Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Sweet Summer Gatherings

I was surprised at how quickly and easily my layout came together!   The past few weeks have been hard ones and I found myself pushing away the things that I love to do, scrapbooking and gardening.    I knew I needed to embrace what I love to do, as it has always helped me take my mind off of the things in life that can bring me down.

  I came across another box of old pictures at my mom's house and so enjoyed looking through them.  So many happy childhood memories!!!  I came across this picture of myself and my brother from way back.
 
We were feeding a family friend's lamb, Lulabelle!   I do not remember too much about Lulabelle,  but I do remember her owners, Mr. and Mrs. Wells.   A lovely elderly couple  who spent their summers in the mountains of Berkley Springs, West Virginia.  They lived right down the road from my grandparents. 
I dove into my large stash of October Afternoon papers and actually used bits and pieces from several collections; 5 & Dime, Farm Fresh, Fly A Kite and Thrift Shop.  I love how the different collections are so cohesive.


I based my layout on the new sketch reveal over at Frosted Designs Sketch Along Tuesdays Challenge.  The sketch was designed by my fellow DT member Libeeti:
Hope you can stop by and see what the DT has created and join us in the challenge.  We have a great sponsor for this challenge, Artful Delight and Leeanne's wonderful July kit:

Thanks for stopping by!
. . .  Debbie 

Saturday, June 25, 2011

I'm still here, just a little overwhelmed

I just wanted to let you all know that I still do exist in the land of blogs, even though I have been absent lately.  Sometimes life gets a little too hectic and priorities take over blogging.  My sister and I have been quite busy lately taking care of my mom, who for the time being has been diagnosed with an advance case of dementia. We've had her in to see many specialists and so far the testing has not brought us any further diagnosis.  It is a challenging time for the both of us, as the children have had to step up and become the parent.  I treasure each day I spend with my mom and each phone call I share with her.  I am saddened with the loss of her memory and scared as it seems to be all happening so quickly. 
I haven't worked on a layout for over a week and a half, but managed to find some time last night to work on a DT assignment which I can't share with you until Tuesday,  but for the time being here is a little sneak peek:
I also wanted to share with you all this sweet award my fellow DT member at Frosted Designs,  Debbie Bakk sent me:
Thanks Debbie for thinking of me!
There are still a few days left to enter a project at the Sketch Along Tuesdays Challenge at Frosted Designs.  You can check it out here.  We have a fabulous prize for this challenge, oodles of handmade embellishemnts by Debbie Bakk:
Thanks for being patient with me.  I'm trying my best to get around and visit all of you and catch up on what you have created!
Have a great weekend!
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Friday, June 17, 2011

Measure Time In Moments

Sometimes a picture says it all.  That's how I feel about the one I used on my layout.  It's of my grandfather and uncle dating back to 1928.  I'm not sure of the story behind it, and my mother wasn't born until 1933, so to me it is a moment in time of a father and son sharing a special time together.

I used bits and pieces from my June kit from Artful Delight!  I love the Fancy Pants Its The Little Things papers that came in the kit and I used every last little scrap I had of it.  I even used the packaging backing from the Prima flowers.
I have been in the process of cleaning out and organizing my scrapbook room and came across a container full of rub ons that I forgot I had.
I love the bold  American Crafts Thickers , Jewelry Box in Black  that came in the kit, combined with the rub ons.

I added a few stickers from Echo Park's For The Record collection and cut out some clouds from Fancy Pants Spring Fever paper:

and added some banners from Lily Bee's This And That.

If you would like to order the June kit there are still a few left.  You can order them here,
or if you would like a chance to win the June kit, create a layout using the June sketch and enter it over at Artful Delight.

Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Fave Things Reveal!!

It's the 15th of the month and that means a new challenge at These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things!  As soon as I saw the challenge, Your Favorite Piece Of Art,  I knew what I was going to do.
When I was in elementary school we went on a field trip to the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.
 I fell in love with Renoir's painting of A Girl With A Watering Can. I was mesmerized by the beauty in the painting. 
I used Echo Park's For The Record for my layout and added some faux stitching which is actually a rub on I found in my stash.
Hope you can stop by Fave Things and see what out talented DT has created and join in on the challenge.

