Scrapbooking as My Heart is Breaking

It's been a week now since Bob has passed and it just seems so empty without him. I know many people would say he was just a dog but he was much much more than that - he was my friend.

It was hard not to get tears on the page as I was making it but it's therapy and I think it's one of my better pages and I think of art and scrapbooking as therapeutic.

Bob would follow me everywhere and as I am so thankful I noticed what a blessing it is to have my "guys" follow me from room to room and when I took the photo on this page I felt the love around me as they were sleeping. I was doing my thing and they just wanted to be near me whatever I was doing.

The main journaling says: "By my side forever you will be... not physically now but close in my heart. Bob followed my thru the house all day & night. He was my constant companion & such a

great dog! My scrap/office space is very small & I would step over him many times while working on a page. I never minded and would give anything to step over you again."

The journaling under the main part of the page reads: "My little work area has more room to walk but feels so empty without Bob - May 28, 2008"

Journaling on circle reads: "I did notice this little moment & captured all the love around me relaxing."

Have a blessed day.

Suz

Sunday Scrapbooking

Hello


Hope you are having a blessed day! It's been a slow one for me - arthritis/lupus is getting me down today. Anyway I was able to work on a scrapbook page.

I have been dying to get my hands on some Pink Paislee papers. Archivers doesn't sell them and so I found some online from savannahscrappers on Ebay. Finally got them in the mail on Saturday - after some shipping problems.

I found a local store about 40 minutes from me in Cumming that also carries the paper line. My husband is working up in that area next week so I'm going to ask him to get me some of the papers in the Spring Fling line that I'm missing. I love the turquoise and red color combo.

I thought I would take the time today to share not really a tutorial but just how I created this page. Beginners can sometimes get intimidated by the rights and wrongs in books and are afraid to take risks and be as creative as they can be.

DESIGNING A PAGE - MY PROCESS (may be crazy but it's me)

You do what makes you happy and what you like. Your pages are for you. With that said here's how I did it....



Well here's the page I made. This is my son when he was just 3 years old at his preschool fair. He loved riding the horse around and smiled the entire time!








I thought I would post some close ups and details on the page and share my design process. I am more of a "wing it" kind of scrapbooker and my layout is usually not planned out.

I do have some idea what I want to use but I like to play around with the papers and embellishments as I go. I sometimes use sketches and always have paper in my purse to jot down inspiration when I have it (usually waiting at the doctors office where I spend so much time lately) Inspiration can come from anywhere..... while waiting for an MRI there were no magazines so I was looking around and the receptionist desk had a design. I drew it in my little tablet and that weekend turned it into one of my best pages yet! So keep your eyes out you never know what you will see to inspire you.

CHOOSING PHOTOS & PAPER

Using the photos I choose my papers. I try to stick with 2-3 patterned papers and 1-2 colors of cardstock. I will have an idea of the embellishments and get them out and make sure they will work on the page.

For this page I selected 5 patterned papers using the photos to choose colors. That doesn't mean I will use all the papers I audition them on the page to select those that make it into the final page. Sounds like I am describing a TV game show or actors...

The red in his shirt and turquoise pants were my cues I focused on. The rest was selected as I went...

For this layout I had the 3 photos I had gotten reprinted at Wolf Camera. They print a 4x6 and 2 smaller wallet size on a cutsheet of each print. This was helpful for these photos because 2 of them weren't the best photos since they were a little blurry or far away. I wanted to include them to capture the moment so I used the smaller print of them and made the best photo the focal point. Don't ever be afraid to use poor quality photos if that's all you have to share a memory. Once they are on a page they will come to life and tell the story of that moment. These pages are for you and your family - do what makes you happy.

THE PLACEMENT BEGINS (I PLAY AROUND WITH MY SUPPLIES)

I started playing around with placement on the page. For this design the tree on the patterned paper dictated where things were going to go.

I find once I'm moving the papers around on the layout that sometimes things change and I try to adjust and keep going....

