My name is...

Yep, it's another Macy layout! LOL She is just so cute I keep scrappin' about her. One day, hopefully God will bless us with a baby. For now, ya'll have to keep looking at my furbaby layouts. :) Like most pets, Macy has a dozen or more nicknames. I finally decided to document a handful of them. This layout cracks me up each time I look at it again. *click for a closer look*

Here's a close-up so I can explain some of the details. I layered this really cool paper over a piece of Brilliant Blue from Stampin' Up! I love how the darker color shows through the flowery scalloped edge of the pink paper. I added a little piece of white in each corner so that the black brads would "pop". I also add dots in the center of each flower and on the vinyl Thickers letters using my handy dandy white Sharpie pen. I thought the dotted letters looked more girly since Macy is such a girly pooch. Hope this makes you smile, too!

Tonight after work, Kevin and I mowed the yard for the first time this season. Ahhhh....the simple pleasure of smelling the fresh cut grass and taking in all the luscious springy colors around me was wonderful! I am so inspired to pull out my sheets of Garden Green cardstock and make a fun card. That is one color I rarely pull out of my stash to use. Tomorrow it's back outside to power wash the siding, do windows and put in the screens. I can't wait to have the windows wide open and let in the fresh spring breeze. I might even get some sun on my pasty white legs. LOL Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!

Priceless...

In January of this year, my parents, husband, cousin and I went to see my Great Aunt Irene on her 91st birthday. She is a remarkable woman. She still lives alone and has the best outlook on life. I can only hope to be as feisty when I am older. I just love her. I'm not good about getting over to see her as often as I should even though she only lives about 20 minutes away. Shame on me! I did this layout a few weekends ago and used a new Hambly page overlay that I had gotten at the LSS (which is closing...sniffle...). Fortunately for me, the one owner will be opening a new store across town so my addiction will be fed again. LOL I had to take this picture at an angle since the shiny overlay kept causing a glare. You can click on the pic for a closer look.

Here's a close-up of some of the detailing. I used Fancy Pants papers for the two base pieces, added the Hambly overlay(attached with brads), Bazzill bling cardstock, a Prima flower, a button and a My Mind's Eye 4x6 transparency(attached with those fabulous Glue Dots sheets for vellum!!). The letters "Priceless" were stamped with a retired Stampin' Up! Alphabits set and punched out with the 1/4" square punch. If you know this crazy scrapper in the middle photo, give her a shout out! Hey girl! She's one of the nicest gals I have ever known....and she's family to boot! We always have a blast together! :)

Here you can see how I layered the patterned paper under the overlay, then added all the other elements on top. One last added detail was the date by the owl using my handy dandy white Sharpie. I love that thing!

This week I'll be planning projects for a weekend workshop. I'll add those on the blog next week. Thanks for stopping by. Hope everyone has a blessed week!

Family Frame

I made this frame for my hostess Deb. I purchased this double-matted frame at the new Flower Factory store in Mansfield. I simply covered the mat with paper from the Stampin' Up! Berry Bliss paper pack, stamped the solid brown layer with the set Little Pieces, heat embossed the word "family" using the Big Deal Alphabet set and added some punched out pieces for detailing. I inked the edges of the paper and shapes for some dimension.

Here's a close-up of the left-hand side where I added some punched circles. All of the patterns/solids were from the same paper pack. I just love the versatility of double-sided papers! I added a non-SU! sticky bling flower to the center of the largest circle.

Thanks again, Deb for being a hostess! You'll be invited to my Hostess Appreciation Event this summer!

Kickstand

You might take one look at this layout and say to yourself....what the heck does kickstand mean? Well, take a closer look at Macy's back leg....it's all kicked out like she's got a kickstand. Kevin jokingly called it that and it just stuck. This dog sure makes us laugh. To know her is to love her all the more.

