CTS #298~Penny Black Hometown Christmas

 Well I've been trying to clean.  Last night we paid the contractor and he is gone, however, we have so much work to do and I just can't seem to get it all done like I had expected.  My head is just not ever going to get use to my new reality of being limited in moving.   I guess that in itself is a disability.  Any ways we cut our losses last night and will finish the trim around the baseboard,  the basement windows, and fix the damages to the wall, and the duct work.  It is just a very nice feeling to not have to stress about that man anymore.  It was an awful experience. 

I made this card while taking a break this morning.    I will submit it to the challenge at: CAS(E) This Sketch

I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  I love the embossed snowy background and that adorable little slug bug with the Christmas tree tied on top.

I also added a picture of my butter brush.  On Thanksgiving I was carting many things to my daughter's home and ours.  So we thought we lost Mr. Butter Brush, but nope he was spending the night at my Daughter and Son-in-law's home.  So I put some google eyes on him  and snapped this picture to say how happy he was to be home.  Silly I know, but hey.. it's the little things. 

Thank you for stopping by for a visit. 

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

PJ

Sketch 291~Merry Christmas Street light post Penny Black Hometown Christmas

 Well folks I had to make a card today, to calm down.   I was so frustrated with myself for not being strong enough to do what I use to as far as cleaning and putting things in order.  Now I have to take so many breaks and stretch my back and legs constantly.  I feel like no progress is being made in our home as far as my part of putting it back together.   My husband thinks I've put to much pressure on myself, but I just want it to feel like home again, if that is even possible.   

Any ways I went for a Christmas card and found that this cute little street lamp would work wonderfully for the challenge at:

 Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

A lovely snowy background a few brads for embellishments and bit of sparkle ribbon ties it all together.  

I hope you all had a lovely thanksgiving.  God was so amazing in his timing for us.  I was worried how I'd manage thanksgiving this year.  My stove/oven were in the dining room until Wednesday night, our son-in-law helped hubby move it back so I could bake a pie, bars, and couple side dishes for thanksgiving Thursday.  However, the most amazing timing was the fact the kiddos bought their house, signed for it the Friday before Thanksgiving, and we were all able to get together at their home, such a beautiful blessing.  God truly worked it all out for us.  Even right down to them getting a sub-leaser last minute and myself running two ovens in two homes.  Feeling thankful for our family.   

I'm also thankful for all of you for following my blog, and becoming friends.   

Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping 

PJ

Sketch #291 High Tide Stampin Up

 I made this card on Friday for our contractor that is laying the floor in our home.  I just didn't get a chance to post it until now. 

 I used the challenge at: 

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge To play along with.

He has been such a blessing and so easy to communicate with.  A true gentleman.   I wanted to let him know how much we appreciate him.    He worked very hard so we could move our oven and fridge back in the kitchen on Wednesday.  However, when my husband and son-in-law moved them, the new floor got huge scratch marks, and they were super careful.    UGH!!!  At least I was not the first person to make the first marks on the new floor.  The nice contractor said he'd come back a different time to fix that for us.   I'm not looking forward to tomorrow being that our  other contractor is coming over to finish three thresholds, and a little more duct work in the basement.  I hope he wraps it up and gets out this week.  It's been an awful experience with him.  I don't think I can bring myself to make him a card, especially after last week when he called me a "nasty woman"  because I was complaining a bit to much about some of his work.   

Any ways.. I won't complain anymore here.  

Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping.

PJ

TMS#480 ~Snow Is Glistening Stampin up

 Well, I've been busy stamping just not blogging.  I was working on a few more cards that a customer requested, but then I switched gears and went back to Christmas Cards again.  They are my absolute favorite to make.    I will be submitting this card to the challenge at: 

Tuesday Morning Sketches

This was a fun card to make I used multiple layers and lots of snowflakes from my new stampin up set called:  Snow is Glistening and Snowfall thinlit dies.   A few little embellishments and some washi tape were also included on this card.

I'm going to share a few of the other cards I have been working on  per a request from a friend.  
Thank you for stopping by for a visit.
Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping
PJ

 

 

 

FUSION - Wine O'Clock At Home With You, Stampin Up

 Yesterday our daughter and son in law signed the papers for their first home.  Such an exciting time in their life and ours too.   We couldn't be more happier for them.  Bonus for us is that it is just a few blocks away.    Their home is an older one, but in much better shape then ours.  It is so lovely.  It has that old home charm that I love, a beveled window, stained glass french doors, a stained glass window the shape of an octagon, and a banister that is lovely on the stair case.  OOH  and lot's not forget the beautiful front porch with original bead board.  As you can read I am really fond of their home.  They have some lovely new adaptions as well, recessed lightening, nice new windows, and great cabinetry in the kitchen.   So with all that being said, I wanted to make them a card to congratulate the first time home buyers.  So I chose to use my stampin up set called, At Home with You.  It worked out perfectly.  I tried to make the door look old and worn, but surrounded by beautiful elements. I used two embossing folders, the one for behind the door, and the other to give the strip of brown paper on the side a bit of interest.  I placed it a little bit under that gorgeous ribbon.  

