Hello There

Wishing everyone a blessed Monday morning!

  I have been absent from my blog far too long!  There are many exciting things going on in my life, but not ready to tell yet!  My newest layout was scrapped using photos of Ava that were taken in March 2013.  I had bought the cute hat for her while we were at the mall one Saturday and knew it would be perfect for her third year photos!   

The inspiration for this layout came from one of my favorite scrappers, Lynette Jacobs.  It was featured in the August issue of Create Magazine.  I decided to print the photos in b&w because the colors were so bold and I wanted to focus on the photos themselves.  Ava is so much fun to scrap for and I love how this one turned out. 

Supplies-Paper: BG Highline POTM, MME Blossom Sisters, BG Hey You (Frame), BG Register, BG Olivia, BoBunny Back to Backs, Chipboard: Heidi Swapp Hearts, Title: Tim Holtz Mini Cards, Wood Veneer: Studio Calico, Border Punch: Martha Stewart, Rub-Ons: Little Yellow Bicycle.

For this layout I choose to use a Basic Grey POTM instead of using it as they suggested.....love the colors and have more left for another layout, or two.  

I feel very blessed to my wonderful husband that is willing to stay in our home town, waiting patiently, for our house to sale.  He works very hard at a job that he loves so I can be here caring for Ava & Grayson....he also has another job on the side since he likes to stay busy.   He took early retirement three years ago, but doesn't want to slow down any time soon.  What a man.....love him so much!  He is celebrating his 64th Birthday today!  One of the young men that he works with offered to take him out to dinner tonight.  Thanks, Christian! 

Praying that everyone has a good week.

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Good Morning!  It has been over a month since I have updated my blog......I have been very busy caring for my grandchildren during the day and helping their mommy & daddy in the evenings.  Today I am sharing three layouts, one 2 pager, and two single layouts.  I can now say I have officially finished Ava's second year.....finally!

The 2 pager was scrapped using the two page sketch from the May Create Magazine....love their sketches!  I also love the Simple Stories "Say Cheese" Collection and have used it on several layouts.  I knew we wouldn't be going to Disney World or Disney Land in the near future, therefore, thought I would go ahead and have fun with one of my favorite collections.  The colors were perfect for Ava's 1st Birthday "Cars" themed party.   

SS Say Cheese Collection, Paper Co Elegant Nights, Jolee's Disney Elements,  BG Photo Frame,  BG Stickers Fonts, Title-ATD Stickers, Misc Words-Tim Holtz.

I love the photo of my daughter, Raegen, and granddaughter, Ava.....such a special moment.  This layout was my last layout in Ava's second year album.

Paper Studio Persnickety, Bo Bunny Back To Back's, BG Hey Girls/Strips Under Photo, K & Co Adhesive Borders, BG Tags, BG Brad & Buttons, Studio Calico Wood Veneers, Misc Words-Tim Holtz,  Heidi Swapp Title, Studio 112 Epoxy Stickers, Misc Flowers & Buttons. Dovecraft Doilies.

I tried something new on my last layout.....Gesso!  I have seen several of my favorite scrappers use it on their layouts and decided to gave it a try.  The sketch for this layout is my version of the single layout from the June Create Magazine.  

BG Hey You Collection, Cor e' donations, Tim Holtz Dot Fade Stencil, ACMI Gesso, DCWV Gem Stickers,  Cricut Cuttin' Up Font, DCWV Serenity White Glitter/Title, & Ki Gel Candy Epoxy Stickers.

I have photos waiting to start my next layout, but might not get it started this week since my SIL is out of town on business.  I might have to wait until Ava starts pre-school this next week to get back to my layouts.  She will be at school for three hours in the mornings and Grayson normally takes a good nap during that time.....hope that doesn't change! 

Wishing everyone a blessed day.  

