interesting coffee table

I'm in the market for a coffee table and this is an option ... maybe a bit more up to date than my prior visions - either a reclaimed lobster trap (I hail from MA, you see) or steamer trunk (methinks one of my Grandmother's is still in my Mom's attic) ... time'll tell!

The Papervore from Pigeontail Design on Vimeo.

happy b'day Nick

This and a gift card are making their way to my niece to use for her son Nick whose b'day is fast approaching ... my, how time flies, eh!? Four-year-old boys love bugs, right?!
... and how timely this card was! I made it at Angie's stamp camp this past Thursday w Pat 'n Kim ... so Claud, here's a sneak peek at upcoming projects! LOL! I wasn't sure what I'd be using it for so stamped the full sentiment and trimmed part ... but I'm ending up using it for a birthday card, anyway! Such is life!

all SU products - methinks they're ...
stamps: Bugs & Kisses; paper: Brilliant Blue, Real Red, Yoyo Yellow, Whisper White; ink: Brilliant Blue; accessories: Crushed Curry polka-dot grosgrain ribbon; tools: unknown Sizzix embossing folder

ever heard the fourth verse?

Wowzer ... a friend e-mailed this to me last night and I just watched it ... got tissues handy?

(read the rest here)

Flint Art Fair 2010

The 43rd Flint Art Fair is this weekend, and I'm hoping for clear skies so I can head over to the grounds of the Flint Institute of Arts located in the heart of the cultural center to enjoy it for a couple hours later today. A crafty buddy of mine's cousin is the lead singer in the Blue Hawaiians, and they perform at 3:30 p.m.

I generally pick up Father's Day presents ... and sometimes more ... at this fair. It's sized just right for me - I get to take in 175 artists, asst'd food court vendors, free musical entertainment, and pick up a silkscreened tee. If you're in the area this weekend, stop by (here's additional info).

Saturday happenings

Kettering University (insert shameless plug for my workplace here) hosts Commencement ceremonies for more than 350 graduates later this morning - 273 undergraduate and 85 master’s candidates, with 158 undergraduates and 46 graduate students expected to march during the ceremonies. The 11 a.m. event is free and open to the public in the Connie and Jim John Recreation Center.

I'll be there! It's such a happy celebration!

congrats, Eileen!

A buddy of mine recently graduated - she's been working full-time, taking online classes part time toward her Bachelors degree - and I JUST got back from the celebrations. I took the pic of this card with my cell phone earlier as my youngest son borrowed my camera today, so pardon the picture quality, but it was better than the scan I tried. I picked the colors and stars theme from the party invite that her co-worker used (cute invite, Donna!). I like tent-fold cards ... AND recycling ... this ribbon's some I'd saved for future purple card use. It's a bit glitzy so the color's a bit off in the picture ... such is life, eh?! The layers are popped up - the star and the center layer that the ribbon's on.

stamps: All Night Media's fur's class (not shown - my "non-stamp" used on the envelope), Paper Inspirations' mortar board, Johanna's owl (inside sentiment), SU's Congrats,Classic Stars wheel, and Polka Dot BK; ink: SU's Elegant Eggplant, studio g's white, VersaMark; paper: SU's Barely Banana, Elegant Eggplant, Shimmery White card stocks; accessories: recycled purple ribbon

one last chance

The retiring lists are posted on SU's site, and there aren't many from my wish lists remaining this year ... one stamp set that I think I'll still resist the temptation to purchase (Nursery Necessities, p76, $31.95 ... love that little sailboat, don't you?!) and one single that I'm undecided on (Merriment, p208, $6.95). How 'bout you?! Check out the retiring stamps; are there any you've decided you can't live without? *

They're available as supplies last or thru June 30 - which ever happens first, 'natch!

* I'm NOT a SU rep - just another satisfied customer

happy Memorial Day

Hope everyone's having a nice relaxing time with family and friends. On this Memorial Day we stayed home and enjoyed a cookout (can I still call it that even tho' we moved the grill into the garage to cook 'cuz the weather was threatening rain?) with local family, bowled on the wii, and had a t'riffic dessert sampler (5 desserts in all - tiramisu, cheesecake, cut fruit, cupcakes, and bumpy tea cake - it's my fav, by Sanders, a Detroit MI company).

