The Stamping Shac

One More Birthday Card

2012-01-22T11:58:00.003-05:00

This will be quick today. I tried multiple times to get a good photo of this card but it is hard to tell that the green is a lime green. I decided to try one of the techniques that was highlighted by Jennifer McGuire in the Clean and Simple Card Making class from day 9. She calls it "black color pop" and it is very eye-catching!

I needed a card for a little dude, so I thought the rock guitar would be good to "pop." Once I stamped, masked and stamped again, I chose some bright colored pencils and got to work. My daughter thought it looked very cool, which is the only approval I need when it is a card that she is giving.

I've done a similar technique on kraft cardstock with white pigment ink and it is a much softer look. It is one fun way to color a card and I'll have to remember to use it more often!

Kid's Birthday Card

2012-01-21T06:58:00.005-05:00

I love being able to make a birthday card for a child because it can cute, fun, or whimsical. Plus, they don't obsess over little smudges or my coloring skills. It is a no-pressure situation and I need more of those!

I have to say that taking this class has been a big help to get me motivated. I have wanted to stamp for so long and actually be pleased with the outcome but for a while I was really struggling to make that happen. But watching the videos (and hearing Julie's voice again) has been a lot of fun and I want to re-watch each video and find stamps to use for each class. If you haven't signed up for it, you can still do so. The content will remain there, too, so you can go back to look at everything over and over.

I pulled out the Admit One set from Lawn Fawn to make this easy one-layer card (class day 2). The stamps are cute and fun and perfect for a child's birthday. I think I need to play around with using baker's twine a little bit more, but I wasn't going for perfection this time. I love using colored pencils but I've never had a good lesson and I try to fake it. I like how these turned out, but I'm sure there are some techniques I could learn if I took a class. Angela's has had some great colored pencil techniques classes but I always seem to have a conflict. One of these days...

I actually have two birthday cards to share but one was not photographing well last night, so I will try with some natural light and maybe I will have a card later today.

What's This? More Cards?

2012-01-19T19:36:00.005-05:00

Hi all! Well, I am beginning to think that the Clean and Simple Card Making class has helped me a bit to get out of my rut. I have actually been thinking about new ways with old stamps. I've also been thinking about how nice it would be to get some new stamps ;)

So, the class is up to day 9 but I started late, so I am going to share there (count 'em, three!) cards today from earlier days.

This card is based on one of the sketches from day 1 and it is also a day 7 card since it is au naturel. I had some leftover October Afternoon Boarding Pass paper from a mini album that I thought would be fun to add a geographic element that compliments the sentiment. Since I have a degree in geography, I have a great affinity for maps. I think I'll add this one to the Moxie Fab World The Map to Your Heart challenge, too.

This is also a day 1 card sketch. I got some Lawn Fawn stamps at Christmas and I fell in love with the little glass of milk and cookies. I just wanted to make a card with them. Sometimes it is nice to make a card for a frivolous reason!

The final card for today is from day 2: plain flat cards (or one-layer cards). I do love one-layer cards but sometimes there are little hurdles, like coloring. So for this one, I took some advice from Kristina's day 1 card and tried for a monochromatic color scheme. As you can see, I backed out of the color scheme but not drastically. The pink felt I had didn't look quite right but the red pops. I was inspired by this card that I saw on Pinterest last night.

It has been fun getting back into stamping these last couple of days. I don't know how much I can do with all of the class ideas but I am glad to just have some inspiration and reminder of what I like about stamping. I hope to have more to share soon! Thanks for checking in today :)

Trying to Jump Start

2012-01-17T15:04:00.002-05:00

I don't know what it is about the holidays but the whole thing robs me of time and energy, which in turn, causes my focus to go anywhere but my craft hole. I am trying to get things back on track, though. A little belatedly, I signed us the an online card class to get me thinking about clean and simple stamping. It is really all I have time for these days. So far, I've actually moved beyond thinking about stamping and I actually did some stamping this afternoon!

So, the lovely, Miss Julie, is one of the instructors for this class, which I knew meant that I would enjoy it. It is nice to hear her teaching me some great tips for clean and simple cards. :)

I had to make a few sympathy cards to send to family and the class for today was about plain white cards. I have really fallen in love with white-base cards this past year and I always feel that a sympathy card is best left simple.

I went with two different layouts because I was trying to use up paper that was in the scrap pile. I pulled out a couple of long-gone A Muse stamps for these cards, stamped, lightly colored with colored pencil and adhered it altogether. Now comes the hard part, writing the card...

My youngest sat and stamped next to me while listening to some Muppet tunes. It was a really nice way to spend a bit of time today. I hope we can do it again tomorrow when the weather is supposed to be colder!

1834...

2011-12-24T13:12:00.005-05:00

That is the number of cookies I made for our annual Cookie Party that was last Sunday. It took me almost the full week to recover. Well, not really; I did have a lot of holiday performances and errands to attend to before today. I thought I'd pop in here to share some of the pictures of yummy delights.

This was one of the more popular plates - the chocolate mint cookies went fast (third most popular)!

Here are my favorites, brown sugar pecan cookies, and my husband's favorites, cranberry bliss bars. In the striped bowl are Irish creme delights (mmmmm, Bailey's Irish Creme!) a yummy frosted bite.

This Santa bowl houses candy cane cookies every year and puts a smile on my face each time.

Can't go wrong with oatmeal butterscotch, shortbread or gingersnaps (another favorite of mine).

These were the second most popular cookie because there were only two left after the party was over. We had to save those to give Santa tonight!

Sugar cookies are always the first to go. Maybe it is the bright colors or fun shapes but it is not for my decorating skills, that's for sure.

The full spread at the beginning of the party. Another fun gathering this year. Hopefully next year our kitchen will be bigger and more conducive to partying.

I've just gotten back into my stamping room this week after about a six week hiatus. I didn't get around to making too many holiday cards but I've stamped tags for gifts. I am looking forward to a quite January during which I can stamp and get creative again.

Happy Holidays and best wishes for a Happy New Year!

Ahhh, Leaves (and some Halloween Fun!)

2011-11-03T12:56:00.004-04:00

I should be outside dealing with all the leaves in my yard, especially since it is dry, but I'm having a hard time getting motivated. Or maybe it is the kids' Halloween candy that is calling my name... Anyhoo, I was watching leaves fall yesterday and was inspired to make a card last night using my Avocado Arts October and November stamps.

I would love it if my leaves fell right into baskets, wouldn't you? It would be so handy and save me lots of time, which might mean I can get more work done in my craft hole. Of course, I would need some mondo baskets for all the trees in my yard. For now, I'll just have to rely on good old fashioned child labor. Thanks, kids!

Speaking of kids, I thought I'd share a few photos of their costumes from this year. Each of these ideas were kid-generated, mom-crafted.

First, Mad-Eye Moody from the Harry Potter series.

A young lady enjoying time at the spa.

A Lego minifigure (made for ease of mobility).

And, celebrity chef, Paula Deen. I think I might send her a photo of my wee one in costume; all the neighbors said I should.

Time Flies...

2011-10-30T09:17:00.004-04:00

It has been a long week for me yet it seems like I didn't have time to get it all done. I'm going to blame it on birthday party recovery! I have a hard time making through a birthday party without saying, "This is the last one of these for a long time!" But, once it is done, I know I am happy to have a happy child who has had a good time. I'll have to see if I can find some pictures to share soon.

What I wanted to share today were some cards that I made last Monday. I had to make thank you notes for the birthday party and some for a few friends, too. This was a quick one to whip up so I made four more.

I know the stamp was originally meant for Valentine's Day, but it is a nice message to send to a friend anytime of the year. Who doesn't love versatility?

On Thursday, I was perusing some challenge blogs and found a color combo challenge on the A Muse Studio Challenge Blog. I took the same stamp (it was still on my desk!) and made these:

I love the little heart die from A Muse Studio. It is the perfect size for this image and you can make lots from the bits and pieces of paper or felt. With this color combo, the cards are perfect any time of the year - yippee!

Happy Sunday!

More Holiday Cards

2011-10-20T18:36:00.003-04:00

The kids are cleaning their rooms here after supper, so I thought I'd take a brief moment to share my other holiday cards.

