces for my theme.  I also had these wooden fences for years and I was determined to use them.  In other words, this layout is everything misc. from my stash and I love how it turned out!!

Now it's your turn!  Go get crazy and creative with this "Anything Goes" challenge.  End this year with a bang and create your best layout yet.  

Be sure to share with us at Challenge YOUrself by January 4, 2026, for a chance to win!  

Oh, and be sure to include YOU in a photo, that's a must.

I'm so excited about this one.  Unlimited possibilities.

Always a huge thank you for stopping by!

Happy Scrapping

Tracy

Together

 Hello friends!  Happy November!!

Omgoodness... the holidays are upon us already.  Get ready for the chaos. Ha!

This month at Challenge YOUrself we want you to create a layout about a favorite family memory and it can be from any time period.  

Here is mine for inspiration. 

I don't have a specific memory.  Mine favorite family memories are made at the lake during the summer months.  When there are no schedules, no timelines, no place to be.  Just all of us enjoying each other and lake life.  

So much fun!!

For this layout I used Summer Porch by 49 and Market.  

It's a lake themed collection and it was the perfect choice.  

Now it's your turn.  Think about that one family memory that comes to mind and create a layout about it.  Be sure to share with us at Challenge YOurself before December 4th for your chance to be a winner!  Oh, and make sure you're in a photo, that's a must.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I truly appreciate it!!

Happy Scrapping, 

Tracy

Love You

 Happy October my friends!

Where, oh where, did September go??  

Please bring it back!  I'm not ready for cold weather and it's quickly approaching.

For this month's challenge at Challenge YOUrself we want you to create a layout using black & white plus one color.  My favorite color is red so that is what I chose.  Here is mine for inspiration.

Aww, me and the hubby!  He is truly my always.  Such a good man.

For this layout I used an older collection Kissing Booth by Simple Stories.  It was the perfect fit for my theme and shades of my favorite color.  It all came together pretty easily, and I love the turnout too.

Now it's your turn.  Decide on a color and get to work.  Be sure to share with us at Challenge YOUrself before December 4th for your chance to win and be sure to include YOU in a photo.  That's a must.  

I'm excited to see your creation.

Thank you so much for stopping by, it's much appreciated.

Happy scrapping!

Tracy

Shine

 Hello, hello and happy September!

How is your summer going?  I sure hope you are enjoying it because it's soon to end and I'm just not ready for that.  I am a summer girl all the way!

You know what a new month means... a new challenge is waiting for you at Challenge YOUrself.

This month we have a sketch for you to follow.  I love sketches.  They give you that perfect starting point.  

Here is my layout for inspiration...

I did it! And we killed it!

The Chicago MudGirl is in the books!  This has been on my bucket list for years.  I'm ready for another one.  However, I want to really challenge myself and look for one that's more intense.  

For this layout I used an older collection, Shine On, by Amy Tangerine. The colors were pretty spot on.  I wanted masculine and girly all in one.  Ha!  This was the best I could do, and I actually love the turnout. 

Girl power all the way!

Now it's your turn.  It's a very versatile sketch with many possibilities.  Go have some fun with it and be sure to share your outcome with us at Challenge YOurself before September4th.  And don't forget to include YOU in a photo, that's a must!

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I truly appreciate your time!

Happy Scrapping, 

Tracy

Enjoy Every Moment

 Hello friends!

Happy August to you all.

Wow! What a hot summer we've been having. We've been loving it up over here and taking advantage of spending as much of it on the lake as possible, doing what we love.

Today we've got a new challenge at Challenge YOUrself. This month we want you to use your stencils. Use one or use as many as you'd like. So many possibilities with this one.

Here is mine for inspiration.

Me and my honey doing what we love. On the pontoon, on the lake and just soaking up the sunshine and enjoying summertime.  

I used my sunburst stencil and the Solstice collection by Pink Paisley. It was the perfect fit and combination for my photos.  I couldn't quite get my photo size correct for the frames but I made it work. Ha! We always make it work, right??

 

Now it's your turn! Grab your stencils and get creative! Again, so many possibilities with this one.  Go have some fun with it. And remember to include YOU in a photo.  Share with us at Challenge YOUrself before September 4 for your chance to winner!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Happy Scrapping!

