Pearfect Love

This week at Lasting Memories, we are challenging you to use a bold title.  You know, something that stands out and speaks volumes about your pictures.  Be sure to stop by and see what the rest of the desing team has come up with for you. 

I took this picture of my nephew and his girlfriend a couple of weeks ago, and I was waiting for the perfect opportunity to scrap it.  They are a cute couple and seem to be made perfectly for each other.  I love this picture!

The sketch is from Cherie at Sassy Lil Sketches.  I'll also be entering this into the Sketches in Thyme open challenge and the Shopping Our Stash which is using a technique and your stash.  For my technique, I pulled out that circle chipboard that's been on my shelf for a couple of years.  I covered it with paper and inked the edges.

CTMH items used: Mayberry WOTG; Mayberry Stickease; paper flower; New England Ivy ribbon

Son

Did you know that Sketches in Thyme has original sketches now?  They are some talented ladies over there!  This is sketch #49 along with my take on the sketch.

I saw the new Fancy Pants Beach Bum paper, and it was perfect for this picture of Shane.  I love when he takes pictures like this!  I cut the the wave, striped border, sun, cloud, and banner from the strips piece of paper. The blue star and sentiment box are CTMH, and the twine is Really Reasonable ribbon.  I really, really like this layout!  But then again, when my kiddo is the subject, I'd love his face on just about anything!! ;)

Worker Bee

This is my third post for the day, so be sure to scroll down to see what I've been up to! 

I haven't played over at Sketches in Thyme for awhile, but I saw their sketch for the week and loved it.  It leaves a ton of room for inspiration!

I had these cute pictures of Shane from when he was a little over a year old learning how to "mow the lawn" with his bubble mower. 

I've used Fancy Pants Beach Bum and Slice diecuts.  The clouds and sun come from Fall/Back to School, the bee and letters from Big Kids, and the banner from Parties.  The baker's twin is Pink Paislee.

I think I might be done in my craft room today.  I say I think because I have had bunches of ideas running through my head.  Of course, it's easier to create when the mojo is calling!  You all know how that is!  But it's getting time to think on dinner and empty the dishwasher.  And I've got some loads of laundry waiting.  Domestic chores sure do get in the way of playing - LOL!!

Birthday Wishes and Some News to Share!

I saw this sketch on Sketches in Thyme, and I wanted to give it a whirl today.

I decided to veer off from making Christmas cards and create a birthday card for the Party Time Tuesdays challenge.

Items used: Recollections kraft paper and gems; Crate Restoration paper stickers; CTMH New England Ivy cardstock; Slice Think Pink card; Prima flower; Raindrop Echo sentiment

Now I have some good news to share with you!  I am so honored and excited to be a part of the new Scrap Tiffany Design Team!

I will start in January, and I am going to be on the card-making team.  I am so looking forward to sharing all the new and fresh ideas with you!!

Time for another sketch at Sketches in Thyme!  We Mavens love seeing what you come up with week after week!!  You can participate any time during the month for a chance at the monthly prize!

Sketches in Thyme Reveal Day!

It's time for a new sketch over at Sketches in Thyme!  We are using a sketch from Helen Croft - she is amazing!  You can link up to her Scrap-a-Little Sketches blog on my left sidebar.  Here is the sketch we are working with this week:

Don't you love the possibilities?  Even though it's not my reveal week, I was anxious to use this sketch!

Items used: Lily Bee Designs paper, rub-ons, and chipboard; Petaloo paper flower; CTMH dutch blue cardstock

Play along for your chance to win the fabulous prize sponsored by Maven Tanya that you'll find on my right sidebar.

Sketches in Thyme Reveal Day!

Over at Sketches in Thyme, we are using a wonderful sketch from Helen Croft this week.  I am absolutely loving working with her sketches - they are fabulous!!  Be sure to head over to the Sketches in Thyme blog to see what the other design team members have done!

Here is my take on the sketch:

This is a lovely photo of the gals that I worked with at Archiver's.  It's so fun to have this memory!!  The dimensional flowers are fussy cut from a piece of paper.  I set my gems with the Imaginisce i-rock tool.

Items used: Bo Bunny Jazmyne paper, sticker, and brads; Bazzill flower; Imaginisce gems

New Challenge at Sketches in Thyme, Sharing Our Anniversary Dinner, and Some News!

