{Color Inspiration}

I have seen Kristina Werner's color inspiration post on numerous people's blogs in the last few months, but today I decided to join in and use it to make a card. Here are her colors for yesterday. You can see her post here.











I love these colors! Here's my take on it---it's a little busy, but I like it. I'm sending it to my Sister in law who had some surgery. I started with a Very Vanilla A2 card. I looked back through some of the layouts I've collected in a sketch book (none are my own!) and I used one of Beate John's Weekend Sketch Challenge sketches---#42 to be exact. I added a layer of Chocolate Chip and used the ticket corner punch on each corner. I cut a piece of paper from my Basic Grey Sultry 6 x 6 pad and layered it with Regal Rose. I pierced the corners of that, but you can't really see it because of the busy pattern. I stamped polka dots in Certainly Celery on more Very Vanilla cardstock using Papertrey's Polka Dot Basics set (LOVE that set!) and then layered it on a piece of Celery cardstock.

Next I made the image using the poppy again from Remember. I stamped it in Pretty in Pink (I don't have the Pink Pirouette yet) and then stamped the "squigglies" in Chocolate Chip. I cut it out and layered it with a Chocolate Chip circle and then a Pretty in Pink Scallop Circle. I added the button for some bling. I popped it all up on dimensionals. I was just going to stamp the sentiment directly on the polka dots, but once I started the layering, I just couldn't stop!! So, I punched the Label in Certainly Celery and then added the 1" circle in Pretty in Pink and finally my tag from the freebie set I got with my Cuttlebug.



I stamped "feel better" from PTI's Mixed Messages on top of a small flower and leaves from the Remember set. I held all that in place with some Certainly Celery brads. At the last minute I added the rhinestones in the corners---it's probably a little over the top, but I like them.


I tied a piece of 1/4" celery grosgrain to a Foof-a-la button and was done. Yes, this one took a little longer, but it's my day off and I was having fun. I did forget to put my dinner in the crockpot however until about 30 minutes ago, but we eat late on Thursday night anyway.....they told me this could happen if I started stamping!


I hope your day is a great one~
Kathleen







Here's what I used: Stamps:Remember, Mixed Messages, Polka Dot Basics (PTI)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink CS (SU!) Polished from Sultry (Basic Grey)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery (SU!)
Accessories: Rhinestones (Crystal Elements), Buttons (Foof-a-la), 1/4" Celery Grosgrain ribbon, Paper Piercing tool and mat pack, Brads, 1", 1 1/2" 1 3/8" Scallop, Designer Label punches (SU!) Cuttlebug & dies (Provocraft)

{Remember}

I love Lisa Johnson's new set Remember from Papertrey Ink. It's full of Poppies. I was inspired to do this card from Lauren Meador's card posted here. (scroll down and you'll see it) I just love red and black together and decided I needed to make this for me---actually, it's for someone who had me over to lunch today, but I made it because I wanted to! (Isn't that why I do all this stuff??? Oh, well, you know what I mean---and if you don't, you must be a man and what are you doing reading this anyway?) OK---I'm back---anyway, black and red---love them!

This was a quick card to put together----I started with the Pure Poppy cardstock. I stamped some swirls on it in the same color ink. Then I added a strip of Stamper's Select White cardstock with polka dots from Polka Dot Basics--such a quick way to make a background. I stamped my poppies and swirls onto white cardstock using Pure Poppy and Jet Black Stazon inks. Then I stamped them again and cut them out. I popped them up on dimensionals and tied a piece of pure poppy grosgrain behind the image.




I stamped the sentiment and added another flower in the center of the words---I love how Lisa made the same flower in a smaller size so you can do something cute like this!!! I punched it out with a 1 1/2" circle punch and added the black scallop using my SU! 1 3/8" scallop circle punch.

Quick and simple---I was going to add some stickles (glitter) to the sentiment flower, but I can't find it----hmmmm, I must have "organized it" ....do you ever do that? Anyway, just pretend that it's all bling-y.

