Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Family A Journey To Forever

Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays!  It just seems as though it came and went so quickly.  I had a wonderful time Christmas day celebrating with my family.  I couldn't have asked for anything more special then to spend the day with my mom.  I recently did a layout on my  mom titled All I Want For Christmas Is You.  You can see the layout here. My wish for Christmas was to have a special moment with my mom.  Something I haven't been able to have with her for quite a while.  I wanted a moment with my mom as she use to be, happy and smiling.  Well, my wish came true.  For a brief moment, my mom laughed and joined in on the fun of the day. It's hard to remember the last time I heard my mom laugh, let alone smile.   Hearing the laughter from my mom warmed my heart and brought tears to my eyes.  It was the best Christmas present ever!

Today is the new sketch reveal at Frosted Designs Sketch Along Tuesdays!  We've got a beautiful sketch designed by Ashley a member of the DT from our Fabulous Friday Challenge and I chose to scrap a picture of my mom and her family.
 This was my first time working with Simple Stories papers.  
I used some of their Generations collection and just love it! 
Here is Ashley's sketch:
Hope you have the time in join in on the challenge.  We've got a great sponsor, Burlap & Buttercups who have donated their gorgeous December kit:
Please stop over to see what our DT has created using Ashley' sketch.
A little over a year ago I started the Sketch Along Tuesday Challenge for Frosted Designs.  It's been a lot of fun and a lot of work.  It's been an honor to work with the members of my DT.  Sadly, this will be my last post as the Sketch Coordinator for Frosted Designs Sketch Along Tuesdays Challenge.  So much of my spare time now is spent caring for my mom and it's harder and harder for me to keep up with the pace as the challenge coordinator.  Starting with the January 10th challenge, Andrea from our Fabulous Friday Challenge DT will be taking over as the Sketch Coordinator.  I will continue to be a part of Frosted Designs, helping Barb and Diana run our great challenge blog!
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Supplies:  Simple Stories Generations, Prima flowers, Making Memories metals, K & Company bird.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Holiday Gift Bag

Can't believe it's Christmas Eve!  I'm running around like crazy trying to get my house cleaned and some last minute baking done before my family joins me tomorrow for Christmas.  I made a cute little gift bag to hold some candy for my sister using my November add on kit from The Paper Bakery Kit Club and their December sketch #2.

I just love the cute little fabric tag  included in the kit:
I'd like to take this moment to wish everyone the happiest of holidays!
May the joy of the holiday season warm your hearts!
Thanks for stopping by!
Merry Christmas!
. . . Debbie

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Joy To The World

Just a quick post to share with you a Christmas card I made utilizing scraps from my 
December kit from Artful Delight.
 Wishing all of you the happiest of holidays and a Merry Christmas!
. . . Debbie

Monday, December 19, 2011

All I Want For Christmas Is You - Stuck On U Sketches

As I reflect on the year my thoughts continually center on one thing, my mom.  Since her diagnosis this past summer of advanced dementia, I've seen bit by bit pieces of my mom vanish.  It's a horrible diseases that robs one's  precious mind.  All that made my mom so special is gone.  I've experienced emotions that I didn't know I had.  I miss my mom and adjust on almost a weekly basis of getting to know this person, who in my heart is my mom, but is also now a stranger.  I miss our daily talks.  If I could have anything for Christmas, it would be a precious moment of mother and daughter as it use to be.  I know in my heart that my Christmas wish, is just a wish. But if wishes could come true, all I want for Christmas is you . . .
 I joined in on the sketch challenge over at Stuck On U Sketches and love the sketch designed by by Sandi Clarkson:
I used Authentique's Wonder collection along with lots of goodies I found in my stash.


Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Treasured Ornaments - The Paper Bakery December Sketch Challenge

Hi Everyone!  I can't believe that one week from today is Christmas Eve!  Yikes, I still haven't started my wrapping.  My agenda for today is wrap, wrap and wrap!  
Recently I purchased the November Add On Kit from The Paper Bakery Kit Club.  It's a great kit full of lots of Christmas goodies.  I managed to squeeze in a few scrapping hours last night using their December sketch.
Here is The Paper Bakery's December sketch:

 The ornaments on my layout are very old and treasured.  My parents had bought them when they first got married years and years ago.  At one time I had a total of 6 of them, but unfortunately over the years four of them broke.  I just love old glass ornaments.
Here are a few closeups:
Love the pleated ribbon that came in the kit.  I added a few flat back pearls from my stash.
Lots of cute embellishments in the kit, including some beautiful fabric.  I cut out the flower and candy from the fabric strip.
I put my Martha Stewart deep edge punch, Skyland snowfall to use.  Love this punch!
Hope everyone has a great weekend.
Happy Holidays!
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Utilizing Your Scraps

When I work with pattern papers that I love, I usually keep all of my scraps and try to use each and every one of them.  I've enjoyed working with the December kit from Artful Delight, filled with beautiful papers by Authentique, Basic Grey and Lily Bee.   Last week on  the Pink Paislee Blog there was a tutorial by Karen Grunberg on making a gift card holder.  Such inspiration!!!!  You can read the tutorial here.
I'm so glad I held on to those scraps!
Loved how it turned out!! 
If you'd like to order the December kit from Artful Delight there are still a few left.
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

You Are My Favorite Cousin!

