Yes, I have been gone for a while haven't I?

I am not sure if anyone has noticed me being gone but I have been. I had a child break his leg a very weird way and had to have my constant attention for the first 3 weeks. Then things just went from there. Boy, what a month. I guess I just got tired and never got back to it. But I am back now and I hope to get some freebies done soon. I also hope to get other things done too. I really am sorry about all the procrastination with the PNG+ files for the ABC templates. I really will try to get them done soon.

This week I am doing a boutique so I will be quite busy with that.

I did want to show you that I have been working on some layouts. Here are my most recent:
Here is one more reason I have been busy. I have been working out and trying to get myself back. Yes, I think I lost myself in all this baby fat I received from my wonderful children in the past 12 years. LOL!

In the past 3 months I have lost over 3o lbs. I know that is weird huh? Well, it is true. I feel so much better about myself. I feel so liberated! Just 30 more lbs to go!

It really is not that hard when I have a nice Weight Control Doctor holding my hand and showing me what to do.

My hubby is happy with the change. LOL! I have more energy and not as grumpy - all the time that is.

This is a picture of the two of us just two weekends ago.


At the beginning of October we went to the Pumpkin Patch and I actually got all my boys together in one spot for a couple seconds so I started snapping away. I got a nice picture!!!

Here they are - all 7 of my little and big men!



One more thing in my life is my husband's grandmother. She is such a sweetie. Yes, she is still alive at 97 years old. His other grandmother just passed away this past year just a few months under 100. What a longevity line. Unfortunately it is the women that have that wonderful longevity so my hubby probably won't inherit this quality. I wish I could. But then again, I don't think I would ever want to be so lonely.

She really is a sweet woman. I feel bad she lives so far away and we only see her here and there.

Well, that is about all for now. Thanks for listening and looking!

Good News for you - Another Template Freebie, but great news for me......

Well, my great news first. I started going to a weight control doctor about 5 weeks ago because I am just fed up with my weight and it not going anywhere. So, with a very reasonable diet , fast walking very early in the morning and some other help after just 5 weeks I have lost 20 lbs! Woohoo! Just 45 more to go!!!! I figure at least 10 lbs for each baby I've had. No more baby fat would be great! So I am excited to say the least.

Oh, and one more thing I wanted to share with you. I found the cutest game the other day. Well, a lady from a yahoo group told us about it. It is called Scrapbook Paige. LOL! Scrapbooking even in a game! Heaven! Check it out if you want here:
http://www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/4071/scrapbook-paige/index.html?afcode=afa55d5fb1d3
Well, on with real scrapping. I have been playing with DID's new Workshop items again. This time it is the Calendar Workshop. I am a bit behind but I will catch up. I plan on making these for their grandma's for Christmas. So this is January. I am using pictures from the previous year at that time of year for each month.

Didn't it turn out so cute. I always have to put extra on. What a goof huh?

Okay, so I did a few layouts with the latest template. Just a few ideas for you. I plan on doing a few more. The first one I did was a scraplift for Digitals newsletter so I can't share that one with you but here are two more:

These are some pictures of us playing with some friends in the pool after riding motorcycles. It was a great way too cool off!

Of Sand and Sea by Maddy Fernandez

font: Generic Uncials 'Snowcapped', Chaucer

I turned this one on it's side. This is my 4 year old getting ready for Preschool. He loves to sit and draw and now even write his name. What a big boy!

Angela Sharrow's School Days

font: Chalkdust

So here is the template I made. Like always there is PSD, PNG's, and PNG+ in the zip. Enjoy!

Click on the image or HERE for 12x12.

Click on the image or HERE for 8 1/2x11.

New Template Freebie for you! And some more pages I have finished in the past week.

Hello all! Yes, I have made another template for you. I was doing a layout yesterday and I was thinking that I could do a template of it. And I did. Anywho, I just wanted to share some layouts I have been doing too so here goes!
This first page is my favorite for sure. It is what I am "grape"ful for. Yes, I know a little corny right? Well, I thought it was cute. I love this kit and I want to do as much with it as possible. I think I might even print this one out and put on the wall. What do you think? I am biased because it is everything I am grateful for.

The Winery Kit by Silvia Romeo ; font: CK 8 Ball, Vtks Blank 1.0


This page was made for a friend of mine. Her son is really good friends with my oldest. I thought I would do a page for her. I hope she likes it. This is graduation last year.

School Days by Angela Sharrow ; Big Photo Layered Template by Dea Spina ; font: ChalkDust
Well, these are my two oldest boys. They took my camera last week and had to snap a few pictures of each other. Well, to say the least they were a "bit" dramatic. It was quite hilarious.

Fussy Frenzy by Cassel ; Font: LD Crosstich






What is this mother's dream? To someday have my two boys be this close again. They were close when they were young and now they are like oil and water. I do look forward to the day when they can get along.

