Bugs' First Walk Outside

Last January when one of our female goats gave birth at 4am in 20 degree weather, she rejected one of the two kids.  The only way to save the poor creature was to bring him indoors immediately, get him under a heat lamp and heating pad, and then hand rear him.  So that's what we did for the next two months - multiple daily bottle feedings, lots of cuddles, and accepting the fact that the carpet and sofa would have to be replaced!  These photos are when he first ventured outside after it finally warmed back up.   I'll be scrapping more of Bugs over the next few weeks
















The inspiration for the layout design came from Sketches In Thyme sketch # 198.  The original sketch got a little away from me but it's definitely still there!  I really liked the horizontal 'bands' in the sketch and the two-photo format.  Rather than the accents in the upper left I moved them to the lower right.

The papers are all scraps from older collections including Carte Belle Hello Again, Elle's Studio, MME Fly Away, Crate Paper, and more that no longer had the mfg strip.  I also painted some embellishments including the two chipboard frames and three wooden hearts.




Thanks for stopping by!

Using Project Life Cards in Layouts

Love the sketch for this week's Let's Get Sketchy challenge.  It was a perfect opportunity to dig into my supply of Project Life cards to use as layers in keeping with Shimelle's NSD 3x4 card challenge.  Along the way I added some ink using an ampersand (&) mask, a polka dot stamp, and some gelatos on the edges of the background paper.  And of course, stickers, tags, die cuts, flairs, enamel shapes, and any other embellishment I could find in the pink/seafoam color scheme.

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

Mother's Day Card (Sketch-N-Scrap #71)

Mother's Day is around the corner and when I saw the Sketch-N-Scrap card challenge I decided to make a card for my mom.  I haven't made cards for ages!!!  I used to make them frequently and just haven't been in the 'card mood' for the past year or so.  But it's never too late to get back on the proverbial horse.

Sketch:  Sketches-N-Thyme
Paper:  Heidi Swapp Memory Planner paper pad (I added crackle glaze to the flower layer)
Ribbon:  Paper Studio
Gems:  Recollections
Sentiment:  Close to My Heart stamp

Oh Happy Day!

I love going to the Let's Get Sketchy blog for design inspiration and that's just what I did for this picture of my daughter when we visited Belize (April 2016 Week 3).  While the sketch had the border on the right side, I switched it to the left - for some unknown reason my brain just can't get around having it on the right!

All the papers are from Theresa Collins (Memories collection).  The 'tags' are from two sheets from the 6x6 pad and I just cut each out to create the border.  The title is a cut file from the Silhouette store.

Thanks for looking!

First pick from the garden - Turnips!

Today I'm adding pages to my "Garden" scrapbook using sketch #192 from Sketches in Thyme


We're trying a bit harder this year with the garden and have more than doubled the size to about 50x50.  We did learn, though, that we were too eager to plant as we had two unexpected frosts in March that took a toll on the plants.  Fortunately some survived but others had to be replanted.  Of the ones that survived, the turnips were far and away the most successful despite it being traditionally an autumn veg.  I'm looking forward to figuring out what to make with these tasty treats.

Layout information:

• 
  
  Sketch:  Sketches in Thyme #192
• Paper: 
• Fancy Pants corrugated kraft
• wood grain paper:  K&Co, paper pad (unknown title)
• kraft/green flower print:  Jillibean soup
• green diamond print:  Close to My Heart
• Wood veneer squares:  unknown
• Twine:  Recollections
• Alphas:  Pebbles ABC Stickers (circa 2011)
• "Farm Fresh" wood veneer:  Studio Calico

Paper:

Wood veneer squares:  unknown

Twine:  Recollections

Alphas:  Pebbles ABC Stickers (circa 2011)

"Farm Fresh" wood veneer:  Studio Calico

You & Me - 2002

Oh how the years go by!  This was taken back in 2002 at a company holiday party (Transitions Optical).  I can't believe my hair was so long - never before and never since!


Layout Information:

• Title Inspiration:  A Cherry On Top April '16 Title Challenge
• Paper:  DCWV "Twilight" themed paper pad
• Embellishments: 
• Heidi Swap Gold Foiled Project Life Kit
• Recollections Glitter tags
• Recollections Black tags
• Thickers Sentiment Foil Letters (Gold)

Moor Ponies (Exmoor England)

When we lived in England, one of our favorite things to do was drive in the country.  We would go out for a day trip, a 3-day trip or a 3-week trip.  It didn't matter - just give my husband a destination and map and he will find some of the most obscure routes to go and interesting stops along the way.  Just make sure you aren't on a timeline!

One of the many excursions was a multi-day journey through southwest England including Exmoor.  British moors are such a unique landscape with rolling hills, thistle, nettles, and all kinds of flora and fauna.  One constant in nearly all the British moors tends are moor ponies.  These are wild or semi-feral horses that are a bit shorter and fatter than a typical horse and quite friendly - while you may not be able to go up and pet them, they won't shy away from you either.  The Exmoor variety is considered endangered.  The day we were there we came across three including a foal.  It was a precious site.  I so miss living in England and having the opportunity to explore the ever-fascinating countryside.