I also wanted to let you know that there is a new sketch challenge at Frosted Designs Sketch Along Tuesdays Challenge.  It's a two pager:
We have a wonderful prize for this challenge:
Beautiful handmade crochet flowers and trims along with stick pins created by my fellow team member, Debbie Bakk.   Debbie has lots of beautiful items for sale on her blog.  You can check them out here. I hope you will join us for the challenge and enter a layout for a chance to win Debbie's handmade goodies!
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Monday, June 13, 2011

5 & Dime - Sketchy Thursdays 6.9 Challenge

When I saw the new October Afternoon 5 & Dime collection I knew I had to have it. I had the perfect picture for it!
 We use to take our family beach vacation in Avalon, NJ.  The kids had their favorite place to visit besides the beach,  Hoy's 5 & 10.  The moment we arrived at the beach house my son would plead with me to take him to Hoys.  
I enjoyed working on this layout as it brought back many fond and happy memories of our summer trip to the beach.  I used Sketchy Thursdays 6.9 sketch for my layout:
If you haven't tried it yet you need to check out  the Lo Fi photo program.  You can check it out here for a free trial.
I took this picture
and changed it to this

Hope everyone had a nice weekend.  It was hot here on Saturday and the beginning of Sunday, then some rain storms came through and cooled things down!
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Peach Blossom

 
I've got another layout to share with you using the June kit from Artful Delight. I drew my inspiration for this layout from the tag that came on the peach seam binding from Paper Loves Glue Shoppe that is part of the June kit.

That's it for today!
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Friday, June 10, 2011

Jump

It's Fabulous Friday over at Frosted Designs and it's all about stitching!!!
I couldn't pass up this challenge!
Gosh this picture goes back a long way!  It was June of 1992 and Field Day at my son's school.  Here he was giving the long jump a try.  I miss those days!!  The kids had so much fun with all of the activities planned for their special day. It's hard to believe when I look at the picture that my son turns 24 years old tomorrow.  My how times flies!!!!

Mark your calendar and save the date!    
Frosted Designs is having another blog hop July 8th to July 11th!

Hope you all are staying cool!!!  The heat here has been intense.  Looking forward to some cooler temps and hopefully some rain.
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Thursday, June 9, 2011

It's Hot, Hot, Hot!!!

Oh my gosh is it hot!!!!  
Wednesday the thermometer tipped 100 degrees and the humidity started to make a return.  Today is suppose to be worse then yesterday.  It's that kind of day when you want to stay indoors.
I have another project to share with you using Artful Delights June kit.
I hate to throw out scraps and usually keep those that I know I will have a use for.  I love how all of these scraps came together to make this bright and colorful card!
Leeanne still has some June kits available.  You can order one here.
Tomorrow is the new Fabulous Friday Challenge over at Frosted Designs.   Here is a little sneek peak:
You also still have time to enter a project in Frosted Designs Sketch Along Tuesdays Challenge.  Check out the details here.  I am sponsoring this challenge and one luck person will win Crate Paper's Restoration collection.
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

It's the little things that make life awesome

I have another layout to share with you using the June kit from Artful Delight.
If you would like to order the June kit from Artful Delight, you can order it here.

The picture dates back to 1940 and is of  my mom and her two brothers.
We have had some beautiful weather lately.  Unfortunately  the high heat and humidity makes a return tomorrow through the weekend.  Things are getting dry and we need some rain!

Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie



Tuesday, June 7, 2011

A couple of layouts to share . . .

I have to say that I was quite creative this past weekend!  My mojo was flowing and I took advantage of it! I managed to get 4 layouts and one card completed.
I love the 5-27 sketch designed by Ness at Stuck On U Sketches and thought it was perfect to scrap a wedding picture of my parents.

Actually this is the first layout I have ever done of my parents.  
Here is the sketch Ness created which I flipped:
I used Crate Paper's Portrait Collection for my layout.
I came across an original wedding invitation which I scanned and prinited out a copy.



I love this little imported and domestic sign as it is perfect for the
wedding party, since my Mom and her two brothers are Canadian.
-------------------------------------------------------
I have a younger sister who I adore!!!!     
I came across some old pictures of us from Christmas 1961.
I enjoyed using my June kit from Artful Delight on this layout!
I just love these pictures of us holding our dolls that Santa left us!
These pictures also brought back memories of the special outfits
our mother would make us.  Both of us have on matching
tops she made full of beautiful smocking! 

 I did  add a few things from my stash.
Some twine, a scrap of paper from October Afternoon and some little Prima flowers.
If you are interested in purchasing the June kit from Artful Delight, you can order it here.
Check back tomorrow and Thursday as
I will have two more projects to share with you using Artful Delights June kit.
Here are a few sneek peaks:

Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Friday, June 3, 2011

My Mother . . . My Friend

Gosh the weather has been beautiful!!!  
The skies are blue, the sun is shining and the high temps are gone along with the humidity!!!!!
I definitely need to take advantage of the lower temps right now and spend some time outside in my flower gardens.
I have a layout to share with you today featuring me and my mom.
My mom is my best friend and I love her so much. 
I used my June kit from Artful Delight on this layout and love the combination of black and white with yellow! 
If you are interested in purchasing the June kit you can order it here.
Along with the June kit, I used Artful Delight's ASC sketch #9 designed by me.
I also have this layout posted over at Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge which is Friends/Friendship.
Thanks for stopping by!
. . .  Debbie