Tuesday, July 26, 2011

A Little Bird Told Me - Sketch Along Tuesdays Sketch #20

There has been little crafty time for me lately.  I've been busy taking care of my mom.  Life is hectic but I know I must go with the flow.  
We've got a new sketch reveal today at Frosted Designs Sketch Along Tuesdays Challenge and a beautiful sketch designed by DT member Karin. I chose to take the sketch and create a card.

Here is Karin's sketch:
We have a new sponsor for this challenge, Paper Loves Glue.
and a beautiful prize package:
Please stop by and see what the DT has created and enter your project for a change to win a package of hand dyed crinkle ribbon.
I also wanted to share with you the reveal of the August kit from Artful Delight:
If you love Glitz and Authentique, this kit is a must have! 
Artful Delight is also offering a new card kit:
You can check out all of the details here.
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Fly --- Sketchy Thursdays 7.14 Sketch Challenge

Just a quick post here to share a layout I made using the current sketch over at Sketchy Thursdays.
I love this picture and am amazed that I was able to capture the butterfly.  It took a a lot of patience and several attempts.


I used my July kit from Artful Delight and ventured out of my comfort zone and used the Maya Road, Maya Mist in Earl Grey which was included in the kit.  I will have to admit that this was my first try at masking.  I was quite nervous that I might mess up, but am pleased with the outcome.
I punched out small scalloped circles to  make these pretty flowers.

I enterted a layout at Purple Pumpkin for a chance to be a guest designer.  I would love for you to head on over to their Facebook page and vote for me by clicking here.
Here is my entry:
All you need to do is "like" my picture.
Voting ends on July 27th.

It's been a hectic couple of weeks for me.  I've been occupied with taking care of my mother and have not had much free time.  I started last night trying to play catch up on everyone's blogs.  Be patient with me and I will be sure to stop by and pay you a visit.
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Counting The Reasons Why I Love You - The Scrappiest #128

The weather here in Maryland has been gorgeous the last few days!  Temps in the 80's with a nice breeze.  I've taken advantage of it and have been spending time outdoors tending to my flower gardens.  The hot humid days are expected to make a return any day now.

I've got a layout to share of my mom.  
It was taken years ago.  She is sitting on the steps of the house I grew up in. 
I used my July Artful Delight kit along with sketch #128 from The Scrappiest, which I flipped.
I got a little adventurous on my layout and actually did a  little stamping.  I used a brick wall stamp from Prima  and a doily stamp from My Mind's Eye.
I also used a stitching template from Bazzill to make the pretty flowers.
There is still plenty of time to enter the sketch challenge over at Artful Delight for a chance to win the July kit.  You can check it out here.
Have a great weekend!
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Thursday, July 14, 2011

The Beach - Artful Delight Reveal

Here is a layout I made using the July kit and sketch ASC 10 from  Artful Delight. I love the mix of My Mind's Eye and Jillbean Soup papers and the cute Maya Road chipboard shapes!

The little cutie in the picture is my son at the age of one year old!  He loved the feel of the water on his feet!
Hope you have time to join  in on the sketch challenge!
One lucky person will win the July kit:
Here are a few closeups:



Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Spots - Frosted Designs Sketch Along Tuesdays Sketch #19

  Things have settled down here.  I am happy to report the girl I spoke of in my last post is doing fine.  Her mother came up from South Carolina and she went back home with her.   I am ever so thankful that God guided her through her recovery and I pray that she will continue on the right path in life.  What myself and my family experienced was truly a life changing moment. I also want to thank those who left me comments!  I am truly blessed to have such sweet and caring blog friends!

We've got a new sketch reveal up today at Frosted Designs and I chose to scrap a picture of my daughter  at age two when she had the chicken pox.
A family vacation at the beach that year turned into a chicken pox outbreak.  My son was the first one to come down with it and eventually it made it's way through all the the cousins, seven in total.  My daughter had the worst outbreak.  I loved playing off the the circles on the sketch that DT member Karin created:
I found the Basic Grey collection Olivia when I was cleaning out my scrap room.  I totally forgot that I had it.  I added some black polka dot buttons I purchased from Sam over at The Purple Pumpkin.


Hope you'll have time to play along with us at Frosted Designs.  We have a new sponsor for this challenge, Detailed 4U Collections and a beautiful prize package.
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Friday, July 8, 2011

Random Thoughts . . . Embrace Life

I've spent the last few days thinking about how precious life is.  
Thinking how thankful we should be for what we have and who we love. 
Life is short and we never know what the next day will bring. 
Myself and my family have endured a lot in our lives since the break up of my marriage back in 2003.  We have struggled through the bad times and embraced the happy times.  Wednesday the 6th we were hit with another unexpected turn in our lives.  I rent a room out in my home to a family friend.  A sweet 18 year old girl who I treat as my other daughter and who I have known for several years.   Sadly on the 6th she took a plunge and attempted suicide.  My daughter came home to find her.  We all are deeply saddened and finding it difficult to cope with this.  There were no signs, nothing . . .  just out of the blue it came.  I pray that she heals and finds the guidance needed to continue on with her life.
My life has been filled with a lot complications this year.  I take it one day at a time. 
I am thankful for my family; my mother, sister, son and daughter,  my dog Zoey and all of my dear friends! 
I am thankful to God who guides me through these difficult times.
Embrace life! 
Love life! 
Enjoy life's little pleasures!
. . . Debbie

Sunday, July 3, 2011

I've Been Featured . . .

The other day I received an email from DT member Dawn at Inspirational asking to highlight some of my layouts on their blog.  Inspirational is a blog created  to showcase creations from around the world.
I was beyond excited and honored to be featured!  You can check out my feature here 
 Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Friday, July 1, 2011

You Are Such A Blessing

It's Fabulous Friday over at Frosted Designs and I could not pass up this week's challenge, Going Vintage.
I used a precious old photo of my mom for my layout.
The original photo is very small and full of cracks and scratches.
I resized it just a little and decided to leave it untouched.    A few weeks ago I was organizing my scrapbook room and came across some papers I had purchased a while back by Shabby Green Door.    I thought they were perfect for the photo!
I added some dainty roses I purchased from the Flying Unicorn Store and some lace and a doily from my stash.
I punched some flowers out and inked them and added some pearls!
Frosted Designs sponsor for our Going Vintage Challenge is Vintage Street Market  and one lucky person will win these beautiful tinted tapes.  Come on over and take a look at what the DT has created here.
Now if you are like me, with no special plans for the long holiday weekend, there will be plenty of time to scrap.  Check out the July sketch at Artful Delight.
Create a project using the sketch for a chance to win the July kit:
For more inspiration, check out the challenge at These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things, Your Favorite Collection. Create a project centering around your favorite collection for a chance to win a $25.00 gift certificate to Scrapbook.com. Sadly this is the last challenge for Fave Things!  My term as a DT member was short, but I enjoyed being a part of the fabulous DT Julie has put together.  Julie wears many hats and has made the decision to close down Fave Things.  Sometimes life just gets too busy and complicated and  something has to go.  I understand Julie's decision and thank her for the wonderful opportunity I had as a DT member.
Hope you all enjoy the holiday weekend!  The weather here will be hot and humid.
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie