Stamping with Kim

Merry Monday Challenge #8

woo hoo!  I'm 8 for 8 in this challenge, and no one is more surprised than me!!  LOL!

Lesley has another inspiring layout for us this week.  As soon as I saw her sketch, I knew exactly which stamp set to use.  Love it when that happens!!

Before we move past last weeks' challenge, though, be sure to check out my sweet friend, LeAnne's, card from last week.  Not only is it incredibly adorable - but she won the challenge last week & will be one of Lesley's featured artists next week!!  Woo hoo, LeAnne!!!

This is my offering for Challenge #8.  I love this stamp set!!  It's from PTI, along with matching die & sentiment.  The papers are SU! Shimmery White & Riding Hood Red, along with SEI designers.  The ribbon is retired SU! RHR, and the oval(ish) die is new SU!

I am sooooo in the mood for Christmas with these challenges! 

Now...on to the rest of my life - or at least a big chunk of it....here's a little sampling of the construction a/k/a DESTRUCTION going on in my house...

This is the teeny tiny screened porch we had on the back of our house.  It was just big enough for a small round table with 4 chairs.  I called it my "tea" porch, because it was only big enough for a couple of girls to enjoy a cup of tea on.

It's all gone now....and here's the beginning of the replacement...

This picture was taken a couple of days ago - now we actually have wood on the roof.  The felt is going on right now since we are expecting thunderstorms this afternoon.

You really couldn't see the original porch from the side of the house.  Now it looks like this from the side...

Quite a bit different - don't you think??  That's my kitchen on the end there - right under those 2 big windows.

When finished, it will be screened with a fireplace at the end.  Hopefully we will get to enjoy it before the weather turns too warm!!

Now, I have to turn my attention back to the kitchen.  Part of this construction/destruction includes a total overhaul of the kitchen -- including replacing the sculptured concrete floor!!  That means everything has to come out of the kitchen and cabinets.  yuk!!  Mike the Builder said "it's kinda like surgery -- things are gonna get really messy before they get better!!"

I love his analogy!!!

Happy Wednesday to you!!!

 

 

Merry Monday Challenge #7

I'm so excited to be able to join Lesley's 7th Merry Monday Challenge!  I really didn't think it was going to happen this week.  This is why I love her simple sketches! 

Here is THE SKETCH for this week.  We had the option of using the Ovals, or any other shape.

I chose to use parts of a kit that I purchased a while back - combined with two Oval punches from Stampin' Up!, the sentiments (from "Petite Pairs" and "Delightful Decorations"), twine & rhinestones...mounted on Cherry Cobbler cs.

When I first saw this sketch I thought it might be a little difficult to work with - but not so!  I was very pleased with the final results.

In other news... my 85 year old step-father-in-law came through his surgery yesterday beautifully!!  I tell you, there is something about that generation - he woke up & wanted to go home!!  He had a total knee replacement & won't be coming home for a week or so.  Glad I'm not the one trying to keep him in the hospital!!

We had planned on spending this weekend with some friends from West Virginia - but they had to postpone their trip due to SNOW!!  Instead, looks like I will be packing up my kitchen & getting ready for the big hole that's going to be where the kitchen wall now stands.  What a mess it's going to be!  But I can't wait for it to start so it can all be overwith!!

I hope you have a fun weekend planned!  Happy President's Day weekend!!

Sweet Birthday

Today's card share is one of my faves!!

I love this new little set from SU!'s current mini catalog.  It has sooooo many matching accessories!!  Be sure to check it out (link in my side bar).  There are stickers, DSP's, brads, etc.  Stamper love!!!!

This is a tri-fold card (cut your cs in half the "long way").  It's an awesome way to jazz up your card just a bit!

I'm on the run today, so I'll keep this post brief.  My step-father-in-law (age 85) is having a knee replacement this morning.  We tease him about having to keep those knees in shape to chase his girlfriends.  GIRLFRIENDS... that has an "s" on the end!  Yes, he has Kit and Dottie - and never the twain shall meet!  So we are heading to the hospital today.  This should be fun!!!

The sub-floor is going on the porch today.  woo hoo!!

Steve had his check-up with the back Dr and got the "all clear" to start a little more activity.  His back feels sooo much better - he says "95% better".  Now if he can get rid of a nagging pain in one of his thighs, he will be a happy camper.  I guess the hip/thigh pains are pretty common after his type of surgery.

Hopefully I will get home later this afternoon & have a chance to join the Merry Monday Challenge before Lesley closes it on Saturday evening!!  Why don't you join me?!!

I hope you have a Happy Friday!!  Thanks for visiting with me!!!

A Day of Love

Did you ever wonder how many couples are celebrating their anniversaries today??  I bet there are a gazillion!!

I love the saying on this stamp "going to the chapel & gonna get married".  Do you remember that song?!!  Maybe you're too young!!

This sweet stamp combined with Crumb Cake & Vanilla cs are so soft & delicate in person.  I love the new SU! border punch here, and the new flower punch from the Occasions Mini.  I'm also very proud of myself for already using the new punch & matching stamp set -- and it's only a couple of weeks old!!!

I apologize for the color differences in these two pics - not sure what's up with my camera!!  I couldn't re-take the pictures because I loaned my camera to Adam & Katie tonite....that's another story altogether!!

Anyway, today is Valentine's Day & I hope you're celebrating with special people that you love!!  My sweetheart & I agreed that this year we are giving each other a new porch & a new kitchen.  We set a limit of "no more than a card" -- and I think neither one of us even met that limit!!  LOL!!

Happy Heart Day!!!

A week of love

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. 

DAY. 

Really?  ONE DAY??  I mean, we give Valentine's gifts to the ones we love that say things like "I love you more than anything", "You mean the world to me", "I couldn't make it without you", etc, etc, etc.

But that's just for Valentine's Day, right??

But what about the other 364 days of the year??!!!

Seriously, if we're going to do this thing...let's do it!!  Let's put our money where our mouth is!!

So this week I'm going to expand the holiday to more than just one day.  Starting with these little goodies...

I had lunch with my mom on Sunday, and this is a little goodie that I took to her...which caught her totally off-guard & "tickled her pink"!  Isn't that what it's all about anyway??

The container is an empty SU! button cup, topped with a 2 1/2" circle & 2 3/8" scalloped circle.  I folded a teeny envelope (which is totally hidden and totally not needed here!) and topped it with various hearts from the new little SU! Sizzix embosslet from the current Mini Catalog.  Colors are Calypso Coral, Real Red, Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo & Certainly Celery.  Ribbon is new 1/8" taffeta in Certainly Celery, and other bling are the pearl rhinestones.  The small oval punches are by SU!,with a non-SU! sentiment stamped on white.

Too easy to make -- and too sweet not to take the time to give them away!!  Please feel free to copy & make for your dear friends.

OH, AND DON'T FORGET TO FILL THEM WITH RED, PINK & SILVER HERSHEY KISSES!!  :-)

Happy Valentine's Eve!!!