Yikes!  Summer for me is almost over.....seemed to go fast!  We will be leaving for vacation on Friday to visit our dear friends in Cheyenne, Wyoming, our annual trip to attend Cheyenne Frontier Days and visit the Parks family.  Our family helped them moved to Cheyenne in 1993 and have visited every summer, with the exception of two, ever since.  Our daughter's, the Ewy & Parks, were small when their family moved to Cheyenne....a lot has changed over the past 21 years!  All four of the girls graduated from college and have jobs & families of their own.  Our youngest daughter is married and has a daughter & son, their oldest daughter is married and has a daughter.  Our oldest daughter is still single, as is their youngest.....both are very picky, must be why they are still single.  As far as career choices, they didn't vary much, three are in education and one is a physical therapist.  Our granddaughter, Ava, is going with us and will get to meet Gwendolyn, the Parks' granddaughter....very anxious that our granddaughters get to meet this trip!  After we take Ava back home next weekend, I will have one week before returning to take care of Grayson.....school starts for Raegen with teacher in service on August 6!  Way too soon!

I am almost finished with the layouts that I had planned to complete this summer.  I only need to scrap a two page layout & a single before going back.  I wish I had completed more but didn't have the mojo that I needed, just very glad to have completed most of what was on my list.

My first layout is a two pager of Christmas 2011.....not my favorite and still needs journaling, but finished.

Supplies-BG Jovial Pomegranate, Cloud Design Sparkle, Misc Paper, Authentic Puzzle Title Pieces, BG Hey Boy, Alphabet Stickers, & SS Merry & Bright Card.


My second layout is of Ava and her Aunt Rachelle, her Cha Cho, one evening while listening to Cha Cho read a book she had received for Christmas.

Supplies-BG Hey You, BG Marrakech Chamomile, BG Hey You Diecuts & Transparencies,  Dies, Heidi Swapp Embellishments "Happy",  & Maya Mists.

My last layout shows how much Ava loves the Disney Pixar "Cars" movie and anything that resembled the movie!  The evening I took the photos, Ava had lined up her cars on Grandpa's leg.....making sure he held very still so the cars didn't fall.  Loved the little Disney Elements by EK Success.   I love using sketches and found one I really like from the Creative Scrappers Blog, sketch # 273.   As usual, I still need to journal, and will do it later. 

Supplies-BG Hey You, BG Marrakech Chamomile, DCWV 4x6 Dots, Stripes & Plaids, Authentic Intent, Misc Vacation PP, EK Success Disney Car Dimensional Stickers, BG Hey You Flags, Transparencies, Snippets, & Alphabet Stickers, and  BG Dark Chocolate Chipboard Fonts.

I received a call and Ava & her daddy are almost here.....a long 4 1/2 hour drive, and her daddy is returning home tonight since he has to work tomorrow.   Praying for a safe return  home for my wonderful son-in-law.  

Wishing everyone a blessed week.  

I finished this layout on Friday and finally taking time to add it to my blog.  This layout seemed to take a while to come together!  First, I had a hard time finding a sketch that would work with all of my photos.....finally combining three different sketches.  The layout came together after combining the sketches, then I had a hard time deciding on the placement of my elements.  Gee....decisions, decisions!  I love the Simple Stories "Say Cheese" Collection and chose to use it since the color theme worked so well with my photos.  I also love the neat stickers & fonts that came with the collection.  I journaled on my layout yesterday and added a couple of strips of washi tape....journaling is my least favorite part of scrapping so I like to add it after taking my photo.  

I have to admit that I haven't scrapped as much as I was hoping I would this summer.....I seem to have too much time on my hands!  

Supplies-Kraft Cardstock, SS Say Cheese Collection, BG Hey You Collection, Black Cardstock, SS Say Cheeese Expression Elements, Stickers, Fonts, & Brads, BG Hello Photo Frames, BG Dark Chocolate Chip Font & Paper Studio Washi Tape.
I have been packing for a trip that I am taking this week with my sister, Gwen, to visit another sister, Rebecca & her family in Cape Girardeau, Missouir.  This will be my first visit to her home......so excited!  I will be riding the train to Kansas City, Missouri, Gwen will pick me up and we will travel together to Cape Girardeau.  After our visit, Gwen & I will travel back to her home near Kansas City, then she and her husband will take me to Wichita for a visit with the kids for the 4th of July celebration.   

Wishing all of safe & fun week.  

ZzZzZZzZzZz.........