Many hugs~

Kathleen

What I used:
Stamps: Remember, Polka Dot Basics (PTI)
Paper: Pure Poppy, Stamper's Select White (PTI) Basic Black (SU!)
Ink: Pure Poppy (PTI), Jet Black Stazon
Accessories: Dimensionals (SU!), Pure Poppy grosgrain (PTI)

{Rustic Branches}

Today is my first Tuesday to work this school year. I don't start teaching until 11:00 am, so I decided I'd take the time to make a quick card. Now, you know that I don't really do "quick" well, but this card really fits into that category. This one could easily be mass produced---and, it may! I started out with the hardest part done---the layout. I used Lauren Meader's Saturday Sketch---you can find it here.

I started with a piece of Papertrey Ink Kraft cardstock. I added a piece of patterned paper from the new 8x8 pad First Fruits.




I added a strip of Summer Sunrise and stamped the sentiment on it with Dark Chocolate ink.







I stamped the wreath image from Rustic Branches on Stamper's Select White cardstock and cut it and a scallop circle out with nestability dies. For some quick bling (because every card needs bling) I added some Martha Stewart twill and some "baubles" from Stamping Bella. This is a clean and simple card!





I hope you are grateful for something today---I know I am! I'm off to finish some laundry and clean a little before I head to school~



Have a super Tuesday!
Kathleen

Stuff I used:
Stamps: Rustic Branches, First Fruits (PTI)
Paper: Kraft, Summer Sunrise, Dark Chocolate, Stamper's Select White cardstock, First Fruits PP (PTI)
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Summer Sunrise (PTI)
Accessories: Dimensionals, Mini Glue dots (SU!), Nestability Dies (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Martha Stewart Twill in Coffee, Bella Baubles (Stamping Bella)

{First Soccer Game of the Fall}

Ahhhhhhh, nothing says "Fall" like sweating at a 2:00 pm Soccer game in Raleigh, NC!!! Joshua had his first game of the season on Saturday. He has really enjoyed the team he's on. He plays for the Capitol Area Soccer League or CASL, which is a great league for training young players. His coach is so great at just letting the boys be kids. There are some teams--even at this age--where coaches are stacking the teams and making serious "plays" and putting lots of pressure on the kids to "PLAY SOCCER"!


Coach Hans is a dad who grew up LOVING soccer and wants these kids to love it too. They are 7, for "Pete's Stinking Sake" as my dear friend Lana would say! The team we played today had a coach just like our coach, so it was such a fun game---the kids are learning the rules of the game, and having a BLAST at the same time. This is what soccer should be!

Thanks so much for stopping by today---leave me a comment about your funny sports moments!







Here's a picture of Joshua engaged in the game---he is in the middle in the white shirt

















here he's uh.....not so much~




Here they are at half time....Joshua is on the left pouring water on his head....yep, he's 7~

{Thank You}

I can never have enough Thank you cards---I feel like I always need one! There's a girl at work who always goes above and beyond---she did something so nice for me, so I had to make a card. I used Lauren Meador's sketch from last week---08/16/08. I know, I know, I should have already uploaded this, but the first week of school got to me! I finished it days ago, but just couldn't get it posted. Anyway, you can find the sketch here. She already has a new one up here if you'd like to see it, too. Anyway, here's my take on the first sketch-

I started out with a 5.25 piece of Aqua Mist cardstock from Papertrey Ink. (PTI) I love the weight of this paper (OK---I know, I sound like a real crafting nerd, but seriously, it's great paper!) I added patterned paper from the Everyday Blessings 12 x 12 pack.


