Zeus and Zoe Guest Designer!

I am so excited to be a Guest Designer for Zeus and Zoe this month!   Denise and Norma are hosting the June Challenge which is "My Favourite Things".  For those of you that know me, you know how much I love my flower gardens.  My favorite annual to plant is the Geranium, thus the star of my layout . . . This Makes Me Happy.

I used some beautiful papers from Bo Bunny's Prairie Chic collection.  Marivic, owner of Zeus and Zoe  and Berry71bleu, sent me a few goodies to work with.  One being the Emporium Tag die from Couture Creations.  Here I have used it in a few spots., along with a grid border chipboard from
 UmWow Studio.

I also worked with some Magical powder, Ghostly Gargoyle White by Lindy's Stamp Gang.  I mixed the power with some water and lightly brushed it on the little pink roses.

I did some background masking using the Circular Lattice mask by Prima along with some inks and misting.

Here is a closeup of my cluster and my pretty pink Geraniums:

Thanks for stopping by!

. . . Debbie

So In Love With You

I love when I have a fabulous picture to work with. I draw so much inspiration from it.  This one is a friend's daughter.  All I can say is so sweet and precious!♥   I completed this layout for a few challenges.  First one is the May Challenge at Zeus and Zoe, using their mood board which you can see here. I got my inspiration from the filigree butterflies, the key and pink bows.  I am also entering this in Get Creative's May 1st Challenge which is to use flowers on your layout, 

and Scrap Africa's Challenge No. 17 - Chipboard.

I used a piece of "Damaged Punchinella" chipboard from UmWow Studio which you can find here.

I painted it with some pink paint and then sprinkled it with glitter.

I've been enjoying my Silhouttee Cameo and used it to cut out these pretty filigree butteflies 

along with a fancy flourish frame for my picture.

Here a cut out a circular frame which you can find here.

More cuts from my Silhoutte which can be found here.

Here is a closeup of my flower cluster:

It's hot and humid outside today. 
I'll be staying inside and working on a few more projects that I will share
with you in the next couple of day.

Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Dare To Believe In Yourself

For those of you that know me and follow my blog, the past couple of years have been extremely 

difficult for me.  I lost my job back in 2010 and am still out of work.  It seems the older you get the more "unemployable" you are.  Factor that in along with my Mom's diagnosis of Alzheimers in the summer of 2011 and all I can say is life has been a struggle.  I've dealt with emotions that I never knew I had and so much of me is lost.  Not quite sure what has held me together, but I am still here.   The April Challenge at Zeus and Zoe - Life As It Is Now was my inspiration for my layout.  Create and journal a project about 'life as it is now', the subject being 'you as an individual'.  My journaling is very private ("note to self") and is on the back of my layout.

The left hand side of my layout represents me the past couple of years, dark and non dimensional.  I used some Tim Holtz and Teresa Collins stamps along with rub ons from my stash.

The right hand side of my layout represents my future, colorful and dimensional and a reminder of how life was before, colorful, happy, full of life and love, something to reach for and hold onto.  

 I used some buttons,  K & Company stickers and rub ons from my stash along with some gorgeous flowers and hexagon chipboard I purchased from UmWow Studio.  I purchased the flowers a while back from DeeDee at UmWow.  Since my purchase she has taken a new direction in her shop and no longer carries flowers, but does carry some amazing chipboard.

I look forward in the years to come to look at this layout and see where I am in life and the changes that have taken place.  One can only look towards the future with hope and dreams, taking it one day at a time.

Thank you for stopping by and allowing me to share a little bit about me.

. . . Debbie

Love You

I'm just way too busy lately.  Life as usual is hectic and stressful and so little time for myself.  I am still spending the majority of my time caring for my mom.  She continues to spiral downwards ever so quickly.  So many tear filled days.  I treasure every moment I spend with her regardless if it's a bad day as I feel her days are numbered.  We are getting ready to move her into Assisted Living where she will be cared for.  I'm sad over all of this, but relieved that she will have people caring for her.  To actually have some free time to craft is not that often, hard to focus on, but a joy.  I've got a layout to share with you today that I made using the February kit and sketch from Artful Delight and one which I am entering in a couple of challenges,  Zeus and Zoe February Love Challenge and Inkido's Black and White Photo Challenge.

I really enjoyed working with the Authentique Renew Papers in the February kit and pumped them up a little throwing in some pink.

 Love this cluster!  Lots of fussy cut work and some Purple Pumpkin embellishments.

You still have plenty of time to enter the February sketch challenge at Artful Delight.  One lucky winner will receive their choice of a March scrapbook kit or card kit.  I can guarantee that you will love the March kit!

Hope to get by to visit you . . . will try my best.

Thanks for stopping by!

. . . Debbie