Stamping with Kim

No April Fool's Joke - really!

My last blog post happened to be April 1st.  APRIL FOOL'S DAY!  I had intended to post again later that week.

Oops!!   Sorry about that!! 

I'm not going to bore you with the details of the past 6 weeks -- but I do want to say THANK YOU!! to everyone that emailed me to ask what happened!!  I am fine ....Steve is fine ....everyone is fine.  I promise!  In fact, a couple of weeks ago I got the big THUMBS UP from my Oncologist & Breast Surgeon for my 2-year-cancer-free checkup!!  woo hoo!!!!

But here's what else has been going on....in fact, here is a picture of my own new screen saver!!

You see, during those many months that I wasn't feeling well, I was dreaming about this porch addition to our home.  This really is the porch of my dreams!!  We were very fortunate to find "MIKE THE BUILDER", and apparently dream interpreter!!  He absolutely captured every detail that I have imagined.  It is  perfect!!

Now, let me show you the view from a little further away....one that includes our new & ALMOST COMPLETED kitchen!

I love the island!  It is totally my own creation.  Unfortunately, our old bar chairs are going to be too short to use now....sigh....  But that's OK.  I found the exact same ones - but taller - online!!  They should be here next week!

 Here's a closer look at our "future backsplash".  We just ordered the tile yesterday & it, too, will be done next week.  woo hoo!!  This area is cut out of the wall & when complete, will have an actual shelf to sit things on.  This, too, was my own creation - modeled after something I saw in a magazine.  Thank goodness for a builder that loves a challenge LOL!!

...and this is the back side of my favorite little island... nicknamed "Evans Island" by the cabinet installers!!  Poor guys, they had fun figuring out how to place these cabinets!!  At least they were good sports!

So this is where I've been for the past 3 months  -- completing a dream that was more than 2 years in the making!!  After the first few weeks I was kinda feeling like this picture of Sissy.....

....nooooooooo!!!!!!  LOL!!

But it's almost done now, and Steve & I both are absolutely thrilled with the results.

As for stamping - I'm sorry to say that I haven't stamped since the last card I posted here!!  BUT....I just placed my SU! new catalog PRE-ORDER this morning!!  The new catalogs are just around the corner - and just wait till you see them!!  I promise you will love the new catty - it is STUNNING!!!

Now I have to tackle a couple more projects....like finding some square bowls that I packed up for this remodel.  Where in the world have they gone???  Who knows!! 

I hope you have a great day & hope you enjoy the update, too!!!  Happy Wednesday!!

Summer Smooches Special!!

I've been waiting for a really good offer from Stampin' Up!, and this one fits the bill!!

Check out the current SUMMER SMOOCHES special - available this month only!!  What I love about this package is all the coordinated accessories....brads, seam bindings, SIZZIX DIE, gorgeous fabrics, DSPs....and of course, stamps!  The colors are bright & friendly -- and it's a really nicely coordinated set.  Check it out & let me know what you think!!

Waiting on a special is not why I've been absent here... and I apologize for that!  Life's been a little tough.

The kids & grandkids exhausted me.  The boys were fantastic - it was just having NO KITCHEN that caused so much stress.  After they left, my mom went in hospital & I was with her for pretty much 3 days.  She came home and I got food poisoning.  TWICE!!!  All the while, the construction continued on the kitchen & porch.... running here & there picking out colors, tiles, woods, faucets....

Yeah, life's been a little tough.  I haven't touched a stamp since the last post here!!

I hope things are great in your world - and a little less stressful than here!  I'll check in again this week - may not be with stamping - but I WILL post some updated pics of the kitchen & porch at least.  Who knows - maybe I will stamp!  I'm going to be ordering the special above, AND my cousin is coming on Thursday!  She's my favorite decorator & I can't wait to hear her tips on decorating my new rooms!!

Please leave me a comment & let me know what's been going on with you for the past few weeks -- or even what's coming up!  I've missed you!!!

Take care,

Stressful week??

Yeah, here, too!

So as I was upstairs cleaning this morning -- getting ready for Gene, Susan, and the 3 boys -- I found myself sitting down to finish this little card that I had started on Monday.  Funny how the week disappeared!

This sweet little set is from SU! - it's a Hostess set called "Up in the Air".  It struck me that by changing the sentiments, this would be such a sweet card for Easter, or even for a new baby.  I love this little stamp!  The sentiment I chose is from SU! Teeny Tiny Wishes.  The image was colored with markers & stamped, then I touched up just a teeny tiny bit with more markers.

