enabler alert re Repper

Hi folkes! Today I'm enabling those of you who are either into digital scrappin' or have a t'riffic color printer and would be interested in printing your own designer paper.

It's easier than you'd think with this cool free (or based on your free will offerings, anyway!) tool called Repper by studio ludens. You can either play with their current repository of images or upload your own, and working from a section of your selected image, you and Repper stretch and repeat images into a custom DP which you can then save onto your hard drive.
(oops! updated to add link ... thanx, Dana!)


I uploaded this card and created the DP samples above!

Wowzer, eh?! So, show a little love and leave me a comment linking to whatever you create! Go play now and I'll catch ya later!

ride, Sally Ride

I made this card in celebration of Sally Ride's birthday, born this day in 1951. In June 1983 astronaut Sally Ride became the first American woman to travel into outer space. The first woman to travel into outer space was Valentina Tereshkova of Russia, 20 years earlier.

The inside's blank for now ... what d'ya think of "I love you to the moon and back!" - something I used to tell my kids when they were little!

stamps: Rollagraph's Celestial Bodies (top left of card ... maybe I'll color the moon in using a silver sparkly gel pen 'cuz it doesn't show up very well here), SU's Loads of Love Accessories; paper: Fancy Pants Designs' Expression DP; ink: StazOn Jet Black, studio g silver, Tri-C watercolor markers

this one's for Den

Here's another Memorial Day-themed card based on Stamp Something's Sketch Something 5/22 challenge (now THAT's a mouthful!), another digi one, that I made for my BIL and his bride in New York.


paper: Reminisce's Celebrate and Freedom DPs, CTMH's Outdoor Denim, The Paper Co's Kraft, SU's Ruby Red and unknown white cardstocks

Cards For Heroes Blog Hop

To kick off the Memorial Day weekend, the kind folkes at Cards For Heroes are holding a blog hop. A whopping 130 bloggers are participating! So, starting Saturday at high noon CST, hop on over to their site (click on the picture at left or the link above) to get the party started!

I first checked their site on an inquiry from a blogging buddy of mine, Dana, of Life Is Good blog fame, when she'd gotten back into card-making and wondered what to do with all her extra cards. And I know the feeling! I just went thru my box of extra cards and pulled 25 or so to send these kind folkes, and would like to encourage all of you to do the same!

Here's one of my fav Memorial Day cards from last year!

Enjoy your day, and remember to thank a vet this weekend!

remember to thank a vet

a preview of things 2 come

Here's a sneak preview of next month's card class at CAM - STINKIN' CUTE, eh?! On the third Mondays they have a class where you make 5 items (not always cards) for a $10 fee. The projects from this past Monday's class (led by the lovely and talented Maria, BTW) were fab - I saw them when I stopped by the shop for this Saturday's make-'n-take. Traffic was slow last Saturday so they repeated last weekend's project; that's why I was treated to a sneak preview of next month's class! This one could easily be altered to be a Memorial Day card. Aren't the stars on the blue background cute? They're QK cork cut out using a Spellbinders star. The adhesive-backed cork is available in two consistencies - and yeah, I picked some up! Just doing my part to support the local economy!

I bumped into a buddy who used to work at Kettering University, where I've worked the past 15 years. Good seein' you, Ardie, if you happen to visit the blog! We both signed up to take next month's card class.

happy b'day Red Cross

did you know that the American Red Cross was founded on May 21, 1881? I didn't ... until I read my email this a.m. So it's a strange coincidence that the local Red Cross rep stopped by my office Wednesday when I was out (I take 1/2 days on Wednesdays to play in my workplace's golf league) to drop off some literature. One of our fraternities, the Pi Kappa Alphas, hosts a blood drive quarterly at Kettering University, and I assist in spreading the word among faculty and staff.

If you'll be in the Flint MI area and would like to make an appointment to donate with us on Wednesday, June 3rd, head to www.givelife.org (use sponsor code: kettering) - we'd LOVE to have you join us! Every two seconds someone in America needs blood ... and just one pint can save as many as three lives!

Today's card is another quickie digi - I just used Google's image search for some graphics - that I'll use to send the rep a quick note, based on the CPS116 sketch and also works for Sharon's ssnotime88 red, white and blue challenge.

Garrett, you ROCK!

This weekend my younger brother's and our families are meeting at Hard Rock Detroit to celebrate our kids' birthdays - his daughter's and my youngest son's. At our house we generally celebrate the day of our birthdays with our immediate family, then celebrate with local extended family on the weekend but lately it's getting more difficult to get the local extended family together. Some of us work full time weekdays, others work part time weekends, and the kids are picking up part-time jobs lately.

