Friday, December 13, 2013

SCT's winter issue!

http://www.scrapbookandcards.com/current-issue
One of my fav Canadian mags has released its winter issue recently ... and it offers both a free online or downloadable version! Isn't that sweet of them?! I took some time to do an initial review this a.m. and will scope it out in more detail later!

Click on the picture to head to their site - you can subscribe, view online, or download the latest edition there! Enjoy! 

Friday, December 6, 2013

Pantone announces Color of the Year for 2014

Stop the presses! Just a quick "heads up" to share that Pantone recently announced their Color of the year for 2014, and it's called Radiant Orchid!

This is SO timely for me to have happened upon today, as just yesterday a coworker and I were scoping out a color sample of carpet that I swear was this same color (we both like purple but agreed this was a bit overwhelming for suggested office renovations ... we both like neutrals and splashes of color)!

Anywho, snipped from their announcement post, “While the 2013 color of the year, PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald, served as a symbol of growth, renewal and prosperity, Radiant Orchid reaches across the color wheel to intrigue the eye and spark the imagination”

I'm lovin' the color; it's similar to but brighter than one of my fav SU colors, Razzleberry ... now we'll have to see how often it's used thruout the industry!

Thanx for stopping by!

Saturday, October 26, 2013

in memory of Bill

I had the sad occasion to go to the funeral of the Dad of a close friend and colleague from work yesterday. It was a 2-hour trip, made more enjoyable by the company of my lunch crew and the beautiful fall colors. We're like extended family, 'tho we haven't known each other all that long - in some instances only 7-8 years. Though we gave him a card from our work group, I made this one to send from me and my family.

I love this embossing folder - it reminds me of a quilt pattern (a wedding ring pattern, I spotted one once that was white on white and just gorgeous!), and I kept the card simple with the addition of the bird (think dove, tho' I know it's not) and branch, and tag. I finished off by distressing the "quilt" layer and edge of card w moonlight white ink.

stamps: Avery Elle's Oh Happy Day; paper: Neenah's Solar White, SU's Brocade Blue, Sahara Sand card stocks; ink: Ranger's black soot, Tsukeneko's Moonlight White Brilliance; accessories: build-a-bird punch, Cuttlebug w Lifestyle Crafts' Dainty embossing folder

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Happy World Card Making Day 2013

Hi folkes! Happy World Card Making Day! While I've been mainly watching the President's Cup golf match with my DH today, I took some time out to get crafty and made a card to send to my sister. It reads "happy FALL" but the fall is stamped behind the vellum piece and turned out a bit harder to read than I'd hoped for ... oh well! Autumn's her favorite season.

I stamped the background image using a recent stamp set acquisition called LEAFLETS by clear & simple stamps. You can ask my stamping buddies; I've an obsession with leaves and trees and couldn't pass this one up; it had a corresponding die set, you see! Anywho, I stamped the word "FALL" using block stamps, distressed the card stock, then added the vellum card stock, die cut some leaves for on top of the vellum, and added the sentiment.


Today's card is based on one of the dozens of sketch challenges that people posted to celebrate World Card Making Day - this one's from the noon challenge by the kind folkes of Scrapbook & Cards Today blog fame.

stamps: clear & simple stamps' LEAFLETS, Unity's It's the most wonderful time of the year inside sentiment; paper: Neenah's Solar White, SU's Crumb Cake, and Vellum card stocks; ink: SU's Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Riding Hood Red, Soft Suede, and Summer Sun; tools: Cuttlebug w clear & simple stamps' LEAFLETS and TAGS 1, memory box's Happy dies, SU's Sizzix Sweet Buttons Embosslits; accessories: unknown hemp for tie

Friday, October 4, 2013

jack-o-lanterns smiling bright ...

jack-o-lanterns smiling bright,
wish you a happy haunting night!

Just a quick post to share my Halloween card based on retro sketches' rs#78 sketch. I had picked up the purple main image at a Deer Hunter Widow's stamp weekend last year but hadn't used any from the pack yet and thought this one lent itself to being cut into pieces for the sketch!

