Petite Pairs meets Four Frames for Stamping411

Hi Everyone.  Happy Monday night.

The operators across at Stamping411 have two sketches this week.  I absolutely fell in love with this one and had an idea of what I wanted to do almost immediately.  And, it all revolved around the Mocha Morning DSP.  I am absolutely completely and utterly in love with this sophisticated DSP.  I think it's one of the best that Stampin Up! has ever created.

Here's the sketch.  Isn't it great?  Why don't you pop along to stamping411 and check out the fabulous design team inspiration cards and play along, too!

And here's what I did with it.

Isn't that luscious.  It's like a real Italian hot chocolate drink on a cold winter's day.  I love the Soft Suede and Very Vanilla paper with the Early Espresso textured card stock.  Of course, I couldn't NOT use the quilted satin ribbon from the new mini.  I stamped the Four Frames onto Very Vanilla using Early Espresso and "fussy cut" around it.  I then punched out the background to the frame using Early Espresso and the Decorative Label punch.    I was really happy with the way it turned out.  Sometimes, a sophisticated wedding card is exactly what one needs.  What do you think of it?

• Card stock:  Very Vanilla, Early Espresso
• DSP: Mocha Morning
• Stamps:  Four Frames, Petite Pairs
• Accessories:  Qulited Satin Early Espresso Ribbon
• Tools:  Stampin' Dimensionals, Decorative Label Punch, Snail, Paper Snips

On a personal note:

HUGE shout out to CAM tonight.  Her box chocablock full of cards arrived for the troops today.  WAY TO GO, CAM.  I really appreciate that you support each of my card drives.  You are an absolute star.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you!

Some of you have asked to see pictures of our new deck.  Well, last weekend we had to clear off the furniture and give it a clean.  Yes, even the low-maintenance environmentally friendly decks need more TLC than I had expected.  In fact, it seems that black mold loves growing on them.  Considering the deck is west facing, we were very surprised by the amount of mold that had attacked the deck.  So, out came the environmentally friendly oxy deck clean, the scrubbing brush, warm water and lots of elbow grease.  We put the furniture back on the deck this weekend and it was an ideal time to take some pictures for you.  The weather wasn't co-operating much yesterday morning as it was very dull…. but I did manage to take a couple this afternoon when I went out to sit in the shade of the tree and have a quick bite to eat.

Here's the deck empty..  you can blow up any of the pictures with your mouse. 

You can see the deck, and the fountain and hardscaping on the right.  The fountain and the tree provide a wonderful respite from the sun, as it is always shady and cool there.  We set up our little bistro table and chairs and its a perfect place to sit and contemplate.

Here's the pic from the chair looking out over the fountain

Then, if you turn slightly right, you can see over the bench seat and see the wonderful chairs that are so comfy to just curl up in.

Then… here's a pic looking over the chairs, the bench seat, with the fountain in the background.

I'll save the rest of the pics until tomorrow night.  But, I think you can tell why we love it so much!

We spent some time at the nursery yesterday buying more local perennials.  The plants really have to live through some tough conditions here, so we buy mostly locally grown plants.  We had many things come back after winter, but some did not.  Lou spent hours yesterday planting echinacea, and rununculus and honeysuckle and ladybells…. and all sorts of other things that the hummers and butterflies are supposed to love.  Lets hope that the deer/rabbit deterrent we put on works.

I hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday.  Hugs and prayers for those who need a lift tonight.

Jaydee