Tracy

Then & Now

Happy July friends!

A new month means a new challenge has been released at Challenge YOUrself.

Then & Now is the theme this month.

How fun, right?  One of my favorites!

Here is mine for inspiration.

From raising children to enjoying grandchildren!  Where does the time go?  It's the circle of life and I couldn't be prouder of my family.  We are definitely blessed with the best.

For this layout I used a scrapbook kit from Hip Kit Club.  I actually made a wrong cut with the gray printed paper and was determined to make my mistake work. Boom! Success!! I absolutely love my turnout.  So that's proof that there is never a mistake in scrapping. Ha!

Now it's your turn!  Go have some fun with this one.  While looking for photos the memories alone are so thrilling!  They sure were for me.

Be sure to share with us at Challenge YOUrself before August 4 for your chance to win and be sure to include YOU in a photo, that's a must.  I'm looking forward to your creations.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

I appreciate your time.

Happy scrapping,

Tracy

One Grand Day

 Hello, hello and happy June!

This month marks that summer is soon to begin and that makes me one happy girl!  I was born for the summer.  Bring it on!

With it being a new month that also means it's time for a new challenge at Challenge YOUrself.  We've got a mood board for you to follow.

Here is mine for inspiration.

One grand day indeed!  Actually, it was one grand weekend!  The 4th of July is my favorite holiday because we all get together and celebrate and the weather is always WARM! Being Grammie and Grandpa is the absolute best life!  We have truly been blessed with the best.

For this layout I gathered all of my 4th of July themed product, so it is a mixture.  I fussy cut the clouds from a printed paper.  Since it was a beautiful sunny day, I wanted to enhance that.  Added some glitter stars and a title, along with some miscellaneous bitties and done!  I really like my outcome.

Now it's your turn!  Go have some with this one.  There are unlimited amounts of possibilities!  I can't wait to see what you create.  Be sure to share with us at Challenge YOUrself before July 4 and to include YOU in a photo.  Thats a must.  

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Happy scrapping.

Tracy

You are my one & only true love

 Hello my creative friends!

Happy May!

I'm just loving this warmer weather.  Bring it on!  I'm a summertime girl all the way.

This month at Challenge YOUrself our theme is butterflies. 

Create a layout using butterflies.  You know we've all got them.  

So, get digging through your product and use some up.

Here is mine for inspiration...

Aww!  Me and my love of 30 years.  That's a milestone!  So, we had a photoshoot done to celebrate.  All of the pictures turned out so good and we had a great time doing it too.

For this layout I used an old scrapbook kit from the Hip Kit Club.  The colors were perfect and it included butterflies, and just look at how colorful they are.  I just love when a layout comes together like this.  

Okay, now it's your turn!  Go get creative and share with us at Challenge YOUrself before June 4.  Be sure to include you in a photo, that's a must.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Happy scrapping to you.

Tracy

Little Moments Big Memories

 Happy April friends!

A new month means a new challenge at Challenge YOUrself.

Scallops is the theme this month.

Use them in any way you'd like.  Here is mine for inspiration.

Girl trips, girl dates, girl days... they are the absolute best!!  Me and my bestie living our best lives.  So much fun!

For this layout I used a variety of scallops.  My mixture of product was included in an older scrapbook kit by Hip Kit Club.  I'm actually pretty proud of myself for using a colorful background.  I always gravitate to using solid white.  

Ok, now its your turn!  Dig out all of your scallops and get creative.  Be sure to include YOU in a photo and share with us at Challenge YOUrself.  You have until May 4.  I'm looking forward to seeing your layout.

Thanks for stopping!

Happy Scrapping.

Tracy

Happy Birthday

 Hello friends and happy March!

Just saying the word March gets me excited about spring.  We're over that hump!! It's slowly warming up and added on longer days.

This month's challenge at Challenge YOUrself is all about that "bling".  You can use pearls, rhinestones, sequins, crystals, etc...  Here is mine for inspiration.

Celebrating a birthday with one of my besties!  She is all about being bougie and we love that about her.