I'd forgotten to note the name of the cute spider punch, the stamp's from A Muse Artstamps of long ago, and while it's SU card stock, I'm not sure now what the orange card stock is ... so is this a short post, or what?!

Thursday, October 3, 2013

when I see owls I think of b'rer Jack

Once upon a time we picked up an owl statue and held a photo shoot thruout a day of just driving around and goofing off. I don't recall now who was there besides me and my b'rer Jack ... possibly my sister Karen? Decades ago, it was... we painted his eyes in dayglo paint, if that helps with the time frame, LOL! So now, whenever I see owls, I think of my brother. There were 4 owls in the midst of some DP that I'd picked up (and now, for the life of me, I can't find the sheet to report its maker), and I cut these out to use in a card utilizing retro sketch's rs#80 sketch.

no deets today; by the miracle of scheduled postings, I'm predating this post to when I made the card, but I don't know where the DP is now that I'd used. c'mon now, did I REALLY put my stamping stuff away after being crafty??!

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

crafty mid-week?!

I've scheduled half day vacations on Wed- nesdays thru October - initially it was to take my time in getting ready for my golf league which starts at 4 p.m. locally ... but I ended up only subbing this year, and it's now past the league schedule. It's just SO NICE having a mid-week break, that I continued it, at least during the nice fall weather, thinking my DH and I would use the opportunity to play golf or go to a movie or ... whatever!

Well, today's crafty day. Actually it's now Saturday but thru the miracle of scheduled postings, I'm backdating these posts to upload cards I actually made this week but was too lazy to photo and upload at the time. I know; I'm pretty darn lazy at times! And I seem to have put away the supplies, so there's not much in the way of deets either ... BUT it IS based on retro sketch's rs#79 sketch! I like the DP and its swirly background reminded me of this cute little ghost's lolly pop, so I pulled them together. Now we'll see whether I remember to send out Halloween cards this year!

Thanx for stopping in.


Sunday, September 22, 2013

happy fall, ya'll!

I like to make a Wordle for holidays and seasons, and here's this one, welcoming my sister's favorite season in! My favorite? I really don't have one, but figure God placed me here to more appreciate spring, summer, and fall! Yeah ... not much of a winter person am I. It's okay for maybe the period of Thanksgiving (after everyone's made it home safely) thru the Christmas holiday break, and MAYBE I'd even give it thru the end of February ... but that's it! After that I'm WAY ready for spring!

Try a Wordle - you'll like it! Visit wordle.net and you'll find complete and easy instructions! Enjoy!

happy b'day SueB!

I'm planning on sneaking to Sue's (no, not me - I have three friends also named Sue, actually ... and three of us hang out together) house today and taping this card on her front door so she sees it when she returns from church as I procrastinated and didn't get it into the mail in time. As her birthday falls on the first day of fall, I thought this card that I made at the lovely and talented Angie Jarman's stamp camp last week was oh-so appropriate; don't you?! Thanx for stopping by!

Sorry for the dark photo. The light by my computer's not cooperating today and it's early so the glare is off my glass-topped end table. 

no deets today; a class project, everything is Stampin' Up!

Saturday, September 21, 2013

September make-'n-take

I've been taking part in a continuing project make- 'n-take class that started at a local paper crafts store that shut down in May 2013 but thankfully the lovely and talented Joyce Johnson has continued the class out of her home (thanx Joyce!). It's offered in either a 6x6 or 12x12" version, but one seems too small and the other too large to me (thinking Goldilock here?!) ... anywho, here's this month's two page spread, slightly altered as I make 'em in an 8x8" format!

And can I take a moment to gush over Simple Stories? I love Love LOVE their DP and this one's no exception. It's from their Year-o-graphy line, and I found the last remaining 6x6 pad at the Sterling Heights Archiver store on a recent shopping expedition w my stamping buddy Kim!

So, do you have a favorite paper vendor?

Friday, September 20, 2013

S&CT's fall issue is here!

hi folkes! just a quick note to let you know that the fall edition of Scrapbook & Cards Today mag is now available. You can EITHER download the digi version by clicking on the picture at left OR view the entire mag online - thanx, S&CT!

