Exciting News!

I have been a little slow at posting to my blog lately, but have some exciting news to share today...I am now officially retired as of Friday, December 20, 2013!  Retirement is a big life change but something that Ron & I have been discussing for several months.  Ron took early retirement three years ago after 38 years of faithful dedication to his students, fellow teachers, and administrators.  I know there are times he misses the enter action with students & teachers alike, but loves his new job outside.  

My youngest daughter & her husband are expecting their second baby, a boy, any time now and I am moving to be his full time nanny.  I am very happy about my decision to move and share my happiness with my husband, two daughters, son in law, and granddaughter.  Our family has been trying to get us to move closer for a couple of years.......with baby coming, now is the perfect time for a big change in our lives!

We have our home for sale and have a young married couple wanting a larger home, ready to buy!  The only hold up is the fact that they have to sell their house first!  I pray that this process goes fast since we probably won't buy another home until selling ours, leaving us waiting.  Ron & I have been with our daughter & her family since December 20....our older daughter also lives close, which makes it very nice for everyone!  I will be moving in with Rachelle until we sell/buy a home.  She isn't married and offered to let us stay until things are settled......praying that it is soon.  I love my girls but feeling like we need our own space.  We have looked at homes in the area, found one that we like.......but, just waiting!!!  

I scrapped the layout of Ava several weeks ago and never posted to my blog.  I am hoping to spend more time scrapping in 2014......layouts of Ava and her brother!

God Bless you in the New Year!

Monthly Crop

I attended my monthly crop on Saturday, finishing 3 layouts to add to Ava's albums.  We had a good group in attendance....3 paper scrappers, 1 digital scrapper, 1 making bows for her 13 month old daughter, and a couple of ladies that stopped by the church to visit.  All of the ladies that attend our crops have young children and use this time to catch up on their scrapping or craft items while their husbands stay at home with the children.  It was a good day to be inside since the weather was very cold & wet.

My first layout is a lift from one of my favorite scrappers, Ashley Horton.  When I am in a slump in my scrapping, I know I can go to Ashley's site Ashley Horton Designs and find awesome sketches, design, & inspiration.   Ashley scrapped her layout as a Guest Designer with Crazy Monday Scrapbook Kits.  I really like the clean look, layering, and colorful photos on this layout.  

Layout by Ashley Horton @ www.ashleyhortondesigns.com. 

 The photos for all three layouts were taken in July of 2011....seems like such a long time ago.  So very glad that I am a scrapper and can relive our family time while scrapping these precious photos.

Products used on first two layouts-We R Memory Keepers, Sassafras, misc paper scraps, washi tape, misc rub ons, K & Co. & Jillibean die cuts,  Sew Easy twine, and misc brads & other products.

 I scrapped the second layout using the same paper so that the layout on the opposing side would coordinate....I scrap mostly two pagers and can't seem to get the two page concept out of my brain!  I know, kind of silly, but it works for me!  It also helps that I can use the scraps to scrap the second page. 

Cute little monkey's.   

My last layout is also a lift from Ashley Horton.  The photos of Ava reminded me of a layout that Ashley has scrapped of her son and his stuffed dog, more great inspiration from a very talented scrapper.  

Layout by Ashley Horton @ www.ashleyhortondesigns.com.

I took the photos one evening while Ava and I were playing.  Especially love the middle photo, looks like she is scolding her dog, and then gives him a big hug.  So cute.

I want to say Thank You to Ashley for agreeing to let me post her layouts to my blog.  If you have never visited her blog, be sure and stop by for a visit.  You won't be disappointed!  
Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving with family & friends.  God Bless.

Goofy Glasses!

So happy to be making progress on layouts of my darling granddaughter, Ava.  This past Saturday & Sunday I had the chance to scrap with a roomful of quilters, what a fun day!  My older sister, Risa, was in town to quilt and visit with her quilting friends on Saturday.  She only lives 45 minutes from me but since we both work full time it is sometimes hard to get together.  When I found out that she would be in town, I invited myself to scrap while the other ladies quilted.....saw some gorgeous quilts!  I know most of the ladies that attended the quilting bee, a couple were past sewing teachers of mine from my days in 4-H and Girls Scouts, and it didn't take long to get to know the other ladies.  It was a great day of scrapping/quilting, visiting, and eating!  I was even invited back for their next quilting day. 