I used my Spellbinder's Nestabilities Dies to cut the circle and scalloped circle. Then I stamped the flower from Stampin' Up's Best Blossoms in Sage Shadow---now, I know you are wondering why I would use Sage Shadow and not use Aqua Mist---my Aqua Mist is SO pale that you can hardly see it----they didn't have any refills when I ordered my pad, so I hope it just needs to be reinked. I'll try to buy a reinker when I place another order. (Are any of you having this problem with yourAqua Mist ink pad, or is it just me?) OK---back to the card! I stamped my sentiment from the same set onto vellum with the Dark Chocolate ink. I LOVE this chocolate color---

I used my Creative Memories square punch for my squares and then rounded them with the SU! corner rounder. I used more paper from the Everyday Blessings pack and then layered them onto Spring Moss cardstock (also PTI). I added some buttons from a pack that I've had for awhile. I've lost the packaging, so I don't know the brand. I'm starting to think they may have been some Foof-a-la buttons. The packaging looks just like some of their packaging they have right now, but when I bought them I didn't know anything about them. I bought them before I really began posting anywhere, so I didn't care who made what--*GASP*! Anyway, I'm sorry I can't tell you who made them! I used some linen thread from Stamping Up to thread my buttons. I like to have thread in my button holes---I don't know why, but I think it looks more finished. I finished the card off with a piece of 1/4" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon.

ETA: I thought I had added this, but perhaps I hadn't saved it before I published---anyway, I received a blog award early in the month and I haven't remembered to post it---how rude is that!

Lisa Thibault over at Craft Store Junkie gave me this award. How sweet is that!? Lisa has some amazing projects on her blog---I know you'll find some great things if you visit her! Thanks Lisa for thinking of me!

I'm supposed to link 7 other blogs, but I'm not going to right now---I hope to be back to do that at another time!

I hope you have a great Sunday! I hope to get some stamping in tonight~a nap is in order this afternoon---it's the Sunday thing to do!

Kathleen

{Teacher Gift}

Today is the first day for all of my children--Caitlin starts her Sophomore year at NC State (she lives on campus--sniff, sniff) and Hannah and Joshua begin 11th and 2nd grades respectively at Trinity Academy of Raleigh. I try to give a gift to the teachers on the first day of school--something small, but useful in their classroom (or sometimes I just give chocolate!) I found some cute Sticky notes in the Target Dollar Spot a month ago and I picked them up for my "First day of school gift"---

I just measured the notes and made a trifold holder for it. (The Scor-pal made this sooooo simple.) This was so quick and easy---and this time of year, that's exactly what I need! I used redline tape to put the notes inside the folder.







I used the Tart and Tangy stamp set and Summer Fun Paper from SU's Spring 2008 flyer. I haven't used this set very often, but I thought the apples were too cute to pass up. I just colored the stamp with my SU markers, "huffed" on it, and stamped it on Stamper's Select White cardstock. I punched it out with the 1 3/8" circle punch, added an Old Olive 1 1/2" circle and then punched out a scallop in Real Red. I popped the image & circles up on dimensionals on the left side only, so it would stay put when the teacher/assistant teacher opens it.I used two pieces of the patterned paper---both with apples, to keep the theme alive. I tied it up with 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, added a tag from my Cuttlebug "free with purchase" set and stamped "For You" from PTI's set Boxes, Bags and Tags.

A few years ago, my oldest bought some candy and an Expo Dry Erase marker, bagged them up and gave them to her teachers for the first day of school (how cool is that High School teachers?!)---so, my younger daughter has continued that with her Upper School teachers---every teacher can use an extra Dry Erase marker!

We have a tradition at the Nelson house of baking Chocolate Chip Cookies and sitting around the table after the first day of school and telling all about our day---I'm looking forward to this sweet time with my two at home. I will miss that day when I can no longer do it---of course by the time Joshua graduates from Trinity, I may have grandbabies in school!!! ; }

Do you have a "first day of school" tradition? I'd love to hear about it~it's never too late for me to start another one!

