a couple of mini digis

Sad news: I've lost my local source of free large (5-1/2 x 7-1/4") envelopes (tip I've shared in the past - most square cards can be mailed in these using a regular first class stamp) so decided to try a new (to me) 4-1/4" square size cards. This smaller size card will fit into my regular card envelopes that I purchase in quantity at JoAnn's or Mike's on a regular basis. The university's bookstore where I work (insert shameless plug here for Kettering University) had previously been a Hallmark outlet, and offered customers extra envelopes on request. I'd offered once to purchase a box, but the kind folkes working there said not to bother; to just pick up a few every once in a while. Well, my supply was dwindling so I stopped in the other day only to learn that they'd switched card suppliers. Sigh ...

... but I digress ... so, today's cards were inspired by my latest tee from Threadless - cute dandy lions, eh?! I thought they were a remembrance of spring, so decided to make a Welcome Spring card (inside sentiment: Bidding winter a fond farewell ... in like a lion ... and out like a lamb!). And then I happened upon a nice inspirational quote that made me think of a friend whose DH is ill - "Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow." - Mary Anne Radmacher, so I made another. The matted picture is popped up using dimensionals. Today's post is a rare two-fer.

stamps: n/a - a digi card; paper: SU's soft suede, very vanilla card stocks; ink: PC-generated sentiments

no cards this Saturday

... b'cuz I was volunteering at the university where I work - insert shameless plug for Kettering University here - as our spring open house was Saturday, offering a chance to meet faculty members and students, while touring facilities like the Crash Safety Center. The event, called Discover Kettering, is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Prospective students and their families have a chance to meet current faculty and students, tour campus facilities and attend an Academic Expo from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a University Expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students meet with admissions, co-op and financial aid representatives. A panel of current Kettering students share insights about their class and job experiences. A special session is offered for transfer students.

Although Discover Kettering is an open house, registration for the program is preferred by calling (800) 955-4464, ext. 7865, or visit: http://admissions.kettering.edu/visit/. If you're interested in attending and missed this Saturday's open house, we hold another in August. Stop by and say hi - I'm usually w my buddy Lynn, "personing" the visitor station at the start of the tour of the academic building at the northwest corner of University and Chevrolet!

happy Easter

Here's my 2nd show-'n-tell from this month's stamp camp w Angie. I ordered this chocolate bunny single stamp last month from the Occasions Mini catty, and doesn't it look good enough to eat?! This'll be my last sneak peek from the stamp camp ... I don't want to spoil the surprise for those attending any of the four stamp camps to be held still later this month. If you're in the Flint MI area and are interested in attending, check out the SU-Angie link in my side bar!

(all SU product) stamps: Chocolate Bunny, Well Scripted; paper: unknown DP, Close to Cocoa?, Old Olive card stock; ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive; accessories: Button Latte designer buttons, Chocolate Chip satin ribbon; stems from the Two-Step Bird punch

with heartfelt sympathy

I learned today that I'll need a sympathy card for Dawn, a gal in our office whose mother passed away today, and Angie came to my rescue at this evening's stamp camp. Originally intended as an Easter card, she made other sentiments available to us, so it was transformed into a sympathy card. Isn't it BEAUTIFUL?! Thanx, Angie!

(all product SU) stamps: Close As a Memory, Of the Earth; paper: Cottage Wall DP, Old Olive and Whisper White card stocks; ink: Rich Razzleberry; accessories: Button Latte designer buttons (I've GOTTA get some of these!)

movie night at the Blondin's

My Mom and Sis' came to visit Wednesday and Karen brought up a rental movie this trip - Up In The Air, with George Clooney (hold on a second here ... sigh ... ok, back to reality). It's pizza night in the Blondin household on Wednesdays, and both Karen and my DH picked up different ice creams for dessert.

Now, I dunno about the entertainment value of a movie about the life of a corporate downsizer traveling the country to relieve folkes of their jobs ... who thinks of plots for movies these days?! ... but hey, the commercials had some sweet and funny moments, so we gave it a try. Well, it DID have plenty of sweet moments throughout, though it was pretty much predictable, and I think I'd give it a 3* out of 5 rating. What about you; have you seen it yet? And, more importantly, is George getting better looking as he ages? He and Sean Connery, eh?

enabler alert

Crafty Al, aka Alicia Ekermans of Sheetload fame, is having a 'Follower Drive' and has multiple ways you can be entered to win a prize package containing BasicGrey Origins goodies, studio g dollar stamps, ShortCuts' Clear and Frosted card stock, and more ...