When I create pages, I don't often think to remember what company makes which item in case I post it on this blog. I'm sorry I don't remember that. At that time I am creating just to create. Here's what I do know: I used two different double-sided papers from one company. The opposite side of the red had several flowers. I cut out the large one and used my circle punches for the three smaller ones. I rounded the corners of the 12x12 for a softer edge. I matted the photo with Stampin' Up! cardstock Soft Sky. The scalloped edges under the red piece are actually some Paper Frills pieces from Doodlebug. I love those things! I have a pack of white which I can color with ink if needed to match something. I'd rather do that than have a whole pack of blue or yellow or....you know what I mean. Also, the letters are foam stickers called Thickers. I have to laugh because once I uploaded the photo I realized my letters weren't exactly straight. Oh well, they're off just like I am. LOL Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

Mr. Cactus

I created this layout about our plant "Mr. Cactus" last weekend. This layout may not be special to anyone else, but it means even more to me today than it did when I created it. I found out today that our former neighbor who gave us Mr. Cactus passed away Friday. The journaling says: When Rev. Black got remarried and moved out of the neighborhood we got to "adopt" this Christmas cactus. Since I have to name all of my plants he affectionately became Mr. Cactus. He usually blooms sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but in March of 2008 he certainly surprised us with five luscious HOT PINK blooms!

Periodically we'd run into Rev. Black or his wife and I would always tell them how the cactus was doing. What Rev. Black didn't know is that his act of kindness in sharing the plant and allowing us to see its beautiful blooms was a blessing beyond measure.

Goodbye old friend...

Happy Daffodils

Today was such a blessed day! My daffodils are finally blooming! When I let Macy out this morning about 7:20 they weren't opened. This afternoon after church they were bowing towards the warm spring sun and showing their gorgeous yellow hues. Daffodils are my favorite flower for a few reasons. They remind me of my dear friend Merrill. She likes daffodils, too. They are also a sign of a new season, a new beginning. They make their way past the dull-colored mulch and dead branches to smile at me. My heart just feels lighter once the daffodils come. It's as if God is whispering to me, "This is just for you, my child. Enjoy." I am so grateful for my eyesight and that I can see His many wonderous blessings in nature. Thank you Lord for the happy daffodils!

My beautiful "baby"...

This is a page I did on Sunday. After scrapbooking with mom and Tammy all day Saturday, I was on a roll. I have been psycho busy this week, so I am just now posting another page from last weekend. My taxes are done and the refund's on its way! Ya'll probably think I'm crazy since I scrapbook my dog, but for now in my life (since we have no kids) she is my "baby". I guess if I had a baby, I'd substitute his/her pic on this fancier layout or even a beautiful bride/wedding picture. However, my doggie is a very dainty girl and so I used her as my inspiration. The soft white fur, the soft pink inner ear and those gorgeous little puppy eyelashes! Yes, I love my dog. I often say....if it weren't for her, I'd be insane. At the most stressful time in my life, she has been my sanity. I thank God for her. He knew I needed a sweet little Macy in my life. *sniffle*

Anyway... about the layout. Notice how the largest portion of things are positioned to the right-hand side of the layout. It reminds me of the "align right" option you have when typing a document. I had seen a layout online the other day and it inspired me to shift my design to the right. With the direction Macy is looking, your eye flows that way anyway. I used whisper white, light grey textured and basic gray cardstocks. I wanted a hint of pink as an accent, so I chose vellum for that layer. I rounded the corners to soften the lines, added some felt hearts, clear bling brads, ribbons and a layered sentiment piece. The saying is a rub-on and I used the round tab, small oval and large oval punches. OH and who can forget that gorgeous lace cardstock!?! I got that at my LSS for a great price! I wanted to balance the darker grey color in the design, so I stamped the flower from the Stampin' Up! set called Together Forever under the vellum and ribbon. I love that set!

Thanks for letting me share my "baby" page! I hope you'll be inspired to create a fancy page about someone/something that makes you happy. And, don't be afraid to try the "align right" look.

Have a blessed weekend!