Have a great day~
Kathleen

Stuff I used:
Stamps: Tart & Tangy (SU!), Boxes, Bags & Tags (PTI)
Paper: Real Red, Old Olive CS, Summer Fun Patterned Paper (SU!)
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Dimensionals, 5/8" Red Grosgrain ribbon, 1 3/8", 1 1/2" Scalloped Circle punch, Sticky Tape (redline) (SU!), Sticky notes (Target),

{Daddy's 81}

WOW! 81 years of life! That's amazing, isn't it? My dad is in great shape---he still works out at the gym 3 days a week. He LOVES to travel and still preaches a great sermon! We had a little party for him on Sunday to celebrate his life~My dad has had a very colorful life---we keep telling him to write an autobiography---here's just a LITTLE bit about him....

• He was born in NY in 1927---

• His Dad was a Longshoreman on Long Island

• He started working at the age of 7

• He went into the navy early so he could fight in the "big war"

• He was a corpsman and gave shots all day long----seriously, all day long

• He got married YOUNG and lost his pregnant wife and 2 children in a car wreck in Mississippi

• He met my mom while she was out shooting baskets on the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Campus
• He graduated from Mississippi College and NOBTS---a first in his family
  

• On their first date (to Tony's Pizza and Cafe du Monde) Mom ordered black coffee and dad was too proud to add his normal cream and sugar===he has had black coffee every since
  

• They were married 18 months later

• They had 3 beautiful girls (the youngest is their favorite---hee, hee!)

• He was a pastor for over 50 years

• While he pastored in MS, the KKK put out a hit on him because he stood up against the burning of "black" churches in their town (Meridian, MS) in 1968---they found out years later that he Grand Wizard of that county was the Chairman of the Deacons----gotta love that, huh?
  

• My family slept on the floor of their bedroom for over 80 days (I just thought it was a big party) and we were protected by the FBI
  

• Dad served in Austin, TX at the same church for over 34 years

• He as been married to his lovely bride for 51 years

• He is a very giving man---and boy, does he have stories to tell!

We could all write a book on his life---we are just glad he's still here to tell us all those stories!

Happy Birthday Dad

I had a few other pictures, but Blogger wasn't cooperating---maybe later!

{ Cupcakes x 9}

Yum!!! I LOVE cupcakes! But I think that 9 would make me really sick! Taylor VanBruggen at Taylored Expressions had a great card sketch this week! (she always does!) This one was really fast....ok, it looks fast, too, but we won't go there. I think I need a new paper cutter---mine just isn't cutting straight consistently. Anyway, I'm frustrated with the lines on my card---but here it is anyway!

I started out with Stamper's Select White card that measures 5.25 square. I added some red and Old Olive layers and then the patterned paper. I used the polka dots page from Basic Grey's Cupcake pad as my color inspiration. I stamped 8 cupcakes from PTI's It's a Celebration and then added the sentiment in the middle from SU's Circle of Friendship. I paper pieced a few of the "tops" of the cupcakes with more paper from the Cupcake pad. I layered each 1" circle with two other circles and put them on the card with dimensionals. I added one piece of 1/4" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon and voila! It's done. This went pretty fast since I have all those punches (have I mentioned before that I love punches?).....anyway...there it is! You should check out Taylor's sketch---she does it every Friday and it's a lot of fun. She gives away a random prize every week and also chooses a Featured Cupcake Sampler every week.


Well, I need to head to the school---it's Meet the Teacher Night and I still have a few things to do. I'm SOOOO grateful I'm not a classroom teacher on a night like this. Since I teach music, I just get to "smile and wave" (this comes quite naturally to divas....not that I know any!) and I don't have to stress over everything else! I hope to be able to keep stamping & blogging during this school year. . . we'll see how this goes!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day~
Kathleen

Stuff I used:
Stamps: Circle of Friends (SU!), Boxes, Bags, & Tags, It's a Celebration (PTI)
Paper: Stamper's Select White (PTI), Old Olive (SU!), Basic Grey Cupcake 6x6 pad
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Summer Sunrise (PTI), Ruby Red, Brocade Blue (SU!)
Accessories: Dimensionals, 1 1/4", 1 1/2", 1 3/8" circle punches, 1/4" chocolate grosgrain ribbon (SU!)