After I had an idea of placement I grabbed the several papers and started playing around with layering. At first I thought the turquoise Bazzill cardstock was going to be the background but it blended into the background paper and I needed something to make it jump out. Taking my cue again from the tree I chose a darker brown colored Bazzil cardstock to be the background of the photo layered area. PERFECT! It made all the other papers stand out and created a solid section to layer the photos. I auditioned the different patterned papers to see what would be pleasing to the eye and draw attention to the main photo focal point.

CUTTING A SCALLOP BORDER
I still wanted to use the original turquoise cardstock and with the brown background it really popped. I used my EK purple corner rounder punch without the guard to cut a scallop border. Then I punched holes in it using Fiskars 1/4" hand hole punch. It was perfect against the brown and popped off the page and drew the colors out of the tree and carried them up into the photo section of the layout.

The red pattered paper drew the most attention to the focal photo. Placing it on either side of the larger photo using it as a mat of sorts to make the smaller photos seem more balanced. The stripe paper at the bottom was cut so the stripes ran vertical not horizontal so they seemed like smaller stripes and the vertical drew my eye up and down since that section of the paper is very boxy and horizontal this broke it up a little. The final layer was the bigger dot paper. I wasn't sure about using more dots since there was already dots on the main paper but the size, shape, color difference allowed me to use it. When placing paper be aware of patterns. This paper had stamping on it and I placed it where it would be seen since I liked it.

Don't be afraid to try things you never know if it will look good - as long as it's not glued down you can change it (I even change sometimes when it is glued down - as long as it's not too glued down ha ha ha)

With the photo section of the page complete I started work on the Title section of the page

Adhering Paper to Plain Chipboard:



Turn plain chipboard into custom made letters for your page. Don't let it intimidate you if you haven't already tried it. Just practice on some scrap paper/chipboard to get the feel of the technique.



I selected a complimentary paper (again I wasn't sure about more dots but this paper from Paper Studio seemed like it belonged with this paper line. Using PVA (you can use Mod Podge - I have better results on patterned paper with PVA or PPA as I don't get as many bubbles) adhered it to the letters and arrow. Some people apply a layer of Gesso to the chipboard to prep it but I didn't.

Adhering - I put a thin layer or both the back of paper and the front of the blank chipboard. Using a brayer I smoothed out any bubbles while sandwiching them together. I then put a thin layer on top of the patterned paper.

I had the sheet of paper with all the letters adhered to the back.

Cutting out - After the first coat had dried I cut the patterned paper to make the letters. I used micro tip scissors and craft knife to cut it out.

File - Taking an inexpensive nail file I smoothed the edges of each letter. I have a big black nail file, smaller red ones and a "chain saw" file from the hardware store to get in the corners. Basic Grey has a kit but you know me I try to do things that are cheap.....

Sealing - When I was happy with the letters I applied 2 more thin coats of PVA to each letter - letting it dry in between coats. That seems to be the key to a nice finish.

File - Finish off by filing the edges one more time to get off any excess PVA that may have accumulated on the side of the letter.



The letters were fine like they were but I wanted to keep with the distressed theme of the paper and finished off each one with a quick "drag" of the Colorbox chalk over the edges. I used Chestnut Roan (I use it for everything - best supply I can't scrap without it). They are $1.99 at Archivers or Hobby Lobby sells in a 3 pack and Michaels & Joanns have then in a 5 pack. The problem with that is I don't use the other colors as much. I can wear out one of these little cateye chalks in a short time if I'm scrapping a lot.


I distressed the paper and tags also to add dimension. The brown acts almost like a shadow and gives the layer depth.

Originally I had the words "A" "fun" "ride" in 2 different chipboard fonts but adhered the same patterned paper. Once I was placing it on the page it seemed blah so I thought I would add a word in red Thickers. Nothing seemed right so then I went back to the brown color idea and knew I had some brown letter stickers. I wanted the dimension of chipboard so I didn't use my Cricut for titles like I usually do.

