May Blend-a-Sketch from SOS "Always"

Hi everyone!   I hope you all had a lovely Mother's Day earlier this week!

It is time for this month's Blend-A-Sketch Challenge over at the SCRAP OUR STASH BLOG!

I am happy I was able to complete this layout for your inspiration,

as I've had a busy month of May so far!  

My husband had to have his knee replacement "revised" on May 4th.  You see, on April 4th, 2017, he underwent surgery to have his knee replaced. Since that surgery, he had constant swelling and constant pain, and developed headaches, dry skin patches and itching. ( He has never suffered from headaches before.)  After many visits to the Dr, and  us insisting that something is just not right, and many hours of our researching on the internet - we finally convinced the Dr. to finally order allergy testing (skin) and then a blood test called a Metal LTT test - that checks for allergies to all joint replacement components.  Finally, in February of this year, it was determined that he was allergic to the nickle in his new knee, and that he needed it taken out, and replaced with a new knee from a company called Smith and Nephew - that he would not be allergic to!  Anyway - he had the surgery on May 3rd, and was in the hospital until May 5th.  From there he went to a rehabilitation facility, and I brought him home on Saturday the 12th.  He is doing AMAZINGLY well, and healing and walking much better than last time already!  I pray that things will keep going that way and he will finally be able to be free of pain, and back to work soon! It has been a very long road that began in November of 2016!  I am mentioning this on my blog, so that maybe someone facing a joint implant, or even problems with an existing implant, might read it, so they can be helped or informed before they go through a year+ of needless suffering as my poor husband did!

Now let's get back to some "Scrappiness!" 

This month's challenge asks you to blend the 2 sketches below, 

and include wood veneers in your layout too! HOW FUN!!

Here is how I decided to blend the 2 sketches -
From the Left Sketch - I used the small rectangle pieces
From the Right Sketch - I used one photo, the title on the bottom left of the layout, and I replaced the star embellishments with flowers. I also included 4 different wood veneer embellishments for the added challenge too!

I have also entered this Layout in the Lasting Memories Challenge #394 - "Hearts" - For that challenge, I used Heart Paper and Heart Wood Veneer Embellishments.  

Here is my Layout for your Inspiration - I used a photo of my wonderful parents since this month we celebrate Mother's Day and next month we will celebrate Father's Day

I used A LOT of STASH on this layout!  I have had the black and white base page in my stash FOREVER!  All of he other papers used were from scraps that I have saved -
(no full sheets of paper were cut in the making of this layout! LOL!)  
I can not even guess how old the chipboard flowers are!!  

 I colored the white chipboard title with 2 shades of Nuvo Mousse, (Love this stuff!) and then I outlined it with a black Sharpie marker. It was so fun to do, and I am so happy with how it turned out!

I love this photo of my Mom and Dad.  
It was taken at my cousin's wedding a few years ago. 

 Here is one of the little wood veneer embellishments that I added, along with the chipboard flowers and the small bling items from Queen and Co.

I also raised the triple matted photo with 3M Foam Tape, and a few of the rectangles too.  I love this little cluster of embellishments in this corner, especially that blingy camera!

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I really appreciate you taking the time to look at and read my blog. I hope I have inspired you to create along with us at the SCRAP-OUR-STASH Blog this month!  CLICK on the link for all of the challenge rules, and prize details! 

Don't forget to also check out the Lasting Memories Blog for LM#394, and all of their other FUN challenges too!

I also hope I may have helped someone out there with joint problems
 by telling my husband's story!

((HUGS)) and Thanks! ~ Sherri

Items used:

Bella Blvd - Just Add Color

Passcode, Daily Details

Simple Stories - Heart

American Crafts - The Color of Memories

Jillibean Soup - Treasured Moments Wood Veneer - Bowl of Soup

Ranger Distressed Stains - Tarnished Brass, Evergreen Bough,       Black Soot

KaiserCraft - Wooden Fourish Letter Words

Queen and Co - Twinkle Goosebumps - Gold

     - Sparklers - White and Blue

Forever in Time Bling Embellishments

Chipboard flowers

Tonic Studios - Nuvo Mousse - Indian Gold and Aquamarine

Basic Grey Eclectic Embellishments

May Challenge YOUrself #53 - Sunflowers

It is time for Challenge #53 over at the Challenge YOUrself Blog!  This month we are giving you a photo as inspiration - just be sure to include YOU in your layout!!!

The photo reminded me of the day my husband and I spent at a sunflower maze about an hour from our home. We were blessed with a beautiful sunny day, and had a great time in the fields of favorite flowers.

I was so happy to be able to use papers from the Graphic 45 French Country Collection.  I think they work perfectly with the sunflower theme!

I made the "enamel" dots with Nuvo Crystal Drops, and fussy cut all of the sunflowers out of one of the collection's papers.

I think the paper twine and wooden embellishments I added, go along with the natural theme of the layout.

The large sunflower was actually cut out from one of my photos, and I think the little Tim Holtz "Love" Ticket works perfectly.

I added some beads to some of the sunflower centers, for added texture.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope I've inspired you to play along with us this month at the Challenge YOUrself Blog!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Items used:
Graphic 45 - French Country Collection
 - Promenade, Deja Vu, A la Carte, chipboard 2, and Stickers
BoBunny Double Dot - Buttercup Vintage
Cosmo Cricut - Tiny Type Stickers
Carta Bella - Yacht Club Enamel Dots
American Crafts - Shimelle Puffy Stickers
KaiserCraft - Wooden Flourishes
Jillibean Soup - Wood Veneers "Bowl of Dreams"
Crate paper - Oasis Stickers
ArtC - Orange Beads
Nuvo Crystal Drops - Copper Penny, English Mustard, Ebony Black, Navy Blue, Bottle Green, Ripened Pumpkin
Ranger Distress Stains - Wild Honey, Forest Moss, Rusty Hinge, Fossilized Amber, Black Soot
Paper Twine

Scrap Our Stash May Golden Globe Challenge "CUTE"

This month's Golden Globe Challenge over at the Scrap Our Stash Blog, challenges you to create a layout about an animal, and to use patterned paper or an embellishment 

with an animal on it. I hope you will join us!

Here is my layout for your inspiration.  I used a photo of our 2 Portuguese Waterdogs.  Maggie is on the left, with the white paws and chest, and Tino is on the right with the blue bandana.  They had just come from the groomers and looked so cute - so I had to take their photo!

I like to use papers and embellishments from different manufacturers and mix up patterns that contain similar colors.

I stained a wood veneer dog embellishment with Black Soot Distress Stain, for the added challenge element.

Below are some close ups for you:

Thanks for stopping by - I hope I've inspired you to join us at the Scrap Our Stash Blog, and I can't wait to see you layout!!  Hope on over to check our full challenge and prize info, along with more inspiration from our Design Team too!

(((HUGS)))~ Sherri

Items used:
Bella Blvd - Tail Wagers & Cat Naps - Puppy Park
Best Creation - Puppy Love
Bo Bunny "Happy Tails" - Chipboard, Brads, Fur Fashion paper
Queen and Co - Pet Bones paper
Echo Park - That's My Boy - Boy Dots
Amy Tangerine - Thickers "Grace"
Jillibean Soup wood veneer
Bakers Twine
Ranger Distress Stains - Vintage Photo, Black Soot, Fired Brick, Broken China, Rusty Hinge, Fossilized Amber