Monday, June 30, 2008

on this day in 1859 ...

On this day in 1859, Jean-François Gravelet, known as The Great Blondin, crossed Niagara Falls on a tightrope that was 1,100 feet long and 160 feet above the water.

For an interesting read on his exploits, read this Associated Content article (here); my favorite story was of his trip across the falls carrying a barber who shaved him while he crossed (I'm off to see if I can find documentation on that one!)!

I LOVE having access to the Britannica Online Encyclopedia!

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Inchies RULE!

"Inchies RULE!" this week and were the subject of a couple challenges recently - both SplitCoastStampers' SC182 sketch and Hero Arts blog all this past week (I LOVE their blog!). En route to finishing an album project yesterday I stopped by CAM to meet up w my buddy Pat J and during breaks on THAT project, spotted this absolutely gorgeous family of 2-sided designer cardstocks. I used 3 different designs for today's card - one dotted, one paisley, and one a leaf pattern print. Muted shades of blues and greens, it's also all cardstock (no DP), the subject of one of Colleen's recent Thursday Throwdown challenges.

This one's intended for my DH when I give him his Sudoku puzzles tomorrow morning. Even tho' we're both retired computer programmers, he generally waits on me to print his weekly dose on Sundays. Interesting how we fall into routines, eh?! I generally print the Arcamax Publishing and USA Today puzzles, then sit back to watch Sunday Morning on CBS. If he's in Sudoku withdrawal between weekends, he can fall back on a mile-high pile we've accumulated from our local paper! My buddy Lynn got me hooked on these, and I in turn hooked him ... guess that makes this an "enabler post" - LOL!

stamps: SU Always; paper: A1's Natural White, My Mind's Eye's 29th Street Market 2-sided cardstocks; ink: SU's Old Olive; accessories: My Mind's Eye's 29th Street Market's acrylic piece; tools: SU's 1-1/8 and 1-1/4" punches

my 1st Bind-it-All project

I LOVE this Fancy Pants paper - the Sweet Spring line - and had dashed to my LSS to pick up some more last month when I realized the lovely and talented Pat L had pulled it all from the shelves as she planned on making this BEAUTIOUS album in an upcoming class! Even tho' the only class was scheduled on my golf league night, I ended up getting a sub for golf (which methinks my DH is still somewhat puzzled about!) so I could attend.

Well, here's the finished product! We all got to borrow Pat L's sentiment stamps, and this is a beautiful set of sentiments too. Top it off w 3 different types of acrylic, some QuicKutz tabs, coordinating cardstock, Prima flowers, Heidi Swapp bling and Dew Drops. It's about 8x8" so that left me a 4" piece of binding ... so now I'm off to find my chipboard coasters - it should be just the right size for a small album! The picture doesn't do this one justice!

Friday, June 27, 2008

stamp simply - ssnowtime41

I spotted this My Mind's Eye cardstock this evening while working on my bind-it-all project ... my buddy Pat J and I were seated at a small round table at my LSS and taking turns working on binding pages. Well, when each of us was working, the other one invariably was checking out the new stamps or papers nearby. I never seem to walk out of this place without supporting the local economy, LOL!

I picked up this cardstock, thinking how much I love red, black and white together, came home, and tossed together this quick card. Simple - using the designer cardstock matted with black, then a matching embellishment - in this case, a pretty acrylic from the same 29th Street Market set - glued to white and matted again with black, adding a ribbon. Voila - an easy peasy 10 minute wonder for Sharon's Stamp Simply 10 Minute Tuesday AND Colleen's Thursday Throwdown - Use A Ribbon challenges!

stamp: SU Spring Solitude; paper: My Mind's Eye - 29th Street Market, SU's Whisper White, Prism unknown black cardstocks; ink: StazOn's Jet Black; accessories: My Mind's Eye - 29th Street Market acrylic, unknown ribbon

new toy ... got a bind-it-all

I took the plunge today and purchased a Zutter Bind-it-All. This beauty binds acrylic, cardstock , CD Roms, chipboard, metal and soft woods. I made an album in a class this past weekend, done except for a few final touches like adding ribbons and a few stamps, and had borrowed the store's Bind-it-All to bind it all together.

Now, where'd I store that chipboard?!