I started my newest layout on Saturday and finally took the time to get a photo today before dark, added the journaling later, and have already added it to Ava's album.  The sketch for my layout is from Scrapbook Generation's Sketch Fusion with Simple Stories.  The  book has 24 Sketches and 24 Color Samples....great inspiration for those times when the mojo just isn't the best!  

Supplies for this layout were a mixture of Basic Grey, LYB, Bo Bunny, Designer Paper, MME, & Simple Stories.

I followed fairly close to the sketch only adding few more hexagons under the far left photo and added the elements in the upper right corner.  The photos bring back an evening of fun & laughter for us all!   

Wishing everyone a great week.   

Ava's First Year....finished!

I have officially finished Ava's first year, sure did take me long enough!  The fact that I am too picky & a very slow scrapper didn't help.  So happy to be finished and ready for more!   

This first layout was Ava's first experience at opening presents on Christmas morning....such fun!  No doubt, the adults had more fun on Christmas morning helping Ava open her presents than she did.  She seemed a little unsure of all of the excitement.  I started both layouts at my yearly crop in Park City the end of September, finishing the title & journaling at home.  

The photos for the second Christmas layout were taken on Christmas Eve before attending church services.  Sure seems like a long time ago!  

I scrapped the second layout using the "Say Cheese" collection by Simple Stories and added one other pp that I picked up at the crop.  I love this collection and plan to use it on several layouts for Ava and her baby brother which is due in January, or sooner.  

The title is a K & Co. sparkly rub-on.

My last layout was scrapped for a weekly challenge on a scrap website.  It is from a kit by Scrapbook Generations, my first, and love how easy it was to finish a two pager!  After posting my layout for the challenge, a fellow scrapping called it to my attention that I had misspelled Sprinkler......so embarrassing.  I still haven't taken a new photo of the layout with the correct spelling but wanted to go ahead and post to my blog.  I actually torn some of the paper while removing the title and need to do a little repair work!  

I love the soft colors in this kit and have four more kits waiting.  I can see why so many scrappers like using the kits from SG, great papers & easy to follow instructions.  

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Getting Closer

I realized yesterday that after finishing Ava's first birthday layout a couple of weeks ago, I had forgotten to post it to my blog.  Well, here it is.....love this paper from K & Co called Confetti.  The perfect paper for Ava's birthday photos! 

I love to scrap two pagers with lots of photos.....and, there were more that I could have scrapped but decided to save them for later.  

The bright colors of the  K & Co paper made it easy to add the bright title and border.  The title was cut using the Cuttin' Up font from Cricut....still haven't been brave enough to hook up my Cameo Silhouette!!!  I fussy cut the slits in the green circle under the 1st banner, love how it turned out!  

I have actually finished Ava's first Christmas, two more two page layouts, and will post them as soon as I take the photos.  Also, finished my first kit from Scrapbook Generations....such fun colors in the kit with easy to follow instructions.  I bought five kits and am looking forward to finding photos to scrap the other four.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!  

Wild & Scrappy Weekend!

This past Friday, Saturday, & Sunday I attended my second Crop*A*Ganza with the ladies from Scrap Funattic of Andover, Kansas.  They hold the Crop*A*Ganza twice a year, spring & fall, at the Best Western in Park City, Kansas.  

I left at 6:00 am Thursday on the bus, arriving in Wichita at 11:00 MT, 12:00 CT.  The time changes at the county line and was announced by the driver to anyone listening.  I do believe most everyone was asleep when the driver made this announcement and the numerous other announcements that followed during the five hour bus drive.  I don't really mind riding the bus to Wichita for an extra long weekend.  It sure makes it easy to ride down on the bus and then Ron will come down the next day.  My son-in-law, Heath, was waiting at the bus terminal when I arrived.....so sweet of him.  

