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

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 335 metres (1,100 feet) long and 49 metres (160 feet) above the water, becoming the first daredevil to walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope.

(I just thought you ought to know ...)

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 I made the flag from a QuicKutz die last year but hadn't used the scrapbook page it was originally made for, so recycled it today.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

saturday matinee

I took in the Tom Cruise / Cameron Diaz Knight And Day movie today w my buddy Sue (missed you, SueS and Barb!). It was full of ACTION (with a definite emphasis on action there!), charm, laughs, and romance - sort of a romantic comedy action flick. We both thought it was pretty darn good. Peter Sarsgaard and Viola Davis played secondary roles in it - Peter had played the air marshal turned villain in Flightplan w Jodi Foster, and Viola was SO GREAT in the Jesse Stone movie series (I loved them and picked them all up for my DH last Christmas). It was a pleasure watching the story unfold, in sort of a mix between Collateral and Vanilla Sky - the action mixed with the surreal. I'll probably pick this one up when it goes to DVD. I'd give it a 4 of 5 stars! Lots of couples in the theater today, as it had something for everyone!

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

saturday's class fav

I know, I know ... HOW exactly did Sue post her fav Saturday make-'n-take so early, you ask?! Well, I took a class yesterday with a couple stamping buddies and Karen offered to let us make our Saturday projects afterwards. How could we not take her up on that offer?! So, here's my fav of today's cards. I'm lovin' the background DP but don't have any deets today.

It's Formula1 race qualifying today, so methinks I'll get ready to drop my youngest off at class and head to pick up breakfast treats. Don't you just love weekends?! We have a tradition of grabbing b'fast at McDonalds on Saturdays and then I update Quicken for the week's transactions. Then I plan on getting crafty and making some Independence Day cards. Hope you're having a t'riffic weekend as well! Catch ya later!

we saw toy story 3 tonite

My eldest son and I went to see Toy Story 3 in Disney 3D tonight after I got home from work. His brother went with friends but to a different showing ... I'm waiting to see him to check whether they splurged on the Imax 3D or went to the Disney 3D like us. Those Pixar folkes are awesome story tellers. We laughed. I cried. We laughed again. It was very satisfying, though a tad on the sad side, as Andy's grown up and heading off to college (as I'm sure the entire world has heard by now), and doesn't play with the toys any longer. Suffice to say that I got hit with a case of empty nest syndrome!

I'm giving this pic a 4.75 of 5 stars! It took in over $110 million over the weekend, and was the #1 movie in N America, besting the prior Pixar best of $70M from The Incredibles in 2004.

happy fathers day!

Here's the Father's Day card I made for my DH - a CAS design based on Paper Craft Planet's SK061910 sketch challenge. I simply stamped the background shoe in Kiwi Kiss and the sentiment in black, then added the "e" to make it golf-related. Here's wishing you all a happy Fathers Day!

stamps: A Muse Artstamps' golf shoe, SU's Great Friend; ink: SU's Kiwi Kiss, Ranger's black soot distress ink; paper: CM's Neutral card stock, SU's Kiwi Kiss DP; tools: Paper Shapers' circle and scalloped circle

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