{Let's Try this again}

I'm so sorry I haven't been back on to let you know that my pictures are safe!! I am backing them up this weekend, however, after that big scare! Something had happened with the USB port, so the computer wasn't reading what was plugged into it. I'm sure if you are a computer person you are laughing right now, but that's what I picked up when my husband came downstairs to look at it and fixed it in about 3 minutes---ahhhhhhhh, deep breath!

Here's the card I made for my parents---I didn't spend enough time on it---this is always the case for me--let's think about this. I have known for a year, yes, an entire year, that my parents would have this anniversary---but I didn't make the card until the night before I needed it---AND, I started REALLY late. Now, this wouldn't be a problem for some people, because they could just sneak into their stamp room and go crazy. BUT, my stamp room is IN my bedroom, so when I'm up stamping I'm right in my husband's space. Fortunately, he really doesn't mind---but I always feel bad making those stamping noises when he's reading, watching TV or sleeping! All of this is just a disclaimer, that this isn't the finest card I've ever made!

I started out with Lauren Meader's sketch from last week (8/16/08)---you can find it here.
For the card base, I used PTI's Dark Chocolate and layered it with Vintage Cream, then I embossed the Pretty in Pink cardstock with the Stylized Flowers Embossing folder. I find that when I need a fast card, I go to the folders----it makes the card seem pretty without taking very long! Anyway, I colored my flowers from SU's Merci with SU markers. (Until I get some Copic markers, I'm limited to how I can use my papers that don't have markers....I have other mediums to use, but when I'm in a hurry, I always go back to my SU markers!) I added a strip of dark chocolate satin ribbon and actually covered up a mistake with the sentiment---from Wedding Favors by Papertrey Ink. The circle is from Boxes, Bags and Tags. I added the Bella Baubles down the side and I was done. Of course, after I photographed it and finally pulled it up today, the card was already at my parents' house and I thought of all sorts of changes I would have made...maybe some distress ink on the edges of the image, or some score lines at the top.....I guess I'll just have to stamp some other card today and see if I can make it look like it should! ; }

Thanks so much for stopping by---I have another Cupcake Challenge from Taylor and some First Day of school teacher gifts to share in a few days! I hope you enjoy your Saturday!

Hugs~
Kathleen



Stuff I used:
Stamps: Merci (SU!), Boxes, Bags & Tags, Favor It Weddings (PTI)
Paper: Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream (PTI), Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery (SU!)
Ink: Dark Chocolate (PTI), Pretty in Pink (SU!)
Accessories: Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron Markers (SU!), Bella Baubles (Stamping Bella), Dark Chocolate Satin Ribbon (PTI), Slot Punch (SU!), Cuttlebug, Stylized Flowers Embossing Folder (Provocraft)

{Happy 51st}

.....that's years of marriage---not years of life! My parents had their 51st wedding anniversary on Saturday---that is so amazing! I'm so blessed to have two parents who have stuck it out through the years and were a godly example of His grace in their lives.


OK.......my E drive isn't showing up on my computer----SERIOUS PANIC is setting in, so I'll show you the card I made for my parents later....now, I'm going to throw up....(OK, not appealing, I know, but ALL of my digital photos are on there)....I will not panic, I will not panic.....

I've started back to school, so I have very little time to blog today---I hope to be back tonight with an update (and some pics!)

I will not panic, I will not panic....

{Weightwatchabella}

I made this card for a girl at church who has lost a lot of weight. You know how you'll see someone every week and then all of a sudden they look SOOOO much thinner? Well, I do see her most weeks, but I just happened to notice HOW GREAT SHE LOOKED last week, so I had to make a card to encourage her! As a person who has battled the weight, I really respect someone who "is a loser"---so to speak! I hadn't had a chance to ink up this great little stamp---Weightwatchabella from Stamping Bella. You have to be careful about sending her to people, you know---girls are testy about their weight!


