Spring...I haz it...French...not so much!

I had some lessons in French from one of my readers from Paris yesterday!

Katou was puzzled by what I, or rather Pierre, was trying to say. I have to say that my French is of the school-girl variety and when I get stuck, I rely on online dictionaries and translation sites to help me along. So the word that didn't translate properly was "vain". I wasn't entirely sure if that was the right word and one of the online English-French dictionaries did not recommend "vaine" as a translation, but the translation site did so I went with it. But Katou helped me figure it out and so what Pierre really meant to say was:

"Elle est trés vaniteuse!"

I hasten to say I do not speak French often; I can read a bit, write a bit (with help) and speak just a little. I can understand the gist of most conversations I hear and can sometimes get along without subtitles when I'm watching French films. All thanks to a little French instruction in 4th grade, a year in high school, 1 year in university and a great love for the works of Alexandre Dumas. Mais, je parle Français comme une vache espagnol, for the most part! I love the language and Katou has very graciously offered to help me out the next time I need assistance. Merci, Katou!

As far as spring goes, I think it's safe to say that it's here. But in Michigan, we are very cautious in expressing this. For some reason, Michiganders believe that Mother Nature is out to get them. You don't want to get too optimistic, because as soon as you do, the clouds roll in, the temperatures drop and the wind begins to blow. Which is all part of the natural pessimism of the Midwest, a land mostly inhabited by Scandinavian, German and Dutch immigrants whose heritage teaches them that life is hard, so don't expect too much and for heaven's sake, don't BRAG about anything. Because Someone is listening and They might just decide to teach you a lesson.

Not that spring means it will be entirely warm all the time, but we're getting there. My kids are finally going outside to play again. And I finally got out of the house last night and went to "Craft Club", which is a group of my friends who all get together once a month to stamp or scrapbook...or do any crafts at all. We sometimes get together at someone's house, but most of the time we get together at our church. I haven't been in months, what with one thing and another, so it was nice to see everyone again!

The meals are usually a potluck, but I don't always bring food. My usual contribution is a project for everyone to do. And since I needed one more project for Monday's class, I decided to kill two birds with one stone and design something that would work for both. And what I came up with is STINKIN' CUTE!!! (YILM!)

Ingredients: (all SU!) Stamps - A Flower for All Seasons, A Good Egg; Paper - Certainly Celery, Lavender Lace, Cameo Coral, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White; Ink - Basic Black; Other - Scallop Edge punch, 1 3/8" square punch, gold eyelets, Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain, Scallop Circle Bigz die, Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz plates, Stampin' Write Markers - Basic Black, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Apricot Appeal, Bashful Blue, Lavender Lace, Crochet Cotton

I have a thing about circular cards lately. But this one has a secret twist! Lookie:

I got this idea from an issue of Stampin' Success, the magazine us demo types get from SU! once a month. The original used a brad for the pivot point and was a standard A2 card...I thought it would be a cute twist to make a circular card and I like eyelets better, since it leaves no "brad butt" on the back of the card. I don't like my brad butts to stick out. Or my own butt, for that matter, but with all the chocolate I eat, it seems to be a..er...growing reality. Time to start walking. Just don't ask me to stop eating chocolate.

I colored with markers:

And no, they are not COPIC markers. They are simply SU! markers, which can give you very nice results. I do have COPICs, but I rarely pull them out...they are certainly nice to have, but not absolutely necessary.

I really love this color combination, which I got from the Color Coach that SU! sells. It is so Eastery! Or is it "Easterish"? I have enough trouble with English sometimes, I don't know why I even bother trying to learn another language! Perhaps "Easter-like"...but ANYWAY...

I made another card for Monday's class when my friend and upline, Sharon, was here on Wednesday. I had used a similar color scheme for a spring layout a couple of years ago, so I decided it would express a Michigan spring very well:

Ingredients: (all SU!) Stamps - Branch Out, Happy Everything; Paper - Pale Plum, Kraft, Gable Green; Ink - Creamy Caramel (Classic), Whisper White (Craft), Gable Green (Craft), Pale Plum (Craft), Bashful Blue (Craft & Classic); Other - Flower Assortment Designer Brads, Bashful Blue 1/4" grosgrain, dimensionals, sponge wedge, Naturally Serif Sizzlets Decorative Strip die, Horizontal Slot punch, paper piercing tool

Yes, yes, it is GOJUS!!! (YILM!) I thought it said everything about the brown grass and the little green buds that are beginning to mist the bushes, trees and hedges around my house. The tiny flower brad promises much more to come (in the background, a flute begins to play as little animals come out to dance in a ring on the lawn....toot, toot, toot.....la, la, la...)

