We're getting together w family for a cookout later today ... a little later than originally intended, but hey, we're flexible people here! ... and it allowed me time to blog troll and upload a posting ... and who knows?! maybe I'll get that last chapter read in my latest book ... so Rosie, if you're out there, send the next of the trilogy in w Jim!

Enjoy the holiday, folkes, and I hope you're having a blast today (pun intended ... sorry 'bout that!)!

happy Independence Day

On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress, calling for the American colonies to secede from Great Britain. Happy Independence Day to my American friends!

I'm challenged, in more ways than one, LOL! Today's card is a last-minute addition to celebrate an Independence Day challenge with the OCC gals and is based on this week's CPS225 sketch. For the OCC challenge, I chose to make a 4th of July-themed rather than a Christmas in July card but agree you can never start those Christmas cards too early. Another clean and simple masculine project using kraft, that's the subject of this week's CAS-ual Fridays CFC9 challenge. It's been a while since I participated in challenges of any kind tho'!

We have family coming in for a cookout later this afternoon, and it looks like the weather's going to be cooperating for us locally. I'm a big fireworks fan so this is a good thing! I'm up early and it's a mild 65 degrees F out so I'm enjoying having the slider door open so I can listen to the birds out back. I love quiet mornings before everyone gets up. Hope you and yours have a t'riffic 4th!

stamps: Saltbox Studio's SBS104, Stampendous' Hey There Cupcake (sparkler); paper: A1's Neenah Natural White, SU's Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy; inks: SU's Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, More Mustard, Not Quite Navy, Soft Suede, and Summer Sun

Bay City fireworks

I'm not even sure whether others can see this video if you're not friends on Facebook, but a coworker friend and her son took in the Bay City MI fireworks and posted videos - here's one of 'em - and it looks like they were DA BOMB! I love fireworks ... and a parade ... and museums ... and zoos ... and ... I'm just sayin' ...

The Bay City Fireworks Festival is one of the greatest fireworks shows/festivals in Michigan. People come from all over the Midwest to see the show. The festival's a 3-day event, with entertainment daily (think beauty pageant, carnival, dinner cruise, live music, and fireworks). It's all held in a couple parks by the Saginaw River, providing great viewing locations all around the park's area, as you can see from the video.

The Blondin household took in the Saginaw and Midland and Washington DC fireworks shows from the comfort of the living room this year, a first for us. We're experiencing 90+ degree Fahrenheit days here in Michigan, and with the mugginess and mosquitoes, even I decided it was just too oppressive to venture out. It's definitely gonna be "bring a cooler" weather for golf this week!

happy Independence Day!

I'd neglected to hold aside a card post for today, so this one will be ready early for next year! It was inspired by Maile Belles' July 1st post and made into a celebration of Independence Day. I found my chipboard stars while looking for my large roller wheel ... this is a good thing! I'm cooling my heels at home and have been watching DVDs with my eldest. It's the supreme sacrifice for me to give up watching Sunday Morning. It's part of my routine on Sundays. We generally get donuts and I watch my newsy show while enjoying the world's best coffee, which my DH supplies. I've trashed my living room 'cuz I've been stamping here the last week or so, so I'm off to neaten up a bit. Here's wishing everyone a happy Independence Day!

stamps: SU's Red White and Blue, July Fourth; paper: Reminisce's Freedom DP, ColorMates' Light Berry Red, CM's Natural, CTMH's Outdoor Denim, The Paper Co's Kraft card stocks; ink: ColorBox Frost White pigment, CTMH's Outdoor Denim, SU's Real Red, Versamark's champagne Dazzle; accessories: Heidi Swapp's chipboard stars

update on Jenn and Nick: Nick's come out of his coma and has responded appropriately for doctors' prompts, and Jenn's starting to stir. Thanx for your continued prayers.

a couple more cards in the mail

The last of my 4th of July cards hit the mail today, both using Mercy's (of Lord have Mercy blog fame) MTSC80 sketch challenge layout. I know they look real similar - I just switched out the border punches and circle images - but, hey, they're for my DH's twin brothers!

stamps: IO's Thin Stripes, SU's July Fourth, and unknown Fourth; paper: CM's Neutral, CTMH's Outdoor Denim, unknown Prism dark blue and dark red and ivory card stocks; ink: CTMH's Outdoor Denim, ColorBox's Frost White chalk; accessories: CTMH's Outdoor Denim grosgrain ribbon; tools: Bow-Easy, Fiskars' Apron Lace and Threading Water border punches

happy fourth

I'm cranking out Independence Day cards this week and here's the one I made after work this evening - using my latest SU stamp set, July Fourth. I made the flag from a QuicKutz die last year but hadn't used the scrapbook page it was originally made for, so recycled it today. I think I have enough scrap left to make one more card ... grins ...

Stacy's Curtain Call 36 color challenge calls for red, white, blue, and kraft - and that's my color combo for cards this year. I prefer the darker reds and blues for the 4th, and darker reds and greens for Christmas. I've been told those are country colors but it works for me. Maybe I'm living in the past, eh?! I look around my living room and that's what I have in furnishings and lap quilts here too.