Whoever can make it will get together on Sunday, so I made another card - this one based on the SCS Clean & Simple challenge CAS15 to use black, white, and a bold color - to put a gift card in, based on SCS Sketch Challenge SC229.


stamps: n/a (digital card this time - mainly MS clipart (some popped up w pop dots) and Blackjack font); paper: unknown white cardstock; ink: PC-generated

Keurig contest

Interested in participating in a contest to win a Keurig single cup coffee maker? Click on the picture at left to enter.

Here's what the kind folkes at Any Lucky Day have to say:
Keurig’s B70 Platinum Brewing System is one of the best single cup brewers on the market, if not the best. With over 279 reviews on Amazon, 213 of them being 5-star reviews, this brewer is a must have. This model offers the widest range of five cup size options for brewing, as well as a 60 oz. removable water reservoir that can hold up to ten cups before refilling. The removable drip tray allows for easy cleaning and there is not only one, but two blue lit display’s (water reservoir and LCD display).

QK Club flower pot

Have you spotted these cute flower pots springing up all over the Internet? Here's a QuicKutz version, from my May QuicKutz Club meeting. These are some of the different QK flower dies the lovely and talented Pat L had cut beforehand for us. They lift out and this one's inside sentiment reads "you're the best" - I didn't take another pic of the inside and am too lazy to pull back out my camera but here's another flower pot I'd posted last month if you're not familiar with these.

I don't recall who the paper manufacturer is and I dunno about you, but I'm lovin' this dotted swiss cardstock; it's solid on one side and dotted on the other. It's similar to one I used for another recent project - a notebook to keep track my inventory of QK dies ... which I never completed. Of all the things I miss, I miss my mind the most, y'know?!

the Disney fan in me

I'm a long-time Disney fan, and this is just a quick note to share that the Hollywood CA premiere of Up took place today at the El Capitan theatre. Care to see some pics? I've followed The Pixar Blog for a while and they shared links to premiere pics. Stop by, enjoy, and catch the movie starting May 29!

CP15 rambling on ...

I'm a sketch-aholic! There! I admit it! They say the first step to recovery is to admit you have a problem, right?! Only I'm not interested in recovery, LOL! If anything, I'm always on the lookout for additional sketch challenges. The kind folkes at Card Patterns provide a weekly sketch and this card's based on their CP15 sketch.

My niece's nickname is kitty and I spotted the cool Swarovski Elements in the kitty shape this weekend while supporting the local economy in a trip to my local Mike's. I was on a hunt for another 13"x4"x3-1/2" Cropper Hopper storage case; they're perfect for storing my studio g dollar stamps. I bought one at my first Mega Meet a few years ago, then my 2nd one at CAM, my LSS, but neither had them this month. I'd hoped to be able to find stock where I'd be able to use a 40% off coupon, but alas, neither Mike's nor JoAnn's had 'em. Hmmnn ... I dunno why, but I didn't think to check at Hobby Lobby! Would you believe I have enough mini stamp sets to need a 3rd storage case? I've other mini stamps starting to collect in ziplock baggies.


I used to be webmaster for a national organization called the American Needlepoint Guild Inc. - it was a volunteer gig and I loved it. I love needlepoint and at the time also did web sites for a couple local guild chapters - one ANG and the other EGA, short for The Embroiderers' Guild of America, Inc. It kept me busy when I wasn't actually needlepointing ... which was pretty much all my other free time. It seems as tho' I've switched pasttimes 'cuz I seem to forever be making cards lately. They're both expensive pasttimes for me, but it's all about the toys! I seem to be a toy-collector. For instance, even tho' I don't cook all that much, I'm hooked on kitchen gadgets too. Methinks it's a leaning toward obsessive compulsive behavior ... ANYWAY, I mentioned the guild gig because they recently redesigned the site and I'm smitten with one of the fonts used on their latest header (the one that looks similar to one of the Verve folkes' script). Now and then I check out the ANG site - they post a monthly newsletter and a stitch leading up to an annual project piece - and I've wondered about that font. Oh, did I happen to mention that I'm a font-aholic too?! Yeah, just fill up that hard drive, Sue ... collect 'em all! I finally broke down and e-mailed the current Webmaster asking about the font. I haven't heard from them yet but think I've discovered it and it's a FREE one, if I'm correct - called BlackJack and available from the kind folkes at Typadelic, if you're interested!

but I digress ... back to the card (and back OFF the coffee, Sue!):
stamps: n/a - just two PC fonts - BlackJack and Andale Mono IPA; paper: BasicGrey's bittersweet DP collection (note: truffle DP in both 12x12" and 6x6" formats), Paper Reflections' black cardstock; ink: PC-generated; accessories: Offray black satin ribbon, Jolee's Swarovski Elements Cat, Wilton pink ribbon

you're the best!