 So much fun was had by all.  Happy birthday my friend!

I threw this layout together with a variety of product.  Included in the bling are... rhinestones, sequins and shiny metals.  It was hard to pick up the sparkle in the photos.

Now it's your turn.  We love seeing your creative side and this challenge is perfect for that!  But remember to include YOU in a photo. That's a must to qualify for a fun prize.  Be sure to share with us at Challenge YOUrself before April 4th.

Thank you so much for stopping by!  Your time is much appreciated.

Happy scrapping.

Tracy

Amore

 Happy February friends!

Did January feel super long?  Or was it just me?

Ugh, glad it's over.  Let's move this winter along quickly please.

With it being a new month we've got a new challenge up and running at Challenge YOUrself.  This one is about hearts.  Not surprising, right?  Happy Valentine's Day!  You can use as many or as few hearts as you like.  Here is mine for inspiration

I just love this man and I love Vegas.  I don't need the real Paris.  This is close enough for me.  It was just as romantic.

For this layout I used a very old heart die cut stencil for the background and added coordinating ephemera for embellishments.  I even found the perfect touch with the Eiffel Tower piece.  Also, changing my photo to B&W was pretty perfect too.

Now it's your turn!!  We love creativity so go have fun.  So many possibilities for this one, and who doesn't have a ton of heart product to use up?  Be sure to share with us at Challenge YOUrself by March 4th and also, don't forget to include YOU in a photo.  That's a must.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I hope I have inspired you!

Happy scrapping.

Tracy

It's A Lifestyle

 Hello friends and Happy New Year!!

Adios 2024 and bring on 2025.

I wish you all a happy and healthy new year!

Not only is it a new year... it's also a new month.  Meaning we have a new challenge to share with you at Challenge YOUrself.  This one is all about YOU!  We want to hear all about you.  You can share as little or as much as you like.

Here is mine for inspiration...

For this layout I used a large variety of fitness ephemera given to me by a dear friend. She knows how passionate I am about my lifestyle, and this was the perfect gift and the perfect challenge to use them up!  I love my turnout. The perfect touch was using a B&W photo,

Now it's your turn!

We all have a story.  Tell us yours.

Be sure to include YOU in a photo and share with us at Challenge YOUrself.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I truly appreciate your time.

Happy scrapping and again, Happy New Year!

Tracy

Love Our Adventures

 Hello friends and Happy December!!

With a start to a new month brings a new challenge to be tackled at Challenge YOUrself.  This month Anything Goes is your challenge.  The best and easiest challenge of all!!

Here is mine for inspiration...

I can always count on this girl to take on adventures with me.  We travel well together and I'm looking forward to 2025 and what it has in store for us!

For this layout I just grabbed a miscellaneous package of chipboard that's been in my stash for years and made it work!  I added a title and a couple strips of arrow paper and TA-DA.  It turned out so stinking cute!!  And the best part... so easy and so fast!

Now it's your turn!  Anything goes!  How can you NOT join in this month??

I'm excited to see what you create!  Don't forget to include YOU in a photo, that's always a must.  Be sure to share with us at Challenge YOUrself for a chance to win a prize.  

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy scrapping,

Tracy

Celebration

 Hello my creative friends!

Happy November!

This month at Challenge YOUrself we want you to create a layout using a grid pattern.  You may interpret this pattern in any way you choose.  I'm such a sucker for grids so I was pretty excited for this one.  I absolutely love grid styles!

Here's mine for inspiration.

Me and my girls <3

Celebrating my granddaughter for her birthday. A trip to Chicago and the American Girl Store.  So much fun.  Of course, it was the hottest day of the summer, but she was a trooper and enjoyed herself to the fullest.  We all did!

For this layout I used these tiny envelopes that I've had in my stash for years!  I was determined to use them and I just love how it turned out.  A minimal of product used but such a powerful punch.  Again, I just love grid formats!

Okay, now it's your turn!  Go get creative.  So, so many possibilities with this one!  Be sure to include YOU in a photo, that is a must, and share with us at Challenge YOUrself for a chance at being a winner!

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I truly appreciate your time.

Happy Scrapping to you...

Tracy