What?! Oh...sorry...lost in a dream of spring! (toot...toot...toot) CUT THE FLUTE! Okay, back to being a Midwesterner! The Craft ink is a great choice on Kraft cardstock, as it dries somewhat opaque and so the color "pops" much more than a Classic ink does.

When it came to adhering the die cut letters, I found that the 2-Way glue pen that SU! sells was the best option, as the white craft ink I had sponged on the cardstock was still damp and my little Xyron X adhesive just would not stick.

Well, I have two children home from school today for "Parental Torture Day"...oh, wait...it's really called "Teacher Work Day", though I have witnessed the teachers at their school working every single day, very hard, so the name is puzzling, to say the least. I think they really should call it, "Teachers Get Some REAL Work Done Day in the Absence of Students Day" or "Parents Get NO Real Work Done in the Presence of Their Children Day". But then, it doesn't fit quite nicely in the square of the calendar, so I suppose they had to shorten it. So I need to get down in the basement to stamp and let my children have their way with my computer. Ta!

Comments

[Cindy Major]

I never get tired of the look of Craft on Kraft. It looks so nice and pretty! Love the hinged round card, too!

Gotta say, perfect or not, I really do enjoy your little French "tirades." And beware of Babelfish and other free translation software... They are so unreliable! They will translated "president Bush" by "président Buisson" and "in the Spring of 1995" by "dans la chute de 1995". Sometimes, you get what you pay and this is definitely true with those free software! ;D

Enjoy your day!
Cindy

[Suz King]

Love the cards, Jan! Thanks for the great inspiration. I see some circular surprise cards in my grandchildren's future. :)

Suz

[Debby]

Love both of your creations :-)
I enjoy reading your blog so much -- You have a wonderful sense of humor. Thanks for the grins too.

[Desirée]

Ooh...now I REALLY can't wait for my Scallop Circle die for my Big Shot to arrive! Just a few more days, then I, too, can find creative genius like Jan! :)

[Suzanne C.]

Bonjour du Québec, je lis ton blog
presque tous les jours et je trouve que tu as beaucoup d'idées.

Ton français est bon, mieux que mon anglais qui est très mauvais.

bye

[Sherri W.]

I love your creations. I've been lurking onto your blog for several months and this is my first post. Your sense of humor really entertains me. Thank you. I agree with you about "Torture the parents day" although I tend to believe they do that so when the issue of teacher pay raises comes up for a vote we parents will remember those days and vote yes (which I would do anyway because I believe they don't get paid nearly enough or appreciated nearly enough.)

[paw]

hello I'm in NJ , usa...but I'm a french scrapgirl.....hihi...I like what you are doing....
http://paw.diblogotus.com/

[Lucia]

What a fabulous idea for the circle card. I love my scallop circle die. What did you use to cut the middle layer? The circle scissor plus? Thank you so much for sharing!

[Cherie]

Love your Easter card! It is just perfect and the Tulips remind me of Michigan! TFS!

[paula]

Hmmmmm, what a cool little idea seed you planted in my head! This card is sooo freakin cute!! See ya next week!!

[Brandi]

On t'aime pareil, Jan. Même si ton français est...pas pire. I love this project! Gives me cause to use that die that I bought thinking I'd use it ALL the time...

[Cia Tate]

Aha, thanks for the insight. Your sentiments on optimism express mine to a tee. Thought it was just me, but I am relieved to discover it's because I was raised in the midwest and am of northern European heritage. That explans why when everyone here in NH is wearing shorts the first day it's above 30, I have a hat, scarf, and parka with me.

[Stephanie Eisele]

Great cards. I do have to say......you are correct on the weather. And it is pretty safe to say that whatever weather you have today, I will get in Cleveland tomorrow. LOL

[Chelle]

Great cards - love the 2nd especially!

[Wanda McIntyre]

Jan Tink back in the old days when you didn't have much of a life, you use to post almost every day. I still check every day just hoping. ps this is only the second time I have made a comment in about 3 or 4 years of lurking. I love you and your stuff. I read your SS disease to my Mom and she cracked up and said I have it too. oh well maybe tomorrow....