I'm back!!!

My name is Barb Prendergast, and I'm so excited to be back as the Coordinator of the Master Chef Challenge Team at Cookin' Up Creations! I've been a team member since August 2010; and quite simply, I love it here!

I live in central Illinois with my husband, Mike. We have four grown children (three of them married) and seven beautiful grandchildren. I'm a former newspaper writer/editor and nonprofit marketing and public relations director. Scrapbooking allows me to combine my love of crafts, photography and writing. It has proven to be a natural outlet for me to record my family's history -- both the "big moments" and the small, day to day ones. In addition to scrapbooking, I enjoy spending time with my family (especially my grandchildren!), cooking and reading; and if money were no object, I would travel the world!

My scrap style is eclectic; I like to try new styles, products and techniques. My favorite layouts, though, tend to involve layering and fussy cutting. One of my favorite paper companies is Graphic 45, because the intricate patterns are just made for "piling it on".

I also love vintage photos -- this one features a photo of my husband's grandparents when they were courting:

And, I can also do grunge when I get the right photos:

Please be sure to join us on the Cookin' Up Creations forum  for our daily Blue Plate Special challenges! This month, our theme is "Nursery Rhymes", and we're taking inspiration from our favorite childhood poems throughout July. And don't miss our CHRISTMAS IN JULY blog hop and crop, July 18-22.

Have a great day!