Momma Mia! What cuties!

  I enjoyed playing so much when making this layout. I am just learning mixed media background techniques. I truly love doing them so much. I have a LOT to learn, but plan to enjoy every minute of the process. Now to find more time!!! 

   Thank you for this fabulous sketch at Lets Get Sketchy!

Here is my take.... Can you get any cuter! They are just so much fun!

Thank you so very much for the fantastic sketch!
 Hope that today brings you much laughter.
      Brenda

And here we go...

  I am in a small group of online scrappy friends. Some of us seem to have busy busy lives right now and somehow creating gets squeezed out. One of the brilliant ladies decided to challenge us to 30 in 30 during November. I am making 20 cards for military care packages this month which is a great start. I want to do at least 10 layouts, my challenge to me. I am happy to say this is the fifth. I will try to share the others soon; I have not even taken the time to photograph them yet........
  These pictures were taken at the end of our annual Pumpkin Patch Day. Neal is very obsessed with jewels and basically anything shiny. So this was a fun thing for him to get to do. It was a great way to end the day because it was set up in the shade and was relaxing for all of us.  I enjoyed creating the shiny shaker for this layout. I have wanted to add a shaker on a layout for awhile and just never think about it while I am creating. I just can't wait to show this one to him! He is going to love all the shiny! 
  I so appreciate challenge sites like Sketch-N Scrap that share sketches that really give me a jumping off spot. I just do not seem to be able to get into my scraping groove. Sketches are a great thing to keep me plugging along though. Thank you! 
  The sketch....

And my take.....

  This one truly was not even close to what I wanted in my head..haha... but I know my sweet Neal will like looking at it in his book.
  Thank you for your time. Have an amazing day.
       Brenda 

It was National Card Making Day

    I have never been able to find the time to make a card on this card making day. It is always full swing  enjoy fall outside time here in Georgia. Well, my plans for the day fell apart the night before so I decided I would play with paper to celebrate card making day. I got into the craft cave before the sun got up good and managed to get 2 done. I was hoping to get more cards done but am happy that 2 are complete. Got a ton of yard work done and a 2 hour lunch with a friend in today too, so though not much crafting a really wonderful fall day.
   Sketch-N-Scrap added an extra card sketch in honor of Card Making Day and that was just what I needed to get started. I am really enjoying rediscovering sketches. I have been in a huge card making rut and I am having so much fun moving in a totally different direction.  Thank you for the inspiration!

And here is my take on the sketch. There is a elderly man at church that is really going through  a rough time. I actually got a call about caring for him, but they changed their minds. This was actually a blessing in disguise as things have gone from crazy to overwhelming around here. Story for another time.......This is a card a I made for him.  Oh how I struggle with masculine cards!

Thanks for taking a minute to visit with me. I wish for you many blessings today.
Your scrappy friend,
Brenda

Another year in the books!

  My family is only spread out about 3 hours apart, but with crazy busy lives we just do not get together very often. The pumpkin patch is the one given every year. It began when Olivia (the first grandchild) was little and has continued without fail. We have tried several different pumpkin patches between here and there and finally found one that works well for our family. It is about halfway for everyone except Amanda who lives in the middle and is always the last one there haha.....Jack-O-Lantern Lane is the perfect location and size for us. Every year we are squeaking in at the last minute to get it done..... not 2018. I realized that Jeff and I were available opening week end so I sent out a group message and they worked it out that we were going on opening day. And we ALL were there. Many obstacles came and went but we managed to get there. What a glorious day it was. My heart is so happy to have everyone together. It is always a reminder that this world is hard but so very worth it.
  This will be the first of several layouts to document this wonderful family outing. I start with pictures from the petting farm which is always a favorite for all age. Sketch-N-Scrap  had the perfect sketch to get me started.

And here is my take. Aren't they too sweet! I love that Jack was not interested at all!

 I love using fall colors on my layouts. I really enjoyed playing with my fall papers on this one. I even tried my hand at the packaging technique and distress ink, which was really fun. Thank you to Sketch-N-Scrap for the simple yet perfect sketch. You have all month to give it a try, I hope you have as much fun as I did!
  Thank you for taking a moment to visit my life.  Get out and make some fall memories!
Your scrappy friend,
Brenda

New day same sketch

  I found out on facebook that a neighbor was having a birthday. She and I share dog sitting back and forth so I wanted to do a little something for her on her special day. I didn't have much time so I went back to the same awesome sketch from Sketch-N-Scrap. I had just gotten the Echo Park Just Be You 6x6 pad and the colors were perfect. I was planning to put the card in a gift bag and did not need an envelope or postage so I was able to use some thicker embellishments, which is always fun. I am thankful that with the help of sketches I am able to quickly make  a card I feel good about giving. Yes, I did take a good amount of time writing a personal message that I was happy with.
  Here is the sketch again

This is my card!