Dea's Gathering Pieces 1 by Dea Spina ; font: Zinco




This is a page I have done for the September 08 Kreative Font and Word Art Challenge at ScrappinDigiKreations. It is on happiness and I found this quote that just made it perfect for me. I also used my last template on this one too, doesn't it look familiar?





Well, there are some exciting new things happening over at Do It Digi. They have a new section in the forums that you have to sign up for. They are workshops, one for ABC and one for Calendars.

Here is the information about the ABC Workshop:
Do It Digi is now offering Workshops!! Join one or all of the workshops available and get your projects complete. Most workshops will offer product, instruction & inspiration!!

To subscribe to a DID workshop, log into the DID forum, go to your USERCP , scroll down to 'Miscellaneous' and click on Paid Subscriptions.

The 2009 Calendar Workshop

Each week from September 15 until December 14, you will receive a new monthly calendar template in sizes 12"x12" and 8.5"x11", layout template and collection of at least 10 papers, frames and embellishments for the month. These collections will be somewhat themed for seasons with both summer/winter and autumn/spring in appropriate months so that no matter where you live in the world, these will fit your season! The colour palette will be interchangeable and will also co-ordinate with the ABC Challenge Workshop by BrokenJar Creations. If you sign up for both workshops, you'll end up with a HUGE collection of papers and elements that co-ordinate!!

Instructions on printing and binding your calendar for gifts or personal use are included, as well as inspirational ideas to help you in your creations!

*BONUS: This workshop will include the calendar template, layout template and collection for January 2010!!

Calendar templates will be available in the store for $15.00Monthly Calendar Collection Kits will be available in the store for $3.00 each week

That's a total of $54 for the complete collection. BUT Calendar Workshop subscribers will receive the whole collection for only $20.00!!

Once you pay for your subscription you will have access to the Calendar Workshop forum for as long as it exists! Sign up NOW!!

ABC Workshop

What: ABC Workshop
Where: Digitalscrapping ~ Do It Digi forum
When: Beginning September 12th, 2008
Why: To complete an ABC album or project

How: ABC Workshop Subscribers will receive all the A - Z kits (26 in all) along with templates and inspiration to complete your ABC projects. At least one new letter kit will be available each week. There will also be some exclusive freebies for subscribers only! We will share ideas on different ABC projects and ways to print or present your books.

Individual Letter Kits (excluding templates) will be available in the shop for $4.00 each, for a total of $104.00 for the whole collection. ABC workshop subscribers will receive the whole collection plus templates ,inspiration, exclusive freebies, fun and more for only $25.00!! That is a minimum $104.00 value for only $25.00!!!

Once your pay for your subscription you will have access to the ABC Workshop forum for as long as it exists!!

Really????: YES!!!Be the first to have these fun, versatile kits , get one or many projects completed AND get the best price available!!

The kits for each workshop are coordinating so you will have TONS of beautiful papers and embellishments to work with!

So here is my first layout for this workshop! I love the kits they are providing for this workshop. What fun and beautiful colors.


I loved this poem by N2scappin found on organized scrapbooks. Thanks Wendy for the heads up. A is for asking.We ask when we pray.God's happy to answer, And help us each day.


These are pictures of my son when I was praying a lot. He was in the burn hospital for two weeks when he was a baby. What a tramatic time for all of us.


Here is my hubby with my two youngest this past January. They just would not get off his lap. What is funny is that is what they usually do all the time. Poor Daddy I thought with a chuckle in my mind - It is your turn! LOL!

Fussy Frenzy by Cassel. Font: STOMP_Bullpen

Okay, here is what you probably came here for and enough of my ramblings and excitement right. LOL!

Here is two templates for you to grab. They both have the PNG and PNG+ files with ,of course, the PSD format all in one zip. So enjoy!



To pick up the 12x12 template please click HERE to pick it up!

To pick up the 8 1/2 x 11 please pick it up HERE.

A new freebie Template and some more layouts!
That is correct. I finally did another template! Can you believe it? Sorry it took so long. I guess I had been burnt out on templates for a while. But here you go. The above layout is with the latest template. I did another layout for the Digitals newsletter so I have to wait to show you that one.
I have used Of Sand and Sea by Maddy Fernandez. The fonts are LD Chubby and LD Dainty.

Now my big project today was getting my nephew's brag book for his wedding done. Well, I did it. I had started this last month and forgot to finish it. Well, here it is:

I have used Wonderful Wedding Mini by Jennifer Maceyunas ; Scrap-A-Sketch 5"x7" BB Templates - Set #1 by Jennifer Maceyunas

on this one I used word art by Kathryn Estry for the It's Only Words Challenge at Digitals for August.

Guess what? I did the PNG files for the "D" pages. So please click

on the image you want to go and pick up the PNG and PNG+ files.