The theme for the Crop*A*Ganza this year was Duck Dynasty.  The registration table, photo booth, name decals, etc were decorated with ducks & camo and the girls were wearing their Redneck gear, painted faces, and were in need of clean shave.  Here is a photo of two of the Redneck ladies that was sent out prior to the event.

I had the opportunity to meet a lot of wonderful scrappers, finish several layouts, play games, take classes, eat great food that was provided through out the three day event.....and, I was the winner of the Grand Prize drawing!!!  I am now the proud owner of a Silhouette Cameo!!!  I have been debating about buying one, I can now mark it off my list of wanted scrap supplies.  Along with winning the Cameo, I will be given a free lesson on using my newest play toy!  

A big Thank You to the ladies from Scrap Funattic!  I need to get busy and make a few finishing touches on my layouts and get them posted......I am now officially finished with Ava's First Year Albums!  

Precious Memories

Ron & I spent Labor Day weekend visiting Raegen, Heath, Ava, and Rachelle.....so special to be able to spend time with our family.  

Since we had the day off on Friday, we drove down Thursday after work.  We arrived too late to play with Ava, she was already in bed.   Grandpa wanted to take Ava to the zoo early Friday before it was too hot....it was still very hot!  This was actually only the second time that Grandpa had been to the zoo with Ava, the first time was at the Topeka Zoo when she was only 6 1/2 months old.  Grandpa & Daddy have been busy golfing during our previous visits to the Sedgwick County Zoo the last couple of years, silly boys!  Ava loves her Grandpa and was happy that he was taking her to one of her favorite places!  She definitely has her favorite animals that she likes to visit and those that she doesn't care to see....didn't like it when Grandpa wanted to see the penguins!  She likes to feed the sheep and goats, as long as they don't get to close.

Getting too close for comfort! 

Grandpa saved the day!

Adorable photo!  Feeling safe with Grandpa.

Painting the barn....with water!

It didn't take long before the heat was getting to all three of us so we stopped for a drink and snack before continuing with our tour.  It was fun to discover that Ava likes to visit the reptile exhibit, maybe because it is cool inside and a nice relief from the heat.  We also visited the tigers and viewed the new baby tiger & his mother through a video that had been set up in the vet nursery.    

Grandpa offered to take us to lunch at the mall.  A great place to cool off, eat lunch, and let Ava play in the children's play area and ride the assortment of rides.  

Riding in the back with the honey bear!

Little Reader

I decided to play along with a sketch challenge from The Paper Bakery for my latest layout of Ava.  I love scrapping with circles and knew I wanted to use the sketch after seeing it on one of my favorite "go to" blogs...Ashley Horton.  I know I will find great inspiration any day of the week!   Thank you, Ashley!

Although I don't scrap single layouts very often, I decided to go ahead since I only had two photos of Ava trying to "read" one evening while visiting in Topeka.  I used the Twinkle Twinkle Little Girl collection from My Mind's Eye.  I purchased it to use for layouts of Ava and still have plenty left....love the pink & brown.  

Thank you to The Paper Bakery for the wonderful sketch this month.  

Adding more layouts to Ava's First Year Album

I have been very busy trying to catch up on my darling granddaughter's first year album.....getting closer! One thing that has helped is the fact that I purchased a better printer to be able to print my photos at home....yes, I know it is costing me more money, but this is how I like to scrap!  Pick out my photos, find a sketch, print photos to size, then scrap!  I have scrapped more since purchasing the printer than in the precious 6 months!  

In the first layout, my son in law, Heath, had taken a serious of 20-25 photos Raegen feeding Ava her first pickle while her Aunt Rachelle held her and watched Ava go back for more!  She really didn't seem to mind the taste of the pickles.  I decided to only scrap 8 of the photos and love how it turned out!  

 

My second layout was scrapped using a sketch from Allison Davis, a free download during the month of May of 2013.  It is my turn this month to host the Sketch Challenge and I decided to use a sketch by Allison, which happen to be some of my favorite sketches.  Also, love the layouts of her sweet boys.

