Snow Days 2008

Credit to Creative Victorian Design for Christmas Around the World 2008

Western Washington is experiencing a winter blast that is soon to make the record books. We usually get some snow...but not the amount we're seeing this December. It's a beautiful sight...but a bugger to get around if your not accustomed to having the snow stick around for any more than a day or two. Nonetheless, we are having fun and excited about having a white Christmas. Here's Joshua and Matthew having fun in the snow yesterday 12-21-08.

ps...I hope I am able to get to the store to finish up my christmas shopping...LOL

Christmas Fantasy

Credit to Creatvie Victorian Designs for the following kits used:
Noel Victoriana, Water Dragons, Unicorn Secrets 1 & 2, Unicorn Nights, Dragon Dreamery, Fairy Fantasia, Wintertide Reverie.

Credit to Gaëll'Création for the angel wings.

Background photo was taken on camping trip to Warm Beach, WA.

Baby Angel is none other than Me (recoloured-of course). Wish I'd more time to work on this one... oh pooh...I just wish I had more time to scrap I miss not being able to.

This is my latest Creative Victorian Designs gallery challenge. Your challenge for today is to create YOUR Fantasy Christmas scene. For me...I love angels and unicorns (and frogs too...I knew I'd forget something). Find a picture of yourself from childhood and create your total fantasy.

Laundry Scoop Christmas Ornament

A little something I'm working on with my Sunday school class. ;)
Not bad for a picture snapped with my phone ;-)

Family Wreath 2008

Credits to Creative Victorian Designs for the following kits used
Wintertide Reverie:
blizzard, glitter berry branch, loopy ribbon, pine branch, ribbon twirl, ribbon frame, pinecone spray, ribbon wrap (recoloured), twig frame 1
Christmas Innocence:
Stocking 1
Christmas Exquisite:
Stockings 1, 2 & 3
Christmas Around The World:
Poinsettia 1, 2, 3 & 4, Ornaments 1, 2, 3 & 4

And Jacked-Ur-Scraps for
CC’s Christmas Bits:
Snowman 1 & 3, SnowBank, felt ornaments 4 & 10, felt bulbs 1 - 6, felt snowflakes 1-8, felt stars 1-4

And a HUGE thanks to palemice for the inspiration!!!http://www.creativevictorian.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=324

Here's the latest challenge I posted in the Creative Victorian forum/gallery. "Build a Christmas Workshop." I was truly inspired by our friend "palemice" and her "Christmas 2007" layout. So I asked if I could lift her idea and spin it. The challenge is to create a Christmas article from scratch...tree, wreath, candy cane, gingerbread house, whatever your hearts desire... let your creative juices flow. Can't wait to see what you all come up with!!! And above all HAVE FUN!!!

My little family, clockwise from 12 high...my hubby Jerry, Me , Joshua, Matthew, Droopy Dawg, Jazzpurr BratKat, and Queen Toostie. Yeah...we have a much bigger family...so I'm showcasing the ones living under our roof at the moment.

I pray you all have a happy holiday season!!!

And remember JESUS is the REASON for the SEASON!!!

Theresa Renee

Unicorn Nights kit by Creative Victorian Designs
(with borrowed recoloured rose for Nuptial Serenity)

Theresa Renee Ellis

December 15, 1962-March 11, 2005

I remember many family functions spent together as children. We were like sisters then. In our teen years we didn't see much of each other...yet our paths seemed very similar...battling drug addiction. Fortunately I found sobriety and Jesus Christ. Theresa tried to find sobriety, but never found Jesus. Her death in 2005 was devastating to the family. Especially when circumstances came to light. Theresa was clean and sober and looking for work. She landed her dream job and failed the hiring drug test. She knew she was clean, but feared that her family would think she was lying. She faked working for a few days, seemingly happy and upbeat. On March 10, 2005 she rented a dive motel room. She wrote farewell letters to mother, father, daughter and brother, and she ended her life. A close friend confided in her mother (my auntie) about the failed drug test and that the drug test was fixed in order not to hire her and allow someone else to fill the position. So cousin Theresa went to her depression driven grave feeling lost and alone and like the world was against her. I wish that Theresa would have known the love of Jesus. And I pray that in her final hours she found peace and the love of God.