LAYER, LAYER, LAYER


I had my title figured out and it seemed kind of lost and a little small on the page. To "beef" it up. Over to my faux clip it up I went hunting to see what I had that would work. I thought journaling or tags because I didn't want to use more of the patterned paper if I didn't have to.


I decided to layer it over some journaling cardstock stickers I had. This gave the title more character, style and presence on the page.
I used Daisy D's cardstock journaling stickers under the Thickers red letters and the Paper Studio - brown flocked letters. The word "fun" still needed a layer so I used the Making Memories journaling book die cut paper to bring the red down to the bottom of the title and it ties the the words together with color and all being on tags/mats.




Changing fonts, colors, patterns or styles adds interest to your title. Also, you don't have to have your letters in a straight row - unevenness and whimsy can draw your eye and add to the design.






After playing around with the arrangement I felt the title still needed something else to fill that area of the page so I punched a 2-1/2" circle and stamped on it using Sandy Lion stamps. I love this set of stamps and use them all the time. After stamping it I cut it so that I had the complete words "a day to remember" and placed it so it looked like it was behind the tag with the word "much"


FINISHING TOUCHES - I added some stitching to the die cut paper to make it look like I secured it to the page with the stitches. These little touches are in my opinion what make a great page. We scrapbookers can look at a page and say "wow" because in the details we see how much time and effort went into that creation.

Embellishments go a long way in turning an ordinary scrapbook page into something extraordinary......

This is really where your personality can come out and let those artistic juices flow..

CHANGE THE COLOR OF YOUR EMBELLISHMENTS




If what you have in your stash isn't quite the right color for your layout then get creative and change it.

You can add color to it or "knock" the color down a little if it's too bright by distressing it. I took my cue from the paper and added a beige color to the plain red rik rak sold in the notions section of any fabric store. It made a huge difference. I was still able to use the red at the bottom to anchor my page but with the toned down color it worked with the design instead of being an eyesore.


Other ways to change: embossing, painting, layering, stamping pattern on it.... let your mind run with it and really think outside the box you will be amazed what you come up with. Who knows you may start the next big trend in scrapbooking.......


I didn't use it on this page but I'm always looking for things to use on pages. I love found objects they really add a lot to the page for no cost. I have gotten buttons from shirts at the Goodwill store - yes I bought the shirt just to cut off the buttons. Sometimes tags from clothing is cool.

So keep your eyes open you never know what you will find...



The tree is a major part of the design of this page. It's fine that way it is but just adding something to makes it special and draws your eye to it.

I embellished the tree with buttons from my stash. Playing around with size, placement, color, texture until I found something I liked. Just gluing them would have been fine but stitching them adds dimension, color, texture and really makes it feel like they are part of the page.





I continued the button theme onto the scalloped border covering up the holes that were punched with a small green button. I glued these only and did not take the time to sew them as I thought it would be too busy.

Finishing details of the photo area:

Added a clip from Studio K to bring the eye up to the top and add another element/layer.

The Ticket was cut with a punch and stamped with Inkadinkado stamps. I used it as a small journaling block for date and place only.

On the other side of main photo is another of the Daisy D's cardstock sticker in an arrow shape that says "yes you did that" in complimentary colors for the layout and fills in space and balances the section of the page.

THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME AND MY STYLE THAT I ALWAYS HAVE A LOT OF JOURNALING ON MY PAGES SO THIS ONE IS UNUSUAL SINCE I DIDN'T JOURNAL ON IT. I AM GOING TO MAKE A 2ND PAGE THAT HAS MORE PHOTOS FROM THE DAY AND THE JOURNALING TO TELL THE STORY. JOURNALING MAKES YOUR PAGES IN MY OPINION.

Well that's the way I create a page. Hope it gives you some ideas and the courage to think outside the box and "wing it" sometimes......


Have a blessed holiday weekend & make some memories!

Not the Prettiest Room BUT I HAVE A ROOM AGAIN!

Wednesday when I posted this photo of the office/scrap area with Bob I was inspired to do today's post.....