Mike's latest

Not much to post ... hopefully will finish a project I've been working on tonight and upload later. For now, here's the latest Mike's coupon - enjoy, if you haven't signed up for their emails yet (and if not, why not, for heaven's sake?!).

Sunday, June 22, 2008

happy anniversary CAM!

Happy Anniversary Capture-A-Memory!

Yesterday I spent a couple hours at my fav LSS where we closed out a week's long anniversary celebration with a 5th year anniversary extravaganza. All week they'd had games, prizes, demos, and make-'n-takes. All the participants' names were put into a drawing for a huge basket of scrapping supplies. A relative newcomer won the booty, which should inspire her to greatness!

For the extravaganza event CAM set up stations for making 4 items which we completed in just under an hour and a half. There were 3 smaller items - one plastic tag that we inked w scrumpled plastic wrap and then stamped; a manilla cardstock tag we used a variety of stamps, stickers, and/or glimmer mist on; and a coaster post-it holder; and 1 larger project - my 2nd explosion box, pictured here! My first one was with Christmas colors and went to my sister. This one, with bright sunny colors, I'm thinking is appropriate for a summer gift or mini album for home. This one also went together MUCH quicker - go figure, as both were kitted, with all papers / cardstock / coordinating tags / embellishments provided, ready for inking and gluing together. The box is 3 layers with a box top, and they've dies for each, making it easy peasy!

Sorry, I didn't jot down the brand of paper/tags! Pat L, if you read this, email me or add a comment letting me know, okay?!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

welcome summer!

We've had summer-like weather, but lately it's more like spring ... what with temps in the mid 60's and the amount of rain we've been getting here in the midwest! So ... here's a card to officially welcome summer to the region today! This one's based on a recent sketch challenge at Sara Green's blog, but was due by noon today to participate trying for some blog candy I was seriously interested in. I'd been working on it this a.m. but had to run so didn't get it finished in time! Such is life! It was still fun, so here t'is!

Valita's got some simple straight-forward instructions for making the flowers here - to use a punch and cardstock, slit between the petals, then turn them over and using an embossing tool, round the petals from the reverse side. Then you flip it over and indent the center. It's a "make your own Prima flowers" thing, and seemed to work best on the small flower. I'll keep trying and eventually persevere!

stamps: CTMH's Fabric Finishes, imaginisce's snag'em stamps' sunshine; paper: Fancy Pants' Madelon, Prism's unknown black, SU's Whisper White cardstocks; ink: StazOn's Jet Black; tools: asst'd flower punches

Friday, June 20, 2008

Mike's coupon thru 6/28

Mike's has joined the ranks of vendors using email as a means to communicate sales info to its customers and today I rec'd a link to a coupon and this weeks' sales flyer. The coupon notes that it's good thru June 28, 2008 toward 40% off any one regular-priced item - one coupon per customer per day. Enjoy - see here for details!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

décor elements available 7/1

Just checking blogs before hitting the sack and read a preliminary piece about the new SU line being introduced - it's décor elements, self-adhesive vinyl clings that coordinate with many of their current products! Check here for a brochure!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

smile 'n the world smiles

The lovely and talented Pat L at my fav LSS (CAM - link at right) led us in the making of a summer-ific card today. I stopped by on my way home from work, having taken a 1/2 day vacation to golf w my DH in a league from my workplace.

The golf stank for the most part (except for the t'riffic company, natch'!), but I had fun making the card! And while I was there I reserved an upcoming release QuicKutz die that I've been wanting them to make since I became interested in dies! My older brother is a pilot and they've finally made a small-engine plane die! Life is good, y'know?!

stamps: oops - don't recall; paper: Reminisce's Dana 2-sided DC, yellow and red cardstock; ink: unknown black, accessories: unknown stitch rub-on, brad; tools: pinwheel and red curvy shaped die

Monday, June 16, 2008

Hero Arts Summer 08 catty

The kind folkes at Hero Arts have released their latest catty - there's both flash and html versions available on their web site.

'Nuff said? OK - I'm heading back to peruse it! Maybe I'll be back to post later this evening ...

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day, everyone! I'd posted my card to my DH already but here's one I made for my boys to give their Dad. It's inspired by a card that Taylor VanBruggen posted here but also works for Split Coast Stampers' limited supplies challenge #173. My LSS (wink to Kim!) recently had one similar in their shop and I HAD to pick up the DP!

