Springtime At The National Zoo

Over the weekend as I was looking through my box of photos and  I came across these pictures from a trip my daughter took to the National Zoo in Washington, DC, four years ago.  It was in the Spring and  the red tulips were lovely!

I started to look through my paper to find something to go with the layout and couldn't find a thing.  Well on Monday I received my monthly scrapbook kit from Two Chicks Designs .  I opened it and  my prayers were answered, because inside the kit were the papers I used.  I designed this layout based on  the current sketch #95 over at Creative Scrappers.  I will also enter it under the current chipboard challenge over at Practical Scrappers.

The paper I used is by KaiserCraft, Scenic Route and Cosmo Cricket.  I cut the tulips out from my Cricut cartridge Walk In My Garden, and the butterflies from a Martha Stewart punch.  The title is a chipboard piece by Pink Paislee that I covered with paper and inked.

Forsythia - Welcome Spring

I love Spring!  I guess you could say that I love all the seasons!  I'm fortunate, living in Maryland, that I can see the changes that are brought on by each season.  Spring to me is the "rebirth" of nature.  I see small signs of tulip, daffodil and hyacinth plants popping out of the ground.  My perennials are coming back to life, with little leaves emering from what would appear to be a dead stalk.  Most of us think of tulips and daffodils in the spring, but don't forget the forsythia!  I love the virbrant yellows!  I based my layout on the current sketch over at Pages in Time.  This beautiful sketch was created by the very talented Alda Stevens.  Most of you who frequent scrapbook galleries might know her as Flying Unicorn.

Most of the paper I used is from Basic Grey Origins.  I love this collection of paper.  I also used a lot of scraps  including Die Cuts With A View, Bo Bunny and Making Memories.  I cut the large frame out using my Cricut Design Studio and the George cartridge.  The branches and flourish were cut using Serenade.
The trim at the bottom I found at JoAnns, and I inked it with some yellow ink and added some bling.

The title is sticker letters by Webster's Pages. 

I also put to use a lot of my small Prima yellow flowers.  I added some dimension paint in the centers.   The little birds were cut out of paper by Webster's Pages.

I found the little yellow frame at Michaels.  I had seen a beautiful mini album  over at Details by Sandy.
Sandy had mention that she found the frame at Michaels in the $1 bin. So of course I had to make a trip to Michaels to buy some frames. The butterfly was also purchased at Michaels.

Fall Fun

A big hello to everyone and happy Friday!!! I am so glad that the weekend is almost here.  I have been extremely busy at work this week and can't wait for Saturday!  I have a ton of stuff to take care of around the house, and more important, I have a few layouts ready to be worked on.  Now what should I do?  Housework or layouts?  We all know the answer to this question --- LAYOUTS!

Here is my DT project for Frosted Designs.  This week's challenge is to use background stamping.  Now I will admit that I have a drawer full of stamps, most of which, infact all, that I never use.  I have tons of ink pads also.  Those I do use for inking my layouts.  I thought to myself, okay Debbie,  pick out a stamp and stamp the background.  Well it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.  First of all, most of the stamps that I put on the acrylic block were crooked.  Second, I did not apply enough pressure when stamping.  So after four tries, I settled for the fifth, which I did have to touch up.  I give a big KUDOS to all of you out there that use stamps!  I found a pack of stamps all related to Autumn, and  I had these adorable pictures of my kids back from 1992 playing in the leaves.

I love, love the paper I used on this layout.  It is by Bella Blvd. and is from the Honey I'm Home collection.
I used my Cricut George cartridge to cut out the photo frame.  The title was cut using Quickutz Studio mini alphabet.  The cute little tree is chipboard by Pink Paislee, and the felt flowers and leaves are Jillibean Soup.
I also used my Fiskars scallop border punch. The little houses and trees at the top were cut out from Die Cuts With A View Green Stack.

Fall ...the colors you breathless

Here is my latest DT project for Frosted Designs.  We had to do a project based on a layout sketch by one of our DT members, Cassie.  Here is her sketch:

And here is my interpretation of her sketch:

As you all know, fall is my favorite time of the year.  I took this picture a few years ago in Eldersburg, MD.
I pride myself in saying that all of the materials used in this layout came from my "old" stash.  Feels so good to use up the old stuff!! I used my Cricut cartridge Street Sign to cut out fall, and George to cut out the photo frame.  The leaves were cut using the Speaking of Fall cartridge.

Pieces Of Me

I had a lot of fun working on this layout.  It drummed up a lot of memories, some good, some bad.  Over the weekend I was cleaning my bedroom and caught myself looking around.  Certain items caught my eye and I decided to take some pictures.  Now mind you that my bedroom has been decorated the same way for the past 6 years.  It underwent a major overhaul after my marriage ended.  I wanted it to be my space and a reflection of me and what I love.  I didn't want anything in it to remind me that is use to be "our bedroom", with the exception of the pictures of my kids.  So I filled it with soft pastel colors, beautiful flowers, lace and other nick nacks.  Things that would have been forbidden by my ex.  What I love about this layout is that it expresses me and gives others a glimpse of what I am all about.    I based it on the current sketch over at Practical Scrappers.   

All of the paper came from an old K and Company paper pack, Margo.  The colors in the paper match my room perfectly.  I used my Cricut Storybook cartridge to cut out the title.  I added some beautiful lace that I bought at a fabric store a few days ago.  Almost all of the flowers along with the pearl flourishes are by Prima.  I did take a rose, some ivy leaves and little beads from some of the floral arrangements in my room to add to the layout. 