Butterfly Dream

Used are Creative Victorian's Simplistic Papers
Photo is of a neighbors beautiful garden
All butterlflies are extractions from pics taken on a field trip to Seattle Science Center.


Butterfly Dream...is the title of the mid November challenge. It's all about butterflies. Whether it's a shape, extractions, scenery, frames... etc... Let your creativity soar...

"Wings so full of color, as intricate as lace

Working the air as they glide full of grace.

We watch in amazing wonder, pause to sigh

If only we could catch a ride on the wings of a butterfly."

- Stacye Blair

Can you spot all the butterflies???

Hubby and Sis revisited

Jerry was watching me recolour the baby photo of myself...and he asked if I could do the same with the portrait of he and his sis Tracy. The portrait was taken in 62-63 sometime.
Here's the original:

And here's the recoloured version:

I'm loving my PSE... this one turned out so much better than the photo of me that I recoloured...practice makes perfect...the next one will be even better ;)

Wonderful

Wintertide Reverie kit by Creative Victorian Designs
Photo from the Krista Lea Collection

In response to the scraplift challenge... Special THANKS to Edeena aka naughtsncrosses for the amazing layout we got to lift ;)

Precious Moment

Victorian Allure kit & Alpha Builders 1 by Creative Victorian Designs

Photo is none other than me at 18 mo. I recolored the black n white...and hope I didn't do a terrible job. Doing this reminded me of when my mom gave birth to a little sister, and she didn't like that my baby photo was black n white along side Antia's color photo...so she recolored mine with colored pencil with the percision of a kindergartner...ruining it forever. ARG!!!
Here's the original photo:

DeMischelle & Tiger

Perennial Harmony kit by Creative Victorian Designs

This Hodge Podge Challenge is to make a non-square layout. And that I did. This is my GodSis DeMischelle and her beloved pet Tiger. Again I put my new skill of blending to work (gonna have fun with that one).
I'm making up for lost time here...as with working and Sunday school, I don't have alot of extra time on my hands... So will probably do mass posts of layouts I manage to get created between postings.

Toddler Mom

Perennial Harmony kit by Creative Victorian Designs

My entry in the Heritage Challenge. This week's challenge is to: use a new (previously un-scrapped) photo of your mother/grandmother/great-grandmother - create a main photo
duplicate the photo but blend it into the background - keep it monochromatic but give it a bit of a kick of colour.

So I learned 'how to' blend using PSE and it was great. The photo is my mother at age 2 or 3.

Winter Wonderland

Wintertide Reverie kit and sketch template
by Creative Victorian Designs

What an amazingly fun kit to work with!!!

These are my babies Joshua at age 2 and Matthew at 5 months. How I long for the days when they were so young and innocent.

Spooky Challenge

Trick or Treat elements by Suhrfer's Scraps
Textue Plates & Dragon Dreamery (girl 1 a) by Creative Victorian
And a special THANKS to the "cookie cutter" in PSE 5.0

In the spirit of the cavity promoting- dress up funny holiday...here is the "Spooky Challenge." Create a spooky scene, or a funny wanna be spooky scene (like mine). Use textures and shadows, and even a cookie cutter or two.Realizing that we our a global community, not everyone celebrates Halloween as we do here...I hope you have fun creating a spooky scene (nothing to horrifying...my heart couldn't take it) I found a picture of a castle online, I extracted it (purposely sloppy, I might add) then threw a color texture plate over it, and voila. Most everything you see is cookie cutter-color-texture.

My guys last Halloween. Joshua loved that I made him 7 ft tall...as he's been being teased about being short recently. We passed this rule that at 10 years old you have to create your own costume...and Joshua's turned out so good...its everyones favorite so far. I'm sure I'll be scarpping this years soon.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Mixing Captivation and Perfection kits
& Alpha Builders all by Creative Victorian Designs

This is my and my first pet of knowledge "Tinkerbell." I think I was around 2 in the picture. She was a great watch dog. From what I was told, she would babysit for me in my crib...and not move until given the okay by my mom. I remember when I was 3 or 4 and would be playing with friends out in the front yard. Their parents would call them to come home, and Tinker would pace in front of the children not allowing them to cross without an adult. So more often than not, the parent would have to cross to retrieve their child. She was an amazing, and forever beloved pet.

