Scrap Our Stash Challenge

   I am so very thankful for scrappy blogs that still have challenges. I am slowly trying to find my way back to scrapbooking. The challenges of life for the past several years have really pushed me away for it. I truly believe that a creative outlet is imperative for my mental health. I have really been struggling lately so trying to plug along and force myself into the cave. Some great photos and a good sketch were just what I needed. Here is the July sketch at Scrap Our Stash... and goodness knows I could use some stash bustung!! 

Here is my take on it......

I absolutely love how happy my husband looks! Retirement has not been a fun process up to now and it is wonderful to see that smile. Zade thought he was a regular hot shot! This layout has papers from at least 4 different collections.. yep busted up some stash.
  I am so thankful to have yet another memory on paper. I hope you will get a memory on paper today too.
Thank you for stopping by.
Brenda

Back for now.....

   Well. I have been gone from my blog so long that they have changed the whole format on me. I got on a few months ago and tried to get a post done but I finally gave up. So I am determined to stick with this post until I in some capacity get it done!! May bring us some laughs along the way.
    I have really had a lot going on. as I know you all have too. This unprecedented time has certainly brought it's share of challenges. My mother has declined rapidly and is now living in my home with her needy pug. This has proved to be a large challenge for sure. We went on a  vacation last week that had been planned for a year.It gave me a much needed  mental health break and a chance to slow down and re-access. One of the things that I committed to was entering my craft cave regularly. I kid you not I went in the day I got back from vacation and there was a spider web across the doorway...... now that is a sad sad story.
     I have tons and tons of vacation photos to scrap so hopefully I can keep from going back into the funk and keep playing with paper. I started my return to paper by looking for sketches to start with. There is something about a sketch that helps me to start. I have a scrapping buddy Barbara Greenberg; she is the fastest scrapper I know. When I need inspiration her blog Barb's Blab and Creation  is my first stop. I found this fantastic sketch from Sketch-N-Scrap to get going.

    I have just scored some Vicki Boutin watercolor markers. I decided to play with them a bit for this layout. There is definitely a learning curve for me. I am only somewhat happy with it but okay enough. All the papers and die cuts are from Miss Kate's Designs Summer Fun collection. so here is my take on this awesome sketch.

It was so much fun to spend a carefree week at the beach secluded from the craziness of our world and surrounded by family. Ryder loved all the freedom that this week gave him. He was busy, busy, busy all day long. 

Truly a blessed week and he enjoyed every moment. 

I hope that this week will bring you time to relax and count your blessings.

Thank you for hanging with me. I can not figure out how to get this spacing back to normal. ugh

Have an amazing day!

 Brenda

Happy Birthday Danni!

   Happy Birthday Danni! I hope this is an absolute perfect day for you!

 
I hope you made you way here from  Anitas wonderful blog.If you did not please go back and start at the beginning and enjoy so many beautiful birthday cards. You will be glad that you did!

     WOOHOO I am in my blog! I really was not sure I could remember how to get started. Danni I can not thank you enough for including me in this birthday blog hop. Seems life both hard and exciting has drawn me into a crafting black hole. I miss it so much but find that when I try to come back I allow life to get in the way. I was determined to take this opportunity and dust off the blog........ Little did I know that just a short time after I asked to be added to the group, my husband would be dropping out of the work world suddenly. Yep, packing a lunch on Monday only to have him home for lunch the same day, Forty Five years of him going off to work were suddenly a thing of the past. So now  I am married to a retiree.  The adventure has begun. I almost used that as my excuse to back out of this but......... Decided to persevere. I NEED time in the craft cave more than ever.
  My daughter, Adrienne  has a birthday on the 4th also. This is her card. She LOVES purple so it was a must for the card.  I truly struggled with it, and this is no where near what was in my head LOL. And am only somewhat ok with the finished card. Yep, wanted even more to use an excuse but not doing it hahahahahaha........ I want to pick  it apart and give you details of the struggle, but I will spare you. I am sure that Adrienne will love it with all my perceived flaws.
   I love everyone's coloring skills but have not been able to master that, thus I am still paper piecing. This cute elephant is a cut file from Miss Kates Cuttables  And the rest is pretty self explanatory.

   Again thank you so very much Danni. You motivated me to leave my comfort zone and try something new. I am  believing that this is the first of many more days playing with paper. It is truly my therapy...... and I can sure use some of that! Now hop along and visit with Sammie for a bit.
  Thank you for your precious time with me and wishing for you many blessings today.
Your crafting friend,
Brenda

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