I cheated a bit on the BBQ tools - I have a stamp set that includes some, but they were too small in scale. I thought perhaps I'd stamp them and then scan 'em to enlarge them, and then realized I could save myself the aggravation and do a search on google pics. Love those google folkes, I tell ya!

So, this one's for you, PB! My DH doesn't normally read my posts so methinks my secret's safe 'til this afternoon. If the weather cooperates, we're planning on a small BBQ, so both cards are themed this year. I'd picked up a cooler on wheels for him a month ago and have been stashing presents to put into it for today. Small stuff, mainly - w one larger one. Hope he likes 'em all!

stamps: Inque Boutique's Father's Day; paper: Creative Imaginations' Old Guys Rule DP, Prism unknown dark blue cardstock; ink: CTMH's Outdoor Denim; accessories: SU's hodgepodge brads, CTMH's Outdoor Denim grosgrain ribbon

p.s. Anybody besides me wish Prism added a 1/2" to their cardstock to list the color? I always forget what it is that I've picked up!

SU retired list is out

Well, I did much better purchasing my fav picks before they hit the retired list this year - there's only 3 that I have to decide whether to purchase now or wait 'n see what the new book brings! That's the benefit of the person who hosts a club meeting on those 2 dates - either a last chance to pick up soon-to-be-retired stamps or the introduction of a new catty.

I've added a link to the retired stamps list sorted alphabetically within my Stampin' Up! News links at right. Have you perused yet, and if so, how'd you do? More importantly, is anybody selling their Peaceful Wishes, Rough Edges Alphabet, or Weathered background stamps on the cheap? If so, lemme know!

Saturday, June 14, 2008

updated SU dormant list

Just a quick "heads up" that the SU News' dormant list link at right has been updated. While those on the dormant list won't be included in the new Fall/Winter collection, they should still be available thru January 18, 2009. Whew! There's a few I've been meaning to order so that's good news I HAD to share!

FYI, Stampin' Up! is due to announce their retirement list tomorrow. There's some buzz about a new product introduction among some SU demo blogs, and I'm curious to see both the new stamps and whatever the new product is. Time'll tell, I guess! In the meantime, I've placed an order for the Fresh Cuts stamp set. I'm LOVIN' the silhouette stamps lately. How 'bout you?

busy day

Today this gal was BUSY! I assisted a couple hours this a.m. at Commencement exercises at Kettering University, where I work my regular 8-5 job weekdays. Then I hit the 41st Annual Flint Art Fair, which is small enough to cover comfortably but not too large to tire me out. Afterwards I met up with my buddy Pat J and we headed to another buddy's house for her son's high school graduation open house. Then it was back home to watch the Open with my DH. I LOVE golf ... only wish I could PLAY it better! Tiger just shot an eagle, by the way - boy, that guy's good, even with his knee hurting him!

The art fair had 150+ artists from all over the US on the grounds of the Flint Cultural Center. For those unfamiliar with Flint, we've a cultural center with a planetarium, art center, library, music center, historical museum, and auditorium all along a main street just East of downtown. Next to the planetarium is the Mott Estate (yep, of the applesauce fame), which opens its gardens to the general public once monthly. Tho' not actually a part of the Cultural Center, I try to take in a couple trips to the Mott's gardens each summer, hitting it at different times each year so I get to see different flowers in bloom each visit. The estate backs onto the Mott Community College, and just West of the Cultural Center is the University of Michigan-Flint Campus. Less than a mile further West is Kettering University, where I work. Big happenings this past week - the city council just this past Monday approved renaming the street that connects Kettering and UM-Flint from Third Ave to University Ave. That, and Obama is making a stop on our campus this coming Monday!

The art fair was held outside on the grounds of the Flint Institute of Arts and the Flint Public Library, arranged in two long double rows of booths spread across their front lawns. There's an M. C. Escher exhibit at the art museum thru tomorrow, and tho' I'd hoped to take it in with my oldest brother, who's also a fan of Escher's work, it looks as tho' that's not gonna happen, so I went today after the art fair. The museum offers free admission on Saturdays, so that worked out fine for the pocketbook too!