THIS IS FOR EVERYONE OUT THERE WHO HAS A USABLE SPACE THAT ISN'T A DESIGNER SHOWPLACE BUT IS STILL THANKFUL TO HAVE IT TO CREATE AND RELAX IN!

I still miss my pretty purple craft room but wouldn't for a minute change the fact that I'm thankful to have both my sons living at home again.

I tried to scrap in the dining room for a couple months... lugging stuff out and having everything put away out of sight. This just wasn't working for me. I like to see my stuff.

These are most of my crop totes (I have 2 more small pieces). So it doesn't hold a lot.....

I was trying to store everything in my rolling totes and in the buffet and a hall closet. I have way too much stuff for that. I had that craft room packed full of stuff. I am a "crafting junkie".... I love scrapbooking, quilting, knitting, jewelry making, clay, etc... I also love books so I had my library in there too. The smallest room in the house was filled with the most stuff.


We have an older ranch house that had the living room/dining room together and a kitchen with a "den" separated by a bar. My sister has a similar floor plan in her house and she was using the space off the kitchen as a dining room. Hers is paneled like ours but was painted before she bought it to brighten things up. I would like to brighten things up too but this is my husbands absolute favorite room in the house. He loves the dark wood so there is no way I could paint my paneling like so many people are doing now.


Dining room before son moved in and put in the 2nd buffet went in to store all my quilt fabric and craft stuff..... The living room is to the right. When my son moved back we put the TV and recliner in the living room and started using that for watching TV and "living"in. That made the dining room even more cramped.....






The den when we used it as a den..... before I put the office computer armoire in there... that took up so much space that we only had 2 chairs in there so the family couldn't watch TV together so we moved all the sitting furniture into the living room leaving only the office in there off the kitchen . It was a nice cozy family room with the paneling - I really liked this room when it was like this but it was only comfortable for 2 or 3 people not all 5 of us.... so the re-arranging began.....



When I started having to scrap in the old dining room I felt too cramped. I liked being able to watch TV but it was just too close when my DH would recline his chair and bump into the table.


So I turned our den area into the dining room but left the computer in the same room since it was too big a production to move. T was still able to see the TV at a distance from the new room but when my husband would be sitting at the computer and I would be at the table I was cramped again! Then with the dark paneling and the computer in there it just didn't feel like a dining room and I still had to keep cleaning everything up and putting it all away so it still functioned like a dining room. Even though we don't hardly eat at the dining room table I insisited on trying to keep a room that we didn't really use. Finally I decided that the "real estate" was too valuable to waste on a room we weren't using fully anyway and I shouldn't care what other people think but do what is right for me and the way we live. So that didn't last but a couple weeks and on Andrew's day off I had him move the good dining room table back into the real dining room but collapsed it down to a drop leaf decorative table with a lamp on it in front of the window so we didn't lose any of the space in the living room.

My husband's joke since we've been married he would never know how the furniture would be arranged when he would come home. Now it's just on the days the kids are off because I have to have them help me .... when I was healthy I would do it myself.

FINALLY I HAVE A SPACE IN PROGRESS - LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS THAT WILL HELP ME MAKE IT BETTER......


So now the area off the kitchen is now the office/craft space. I am really loving having an area again. It doesn't have beautiful colored walls or even areas on the walls to hang anything because of the window arrangement and all the mix-matched shelving units but I HAVE A SPACE! It actually is more organized than it looks but still has a way to go. I purposely took photos of the space when it wasn't the cleanest to just show what is real. One thing that having serious health problems and then cancer on top of it has taught me is that a clean house means very little in this life and living our lives and enjoying it is what IS IMPORTANT! So it is what it is and I AM ENJOYING IT in spite of not having everything beautifully decorated, matching, and looking like it should be in a magazine.....

