Faithful Friend

I took this picture of my pomeranian Gabby when we got several inches of snow in early January. We have an Alaskan Malamute also who LOVES the snow and cold temperatures, but when we put Gabby outside she seems to get a bit miffed! LOL

Now about the layout itself...I used paper I had in my massive stash (but I need more, don't I?). The heart was cute from my Pagoda cartridge for my Cricut Expression. The brown flourish is actually the tail of the heart, although it's hard to tell from the photo. I made the flower myself with tulle and a giant brad...(I cut 8 layers of the tulle into circles, then cut a small round piece of cardboard - the packaging from the Prima flourish - and attached it to the bottom of the flower with the brad and a bit of hot glue. Once the brad is in place and the cardboard rounder, which is just slightly bigger than the brad, has a bit of glue on it, I squeezed the tulle around it to kind of scrunch the flower. That gives it more dimension...the last step is to turn the layers of tulle individually in a twisint motion around the brad, which causes the little 'folds' and curled look. Voila! handmade flower that cost about 30 cents to make!

The fan cutouts above the pic were punched with Martha Stewart Daisy Fan punch, Stickeled with Vintage Photo Distress Stickles glue (the heart also got the Stickle treatment!). I added the feathers with a bit of Tack Over and Over glue (Aleen's). I stamped the doily in the pp with ColorBox chestnut ink. Thanks for looking!

As Time Goes By

Here is another page I've been dying to create. I used a sketch from my crazy-talented friend Alda Stevens at Pages in Time to create the basic design.

I met my Dad for the first time since I was 5 years old when I was 29 years old. He had been diagnosed with cancer and told his family he wanted to meet his kids before he dies. Long story short, they found us. Soon after me and my two siblings travelled the few hours to his hospital room. As we walked in, there wasn't a dry eye in the room as he quietly called us each by name as we approached. It amazed me that he knew who was who even though he hadn't seen us in more than 20 years. I spent my entire life thinking my Dad didn't want me, didn't love me, had never looked back afer he and my mom divorced. After our meeting I discovered that he had spent his life looking for us, only to be stopped by my mom each time he got close. We met in March 1990 and he passed away exactly one year to the week later. Meeting my father and getting to know him changed my life forever.

I treasure this photo of my Dad. I've heard stories of his big personality and flirty ways and this picture epitomizes that image of him for me.

Sweet Sweet Prince

I created this layout of my sweet grandbaby Rafe after three weeks of carrying it around in my head waiting for the moment when I could create it without being bogged down by emotion. I intend to document the life of this wonderful blessing to our family through my love of scrapbooking and photography and the written word. The hidden journalling reads:

Your doctors told us you were blind three weeks ago. Although we knew you had vision problems, we didn't expect this. I cried for a solid week because I couldnt understanbd why our sweet little baby Rafe would never see what his own mother's face looks like, or how the sun seems to sink into the horizon at sunset, or how some flowers look as delicate as they smell. You, however, are such a joy, such an amazing blessing. As unimaginable as all this is, your smile and little giggles make us all know that you'll do just fine. I know you'll "see" through our eyes and we will learn untold life's lessons from you. I can't wait until you get back to the states so I can see you and hold you again. I miss you!

I used white cardstock for the background, K& Company Letter Pearl Embossed Velum for the foreground paper, Marth Stewart Daisy Fan punched the edges of the photo mat and the edges of the foreground paper. I used a scalloped edge paper turned design-side down, with Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink to give the edge a bit of dimemnsion. I attached eyelets and Fiber Accents String to make the bows. The punched border by the pick and the checkerboard cutout was sprayed with Smooch Spray to give it a glimmer!