The designer papers here are from Basic Gray, on Lucky Limeade and Pretty in Pink.  The 1/8" satin ribbons are also SU!  There is something about the big, floppy "birthday present-like" size of them that appealed to me.  Maybe I'm just insane....probably....

OK, so Gene, Susan and the 3 boys are coming tonite.  For the next 6 days.  And we have no kitchen!  It isn't that "the kitchen is a mess"....nope....we have NO KITCHEN!!

This was taken just a couple of days ago.  There has actually been some progress - just not in the kitchen!

 We have a  fireplace now, and the firebrick has been completed, too.

Plus, we have stone on the foundation, and partially around the fireplace.  Progress!!

Oh, I didn't say it was pretty - I just said we had made progress this week!  LOL!!

OK, for something pretty - check out the sketch of my new beverage bar!

It's just a sketch, but that's the general idea.  We will have a new wall in the kitchen for cabinets (insert a big YIPPEE here!) so instead of going traditional cabinets, we've decided to make it more like a built in china cabinet.  The cabinets are not as deep as normal, making them a little more like a piece of furniture.  But the cabinets are about 4 more weeks out...ugghhh!!!

I think my break is over now!  If you have any suggestions on how to feed 7 people for the next 6 days without a kitchen - please leave me a comment!!  Pizza will definitely be high on my list.  Probably Taco Bell and Krystal, too.  Growing boys eat a lot.  Think they'll notice if I feed them fast food all week?!!  *wink*

Happy Saturday!!

 

Merry Monday Challenge #10

Happy Monday morning!  It's going to be a great week - I just feel it!!

This is definitely the earliest I've finished the Merry Monday Challenge.  That's because I had the sketch early *wink*.  Lesley chose my card as her winner a couple of weeks ago - and this week she has THIS CARD featured on her website.  Be sure to check out her site & all the fabulous entries that are posted for this weeks' challenge!!

This fabulous Christmas Poinsettia (and die) is from PTI (Paper Trey), along with the designer paper and (Autumn Rose) card base.  Fortunately, these colors match beautifully with Old Olive & Rich Razzleberry from Stampin' Up!  The Tiny Tag (and die) are also from PTI.

Inks on the poinsettias are SU! Pretty in Pink, and PTI Autumn Rose.  They are perfect together!!  Leaves are Old Olive, with More Mustard centers.  Scallop punch, textured embossing & twine are SU!  The teeny tiniest bit of Dazzling Diamonds was added, naturally.

I think now that my card is all done - I might play along again just to have another card in my stash!!

Also going on this week....kitchen cabinets!!  Yes, I have to get that narrowed down right away.  (you know I'll post pics here!)  Eating sandwiches & pop tarts is already old - and it's only been a few days!

Whatever is on your agenda this week -- I hope you have a good one!!  Thanks for visiting with me!!

 

Merry Monday Challenge #9

Isn't that the sweetest little saying?!!

For this weeks' MERRY MONDAY CHALLENGE Lesley has given us a sketch with a banner at the top.  Even though this is just a suggestion - I decided to take it literally, and this is what struck my fancy!

This is her sketch.  So many possibilities here!!  I love symmetrical sketches.  OK, I confess...I am a very symmetrical person.  That's why my current hairstyle is leaving everyone wondering what's up!!  But I digress...

So I spent yesterday working on this fun sketch & came up with the perfect card....or so I thought!  Here's my first card

This is the card that I came up with - and I really liked it!  I just needed to take pics this morning & post it.  But it was early & I needed good light.  Plus this POPPY PARADE is a really hard color for me to photograph!

So I decided to take all the leftover pieces from this card & make a 2nd for my stash.  I came up with this one...

...which...when it was all said & done...

I like better than the original one LOL!!

So there you have it!  I have two more cards for my stash.  I have a card to post on Lesley's site.  And I got to play with TWO favorite stamp sets - Candy Cane Christmas and Tiny Tags, both from PTI, and both with matching dies.   The paper, Rustic Snowflakes, is PTI as well.

These sketches have been a real blessing for me.  Most of the time I feel overwhelmed with a sketch before I even start.  But the simplicity of Lesley's challenges give me that extra boost that I need - even though most of the time I add more than is called for.  I like that option!!  Plus, I'm getting my cards done way ahead of schedule.  It's a win/win in my book!!

I hope you have the SWEETEST DAY EVER!!