This is the Floor plan - not to scale and poorly drawn in photo shop. There isn't that much room to walk around as you can see in the photos..... but it gives you an idea (any suggestions would we welcome)




Oh and between the hall door on left and kitchen entry is a huge old TV on a wide stand - it's not hooked up. I can't decide if I should get my son to hook up to cable again or get rid of it and put in another low shelf because as you will see my shelves are too crowded.



The computer is angled in the corner and my desk is an old dining room table with one leaf down and one up to make it more square. I have a sewing table next to it that I have the die cutting machines on and then an old desk with my sewing machine. I was trying to do an "L" shape. It's a very narrow room and has a path to the hallway, kitchen, back door and laundry room to consider and there is a bar from the kitchen so very weird wall space with all the windows and doorways.








I know it's a bit cluttered and still crowded but I have to have things within reach because it's hard for me to get up and down all the time with my arthritis and also when my husband is sitting at the computer we still get in each others way a bit....





My "desk" has a 2 drawer file cabinet half under so I can reach my adhesives, paints, embossing powders and anything to do with stamping in the top drawer and in the bottom drawer I have all my punches in several baskets by type that I can take out just what I need. The file cabinet was on clearance at Staples 6 weeks ago regular price $139 on sale for $6.96. I brought it home in my convertible with the top down because that was the only way it would fit! I can never pass a bargain that is useful!


Being short has its advantages. I can store things under the table and still move my legs around. I'd like to put some kind of skirt on the table but since it is an antique I don't want to damage it with velcro so if anyone knows another way let me know....



Under the desk I have a metal mesh file tote (another Staples steal for $1.99) that I keep Cropper Hopper page sorters or 2 gallon Aldi ziploc bags of patterned paper sorted by designer and page kits that I have made to take to crops or to work on at home. I also have an expanding holder for misc patterned paper filed by type (i.e. single color, background, floral, dots, plaid, stripe). The 2 black expanding files hold the scraps of my patterned paper and cardstock sorted by color and each color has own 1 gallon ziploc bag in the slot to keep smaller scraps together.


I'm using chairs as tables to hold things. I did it before I saw Ali Edwards blog with photos she did it too - that made me feel a little better......

The chair (in photo above) next to the one I sit in holds a tote that I store my Bazzill or other textured 12x12 cardstock sorted by color in 2 big Cropper Hoppers. I also have a pad of textured cardstock I bought at Walmart in that tote and the little accordion file holds matt pads of textured cardstock.




On top of desk area I have my Cricut Expression (covered up with blue & yellow fabric cover to protect it)


Cutting mat & working mat.





I have my adhesives I use in a metal bin from Target $1 spot. In that bin is my Herma runners both temp and perm, Glue Dots, Zig 2way glue, Pop Dots & Zots. All the other glues are in the file cabinet drawer so I can get to them easily when I need them. My new fave is GLOO


I use a Cutterpede trimmer (because I like to cut scallop edges without using decorative scissors which is hard for me with my hands)


I use an old silverware storage tote to hold most of my tools (scissors, craft knife, bone folder, rulers, compass, stapler, pens, files/distressing tools, piercer, tweezers, etc.

I have another bin that holds erasers, sharpener, staples, little things that would fall out of the tote.

My faux F.R.E.D. is in the background and I move it forward to scrap.

On the file cabinet I have my most frequently used embellishments (or ones that need filed away)




Acrylic stamps in CD cases by type filed and stamping blocks in a fabric lined basket








"Train cosmetic case" (my husband won as a gift at office Christmas party) that houses my favorite rubber stamps so they are all within reach.















I have 2 drawers that hold my markers and gel pens on top of the file cabinet too. (these were on clearance at Staple's in January for $1 each and was using them to hold all my ribbon but needed to store my pens better so these 2 are for that and still using 2 for ribbon)









In the plastic drawer unit to the right on my desk I have my frequently used ink pads.

















Inside the filing cabinet drawers:


Top drawer has anything to do with inks/paints/adhesives in bins so I can take all the paints out and go thru them.