Gosh oh mighty, only 12 days until Christmas!!!  Checking my list, shopping done, baking started, wrapping need to do! I don't know about you, but I hate wrapping gifts.  I always leave it to the last minute.  Well enough of my complaining and on to a layout!
I really had a a lot of fun working on this layout using a old photo of my son and nephew. I used my December kit from Artful Delight and the new sketch from Frosted Designs Sketch Along Tuesdays!
Love the mix of the Picadilly paper by Basic Grey and the cute Amy Tangerine embellishments in Artful Delight's December kit! There are still a few kits left to purchase.  You can check out the contents here and place an order.
Hope you have some free time to join our sketch challenge over at Frosted Designs.   Our sponsor is Paper Secrets!  Please stop on over to see what our DT has created and join in on the fun.

Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Thursday, December 8, 2011

You're So Beautiful

It's cold here!  A front moved in yesterday and brought us a lot of rain.  Last night it poured rain for hours.  I didn't think it was ever going to end.  The front that moved across the area ushered in colder temps.  We went from 60 degree weather to the 40's.  Snow was suppose to follow the rain and we were expected to get up to 2 inches.  I was surprised this morning when I looked outside and saw no snow.
I have a layout to share with you today using the December kit from Artful Delight. I've used a mix of the Basic Grey Picadilly, Authentique Gathering and Lily Bee Head Over Heals.  The beautiful woman in my layout is my Grandmother.  I can't help but wonder what thoughts were running through her mind in the picture. The picture was taken shortly before she passed away from breast cancer.  She was truly a lovely woman who lived a simple life and had an abundance of love to give to her family.

Here are some of the embellishments in the December kit:


There are still a couple of December kits left.  You can check out the contents and order one here.
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Monday, December 5, 2011

Celebrate Life - Sketchy Thursdays 12.01 and Scrapping Everyday Miracles

It's a cloudy  morning today.  The weekend was beautiful with sunny skies, even though there was a chill in the air.  I managed to get my Christmas shopping done and got the house decorated for Christmas.  Today I will be spending some time in the kitchen making a big batch of Chex Mix, Muddy Buddies and peanut butter cookies!
I spent some time this morning scrapping and used up some more papers I had in my stash. I had forgot all about the beautiful Pink Paislee Soiree collection I had purchased.  I love the 12.01 sketch challenge at Sketchy Thursdays and knew it was one I wanted to do. I came across a picture of me, my brother and sister from ages ago.  The picture is not the best of quality as it is small and worn, but I was thrilled when I found it.  My sister and I were wearing dresses my mom had made us.  The dress I had on was my favorite!  The bottom of the dress was filled with handmade embroidery.  This picture has such a special meaning to me as it holds a special spot in my heart for a beautiful creation given to me by my mom.  I found a new challenge blog, http://scrappingeverydaymiracles.blogspot.com and their current challenge is Christmas Miracles, scrap a blessing or miracle in your life. My blessing is my beautiful mom and the memories I hold in my  heart.   I'm not sure at this point in her illness that she would be able to remember the dress, but as a child I thought it was so beautiful and it made me feel like a princess.  I am truly blessed to have this picture.  In case you want to know, I'm in the middle!
Just love this sketch by Sketchy Thursdays:
I love the flowered paper in the Soiree collection!  Perfect for fussy cut work! 
 I have to thank Jennifer at Scrappin Daze for her 12/4 post highlighting a bunch of cute images at Smitten Blog Designs.  I paid the blog a visit and was amazed at all of the beautiful free images.  Make sure you pay them a visit. I came across a cute little image that I used here:
I also used some gorgeous Basic Grey rub ons and a bunch of flat back black pearls by Recollections:
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie
Supplies used:  Pink Paislee Soiree Collection, KI Memories Glitter Borders Weekdays Black, My Favorite Things Die-namics Wonky Scallop Border Die, SEI Black Ink, Elle's Studio Tag, Tags by Smitten Blog Designs, Black Flat Back Pearl by Recollections

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Bloom & Grow

Artful Delight's December kit is gorgeous and packed with lots of embellishments!  Quite a few of them are hand made by myself and Leeanne, owner of Artful Delight. The December Scrapbook kit is available for order along with the December Card kit and lots of other goodies!  Check it out here! I love the papers in the kit from Authentique's Gathering collection and used them on this layout of me. 
Here are some of the handmade flowers from the kit along with a
Amy Tangerine embellishment and Basic Grey wooden button

I used my Martha Stewart Scallop Dot border punch, some Pumpkin Spice Chalk Ink by Tsukneko and added some of the orange twine from the kit to create this border:
The December kit also contains some beautiful orange ribbon which I used here along with some metal flowers by Basic Grey, also included in the kit.
My layout is based on Artful Delight's December sketch ASC  #15 which I designed:
Hope you have time to play along.  One lucky winner will receive Artful Delight's January kit.  I've been helping Leeanne put the kits together and I've got to say that the January kit is going to be another great one!
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie