Built Boy Tough

 Another Let's Get Sketchy sketch to play with!!This was week 1 for April. And as always was super fun to play along.

And my layout

 This picture of Jeff and the boys showing off their hammers somehow surfaced on my table in the craft room recently. When this title popped up as the freebie of the day last week at Miss Kate Cuttables I knew that I was going to put the 2 together. I used a variety of different papers and embellies from my stash to get the colors that I wanted. Just love this picture and so glad to add it to my album.
  Thank you again for the fantastic sketch! If you haven't played along you should definitely check it out; you will have fun with this one!
Thanks you for stopping by!
Brenda

Lets Get Sketchy

  I am loving having my mother here with me. It has definitely changed the flow of my days but I know that it is a gift to have her here and I will be able to go back to my regularly schedule life soon enough.... so squeezing in time in the craft cave has become a premium. I am trying to just keep one layout in process and just plug along every chance I get. I got this one finished earlier this week and I really love the way it came out.
I always love the sketches at Lets Get Sketchy  and the month of April is no exception. This week 3 sketch was wonderful to work with.

And here is my layout.....

Isn't he a doll!!!!  This was all the Authentique Hope collection with some embellies from my stash. Thank you for the wonderful sketch to help me to document my blessed Easter Sunday!

I appreciate your time with me. I hope you find time to day to play with your memories!
Brenda

One last "procrastination week" layout

 I leave in the morning to do the hard thing and talk to Mom about the next chapter in her life. I have managed to get the office close to ready for her to stay in, but have also managed to really get lost in the craft cave some too. When I got sad while getting ready I would escape for awhile and get lost in my memories. What a blessing this hobby is for me.
   I used the April "Be Our Guest" sketch at the Scraproom. You must check out this months post as my scrappy friend Suzanne is the guest. Her layout is fabulous!!
  So here is the awesome sketch. A copy came along with my first ever kit this month and as soon as I saw it knew I would use it over and over.

And here is my first go at it.....

I am absolutely thrilled with the Bo Bunny Believe for Easter pictures. I love the bright colors instead of the traditional pastels. I used the Paper Smooches tag die for my tags and then a heart punch with some of the left overs, I just can't waste any of this wonderful collection! I tried stamping directly on the paper for the JOY title (Unity Stamps) but though I was able to stamp it perfectly on scrap 3 times, it was a hot mess on the layout ugh... chipboard and tag die to the rescue!! I actually like it better than the original plan. Pulled out the Pretty Pink Posh sequins and the Prima wire thread and a few other embellies from the recesses of my stash and it is done.
  I am going to try and get a plan figured out to take some photos and a kit with me as I anticipate some alone time in the hotel room this week end.  I am hoping that playing with my memories will keep me distracted.
  Thank you for stopping by! I really hope that you are able to have fun playing with your memories today!
Brenda

Scrappy Friends challenge

  I love this group of challenges and have not been able to do it in quite awhile. So happy to be feeling up to scrapping again! This month for the triple challenge Rochelle Spears challenge is to use a PL card or a journaling card.
GrandDiva's Creative Corner gives a choice of 3 sketches so you can choose how many photos you want to use. Here are the 3 fantastic sketches.

And Creative Paper and More  gave us this beautiful mood board to work with

I chose a journaling card, sketch with 1 photo and I was inspired by the paper with words and the range of colors of the mood board.
  I just got my first ever kit from the Scraproom. I have never purchased a kit as I was afraid it would be to limiting for me. I am getting ready to move my mother into my house so in anticipation of having MUCH less time to mull over layouts I am trying some different things to help to speed up my process. A friend of mine shared this kit with me and when I found that it had some Bo Bunny Believe in it I was sold. I have the 6x6 pad and was so excited to get some 12x12 to go with it. So here is my first layout using this fantastic kit.

     Don't you just love the colors! I dug through my stash and got some vellum.I backed the picture in it punched it embossed it and glittered it!! The flower die is a spellbinders, it was  the first one I ever bought and I have not used it in so long.

 The tags and butterflies are Paper Smooches dies. The ribbon is one of my favorites and I have had it forever.

The title is Heidi Swapp.This is truly a old and new layout.

 Here  is a shot that shows the journaling card. I used it for hidden journaling to write a note for Olivia.

 So here is my take away. Having a kit with paper and embellies as a jumping off spot truly did make this go together very quickly.The experiment was a success! I can't wait to use more of the kit. I am packing up some photos and more of the kit to take to work today (for my breaks)We will see how it goes!
Thank you so much for stopping by and spending a few minutes with me. I hope that you will check out the Scrappy Friends challenge and the Scraproom and find some inspiration.
Brenda

Procrastination Weekend, First layout

 On Saturday I will be driving 9 hours to pick my Mom up to bring her back to live with me for awhile. It is a messy messy situation and I am so dreading that part of it, and the driving part. I need to get a room on the main floor ready for her, but just can't seem to get motivated. So instead I have scrapped away the week end. What a blessing to have a hobby that can keeps my mind occupied and . leaves with another page for the memory book.
  So here is the first of the layouts that I got done. I used the April sketch #192 at Sketches in Thyme.

Here is the sketch....

And here is my take......

       Our church has an annual golf tournament that is called the "Sinners and Saints" tournament. It is a benefit for the youth program at our church. For 3 years now Jeff has been able to get all the guys together and play. It has really become a fun family tradition that we all look forward to. This year will not be everyone as it falls on  Amanda's birthday and 10 days before her due date, I don't foresee Tim leaving town. LOL      

                                                                

I used MTC   a ton on this layout. Our internet went out as I was finishing it (for 3 days) I had to go and sit in the church parking lot and use their wifi to get the cut file done for the crossed golf clubs....haha.. I made the PL style card in mtc. I also like to do the journaling strips there as I find it easier to make changes to it than the other programs I own.     I used an embellie pack that I had in my stash and of course my Prima wire thread. 

Thank you so very much for stopping by my little blog. Hope your day is spectacular!

Brenda

Layout #2

  This layout is for the April single page sketch challenge at Stick it Down. I really love that the prize is a guest designer spot. That really makes it a fun challenge. You should hop on over there and check it out!
   So here is the sketch

And here is my take.....

Zade has decided that he is 2 with a vengeance and it is pretty funny. Instead of just saying No it is Whoa Whoa Whoa NO...... And has the facial expressions to go along with the attitude! It is so difficult to keep a straight face when he does it. Love his use of a hipster hat!!!
 I used the   "That's My Boy collection from Echo Park and some ribbon and enamels from my stash.
  Thank you so very much for stopping by. Hope today you have blessings too many to count.
Brenda

Surveying His Domain

Amanda posted this picture of Trip last week. They had been spending the day just hanging out and exploring in the back yard. This was a rare moment of rest,  but just love the picture. I am working at trying  not to over think all my layouts.. So got out the Echo Park Pirates collection and just started with the sketch. I did eventually get some other embellies out but the layout is mostly from the one collection. This really helped me to get the layout out done in record time.
The sketch

 My take on the sketch.....

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope your day finds you with moments for rest.
Thanks
Brenda