Layout information:

• Sketch:  Grand Diva's Creative Corner April Sketch Challenge (I rotated the sketch)
• Journal Card:  inspired by Rochelle Spears This or That challenge
• Papers: 
• Background:  Fancy Pants Me-Ology
• Scraps:  My Minds Eye Collectible
• Photo Mats:  Bazzill cardstock
• Stars:  Maya Road stick pins (I hate these things as they are so high and don't sit flat but they were given to me so I will use them!)
• Letters:  Jennie Bowlin chipboard
• Journal Card:  Project Life Cat collection
• Papers edged with Distress Ink - Pumice Stone

Family is Not Always the Brady Bunch

One of my greatest regrets when it comes to family is that I am not close with my sister.  Yes, we see each other every few years for big family events and occasionally comment on one another's Facebook posts but we have very little other contact.  It has been this way for more than 50 years - literally since I was born.  Things are improving but it is unrealistic to think we'll ever have a tight sister bond that one sees on TV.  I take much of the blame as I have allowed my stubbornness and "principles" to get in the way of things - I am a Leo, after all.  Regardless, I am proud of what she has accomplished and proud that she is who she is.  While this may be polar opposite to me, the world only exists because of such diversity.

My relationship with my nieces is an unfortunate victim of this strained relationship.  I do, though, keep up with what they are doing through my Mom and Facebook.  It is not ideal but sometimes that is how life works out.  No matter what, I am still very proud of them.  They are beautiful girls who have had some rough times in their lives but they are strong and determined.  With only a few exceptions, the only photos I have of them are from their social media pages.  I hate using pictures from there as it feels like stalking but it enables me to still celebrate them.  The photo I used her of one of my nieces is an example of this.

So my take away is that family is family.  Distance - be it physical or emotional - should never prevent one from celebrating family.  While you may not share your deepest secrets with each other and call each other every day or week (or year), they are still your family and you should trust that no matter what, they will come through when they need to.


Layout information:

• Sketch:  Let's Get Sketchy April Week 2
• Background: 
• Recollections cardstock
• Splatters from October Afternoon Sprinklers (Icebox and Screen Door)
• Papers:
• My Minds Eye Stella and Rose
• My Minds Eye Sweetest Things
• Washi:  Unknown
• Edge punches:  EK Success (three different ones)
• Pom-Pom Ribbon (was bright blue; toned down with October Afternoon grey mist)
• Brads:  My Minds Eye Indie Chic (I think)
• Twine:  Pink Paislee House of Three Daily Junque
• Canvas Circle:  Close to My Heart
• Stamp:  Heidi Swapp
• Letters:  October Afternoon Daily Flash

Boudin - San Francisco

San Francisco is one of my all time favorite places to visit.  I was fortunate having a client there for a few years in that I was able to visit frequently.  And no trip to San Fran is complete without picking up the world's famous sourdough bread from Boudin on Fisherman's Wharf.  It's an amazing place where you can see them make the bread, eat in the restaurant, and pick up a loaf (or three!).  And they don't just make the standard sourdough shaped loaf - they have so many different shaped loaves from teddy bears to crabs, grape bunches and alligators, even turkeys for Thanksgiving!  YUM!

To celebrate my last trip there, I created this layout using Sketch 197 for March Flashback Friday from ScrapbookChallenges.com.  They have the greatest collection of sketches and I am so pleased I recently found them!  I went very simple with this one forsaking all the embellishments I often add and using only a few layers.  I used my Silhouette to try to emulate the actual Boudin logo name; the papers are an old My Minds Eye collection ("On the Sunny Side") as I continue to dig through my stash. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Puppies and phones - a teenager's two loves

Just a month after we moved 'to the country' to a 14-acre property, a tiny stray puppy showed up with her nose plastered to a giant picture window in our living room.  She was so adorable but since we already had two dogs, two cats, two donkeys, five goats, and 20 chickens there was no way I was going to have us take on any more 4-legged responsibilities! 

We spent the day trying to shoo it away.  When that failed, we put it in a pen we had to at least keep it safe from the not-so-happy dogs and wary donkeys who free range the property.  The idea was that we would put signs up and call the local shelter.  After two days, no one responded to the signs and we were told that our area was notorious for people dumping off strays (and other people simply failing to neuter their dogs and not caring about the result).  My husband being a tree hugger and 'save all the animals' kind of guy pleaded to let us keep her.  My daughter joined in, of course.  By this time, our adult dogs had gotten used to the puppy and even I was falling under it's spell.  Needless to say, it became a part of our family and we've never regretted the decision for a second.

So the dog is now technically my daughter's (though all care is on my plate, of course).  She loves nothing more than to cuddle with her and when she can cuddle AND use her phone at the same time it's heaven!

The design of this page is based on sketch 476 and the Chevron challenges from ScrapbookChallenges.com.  I flipped the sketch and used three photos rather than two.  The color scheme was based on the March '16 Disney challenge at ACherryOnTop.com.

Thanks for looking!