Postcard From Grandma

Here's the original photo from The Krista Lea Collection

and here's the recolored digiscrap postcard

Photo from the Krista Lea Collection
Frame from Perennial Harmony by CVD
All other elements from Attic Treasures

This layout is in response of the Heritage Challenge on Creative Victorian. Recoloring was more fun than I thought it would be... of course I am technically challenged, so try not to overtax myself

THANKS for the challenge Edeena!!!

You said WHAT?

October Challenge kit by Little Nut


Using the October kit from our own sweet Gina. The kit was fun to work with and fit the challenge.

Much to the prompting of the sweet ladies on Creative Victorian, I am creating a 2nd journaling page. And will probably think in doubles a bit more often.

Alpha Builder from Creative Victorian Designs
With special thanks to BettyJoR for allowing us to scraplift her wonderful layout!!!

Game Show Challenge

Thanks to Creative Victorian Designs for Texture plates 27 & 29
Jubilee Masque kit - Paper 14 & 6, Glass spiral, enamel button 3
& Grab bag:Gold ripple swirl


Welcome to the "Name That Tune Concentration" game show challenge...Are you ready to play??? Leave your guesses in the comment space

Our Family

Cultured Posterity kit & alpha
and template by Creative Victorian Designs

Creative Victorians sketch challenge. These are so much fun to play with...and to see all the different uses http://www.creativevictorian.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=517 by everyone is awesome!!!

Pictured here are my mother, step-dad, younger sis, and me of course. Circa 1976, I was very much the 'hippie' with rings on every finger...still am...but have outgrown (fat hands) most of my rings...oh how I miss them. And even thought its been years since I've had them all on, I still try to adjust them.

Waterfall

Naturals kit by Suhrfer's Scraps
http://suhrfersscraps.blogspot.com/

Photo from the Krista Lea Collection

In response to the color challenge on CVD, the use of oranges and greens. Excellent for fall scenes.

Dixie's Delights

I am having a blast coming up with challenges for the Creative Victorian Gallery/Forum. Though I have to say, sometimes I think I've bitten off more that I can chew. But I believe with all my heart, that God gives the inspiration I need to come up with ideas and layouts that are fun and expressive.
This weeks challenge is to "Create-an-ad." Whether it be something from the past, something hip-n-trendy, or an ad for the future. I chose "Dixie" for my grandmother...who was crafty and loved to sew. She grew up in the depression and entered in to adulthood during WWII. I figured that if she had a fantasy back then...this would be close.


Fitting Room kit by Raspberry Road Designs

Daily Gazette

21 February 1942

“At Dixie’s Delights we offer an escape from the depressing days of war. An outlet for women here at home who have soldier husbands, brothers, fathers, or cousins fighting for our country.

Nothing over 5 cents. Fantastic fabrics, pretty patterns, bundles of buttons, thickets of threads.
Join us for “Scrap Swap Sundays” when we share swatches of fabric for any need and support of other women in your shoes.
Or enjoy our “Penny Pattern Program” bring an old pattern you no longer will use and borrow one you think you’ll never be able to afford.
Dixie’s Delights - it’s more than just a fabric store, it’s a place where women can be queens of fashion, 5 cents at a time.
So pamper yourself today… come on downtown and see the delights only offered at Dixie's”
- Stacye Blair

Abstract-Copy That & De Young'ens

Oops!!! I forgot to post this after the challenge was posted in the gallery. SO I've had to edit it in... This challenge is "abstract-copy that." Duplicate a scene (to the best of your ability) in the abstract art form. Let your minds wander to "escape reality" for a little while. What would your abstract world look like?


