Stampin! with Jaydee

Hi Everyone.

Happy 4th!  I hope you had a truly wonderful day with your friends and family.

I saw a great sketch across at stamping411 today and knew exactly what I wanted to do with it the minute I saw it.

There is a wonderful set in the 2012 catalog that I immediately fell in love with.  I decided that it had to be embossed in gold and paired with my favorite DSP from last year's catty.

Isn't that a fabulous stamp?  I spent ages phaffing with this card as I couldn't get the background right.  I tried it with the polka dot embossing folder.  It really didn't look right.  I then tried distressing the polka dot folder with the Mahogany ink from the distressing set.  That didn't look right.  I tried popping her against an Early Espresso background... that really didn't look right.  Eventually I hit upon using the Wonderfully Worn background stamp with some Crumb Cake ink.  Yep!  That was what it needed.  Then I wasn't sure what to do with the sentiment.  I played around with different placements for that.  In the end I realized that I could use that as my horizontal element from the sketch.  

I love that the dots from the wonderfully worn echo the dots from the vertical DSP elements.  I popped the sentiment using Stampin' Dimensionals and did the same for the Angel.  In the end I was very pleased and really enjoyed playing with the sketch.   I know the talented operators would love you to pop along and visit their fabulous blog and creations.

On a personal note:

It's still REALLY hot.  It was 100 degrees at lunch time - heavens knows what it was with the heat index.  100 was the real temperature.  It was also the temperature that Lou decided was perfect for painting the concrete patio areas!  Yeah, and he did it at lunch time, too!  You know what they say about mad dogs and Englishmen?   Well, I'd say Australian/Italians are even nuttier :-)  The concrete patios do look great though.  In fact, we have decided that we need to do the stoep the same color!

Since we have been in the house, I have hardly needed an alarm in the morning.  The sun rising wakes me up every morning.  However, on Monday I woke up before the sun had risen and was met with the most amazing view over the wetlands.  Steam was rising from the ground and the wetland looked like a fairy land.  Take a look at what I mean.

Want to see what was visiting the feeding station yesterday?

The grosbeak, the catbird, the female grosbeak and a woodpecker!

Sorry about the quality of the next photo.. but I had to share this.  The Fleet Farm orange grape jelly station is like Heathrow Airport some days.   I saw 6 birds waiting to get their turn at the jelly.  Two of them had gone by the time I got my camera and took a shot.

Sally, I must admit, the feeding stations do prove to be a source of distraction - constantly.  In fact, I have had to position my desk looking into the wall so that I wouldn't be distracted all the time!

Pammie.... just wanted you to know that your bed is up in your room and ready for you.  Your chair, however, has been commandeered by Bailey!

As always, thak you so much for your visit.  I really do appreciate you taking the time - and leaving a comment.   Warm hugs and prayers to those who need a little lift tonight.

Hugs

Jaydee

Card recipe:  All ingredients Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:

• Card stock:  Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Gold metallic
• Stamps:  Rejoicing with You.  Sentiment:  Christmas Greeting.  Background: Wonderfully Worn
• Inks:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake.  Gold Embossing Powder
• DSP:  Mocha Morning