I liked the sketch so well, I decided to scrap another layout using the same sketch.  I changed it a little and didn't add the banner across the top, instead I added tags under the left photo and added a button banner.  

My newest layout is of my son in law, Heath, and Ava playing one evening after work.  The photos aren't the best, but still very special.  This is probably one of the fastest layouts that I have finished for a long time.....trying to get faster as I go along!  Before long, actually in a little over 5 1/2 months, I will have another grandchild to scrap layouts for.....so excited.  We are heading down this weekend to find out what the sonogram revealed, a boy, or, a girl!  

I am almost finished with Ava's first year, I just need to add her first Christmas and first birthday....then add more to her second year, which is close!  

Wishing everyone a blessed weekend!  

Catching Up.....a little!

 I thought it would be a good idea to decide which of the many photos of Ava I need to get scrapped before the new baby comes in January.  I have had some extra time off at the dental office due to the doctor having eye surgery, decided this would be a good time to get get caught up on my scrapping. 

One of the layouts that I finished this past week was scrapped with photos taken at a baby shower in September 2010, Ava was seven months old at the time.  I had previously scrapped photos that were taken of Ava in the motel room the night before the shower and wanted to scrap photos of the baby shower to go on the opposite page.  For those of you that have followed my scrapping, know that I like my layouts to match, not necessarily everything, but at least the colors.  I will also scrap with the same paper, or coordinating paper on the opposing layout.   

The sketch for this layout came from Allison Davis.  I changed it a little and added another photo to my layout.  Be sure and stop by her blog for more inspiration & ideas!  You will have to scroll down to the June layout to see this sketch.

Ava & her mommy & daddy spent part of her first summer with us....we loved having them with us!  Heath had taken a job working at the elevator and we couldn't turn them down when Raegen ask if we would mind having them stay with us for a couple of months!  Of course not....how soon are you coming?   It was great going to work every day knowing that I would get to spend the evening playing with Ava, such a fun time!

Grandpa & Rachelle were just as happy about our summer visitors.  Although the time went fast that summer, we loved having them with us! 

My second layout was scrapped using another creative sketch by Allison Davis.....love her sketches.  We have visited friends in Cheyenne, Wyoming every summer since helping them move to Cheyenne in July of 1993.  Raegen has always enjoyed our visits to Cheyenne and was thrilled when we invited them to go along.   Although we didn't take Ava to see all of the activities offered during Cheyenne Frontier Days, she did attend her first free pancake feed, first parade, and toured Frontier Park.  

A good week of scrapping for me.....I finished a third layout!  This layout was scrapped for a Summer Camp Challenge to use weaving on a layout.  

The title for this layout came from the front of Ava's T shirt.....My Little Black Dress!  Love the weaving and colors!  

Have a great week and thanks for looking!  

New Printer

I have been wanting a new printer for some time and ordered one back in December.  I kept putting off hooking it up for fear of doing something wrong.  Well, last week I decided to go for it and have now scrapped the my first photos printed with my Epson R2880.....love it!  I realize that it is more expensive to print at home, but, for me, it is worth it!  To be able to print photos of any size, and, at any time I feel like printing is totally worth the extra price.

The photos on the layout were taken in September 2010 at the Topeka Zoo and scrapped for a July Color Challenge to use teal, tan & white.  Most of the paper on this layout is from MME's Stella Rose Collection with other scraps that I had leftover from other projects.  The adorable elephants and buttons were from a RAK that I won from a friend, Susan...they were the perfect element for this layout. 

This was Ava's first trip to the zoo.  I'm sure the adults were more excited that it was her first zoo trip than she was......guess she just didn't realize it was such a big event. 

Ava is now 3 1/2 years old and one of her favorite things to do is visit the zoo.  She loves the animals and would go to the zoo daily if mommy would oblige her wishes.   

Wishing everyone a great weekend.  Thanks for looking.  

Your Are My Sunshine

I scrapped this layout yesterday of my favorite little Sunshine, Ava Riley!