The Big Cleanup!

Hope all of you are enjoying this beautiful weekend.  Believe it or not I have not done any scrapbooking this weekend.  Felt it was time to catch up some things around the house that I had let go.    I also spent the better part of my weekend cleaning up outside.  You see I have several large pine trees in my side  and front yard.  They were full of pine cones and with all of the windy weather we had this winter, the majority of them ended up on the ground.  What a job!  Every time I felt like I had a hold on the situation, I would  look around the yard and see a sea of pine cones.  So far I have 7 recycle bags full, and I haven't even finished a quarter of my yard!  What is even more discouraging, is when I look up in the trees, all I can see are more pine cones. Me thinks there might be a pine cone layout coming up! I know that spring is right around the corner and I can't wait.  I see all types of growth in my flower gardens and can't wait to make my yearly trip to buy annuals to plant amongst all my perennials.  Well I'm off to wash my hands again.  I wore garden gloves when I was picking up the pine cones, but for some reason I have sap all over my hands,  Figure that one out!  Maybe I should have a contest - guess the number of pine cones!!!!

A Night In Paris

I am so excited and proud to be a guest designer this week at Stuck On U Sketches! Sandy, Nanne, Sandi and Leah are all such talented ladies!  I was tickled pink when I was asked to be a guest designer!!!  The sketch this week comes from  the talented Becky Fleck over at Page Maps, and the twist was to add some bling! 

I had some pictures sitting on my dresser of my son's prom from 2005.  I chose one in particular.  As handsome as he is, he is quite shy.  He did not have a prom date.  There were three girls that also did not have dates for the prom.  The three of them asked my son to be their date.  I love this picture of him.  Don't you agree that he is quite the handsome young man?

All of the paper is from the new Die Cuts With A View Ciao Bella stack.  I did a lot of cutting.  All of the flowers were cut from the paper stack and popped up with of course, pop up dots!  I splurged and bought some brown lace from the fabric store.  I thought it gave the layout a romantic feel.  I applied lots of bling!
Thank goodness for Michaels $1.99 rhinestone packs!  For the title I used some glittery letters by Making Memories.  The Eifel tower and Paris sign are by K and Company and Jolees.  The pink flourishes I cut from the Home Decor Cricut cartridge.  I added lots of cotton candy stickles and then sprinkled them with glitter.

Waiting For Butterfly Wings

This week over at Frosted Designs our  DT challenge is to share a technique.  I came across this blog : http://www.scrap-a-little.com/, and started looking through the flower tutorials.  I usually do not make my own flowers, don't have the patience, but when I saw the tutorial on ribbon flowers, I thought to myself, why not give it a try.  I was pleasantly surprised at how simple it was and that my flower actually looks like a flower! You should check out the site, Helen Croft has some great tutorials on it.

 Now, there is a special story behind this layout.  I will try to keep this simple and short.  My marriage ended in 2003.  I was just a little shy of my 20th anniversary.  When it rolled around, I was somewhat in a blue mood.  My beautiful mom sent me a Hallmark card titled Waiting For Butterfly Wings.  The card reads as follows:

I thought then and I still think now that this is the most heart warming card I have ever received.   And for my technique, here is my ribbon flower:

All of the paper and most of the embellishments on this layout are K and Company. Most of the beautiful flowers are Prima.

Someone To Watch Over Me

I started this layout last night and just finished it up this evening.  This one plays double duty for two challenges.
The first one being the sketch challenge over at Stuck On U Sketches.  Their sketch this week was designed by Amyee Gandy aka  Southernbellescrapper.  The second challenge is over at Practical Scrappers.  Their challenge this week is chalks/inks.  I really stretched my limit this past week when it came to layouts.  This one will be my fourth.  I completed two for my DT work over at Frosted Designs.   I can't wait until they put them up on their blog so that I can share them with you.  My other layout is a secret that I can't share with all of you until Friday!  Can't wait!!!!

 As I'm sure you all know by now, this is my precious, loving dog Zoey.  She is my third child.  Since my two kids are 22 and as of tomorrow, my youngest, Sara will turn 20, Zoey is the baby of the family.  She loves to sit outside and keep on eye on what's going on!  My daughter took this picture a few years ago.  It is one of my favorites!  All of the paper and embellishments on this layout are from the Basic Grey Origins collection.  I think this collection is my all time favorite!  I did a ton of inking.  Even inked the brown plaid ribbon with some yellow ink.  The adorable tree I cut from the Cricut Serenade cartridge.

You Make Me Feel So Special!!

I want to put out a special thanks to Fern and Amy!  Both of these sweet ladies thought of me and passed on blog awards to me.  Fern sent me the Beautiful Blogger Award and Amy sent me the Sunshine Award!  Thanks ladies, I needed this little lift.  I have been going through some personal family issues lately and have been kinda down.  This brightened my face with a smile and also brighten my spirits!  I love my blogger friends!!!

Now for the Beautiful Blogger Award I am suppose to tell  you seven things about myself:
1.  I am a giving person.
2.  I don't ask for much, only love and respect.
3.  I love my kids, they keep my drive going in life.
4.  I love a sun filled day.
5.  I love life's little pleasures, the simple things in life
6.  I am a scrapbook paper addict
7.  I am so ever thankful for what I have, to some it may not be much, but to me it is priceless

Now with both of these awards I am suppose to pass it along to others, but there are too many of you out there in the blogger world.  So I will leave these on my blog and ask that you take them, as we are all deserving of these awards.