I'm packaging up a box of cards to send to our heroes in the military through Operation Write Home in honor of the holiday, and thought you may want to join me! What better way to celebrate Memorial Day, eh?! OWH can use a variety of themed cards so I think it's good to occasionally weed thru the cards in our stashes and think of our heroes. If you've been making more cards than you can use lately, please think of them, won't you?! They've some restrictions - #1 - no glitter - so check their site for more info, please!

thinking of you

When not making cards for anything specific in the near future, I sometimes make cards for various occasions to keep on hand. I seem to be in a "green" mood lately ... maybe belatedly because of Earth Day!? This DP is from a 12x12 sheet that is destined for a child's birthday card, and I thought I'd cut a section away to use in a card for embellish magazine's butterflies and black, green and kraft color challenge. Today's card is a two-fer as it's also for the FTL91 sketch challenge. The frond is another of my quarter stamp sets from Mega Meet. This set included an outline and solid image. I stamped the outline a few times in green on the green DP, then stamped the solid image in green, and outlined that in black. I'd never used ruffled ribbon in a card before, and it was a fun technique. I fudged a bit as I didn't locate the video tutorial on the technique until after I'd finished the card. The video's here - compliments of Ashley Cannon Newell. Sometimes I have an alternative motive for posting links ... it's often so that I can easily find things later, LOL!

stamps: Scrappy Cat's Botanicals, SU's Essence of Love; paper: Three Bugs in a Rug's stacked animals DP, Creative Memories' black, The Paper Co's Kraft card stocks; ink: Color Box's Frost White pigment ink, Ranger's black soot distress ink, SU's Gable Green; accessories: unknown green ruffled ribbon (yeah, it was even ruffled before I ruffled it!)

warm wishes, mr & mrs

This anniversary card was inspired by the cute "get well soon" robot card in SU's current catty on page 82 and Picture Perfect Creations' PPC13 color challenge - to use basic black, basic gray, green galore, and whisper white on a card. I'd just been telling my stampin' buddy Kimmi about this cute stamp set, Together Forever, as her daughter recently became engaged. I love this dark gray card stock, and the black, white, and a splash of color combination, so this color challenge was right up my alley ... and I hadn't realized 'til now just how close this green was to my blog's background color!

stamps: SU's Full of Life, Hugs & Wishes, Simply Said, and Together Forever; paper: SU's Basic Gray, Green Galore, Whisper White card stocks; ink: Color Box's Silver, Ranger's Black Soot distress ink; accessories: pretty satin ribbon from an unknown ribbon share

get well soon, Maria 'n Rick

My next-door neighbors are in recovery mode. First he had elected surgery, from which he's recovering nicely. Then last weekend she fell while visiting her daughter and broke her wrist, requiring an overnight stay in the hospital followed by additional recovery time at her daughter's home. And he wasn't able to travel, so wasn't able to go to her right away either! So, this card's for my next-door neighbors - BOTH of 'em!

Based on Karen's SSSC69 sketch challenge, this card's utilizing some of my latest toys - the felt flower and BasicGrey DP - that I purchased recently at Mega Meet.

stamps: Lizzie Anne's Get Well Soon, SU's Polka Dot BK; paper: BasicGrey's Green at Heart DP, Neenah Classic's Natural White, and The Paper Co's Kraft card stocks; ink: Ranger's Black Soot distress ink, SU's River Rock; accessories: Queen & Co's daisy felt flower, asst'd Pink Hedgehog Paper Crafts' brads; tools: i-top brad maker w medium size brad, SU's trio flower and scallop circle punches

my class fav

Monday after work I got together with friends to attend a make-up stamp camp with Angie, as two of our crew weren't able to make our usual 2nd Thursday outing. Here's my fav card this month, using a punch that I'll have to order. I'm lovin' this bird and frond punch, and have tried talking myself into not needing any more bird stamps 'cuz I have a smaller one already ... but this is just so cool, don't you agree?! Methinks I must succumb to its charms!

all supplies SU
stamps: Inspired by Nature; paper: Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Whisper White card stocks; ink: Old Olive; accessories: Chocolate Chip satin ribbon; tools: horizontal slot, word window punches