Creative Victorian Designs
papers and frame from Dazzling Portent
staple track from Cultered Posterity

Photo from the Krista Lea Collection


"We all want to escape reality at some time or another. Thinking that a fantasy world would be a great place to reside. An altered world where everything is as we want it.
But then we realize that nothing is real. Friendships, loves, families... fake and unfeeling. The Earth beneath our feet, the wind in our hair, the rain falling on a misty morning... abstract in their nature, unreal to the touch.
So we climb back into reality, and know that we are blessed to live in a world full of emotion, love, and wonders." - Stacye Blair
ok and now I see this isn't my finished one...so I'll have to fix it later with the right layout...arg!!!

******************************************************************************

De Young'ens


Fall Fun and Splendor kits by Suhrfer's Scraps

Though Suhrfer's Scraps are simplistic in design, they are so fun to work with and they mix n match with great ease. I have to say, she is one on my favorites (Netta being #1) and they are priced right...FREE!!!

Pictured are my grand nieces and nephew, Angela, Jeremy, and Laura. Their mom is the exception to the rule about teen moms. Having started at age 15, she is one of the best mother's I know. And thanks to technology, I get to watch them grow through pictures and emails.

Carefree

Bubby Collection & Big Boy kits by Raspberry Road Designs
Cultered Posterity alpha by Creative Victorian Designs

Color challenge is blue & copper. So we see lots of blue, and little copper. I totally forgot the LO I had in mind...but I guess I was being pulled to scrap this pic instead...IT IS SO CUTE!!!

This is my Matthew on our now infamous 2002 vacation to Washington. Enjoying a day at Deception Pass with Grandpa. Let me tell you...that water is cold cold cold...I don't care if its mid July (it was) and 100 degrees outside (which it never is).

Tea Time

Love Birds kit by Raspberry Road Designs
Cool Splash Alpha by Creative Victorian Designs

In response to the heritage challenge on Creative Victorian, I was challenged to showcase toys pre-1970. I was limited on my choices for toys at the moment...I really need to dig that box of heritage photos out of my room.
This is me at Christmas time age 3. Pictured here having a Tea Party, with my Christmas gifts surrounding me, the table & chairs, tea set, rocking horse, and babydoll stroller. And I'm sure that my grandmother made that cutesy little outfit I'm sporting.
They tried to make a girly girl out of me, but the tomboy would destined to emerge
Dig that old TV...

Up a tree...

Endurance Grace & Everlasting Affection kits by Creative Victorian Designs

A huge THANKS to Fairytale Studios for allowing us to lift such an awesome layout.
I used:
Everlasting Affection: papers #1 & 28, frame 4, doodle 1, clipped flower 4, threaded eyelets 4
Endurance Grace: clip 1, swirl 2
Wooden Alpha from Refined Legacy

When I was pregnant with Michael, I was much the child myself. I was also a tomboy, and would climb trees. Even when I was fat and pregnant. Ironically enough, Michael has a thing for trees. If it's there...he will climb it. :)

Reunion

Bluebird kit by Suhrfer's Scraps

December 2006 was the first time we had seen my oldest in 3 years. And sadly, we haven't been able to see each other since, he lives in L.A. and we live in Washington State. I was moved to make a LO using Michael, so I could announce that I'm going to be a grandmother. I have 2 step-grands (and I hope it doesn't sound selfish) but this one will be my own. We are very excited...and praying for a girl (ok I am prayng for a girl) ;)

I wanna be...

My post today is going to be a bit backwards. I am so excited that my sister offered me the task of hosting the Collage & Altered Art Challenge on the Creative Victorian forum/gallery. I love creating my own little fantasies. And apparently I'm doing it well, or my (picky) sister would have never asked. I don't mean picky in a bad way either...she has been coaching me on how to make my layouts look better than great. So to have her say that I'm ready for hosting...means the world. She brought tears to my eyes when she asked, and as I told her, "It's like shooting for that A and getting your paper back with an A+"

SO...this weeks challenge has two aspects to it. First is "funny faces" second is "build it from scratch." The idea is to fashion the scope of the layout by building something from scratch. I fashioned the dog house using a "cookie cutter" then customized it using papers and elements from the digi scrap kits. Then added my "funny faced" family.