I'm sure I'm not the first person to use the ever popular mustache images and make it Santa's. It really is perfect for that! But, to me, it's his beard that is far more iconic. No one ever talks about pulling on the 'stache, but the beard is always fair game, tight? I used the cloud die from A Muse Studio and trimmed it down just a bit, then applied some flock. My kids have said it is their favorite so far. However, it is one that is more complicated to mass produce, so it probably won't be "the card" this year.

Now this one, I could easily replicate, especially if I omit the twine border. It doesn't get any easier than lining up three clear stamps on an acrylic block and stamping right onto cardstock. Add a simple holiday image, maybe some glitter or bling and you're practically done! I'm leaning heavily towards making this one in multiple.

It has felt so good to stamp lately; I hope I can find more time soon!

Remember Yesterday?

2011-10-20T11:28:00.000-04:00

When I said I had made some holiday cards? Well, I actually made a few, but I don't know if any of these are up-to-snuff for mass production. Sometimes, though, creating just for the sake of creating, is good for the soul. I am now in the mood to get the latest PaperCrafts special magazine. I saw it at the store the other day and I'm pretty sure it was whispering to me, "Take me home!"

The Ho Ho's and Holiday Blessings/October Avocado Arts stamp set has some great fall and winter images. Being the simple gal that I am, I went super easy and made hanging ornaments. I jazzed them up a bit with glitter but no fancy tricks, really, except to use some non-traditional colors. Simple, easy, fast!

I really wanted a card with holiday lights but I don't have any. But, with some creative omitting, I got it. I used the same ornament image but just used a marker to ink the inner part and I used the basket image from Zip N By to Say Hi/August Avocado Arts set to assemble my "lights." In retrospect, I probably should have used green for the strand as well as the lightbulb socket, but it was late and I wasn't looking for perfection. I do like it, though!

Guess what? I've got two more that I hope to share tomorrow, unless I can find time later today. Hope you can find time to stop by again soon!

Plaid Tags

2011-10-19T20:16:00.002-04:00

Hi all! I've been on a birthday party planning binge today (thanks, Mom!) so I thought I'd take a little break and share some stamped holiday tags I made last week.

There, of course, have been Christmas decorations in the stores for a few weeks now, so it is easy to get in the spirit of the holiday season. I decided to get out some new goodies and play around to make something for fun. I've had these tags for a long time and decided it was time to use them! I used the A Muse Studio "Mad for Plaids" and "Holiday Tags" sets to make these. I broke out the colored pencils to practice shading because I actually find it calming to color. By keeping the scheme the same across the bottom of each tag, these came together quickly. Hooray for being on top of the holiday gift-giving in mid-October! Now, if I could just get around to making those holiday cards... (actually made a could of those, too, so I can share something else soon).

The Birthdays Begin...

2011-10-11T20:58:00.003-04:00

Fall means lots of things to lots of people. Here in the Shac house, it means the onslaught of birthdays. Two of my girls have birthdays in the next seven days. My oldest will turn 12 on Thanksgiving Day and I hit 40 in December. I think we might just ignore that last one, though.

My youngest has never had a birthday party! Since she is turning five, we figured it was time for an all-out birthday bash. We decided that there would be some boys here for the party so we didn't want to do anything too girl-ish (my daughter's word) so we are going to do carnival games in the backyard. I made some invitations, mixing an oldie with a newbie, to hand out last week:

Now, it is on to getting the beanbag toss, ring toss, cake walk, balloon pop and all the other games together. Should be a fun day, if the weather cooperates. Keep those fingers crossed for me!

Card Collaborations

2011-10-08T22:04:00.003-04:00

Whew! What a week. We have finally dried out here in VA so I've been trying to get some yard work done. Soon it will be time to rake leaves and get Halloween costumes finished - before I know it!

Before things got crazy, I did actually stamp last Saturday on World Cardmaking Day! My son had a birthday party that evening and needed a card for a 12 year old boy. These are getting to be difficult cards to plan (and execute) so I had him sit with me to look at what I had. He spotted a new acquisition of mine, Foiled again! from A Muse Studio. We talked a bit about colors, sentiment and a general design. I thought movement of the mustache would be a fun surprise, too. So, we ended up making a tilt card, with a fuzzy mustache moving slightly side to side. He said the card was a big hit with the birthday boy, which was a great relief!

When we finished, he was trying to think of some other ways to use the mustaches. We came up with making a face on the card. He helped me with placement of the eyes and hair and then pronounced it looked a bit like his grandpa used to when he had a mustache. I think I'm going to save it for a lunchbox note sometime this year.

I'll have more soon. I got to stamp for a while last Saturday since the rain cancelled most of our outdoor activities.

This and That

2011-09-25T21:32:00.004-04:00

Hello stampers. Fall is finally here and I will be glad for slightly cooler temperatures if the rain will go away. I'm ready to sip tea or hot chocolate to warm me during baseball game nights while wrapped in a warm sweater. A simple pleasure!

I've got a to-do list so long it makes my neck hurt looking up and down, but I can cross "blog cards" off for today. I've made a few cards just for fun and managed a baby card for some friends with a new baby girl. Here's what I've got today:

This is an easy one layer card. I was just playing around with my Copic markers on the spider since I hadn't really worked with the markers much lately. I'm not 100% behind it, but on a just for fun card, it works! The stamps are from Avocado Arts.

I like sending my nieces and nephews Halloween cards and my daughter will be looking to send some cards to her friend overseas, so I might as well get as many made as I can. I was playing around with ways to use scraps and bits and pieces that could be matched up together. I added a bit of washi-type tape for a little more color. These stamps are also from Avocado Arts.

Here is another one-layer, no-frills card for our friends. I had not done any embossing using a die with my Big Shot and I had to use a bit of trial and error to get it just right. A simple, streamlined card is perfect for this family, too, so I'm glad I got it to work. The stamps, flower and buttons are from A Muse and A Muse Studio.

Here's another card made with the September Avocado Arts stamps. I like the basket; it could be filled with lots of little things, but I went the "no-duh" route and put apples in it. I used chalk inks and shaded in the images with my Prismacolor colored pencils.

Here is my trusty Prismacolor colored pencil cup. Like it? I'm not an NKOTB fan, but my brother found this at an art museum in Baltimore in the gift shop. Hey, if it came from an art museum, it must be worth having!

Finally!

2011-09-17T08:06:00.004-04:00

Hi all! School started 10 days ago and it seems that I am still filling out paperwork and getting things organized. I made a little time last night to stamp, though. I've recently received some fun stampy stuff in the mail and have been waiting patiently to use it.

This is a card for my daughter to send to her friend who has moved overseas. They talk/IM through Skype sometimes but mail in your mailbox is always a fun surprise. I found this stamp set from Avocado Arts and thought it would be cute for cards for my daughter to send, plus it has the cartographic element that I love (yes, I'm a geography nerd). I've got some more ideas for this stamp set when I can find the time.

This was just a little funny something that I made for a friend's 40th birthday party. I had seen a similar idea on Pinterest but it was for someone turning 30. So which sucks more: 30 or 40? I don't know yet. Ask me in a few months. This is another cute idea but I didn't have time to get all Martha and craft this.

Hope you are ready for a great weekend!

It Felt Like a Good Idea...

2011-09-05T20:59:00.002-04:00

I am really trying to jump start back into stamping and everything and the other night when I made a get well soon card for my cousin, I got around to making a few things. I had been looking around for some inspiration and found a couple of challenges on the Moxie Fab World blog. There was the felt challenge and there were a few sketch challenges. I decided to try the felt challenge. I have some felt and have used it sparingly but I do love how it can easily be cut and added to a card for texture without necessarily adding lots of bulk.

I like to be able to make thank you notes whenever I can for challenges because I always need a thank you note. I found some chipboard buttons in one of my drawers and thought I could make a felt button. I used a scalloped circle first, then cut a circle out of the center before mounting onto the chipboard button. It still looked bare, so I added another button to the center. Easy and simple!

This is one that adds texture and some serious bulk! I've not tried rolled felt flowers before and I can honestly say that I need some practice. It is always fun to try something new to see how it works and if there is a trick or shortcut that might help in the future. I couldn't find one here, though. What I did find, however, was a way to use a sketch challenge. I found this vertical sketch could be flipped on its side and used flowers and leaves in place of pennant shapes. I'm not sure if I'm 100% behind the end product but at least I'm stamping!

