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I love loved Nuts About Sketches #238 and Nuts About Sketches # 241!

#238

#241

Shawn will let the design team use one or both sides of a double page sketch as our example to submit!  I really like that.  For the layouts below I decided I wanted them side by side in my wedding album.  A different take on using two sketches.  At the time I posted the layout to be used on the website I needed to get with Mom and my brothers to make sure I had the names right for my journaling.  Especially since my younger brother, Doug's girlfriend was in one of the photos.  I did this as we gather Thanksgiving.

I loved loved working with this sketch!  I had never seen an element like the top (diamond on it's side)!  I was intrigued and so happy with my results!  Awesome sketch Shawn!

I chose the left side to work with to complete my altered double page spread!  Shawn just produces the most awesome sketches!  Be sure to come join us on our creative journey at Nuts About Sketches!

I also have to give a great big shout out once again to Basic Grey for the Cappella line as it is THE PERFECT LINE to use for my great-grandmother's wedding dress I was so blessed to be able to wear!

Radiance

I just knew the photo and products I wanted to use for this week's Nuts About Sketches Sketch #249!  Shawn once again provided an exquisite sketch to work with!

The photo is my great-aunt Laura, sister to my maternal grandmother  This is on the day of her second marriage  She is my maternal grandmother's sister  Taken May 1939, but no date on the back of the photo in my grandmother's writing.  Lily Bee Design products from Hello Sunshine and Lovely were perfect for this photo.  Aunt Laura really does look absolutely radiant.  The great rub-ons from Hello Sunshine were perfect for the title and journaling!

Last night I opened the February Sketches sent by Shawn!  Oh my gosh.....just can't wait until everyone gets to work with them!!!  Don't forget to check out this week's sketch and post your creations to the post!

Mothers

On the heals of my rant yesterday..... I thought I would write about Mothers!!! I love being 'MOM!' I can still hear..... 'Awe Mom!' Now I smile, sometimes wishing I still had teenagers in the house. I never wanted children until I met the man of my dreams. About eight weeks after Lynn was born I told Larry, 'I want six!' Yep, six and I got.... "The Look!" Except inheriting my father's analytical brain logic set in. I wanted two, or in my case I had this extreme urge to give my husband a son. Well the son came as child number two. And the teenage thing, I couldn't wait until my kids were teenagers! Ok, think I'm nuts! Teenagers are wonderful, they see the world with optimism, enthusiasm, and haven't been jaded by life experiences in the way this 50 year old has. Our two routinely got the question, 'Why do you want to spend time with your parents?' Or I routinely heard from their friends and still do as well as my kids, 'Your parents are cool!' Are we? I don't think so, we have just always treated teenagers with the same kind of respect that we expect out of an adult. We also have listened to what they have to say and validated their opinions. They are human after all.

My mother was a positive influence as were all three of my grandmother's of which one was not a mother. I'll let you ponder that one. There comes a time when the kids become grown and your roll changes yet again. My aunt put it right, there are stages to life and they repeat. I share the following layout with you from my wedding pictures. A short two years later my aunt shared that little jewel about life's stages. Now twenty five years later I will at some point get to this stage or I'm in this stage waiting for my children to find the right person to spend their life with. Their friends are starting to marry. And God willing I will see this stage again as a grandmother. I present a quiet time with my mother:



'nuff said....

Inspire

I have really been into one word titles for my layouts and this is no exception to that seemingly unwritten rule I have of late. From my wedding, the photo of the men in my life until I met Larry who had and still do provide me a great amount of Inspiration. I am Blessed Beyond Measure! My Dad a very blessed father flanked by my two brothers. Dad has since gone to be with the Lord. I don't get to see my brothers as much as I would like. Ranching can do that to you! It's even harder to get away when you only see your husband on weekends.

I am so delighted as Larry and I will celebrate our Silver Anniversary this year! It gives me a whole different perspective on looking back as I scrap our wedding photos.

Speaking of Inspiration, check out the sketch this week (Sketch 225) over at Pencil Lines! Thank you for allowing me to play along this week! The design team is amazing and so creative! If your just a tad bit thinking about trying for a Design Team, then they have a call out right now for their new design team! Would be so much fun. No, I'm not trying out for it....have too much on my plate. Maybe next year.

As always ACOT has a hand in this layout, too!!! It is the February Theme Challenge!