It's one of my fav scrapbook mags and Canada’s first FREE magazine dedicated to scrapbooking and card making. It showcases the latest techniques and products, presents interesting and easy-to-follow ideas and instructions, and displays beautiful photography and inspiring design. Try it, if you haven't already ~ you'll like it!

Thursday, July 4, 2013

part deux celebrations

Happy Independence Day, all! I've a few reasons to be celebrating. First, it's a nice, long weekend! Second, I got time to play today, and third, I have a stamping buddy who's celebrating a birthday on Sunday. I decided to make it a red, white, and blue birthday card and I based it on the DDWS6 sketch challenge from the dahlhouse designs blog. Tune in for a new sketch challenge each 3rd Sunday, and thanx for stopping by today!

stamps: n/a (sentiments are PC-generated); paper: Neenah's Solar White, SU's Cherry Cobbler, Brilliant Blue, and Vellum card stocks; ink: n/a (PC-generated sentiment); tools: Cuttlebug w Provo Craft's bloom dots embossing folder, and tonic's butterfly flutter punch

Friday, June 28, 2013

a CASE study wedding greeting

Sigh ... I have the printout of the card this is based on and know it was something I found on Pinterest ... and I THOUGHT that I'd saved it in my inspiration directory to papercraft later but alas, I can't find the original now to credit the originator. I entered the URL printed on the top of my printout but it's no longer available online, and a search for "you make me smile" didn't turn it up either. If anyone knows the originator, please share, ok?!

I had the same embossing folder and bird die, and thought of this card immediately when a coworker announced he was getting married. All I did was reposition the birds to the right side (a pet peeve of mine, I don't like photos or dies looking off the page as they were when placed to the left on the original) and skipped the outside sentiment. My inside sentiment is PC-generated and reads, "congratulations on becoming Mr & Mrs."

Thanks for stopping in!

stamps: n/a (sentiment is PC-generated); paper: Neenah's Solar White, SU's Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, and Old Olive card stocks; ink: n/a (PC-generated sentiment); tools: Cuttlebug w Provo Craft's birds and swirls embossing folder, and memory box perched reed bird, and unknown small heart punch

Monday, June 24, 2013

Happy Bee Day in 3D

The prior Happy Bee Day card was a one-layer Wednesday challenge card, so I used a few conversation cloud dies I had to pop up another version of the same card ... so, which do YOU prefer?!

stamps: PTI's Melissa j designs' Flower Fusion #1, Heart-2-Heart #4, Simon Says Stamp's Circle Friends, Talk Bubbles 2 sets; inks: SEI's cumquats, Ranger's black soot distress ink; paper: Neenah's solar white, SU's crushed curry, cameo coral, and taken w teal card stocks; tools: Cuttlebug w Simon Says Stamp's Talk Bubbles 2 dies, Paper Shapers circle punch

Friday, June 21, 2013

Welcome SUMMER!

Ah, Summer! Lots to be thankful for - the cookouts, that everything's so nice and green, arts & crafts fairs, my day lilies are starting to flower ... AND ... I just finished my first quick perusal of Scrapbook & Cards Today's Summer 2013 issue, just released today! Offered in both print and online editions, you can click thru on the photo or link to read it! Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

OLW142 Happy B'day Ardyth

This week's OLW142 one-layer challenge is to make a card in Ardyth's style or something that would speak to her ... and she's a fan of clean lines and bright colors, especially rainbow and aqua so I went with that! I pulled out some bright chalk inks to play with and made this easy peasy card - stamped the various backgrounds and added some birthday sentiments.

stamps: PTI's Melissa j designs' Flower Fusion #1, Heart-2-Heart #4, Simon Says Stamp's Circle Friends, Talk Bubbles 2 sets; inks: Color Box teal, SEI's cumquats, lime, moss, and rose petal, Ranger's black soot distress ink; paper: Neenah's solar white card stock

Sunday, May 26, 2013

happy b'day Joyce

I needed a card for this week for a coworker's birthday and tho' I have close to a gazillion on hand that I could choose from, I felt like putting one of the little butterflies I'd picked up during my last visit to Mike's to use. I seem drawn to CAS cards of late, and this one's no exception. I simply ran the white card stock thru my Cuttlebug using an embossing folder - clouds seemed appropriate here - and then popped up the butterfly onto a popped up matted piece. I have some sparkly ribbon that matched, but it seemed like a "less is more" card for today so I simply wrapped some twine around the bottom and applied the popped up matted piece on the base and voilà! Easy peasy!