Get Well Soon

2011-09-03T20:38:00.003-04:00

Hi all! It has been a really relaxing last week of summer vacation here, despite my husband being gone four of the five weekdays. I was able to hang out with my kids and do some things we'd meant to do all summer so it was great. I'm happy that they will be off to school next week because they all really do like school and learning but I will miss them. It is hard for me to believe that my oldest is in his last year of elementary school (heck, it even snuck up on my dad). We plan to make the most of our final weekend together.

A couple of nights ago I got a call from a cousin in Arkansas and it turned out he was in the hospital. He'd been having some chest pains and ended up with a couple of stents. I figured he could use a card; he is a good cousin, calling to check up on me from time to time and it is time to return the favor.

I was able to use the trendy chevron border punch to mimic a heart rate. I love when something turns out to be multi-purpose, however, I hope I don't have to make too many other cards like this in the future! *heart and sentiment are from a|muse studio, punch from EK Success*

While I was stamping, I managed a couple of other things that I hope to share soon. I also took the time to update my "For Sale" page here on the blog. Hope everyone has a happy holiday weekend!

Back to School

2011-08-26T08:28:00.003-04:00

Well, we still have a week + of summer vacation but it seems like everywhere else school has begun. One of my daughters has a best friend who recently moved overseas and she started school on Wednesday. I've been meaning to get a card made for her and finally got around to it last night.

The stamped images are all retired A Muse stamps and the sentiment and twine are from a muse studio.

I actually had to clean my stamping hole a bit before getting to stamp because we had an earthquake the other day and it shook some things off my shelves! I had ribbon spools and containers of buttons all over my desk and almost accused my kids of getting in there without permission.

Now, I am preparing for possible hurricane/tropical storm conditions starting tomorrow evening. So, up on my roof I'll go today to clean gutters of all the yellow leaves that have been falling due to the overly hot and dry summer. Mother Nature is really upset - first drought, then earthquake (plus aftershocks) and now a hurricane. At least my son is getting to see and experience all of his fifth grade science studies in action!

Recovering

2011-08-21T21:34:00.003-04:00

After a potential set-back, my parents came to my rescue and assured me that all would be fine and I needed to "get on that plane to London!" What a truly fantastic set of parents I have. My husband and I got away for a whole week; well, he had to work for part of the time, but I had lots of time to explore the city and its outskirts. I was there during the riots, but I avoided those areas! The city is fascinating (and expensive!) and the history is a dizzying cycle of Henrys, Charles', Williams and James'. I enjoyed it all and would go back for more, if I had the opportunity.

I've been home for a week and trying to get through all the laundry and enjoy my kids before they head back to school. I was working on a photo album for our Disney World trip and have promised myself some stamping time as a reward. I hope to have some time soon!

Stamps for Sale

2011-07-26T21:18:00.002-04:00

I've got a big list of items for sale. Please check out the tab under the header for goodies! Thanks for looking :)

Cleaning Out

2011-07-25T14:40:00.002-04:00

Me thinks it is time for a BIG purge. I've been clearing wood stamps out of drawers and putting together paper in stacks and packs. If you are looking for an A Muse wood mount stamp that you want for your collection, I may have it. Feel free to email me with a request and I'll get back to you. Meanwhile, I'm going to see about either posting things for sale online or plan a huge crafting yard sale.

Hope to be back soon with a card (or two)!

Jump Starting

2011-07-01T22:49:00.000-04:00

I want to thank those of you who gave me such kind words of encouragement. My husband asked me about what I had written and he reminded me of why I like to stamp and how long I have been doing it. He was able to reason with me that I would miss the creative outlet that stamping and blogging gives me. It makes me Elena, not "mom." So, here goes...

Well, I don't have any affiliation with A Muse Studio and it makes me a little sad. However, I do have some of the new product and wanted to work with it. My first card comes to you courtesy of Paper Crafts Connection and a color challenge. The blue, red, black and white combination is a favorite of mine and one I've used a lot recently. I needed to make a few thank you notes to send to some stores that donated items for a school trip. This was a quick and easy card, too, so it will be easy to replicate.

One of the things that I decided to do to add the black was to mimic some washi tape. I have a small roll of some American Crafts washi tape but it is green, so I stamped some small dots, trimmed the edges, then tore the ends, just like I would have done with tape. Easy! I think I'm going to try it with vellum for a more tap-like look.

This next card comes to you courtesy of the Create blog and the Accordion Paper Flowers challenge. Last year I made some accordions/rosettes for my front door. I have been wanting to make more, so this was my chance. Since the Fourth of July holiday weekend, I thought I'd make a firecracker with an accordion flower as the flame.

I used a grass die to make the edge, folded and shaped the "flame" and attached it just above the body of the firecracker (which I adhered to the card with a slight bow to it to add dimension). Adding twinkle stickers around the edge gave it a little oomph. FYI, I usually add a button or stamped image over the center of the rosettes to cover the Diamond Glaze I use to hold it together.

I was Just Thinking...

2011-06-28T22:59:00.003-04:00

how lonely the web must be without my lil' ol' blog here. I know that it isn't. And my heart just isn't into blogging these days.

Since I was dropped from the A Muse design team, I haven't had much desire to stamp. I've stamped, believe me, but it hasn't gotten me excited. Maybe it came at a time when life was keeping me too busy to notice, but there have been conscious decisions made by me to not wander into my little space when I could have done some stamping just for fun. I'm not sure why I am shunning it, either.

So, I guess I am almost ready to say goodbye to the Stamping Shac. I'm trying to give myself a little more time but there aren't too many people out there who will feel the loss of this here blog. Maybe this summer I will find time to want to stamp for fun. We'll see.

I'm a guest blogger

2011-06-08T12:07:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago, Jill asked me if I would be able to share a card on her blog while she finishes up some very important work. I was happy to oblige. I have been so amazed at all that she has accomplished and I consider her a wonderful stamping friend. One day when I make it to California to visit my relatives, I may just have to track her down and spend some time with her! You can see my card here.

Mother's Day cards

2011-05-11T14:33:00.000-04:00

I am a bit late with my Mother's Day cards to share. Last week was a busy one and this one is proving to be even busier!

These are the cards I made for my mom and my sister. I was a bad in-law and didn't get a card in the mail to my mothe-in-law or sister-in-law. I will have to make it up to them by sending them a "just because" card soon.

Nothing particularly difficult with either of these cards since my time was tight. I do love having time to create but lately there hasn't been much time. I will be back to share something soon, though. Maybe I will be more long-winded then!

all supplies for cards are from A Muse Artstamps or a|muse studio. If you have a question about something, email me!

Suburban Princesses

2011-04-30T09:21:00.003-04:00

Like many people around the world yesterday, I watched the nuptials of the royal couple, William and Catherine. I don't have the extreme passion that some do, but I have memories of being at my grandmother's house in July 1981 and waking up really early to watch a royal wedding. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see something that I knew would be lovely!

My neighbor invited some of the bus stop moms to her house to rehash the details once the kids all got on the bus. I made some tea and scone goodies for each of them. Someone remarked that they should celebrate their inner princess more often!

We had a fun time, not only talking about the wedding that morning, but our own weddings, as well. It was a truly lovely day. Simply brilliant. Cheers to you, William and Catherine!

Subway Art Birthday

2011-04-01T08:57:00.000-04:00

Happy April! I cannot believe that it is April and my kids are still wearing heavy coats. I'm resisting the late surge of cool temperatures and only using sweatshirts but I am freezing in the mornings. April Fools indeed!

April brings many birthdays in my family. Tomorrow my darling niece turns eight. We were delighted to get to spend a little bit of time with her last weekend, chomping on Krispy Kreme doughnuts (a tradition for each of their visits to VA). I sent off a little something for her yesterday and included this card because her favorite color is purple.

This card is similar to this one from a few weeks ago. I really like the way the subway art signs look - clean, simple, retro and a little bit fun. The stamps used (as well as the ribbon and button) are from various sets that are *new* from a muse studio. It was fun to mix and match to pull this one together. Hope you have a fantastic spring weekend!

It's All Shamrocks and Rainbows

2011-03-17T07:22:00.004-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! My kids set up traps to lure leprechauns. That lil' bugger wrote on the mirrors and windows in my house, scattered balloons all over the floor of the bathroom and left them a bunch of gold in one of their traps (yellow m&ms). It was a fun way to start their morning.

Me? I decided to make a couple of cards. A few weeks ago, Paper Crafts had a call out for cards based on sketches. I printed out the sketches for reference in the future. I used one to make this card.