I used Taylor's Cupcake Challenge #28 as the sketch. As I've mentioned before, I LOVE a good sketch and she always has a good one. I haven't been able to play for awhile, so I was so happy to be able to play today.



I was inspired by the patterned paper to choose the colors I did. I don't know if the recipient is a "girly girl", but I think Weightwatchabella looks great as one, don't you?



I used Papertrey Ink's Dark Chocolate as the card base (8 x 9.25) and then used two papers from the Basic Grey Sultry 6 x 6 pad. I colored the image with my trusty SU! markers and also used the aquapainter and some of my SU! ink for the skin and hair.

I pulled out my Designer Label punch and stamps---I'll bet I haven't used that stamp set in over a year---for the decoration and used "Enjoy the Moment" from Mixed Messages as the sentiment. I needed a "You go Girl" stamp, but I didn't have one, so I used this instead. Later I thought---"who enjoys the 'moment' of stepping on the scale?"---and then I thought---"someone who is losing weight"----yes, I know, it's scary, I talk to myself....I outlined Bella with the Prismacolor Warm Grey 20% Marker & put it all together. Anyway, I hope she likes it---

Thanks for stopping by~
Kathleen







Stuff I used:
Stamps: Weightwatchabella (Stamping Bella), Designer Labels (SU!), Mixed Messages (PTI)
Paper: Dark Chocolate & Stamper's Select White cardstock (PTI), Certainly Celery, Garden Green (SU!), Sultry 6 x 6 paper pad (Basic Grey)
Ink: Jet Black Stazon, Close to Cocoa, Blush Blossom
Accessories: 1" circle punch, Designer Label Punch, (SU!) Hero Arts Crystals & Flower Crystals, Certainly Celery 1/4" ribbon (SU!), Dark Chocolate Satin Ribbon (PTI), Prismacolor Warm Grey 20% marker, Aquapainter, Dimensionals (SU!)

{Blessings}

My Aunt Doris is sick---really sick. She is in the hospital hoping to have a heart stent put in, but she isn't stable enough right now to do it. We are all praying that she will get stronger and be able to handle the surgery. I needed to make her a card---probably more for me than for her, but I wanted her to know I am praying for her recovery and some more years of health. I didn't want to take a lot of time, so it's not my most beautiful card, but it says what I want it to say: "Blessings".

I started out with a piece of Papertrey's Dark Chocolate cardstock---I LOVE this cardstock! I have always loved SU's Chocolate Chip, but this is really darker, and richer---"dark chocolate" is the perfect name for it (IMHO!). I added some Spring Moss cardstock that I had run through my Cuttlebug using an embossing folder. I stamped an image from Papertrey Ink's Out on a Limb Revised set and added a scalloped oval behind it. I stamped Blessings from that same sentiments set on a piece of Stamper's Select White cardstock and ran it through the Cuttlebug using a Ribbon tag die from Spellbinder's. I used the yummy Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon from Papertrey Ink and added a button to finish it off---the picture makes it look like the button doesn't match, but it looks perfect IRL~whew!

Any prayers that you could lift for my aunt would be appreciated. I know she is ready to meet the Lord if it is her time, but we'd love to keep her around a lot longer~


Thanks for stopping by~
Kathleen

Stuff I used:
Stamps: Out on a Limb Revised Edition, Out on a Limb Sentiments (PTI)
Paper: Dark Chocolate, Spring Moss, Stampers Select White cardstock (PTI)
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Spring Moss (PTI)
Accessories: Dark Chocolate Satin Ribbon, Scallop and regular Oval Nestabilities, Cuttlebug machine, Stylized Flowers embossing folder, button, DMC thread

{On the Mend}

No, I'm not sick, thank goodness! I just never have enough get well cards, so I thought I'd make a few. I finally got my Aqua Mist Stamp Pad so I wanted to try it out. I LOVE this Guide Lines set. Every card I see that has used it is beautiful to me, so I thought I'd use it again.