OK, I digress ... back to the card. Now I'm back home watching the Open on TV w my DH and thought I'd multi-task and upload today's card! Jonathon's card is based on SplitCoastStampers' # SC180 sketch challenge and Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Challenge #39 (go BOLD), made with what I could find that closely approximates his school colors. I made a pocket from his school colors on the interior where I folded a check into quarters. We had a nice relaxing time at Kim's - good weather with good company!

stamps: A Muse Artstamps' Graduate, SU's Lexicon of Love (one word - celebrate - stamped as a background using VersaMark) and Mini Messages (bottom front and inside sentiment); paper: ColorMates' deep meri-gold, Prism unknown black and burgundy cardstocks; ink: StazOn Jet Black, Marvy and Tri-C watercolor markers, and Versamark (inkpad and marker); accessories: unknown black ribbon

Back to the golf match - catch ya tomorrow!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

if it's 2nd tues that means ...

The kind ladies at Capture-A-Memory host make-'n-takes monthly on 2nd Tuesdays, and I stopped by after work today to make this card (and support the local economy - shhh!).

Pat L showed us a cool technique to use when you've decided your DP is a bit too overwhelming to use ... which is to use it in small doses! The colors of this DP are awesome, and all we did was run it thru a crimper and match it to some coordinating cardstock, then add a few brads and cute sentiment. Done! Easy peasy but oh so cute, eh, Pat J?!

stamps: QuicKutz's Silhouette font set sentiment; paper: unknown; ink: I forgot the brand!; accessories: silver brads; tools: crimper

Monday, June 9, 2008

headin' to Mike's?

Mike's has joined the ranks of vendors using email as a means to communicate sales info to its customers and on Sunday I rec'd a link to a coupon and this weeks' sales flyer. The coupon notes that it's good thru June 14, 2008 toward 50% off any one regular-priced item - one coupon per customer per day. Enjoy - see here for details!

Sunday, June 8, 2008

happy birthday, KAZ!

It's my favorite sister's b'day (don't worry; I've only got one!) today and this card's on its way to her ... admittedly, it'll be a bit late arriving - such is life! We're having a family get-together in her honor today even tho' she's got to work so won't be able to be here. A pathetic ploy to get to eat cake? Nah! We usually try to stop by my Mom's every other weekend and this weekend the weather's just TOO darned hot 'n humid and she's without air at the moment ... so it was a natural to have a cookout up here and invite her and my brother (her chaufeur!) and his daughter, right?! If the weather doesn't cooperate, it'll be a pizza get-together.

My sister and I share a love for all things purple, so that's the basis for her card. That, and both Beate's weekend sketch challenge #51 AND Taylor's cupcake challenge #19 ... seems great minds think alike and I made #10 envelope sized cards that satisfied both this week! I'd picked up this cool 4-part stamp at a garage sale last summer and I love it. The 4th part of the stamp is a wood/wrought iron bench, and that's in the inside with the sentiment and a couple garden tool die cuts. The outside sentiment's popped up using dimensionals.

stamps: Annette Watkins' Spring Garden Sampler, PC-generated sentiments; paper: CTMH's Contemporary Collection's bright purple, SU's Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant, Pale Plum, Vellum, and Whisper White cardstocks; ink: SU's matching inks, StazOn's Jet Black, and Tri-C watercolor markers; accessories: pink dotted organdy ribbon, QuicKutz' garden tools die cut; tools: QuicKutz Squeeze

Saturday, June 7, 2008

sending you sunshine

I made this card for my brother, who's stopping by tomorrow for a cookout here with his daughter Jessy. He's being a sweetie and picking up my Mom on the way. Tomorrow's my sister's birthday so I think I'll pick up a cake, tho' she's working and not able to join us ... bummer! We talked quite a bit on the phone today but I miss her - she's going to school a couple evenings during the week and works weekends; I work weekdays. It doesn't seem like we see each other very often lately .... sigh!

The kind folkes at Caardvarks issued a Drink Up! challenge this week requiring participants to make a beverage-themed card. Well, ya'll know how much I'm addicted to challenges, right?! I wanted to give my brother something tomorrow so figured a small card was in order, and I'd not used this cute lemonade die cut in ages! What's it called when everything in the universe seems to be in alignment?! ... hmmnn ...

stamps: A Muse Artstamps' sentiment, SU's Sun Moon & Stars; paper: SU's Yo Yo Yellow, Vellum, and Whisper White cardstocks; ink: StazOn Jet Black, Tri-C red watercolor marker; accessories: polka dot organdy ribbon from one of Jody Morrow's ribbon shares, QuicKutz lemonade die cut; tools: QuicKutz Squeeze

Thursday, June 5, 2008

how do YOU store ribbon?