These are two new stamps from a muse studio. It is great to have the Calendar Fun and Essential Sentiments sets to pull quick cards together!

This card also features new a muse studio stamps and a paper flower! The sentiment was stamped using the Grunge Block alphabet and part of the Peace on Earth set. I made the shamrock from one of the paper flowers by cutting off one petal, making a slit up the middle and pushing the edges together. These flowers are easily colored with Copic markers so that you can customize each to suit your needs - brilliant!

I've been busy working on making cards with some other new a muse studio goodies, so I should have some new things to share soon. Enjoy your day!

I've Been Keeping a Secret ...

2011-03-01T13:37:00.002-05:00

but now the word it out! See what is going on with my favorite stamping peeps - a muse studio.

If you are on Facebook, you can find more fun stuff here.

Happy 100 Challenges!

2011-01-17T08:00:00.004-05:00

A stamping friend and fellow A Muse fan, Glenda, is celebrating her 100th stamping challenge today. She asked some stamping friends of hers to help her celebrate by participating in a blog hop. She also has some blog candy, so if you haven't given her challenge a try, now is the time to do it! Here are the guidelines:

Glenda's Random Amusing Challenge #100 is to use red on your card or project. Use as much or as little as you like. Incorporate it by using paper, ink, ribbon, embellishments, whatever you like! You must play along with the challenge to be eligible to win the blog candy. If you play along, please leave a comment on Glenda's blog and link back to her post from your post. If you upload to an online gallery, please use the keyword GRAC100. You have until midnight Pacific Time on January 23rd to play along and you can play along as many times as you like. The winner will be randomly chosen and announced on January 24th.

Here's the blog list:

Allison Fillo
Allison Miles
Beate Johns
Belinda Chang Langner
Carly Robertson
Cheiron Brandon
Chris Sather
Dawn Stein
Donna Hitz
Geeta Suggs
Jenn Shurkus
Jennie Moczan
Jill Grace
Joan Jeffery
June Gibbons
Kamila Younkman
Krystie Lee Hersch
Lori Barnett
Lyndsay Breid
Meghan Fahey
Michelle Clark
Michelle Mathey
Michelle Woerner
Nance Lempinen-Leedy
Sherry Czarnecki
Silke Ledlow
Teresa Kline

And, now for my card for her challenge. I was trying to come up with a fun way to use red and some of the supply of embellishments gathering dust in my craft room. I had seen a card in a Paper Crafts Magazine for the holidays that inspired me. It was a Christmas tree shape that had been made from various card making materials. I changed the shape, pulled a bunch of red fun stuff out and got to work.

I hand cut the heart and used the negative space as a stencil to fill up with A Muse stamps, twinkle stickers and pearls, as well as Martha Stewart paper confetti, Doodlebug confetti flowers and buttons. It was a lot of fun putting this together and I've managed to get my husband's Valentine's Day card made. I do plan on giving it to him, despite the ribbon and sparkly things!

Don't forget to play along with Glenda's 100th Amusing Challenge and check out the other inspired ideas from her blogging friends!

Moxie Fab Bright Spot

2011-01-14T14:20:00.004-05:00

I told you I made three cards last night right? Well, here is the second card, which is also another challenge card. It has been a while since I did a Tuesday Trigger from the Moxie Fab World blog. This week's Trigger is a bright spot during winter. I always forget to add the Trigger photo, but not this week!

Interesting inspiration, right? This photo is from Purl Soho (another interesting little place to take a look-see when I find time). I liked the idea of incorporating circles into my card and I wanted to use white space, too. Another something I had been contemplating was a stamper's take on subway sign art. I've seen lots of examples lately (if you're curious to see what I mean, click here) and I just like the idea of using words on a card. So, I looked through my sentiments and found as many as I could that fit together and conveyed a particular thought.

This is not completely true to the subwart sign art style, just inspired by it. I do like the look, though, and I think I could do more given the number of sentiments I own. I pulled out more buttons to give my card some circles and added just a touch of woodgrain behind the stamped panel to tie in the wood window frame.

This was a fun challenge - hope you have time to try, too!

I'll be back on Monday with something else for you. Hope you stop by and take a peek!

Few and Far Between

2011-01-14T06:54:00.004-05:00

Gosh, do I feel lame. I had meant to share some great New Years post but I forgot.

I have wanted to participate in some online challenges but laundry tempted me.

I've wanted to spend some time in my craft hole but school projects have become a constant source of my attention leaving me tired.

But, no more! I ignored all this yesterday and made three cards! Two were for challenges because those can light a spark to get me thinking. The other one I needed to do for a special event on Monday. I figured I could spread these out over a couple of days and it might keep people interested in this little ol' blog of mine. Here goes...

I'm actually late on this one because to participate I was supposed to have had this done by yesterday morning. Part of it was done yesterday morning, but that doesn't matter, does it? I've been mending clothes lately and came across this felt in my fabric box. I pulled it out so I could cut out some shapes with my Big Shot (did I tell you I got one? I'm having fun with it!). With some of the scraps I twisted and rolled and turned to make felt rosettes. The flowers were so cute I thought I could use them on a card, which would be perfect for the CREATE blog challenge for this week which was to use felt on a card. I added some stamped leaves after looking at it and thinking the card looked bare and I have to say, it is much better with the leaves!

I'll have another card to share soon, maybe even later today. Happy Friday!

The Magic Number

2010-12-21T16:49:00.006-05:00

This year I made 1,632 cookies for our annual Cookie Party. We had lots of guests this year and I feel like a bad hostess because I am sure I did not get to talk to everyone. Everyone left with full bellies, big smiles and a bag of cookies, so that is good enough for me!

Now that (most of) my baking is done, I have time to stamp! I made a bunch of tags for gifts last night. I found a bunch of white cardstock scraps and made these:

These are based on a Card of the Week from the A Muse Newsletter a few weeks back. Here is a look, in case you missed it:

Then, I pulled out some extra sturdy kraft cardstock that I found in October at Angela's Happy Stamper. I made these tags:

which were based on a bag from Starbucks that had a yummy pumpkin scone in it:

Then, I had a little bit of the kraft cardstock left, so I made these:

Believe it or not, but this tag was inspired by a tag that was on a gift that Betty Haynes gave to Bob Wallace in "White Christmas." The tag is really quite different than this one, but it inspired me nonetheless!

I haven't put all of the holes and ribbons on these yet because I like to wait to see where to punch holes based on the wrapped package and ribbon placement. Guess what my next chore is? I have to do my husband's gifts tonight since he is still out of town.

tag info: all stamps, white cardstock and ribbon by A Muse Artstamps, colored pencils, Copic markers, superfine glitter, Stickles, Nestabilities dies and kraft cardstock.

Have Mercy!

2010-12-12T17:06:00.004-05:00

Since my youngest started preschool, I've found myself able to volunteer at school more often and it has taken up free time that I wish I had. But, it is important for me to be in the school and staying involved as much as I can.

It is cutting into my crafty time because I'm not getting all of my house work done during daylight hours.

On top of that, I've been consumed by baking cookies for our annual party and quick bread for holiday gift giving.

But, last night, I sat down to make something, just because. Well, actually, because I wanted something pretty to hold some handmade candy canes I had bought.

A Muse has a simple but cute candy cane holder template that I used. Then, using the "glitter on double-sided adhesive" trick, I made the lines with some Martha Stewart sparkly red glitter. Add a little baker's twine and a stamped tag, and I had a cute box.

A little belatedly I realized that I could post this on the Moxie Fab World Challenge: Glitter is Glam. This technique is one mentioned in the post, too, so you should give it a try!

Ready For Action

2010-11-10T22:12:00.003-05:00

Well, I have been on an extended leave of absence from this here blog of mine. It is the same story as anyone else could have: kids, family and commitments have taken over my free time. Here is something I've been up to with my family:

We went to Disney World over the Halloween weekend and had a lot of fun. It was our first time there and my kids are already asking to go back. Don't know when that might be, but I think we will definitely try before the oldest is off to middle school!

I just wanted to pop in quickly to say "hi" and I am ready to get back to the inks and stamps I miss. Hope to have something to share soon!

Girl on Film

2010-10-12T15:35:00.002-04:00

Birthday season is upon my house as of now. Today my eldest daughter turns nine. 9! She has become a voracious reader and loves to be crafty with me. I was able to get a quick smile from her this morning before school to share with you all.