Here's a peek at the cloudy day embossed background:

stamps: Melissa J Designs' flower fusion #1, heart-2-heart #4; paper: Neenah Solar White, SU unknown card stocks; accessories: The Twinery's ocean baker's twine, Mike's butterflies

Saturday, May 18, 2013

another one bites the dust

So sorry to see the passing of another of my local (Flint MI) haunts - Capture-a-Memory announced plans to close on May 14 and worse yet, that they anticipated their last day of business to be the 24th. I've been heading there for Saturday make-'n-takes for what seems like forever and I feel very displaced! A t'riffic group of ladies, I know that at least a couple plan to offer classes from their homes, so I'll be able to continue some of the classes I've been participating in.

But omigosh, they had such an extensive card stock and die collection, and were t'riffic at taking suggestions and had in the past year been carrying the Authentique DP line which I've loved ... and were great about carrying multiple DPs in lines along with accessories - more so than any other local shop I've been to.

Ladies, I wish you the best in your future endeavors!

Saturday, May 4, 2013

musings on the 4th - 5th - 6th

If today is "May the 4th be with you," and tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, does that make Monday "revenge of the 6th?"

Sunday, April 28, 2013

you are loved, M&D!

Here's to the initial inking of my latest Avery Elle stamp set - Fanfare! It's a combo card in more ways than one. Firstly, I used Studio Calico's Sunday Sketch AND drew inspiration from Avery Elle's April AEI{heart}U challenge (I think the repeating fanfare swoops mimics the inspiration photo's floating Japanese lanterns, don't you?)! Secondly, tomorrow's my folkes' wedding anniversary and I'm thinking of them, AND Mother's Day is fast approaching, when I'll give this to my Mom (you see, my Dad passed away 8+ years ago and my Mom's got Alzheimer's BUT she still reads every card I give her, God bless her)!

The AE Fanfare stamp is a single line of swoops so I repeatedly stamped them using VersaMark on some SU Sahara Sand, then tied on some white cotton string, glued on the dies, and popped up the punches on some Neenah Solar White card stock. Easy peasy!

stamps: Avery Elle's Fanfare; ink: Ranger's black soot distress ink, Tsukineko's VersaMark; paper: American Crafts' Textured White, Neenah's Solar White, SU's Real Red and Sahara Sand card stock, unknown green DP; tools: EK Success Spiral, Marvy Uchida heart,SU's bird builder punches, Cuttlebug w Simon Says Stamp's you, and Sizzix Branch w Leaves dies; accessories: white packaging string


Thursday, April 25, 2013

a case study

Let me start right off by letting you know that I can't count on all my fingers and toes the number of times I've said that, when I grow up, I want to create papercrafts like Debby Hughes of Lime Doodle Design blog fame! The girl just ROCKS, and today's card is a shameless CASE of her April 19th post. I've been neglectful of my Silhouette of late, and when I couldn't locate a decent sized bee stamp, pulled the Silhouette out of mothballs and now have it permanently installed at my desktop PC/printer station. I'd previously been pulling it out of storage each time I used it but I'm ashamed to tell you that I didn't get around to pulling it out all that often tho' I'm really pleased with it!

So, okay, confessions aside, today's card is for a coworker and it's a change of venue for me, as I usually do sailing-themed cards for her! Not to mention that when I think of the normal birthday greeting, I sign cards using the images of a hippo, birdie, and two ewes (all of which I have plenty of stamp samples in my stash, naturally), so this is really a change of pace for me! When I spotted Debby's card, I thought to myself, "Self, don't you have a bee stamp in one of those SU floral stamp sets?" ... and "Self, you haven't even USED that honeycomb embossing folder yet, have you?" ... and "Self, I know you've ORDERED that 'happy bee day' stamp set - no, it's not arrived yet (must be on a slow boat from China) - BUT you DO have Kim Hughes' fonts installed on the PC, don't you?!" After searching through my stamp sets and only finding miniscule honey bees, I decided it was time to pull out the Silhouette and that's where I found the bee used on the card. Such a deal, at only 50 center per image AND I still have a credit due me from my original Silhouette purchase (you see, the store I purchased it from gave me $200 in credits when I purchased it for $309 originally). My only regret is that I purchased it BEFORE the SD version came out, so mine's not especially portable!