Okay, so here is the template I made for you all. I hope you like it. Thanks in advance for all your kind words. Click on the image for the file for that size:

Thanks for coming and looking! Have a great day!

Modern Vintage QP Freebie and a few little blogs to visit!

Again, I have children sick. We are trying to work through all of it. I think this will be the last day they are home or I might go bonkers! I did get sick last night unfortunately but I am better now. So I guess I should get going on chores around the house but first....

I was blog hopping and reading e-mails again this morning and found a few things that I wanted to share with you. First, I just LOVE The Scrappin Cop blog. She is so cool! I love her CU items that she gives away all the time. I am still trying to snag all I can. Then I found another blog train. And one last thing to share is this e-mail I got from my mom this morning. It is a bit long so just skip it if you want the freebie but it really is a touching story:

The Sandpiper
by Robert Peterson
She was six years old when I first met her on the beach near where I live.
I drive to this beach, a distance of three or four miles, whenever the world begins to close in on me . She was building a sand castle or something and looked up, her eyes as blue as the sea.
'Hello,' she said.
I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother with a small child.

'I'm building,' she said.
'I see that. What is it?' I asked, not really caring.

'Oh, I don't know, I just like the feel of sand.'
That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes.

A sandpiper glided by.
'That's a joy,' the child said.

'It's a what?'
'It's a joy. My mama says sandpipers come to bring us joy.'

The bird went gliding down the beach. Good-bye joy, I muttered to myself,
hello pain, and turned to walk on. I was depressed, my life seemed
completely out of balance.
'What's your name?' She wouldn't give up.

'Robert,' I answered.. 'I'm Robert Peterson.'
'Mine's Wendy... I'm six.'

'Hi, Wendy.'
She giggled. 'You're funny,' she said.

In spite of my gloom, I laughed too and walked on.
Her musical giggle followed me.
'Come again, Mr. P,' she called. 'We'll have another happy day.'

The next few days consisted of a group of unruly Boy Scouts, PTA meetings,
and an ailing mother. The sun was shining one morning as I took my hands out
of the dishwater. I need a sandpiper, I said to myself, gathering up my coat.
The ever-changing balm of the seashore awaited me. The breeze was
chilly but I strode along, trying to recapture the serenity I needed.
'Hello, Mr. P,' she said. 'Do you want to play?'
'What did you have in mind?' I asked, with a twinge of annoyance.

'I don't know. You say.'
'How about charades?' I asked sarcastically.

The tinkling laughter burst forth again. 'I don't know what that is.'
'Then let's just walk.'

Looking at her, I noticed the delicate fairness of her face.
'Where do you live?' I asked.
'Over there.' She pointed toward a row of summer cottages.

Strange, I thought, in winter.
'Where do you go to school?'

'I don't go to school. Mommy says we're on vacation.'
She chattered little girl talk as we strolled up the beach, but my mind was
on other things. When I left for home, Wendy said it had been a happy day. Feeling surprisingly better, I smiled at her and agreed.
Three weeks later, I rushed to my beach in a state of near panic. I was in no
mood to even greet Wendy. I thought I saw her mother on the porch and felt
like demanding she keep her child at home.
'Look, if you don't mind,' I said crossly when Wendy caught up with me, 'I'd
rather be alone today.' She seemed unusually pale and out of breath.
'Why?' she asked.
I turned to her and shouted, 'Because my mother died!' and thought,
My God, why was I saying this to a little child?
'Oh,' she said quietly, 'then this is a bad day.'
'Yes,' I said, 'and yesterday and the day before and -- oh, go away!'

'Did it hurt?' she inquired.
'Did what hurt?' I was exasperated with her, with myself.

'When she died?'
'Of course it hurt!' I snapped, misunderstanding,
wrapped up in myself. I strode off.
A month or so after that, when I next went to the beach, she wasn't there.
Feeling guilty, ashamed, and admitting to myself I missed her, I went up
to the cottage after my walk and knocked at the door. A drawn looking
young woman with honey-colored hair opened the door.
'Hello,' I said, 'I'm Robert Peterson. I missed your little girl today
and wondered where she was.'
'Oh yes, Mr. Peterson, please come in. Wendy spoke of you so much.
I'm afraid I allowed her to bother you. If she was a nuisance,
please, accept my apologies.'
'Not at all -- she's a delightful child.' I said, suddenly realizing
that I meant what I had just said.
'Wendy died last week, Mr. Peterson. She had leukemia.
Maybe she didn't tell you.'
Struck dumb, I groped for a chair. I had to catch my breath.