Next week, my baby turns four. 4!!!

Fall Favorite

2010-10-06T20:21:00.004-04:00

While I have three mornings a week when I have no children around, I haven't had that much free time since school began. I am actually feeling quite lonely on the mornings when all the kids are at school, so I have tried not being at home alone too much. I really should not avoid it, though, because I could actually get some stamping done!

The other morning I had about forty minutes between errands and pick up, so I sat down and played along with the A Muse Lounge Challenge #21: Fall Favorites. One of my favorite things about fall is candy corn. It is an embarrassing thing to admit, but I do love it so. I've bought more than three bags since it appeared in stores in September, though these are the small sized bags, not the humdinger sized bags. My kids eat it, too, which is probably even more embarrassing. So, I set out to make a card featuring candy corn.

I used a layout similar to the one from this card that I made long ago. I then went a step further and added some of that super sparkly Martha Stewart onyx glitter (another fall favorite) to "Happy" and called it good. Couldn't have been easier! And I had time to spare before getting to preschool - just enough to snag a few candy corn from the jar on my way out the door ;)

card info: Happy Everything clear set, black cats prowl, petite orange gingham cardstock, white cardstock by A Muse Artstamps, onyx glitter by Martha Stewart, Copic markers.

Back to School COTWs

2010-09-30T15:02:00.005-04:00

I thought I'd pop in today to share two cards of mine that were recently featured in the weekly A Muse Newsletter (sign up here if you don't get it).

This one is from a couple of weeks ago. I've got to get that ric-rac punch out and use it some more!

This was actually from this week. My second daughter started Kindergarten this year and has always been so enthusiastic about school. When she lets me put in pigtails, they fly in the air as she bounces off the bus. Ahhh, the energy of a five year old!

I'm hoping to get some stamping done this weekend. I've been busy working on Halloween costumes lately and I'm ready for a little break from the sewing machine. Happy Thursday!

Sketch Challenge Cards

2010-09-18T10:54:00.003-04:00

Last night, my husband went to hang out with the guys from Boston, so I had some quiet time. I decided to sit and make a couple of cards just for fun. Both are based on sketches from the latest A Muse Lounge Challenge.

This first card I made based on Krystie Lee's card. I've had this idea in my head all week since seeing some fabric with apples and pears. I figured it would be possible to use the solid apple to make the cut side of an apple and it worked out ok. I used colored pencils to add the details to the cut side. I like to look of it, so I think I may make some notecards like this for teachers this year.

This second card was going to be just for fun but I couldn't decide what to do. My neighbor has been preparing for a surprise 50th anniversary dinner for her in-laws. They are really nice people who always ask about the kids so I thought I could slip a card over there for them today. I used Julie's card for the basic sketch for this one and decided to go elegant. Now, elegant is hard for me. I guess it is overwhelming for me to keep things simple while being sophisticated. I challenged myself further by using an image I have only tried once: damask solid. I am pleased with this one; I think it will be my "go-to" for elegant cards.

card #1 info: kitchen red notecard, shimmer couture espresso, hello, solid apple by A Muse Artstamps, kraft cardstock, colored pencils.

card #2 info: squash cardstock, shimmer couture onyx, damask solid, classic numbers clear set by A Muse Artstamps, pop dots.

Fall Wedding Card

2010-09-17T15:45:00.002-04:00

Hi all! It is a lovely Friday here and we are gearing up for our annual Guy Town weekend at our house. I've been the dutiful wife, cleaning and shopping for beer and chips, so I rewarded myself with a few minutes of stamping time. This time has been quite rare for me of late, so it was really quite nice to sit in my little hole and create for a bit.

A cousin of mine is getting married next month and I needed a card to send to her. I was looking for inspiration last night and thought the colors from the latest Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger challenge were very pretty for fall.

I used ColorBox Fluid chalk inks (warm red, berrylicious and chestnut roan) and A Muse currant cardstock to match the warm fall colors. The large floral images make for an elegant card that comes together in minutes. I was in a hurry so I only embellished it with a small chocolate pearl. I could add more to it, I suppose, but I like it as is.

I hope to be back with some more stampy stuff soon. It has been a long time since I've stamped for fun and I miss it!

card info: currant cardstock, natural white cardstock, solid zinnia, marigold, leaf frond II, chocolate pearl by A Muse Artstamps, fluid chalk ink, pop dots.

A Muse 2010-2011 Calendar preview

2010-09-13T06:06:00.001-04:00

For the last few years, A Muse has sold a calendar for digital download the profits of which have gone to various charities. The proceeds from this year's calendar will benefit Charley's Fund. Charley Beers was the daughter of a longtime A Muse fan, Amanda Beers. Charley died from an agressive form of Strep A at the end of June. She was only 6 years old. To honor her memory, the Beers family has established "Charley's Fund" which will provide playground equipment and more at her elementary school in Olympia, WA.

This year, Linda has created five different sizes of calendars. It is great to be able to make small gifts for others or a larger size for your personal use. I decided to use the mini sized calendar (it all prints on one page) to make mini keepsake for next year.

I printed it out twice so that I could punch out the calendars with a 2.25" circle punch.

I stamped each one using only the "tiny" stamps that A Muse makes.

My goal is to take a group photo of my kids once a month, print it and add it to the mini book.

This was from this year, but I wanted to show you what I plan on doing. It will be a really informal look at our year, just our everyday life! I am looking forward to putting it together as the year goes by. Hopefully I will remember to share each month with you all.

Check the AMN blog for links to other ideas today and for the next few days.

Please note: The A Muse Calendars are a download product only. Nothing will be shipped to you. Calendar orders are only processed during regular business hours {monday to friday 8a to 5p}. Once your order has been processed, you will have unlimited access to the file(s) you have purchased.

Birch Trees

2010-08-18T17:12:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone! We've endured a deluge of rain here since late last night so we've spent the day inside. It's a good thing, too, because I needed a day where my kids didn't want to be out doing things! Since coming home from Massachusetts, I've had lots to do: entertain kids who can't go to the pool because one of them has a broken finger, laundry, menu planning, laundry, clean house, go through vacation photos, laundry, visiting grandparents, three birthday parties in a matter of five days, organizing my craft hole and laundry. I think I am mostly caught up on all this. I should be exhausted, but there just isn't time!

I managed to get a thank you card in the mail to my brother-in-law and nieces who hosted us one night while we were away. The girls had actually just spent some time here in Virginia and spent two nights with me. One of those nights, we stayed out late catching lightning bugs. I had every intention of taking pictures, but I was the only adult on hand and had the duty of opening and closing the jars quickly. When I sat down to make a card, I thought of that night and was inspired. Here it is:

I've heard that lightning bugs aren't everywhere, but around here in June and July, they start to sparkle and shine at dusk and go well past dark. We caught well over two dozen that night and let them go before we went in for bed. It was fun. I hope my nieces like the "memory" note.

card info: birch trees, happy summer, dot bl, grass, natural white cardstock, navy cardstock, buttercup cardstock, yellow twinkle stickers by A Muse Artstamps, white embossing powder.

Happy Birdie 2 Ways

2010-07-20T07:22:00.005-04:00

Today, two very important people in my life celebrate birthdays. First up, my mom, who has a significant numbered birthday. This is her card:

I know this isn't really a feminine card, but owls remind me of growing up in the '70s, and 70 is a rather big number, right, Mami?

Next up, my husband. He is on his way to Atlanta right now for a conference, so I tucked this card into his briefcase before he left this morning.

I took a page out of what I call Krystie Lee's Big Bl Book of Stamping Ideas to make this one. I needed simple and easy, and I think I pulled it off. The golf ball is an embossed piece of paper, punched out and turned over. And the golf tee? It is this stamp, trimmed down. Easy and fun. I hope my husband likes it.

Have a wonderful day! BTW, I'm going to go ahead and link both of these over on the Moxie Fab World blog for the Fun & Cute cards challenge.

card #1 info: banner from Happy Everything clear set, skinny owl, happy birdie, tiny hat, orange crush and natural white cardstock by A Muse Artstamps, colored pencils.

card #2 info: ice cream, happy birdie, big bl, natural white, petite gingham green and white cardstock by A Muse Artstamps, grass punch, swiss dot embossing folder, pop dot.

AMuseA*Palooza Review

2010-07-19T16:30:00.009-04:00

I thought I'd share my projects that were featured last week on the AMN blog. Enjoy!