Well, I'm off - still have baths to get ready and have to run my eldest to Blockbuster this evening. Talk at ya later!

stamps: SU's July Fourth; paper: CM's Neutral, The Paper Co's Kraft, and unknown Prism dark red and dark blue card stocks; ink: CTMH's Outdoor Denim; accessories: QuicKutz flag

celebrate!

Knocking out 4th of July cards this weekend, here's my latest. This one's loosely based on Eat Sleep Stamp's ESS89 sketch challenge ... and in keeping with the red, white, blue, and kraft theme it's also for Stacy's Curtain Call 36 color challenge. Now, here's a question for you ... when I cross stitch OR make the letter "X," I usually start from the top left to bottom right, then make the cross on top from the top right to bottom left. BUT I see lots of gals who make their cross stitches in reverse to me. I just happen to be left-handed. Is it a leftie thing with me, or how do you make 'em? I'm taking an informal poll here, folkes.

We're cooling it and relaxing around the house this weekend, catching up on gardening and laundry duties, and watching some movies we rented. Today we watched From Paris With Love w John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys Meyers (so, is Rhys his Mom's maiden name or what's up with that name? anyone know?), and Kasia Smutniak. It was definitely an action flick, and was only just released in the US in early February. Remember back in the olden days when you had to wait a year before movies were released to DVD?

stamps: SU's July Fourth (my newest stamp set); paper: unknown DPs, unknown Prism dark red and dark blue card stocks; ink: CTMH's Outdoor Denim, CM's silver pen, Inkssentials white opaque pen; tools: unknown QuicKutz alphabet and shooting star

I love a parade

I love a parade; don't you?! The silhouette of kids marching in a row across the bottom of the card are from a single stamp - part of a Flourishes set that I got last year. This card's based on the CPS173 sketch challenge. I don't know who the DP is by but it's red, white (well, ivory), blue, and kraft so it's also for Stacy's Curtain Call 36 color challenge. Pat L may recognize portions of my cards this week, 'cuz I've pretty much gutted a 12x12" scrapbook page we made last year in favor of using it in a few cards so I'm recycling today, you could say! Hey, that rhymes! I'm a poet; you wouldn't know it, but my feet show it - they're Longfellows!

We've had sporadic thunder boomers here in Michigan today, so I went out back and weeded a bit during a dry period between thunderstorms while the ground was nice and damp. It was wicked hot and humid but it's one more thing off my list of things to do this weekend.

stamps: Flourishes' Patriotism on Parade, studio g sentiment; paper: unknown DPs, CTMH's Outdoor Denim and Neutral, My Paper Co's Kraft, and unknown Prism dark red card stocks; ink: CTMH's Outdoor Denim; tools: Cuttlebug and Die-namics' large scallop, unknown alphabet

happy 4th

Independence Day is fast approaching and I'm inking a few new stamps today. This card's sentiment is from a mini Taylored Expression duo and the layout's based on FTL96 sketch challenge ... and real close to my prior card's layout. I pulled out all my red, white, and blue stash before hitting the hay last night and am going to make this a quick post so I can make some more cards. It's an easy peasy one - I just matted and popped up the DP panel in the center on a double matted background and added a simple sentiment on the outside and a poem I found on the Internet on the inside. See ya!

stamps: TE's happy July 4th; paper: Reminisce's Freedom DP, unknown Prism red and The Paper Co's Kraft card stocks, ink: CTMH's Outdoor Denim

happy Independence Day!

We just returned from watching our neighborhood's fireworks and I wanted to wish everyone a happy Independence Day before hitting the hay! This'll be a short post as my youngest wants to use the PC ... catch ya tomorrow! Today's card is based on last Monday's Little Paper Shop LPSC22 sketch challenge (I'm SO behind, LOL!).

stamps: studio g's series 30; paper: Rusty Pickle's American Dots file folder 4DP, A1's Natural White, Prism unknown tomato-red and SU's Night of Navy card stocks; ink: CTMH's Outdoor Denim, Sakura's gold and sparkle gel pens; tools: I got to play with my latest border punch, an ek success scallop diamond edger punch

I love a parade

This is my latest stamp set, one of Flourishes latest releases. Don't you love the kids' parade silhouette? That's my fav of the set, tho' I like all of the stamps. I love parades ... and museums, and zoos. Ask my kids. I've taken 'em to all I can reach within a day trip, and usually visit those in the cities we visit.

I stayed home from work today to catch the last of the US Open, a nice relaxing day, and thought I'd make a few Independence Day cards while I was at it.

stamps: Flourishes' Patriotism on Parade; paper: Rusty Pickle's Primitive Hearts DP, A1 Natural White, CTMH Outdoor Denim and The Paper Co Kraft cardstocks; ink: CTMH Outdoor Denim, Tri-C watercolor markers; accessories: EK Success and CTMH ribbons and Provocraft star bradletts