2009 is Off and Running

No, this is not a vintage image that I am planning to use on a card project. This is a picture of my kitchen sink, circa 2009! For the last three years, since we moved into our house, I've had to make due with a very outdated and less than functional kitchen. And the worst part is-- it's really ugly!
Well, my hubby actually took the decision himself that this would be the year that something is finally done about our kitchen. He didn't have to ask me if I thought it would be a good idea, he already knew what my answer would be. Ultimately, it had to be his decision since he will be doing all the work himself--which is going to be a huge undertaking for him. Sigh, I am torn. I'm so happy that the work is about to begin and grateful that we are in the position to do this- but I'm sad because our lives are going to be crazy during the entire project and we won't have much family time until it's done. Well, all the sacrifices will be for a greater good-- I just have to keep reminding myself of this when I feel like pulling my hair out!


Just to give you a better idea of what we are facing, if the sink picture didn't say it all: we will need all new cabinets and counter tops (note the white counters in the picture; that's contact paper I affixed over the original scuzzy black counter tops), sheet rock for the walls and ceiling; electrical outlets and under the counter lighting; a new sink and a dishwasher (Finally!); counter space around the sink and cabinets near the sink for storing dishes; we will need to close up a window that looks into a mud room; and a new microwave to replace our 15 year old one-- a left over from my college life. It sounds like a lot and it is, but we need to do all of this with a budget that is normally a drop in the bucket for any other kitchen do over. Well, that's why my hubby's going to be doing it-- and thank goodness he is handy, I have complete faith in his skills. Oh yes, and I forgot to mention what we need to do to repair the mud room in order to move our washer and dryer that is currently in the kitchen-- I'll have pictures soon of that.

Well, in order to escape the reality of what we are getting ourselves into I have turned to excessive card making, it's just what the Dr. ordered. I made a card for my Mom's birthday which is coming up at the end of the month. I made it based on a card sketch from the blog 2 Sketches 4 You. I really wanted to have it done to post on their blog, but the kitchen planning was a bit distracting so I missed the deadline for the challenge, oh well- there is always another week. The paper, stamp and felt flowers are all from a kit I received with a purchase from Emma's Paperie.

I made a horrible mistake when I originally tried to stamp the image directly onto the paper. I thought I was going to have to trash the card. That's when I got the idea to stamp the image onto a piece of transparency and affix it over the botched image. It's not perfect, but I still like the way it came out. Something I really love about this craft is how imperfections are always doors to other creative possibilities. So many times projects don't come out the way I had intended, but they still look great and make me feel happy. I think I really needed something like that in my life. Perfection is wonderful, but we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be perfect these days. Sometimes it's just as great to be imperfect, after all we are just human.