This was one of the A Muse Seattle store make and takes last week.

This one is holding a small bag with peppermint sticks. Fun!

This is a great way to use up scraps in your stash.

This was another card make and take at the Seattle store. It is hard to see, but there is falling "snow" (glitter) in the background.

The Pitter-Patter of Little Feet amuse-bouche

2010-07-17T07:15:00.003-04:00

Ever seen the Pixar movie "Ratatouille"? My kids and I watched it the other night during a rain storm. All those rats hunting for food kinda made me squirm a bit (well, a lot, really). The two parts of the movie that are the most squirmy are when all the rats are together moving as a huge pack. It didn't bother my kids one bit, though. I guess that is good, right?

Well, the movie inspired this card...

It has been a while since I've used the classic window, but I thought it would be a great perch for two mice or rats on Halloween night, checking out all the treats. While it is cute on a card, it is not a scene I want re-created in my own home .

I hope you've had fun checking out all of the amuse-bouche this past week; it has been fun sharing. I've not had a chance to play with all of the stamps yet, so there may be more cards and projects popping up now and then in the next couple of weeks. Have a great weekend!

Happy Holidays amuse-bouche

2010-07-16T07:51:00.004-04:00

Hello all! I've got another busy day here, but wanted to share a card made with the Holly and Berries cling set. The stamp is a little larger than I am used to using but it makes cards really fast! For this one, a more clean/graphic style card (hey, this could be for the Moxie Fab World clean & graphic card challenge!), I embossed the holly in white and added red twinkle stickers for small berries. The cardinal image was cut and mounted on foam adhesive. It was a pretty quick card, even with the embossing.

I'll have something else tomorrow, the last day for A*Muse*A*Palooza, so I hope you'll stop by then :)

More Sweetness

2010-07-15T16:56:00.002-04:00

I know these are not new images for today's theme, but I had this card made and wanted to share. I'm still stuck on the french roast, swiss red and white color combination. I made is super simple only adding glitter for color. It is nice to have images that can be left alone like this! I'll have more tomorrow :)

What Could Be Sweeter? amuse-bouche

2010-07-13T07:15:00.005-04:00

If you have been reading my blog for at least six months, you know that around Christmas, I get a little crazy with my baking and host a Cookie Party for family, friends and neighbors. Last year, the party had to be postponed because of snow, but a week later we feasted on cookies, cookies and more cookies. It is something I look forward to doing all year.

Well, you can imagine that I was doing a bit of a happy dance when I saw some of the new A*Muse*A*Palooza stamps were all about the sweets! Gingerbread delights and sugar plum treats - be still my heart. I began to think that I could use these for invitations for this year's party. After browsing some sketch blogs, I found an idea on Moxie Fab World - Finding Inspiration in a Layout. I played around with it a bit and here is what I did:

I pulled up the mini calendar that Linda shared on the AMN blog a while back and decreased the size a little. It will be great to just circle the date right on there! The rest is easy to see, just a simple pocket card.

I've got lots of ideas for this set, so I'll have more to share with you sometime after AMAP is over. Tomorrow, though, is something else *new* so see you then!

Merry Tag amuse-bouche

2010-07-12T07:16:00.002-04:00

After so many hot days around here, it was nice to cool off thinking about Christmas! I used the brand new Santa to make a small card (under 3") to use as a gift note or tag. I added some white flock to the cuffs of his coat and pants, as well as his hat. I love this new jolly Santa - he makes me happy :)

Make sure to stop by the AMN blog again today and enter comments there for your chance to win some of the new goodies!

Gimme Some Skulls amuse-bouche

2010-07-11T07:08:00.003-04:00

We're still talking Halloween today. I'm not quite ready for fall but it is just a matter of time before I see Halloween decor at the stores (I've already seen lots of Back-to-School stuff which is depressing since my kids have only been out of school for a little over two weeks!). Despite my hesitation to decorate for fall, I'm really excited for the stamps being shared today on the AMN blog (a couple of my creations on there today).

Today I'm sharing part of a stamp from a larger cling stamp that can be used to make invitations or large cards. I stamped the skull in lots of colors (inspired by the Tuesday Trigger on Moxie Fab World). Kinda bright, I know, but perfect for Dia de los Muertos! I decided to make them into a banner after my five year old saw the cut out skulls laying on my desk in a curved line and suggested making a, "you know, one of those banner things if you put some string on it." Gotta love my little artist :)

I pondered for a long time over the sentiment. I wasn't sure, so I went with the old stand-by, but there is bound to be something else better. Suggestions?

I'll have some more fun tomorrow!

Halloween Tag amuse-bouche

2010-07-10T07:39:00.004-04:00

Welcome to A*Muse*A*Palooza week! It is always fun to have new stamps, but it is even more fun this week when there are games and prizes, too. :)

Today I'm sharing new things for Halloween. There is new onyx black paper and a small spiderweb. The spider is so tiny that the mini-est of black twinkle stickers fits on its body. I added some Spica glitter over the web for some sparkle. I always have the internal struggle about stamping spider webs in black because that is not the color of webs, but adding some sparkly goodness helps. This little tag measures slightly under 3" square; perfect to add to a bag of treats!

Have fun hopping around looking for more Halloween inspiration today!

Stay Tuned...

2010-07-09T12:18:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow is the beginning of A*Muse*A*Palooza!!!!!

Happy Birthday, America!

2010-07-03T11:51:00.002-04:00

Hope you have fun celebrating this weekend!

A Muse U: Finding Inspiration

2010-07-01T06:00:00.009-04:00

Last month my son took a card to school for his student teacher. She asked him where he bought the card and he told her his mother made it. He explained, "she just gets an idea, then makes a card from scratch."

First off, making cards "from scratch" is a lot easier with A Muse! And sometimes, it's the idea part that's the hardest part! My son makes it sounds so simple, but it got me thinking, where do I get my ideas?

When looking for inspiration to make a card or other stamped project, I just look around me. Like so many others, I use magazines, clothing or home-goods window displays and anything else that crosses my path. I also frequently look at stamping websites and blogs where, obviously, I find loads of ideas.

A few weeks ago, I walked past a window display at a Pottery Barn. These are great places to see new trends in color for each season. There was an outdoor lounge chair with some pillows on it, one of which had a coral pattern on it. I checked out their website when I got home to find the pillow. I made a list in my notebook of the things I'd need to make a simple card so that I could recreate this pattern later on.

Sometimes I'll go check out other housewares websites for more inspiration. Since I create with paper, I've cut back on the catalogue mailings in an effort to conserve paper - so I tend to hit their e-commerce sites quite often. I've found that decorative throw pillows are great for inspiration because each one has specific color scheme that I can use for a card. Plus, I will find color combinations that I wouldn't necessarily think about using. Then, I can make up a little card to add to my color combo ring. I found a really bold pillow on the Pier 1 website and made a card using colors that I tend not to use.

Late at night is when I finally have time to sit and really look at crafty websites and blogs. During the day I may catch a quick glance at a card or project but I will go back to look more closely if I find something that I like. Like many of you, I head to Julie Ebersole's stamping blog. So many of her 5 minute quickies (5MQ) inspire me. Again, I may look at her color scheme or layout/design, but sometimes I find that a small element or technique inspires me.

This card was a great 5MQ. I like white space on my cards. White space = time saver! But, instead of going for white space, I really liked the look of foreground/background by using foam adhesive on a stamped image. Talk about clean and simple and FAST! I stamped the vines on the notecard then stamped a sentiment over it, using a clear stamp. I didn't even have to pull out the stamp positioner. Clear stamps = time saver! Then, I stamped the rose, added some colored pencil detail, cut it out and stuck it on the card. This was a 7MQ, probably because of the colored pencils, but still a quickie.

Are you ready to get creative? Find a small notebook that you can use to write yourself some notes or draw a quick sketch or just dot down a design element or colors you want to use. I don't know about you, but I've got to make notes or else I'll use those brain cells for grocery lists or keeping the names of my kids straight. If you find time to be inspired, I'd love to hear from you and see what you've done!

Snow Memories

2010-06-28T16:27:00.010-04:00

Well, it has been unusually hot here this June (kinda like how it was unusually snowy this past winter). Way back when we had all that snow I took lots of photos in between all the shoveling I was doing. I made a mini album using some of my stamps so that we could look back fondly on all those snowy good times. I figured today would be a good day to share the album with you!