My newest layout was scrapped using Sketch #18 from Tambayan.  Shirley Mijares Mascarina is celebrating her second year of scrapbooking with fun giveaways on her site.  She posted sketches for two layouts, a single and a double, and a card sketch.  I finally finished a layout using the single sketch.  

Sketch #18/Tambayan

The photos for this layout were taken in December of 2011 after a last minute shopping trip to the mall.  On the way to the house, we were visiting and realized that Ava had fallen asleep.  Of course, I couldn't resist taking photos!  

Supplies-K&Co Life's Little Occasions, BG Hey You, MME Kaleidoscope, Imaginesce Perfectly Posh, BG Hey You Photo Viewer & Star Elements, MM Noteworthy, BG Chipboard Font, Glitz & Glitter Word Stickers, Tsukineko Red & Lilac Mist.

I am also posting an updated layout of Christmas Eve 2011, with additions!  I felt like it needed a few more elements....looked a little empty!  

I am getting closer to finishing Ava's second year album.....feels good!  Wishing all a blessed day! 

 Sketch Challenge

I scrapped my newest layout using the weekly Thursday sketch challenge hosted by Elle's Studio after seeing a layout created by Ashley Horton.  The circles on the sketch caught my eye since I love scrapping with circles.  

Sketch from Elle's Studio.

Paper-PS Persnickety Paper Pack, K&Co Designer Paper, K&Co "Life's Little Occasions",  & BG "Hey Boy" Collection.  Elements- BG Hello Photo Frame & Viewer, BG Flag, Amy Tangerine Thickers, Tsukineko Willow & Lilac Mist, Studio Calico Wood Veneers, Print Works Collection Stamp, SS "Stella Rose" Stickers, Misc Sequins,  & Misc Twine.

I started this layout by misting white cardstock and then added the three large circles.  I matted the large photo and framed the smaller photo with a BG photo frame, giving the photos a finished look.  Since I wanted to keep with the circle theme,  I tucked a BG Photo Viewer behind the larger photo....love the added layering it gives to the layout.  I placed the title over the lower part of the frame, added a homemade "Love this" banner, the blue banner, a BG Flag tied with twine, wood veneers, the "always" stamp and three small sequins to finish my layout.  

Wishing you a great week.  

Scrapping Again!

It took me a few days to get back to my scrapping after arriving home for the summer.  My granddaughter, Ava, spent three days with Grandpa & I before we headed back to Wichita to attend the state track meet this past Friday & Saturday.  Ava & I had fun doing girly things while Grandpa was a work.  We spent one morning getting a pedicure & manicure....she loved it!  One evening while fixing dinner I discovered she had taken all of my shoes out of my closet and had them lined up the living room.  She said she was having a "fashion show" and ask if I was going to watch.  Ava has a wonderful imagination and I enjoyed listening to her play on her cell phone, which, of course, isn't real.  She kept saying that she was talking with he boyfriend, they were getting married and he was going to buy her wedding dress and flowers!  We played dress up, school, day care, board games, cards, and golfed with Grandpa.   After spending three days with Grandpa & Mimi, she was ready to be home with mommy, daddy, and Grayson.  

My layout is of Christmas Eve 2011.  The photos were taken before our family attended Christmas Eve services.....such cute photos! Since finishing the layout, I added several snowflakes & journaling strips, knowing it needed more elements. I will take another photo when the sun is shining!  It has been cloudy here all day, ending the day with a downpour of rain & hail.  We desperately need the rain and pray this is the end of our drought!   

Supplies-BG Carte Postale, SS Handmade Holiday, MM Multipack Noel, SS Card, EP Chipboard, and Cricut Cuttin' Up Font.

I have to admit this week has been a little hard for me.  I retired in December, started caring for my grandson, Grayson, in February and am now at home for a couple of months until school starts for Raegen in August.  I have worked since I was 12 or 13 years old, either helping my parents at home with my younger sisters and brothers, or working at my parents business.  They owned a 24 hour Shamrock Service Station & Cafe.
Since I have worked for so many years, being at home is very different for me.  I am determined to scrap daily, work out, take care of my flower beds, visit friends and spend time with Ron.  He is enjoying my home cooking since he doesn't cook much when I am gone.

Wishing all of good weekend.  God Bless.