Remembering Aunt Joyce

This week has been a sad week for me as I lost my great aunt who I loved dearly. Aunt Joyce lived in Oregon but she was very close to my Grandma and visited us in Colorado quite a bit. I remember always looking forward to her coming. I clearly remember her boisterous laugh and her fun nature. One of the things that she always did when she visited was bring each of us kids a crisp, new five dollar bill. It was a tradition that she made a pretty big deal of and we always looked forward to her pulling us aside and giving it to us along with a few words from "Auntie Joyce". After I had kids, Aunt Joyce started up the same tradition with my kids. They grew to love her and looked forward to seeing her as well, which made me happy to see them having a relationship with her too. A week ago Friday I pulled some pictures out to work on a S.W.A.T. challenge of Aunt Joyce giving my kids their five dollars and words of wisdom when they were smaller. Little did I know that two days later I would get the call that Aunt Joyce had passed away that morning. She has been sick with a heart condition, but I don't think any of us were thinking that it was that close. My heart has been hurting as I grieve the loss of a lady who meant so much to me and my family, but I can't help to think that I spent that weekend thinking through memories of Aunt Joyce through my scrapping, and how special  it is to me that she was on my heart right before she left us.

This is the layout I created that means even more to me now than it did when I started out. As I said I began creating it for the new Saturday S.W.A.T challenge which is to dig out some of your unused, old stash and revitalize and use it for a layout. I pulled out some old Basic Gray Pyrus line that I have had in my stash for several years now. I also pulled out some chipboard buttons from Jenni Bowlin. The yellow and white of the button were a little bright so I misted them with some coffee Tattered Angels mist to help it blend in some. The patterned papers and the fabric flowers were all Basic Gray and I added a Burlap flower from Little Yellow Bicycle and created a rosette to bring in  newer looking pieces to the page.

I love that I got to use up some of my stash. Unfortunately it only created the smallest of dents in it! I know there's got to be more of you out there who have some beautiful papers and embellishments hoarded away... how about joining us in the challenge and using it this week. There is an awesome American Crafts prize up for grabs that you definitely need to add to your stash. Anyone in??

Lisa