I used thick clear acrylic covers for the front and back. I pulled out my white Staz-On for this project and didn't have any problems at all.

For each set of pages I did a little scene with my stamps and a photo.

The interior clear acrylic pages were great overlays. I stamped or embellished these.

I also pulled out my snowflake punches for the pages. It was great to put those lesser used shapes!

It was also important that I mentioned the dates for each photo. Some were taken in December 2009 when we had about 20" of snow just before Christmas.

My husband was a trooper out in the snow. It would have been so easy to stay inside and watch the snow fall, but we were out there together in the windiest and snowiest parts of those days. It is really crazy to think back about it.

I want to thank that sweet Georgia peach, Michelle, for her Saturday scrap series that reminded me that I need to share my little project.

It's Finally Here!

2010-06-25T16:52:00.006-04:00

Goodness, have I been looking forward to summer for a long time. Because of our crazy winter storm, the kids just finished school yesterday. And, if you are a parent of school-aged children, you know how busy the last two weeks of school can be. It was nice to let the kids sleep in this morning!

With the end of school comes the responsibility of recognizing those who work hard throughout the year. Each family at our bus stop chipped in to get a gift card for the bus driver. Mrs. T is great, so friendly and nice, the kids love her. More than once did I hear of her generosity towards the kids and we wanted to thank her for that. I offered to make a card for her that would hold the gift card. I decided to make one similar to the one I made that was shared on the AMN blog a few weeks ago. Someone had commented that it would be nice to have a tutorial on how to make it, so I took a few "in progress" photos.

Here is the strip of cardstock to begin. It measures about 3" by 8.5". I actually didn't measure the height, but it needs to be just a little bigger than a gift card.

Next, I laid a gift card in the center of the cardstock. I scored lines at 3.75" and 7.25". Then, gently fold on the score lines.

Next, trim off some of one side. This is really up to you. For the one on the AMN blog, I trimmed about an inch, then cut off the corners. This one is more simple; I cut off about .75".

Since this was for a bus driver, I used the school bus. I just love those happy faces! Then, using my Slice, I cut a small octagon, like the ones on a school bus. What you need next is to put a pop dot or two on the longer of the two flaps, just outside where the top flap would lay.

I wrote Thanks and outlined the octagon with a white gel pen, then adhered it to the pop dots, just off center, so that it covers the top flap, to keep the card closed.

Here is the inside. I put a glue dot with a plastic cover inside so that the gift card could be placed right on top of it. Just for fun, I had a secret message for Mrs. T when she uses her gift card.

For the teacher gift card, I added more to the inside of the card, but we wanted to have the kids sign their names, so it is blank. But, you could get creative with it. I like this design; it takes very little time and can be customized for anyone or any occasion.

When I started writing this, I realized that I had another series of pictures of a project that I have been meaning to share for a long time now. So, I'll have something else for you soon!

card info: cobalt blue, petite gingham yellow and swiss red cardstock, school bus fun, you're the best by A Muse Artstamps, Signo white gel pen, pop dots, glue dot.

14 Years and Counting

2010-06-14T10:22:00.003-04:00

Today my husband and I are celebrating our fourteenth anniversary. We went out for a fun night on the town last week, so tonight is a laid-back affair with dinner at home.

I had not yet gotten a card made for him as of last night, but this morning, while I was out for a walk/run, this card idea formed in my head. When I got home, I quickly headed downstairs and put this together. Super easy and perfect for my husband (no frills). And, since it is one layer, it even qualifies for the "Taking Off the Layers" challenge in the A Muse Lounge. Best yet, I think the card got his approval this morning!

Happy Flag Day!

Technically Crafty

2010-06-08T14:40:00.005-04:00

Hi all! I don't have anything stampy to share today. I've been busy in my hole, but it is still under wraps. Sorry :(

But, I have been working with a different part of my brain in the craft department the last few days; a technical, more precise activity: sewing. I find that sewing is challenging because if you mess up, you can't easily toss it aside and start over on a new cut of fabric (too expensive, for one). It may take more time to get to a finished product, but, it is a satisfying end.

This is an apron that I made without a real pattern. Talk about challenging! I used a halter swim top as pattern/guide for the bodice, then added a plain skirt front with a simple ruffle. It was fun to do. I think that I could work out the kinks on this one and maybe use it a a fun bridal shower gift.

Here is a look from the side. Please ignore the slouch and bulges on the model. She is a mother of four who knows she should stand up straight, but is just tired.

This is what I've decided to call my "rags to riches" shirt. I've seen lots of embellished tees on some sewing blogs and thought that the techniques would be fun to try. Many people are using cheap shirts or old shirts for the embellishments. Well, I had this t-shirt that had a couple of holes in it and I thought I'd use it for a rag. Then I remembered that it could provide me with quite a lot of long strips of white knit material. After some cutting and sewing and pulling, I had about 7 ruffled pieces. These can be wound and stitched together to make rosettes. I sewed three rosettes to a plain white v-neck shirt that I had in my drawer and now I have a pretty shirt to wear on my date tonight with my husband to see Conan O'Brien's "The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour" in D.C. Fun!

How About Two More?

2010-05-28T09:46:00.000-04:00

I've got another card from an SCS sketch challenge today. Those little squares were a little tricky once I put the sentiment in there; it seems hard to read, I guess.

This card started off as one thing and became something different. To be honest, I don't remember what I had wanted to make. But, I like the end result. It is fun to build these little scenes, it's a mini challenge to find ways to make things work!

stamps: open palm, warm hello, sun, sailboat, school line, wish you were here, curling wave by A Muse Artstamps
paper: wheat, cobalt, swiss red, papaya, petite gingham (yellow, red, blue), white, sky blue by A Muse Artstamps
other: latte pearls by A Muse Artstamps, pop dots, Copic markers

Anyone for Salmon Leftovers?

2010-05-27T18:54:00.003-04:00

As I was looking through the summer images, I struggled a bit with the Public Market stamp. I've walked through the market in Seattle, famous for the flying salmon, so I thought I'd put another lovely pink fish on a card. I'd found this sketch on SCS a while back and it worked out almost perfectly. The colors were a combination that I had seen in a Pottery Barn Kids catalog. I really like the red - gives the card some pop!

stamps: market, salmon, best fishes by A Muse Artstamps
paper: lime peel notecard, swiss red, cobalt blue, sky blue by A Muse Artstamps
other: Copic marker, colored pencils, pop dots

Something for the Teachers

2010-05-26T06:33:00.001-04:00

With the end of the year fast approaching, it is time to get some thank you notes for teachers ready. My big kids are actually in school for almost another month, so I've got time to get those done. But preschool ends in two weeks, so these are ready to go.

This one was inspired by flash cards from long ago. I'm pretty sure that this "thank you" is retired, but it is the exact type of font that this card needs. I've had that little red clip in my drawer for at least two years; it is nice to have finally given it a purpose!

This card is based on a card sketch that I found somewhere and made a quick drawing in my notebook. I didn't make a note of where I found it, though, Whoops! It was fun to make this even though it was a bit tedious to color in all those pencils.

How are you liking the new blue? I'm so happy with cobalt blue - it goes with everything! I've been using it on cards like crazy, too. Hope you're not sick of it ;) Hope you'll stop by tomorrow!

stamps: solid apple, pencil, special teacher, thank you (retired) by A Muse Artstamps
paper: cobalt, white, school lined, natural white, swiss red, petite gingham yellow by A Muse Artstamps
ribbon: charcoal stitched grosgrain by A Muse Artstamps
other: fluid chalk ink, Copic markers, red binder clip, pop dots

Surfboard Revisited

2010-05-25T08:18:00.001-04:00

Today I have three cards to share and each one features the surfboard. Here we go!

So way back when the surfboard stamp was released, I made a card that changed up the surfboard a bit. I have always wanted to go back and try it again. I have to say, it looked a little better in my head, but all things considered, it is ok. Just a fun card to send someone for the summer.

Next up, another hula girl with her surfboard. The proportions of these two images worked perfectly and I was so pleased! If you look closely at this card, you might notice a *new* color of paper. It is called wheat, but it makes great sand. I sanded it down some to make it look more like sand . What do you think? I like it!

The last card was the first one that I made. It is just so-so. But, since it has no frills or bling, it's a winner for a young man, right?