'She loved this beach, so when she asked to come, we couldn't say no.
She seemed so much better here and had a lot of what she called happy days.
But the last few weeks, she declined rapidly...' Her voice faltered, 'She left
something for you, if only I can find it. Could you wait a moment while I look?'
I nodded stupidly, my mind racing for something to say to this lovely young
woman. She handed me a smeared envelope with 'MR. P' printed in bold childish letters. Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues -- a yellow beach, a blue sea, and a brown bird. Underneath was carefully printed:
A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and a heart that had almost forgotten to love
opened wide. I took Wendy's mother in my arms. 'I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry,' I uttered over and over, and we wept together. The precious little picture is framed now and hangs in my study. Six words -- one for each year of her life -- that speak to me of harmony, courage, and undemanding love.
A gift from a child with sea blue eyes and hair the color of sand
-- who taught me the gift of love.

NOTE: This is a true story sent out by Robert Peterson. It happened over 20
years ago and the incident changed his life forever. It serves as a reminder
to all of us that we need to take time to enjoy living and life and each other.
The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less.
Life is so complicated, the hustle and bustle of everyday traumas
can make us lose focus about what is truly important or what is only a momentary setback or crisis.
This week, be sure to give your loved ones an extra hug, and by all means,
take a moment... even if it is only ten seconds, to stop and smell the roses.
This comes from someone's heart, and is read by many
and now I share it with you...
May God Bless everyone who receives this! There are NO coincidences!
Everything that happens to us happens for a reason. Never brush aside
anyone as insignificant. Who knows what they can teach us?

I wish for you, a sandpiper.

Now on that note I would like to share with you my most recent page done for my husband's grandmother's album. I used Modern Vintage Collection Bundle by Kim Smith. I made this into a QP for you too (below).
Pick up this QP HERE or click on the image below:

I hope you all have a good day! I have another QP already made and ready for tomorrow I hope.

All Boyish QP Freebie - and a few layouts!

This morning was an interesting morning. First, after a long weekend with a few sick kids, I woke up with a few more sick kids. High fevers, chills the whole 9 yards! Augh. So instead of running around taking kids to school I stayed home and blog hopped and read e-mails after getting them all settled down. Unfortunately, I think I am coming down with the same thing! Bummer.

Well, while I was blog hopping I had to go to my favorite of all favorite scrapping blogs: DigiTreats. I am sure everyone knows that one right? Well, anyhow I was reading her past few posts because I have been bad and not as consistant on my stalking of the blog. She asked if those from the United States were Republicans or Democrats. She is Canadian so she was just being curious. Anyhow, I sat there and read all the responses and it was quite interesting.

Then, I started reading my e-mails and a lady I know from one of the yahoo groups I am in with was telling us about a student of hers that was just killed in a car accident. That brought me to tears because it made me start thinking of some close friends I lost at the age of 15. It was so tramatic for me I can just imagine the friends of these girls and what they are going through. Very difficult times indeed. My prayers are with you all.

So, since I am not feeling very well I thought I would just sit here on the computer so I don't have to move very much. And I got a few things done. I uploaded some layouts to some more galleries and did some more site and blog hopping. Here are the pages I was just getting up:

This first layout I did is of my son Jonny when he was like 4 I think. He just loved plastic baseball bats and loved to play with them. Even in the water. LOL! Silly boy!



Play Ball by Scrappin Brat
font: Signboard


Here's another baseball layout. This is of a friend of ours' son playing baseball in our backyard for a birthday party.

Play Ball by Scrappin Brat
font: Signboard

These are some pictures that I took of the family getting together with their cousins. They had so much fun! I am glad they could spend some time with them.



Summertime Picnic by Ellen Massey
font: Hamilton

Now these next two are of a friends' sons birthday party a few years back. He had an animal guy come and share some of his animals with us. It was quite interesting. Something I am not going to forget ever.


Go Wild Complete Kit by Cen's Stuff
template: Multi Photos 2 Layered Templates by Dea Spina
fonts: Snake Venom, Signboard
Go Wild Complete Kit by Cen's Stuff
fonts: Signboard

This was done with the challenge for September in mind over at SDK. I really like this quote. This is how I preceived this quote. These are my children and one of my sister's children.

Mixed Medley Papers Volume 1 by Cen's Stuff
font: Harrington , Edwardian Script ITC

Well, just as simple as the title-What do you do in the summertime is a song we sing in church. I thought I would do a page about what we do. We play in the pool and get hair cuts. That is basically what our last summer consisted of.

Summer Days by ScrappinBrat
font: LD Chubby, LD Cute Curls

This is my sister, her daughter, and me. Her daughter looks just like me at that age. Sometimes it can be weird. I think there is a family resemblance there somewhere?

Summer Days by ScrappinBrat
font: Hamilton

And..... Last but not least this is a layout I just finished using Kim Smith's Always Boyish Addon. I know it is very boyish but you know what there are some other women out there that have boys too. LOL! So this is for all those boys' moms out there.

I have made this page into a QP for everyone. Just click HERE to get the QP below. I hope you like it.