At first I created what I thought was a cool little layout. Then Netta turned me on to a gallery for inspiration. And I totally realized that (though it was cool) I had just made a "kit layout." So I tore it up and altered it to pieces. I'm posting both the before and after below...ENJOY


Before

After

Dino Prime and Dino Wild kits by Creative Victorian Designs

Credit to CVD for allowing me to tear it up...LOL

From Dino Prime I used: Paper #5, frame #2, rattan, seed pod, u-clip, and wire.
From Dino Wild I used: bark, leaf #2, leather fastener, seed pod #1, stamp #1.
Alpha: I just used IceAge font.
From my personal funny face collection: Droopy Dawg (our family pet who has no teeth, so his tongue is hanging out all the time ) and Matthew (who just likes to show his best side when the camera is out)

You can check out the Creative Victorian Forum, Gallery and Boutique at www.creativevictorian.com

Matthew turns 3

Dragon Dreamery kit by Creative Victorian Designs

I noticed that I had not done a layout with just Matthew. So here we go... Still playing with the pics I found from our 2002 vacation. This is my youngest on his 3rd birthday. He had 3 parties that year...Since his birthday landed in mid vacation. He had one with Grandpa in Seattle, One with Grammy Starz in The Dalles OR, and one at home with local family.

Sisters

Template and Fairy Fantasia kit by Creative Victorian Designs
(Flower bouquet borrowed from Nuptial Serenity by CVD)

I just can't help myself... Was just wanting to create, and picked the template first. Then went on the hunt for the pics, and found Netta in her bonnet. The center pic was taken in 2002. I just love my sis...what can I say!!! ;)

Mother & Son

Nuptial Serenity kit By Creative Victorian Designs

Another challenge...this one is HodgePodge. The challenge was white space. I find myself waiting for stuff to happen on Netta's forum. I'm excited about the challenges and can't wait to get cracking on them. I've not used anyone elses kits for sometime now. Though I still download oodles n gobs of them.

Pictured is my best friend from California and her soldier son Brandon on his wedding day. See the pics of the two of them together brings tears to my eyes. Everyone was beautiful that day. Brandon and his wife are expecting a son in November...can't wait to play with him in scrap style ;))

Alfred Fisk Stout

Autumn Visions kit by Creative Victorian Designs

In response to the Heritage Challenge on http://www.creativevictorian.com I created this layout of my Great Great Grandfather. He fathered 15 children that we know of. And probably had more than one wife that we have yet to find. He was an LDS (Mormon) pioneer, as were many of my ancestors.
Alfred Fisk Stout
Birth: 9 MAR 1851
Kannesville,Pottawatomi,Iowa
Death: 20 NOV 1925
Hurricane,Washington Co.,Utah

Fantasy Falls

From Unicorn Purity I used floral 2, glitter doodle 3,
From Fairy Fantasia I used glowing and kneeling fairy's #6
From Dazzling Portent I used sticker swirl, butterfly,
From Dragon Vengence I used dragon 3 (recolored)
From Unicorn Secrets I used unicorns 1 and 2
From Nuptial Serenity I used the bouquet
All Creative Victorian Designs of course

Was bored to tears...so just messing around. So here's to hoping I remembered where everything came from ;))

Background photo is from our 2002 vacation Multnomah Falls, Oregon The dragon flyers are my boys ages 2-1/2 and 5 months. I re-used the butterfly from the last photog challenge. And extracted some bushes around our house (outside, not in...LOL)

I was vetoed on this one. I had the boys sitting on a unicorn...but then my youngest says, "I'd rather be on a dragon MOM." So, in all fairness, I figured that his fantasy should be considered...LOL

Remembrance

Kindred Succession kit by Creative Victorian Designs
"Floral 2" Bouquet from Unicorn Purity
"Frogs" from Frog-a-licious kit by Aquarius Designs

This layout is inspired by two challenges I have this week. One from my Pastor, to say "Thanks" the person who had the greatest influence on your relationship with the Lord from your past. The other by Creative Victorian "color challenge" using blues and greens.

Pictured are my children, my GodMa, and me. The pictures are from our family vacation to the northwest in 2002. Was the first time that we had all been together at the same time...ever.

