...I DO!...

I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I've been surrounded by people who've made marriages last, which I know isn't always an easy feat. My maternal grandparents were married for almost 54 years when my grandpa passed away. My paternal grandparents had 60+ years together before my grandma passed away. My in-laws celebrated 43 years together before cancer took my father-in-law. Finally, my parents will be celebrating 50 years together at the end of this month. 

So, of course, I've been thinking about this date and when I saw that the Gingerscraps' Monthly Mix for this month was called Antique Love, you know my mind went straight to my parents. I created this layout with a few pictures from their wedding day. I did realize, however, that back in the day photographers really did a disservice to the men. There wasn't a picture of my dad (the groom) all alone...not even one. So I had to crop out a set of parents to have a picture of 'only' the groom. (I'm sorry Grandma & Grandpa)

SUPPLY LIST

TEMPLATE: Antique Love by Gingerbread Ladies
COLLECTION: Antique Love by Gingerbread Ladies
FONT: Wedding

Read More

...GRANDMA'S BOYS...

If you've been around for a while, you know I love my templates. It's one secret that's not really so secret. When I saw the templates Miss Fish was putting out for June, I instantly loved them and knew I wanted to work with them. 

The first template that drew me in had a fun mask for the focal photo and I kind of knew which set of photos I wanted to use with it. So I then had to find a good scrap collection to use with it and I found that in Karen Schulz's Giggles & Grands.

Last August we had the opportunity to travel with my mother-in-law to her home state for her father's funeral. While the reason for travel was a little sobering, we still had a fun time traveling together and my little guys really enjoyed the extra time with grandma. So for this layout, I wanted to use the pictures I had taken of the 3 of them together. It's kind of fun to see it all together.

SUPPLY LIST

TEMPLATE: Focus Group 13 by Miss Fish
COLLECTION: Giggles & Grands by Karen Schulz

Read More

...A LITTLE LIFE...

One thing I find I'm super picky about? Floral patterns. It doesn't matter if it's on an article of clothing, or a piece of scrapbook paper - I'm going to be picky. Some patterns I instantly love, others I instantly hate. Rarely do I find something where I can't decide. This is one of the rare areas of my life where I don't have any trouble making a decision. I also don't use a lot of floral patterns in my scrapbooking, but in this instance, a floral pattern helped me make a choice on this next layout.

I looked at the Gingerscraps' Free With Purchase kit for June a few times without knowing what I was going to do with it. I liked the color palette okay, but I just couldn't come up with a photo or two to use with it. Then I noticed one of the floral patterns in the collection and it reminded me of a photo of Shaylyn. I looked for the photo and I was beyond thrilled when I realized that this collection matched her outfit in this photo almost perfectly!

I really do love how this all came together and I can check off another layout made for those early days of parenting off my imaginary (and invisible) to-do list.

SUPPLY LIST

TEMPLATE: Layout Starter Templates {Set 401} by Jumpstart Designs
COLLECTION: Feel the Freshness by Gingerbread Ladies
FONT: Janda Everyday Casual (Date)

Read More

...SKY HIGH...

Traveling used to be such a foreign concept to me. As a child, we went on one vacation - every other year, and that was about it. Occasionally, there would be another trip mixed in somewhere, but it was rare. Our family just didn't have that kind of money.

As an adult, and a parent, we've done a few more things - but it hasn't been with any sort of regularity. However, now that the kids are all getting older and more responsible, we've had a few more opportunities for getting away.

Our most recent trip took us to Texas. Eric works with a handful of people who live in Texas and it was time for a meet-up. So we found ourselves on a plane. This was only the 4th time (round-trip) that I'd been on a plane and for some reason, I was enamored by the clouds this go around. Perhaps they didn't strike me quite as much as all the flights before, and I do know that a couple trips were during the evening, so it wasn't the same. I also kind of thought my little boys might like to see the pictures.

Then along comes June and the Gingerscraps Challenge Reward for this month is called: Airplane Mode. I had wished I had taken a selfie of Eric and me on the plane or something, but because I didn't, I decided to scrap a page about the clouds. It may not be as exciting to some as layouts with people, but it's still kind of a fun page.

SUPPLY LIST

TEMPLATE: Spring Alive by Gingerbread Ladies (Dear Friends Designs)
COLLECTION: Airplane Mode by Gingerbread Ladies
FONT: Cloudy

Read More