kindness comes in many forms

and, while we've just a few days remaining 'til the new catty will be available, here's a sneak peek at a new hostess set and ink color - they're Simply Soft and Calypso Coral, respectively. I'm itching to get to see the latest and greatest from Stampin' Up! How 'bout you?

A great 2-step flower stamp that may tempt me, I keep thinking I don't need any more flowers - how many can a person use, anyhow - but then another one grabs my attention. I'm a sucker for used stamp sets that demos sell this time of year, too, and must get my wish list together!

all SU product - stamps: Simply Soft, paper: First Edition DP, and Calypso Coral, Chocolate Chip, and Very Vanilla card stock; ink: Calypso Coral, Old Olive, and Soft Suede; accessories: Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots ribbon; tools: scallop trim border

the a-z of me

Dunno where I'd first spotted this post and image offhand, but thot it appropriate for today as I've no cards to share ... YET! Catch ya later this afternoon!

the a-z of me

A. Age: as old as my tongue and slightly older than my teeth (wait, that's a movie quote too!)

B. Bed size: queen

C. Chore you dislike: dishes, grocery-shopping, laundry ... are we talking alphabetically or by degrees of dislike here? does anybody really like chores?

D. Dogs: none currently (loved in my past - tippy, skippy, nugget, lady, tiger)

E. Essential start to your day: a heckova cup of amaretto-flavored coffee made by my DH

F. Favorite color: purple, closely followed by bright green, then yellow

G. Gold or silver: definitely gold - yellow golds

H. Height: 5'3"

I. Instruments you play(ed): tried my had at the kazoo, recorder, and tamborine (all quite unsuccessfully, I might add)

J. Job title: assistant to VP-Admin/Finance

K. Kids: 2

L. Live: mid-Michigan

M. Mom's name: Sylvia

N. Nicknames: Sue, Laurie (but only by my Dad)

O. Overnight hospital stays: 3

P. Pet peeves: negativity 'cept when it's ME complaining, mind you

Q. Quote from a movie: Look Doris, someday you're going to find that your way of facing this realistic world just doesn't work. And when you do, don't overlook those lovely intangibles. You'll discover those are the only things that are worthwhile.

R. Righty or lefty: lefty

S. Siblings: yes, 3

T. Time you wake up: 3-ish and 6-ish

U. Underwear: what about it? currently wearing? no, I'm still in jammies.

V. Vegetables you don't like: pickles! (yuck! but cukes are fine ... does that count?)

W. What makes you run late: procrastination

X. X-rays you've had: bone density, mamogram, teeth

Y. Yummy food you make: Blondin burgers

Z. Zoo animal favorites: I'm a museum and zoo fanatic ... love 'em all!

So, now go post an a-z of YOU, and let me know when you've done it!

a long tall drink of water

Inspired by Jennifer's 6/9 sympathy card post, this one's for today's (I know, shocker, eh?!) CAS124 Clean & Simple challenge. I'd picked up these couple stamps just a week ago and they hadn't been inked yet, and I thought the design would complement the skinny tall challenge. Mine's about 3x6" so it'll fit into a #6-3/4 envelope and is paired with a mini ali stamp set's sentiments on the outside and a studio g ditto set for the inside. Easy peasy and on it's way off to my Mom tomorrow!

I LOVE Queen Anne's Lace; I know, it's officially a weed, but it's so darn pretty! I'm thinking of planting some to border the south side of my house. My DH has trimmed the low evergreen we've had there for years and last year asked if I wouldn't mind him removing them. Well, he's removed MOST of it now, and I'm torn between daisies and Queen Anne's Lace for that spot. Should I add a poll?

stamps: ali's amazing, studio g's botanical, botanical background, best mom; paper: A1's Neenah Natural White, SU's Kiwi Kiss; ink: Ranger's black soot, faded jeans, pumice distress inks, SU's Kiwi Kiss

happy Father's Day!

to all the Dads in my life ... my own (who's passed away), my DH, and to my brothers, uncles, and friends ... happy Father's Day! Hey, Jack's Pippin's dad, right?!

here's the card I made for my DH this year - my fav brewmeister. I have lots of coffee-related material that'll last me well into retirement years, I'm betting, LOL! May you never tire of this line, PB!

stamps: TPC Studio's Coffee Cake, studio g ditto's Lucky Guy (inside sentiment); paper: SU's Cherry Cobler and Kraft Crumb Cake, A1 Neenah Natural White card stocks; ink: Ranger's black soot distress ink, SU's Cherry Cobler and Kraft Crumb Cake

showering you with wishes today

a bridal shower card for a friend's daughter ... I scanned the photo album I picked up at a local art fair and used that for the 1-1/8" punches on the card's front. her colors are the bright pink, bright green, and brown. I used this past week's SCS Clean and Simple Cards CAS123 sketch challenge for the card's layout.

the inside reads:
wishing you
a wedding filled with romance,
a marriage filled with love,
and a lifetime filled with happiness.

thanx to blue mountain cards for the inside sentiment!

stamps: n/a; paper: American Crafts' textured white, SU's vellum card stocks; ink: PC-generated - dark brown for sentiments, scanned photo album for squares, SU's green galore

SB&CT's summer issue's available

The summer edition of Scrapbook & Cards Today mag is now available. You can EITHER download the digi version by clicking on the picture at left OR view the entire mag online - thanx, S&CT!

farewell, Stan & Angie!

Our university's president and first lady of these past 6 years is retiring this month and I was asked to make a card from his cabinet to mark the occasion. Mainly a collage of things that held special significance to them both, I enlisted the aid of my youngest son and provided him the images for the project. He worked on the collage while I worked on another project that I'll be posting later this weekend!

stamps: n/a; paper: AC Cardstock's white, SUs brilliant blue and summer sun (methinks); ink: PC-generated

jessy's b'day

Long time, no see! My niece Jessy's nickname is kittie ... hence I'm always on the lookout for cute kitty stamps. I found this one at the Mega Meet held last month in Novi. It's one of 4 on a cube stamp, and I used another of the kitty images with the inside sentiment. And isn't that mouse adorable too? Another Mega Meet find, this time from Judith. I thought he looked like he could be carrying something heavy - in this case, a gift card and lighted candle - OR holding his hands up. Either way, he's sweating bullets 'cuz he's been spotted by the friendly kitty!

I'd uploaded this to Splitcoast as my blog mirror posts to Facebook and I didn't want the card spotted 'til after the birthday party, then forgot to post it here! I've been SUCH a slacker lately, I know! I DID get some stamping time in this weekend, but the cards are intended for Facebook buddies so they'll get uploaded here eventually ...

stamps: Inky Antics' kitty cube, Judith's mouse, studio g's happy birthday candle; paper: Staples; ink: Ranger's black soot distress ink, SU and Tri-C watercolor markers

out with the old

In order to make room for all the new products coming in July, hundreds of SU stamp sets, accessories, and home décor products are retiring and available thru June 30 while supplies last!

Click on the picture to see the PDF detailing which stamps are retiring.