It saddens me to say that my GodMa and I are no longer close. For reasons only known by our Father above, we are estranged. Our lives have moved in dramatically different directions. But that will never change the influence she had on me from age 6. I dawned her my GodMa, as she taught me the importance of faith, prayer and meditation, along with the truth held in the Bible and the respect and adherence to the Word one must have to live a blessed and enriched life.

She broke me of one of the greatest sins I committed as a youth, and that was using the Lords name in vain. Being raised in a non-religious family, I heard it all the time, and it just became a part of my speech. She worked on me for years...until it was finally wiped out of my speech pattern...now with greater understanding of what I was doing was wrong.
In recent years, she shared with me the significance of FROG (see FROG post from August http://theclassyantique.blogspot.com/2008/08/frog.html). It just so happens that frogs are my class theme in Sunday school, and the kids absolutely love it. As do many other members of my Church, who had not heard of the meaning. In fact, our classroom had been dubbed, "The Frog Room" as the children have brought in lots of frogs and we've decorated the walls with frogs. There are even a few grown-ups that have added to the frog collection...if it's "froggie" give it to Stacye ;))

So I want to thank my GodMa Flora for her contribution to who I am today. I will always treasure the memories of days gone by. I will always love what you represent to me. I an thankful for the influence you had on my life. I am a better person today because of it.

Family 2002

Sketch Template and Everlasting Affection kit by Creative Victorian Designs

I had an idea for the "sketch challenge" and was looking for the picture that I wanted to use...and found this photo in the treause box and had to use it instead. One of the rare (maybe only) photo of Netta and I together with Dad...and hubby's too.
We were on a vacation my family took in July 2002 visiting the northwest from crappy California. That would be the trip that prompted my want to move up here. Aside from being closer to family...the weather is nice and cool...not hot n muggy.

God Warrior

Dragon Vengence kit by Creative Victorian Designs

In response to a scraptlift Challenge...a huge THANKS to KayM for letting us lift her layout.

My miracle - Josh. I call him my "miracle baby" as there are 16 years (-6 weeks) between Michael and Joshua. I used to tell everyone "God turned me off (of making babies)." A year-and-a-half into sobriety, I was blessed with a child in my womb. I promised God and myself, that I would be the best mother I could be to this 2nd chance at motherhood. THANK YOU LORD for the blessing that is Joshua.
This photo was just sent to me by Joshua's teacher-from their week at Camp Orkila last week. She sent tons of awesome pics of the kids. I can't wait to develop Joshua's pics, and see what treasures he captured.

Speedy Search Succeeds

Aged Endearment kit by Creative Victorian Designs

The article in this layout is from when I found my father in 1982. I had called the newspaper simply to ask "what was the world record for finding someone?" I was excited that they wanted to interview my...but saddened when I picked up the paper and it was riddled with jumbled facts. So here I will share the whole TRUE story of how it all unfolded.

Before the stroy:
I was 18 years old in December of 1982, living in Modesto CA. I had a roommate and live-in boyfriend. My roommate like me was raised by her mother's family, and had never had contact with her father. We were talking one morning (Dec 7) about how we'd like to find our fathers, and find out where we came from. We called Social Secrity Administration (SSA), who directed us to write three letters; one to SSA explaining why you want to find said person, a letter with all information you know about the person you want to find (last known whereabouts/scars/alias/tattoo. etc...), and lastly a letter to the person you are trying to find. We called our mothers to gather additional information and began to write our letters. My boyfriend came home from work for lunch and asked "You know what area their families lived when your mothers and fathers were together, right?" "You know names of family members, right?" "Call information (free back then) in those areas and try to find family." And that's what we did.

The Article: (and amendments)

Speedy Search Succeds

Some people spend there lives looking for missing parents. Stacye Gridley, 18, of Modesto found her father in less than 48 hours. (No, it was less than 2 hours)

"If I see it in the paper, " she says, "I'll believe it."

