I LOVE to scrapbook.

Life has been very crazy lately, surgery,  sickness, er visits dead cars.......... have barely had enough time to do the necessities no time at all to scrap. But God is good and we have waded through and are stronger and happier on this side of all of it. So today I was determined to get back in the cave and clear a little space to create a layout! It was so much fun!
  I dug through my stash and found lots of things that I liked together and decided to use this sketch from Stuck on U Sketches.

And here is my take....

I had a really rough time getting a good photo... I used lots of glossy accents on the frame and it was SO shiny in most of the pictures!

  Thank you for stopping by and visiting me. I am blessed by each and everyone of you.
Brenda

First time at Paper Issues

  I am so excited, I think I have finally found away to remember the challenges I would like to enter.... yes it is always way more than my time but, one can dream. I started a board on pinterest for challenges and whenever one comes along I pin it. Then when I start thinking "Where did I see that sketch:" I won't spend forever tracking it down. That being said I am entering a sketch challenge at Paper Issues   from a sketch that I pinned. I am very excited because I won an $80 gift certificate to spend in the Paper Issues shop in a 52 week challenge in a yahoo group. Can't wait to go shopping!!
So here is the sketch

And here is my take

 I watched the boys on Friday for Adrienne and Ben to go to a funeral. It was such a fun morning I am so enjoying watching Zade learn to be a "big boy." These 3 truly have some brotherly love .I am so very blessed.  I felt like tinkertoys fit the round theme perfectly so scrapped these pictures quickly!
The paper is from Studio Calico Snippets collection.
Once again got to play with the new sewing machine! 
I used MTC and my Zing to cut the circles. 

I hope that today brings many smiles for you.
Thank you for your time
Brenda

Scrapping my Stash

  I think January finds me every year trying to organize and purge the Craft Cave. This year is no exception. Unfortunately every time I start to purge and straighten I end up stopping and doing a project. I just make more mess ugh...But  at least I am not buying and using it up so I am going to run with "every little bit helps!" This is for the T-W-I-N-E  challenge at Scrap Our  Stash. I love this tyoe of challenge!

T   thread (hard to see 2 rows of stitching at edge)

W  wood veneers

I  ink

N  number 

E   epoxy sticker

I hope you will join me in scrapping your stash. you have until Jan 29th to enter this challenge.

Thank you so very much for visiting.

I truly hope for you a very blessed day.

Brenda

Can it be ????First layout of 2015

  I am hoping with the craziness of the holidays mere memories and a reduced work schedule... only 48 hours a week, I can dust off the ole blog and enter a few challenges. 
I created this from pictures that Ashlie took for me to send to Jeff's Mom. Whenever I get a chance I scrap the Birmingham kids as their pictures are few and far between. The sketch is challenge #72 at Sketch N Scrap. I am also going to add it at Lasting Memories for the Simple Pleasures challenge. There is nothing that brings me more pleasure than being "Grandma".

The background papers are all from old stash. the embossed snowflakes are stampin up stamps. The washi tape is Teresa Collins and I cut the title using MTC and my Zing.

 Thanks for stopping by and hope that your 2015 is bringing you lots of crafty fun!
Brenda

Rainy day in Georgia

  I have been working absolutely ridiculous hours for months now so that leaves very little time to play in my craft cave. I got home from work at 9:30 this morning and declared a me day until 5:00 when I go back to work ugh....... So decided to actually  work on a challenge or two......  maybe. we will see......
   This is a Halloween card to satisfy my 52 week card at SNC my awesome yahoo group. I will be sending this to Olivia with goodies soon.
   I used the sketch at Stick it Down and had some fun with digital paper. Ruth a friend from the SNC group did a layout last week using lots of digi papers. It really got me thinking about how little I do with that resource. So this morning I decided to play. I started out with a sentiment in MTC and then layered digi papers to fit the sketch. I know I am slow getting to the party but it was such fun to get to see what the card would look like with different papers without ever cutting or printing so I did not waste as much as I often do. I so enjoyed making this card this way I look forward to trying this method on a layout!

 Here is the sketch.....

And here is my take.....

The papers are all from the Halloween collection at SheryKDesigns
 The twine and the banners are Recollections... thank you Rhoda
The candy corn are Jolees boutique


Thank you Ruth for the inspiration!
Hope you all have a wonderful day and have a few moments to be creative in some way!
Brenda

Practical Scrappers July Blog Hop

  Thank you so much for stopping by hope you found your way here from Kristys blog.. I hope you are enjoying seeing all the creative uses for things we have hoarded.
  This is a true dig out the stash layout. I am in a yahoo group that was doing a Christmas in July card challenge. I decided not to participate thinking that I really did not have enough Christmas papers to do it and not wanting to buy more right now. So when this challenge was given I dug out my Christmas papers and what was I thinking!!!!. I have a ton of tired old papers. And a good dose of embellies too.
So I dug up this picture and decided to do something with it. This was in 1995 and I love that the facial expressions truly fit each of my children. The girls did and do adore their big brother who at the time could have cared less.LOL
 I used the July week 1  sketch from Colorful Creations

The papers are all from an old recollection stack that I bought my first year scrapping.The chipboard snowflakes and the flowers came from Michaels grab bags 2 years ago. Hmmm now that I have all this stuff drug out I might make a card or 2!
  I have not done a blog hop in forever so I would love to give away a little treat. Just leave me a comment so that I can find you and I will use random,org Sunday evening to pick a winner..... Please shipping in the US only.

  Thank you so much for stopping by and head on over to Majkens blog to see her wonderful creation!
Brenda
   

My sweet Zade

  Adrienne posts a picture of Zade every morning on facebook. I so look forward to seeing his precious smile each and every morning. I am so very thankful for the technology that allows me this happy moment.
  This particular morning found Zade hanging out on the beach. Now is he not too adorable in his big boy hat!!!!! This picture has laid on my desk for a week but alas no time and even less motivation were a big  problem......
I am in a 52 week layout challenge in my yahoo group... and this is the first time that Friday morning rolled around and I did not have something to show for it..... so decided to get rocking and create something. LOL. Loved this sketch from Memory Nest and thought it would be a quick one.

    I am sad to say that I probably only have one more layout from my hoarded Martha Stewart Playful Blue collection. I have had it for several years and still love the fresh colors so much.... I am sad to see it all used up. Here is my super quick layout.... can not remember the last time I pulled out the stickers.

Thanks for taking the time to let me share my life.
I hope for you many smiles today.
Brenda