Another layout for Ava!

Getting closer to finishing Ava's second year...yea!  This past Saturday I attended a crop to help raise money for one of the local schools "After Graduation" party.  I worked on (2) two page layouts and finally had a chance to take a photo on the first layout today......between bottles, diapers, and playing with Grayson.  I had a fun day at the crop, scrapping with two of my sisters & three nieces.....lots of visiting, eating, & scrapping.  My older sister has scrapped for years and my younger sister is new to scrapping and loves it!  She is working on an album for her husband as a gift for Father's Day.    

I am still working on a challenge to use more of my chipboard.  Like I said, I am trying, but didn't use a lot on this layout.....the title, a small flower on the lower left corner, and the banner on the left envelop, which I covered with pp.   

Items used:  "True Friends" Collection by Carta Bella, Chipboard Stickers, and "Cool Summer" Chipboard by Carta Bella.

I hope to take a photo of my second two pager and get it posted soon.  Wishing everyone a happy Friday.  

March Stash Challenge

I scrapped this layout for a scrap challenge on another site.  It was up to each scrapper to decide what their challenge would be for the month..... scrap with unused SG kits, use buttons, 6x6 pads, Rub-ons, anything from your stash that has been haunting you, or, has been in your stash too long!  I chose chipboard for my challenge, some of which was purchased when I started scrapping years ago.  It has gone unused for quite some time..... good thing it isn't all dusty!

 Along with using my chipboard stash, I am also getting closer to finishing Ava's second year.... so happy, too!  I scrapped another two pager with paper from Basic Grey's "Hey Girl" collection, which I love !  Since my challenge is to use chipboard from my stash, the title, and two of the frames are chipboard.  Since the frame on the left was stained and unusable in it's current state, I covered the frame with paper, then added a journal strip.  The chipboard for the title is some of my favorite font chipboard......I love it and wish I knew the brand.  I have had it for at least 10 years and purchased it at the first Creating Keepsakes event I attended in Kansas City, Missouri with my sister, niece, and a friend.  The first "E" in Easter was an "F" until I altered it and the second "E" is an "m".  One of the reasons that I like this chipboard is the fact that I can stamp them any color and they will turn out perfect!  

I am doing more scrapping than I thought I might while taking care of Grayson.  He is such a good baby....loving my new "job".  

Love is Sweet!

Yes, love is sweet!  The love that I have for my darling grandson, Grayson and his big sister, Ava.  I love caring for Grayson during the day, so much nicer than looking in mouths all day long.  The days go by very fast as we adjust to our daily routine.  He is a such good baby, which makes it easy for me.  I feel blessed to be able to care for him and spend time with Raegen, Heath, Ava, and Rachelle, or Cha Cho, as Ava calls her Aunt Rachelle.  We miss Grandpa and hope it won't be too long before we are all together.  

I am happy that I have finally finished a layout for Ava after working at it for over a week.....I am normally a slow scrapper but have never taken this long to finish a layout.    

The sketch for this layout is from Scrapbook Generation's new Create magazine, a digital magazine that is very easy to access and read.   I will admit that I wasn't sure that I would like reading a scrapbook magazine online, I do love it!  I found Allison Davis' blog several years ago and love her layouts and sketches.....also, love projects by her mother.

Since I didn't bring my printer with me I made a trip to Wal Mart tonight after Zumba class at the Y....loved the instructor.  I miss having my printer and am thinking of having Ron bring it his next visit.  

Wishing all of you a blessed day.  

Sorting & Packing!

I am finally posting a layout that I started before Christmas and finished a couple of weeks ago.  We spent Christmas & New Year's with the girls' & family, spending almost three weeks.....thought maybe we were wearing out our welcome!  Ron & I had discussed coming home for a few days, paying bills, and then going back when baby arrived.  Well, the day we were thinking of leaving, baby decided it was time!

Our grandson, Grayson Douglas, was born on January 6 at 11:52 am....mom & baby are doing good.  I stayed for a week to help with Grayson and am very anxious to be there for good.  

 I have been getting ready for my partial move to Wichita.  I say "partial" for the fact that Ron will be staying here until our house sells and will continue to substitute teach and work for the lawn service for another season.  He will probably visit all of us every two or three weeks until the lawn care service gets busy for the summer.  Their season starts in March and last until late November, sometimes December.

I have been sorting my scrap supplies, sorting books (mine & hubbies), going through Christmas/Halloween decorations, sorting clothes, etc.....this is hard work!  I am trying to go through the whole house in case we finally get the house sold while I am gone.

Ron and I took down a load this past week and we are ready to leave tomorrow morning with the last load for now.   I certainly have missed having my scrap supplies and will be very ready to get them out again.  Since I couldn't scrap yesterday with all of the cold weather and snow, I printed photos to scrap later!   

Although this move was something that Ron and I discussed and prayed about for quite some time...it is going to be hard on both of us.  The hardest part of my move is being apart of each other after 42 years of marriage....yes, it was his choice to stay, but I will miss him dearly!  I pray that it won't be for very long!  I am thinking we will have to plan "Date Nights" on the weekends he is in Wichita.  

Hope to get back to blogging more often after my move!  Wishing everyone a blessed week!

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.