Stacye was born in Martinez in 1964. Her father, Richard Gridley, and her mother Joyce Mendes of Turlock for eight years, separated months earlier. (I knew how much dad hated being called Richard...he is Rick...Grandpa was Richard)

Stacye, mother of 20-month-old Michael White and a self described "house-mouse," had asked her mother about her father at times, but started her hunt in earnest on Dec 8 with a call to Sacramento area information. (The search started on Dec 7, I called my mom that morning, I called information in Anderson CA)

She called all the Arnold Gridleys around and soon talked to a grandfather in Shingletown she'd never met. He said he thought his son was in Houston, Tex., and another call to information followed. (I was searching for Gridley-Arnold or Richard. Arnold was my uncle-Richard my grandfather. There was no listings for Arnold, only a Richard in Shingletown. And yes...it was my grandfather. My grandfather who had severe asthma, and was in the middle of a nasty attack when he answered the phone. And as selfish as it sounds...my only thought was "please don't die til you tell me where my dad is!" Grandpa said he hadn't seen dad is 12 years, but the last he heard he lived in Houston)

That led to a listing for Rick Gridley, who soon told her he manages seven piano stores, is a songwriter-singer and has children 2-1/2 and 1-1/2, one younger than his daughter's. (I don't know about you-but that confused the heck out of me. Dad told me the managed piano stores, he was a singer-songwriter, he played bass in a band, and that I had a little sister, Lonetta who was 2-1/2 and brother, Kelly who was 1-1/2. Kelly is two months younger than my son Michael)

"Oh my God, I thought I'd never get to talk to you," Stacye says he told her as her tears flowed. She and her fiance plan to visit in February.(First...when I called the # a lady answered, I asked, "Is this the residence of Richard E**** Gridley?" She replied, "Yes, it is." I then asked if he were home, and she said no. But that she expected him home early evening. I left my name (without saying "I'm his daughter") and telephone # and asked for him to call. However, I was very anxious, and I called back after the time she gave me. I asked if he knew my mom, he said "Yes." And I said, "I'm Her daughter...I'm your daughter" Dad responded with, "Oh my God, I thought I'd never get to talk to you." He also told me how he had come looking for me in 1970, and was turned away by my mother's family)

More excited than I had ever been, I called my mom and told her I had just talked to my father. It was around 8pm... I had called her around 11am to get the info, I talked to my grandfather around 12:30pm, and called and left the message for Dad before 1pm. I didn't get to talk to Dad til around 5pm California time.

During a call on Christmas Day, Dad said there was someone who wanted to say, "HI." He put my younger brother Scottie on the phone...that day I found out that I had four more brothers and sisters. I had gone from being an only child to the eldest of 7 in just a few short seconds.

Carl & Johnnie

Credit to Creative Victorian Designs for
*Template
*Refined Legacy Kit
*Floral Bouquet from Unicorn Purity

I love the new templates that Netta posted in the Boutique. So much fun to work with. I often considered using a template cheating...but this layout took as long if not longer to put together. Was easy to add embellishments to. So many templates are so busy, you don't want to add to or take away from.

Pictured are my Great-Aunt Johnnie and Uncle Carl. I have to guess that this picture is from the early 60's when color film first appeared on the market. I have fond memories of going to there house as a child. I had a special drawer in the kitchen with Cracker Jacks prizes, and all sorts of other goodies, that were saved for me by every one in the house. Every time I'd visit there was always something new in that drawer. And they always had dry salami in the frig...mmm mmm good. Funny the things you remember when you get to thinking about it.
Aunt Johnnie and my grandmother could have been twins, their likenesses were so similar. Uncle Carl had a Betty Boop tattoo on his forearm that he could make dance.

Sisters at Christmas

Christmas Beautiful kit by Creative Victorian Designs


I have done countless layouts of family and friends, but it seems someone was missing (not really I did one a while back...but it was tacky with a capital T). The absolute sweetest most talented little sister one could possibly have. And she's MINE

ps check out the Christmas Tree, fabulously decorated with handmade ornaments...

First Try Butterfly

My first try at the photography challenge. All photo's taken right outside...except for the butterfly. The butterfly was snapped at the Tropical Butterfly House in the Pacific Science Center in Seattle.

Campers for Jesus

Credit to Lorri's Scraps for the template.