stamps: n/a (sentiment is PC-generated using Kim Hughes SNF Daisy Jane and SNF Goody fonts); paper: Neenah's Solar White, Paper Reflections black, and SU's YoYo Yellow card stocks; ink: n/a (PC-generated sentiment and honeycomb circle); tools: Cuttlebug w MFT Stamps' Sweet Stack Labels (circle), QuicKutz's No. 73 Number Set, Simon Says Stamp's You, Talk Bubbles 2 dies; and Silhouette w bumblebee shape

Sunday, March 31, 2013

happy (hybrid) Easter!

Happy Easter, all!

I played a bit this a.m. Yesterday while at a make-'n-take I picked up a sheet of some stinkin' cute DP at my local stamping store. I thought it would make SUCH a cute background on a card if it weren't for the fact that the bunny was facing right ... and therefore away from what would become the center of the card. My BFFs know that's something that bugs me about some folkes' placement of stamps on cards ... and so what did I do, you ask?! Well, if I'd used the portion of the DP from the right-facing bunny to its right, I'd have lost those cute topiary bushes ... so I decided to go digi.

I haven't played around w PhotoShop in ages, so purchased, then scanned the DP, and flipped that bunny so he was left-facing. I printed out a couple pictures and then fussy cut around the bunny so that I could pop him up. I also used the color picker so that I could have the lavender from the polka dots as the card background. The white portion of the card is popped up off the lavender as well. Voila!

I'm happy w the results, tho' it's afternoon before I'm posting my happy Easter greetings. Such is life, eh?!

stamps: Heather's F-180-HK Happy Easter greeting; paper: We R Memory Keepers' Cotton Tails English Garden DP, Neenah Solar White card stock; ink: Ranger black soot distress ink, PC-generated photo


Sunday, March 24, 2013

Spring is in the air!

One of my most welcome signs of spring has arrived! Yes, listening to the birds in the morning again is one ... but having the spring issue of SC&T is another! It's here, and I took some time this a.m. to review it. I should make a "welcome spring" card before heading out to visit my Mom later today!

Click on the picture to head to their site - you can subscribe, view online, or download the latest edition there! Enjoy!

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Northridge Publishing / BasicGrey give-away

Leave a comment on the Northridge Publishing blog by Wednesday 11:59 MST for a chance to win this cool BasicGrey sampler pack!

Saturday, January 5, 2013

movie day at the Blondin's

Movie day at the Blondin's - for two of us, that is. I'd asked my sons what movies they'd like to see over the holiday break, and while my youngest and I went to see the Hobbit, I'd neglected to get to another that my eldest chose. He actually asked me to go see Finding Nemo 3D with him (which got rave reviews at the The Week's article - see link), and as it's not playing locally any longer, I suggested we check out Monsters Inc 3D. Well, congrats to Disney, as the 3D effects were well done. I've always thought that the scene where the trio goes into the storage area of doors in search of Boo's closet door was MADE for 3D and it didn't disappoint! 

I'll have to check out our 2D version again to confirm where there were updates - I swear the scene walking to work had multiple changes - for example, in Mike's love for his new car, and the giant monster who was walking to work. And the outtakes at the end were all new, right?! All in all, it was a great movie and well worth a repeat trip!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

HNY ... on New Years Resolutions ...

Happy New Year! OK, I'm thinking New Year's resolutions! Here are a few I think I can commit to:

1) Like noted in the photo, to simply remember to write 2013 instead of 2012
2) Drink more water - I fill a 32 oz cup while at work and rarely finish it these days
3) Eat more fruits and veggies
4) Walk 10K steps at least 3x weekly. 

How 'bout you?!