To enter, visit her blog post by March 14th! If I don't win, I hope one of my readers does! Tell Crafty Al I said hi!

to market, to market ...

... to make a cute card, then home again, home again, in my sick car!

My car's "service vehicle soon," "trac-off," and another dealing with the brakes warning lights lit today, when I was pulling out of the Bob Evans parking lot and on my way to head to Karen's to make this SWEET card today! It looks like we'll be staying close to the house and my DH will be stopping by the car service shop on Monday ... sigh ...

My buddy Pat's boss adores pigs, so she'll be ready for his upcoming birthday. My buddy Kimmi was kind enough to cut out my pig so I could pop him up using dimensionals. She used 'em on her card and I loved it. Cute, eh?! And I love the color combos we used in the making of the piggy card, don't you?!

congrats to Jenny and Justin

Jenny & Justin just had a sweet baby boy, and this card matches the baby scrapbook I made for them. I'd already matted the white on green card stocks when I first stamped the "congrats" sentiment ... crooked! Sigh ... Don't you hate when you have the confidence to assemble first, and then have to take the thing apart 'cuz you've stamped something crooked? That happened to me, so I redid that portion of the card this evening. I'm just waiting for the arrival of a "I'm the big brother" tee I'd ordered online for baby Mason's big brother Nick, and we're ready!

stamps: SU's Congrats; paper: K&Co's sweet pea green gingham DP, unknown white and green card stocks; ink: Ranger black soot distress ink

reduce, reuse, recycle

I dunno about you, but I often make an "oh, how pretty" or some such comment when I receive my Coldwater Creek catty ... and often THINK about using the cover picture. Well, that's just what I did this afternoon. Here's the card, welcoming spring (two weeks of winter left, remember! whoo hoo!), and the catty, below. I got to play with another new toy too - the border punch is a new one for me that I picked up using another 40% off coupon at Mike's this past weekend.



stamps: n/a; paper: Paper Reflections' black, unknown white card stocks; ink: n/a; tools: ek's dotted scallop border punch

my first St Pat's card

This is my first card utilizing a covered brad made using the i-Top tool. I showed my Mom and sister how to use it today when they stopped by for a mid-week afternoon visit. I took off a few hours from work and we had a crafty get-together followed by supper and some yummy black raspberry chocolate ice cream - Breyers' - try it, you'll like it!

I'd punched out some assorted sizes of flowers in a couple different green card stocks yesterday, then crumpled and straightened them back out. Tonight I used the matching clover DP for the covered brad. Voila! Easy peasy!

stamps: SU's Go Green; paper: Stemma's Four Leaf Clovers DP, unknown Michigan-made green, unknown white card stocks; ink: Cat's Eye chalk inks in Olive Pastel; accessories: Mike's dollar ribbons

mama's got a brand new toy

My DH got me an iPod for Christmas, and TRIED to find an i-Top tool at our local stamping stores, but eventually gave up. He asked me to keep my eye open to see when it showed up locally. Well, this weekend the pink version was on the shelves at Mike's and I JUST happened to have a 50% off coupon in my purse ... and so the rest, as they say, was history! I got the i-Top small size brad daddies and the small punch, both using 40% off coupons. It's always nice to get a new toy ... it makes it even sweeter when it's a deal!

happy b'day Jack!

I made this card for my brother to celebrate his recent birthday ... not sent in time for his birthday, mind you ... but it's the thought that counts, right?! I picked up this owl on branch stamp at Mike's dollar bin, and already had the rest of the supplies on hand. Now we'll see how long it takes me to actually box it up and send it TO him ... sigh ...

stamps: Inkadinkado's Chelsea Sentiments, Mike's unknown owl; paper: The Paper Loft's Pedigree DP, A1 Natural, Prism unknown brown and teal card stocks; ink: Ranger's distress ink's black soot, Tri-C watercolor markers