Stamping with Kim

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!!!

Birthday Eloquence

I had some time this week to add cards to my (empty) birthday stash & this is one of my favorites.  I think this sketch was something I saw quite a while back in the Mojo Monday challenges.  Wherever it was, I loved it & it has stuck in my mind.

My card is standard size, with the first layer 1/4" smaller (5 1/4" X 4").  The strips are 7/8" wide, and 4 1/2" long.  So how did I get the curve on the ends to all match??  EASY!!

I punched a 1" circle, then centered it over one end of a strip, so I had the shape of just half of that circle.  Then I used a pencil to trace around that "half circle".  These particular papers are NOT cardstock weight - just printer paper weight.  So I was able to trim along the pencil tracing with my scissors....all 4 strips at one time.  That way I was certain that ALL of the shapes were exactly the same.

I like the weight of this card, too, without all the heavy cardstock.  The papers are from my stash, I think they're called Bella Bella.  I'm sure they've been in my stash for a while!!  The sentiment is from a new Stampin' Up! set called "Elementary Eloquence".

In other news....I'm getting so excited for our new kitchen/porch renovations to begin this week!!   We should have the footers/foundation starting today or tomorrow.  woo hoo!  We also have some landscaping starting tomorrow.  I hope this gorgeous weather holds out through the weekend!!!

As for the hubby update...this back surgery has certainly taken more of a toll on him than he ever expected.  He honestly thought that he would be back to normal in just 2-3 days.   It has been about 12 days now & he IS up & walking...slowly...but still taking 3-4 naps each day...and he NEVER EVER EVER takes naps!!  That is frustrating to him.  Then last Sunday he was sitting in the floor & when he tried to get up he lost his footing and toppled backwards.  He managed to pull that incision & it started to "weep" again.  So we had to re-bandage it & deal with that for a couple of days.  That was frustrating to him, too.  But all in all, he's doing a good job of keeping his spirits up and not complaining.  He IS getting better -- just more slowly than he wishes.

Thanks for all of your comments & well wishes lately!  It's so nice to have comments here...makes me think my time is well spent  :-)

Have a happy Wednesday!!

 

Birthday Blocks

TGIF!!  And I'm also happy to say that I was able to carve out some play time this week!!

This color combo has been in my mind for several days now, and also this card layout.  I'm so happy that the finished product actually looks the way I envisioned it in my mind!!

I started by making the band down the front by using the "Birthday Block" stamp and Basic Black ink.  This strip was layered onto Black cs, then Scalloped White cs.  The sentiment is from "Petite Pairs", stamped in black & punched with SU! Pennant Punch.

The flower was made by cutting 3 different size flowers with my Big Shot, using black & white printed papers.  Then I sponged the edges with Pixie Pink sponge dauber.  After scrunching the flowers, I simply layered them together, adding black ribbon onto the back, and clasped them all together with a filligree brad & pink rhinestone.  The flower was attached with a couple of Dimensionals.

Now, a quick update on my mom & her fall.... I took her to an Orthopedic Dr. yesterday.  He told her she was very lucky & that she has the bones of a 20-year-old!!  That made her happy :)  She is scheduled for an MRI next week to see if the rotator cuff has been torn (he says it most likely has been) and in the meantime, she has to keep the sling on.  She isn't happy about that part - but happy that there are no broken bones!!

I hope you have a fun weekend planned!  We will be watching our favorite UT VOLS struggling ...umm ... playing against S. Carolina tomorrow evening.  Wish us luck!  (we will need it!!  LOL!)

Happy Friday!!

 

 

Just Add Cake!!

A few days ago I spent some time trying to catch up on birthday cards.  It's so hard to play catch-up all the time!!  But I had a lot of fun playing with different elements AND some new papers.  I do love new papers!!

For this card, I've used some new DSP's called "Just Add Cake".  The colors are wonderful to work with.  I do love Peach Parfait & Pool Party together :)  Garden Green is the 3rd color - and I must admit that it is not one of my go-to-colors.  It was actually a welcome change for me!

The sentiment here is taken from one of the stamps in "On Your Birthday".  I've simply taken one word at a time - using my marker - and stamped the words individually.  Then using my 1/2" circle punch, just layered the words onto the pennant chipboard pieces for two of the words - and a 3/4" circle punch for the middle one.  Then I punched 1/8" holes in the corners of the pennants & added hemp to string the pennants together.  The flowers (from Three Flowers punch) were added with pearl rhinestones in the middle, with a piece of Peach Parfait ribbon on the side.

Another fun element for this card was the coordinated envelope.  I LOVE making the envelopes!!!

Hopefully by the end of the weekend I will have a stash of birthday cards on hand & ....maybe....just possibly.... I can start getting birthday cards in the mail on time.  Hey, a girl can dream....right?!!!

Have a great weekend!!

 

Blossom Building

I was travelling with hubby this week on one of his business trips, and remembered to pack up some stamping projects.  Quite impressive, I know!!

This little project was pretty much copied straight out of the catalog (p.112).  Hey, that's what it's for, right?!!

I did alter it slightly by using the larger petal & a different sentiment.  But overall, it's the same idea.  It really turned out beautifully!  These are colors that I would not normally put together - but they work nicely.  Colors are Concord Crush, Cherry Cobbler & Tangerine Tango...who knew?!!

This stamp set "Build a Blossom" has a punch that coordinates & cut my work in half.  I did have to trim the inner blossom, but even that only took a minute.  Love it!!

So if you're looking for a quick & easy project for the weekend - try this one!  By using a "common sentiment" - this card will work for any occasion.  Step out of your COLOR COMFORT ZONE and see what happens!  Now that's working smarter - not harder!!!

Don't forget about the new MINI CATALOG - you can PLACE YOUR ORDERS HERE and have them delivered to your doorstep.  That's working smarter, too!  :)

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great weekend!!