Starting in back:

Left bin is all adhesives: Mod podge, PVA, PPA, Diamond Glaze, Gloo, MM metal adhesive, etc


Middle bin : Stickles & other glitter glues













Back Right: Gesso & chalk pallets



Embossing powders, heat gun & Tidy Tray









Bin for: blending applicators. Qtips, pads, cotton, makeup sponges, Tim Holtz supplies


Bin for: Alcohol inks & applicators for that


Front right bin: craft acrylic paint (Making Memory, Folk Art)


Bin for Artists quality acrylic & water color paint


Also in the drawer are : my artist quality water color solid pallet set


Baby wipes


Fiskars stamp press large size


Splat Mat


Stamp Cleaning sponge


========================


CONTINUE AROUND THE ROOM TO THE RIGHT OF THE DESK

Die Cutting workspace. I store the big dies in a box under this table along with binders with dies in them. I also store uncut chipboard, foam, stiffened fabric and felt under this area for easy access when I want to cut







The sewing machine is set up next to the die cutting area. I have a small ironing pad/mat that can sit on top of that desk so I can press as I sew when I am quilting. I have an OTT light on that desk and a knockoff OTT light from Home Depot on the scrapbooking desk.









The Open Shelf stores most of my supplies and embellishments


On the top shelf I have a tackle box with metal and found objects


2 different storage boxes for eyelets, brads, metal letters, corners, etc.




My faux "clip it up" made from a paper towel holder & sheet protectors is also in the tops shelf


Faux "clip it up" works very well for me and hold all my sticker letters and any other semi-flat things that I want to be able to access quickly and easily.








This basket came from the antique store we shop at often. I paid $4 for it and I put my favorite rubber stamps in it.

The recipe file holds sketches of layouts and cards that I drew or found from other sources.

Also on that shelf is my foam stamps sorted in 2 bins. Alphas in one and shapes in the other







I store my ribbon in several different ways. I eventually want them all in jars wound on clothes pins but for now I don't have enough shelves to do that.



Target $1 spot basket holds a lot of ribbon on clothespins from the Dollar Tree. I use small rubber bands by KI designed for tie dying shirts $0.97 at Hobby Lobby (I don't like the pins since I have a hard time gripping with my hands)







Smaller pieces of ribbon are loose in mason jars



Mason jars are very inexpensive at Walmart.











This is the same box that I store my pens in from Staples on clearance $1.09 each. I bought all 4 they had. The are perfect for the ribbon wound on the Cropper Hopper spools with the clips. This was fine when I didn't have a lot of ribbon but it grows by the month so needed another way to store it since I have 2 for ribbon and had to start using the other 2 for pens since I was damaging my pens by not storing them horizontally.







Another antique store find (don't think it's an antique but it's cute) $5

I store my inkpads that are colors I don't often use in these drawers.







This is the top of the armoire. The top left has the flowers and buttons and top right has watercolor pencils, watercolor markers, colored pencils and paintbrushes.

Bottom left has 2 boxes of CDs music, photo, and computer programs. Bottom right has ribbon boxes and jars




The armoire is the only splurge we have in the room. It came from Office Depot and is from the Christopher Lowell collection. It holds everything and the doors can be closed to hide the clutter.

We have a Dell desktop computer and an HP all in one printer (love that printer)



This is the shelf that has a glass door. My dad gave it to me and he got it for free. It's part of an entertainment unit but it holds my scrapbooks, boxes of photos, some books/magazines and in the bottom I have baskets filled with all my chipboard.



On top I have a hatbox and basket filled with knitting yarn and supplies

A Sad Day Here

Our dear old german shepherd BOB passed away. I am really saddened by this since he was constantly with me when so many times I am stuck away in this old house with my health problems. I am thankful that he didn't have to suffer with that old cancer but I sure wasn't ready to lose him or expect it as he went very quick. That is a blessing but it's also so hard. I know many would say it's just a dog but he was way more than that - he was a dear member of our family.