Angie over at Scrapscene has been checking into how folkes store ribbon. I've a few storage methods depending on the ribbon size and length. Most are stored on CD spindles, and my friends know to never toss any out without first offering them to me!

I didn't have a picture of them when I shared my storage solution, so here 'tis, Angie! Other methods I use: mini ribbons are lined up in snack-size baggies (pic shows mainly purple, blue and green rolls), loose ribbons from ribbon shares and yard lengths I've purchased loose are stored loosely in boxes, but most - those in full rolls - are stored in recycled CD storage spindles as pictured.

Interested in other storage solutions? Check Angie's post here!

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

School's OUT for SUMMER!

My eldest's last day of school is today! This past weekend I made a few cards for teachers, bus drivers, and aides, and this is one of 'em. They're all simple, just quick cards to insert gift cards for end-of-year gifts.

stamps: none; paper: unknown black cardstock, SU's Whisper White; ink: PC-generated inside sentiment; accessories: Mike's Dashes, Dots & Checks ribbon

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

School's Out ... Soon!

I'm a fan of Sharon Johnson's, aka notimetostamp, and made this card for my son Geoff's teacher based on her Stamp Simply #37 challenge - black, white, and 1 color - but of course - yellow for the school bus, right?! I LOVE this schoolbus pic as it lacks any background I would've had to remove in PhotoShop, and it's simply black, white, and yellow ... but for some reflective blue-black which I figure shouldn't disqualify it from a 3-color challenge.

Rather than hit the malls or nurseries or Mike's looking for something to alter for this year's end of school teacher / 2 teacher's aides / busdriver / busdriver's aide (hey, this is downsized ... Geoff was born w DownSyndrome, and some years we've also had speech therapists on the list!), we decided to make some simple cards and insert Applebees' gift cards. I figure this is a 10-minute Tuesday card too!

stamps: SU's Short & Sweet; paper: SU's Earth Sun, Whisper White, unknown black cardstocks; ink: StazOn Jet Black, PC-generated inside sentiment

Monday, June 2, 2008

trio of panels

I whipped up five cards for my son's teacher / teacher's aides / busdriver / busdriver aide presents this past weekend and thought these cute animated school-related gif pictures told a quick story of the upcoming last day of school. The girl's at school, then the school bell rings, and the kids all pile into the schoolbus for the ride home. Cute, eh?! It's an easy peasy card and that's one more project off my to-do list! It's a trio of panels so I'm adding it as my 2nd card (my first one's here) to Sharon's Stamp Simply #35 challenge. Not quite inchies, these panels measure 1-1/8" square.

Feels like Spring just started and now we're quickly approaching Summer vacation ... I think time speeds up exponentially as we age!

stamps: SU's Short & Sweet, PC-generated inside sentiment; paper: SU's Tempting Turquoise, unknown black cardstocks; ink: StazOn Jet Black; accessories: Mike's Foto Floral ribbon

Sunday, June 1, 2008

a day late, dollar short?

OK, OK, so I'm still show-'n-telling Memorial Day cards ... but it was actually yesterday here in the states! We conveniently celebrate some holidays on Mondays to make for long weekends, and Memorial Day happens to be one of these. I just figure it gives us a longer timeframe to commemorate the day!

I made this card for a buddy of mine who I met at Kettering University when I started working there some 14+ years ago, became friends with, then later found out I was actually related to by marriage. Life is strange sometimes, eh?!

It's made with the alternate set of colors for this week's Splitcoaststampers color challenge 167, and Taylor's cupcake challenge 17 from last week. It's matted on whisper white, but that may be hard to make out on this picture - it's a scanned version of the card as I'm temporarily without camera. Have I mentioned that I'm addicted to challenges? Admitting you have a problem is the first step toward recovery, right?! Only this is one addiction I don't want to be delivered from, LOL!

stamps: Heidi Swapp's Remember, SU's Classic Stars jumbo wheel; paper: SU's bashful blue, certainly celery, night of navy, whisper white cardstocks; inks: SU's night of navy; accessories: SU certainly celery ribbon, star/circle brad look-alikes created from a couple Fiskar hand-held punches