Tea riffic

Well, Adrienne is in Mexico for a week on a mission trip to build a home, so I have both boys..... I am determined to get a bit of playing done and this is the first effort. I am going to send this to the woman that organized the retreat ( I know I am a bit late but going with the better late than never theory of things) I am going to enter it into two challenges the first is Getting Cricky Sunday challenge Tea Time. I absolutely love Kristal and her blog, the sentiment on the card is from her stamp set Coffee and tea for you and me. The second challenge is a sketch challenge over at Made Especially for You This is a new challenge blog so this is the first time I have entered anything there. the teapot and cup are both from files that I downloaded from the MTC gallery.

All the papers bling and ribbon are just things that I dug out of my stash.
Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog.

Live the life that you imagined!
hugs, Brenda

I am finally able to do a challenge!!

I have been so busy since the grands moved in that I can not seem to find any time to play...(sniff sniff) But things are beginning to settle down to a loud roar so took a few minutes this morning to actually complete a challenge! WOOHOO!! This was designed for the Getting Cricky Sunday challenge. the challenge was to use the colors orange and black and only one other color. I chose to use yellow as my "other" color.
This is a treat box that I designed in MTC (Love that program!!)I used a coloring book page and basic shapes to complete this way super simple project.I then embellished with the cuttelbug floral screen folder and some yellow stickles.

If anyone is interested in the MTC file please let me know. I have never shared one before and I guess it is time I figure out how to do that LOL.

Thank you so much for taking the time to look at my work.
May you take the time to enjoy today as if it would be your last.

hugs, Brenda

Wow! Has it been 6 weeks?

I have finally finished the 28 prayer boxes that I was making!! I volunteered to make these for a women's retreat at my church This is the biggest project I have ever attempted. I must say that I am happy with the results. There are lots of imperfections if you get to looking but overall pleased. I could not find a template that would work so had to make one in MTC. My cuts were a little off so that was the beginning of the imperfection LOL. Of course I did not discover it until they were all cut, so went with it. My daughter committed to help with the project but was not able to devote as much time as we thought, UGH. All in all it was a great learning experience for both of us. And they are done!
Now I can get back to what I love (fingers crossed) and will be making some cards.
This is the first of three different papers.

This is a (lousy) shot of the trim, which was also done in MTC.

And this is the finished pile. All those hours reduced to this........

Thank you so much for taking the time to look at my project. Keep your fingers crossed that the recipients of the boxes will be pleased.

Live today as if it will not return.
Brenda

Memory game

I am so happy that I thought of this idea. As you already know, I have my 2 and 3 year old grandsons with me right now. They are a handful!! Though their lives are just beginning their start has been rough. So I am trying after 4 1/2 weeks to figure out ways to get them "caught up." The biggest problem at this point is lack of discipline, which makes for total chaos at my house. I have been so busy trying to get things a little settled and get things in my life totally rearranged that we are just now getting to a routine. (and of course we are leaving for the beach for a few days there goes the routine). So hoping that the understanding discipline will follow (soon I hope!!) The other really big problem is that the boys have not learned at all how to sit still and read or play games. Therefore they are behind in a lot of areas. So my answer was to make this memory game for Skyler. He loves Dora and Diego so thought I would start there. I only made 8 pairs so that he would be able to handle it. I am thrilled with how it came out! I packed both of the boys backpacks for the beach trip (4 hour car trip ugh) and this is in Skyler's.

I used cereal boxes for the base.
The white paper was surplus DH brought home from work
I found images on google and imported and sized in Word.
Paper from scrap box
Used MTC basic shapes for all the rest.
The most expensive part was the ink used.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my blog and thank you all for the kind thoughts and prayers for my family.
hugs, Brenda

Making lemonade!

Life has certainly thrown me a couple of curve balls lately. 4 weeks ago I had to drive 600 mile to "rescue" my daughter and her 2 boys (ages 2 and 3) and load my car with what we could and bring them back home. My precious daughter is a wreck physically, emotionally, financially and most importantly spiritually. She has not been able to really help out with the care of the boys much at all. So to say that my house and life have been turned upside down is an understatement. We have been trying to cheaply gather what we need to take proper care of the boys and childproof my home, as at this point I have no idea how long they will be here???? I am truly hoping that she will stay a long time but I am not in control. On top of this I had volunteered to work a ton of hours to have vacation money (ha ha what vacation?) so life is a bit crazy at this point. My DH is helping me get a space set up in the office for crafting (the 2 year olds crib is in my craft room)so hope that I will be able to play some very soon. I know that this is going to be what holds me together so anxious to get back to it.
I am currently working on a very simple memory game with Dora and geometrics for Skyler to play with. We have very few toys anD it is suppose to rain the next 3 days hope I get it done soon!! Hopefully I will add pics today!

Thanks for all your prayers and hoping to get my creative mojo rocking SOON
hugs, Brenda

Just checking in

WOW!! life has been crazy busy!! I started taking week ends off to do things with DH and man he is taking advantage. Right now I am just waiting for the call to say all is ready to go spend the day at the lake. It is going to be a hot one too!! Have hardly had a moment to even check in. Going to have my granddaughter this week and have my daughters 3 dogs while she is studying abroad sooo Hoping to be back in the groove soon.

In the meantime I wanted to share this wedding card. the wedding was kinda a mix of vintage and bohemian. so tried to catch that in the card. It was fun to be able to in cooperate a pic from their special day.

Have a blessed day!
will be checking in soon with a 250 follower giveaway
hugs, Brenda

Food for thought

I am entering this in the Getting Cricky Simply Sunday challenge. This weeks challenge is titled food for thought. You should jump on over to her blog and see lots of awesome creations and even get a bit of inspiration.
I know this is not very "thoughtful" but I am figuring that all the pineapples put it in the food category. My youngest grandson is turning 2. I can hardly believe it. I would really like to know the science behind the truth that grandchildren grow up faster than your children do.Flying Un
I am also going to enter this is the Die cut challenge at the Flying Unicorn forum. If you have not visited this forum I highly recommend you check it out. The beautiful things that are in the gallery make my jaw drop! I am thrilled to be able to learn from these incredible artists.
I am making 2 banners for his birthday party. And of course he has to have a birthday card!! Here is the banner that I did for the party theme.

This is a close up of one of the pineapples. I had no idea that Spongebob lives in a pineapple! This was the part that I had the most fun with. I cut the pineapple out of plain brown and wrapped it with goldish organza. Then added some yellow stickles.The port hole and door are two different silver papers with some faded jeans stickles.

Sponge bob is a file from the MTC gallery and Patrick is a coloring book page that I imported into MTC and created a cut file.

Now here is the card that I created for him for the special day.

I am so excited that I will be flying out tomorrow to go to his party! WOOHOO!!

Thank you for taking the time to visit me today.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1Peter 5:7

hugs, Brenda