Bob came to us as a rescue. He had heartworm and was going to be put to sleep when my son Andrew who works at Dekalb Animal Hospital fell in love with him and paid out of his salary to treat him. Bob always seemed so happy to finally be in a home and he is famous in our new neighborhood where people would see us walking and they knew Bob by name but not us.... this last year he was slowing down a little with arthritis just like me so I guess that's why we were meant for eachother....

Anyway our little house will not be the same without our big boy... you can see from the photo that he was always laying near me but I didn't mind stepping over him.

Have a blessed day,

ing

Wow I have been a horrible blogger haven't I

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted on my blog. It's not that I haven't been on the computer it's just I've been lazy about posting here. I know there's not too many that are reading it but still that's very slacky of me...

NSD or should I say NSW (weekend) was a blast!

ACRYLIC ALBUM SUPPLIES: Went to Archivers on Friday morning before my doctor appointment and made a border, card, flowers, acrylic painted star, and got a lot of great ideas. I saw an acrylic album there made out of clear overlay page that was cut into 1/4ths and it was beautiful! I didn't think it would be sturdy but it was. I picked out some supplies (see photo left) to make my own. It's still in the ziploc and I am going to work on it soon. I am going to make myself. After doctors appointments I came home and started working on some pages. I stopped at Michaels and got 2 Martha Stewart punches that were on sale for 50% off. They are very nice quality punches and I got a raincheck for the doily one too.

PAGES COMPLETED NSD WEEKEND - I DID A LOT OF OLD FAMILY STUFF AND HAD FUN WITH ALL THE RETRO PAPERS OUT RIGHT NOW THAT ARE SO PERFECT FOR THAT ERA

Since my hubby went out of town on Friday night I stayed up very late and then Saturday didn't even get out of my PJ's. I destroyed my work area with all the frenzy of scrapping! But I think I did some of my best pages yet.

Noell from Paperclipping told me in a post on my fake FRED posting on 2 peas that she was giving away 2 of them that weekend so boy did I go to town cranking out the pages. I also checked out her live shows and Terri's show at Scrapclubs.com. They were all great! I won a stamp from Terri.... THANK YOU AGAIN! I didn't win a FRED but I sure had fun participating. Dedra Long had some great mini book ideas and I plan to venture into that also. They are a great group of amazing artistic women.

For mother's day I made my mom 2 different pages of old photos of my parents together and gave her a 12x12 frame to put one in. She really liked it. I forgot to take photos of the pages for my gallery so I will have to do that soon. One of the photos was a black and white one taken before they were married. Neither of them even remembered the photo. It was a nice get together of the family also. With all the kids (except Stephanie - but she sent me a cute card), my parents, and sister Karen.

Unfortunately Bob got sick his throat was swollen and then he couldn't even bark. The vet did some testing and has now found he has malignant lymphoma. I am so sad but the vet and my son (who is a tech) says that is a good treatable senario. So they gave him prednesone and he is doing better now and eating. Treatment will start this week and hopefully it will work.

It's been raining regularly here and the plants/flowers are beautiful. All the roses are blooming. Even the ones that were planted by the woman who owned the house before us. I call them Leota's roses. They are like a rambling rose and I will cut them back right after blooming. I love this time of year in the garden I just wish I had more energy to do what I want to do.

Anyway this last Saturday I rode on the Harley for a short ride. It was our anniversary, 22 years, wow. Charley even stopped up at Archivers since it was on the way to the Harley store. so I could buy some Stickles and Diamond Glaze. We had lunch and then came home. I just can't ride very far with my back being out. Hopefully PT will help it more this week since we are going to a Harley party in Alabama this coming Saturday to get away for a day or so. I worry about leaving Bob but Andrew will be here and it's only overnight. Check out this dog we saw at the Harley store - her name is Ellie and she has a "seat" that she is strapped into on the back of a touring Harley and her owner put goggles on her - too cute she shows her teeth and looks like she is smiling....

Well that catches you up to now - if you can follow my scattered train of thought..... I'm not re-reading so it is what it is...

This is the first page I've done since NSD. My beautiful Grami.

Have a blessed day!