I'm back! :)

So I had to dust a bunch of cobwebs and freshen up the place a little bit.. but it's good to be back in my blog home again. Seven to eight months ago, my time online greatly decreased.. then a few months later, I kinda fell off the edge of the scrapbooking scene altogether. I wouldn't doubt if some of you thought I croaked or something. Well, I didn't.. I'm alive, well and could not be happier!! :) 

Here are a few things I did within those 7-8 months, I...

Lost 50 lbs :)

Met and started dating a kind, super sweet and handsome hunk.. Joel :)

Walked about 4 miles almost every day with Joel during summer and fall

Fell in love with above handsome hunk.... *happy sigh*

Started working a 2nd job to make some extra $$$ for Christmas

Accepted Joel's marriage proposal in November *happy sigh*

Bought this house, isn't it pretty!?

Moved two households into one

Started attending church regularly again

Celebrated Christmas

Planned a small intimate wedding for Joel and I

Chose designs and purchased furnishings for the new house

Painted the house

Made curtains for the house

Became Mrs. Joel Beard on Jan 12th! We're so happy :) :)

I inherited a 19y/o stepson, 17y/o stepdaughter and two more family dogs

As his wife, I became co-owner of Joel's successful businesses

I was a bridesmaid in my younger sister's huge wedding in Chicago in February

Worked hard to finally pay off my car

Joel and I recently traveled to northern Wisconsin to attend my grandmother's funeral where he also officiated the service

And lastly.. I organized a surprise party for Joel's 44th birthday last week, inviting all of our closest friends and family. The house was packed! Joel once told me he's never had parties for his bday, just dinner out. Well this girl has always made sure that everyone in my family has a celebrated birthday so Joel got a big surprise

Sooooooooooooo...

A lot has happened since I disappeared several months ago! Busy busy busy.

Time has zoomed by so fast with all the events, I've barely had time to blink.

But most importantly,

I'm thee happiest gal on the planet. 

Joel is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

Not only are we crazy in love, we are each other's best friend.

I thank God for him every day.

True story.

Now that house hunting, 2 weddings, a funeral, moving 2 houses, house painting/decorating, the big holidays and everything else are behind me.. I can now once again focus on the fun stuff.. papercrafts!

And in the new house, I have my own scrap room!! When we were house hunting months ago, one of JOEL'S top criteria was that the house we chose had to have a room just for me and my crafts. *happy sigh* I love this man :) Side note: It's kinda funny that my last and previous post featured my tiny scrap area in my old small apartment lol. I can't wait to take photos and share my new room!

Anyway.. so I'm just itchin to get started with scissors and paper! I have missed scrapbooking and cardmaking sooo much!! I haven't made a single thing since November! I'm looking forward to posting projects on my blog again, hopefully later this week, and I hope that you'll visit me again.

I've really missed crafting, blogging and admiring other scrapper's work. 

I'm sooooo glad to be back!! :)

Dreams

Today I'm sharing a layout I made featuring my sister, Sarah. I seem to be making alot of pages about her lately.. I must be missing her or something lol (she's overseas for a couple years.. boohoo!) Anyway, I love this photo of her and couldn't wait to scrap it :)

I attempted this layout a bit differently than my others. I almost always use a sketch, but this time I just glued things down wherever. I like my result :)

I used the Artful Delight October kit which includes much of the Bo Bunny "Et Cetera" collection. However the title alphas are from my stash as well as the Tim Holtz masks. My super sweet friend and fellow AD designer, April, gifted the masks to me last week and I was so excited to use them right away :)

There are still some Artful Delight October kits left, see here to purchase yours. Also, there's a fabulous savings deal if you choose the 3, 6, or 12 month pre-paid plan! Check it out! :)

Yesterday my sister Jessica and her family joined my son and I taking Autumn pictures around town. The sun was REALLY bright and it was difficult to get pictures without shadows, squinty eyes or "washed-out" faces. But we took nearly 400 photos altogether and we were fortunate to get several good shots. Here are some of them...

I have a few new Fall themed collections and can't wait to get all these photos onto layouts! :)

Thanks for visiting!

Abby

I remember, always

My Grandfather, Gordon Mathews, served in WW|| as a
medic/ambulance driver. I think about all the horrible tragedies
he must have seen and experienced. He was such a strong man
with a huge heart. A devoted son, husband, father, brother,
uncle and grandfather. I miss him tremendously.

Since the day he was enlisted, he had kept his Army
identification card in his wallet. This card was tucked away
in his pocket every day of the war, with him while he cared
for countless injured soldiers and the fallen. From the day it
was given to him, it never left his wallet in almost 45 years.

He had 14 grandchildren (6 of them grandsons). A year
before he died, when I was 16, he chose to give it to me.
To now hold something so precious to him - a remembrance
of his courage, bravery and patriotism - means the world to me.
What an honor to have a small tattered card that's been around
the world and has been present with so many of our soldiers.

I'll treasure it forever and one day it will be my son's, a good
young boy who never met/knew his Great-Grandfather,
but will always know of his selflessness.

This is a truly beautiful song by Norah Jones. Please watch
and listen to this short video as we remember our
Veterans today, our American Heros.

(You'll have to first pause my music playlist
at the very bottom of my blog. Thanks!)

The Paper Variety Challenge & New Additions!

It's Week 5 at The Paper Variety and our challenge
is a super fun card sketch!
Even better is our fabulous sponsor, Lawn Fawn!

Here's the card sketch..

Lawn Fawn has donated Critters in the Sea to award our challenge winner!
Isn't this the cutest stamp set!?

I used American Crafts' Blue Skies papers and rub-ons to create this
sweet and colorful "friend" card.

Simple sketch, AWESOME prize! Hope to see you join the challenge!

~~~~New Additions~~~~

I recently bought a Cuttlebug!!

I've been wanting one forever and finally purchased one
from HSN a couple weeks ago. I've had soooo much fun experimenting
with the few folders I have and can't wait to shop for a few more.
I love this tool and will be using it on many cards in the future. :)

Also, another new addition.. this addition is to our family.

This is Cooper...

We saved him from our local Animal Shelter.
He's a basset hound / beagle mix and about 10 months old.
He is super lovable, house trained and super smart.
We brought him home a week ago and he's already learned a few tricks.
We are sooooo lucky to have found him, he's perfect for our family!

We were a little bit worried how our diva kitty, Logan, would react.
She's been our one and only pet for close to 4 years.
But as you can see here....

Logan and Cooper are getting along just fine!
They nap together everyday :)

I can't wait to create some furry friends layouts! :)

-Abby

Card 13 & a good day!

Did you all get through this Friday without any bad luck? lol I always wondered what started this infamous superstition. I'm gonna have to look that up and find out.

Today I used WRMK again! This time, the new release "White Christmas". It's really cute. The design inspiration came from Julie Ebersole, a truly talented cardmaker. I love her style, so fresh and clean.

Today was a super happy and proud day! My 11 y/o son, who was diagnosed with type1 juvenile diabetes at age 7, finally got his insulin pump!! He's been on 5 shots a day for 4 years, and we've been trying to get a pump for a long time, but went through alot of red tape with insurance. But he has it now and we could not be happier! It's the best $6,000 I never spent! lol


See you tomorrow! :)

-Abby