I am really liking this paper collection. I hope I am able play with it again soon. Hmmm maybe even try my hand at another sketch! I hope you get a chance to lay along and if  not. Sketch-N-Scrap will have more next month. Take a minute to check hem out and they are on Facebook too.
Have a wonderful day and stop to count your blessings.
Brenda

Happy Fall

  I have been so remiss in updating this blog for so very long. I am really struggling with eeking out time for “ me things” including writing most anything   Recently by a quirky turn of events I found myself in a writers workshop at my local library. Yep the stars aligned perfectly and there I was. All my massive insecurities just could not deny that I needed to go. I have loved writing since high school, but have not written much of anything since then. I have allowed my fear of not being good enough to keep me from something that I truly love. It is so very easy to make excuses and fill all my time with other “good things” and squeeze writing out. The speakers at the conference addressed rejection and how it is just part of the process. I have never had the desire to be published but still fear the criticism of my readers. I really left with the desire to practice writing at every possible chance. I am still struggling with time for my own pursuits but am determined to begin.
    One of the ways I am pursuing this goal is more cards. I have gotten so writer lazy that I have gotten to the point of struggling with what to write inside a card. When I was younger I wrote tons of letters and never had an issue, now I can barely write 3 sentences in a card. Emails and text messaging as a way to communicate have become my norm, not even complete sentences! Last week I sent 8 cards in one day. I can’t believe I completely forgot to photograph them, well actually I can. It was a true struggle to write notes in them and took me much too long. I am going to keep plugging along and really concentrate on the sentiment as much as making the card with the hope that it will become easier for me with practice.
  This is a card I made for my dad, he is in a long term care facility in New Jersey. Unfortunately, I am unable to see him very often but  I do try to send care packages frequently. This card will go in this weeks box.  I have been playing with the card sketches at Sketch-N-Scrap recently and I am loving how quickly the cards come together. I am beginning to remember the joy of sending cards not just making them!
    Here is the wonderful sketch from Sketch-N-Scrap. You have a few more days to give it a try. I am really loving using the sketches to try and get my mojo charged up.

And here is my take. I am really happy with the way this came out. It definitely is one of favorite recent cards.

Thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings. You enrich my life by being here.
Many blessings to you today!
Brenda

Guest Designer at Sketch-N-Scrap

  Happy Valentine's Day! I am so happy to share my layout with you today. I was so excited to be asked to be the Guest Designer at Sketch-N-Scrap for the month of February and then came the sketch...... I am truly not a hearts and foo foo kinda girl. So my first thought was to stay true to the sketch but change out the heart to a star or maybe an octagon, possibly a sun.... Then I realized that the sketch would be on a post on the 14th. Yes, I had to embrace the hearts. Furthermore, I could certainly have stuck to my usual and used pictures of my grands with hearts, after all they have captured mine, but I decided to really depart from my norm and scrap a picture of me with my love. I am so blessed to have him in my life. He has truly overcome so much and is my hero, but he sadly doesn't make it on many pages because I don't like pictures of me. My daughter took this one and I used it as a profile pic on facebook. So I decided to actually put it on a page. I am so happy I did after 43 years he deserves it!
   Here is the sketch

And here is my take.....

I know isn't he a cutie!  I am so blessed!
  I used a total hodge podge of supplies on this layout. A real stash buster! The background is from Authentique Bliss and I also cut the title from the yellow paper in the same collection. The big heart is from Paper Issues in their free cut files section. Isn't it great!  I used bright colored tissue paper to fill it in for some fun.

The little puffy hearts are Shimelle the adorable big one is from Bella Blvd's Popsicles and Pandas collection! I used Heidi Swapp Color Shine on the background paper and then sprayed all my wood veneers with it. Loved using all the bright colors!

I even drug out a rarely used Fiskars heart punch. And that washi tape is still one of my favorites, I have no clue where I got it!

Thanks again to Sketch-N-Scrap for this opportunity!
 Thank you ever so much for stopping by to see me today, I so appreciate you viewing my page. I am thankful for the opportunity to share just a little of my life with you!
 I hope that your Valentine's Day will be filled with moments that make you feel special because you truly are.
  Brenda

4 in one week!!!!

  After doing the layout the other day I decided it was time to attack the pile of fall stuff in the corner of my desk. Yep it was what I was using the last time I scrapped in October! Anyway, I found this picture which is one of my all time favorites in the pile. I printed it out and never got to work with it. I decided that I would give sketch number 309 at Sketches in Thyme a shot. I was extremely intimidated by the sketch, but decided to give it a try anyway.

I really like my layout and am very happy that I attempted it.

 Most of the product on the layout is from The Hello Fall collection by Simple Stories.
Thank you for spending a bit of your time with me. I am most grateful.
Brenda

Time to Scrap

We have been having an unusually cold winter here in Georgia. It has given me a large amount of time at home Yep this southern girl goes in to full on hibernate mode. I have been given the gift of time but unfortunately mojo did not come with it. This week we had another snowfall. The kids went to school on Tuesday and that was it for this week! I have been homebound, could not even get out and help mom.  I was determined to get in the cave and get started on getting some pictures scrapped! The first one I got done was tough...... Just could not get happy with it. So decided to just finish it and move on. I have to remind myself that they are not all going to be my favorite!!! It has been so long since I have played that I am unfamiliar with my own stash...ugh.... well anyway.
    I LOVE these pictures of Zade from the first snowfall this winter. The area they live in got 10 inches!! Unheard of here. Needless to say the boys had a total blast, so lots of pictures to work with. I decided to use these for my second attempt at returning to the cave.  This sketch is 307 at Sketches in Thyme .

 I would love to tell you that this went together quickly but.... that is not the case. I was determined to finish it while having a pj day yesterday so that I can move on. And here is my take on the sketch...

I told you he is a cutie!!  I am really hoping that I can get myself back in the cave soon and continue to scrap. It truly keeps me sane and makes me happy! Maybe soon my mojo will come back and I will be back on track. In the meantime I will muddle along and enjoy working with pitures of my amazing grands!
  Thank you so much for stopping by. I would love to say see you again soon, but who knows haha.
Have a most blessed day and I hope you find time to do something today that makes you happy.
Brenda