First I want to tell you about the new challenge over at Sketches in Thyme.  Be sure to hop over and give the sketch a try.  It's another good one from Helen Croft at Scrap a Little Sketches:

Okay, now I have to tell you about our anniversary dinner last night.  We went to the restaurant where Shane works - Chino Latino.  He didn't work last night, so he was able to come with us - prefect!  I don't think I would have know what to order.  Oh, but I have to tell you something fun.  When you make reservations for a celebration, they print menus that say "Happy 20th Anniversary."  (or whatever you are celebrating)  Is that fun or what?!  So anyway, Shane put in the order with our server and let us be surprised.  Here's what we had:

Sushi - Shrimp Caterpillar with Mango

Saigon Rolls - you eat these wrapped in large lettuce leaves

Squid with onions, red and jalepeno peppers

Jerk Chicken with plantains (I've never had plantains - they were crisp and yummy!)

And for dessert...Mango Cake (isn't that candle great?!)

Jerry's Chocolate Volcano Cup with Kahlua whipped cream

Everything is served family style, so we didn't really eat as much as it looks like!  And we brought 3 boxes of food home!  It was definitely a fun meal, great atmosphere, and we had a blast!!

Oh, here's what Jerry brought me for our anniversary.  He is really a sweetheart, and I was very surprised!

Now on to some news!  If you've been reading for a time, you know that I work at Archiver's as an instructor.  Yesterday I accepted a position near our home as a nursing assistant.  Something you may not know is that I worked as nursing assistant and medication administrator for 14 years.  I even went to nursing school for a time.  But Shane was toddler age, and I just felt like I needed more time to devote to him.  So I left health care and just did a lot of other things over the past 18 years.  I am very excited about this new job!!  It is a beautiful campus, and I know I am going to love everyone I come across!  One of the HUGE positives is I'll be able to start teaching in my home again.  I am really looking forward to that!!  I loved the ability to design and create my own classes. 

Well, that's enough chatting for me!  There will be some more artwork coming!  Click on the links on the top of my blog to get to the post about my blog candy and Sassy Lil Sketches blog hop.  Then hop over to Sketches in Thyme and create a page with the sketch.  I'd love to see what you put together!!

Sketches in Thyme Reveal Day!

It's Thursday, and it's my turn to reveal at Sketches in Thyme!  Have you played yet?  Look at the prize on my right sidebar being offered by Maven Fern.  What a great prize!!  Here's the sketch this week by Helen Croft.  Check out her blog - amaazing and free sketches for your inspiration!

I chose to go simple with this week's sketch.  I found the cutest pictures of my nephew Riley from 1998:

I've used a CTMH Level 1 layout from Zippadee.  It was just the perfect colors, and for all my CTMH buddies out there - you know how much I love the Level 1's!  I cut  2 different patterened "so cute" from my Slice Big Kids card, and then layered them to look like a shadow.  The buttons are Jenni Bowlin.

Now hop on over to Sketches in Thyme because I am looking forward to seeing what you create with this sketch!

I. Simply. Enjoy. You.

And I do enjoy this fur ball of mine!  This is the reveal for Sketches in Thyme this week  The wonderful sketch is from Helen over at Scrap A Little Sketches,  She has some great work on her blog, so be sure to check her out!  I hope that I'll see you playing along!

I had to scrap these pictures of Sassy nesting in her little tower.  She barely fits, so it's funny to see her hiding in there!

Items used: Lily Bee paper, rub-ons, chipboard flowers and buttons; Petaloo flowers; Mark Richards metal gems; CTMH black cardstock

Sketches in Thyme Reveal!

I am happy to bring you this week's sketch from Sketches in Thyme!  Have you been to visit yet?  The sketches are fabulous and leave loads of room for creativity!  Here is this week's sketch:

Now you can see what I chose to do with this one:

This is a picture of my lovely foxglove.  The weather has been just right because since I took this picture, I now have 6 more shoots blooming!  I just love the summertime and all the flowers!

Items used:  Bo Bunny paper, stickers, flowers, brads, and buttons.  I cut the word "blossom" with my Spring Slice card.  There are also some Bazzill flowers, and May Arts ribbon on this layout.

Sketches In Thyme Reveal!

If you haven't visited Sketches in Thyme yet, be sure to hop over and check out the sketches.  Kim has done such a marvelous job of creating this blog.   This week's sketch is from Moma:

Now this looks like a really fancy and elaborate sketch.  Don't be frightened by it!  I have used very basic colors and embellishments. 

Items used: Lily Bee papers and rub-ons; CTMH dutch blue cardstock; CTMH buttons and brads; May Arts ribbon; Basic Grey letters

There is a prize this week!  Take a peek at the acrylic album from Apple Pie Memories that you could win:

Just link up your layout on Sketches in Thyme by 8:00 pm EST on July 14th.  I can't wait to see what you come up with!!