Today's make-'n-take card from my LSS, CAM, designed by the lovely and talented Pat L. I love the bandana DP and ended up picking up a couple extra sheets. It's a kewl muted red, which I generally prefer over bright reds. Same with Christmas reds and greens - I guess I'm living in the past 'cuz I still prefer the country colors!

No deets except the paper: Creative Imaginations' Bandana DP; and accessories: star-shaped Quicklets (often the make-'n-takes involve a new product or technique - today's was the quicklet (eyelet) - which you can flatten using simply a pencil point)

one of a kind

Here's a quick 'n simple card I made for a buddy for an excuse to play with my latest toy, this QuicKutz embossing folder. I've apparently been out of touch 'cuz until this past Saturday I don't recall hearing they were producing their own line. My one of a kind stamping buddy Pat mentioned having had lilac bushes in her back yard once upon a time and I'd asked if she'd like a cutting. I'm figuring on bringing one in to work Thursday so made a quick card to go with it. Easy peasy but elegant, eh?! Works for this week's Clean & Simple challenge on SCS, CAS15, to use black, white and a bold color!

Don't you just love timed updates and don't you think everyone should have 'em? I know those of you using Google Reader will see this before it's posted, but I didn't want Pat to see the card in advance so I'm timing this update for noonish Thursday. Isn't modern technology wonderful?!

stamps: studio g series 30; paper: unknown white cardstock, SU unknown DP; tools: QuicKutz plants embossing folder, McGill birds punch

better than yesterday ...

... and worse than tomorrow! That's my usual response when I've been ill and am "on the mend" to folkes inquiring how I'm feeling, and the outside sentiment used on this card. Maria, my next door neighbor, is home recovering from surgery so I delivered this just before supper tonight and cut and brought over an arrangement from my lilac bush to go with the card. The flower stamps aren't lilacs but in a fix, they'll do, and the card's based on the CPS115 sketch. Boy, I wish for the retired Blossoms Abound set ... sigh ...

stamps: SU's Petal Prints; paper: A1's Natural White, SU's Old Olive, Vintage Violet; ink: SU's Old Olive, Vintage Violet; accessories: purple brads from a 1/2 set from Pink Hedgehog Paper Crafts (if you visit, tell her Sue sent ya!); tools: MS' picket fence border punch

happy Mother's Day, all!

Mothers Day

A Mother loves right from the start.
She holds her baby close to her heart.
The bond that grows will never falter.
Her love is so strong it will never alter.

A Mother gives never ending Love.
She never feels that she has given enough.
For you she will always do her best.
Constantly working, there's no time to rest.

A Mother is there when things go wrong.
A hug and a kiss to help us along.
Always there when we need her near.
Gently wipes our eyes when we shed a tear.

So on this day shower your Mother with Love.
Gifts and presents are nice but that is not enough.
Give your Mother a day to have some peace of mind.
Be gentle, be good, be helpful, be kind.

Happy Mothers Day

- Carol Matthews

(read more about the Anna Marie Jarvis, pictured above and founder of Mother's Day, on the May 13, 2007 post of the Plainfield Today)

get well soon, Judy!

Today's card uses some new toys I'd picked up from the GLMM on Thursday - the awesome chocolate brown and rose red DP, flower stamp and ribbon are new and all t'riffic steals. The DP cost $2 for 25 2-sided sheets (I found 3 different styles I really liked), the ribbon cost $2 and was part of a set of 6 39-inch sections (found 3 different styles again here), and the stamp was reduced 50% to $4.50.

I wanted to use the DP today and took the opportunity to make a get-well card for a coworker using a couple challenges - Jenn Balcer's t'riffic WSC79 sketch and Kristina Werner's color inspiration #51 to use chocolate, rose, mustard and white. OK, I heard that! You're saying it's a stretch to use a mustard butterfly, aren't you?! Hush now! It worked for ME!


stamps: Heartfelt Creations' flower, studio g's series 16 butterfly, and A Muse Artstamps' sentiment; paper: EK Success' Inspirables DP, SU's Old Olive and unknown white cardstocks; ink: StazOn Jet Black, SU's More Mustard, Old Olive, Rose Red, and Ruby Red, and Tri-C watercolor markers; accessories: A Muse Artstamps' creative candy twinkle stickers, EK Success' Overton House Designs chocolate ribbons, and Gartner Studios' white flower table confetti

Great Lakes Mega Meet 2009

I went to the Great Lakes Mega Meet with my stampin' buds Pat and Kim yesterday, perused the wares of about 80 vendors in 84,500 square feet of exhibit space, had a light lunch, took in a class, and ended the day with supper and sundaes with the gals before heading back home.

We're planning on a small show-'n-tell session at work on Monday to see what each of us picked up. It's next to impossible to have all 3 of us be interested in the same booths so we just perused at our individual speeds and called each other to hook up again occasionally.