I will be submitting this card to the challenge at:  Fusion

Thank you for stopping by for a visit.  

Our house floor project:  Well folks apparently we have 3 layers of flooring in the kitchen, and once upon a time, whomever laid it down thought it to be handy to screw it in about every 3-4inches, so our contractor is going to leave that layer and try to work from the top.  Which is fine, because we really just want him out of our home, however the sad part is that part of the house will continue to have squeaky floors.  I must say we didn't take on this project to correct squeaky floors, that was a bonus we didn't expect, we did it to level up the house.   So squeaky we can leave with, in fact we have the past 17 years.   As long as they are strong and somewhat more level.  Thank you so much for your continued prayers in this matter.  I have posted pictures in my previous posts of how horrible the floor was and now what it is looking like.  I hope you will check it out. 

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

PJ

Freshly Made Sketches #363~Thoughtful Branches, High Tide, Stampin UP

 I had a customer make a request for a couple retirement cards.. So I worked on those today and thought of course I'd have to find a challenge to play along with.  So I will submit this card to the challenge at: 

Freshly Made Sketches

The stamp sets featured in today's card are: 

Stampin Up: High Tide

Stampin Up: Thoughtful Branches 

I used washi tape anchors on the side, and an embossing folder on the other side to make it look like waves.  I'm really happy with how this little card turned out.  

If you are interested in our home project, my last post had a picture of the floor almost finished.   It's been quite the journey.  You'll have to scroll down a bit to see what we were dealing with in terms of flooring for this old home. 

Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping 

PJ

Sketch #290~Lilypad Lake, Itty Bitty Greetings Stampin UP

I had a request to make a couple of cards,  which is always exciting.   So of course I wanted to find a challenge to play along with.   I will submit this card to: 

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 

I used two stampin up sets:

Lilypad Lake

Itty Bitty Greetings. 

House Update:  The flooring man is an absolute pleasure to work with.   SO very compassionate and a wonderful communicator.    I actually have tears of happiness streaming down my face as I type this, he read between the lines and saw what our contractor has been putting us through, so yesterday,  the flooring man worked super hard to lay our floor in our bedroom so we didn't have to sleep in our basement again.   What a complete delight.  Then he finished the living room and dining room today.   I am just so amazed at all he did for us.  Truly he has been a BLESSING to us.   We have the kitchen and bathroom to go, and the floor man spoke to the contractor,  He said our bathroom is sturdy enough go over the top, so hopefully that is the plan.  Thank you for your continued prayers in this very stressful living situation.  

Here is a picture of the living room and dining room, there is no finished trim yet on the floor, but I'm so thankful we are this far. 

Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping.

PJ

TMS#479 Lawn Fawn Thankful Mice, Sweet'nSassy Harvest Blessings

  Well it has been quite the experience here trying to make a card for this challenge: 

Tuesday Morning Sketches

I never imagined a diamond would be so difficult for me to work with.  I mean goodness nothing to it.  At least that's what I thought, however, ya all should see the pile of notebook scraps, just trying to get a template made that somewhat resembled a diamond shape, and that would ultimately fit on the front of the card and hold the images I wanted to stamp.  YIKES it took me most of the morning.   Any ways I am finally happy with the shape of it.  So I started stamping my images, coloring and then fussy cutting them out.   I used an embossing folder for the background.   I really like how the pilgrim mice brought their own little gift to fit in the cornucopia of food. 

Stamp sets featured in today's card:

Lawn Fawn:  Thankful Mice

Sweet n Sassy: Harvest Blessings

House update:  The man that is laying our floor down is so compassionate and nice, and we are so grateful to work with him.   Our contractor  on the other hand was suppose to be here today, but pulled the pin yet again last night at five, after my husband already requested to take today off to help him.  grrr.  He the contractor has been horrible to work with, we still don't have heat out to the porch, and only 50% in the living room, and it's been cold nights here in WI.   He plans on ripping out the bathroom and kitchen this weekend.  We will see how far he gets, being he only works a few hours at a time.  Thank you for your continued prayers in this home project.   

Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

PJ 

#tgifc185 Sketch Challenge~Star Of Light Stampin Up

 Sunday.. I miss going to church.  However, I am thinking of trying a little Baptist church in the neighborhood.  I will  always miss our home church where we use to live, but I can no longer make that drive, and then sit and drive home, it's a bit difficult.

   Sunday's I usually try and make a SCS post, but I thought even though this card does not have a scripture verse, it has great meaning.   It will do the job lovely.  

I will submit this card to the challenge at: TGIF

I used my new stampin up set called Star of Light.  What a delightful set, I love the sentiments, and I especially love the swirl behind the star.  That is just fabulous.  I think I will be using that a whole lot in many projects. 

I also included a picture of HP.. the little sweetheart knows he should be sleeping on his blankie, but he  keeps scooting off of it and then gives us this very innocent look that is so adorable, so you might say he is very spoiled and gets away with a lot.  

*Home project:   Contractor is suppose to be here tomorrow to finally get our heat ducts figured out.  It's been quite cold, and he's been stalling.  He also has to finish a few little things so the flooring guys can work on Tuesday.   Then Thursday he comes back to rip out the bathroom and kitchen floor.  Oh please pray this goes well.  I really just want this contractor out of our house.  The amount of stress dealing with him has been awful for both hubby and myself.  

Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping. 

PJ

TMS #478~His Light Stampin UP

I will submit this card to the challenge at: 

Tuesday Morning Sketches  

I used a stampin up set called His Light to create this card.   I fell in love with this marvelous plaid paper.  I had a Santa theme running through my head before I realized I had not used my new stamp set.  So I pulled that out and went to work stamping.  I tried to pick up the gold in the plaid, but carrying it through the rest of the card design, as in the twine and the banners in the upper right hand corner.  I also used gold brads.   I would have embossed the sentiments, but being our home is in complete disarray I was unable to locate the storage box the powders are in.  Next time.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit and for leaving a comment.

*Home project:  The contractor showed up for an hours worth of work today.  GRRR.   Husband informed him of what needs to be done on Monday.  Just praying the man will get it done so the flooring people will be able to lay down the finished product in a couple areas.   Thank you for your continued prayers in the project. 

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping.

PJ

CTS #297 Here For you, Happy Healing, Stampin Up

 I made this card for our dear son-in-law  that was in an accident on Thursday.  We are so grateful and praise the LORD for keeping him safe.  He was rear-ended on the Hwy by someone who was texting.  The back end of his car  folding like the bellows of an accordion up to the  back window.  He had a full tank of gas, and the axle broke, and their were fluids leaking everywhere.  He was hit so hard that his car turned side ways and went into the ditch and was miraculous stopped before hitting trees.  Glory to GOD.  

I will submit this card to the challenge at: 

CAS(E) this Sketch

 

The stamp sets featured in today's card are:  

Stampin Up:  Here for You

Stampin Up: Happy Healing (1999)

Thank you for stopping by for a visit, and for leaving a comment.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

PJ

Color Dare #316 - Monochromatic "Green"Snow Is Glistening Stampin UP

 Did you ever have an idea that you thought would be fabulous, and when all is said and done, it is not nearly as nice as you thought it would be?   Well I give you my card for the challenge at: Color My Heart Color Dare

This is exactly what happened.  I had this lovely vision of using my new stamp set, and was quite challenged to make sure I kept this card Monochromatic with greens. I used white as my neutral color.  However no matter what I tried to"spruce" it up, I just couldn't get that.. "aww. Yes.. that's it" moment.   I even used washi tape (green) cut it out with my oval die, and thought that would help.  I found a green gem to stick in the middle of my snowflake tree topper, which I layered three times.. two in green and one in white. When I looked at it, I thought the tree looked so plain so I chose to have the sentiment (in green) go directly across it as a banner. That helped a little bit.  

Any ways.  I will have to make another card today to combat the feeling of not doing a good enough job on this one.

I'm also adding a picture of this little birdie on my deck.  While our home is in shambles it is comforting to watch the little birds and  know the One that watches them is also watching me.   I know many are praying for our home situation and I am so grateful.  Thank you.  

By the Way:  Contractor is not here right now.  He said he'd get our heat out to the porch today.   Well that has not happened.  He did manage to get our outlet in the wall finally, and in doing so with all his running in out he broke our storm door handle off. 

It's suppose to be dipping into the 20's so that means it will be quite cold in our home.  *sigh

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

PJ