I have been saving these photos to scrap for quite some time, she was only 18 months old at the time and is now 3 1/2.  I wasn't sure how I would scrap them until I read the title for the June Title Challenge, You Are My Sunshine, a members only scrap board.  I have had the whole month to work on my layout and just now getting it finished!  

I used a sketch by Allison Davis, one of my favorite scrappers, and love the finished layout!  If you like to use sketches and need inspiration, stop by for a visit.....www.allisonrdavis.com. I like the simple, clean lines of her sketches and fun layouts of her family.   Allison & her family have a scrapbook store in Springfield, Mo., which is on my bucket list to visit in the near future.  

I chose to use the colors in the photos, white, black & yellow, adding the teal for additional color.  The paper is from the Stella Rose Collection by MME with added scraps left over from another project.  The chipboard & say cheese sticker is also from the Stella Rose Collection, the Sunshine chipboard title is from Pressed Petals, and the other two sticker are from Studio 12.  I added the teal washi tape at the last minute for more color.

Wishing all of you a great week.  Thanks for looking!

Ahhhh! Summer has arrived

in Kansas and it is very hot!  Maybe that is why my newest layouts were Christmas related, thinking it might cool me a little by catching up on the last three years of Christmas photo cards that we received each year.  

I love these cards and hate throwing them out, or just sticking them aside and never really looking at them again....they are wonderful reminders of how our family and friends change from year to year.

As you can see, the first layout if from 2010.....so very special since this was my granddaughters first Christmas.  Ava was only 10 months old and has brought so much joy to our family....a true blessing from God. 

I added the "Peace on Earth" card, loved all of the little people and thought it went well with the other photos. 

                                                                                          

My last layout is from 2012!  I am now current

with my Christmas photos.....wish I could say the

same about all of other photos!  

Thanks for stopping by and I hope it cooled you 

just a bit!  

                                                                        

Imperfect Photos Scrapped

 I attended my monthly crop this past Saturday, determined to finish a 2 page layout with photos from 2001.  It was a very quiet crop with only myself and one other scrapper attending, the others ladies were too busy.  My scrap partner for the day is a mother of four young children with no time to scrap at home.  She also doesn't have any extra space for a designated scrap room...the house is full to the brim. Her hubby is a jewel, insisting that she needs her monthly scrap/girl time, staying at home with the kids while she scraps.  We both had a very productive day.

The photos that I took to scrap were of my youngest daughter, Raegen, and some her friends & their dates before the yearly Snowball Dance.  I knew the photos are not very good, but wanted to get them scrapped to add to her album.  

Funny thing, I have had these photos on my desk for quite some time, waiting for inspiration, and, or, motivation to get them on a layout.  Well, the inspiration came in the Weekly Challenge at ClubCK for the week of April 7-14, to scrap imperfect photos.....photos that are blurry, too dark, too light, weird shadows, etc.  I laughed when I read the challenge, knowing instantly which photos I would be using for the challenge!  The red eyes, closed eyes, some people not looking at the camera.....well, they certainly fit the description of "imperfect photos"!   

The photos were taken with a film camera that belonged to my daughter.  I had often thought that I would scan the photos and correct the red eyes.....but, never took the time.  I decided to go ahead and scrap my "imperfect photos" for the ClubCK challenge.  I used sketch #88 from Inspired Blueprints, adapting it from the original single page sketch into a two pager.

I still need to journal on this layout but will have to wait until I visit with my daughter.....some of the girls dates for the evening were from out of town and I need names before I can finish, sure hope she remembers!  

For the year of 2013, I have challenged myself to catch up on layouts for my two daughters' high school albums.....I am getting closer!  Two layouts down, more coming!

About A Girl Blog

I am excited to have found a new challenge blog for girls only, awesome!  It was only a couple of days ago that they were looking for scrappers to join their DT....well, they found some awesome scrappers and are now ready for everyone to check out the newest girly blog.