Day in the Woods

It's time for a new sketch over at Sketches in Thyme!  Have you visited yet? You should!  The sketches are fun, and sometimes you have  achance to win a great prize!  Look at my sidebar - that's the prize for this week's winner!!  This week's sketch is from Scrap Sketches by Moma:

It is not my week to reveal, but I love to play along with the sketches!  Even though it's looks all floral-y and girly, here's what I came up with:

Of course, the one thing I did was to straighten my papers.  I tried - I really did - to go angled!  But in the end, I loved the straight look for my book!  All materials are from the Roughin' It collection from Bo Bunny except for the flowers.  They are Bazzill and Imaginisce.

Sketches in Thyme Reveal!

It is time to show you a new Sketches in Thyme sketch!  This week we are using a Scrapiopath sketch for you to play with.  I think you will enjoy this challenge!  I know you are going to like what the other Sketch Mavens designed for you.  Stop by Sketches in Thyme to see what everyone has been up to and be sure to share some love!  Don't forget to play along.  The Mavens love seeing your work!!

For this layout, I used My Family paper from Fancy Pants Designs.  The chipboard covered circle is a dimensional element from CTMH, and the brown scalloped circle is from Bazzill.  The flowers are CTMH paper flowers and chipboard flowers covered with Fancy Pants paper.  Such fun boy colors!

Baby Robin - Sketches in Thyme

There is a new sketch over at Sketches in Thyme today!  Even though it's not my turn to show you an example this week, I wanted to share a layout to remind you of the challenge.  Head on over and give it a try!

Here is the sketch this week from Scrapiopath along with my take on it:

As you can see, I flipped the sketch and kept straight lines.  But it's recognizable all the same.  Just a little note from me - always feel comfortable doing what you want with a sketch.  These are your legacy pages, so you have to like the finished work!!  Anyway, we have had a lot of fun nature in our yard this spring and early summer, so I wanted to capture some of that for this year's scrapbook.  These are pictures of one of the baby robins I was telling you about in an earlier post.  By this time, the mama robin had left and the new bird was sitting in the shrub.  It's hard to test your wings alone and fly!

Items used:  Basic Grey Origins; CTMH black cardstock, bitty sparkles, sticker and paper butterflies; Elle's Studio tag; Mark Richard black gems; American Crafts Thickers; Bazzill flowers; random ribbon

Sketches in Thyme First Sketch!

(If you are looking for my Surprise Blog Candy post, go here!  You've got until Saturday, June 5th at 6:00 pm!)

Having you been waiting for Sketches in Thyme to release their first sketch?  Today is the day - yippeeee!!  Are you excited to play along?  Wait until you see some of the incredible work that has been created to inspire you for this first challenge!

The sketch comes from Scrapiopath:

Here is how I interpreted this sketch:

(You can click on it to see it larger.)

Jerry and I spent a lovely day exploring the edge of the St. Croix river on the MN/WI border.  What a beautiful spring day!!  I've used all CTMH products to complete this layout with the exception of that pretty Bazzill flower.

Now, of course, on opening day of Sketches in Thyme, there would have to be some blog candy!!  Let me show you the candy first:

So how do you get your name in the hat for a chance to win?  It's easy!!  Simply leave a comment for me, and then go to the rest of the Sketchy Mavens and the Sketches in Thyme blog and leave comments there.  One winner will be chosen by random generator on June 9th!  Now here are the links for you to visit:

Sketches in Thyme

Barb

Dawn

Debbie

Diana

Fern

Kim

Pat

Penny

Tanya

Be sure to leave some love for these ladies!!  You're going to love what you see!!  I am anxious to see all of your results and how you interpret this sketch.  I learn so much from all of you!!

SO Exciting - A New Sketch Blog!

I am thrilled to announce a brand spankin' new layout sketch blog!  My dear friend, Kim, came up with this idea, and it is going to be a blast!  Kim has asked me to be on the design team for Sketches in Thyme, and I am thrilled to be joining this fabulous team of women!  We will be utilizing layout sketches from many different places (and they are GREAT sketches!), so hop on over to see what the fuss is about!  While you are there, grab a badge to spread the news.  I bet you'll even want to follow. This is a great way to get some layouts done!

Right now Kim is doing introductions, so all week you'll be introduced to the Sketch Mavens.  On June 3rd, the first challenge will be up and available for you.  I can't wait to see your work!