I started with a piece of Vintage Cream cardstock and then used the Guide Lines grid to create the "lines". I used Spring Moss and Aqua Mist and two different stamps from the set to create the pattern. I love all the options with this set. (Did I already say that?!)

I stamped the spool and thread in Versamark and embossed it with Ranger Clear Embossing powder and used my cool new heat tool that my sister gave me while I was up there. Then I stamped the needle with Colorbox silver ink and embossed it with Silver powder. I distressed all the edges, added a quick sentiment and a few buttons and I was done. Now that I look at it, I think it might have looked better to use a layer of dark chocolate cardstock behind the patterned piece to pull it all together....next time I'll know! I know I'll make some more similar to this, so I'll remember this!
Thanks for stopping by---I really appreciate it!

Hugs~
Kathleen


Stuff I used: Stamps: Guide Lines, Quilter's Sampler (PTI)
Paper: Aqua Mist, Spring Moss, Vintage Cream (PTI)
Ink: Aqua Mist, Spring Moss, Dark Chocolate (PTI), Versamark, Colorbox Silver
Accessories: Clear & Silver Embossing Powder (Ranger), buttons, DMC thread, Heat tool

{The deck}

I don't know if I mentioned it earlier this summer, but our deck just sagged one day----literally. One day it was together, and the next day it sagged. I'm on the deck everyday because I use the back door to let the dog out. One morning I opened the back door to let her out and I saw the deck sagging in the middle. It kept sagging and then one day I heard a crash and our glass table had shattered....I didn't think of it at the time, but obviously it had something to do with the deck sagging underneath it. O course, I don't have a picture of that part---the workers came earlier than I thought they were and I hadn't taken any of it (and I was out of town---didn't think to ask anyone else to take photos either) SOOO, here are a few random photos of the deck in my files.

We have wanted to replace our deck for some time now, but this summer we are having the house painted, so replacing the deck was going to have to wait----until the contractor said, "No, you need to do the deck first---it's dangerous." So, as you look at these pictures and see our house with the awful green trim, please know that we will be painting that in the next month---I'll put pictures up of that as well. Anyway, our deck had been painted green as well--- deck....WHO PAINTS THEIR DECK IN THE FIRST PLACE----AND, IF YOU WANT TO PAINT IT-----green? Seriously, GREEN? I really don't mind green, but it's not what I would do if I had painted, and I guess there's just too much TEXAN in me to ever understand why anyone would paint a deck---but that's for another post. ANYWAY, here is a picture that I found before the sag!


















And here is my deck when I came home from DC on Monday---Day 1---GONE

















So, Day 2-- they got the footings in and braced them




Day 3--they laid down the floor--- We have almost doubled our deck space. It's going to be so nice to have another "living space" outdoors. We took out all the shrubs around the deck, so we'll just replace everything. Most of it was stuff that I would never plant, so I just decided to get rid of it---This fall we'll put in all the plants, I hope.















Day 4--He actually braced the deck---not just the footing, but SERIOUS braces and built the stairs. We made them wider than before and he really supported it---this deck is here to stay!
















Day 5--so, the frames of the rails are up---I'm sure some of you are thinking why it took so long, but most of the week we just had one worker here---I was so impressed with his work---and his work ethic. What a blessing to have someone who worked so hard













I'll be out of pocket for a few days, so I won't be able to take pictures. When I am able to share the rest, I will. I know it will totally change the look of our back yard. After the deck is finished, we are beginning the process of replacing wood on our house to get it ready to paint---I'm going with the traditional all white paint---woodwork, too. Black shutters, red door (on the front---black on the others). I just can't wait to have this done! What a blessing to get it done this summer in the midst of lots of other stuff. The Lord is so gracious to provide.

I hope you have a restful Sunday~I promise a card eventually!
Kathleen