I know many fellow scrappers that love to scrap for their daughters, granddaughters, and other female family members & friends, so be sure and stop by the newest blog on the block, www.itsaboutthegirls.blogspot.com.  Have fun!



Congratulations to Laurie LaRiviere, today's featured member of the DT, and the other DT members.   Very anxious to see what challenges this blog will have to scrap our precious girly layouts!

New Blog 

I found a new challenge blog that sounds like the perfect match to myself and any scrapper that loves to scrap girly layouts, it is called About A Girl.  

They have placed a DT call and are needing 6 scrappers to create a monthly project.  You will need to stop by the challenge blog to apply.  Applications are being taken until April 20.  Enjoy!

Puppy Love

I have had this layout finished for over two weeks and just now adding it to my blog!  When I  scrap a layout for a challenge on ClubCK I tend to scrap photos of Ava....she is my favorite subject to scrap!  It was my turn to host the Weekly Layout Challenge for the week of March 24-30.  My challenge was to lift a layout from the current Creating Keepsakes magazine, pages 79-88, or any other layout from a past CK magazine.  

The layout by Amy Mallory titled Redsox Love, page 83, caught my eye.  I changed it a little and didn't scrap a sport theme, although I have plenty of sports photos waiting to be scrapped.  

This layout was scrapped to go opposite a previously scrapped layout of Ava and her cousin, Brooke.  I am a little weird when it comes to my layouts matching, or at least having similar colors on the opposing layout!  I know it isn't a big deal to some scrappers but it is the only way to make it work for me!  

Thanks for looking and have a great week!  

Finished layout.....

As I stated in my last post, I have been working on adding journaling & elements to layouts that have been waiting for quite some time.  I actually scrapped this a couple of years ago and felt that it needed more elements before adding it to Raegen's album.

The title & photos looked very lonely before the addition of the elements & journaling.  Yes, the photos on a layout are the most important in telling your story.....but, the addition of journaling & elements make for a finished look!  

Thanks for stopping by!  

Finally blogging.....

My intention for this year was to keep up with my blogging and finish my daughters' high school albums.  As you can see, I have fallen behind on my blogging and am struggling with my scrapping....just can't seem to get in any kind of rhythm.  

I would prefer scrapping layouts of Ava, but knowing that if I get started on layouts for my darling granddaughter, I won't ever finish the ones that I need to do for the girls.....oh, dear! 

I scrapped this layout in January for Raegen, this is her DH in high school,  and am just now taking the time to add it to my blog.  I used a sketch from Sketches for Scrapbooking Volume 6 by Debbie Sanders & Allison Davis.  This is my first sketch book from these wonderful ladies, hope to have more one volumes one of these days.  

Lately I have been catching up on my journaling on several of my finished layouts, mostly track layouts.  Since the main reason that I started scrapping in the first place was to keep a record of school activities & sports....the journaling/stats is an important part of the layout.  I am fortunate to have all of the results from their cross country & track meets since DH was the coach!  Today I am working on journaling, title, & adding elements to a layout that I started a couple of years ago & never completed.  It happens to be one of my favorite layouts, I really like the paper & sketch, hope to add it to my blog when I am finished.  

Now that I am current on my blog.....it is time to head to my scrap space! Wishing everyone a good weekend!  

Favorite Pages of 2012

I have decided to post my 10 favorite layouts for 2012.  As I was looking through my layouts, I noticed that most of my layouts this past year were of my favorite little person......my beautiful granddaughter, Ava!  The ladies that I scrap with monthly know this, and without a doubt, so do my fellow scrappers at Club Creating Keepsakes.  Hope you enjoy my ten favorite....it was hard to narrow it down to only 10!  Enjoy!

I feel that I should confess that most of my layout ideas & inspiration come from the great challenges on Club Creating Keepsakes website and numerous scrap blogs....too many to mention.  

I feel like I have grown in my scrapbooking over the last few years.  I might not always use the latest style, color, or technique, or have the newest paper, but I love scrapping to preserve our family memories.  

My challenge to myself for 2013 is to finish my daughters' high school & college albums.....they have been so patient.  I am getting closer!