Everything else is all photo's we took on our Church campout to Warm Beach WA last month. I made this LO last week, just having some fun...but thought...ok, I'll share :-) My only regret about the campout is that it doesn't last long enough. We always have such a good time, conversing with our neighbors from New Hope. Not to mention the breathtaking scenery as we attend Sunday service, truly God's country. Pastor David never fails to make me cry at the camp Service, so I'll share what he said.

He told us to imagine going home and finding nothing there. An empty space where everything you owned used to be. Now imagine Jesus standing there asking what would you rather have HIM or all your things?

Tree of Dreams

All kits created by Creative Victorian Designs


I used paper #7 (darkened), paper #5 (for blanket), unicorn, glitter doodles 2 & 3, and the maiden from Unicorn Purity
Glowing fairy #3 and kneeling fairy #3 from Fairy Fantasia
And regency girls #1 & 3 of the Regency Beauty collection.
The tree is extracted (and natural) from a pic I snapped while camping up at Warm Beach WA.

And last but not least are my featured sleepers; my hubby Jerry, his queen Tootsie (seriously) in the crook of his arm, and jazzy Jazzpurr in prayer position on Jerry's side.

A Collage & Altered Art Challenge, I didn't think my creative juices would ever get to flowing on this one. The challenge called for extracting a "sleeper" and creating a fantasy world (I think more my fantasy than his...lol). THANKS Netta for coming up with something to truly challenge the imagination. I can't tell you how many time I started and wiped it all out and started again. But am very happy with the final result ;))

Fisher Love 1943

Endurance Grace kit by Creative Victorian Designs



Reusing photo's...yes I am. Made this layout for the Heritage Challenge on Creative Victorian forum/gallery. And having some serious mixing thoughts about it. Though I picked the colors my grandmother had all over her house, I had a hard time using them in this layout.

Pictured are my maternal grandparents, young and happy in 1943. The following year they had their first born child who passed at 18 months old (9 days before the birth of their 2nd, my mom). I never met my grandfather, as I believe that the tragedy of loss was too much for their hearts to handle.

Nanny & Prissy

Kindered Succession kit by Creative Victorian Designs

Putting instruction from Netta to work, as she keeps telling me "NO SQUOOSHING!!!" I guess by doing so, I have been distorting pics and elements and papers... SO I'm practicing no squooshing ;)) I'm lucky to have a talented sis to offer constructive criticism. I'm open to learning...something new every day ;))

Pictured are my grandmother, who I called "Nanny" and her beloved chihuahua "Prissy." Nanny raised me for the first 10 years of my life. I have always loved this pic. Prissy was just a tiny pup-not that she grew much. She was a beloved family pet for 15+ years. Don't know if she was ever truly "Prissy" as she would run up on the biggest baddest dog in the neighborhood and chase them away. But isn't that true of most little dogs?

Never will either of them be forgotten.

Dad

Fall Breezes kit by Mrs Homer Lynn Creations

I liked Lynn's Design Challenge entry in the Creative Victorian forum so much I thought I'd put it to work.

This is one of those old pics that Netta gave me a few years ago of our father. I want to say dad was 3 yrs old or so, but hoping Netta will correct me and I'll the amend the post. At any rate he was a cute kid...and his gene's produced some even cuter kids...(present company included) :-)

I think I enjoy doing heritage layout's most of all cuz I get to play with old pics and try to create antique looking layout's.

Beautiful Girl

Template by Lorri's Scraps
http://lorrisscrapsandmore.blogspot.com/
Olivia and Sunshine and Moonbeams kits by Surhfer's Scraps
http://suhrfersscraps.blogspot.com/

When doing the sketch challenge on Creative Victorian, I discovered that there is such thing as templates. Learning something new everyday ;) Using a template almost feels like cheating...but they are fun to work with.
Meet Haily Marina. I have watched Haily's mother grow up in my hometown of Modesto. Alicia is my daughters age, and they were long time friends. Then Alicia's mom and I became very close (and one of the hardest people to leave behind). So again, myspace gets credit for its technology, so we can keep updated on the ones we love, and see pictures of babies we don't get to see in person. Alicia sent me a message telling me that there were new pics...and who wouldn't fall in love with these??? Haily is a "Beautiful Girl" and is a year and a half old. She looks just like her gorgeous Mom.