While we didn't make it there early enough to be in the throngs of the opening crowds this year, we timed our arrival for about 9:05 a.m. and figured we endured about 7 hours of scrapping and shopping and walking and more walking. We all scheduled time off today to recuperate! Well, that and play, anyway ...

Pat and I both signed up for SEI's Clearly Fabulous - Acrylic Album Techniques - Black Orchid class, pictured at left, and actually finished them (sans pics, which we've got to add still) by the end of class!

thinking of you

Here's another of our class projects from our April 24th class led by the lovely and talented Mary. I was recently reminded that I'd not posted others following the weekend of the class recently. How, you ask? Why, this evening I spotted this video for a similar flower pot at Dawn's Stamping Studio! Seems like an appropriate time to post it, wouldn't you agree?!

don't quote me, but ...

Don't quote me, but ... if friends were flowers, I'd pick Pat! A two-fer card based on Card Patterns' CP13 sketch and Caardvarks' "don't quote me" challenges, it's heading to my good buddy Pat who's my partner in crime in all things stamping-related! On Thursday morning she's picking up Kim (my other scrappin' bud) and me, and we're all heading to Novi to take in the Great Lakes Scrapbooking Mega Meet. Tonight she's taking delivery of our recent Stampin' Up! orders (and just MAYBE our latest Close To My Heart orders as well) so we'll have the necessary show-'n-tell before we start work tomorrow. I thought it'd be nice to let her know she's much appreciated by making her a card ... 'cuz, if friends were flowers, I'd pick her! I used the thumping technique to get the blotchy mixed color flower effect - IRL it really matches the shabby pinks in the card well if I do say so myself! (woot! woot! my first "me likey" from Allison, who I'm a gushing fan of ...)



stamps: Unity's Feel the Joy, PAPERTREYink's green thumb; paper: My Mind's Eye's Laundry Line DP, SU's Ruby Red and unknown white cardstocks; ink: StazOn's Jet Black, SU's Ruby Red and Cameo Coral, Tri-C watercolor marker; accessories: My Mind's Eye's chipboard borders, crocheted flower, and BasicGrey button

let the sun shine!

It was SUCH a beautiful sunny weekend in my neck of the woods! Hope you had a t'riffic one too!

I ended up making just one card this weekend, inspired by Toni's treat box and Lynn's window card. It's based on two challenges - it's a yellow sunny card for Sharon's yellow ssnotime85 challenge and it's based on Keri Lee's CPS114 sketch challenge (below). I guess you could call this one a "golden" oldie as the stamp set's a retired SU set I bought used last year and I worked it mainly in yellows and oranges.

Buying my stamp sets used works out well for all involved 'cuz demos are looking to purge retired sets to enable them to then buy the latest and greatest, and it's enabled me to purchase at least a third of my stamp sets after the new cattys are released.

stamps: A Muse Artstamps' sentiment, SU's Sun, Moon & Stars; studio g inside sentiment; paper: SU's Haiku DP, Really Rust cardstock; ink: SU's So Saffron and Really Rust; tools: Spellbinders' Standard Petite Circles Nesties and dimensionals, SU's slit punch

Happy Nat'l Scrapbooking Day

I imagine there will be lots of folkes participating in stores' crop-ins today. I'll be scrapping at home and taking in a movie w friends, so hope to post a card later.

I'd noted a couple font sites in a post a few days ago. Here's a few more font sites, compliments of a list put together at the Creative Crafts & Stickers site!

happy b'day Jeanette!

Jeanette's retiring Monday, on her birthday - how sweet is THAT?! I'd made the sock monkey card for our group gift celebrating her retirement which we gave to her at lunch on Thursday (curious? we chipped in and got her a Wii!). While cruising one evening I found this cutie monkey pencil holder cup on Ginny's Etsy shop site a couple weeks ago and HAD to pick it up for Jeanette! She's scheduled for her exit interview with H/R Monday morning, then it's off to retirement and doing what she likes.

I just happened to have recently been RAK'd with a tee that reads "Life is good," a comment I'm constantly saying (SO Martha am I!), and it had this chipboard tag circle on it. I wore the shirt Friday (our office dress is pretty much business casual Monday-Thursday and jeans-casual on Fridays) for the first time, and put the tag aside, thinking the "Do what you Like. Like what you do." quote was pretty good for another card. Then I went in search of a sketch challenge using a large circle and found this from a November PaperCraft Planet one. And the rest, as they say, is history!

stamps: n/a (all PC-generated); paper: My Mind's Eye's Dreamy 2 line, ColorMates' Medium Autumn Red cardstock; ink: PC-generated; tools: Spellbinders' Nestabilities standard petite circles