Stamping with Kim

New Addition to the family!!

 Oh yeah, right!!  LOL!!  After the last year & a half - about the only thing I can handle is dirt & flowers!!

A few weeks back we added a greenhouse to our family.  :)  I am so excited about this - it's something I have wanted my whole life.  But we have moved so many times, that I just never wanted to invest the emotion into one.  Now that we're back home, it was definitely a priority for me!!

Over the past few days I have been busy as a bee - more on that later!! - getting the border laid around the flower garden & choosing a few plants.  As for the bees....well, I had basically TWO criteria for the plants.  Number 1 was they had to be perinnials.  Number 2 was that they had to be loved by....BEES!! 

You see, another one of my priorities is to one day have a bee hive - or two!!  I have the perfect spot for a bee hive - just to the left of my greenhouse (several feet away!!).  So I definitely want my bees happy & well fed :)

 Two of my very favorite parts of the new greenhouse & flower garden are #1 the handmade shutters that match the ones my hubby made for my Potting Shed and #2 is this sign.... also, hand made by my hubby!!  We came up with this saying "In the Beginning..." because we envision lots of new growth going on in & around my new greenhouse!  I  ADORE my new sign!!

The garden is very simple - I have 3 pink Coneflower plants, 2 purple Hyssop flowers, and 1 bright pink Crape Myrtle.  I can't wait 'till next spring when they're all settled in & blooming like crazy.  The bees will be so happy - and so will I!!

Now...my next priority is stamping!  I already have a card half-finished upstairs.  So off I go!!

Thanks for stopping by to visit!!

Such a Blessing!!

I had so much fun last week playing with these new Merry Medley chipboard butterflies (p. 191), that I made several during that play time.  This one is just like the one featured HERE.

I've used the same scrumptuous Berry Blossoms DSP, too!! 

With a couple of small changes, though, I've changed the whole look of the card!  On the side is a lace strip created with the new Lace Ribbon Border punch (p. 211).  The sentiment is from a new - and FAVORITE - stamp set called Blessings from Heaven.  Awesome, awesome new set!!!

Colors used are Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral (base cover for the butterfly) and Early Espresso.  Pearl Rhinestones decorate the center of the butterfly.

OH, I almost forgot!!  The matching envelope!!  If you don't have a scoring tool - just hold your horses!!  SU! has a new one coming out in the Holiday Mini!!!!  I am so addicted to coordinated envelopes now - it's a happy addiction LOL!!

Happy Friday!!

 

Let's have a POOL PARTY!!

The first packages of my ALL NEW IN COLOR CLUB went in the mail yesterday!!

Just like years past, I am including a hand-stamped item with each package.  It's just my way of saying THANK YOU to everyone that has stuck by me over the past few months!!

This months' color is POOL PARTY.  It's a beautiful new shade of blue - and as you can see here, it looks wonderful with two other new colors - Lucky Limeade & Calypso Coral (next months color!!).

Also featured in this card are the new PENNANT PUNCH and coordinated STAMP SET, more new MERRY MEDLEY chipboard, and new Designer Brads. 

It isn't too late to join the fun!!  If you would like to have a package like this show up at your doorstep for the next 5 months - you can CHECK OUT THE DETAILS in this previous post.

OH!!  I almost forgot to mention that the girls also got a matching envelope this month!  I guess you can see that I've been having waaaay too much fun with some of the new goodies in this years' catalog!!

Happy Stamping!!

Something to think about!!

Below is something I received in email - but it made me start thinking about what I buy....and just for the record... Stampin' Up! stamps are made right here in America!!  But this is quite interesting.  I would love to hear your thoughts!!

AUGUST 1st to Sept. 1st  Well over 50 yrs ago I knew a lady who would not buy Christmas gifts if they were made in China . Her daughter will recognize her in the following. Did you see Diane Sawyer's special report? They removed ALL items from a typical, middle class family's home that were not made in the USA . There was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink. Literally. During the special they showed truckloads of items - USA made - being brought in to replace everything and talked about how to find these items and the difference in price etc.. It was interesting that Diane said if every American spent just $64 more than normal on USA made items this year, it would create something like 200,000 new jobs! I WAS BUYING FOOD THE OTHER DAY AT WALMART and ON THE LABEL OF SOME PRODUCTS IT SAID 'FROM CHINA ' FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF THE MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA ' I WAS SHOCKED SO FOR A FEW MORE CENTS I BOUGHT THE LIBERTY GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE SINCE IT'S FROM CALIF. Are we Americans as dumb as we appear --- or --- is it that we just do not think. The Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American markets. 70% of Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended. Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges? DO IT YOURSELF, AMERICA !! Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China ' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong ), simply choose another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without. Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter? If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some American farmer. Easter is just an example. The point is do not wait for the government to act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own. THINK ABOUT THIS: If 200 million Americans each refuse to buy just $20 of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor...fast!! Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on implementing this on Aug. 1st and continue it until Sept. 1st. That is only one month of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the total, or 8%, of their American exports. Then they might have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness were worth it. Remember, August 1st to Sept. 1st !!!!!! START NOW. Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are Americans and us for granted. If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives, WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET! Pass it on, America ... Well instead of doing it for just 1 month why not try to do it all the time.

 

Stay the course!!

It's amazing what a little inspiration can do .... I've made another card!!  And even better than that, I have had a blast playing with some of my new things!!

It's been insanely hot here the past few days - as it has been over most of the country.  So what better place to be than inside stamping??  I worry a lot about those folks that work outside all day - like my son, Andy.  Please be extra kind to everyone that has an outside job this time of year!!

This is my latest creation, made with products from the current SU! SUMMER MINI.

This set AND DSP will be retiring at the end of this month!!  It's a great set for masculine cards - like this one!

Stamps & paper used are "Open Sea"  and "Nautical Expedition DSP" both from the SUMMER MINI.  The sentiment is from a new Hostess set called "Faith in Nature"....and speaking of hostess programs...did you see that you can now purchase those hostess sets?!!  Check it out!  p. 9 in the new catty!!

I hope you have something fun planned for the weekend!  Steve & I are meeting some of my old high school friends for a drink in town at The Honest Pint ....then we're off to Nightfall Concerts - an outdoor concert at one of the parks downtown.  Chattanooga has alot going on downtown these days.  It's good to be back home!!!

Happy Weekend!!!