There are more ideas out there today and I'll have something else tomorrow for you.

stamps: surfboard, MW Hawaiian girl, hula girl, fun in the sun, sun by A Muse Artstamps
paper: colbalt *new*, wheat *new*, papaya, lime, white by A Muse Artstamps
other: Copic markers, Spica glitter pen, Stickles, sanding block, Slice die cutting machine

Almost Summer

2010-05-24T07:01:00.003-04:00

Can't tell by looking out my window since it is raining, again. I was hoping for some warm up this week so that the water at the pool won't be too cold this weekend. Wait, did I just say the pools are opening this weekend? It is Memorial Day weekend so soon? Can't believe it.

Well, to get you in the mood for summer fun, A Muse is sharing some inspiring ideas for the season. Today I have a card that you could use for a Father's Day card. I decided to keep it really simple, no gems, no ribbon, no glitter, no nuthin'. Just hardcore PLAIN!

I said it was plain, right? Maybe the salmon isn't that plain, but it needed just a burst of color. I still think it would be perfectly acceptable in my husband's eyes as a "man" card. I have some more ideas to share tomorrow. Yes, ideas. That is plural for more than one idea!

stamps: fishing pole, best fishes, salmon by A Muse Artstamps
paper: white notecard, watermelon, french roast paper by A Muse Artstamps

Birthday Blog Hop Winner

2010-05-10T19:05:00.005-04:00

The winners from the A Muse Birthday Blog Hop have been announced on the AMN blog today. The winner from my blog post was scrapycandy. Congrats! Enjoy your wild rose and many thanks stamps.

Many people commented that they had not seen the colored pencil technique over chalk ink before and asked for some instructions on how to do it. I have been wanting to try the wild rose in a different color, so I photographed the process for you.

First, I stamped the wild rose in white ink then masked the roses and stamped the wild rose branch in a light green. The key to this technique is to apply the light colors first, similar to rock and roll stamping. I then used a darker green colored pencil to apply shading to the leaves. With this, the best thing to do is to think of shadows. Where would those be on a leaf? Well, if a blossom is covering a leaf, the shadow is closest to the flower.

After you've added your dark green, go back, and very sparingly, add some brown (or even darker green) in small areas. This just adds to the depth, so you can stick with the one color if you want.

I went back with my dark green pencil and added a bit more along the leaf edges. At this point, you can even use a light green pencil to cover any spots to decrease the shading.

Now, time to tackle the roses! My parents have had roses that are very light in color with hints of darker pink, so I was trying to duplicate that. First, I went with a light peach colored pencil to add shading close to the center of the blossom. Notice the center petal; the back of the petal is what is facing out, so the pink color wouldn't be visible, so it is left white. I also added some light green and small dots of dark pink to the center of the bloom.

To finish off the rose, I went back with a darker color pink and added detail in small bits.

The final step was to add just a hint of white colored pencil to the veins on the leaves. The white gives some oomph to the leaves. I used this as a cover to a small notebook to keep my "to do" lists!

This close-up should give you a better look at the detail of the project. I hope that helps any of you wanting to give this a try. If you have more questions, please let me know!

stamps: wild rose and wild rose branch by A Muse Artstamps
paper: kraft cardstock
ink: limepeel fluid chalk, frost white pigment ink by ColorBox
colored pencils: white, light peach, pink, moss green, dark umber by Prismacolor

Just Can't Get Enough

2010-05-07T22:14:00.005-04:00

I still haven't put away my Everything's Rosy stamps. Still having fun with all those beautiful floral images! I took a gander at this week's Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger and, lo and behold, more floral goodness. So, I took a stab this week.

Instead of stamping a flower, I went with another 3-D flower (I've seen so many examples in blogland lately). This time, I sanded and pinched the edges together to make them appear pointed. For the polka dots, I used a flat pencil eraser and chalk ink. It came together so easily.

Don't forget to check my A Muse Birthday Blog Hop post for a chance to win two new stamps. The winners will be announced Monday, so there is still time to enter!

stamps: clear leaves set, beautiful day FL by A Muse Artstamps
paper: chiffon yellow, shimmer couture grass, kitchen green, popsicle pink and natural white notecard by A Muse Artstamps
other: pink twinkle stickers by A Muse Artstamps, yellow brad by Making Memories, flower punches

Are You Ready to Hop?

2010-05-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

It is time for a Birthday Bash Blog Hop! The Everything's Rosy stamps have quickly become favorites of mine for simply beautiful cards. My little sketch book is getting quite a workout these days with ideas I keep scribbling down. I hope I can find the time to put the ideas to paper soon!

Today, I'm sharing another wild rose card with you. Like I said the other day, it is one of my favorites from these stamps. I have reached for it quite a few times already; I just can't get enough of it! This card was inspired by a beautiful pillow that I saw in a window display at Pottery Barn. The colors are what I had noticed first - red, pink, blue and green - perfect for this time of year. Then, I realized that the print would make pretty patterned paper, too.

After some stamping and masking, it still needed something. I pulled out my colored pencils and shaded the blossoms and leaves to give it just a little depth. Here is a closer look at the colored pencil work:

I can see myself using colored pencils a lot with the solid images in this release. The pencils give the highlights needed to really dress up the stamping.

Would you like to have your very own wild rose and many thanks FL to add to your stamp collection? Well, if you leave me a comment, you'll be entered in the A Muse Birthday Blog Hop for both of these *new* stamps. Then, hop on over to the blog of Lisa Strahl, A Muse friend extraordinaire, for another giveaway.

Your comment here, as well as on all the other hopping blogs, will also enter you in the A Muse Birthday Blog Hop Grand Prize (on the AMN blog). If you want to find a full list of all the Birthday Blog Hop Stampers, check the A Muse News Blog.

stamps: wild rose, many thanks FL, wild rose branch
paper: natural white notecard, sky blue paper
ribbon: popsicle pink grosgrain stitch
other: Prismacolor color pencils, foam adhesive, brad

Flowers, Flowers Everywhere

2010-05-02T22:15:00.004-04:00

Today is the last day for amuse-bouche for the Everything's Rosy release. It is always sad to end amuse-bouche, but that means you are a little bit closer to getting your hands on some brand new rubber! I've been having lots of fun with these stamps, though, so I'm not putting any away just yet. *wink*

I took a turn sideways today. And by that, I mean that I used the new bare branch as a flower stem by turning it sideways. I omitted inking the smaller branches and added a bunch of the leaves to the sides to make the stem of a sunflower. And, since there is no sunflower stamp, I punched, notched and layered three cardstock circles to make the blossom and added a bunch of chocolate pearls to make the seed centers.

These 3-D flowers are such a trend these days, I am still trying out different shapes, colors and techniques. I have a couple sitting on my desk right now, waiting to be put on a card. But, for now, I'm happy playing with the red rubber flowers. Stay tuned....

Colorful Flutterbies

2010-05-02T00:45:00.000-04:00

Happy Sunday, everyone. We had a busy day yesterday, so I wasn't able to share anything here. I did have a treat package featured on the AMN blog yesterday; you can see it here (second photo). The wild rose and vine images are my favorite in this release; I've got another look at those coming up soon.

But today is all about the flutterbies. This is another one of the new *large* stamps in this release. These butterflies are all on one stamp! I just inked up the stamp using my Colorbox Cat's Eye ink pads and stamped once. I have to say that it is nice to be able to stamp just one time and have many images on the paper. It makes pretty cards come together quickly!

There are only two more days of amuse-bouche before these will be available online, so I hope you'll come back to visit me tomorrow.

Simple Silhouette amuse-bouche

2010-04-29T22:16:00.000-04:00

I hope you haven't had enough of the florals yet, because there are lots more pretties coming your way today. This jasmine silhouette has such beautiful lines that can be dressed up, like I did here with some pretty black twinkles. I used muted colors that wouldn't overpower the soft pinks on the card. Using latte and slate cardstock scraps keeps the card soothing. The sentiment ties it all together for a sweet and simple card.

Be sure to take a gander at the AMN blog and leave comments on previous posts to be entered in some great giveaways.

Many Thanks amuse-bouche

2010-04-29T02:34:00.001-04:00

Today, I get to continue the amuse-bouche course, but with something else *new* for the feast! See that little blinky on the sidebar with Everything Rosy on it? Well, that is the newest release, part of the A Muse 9th Anniversary celebration. And, if you are a fan of all things floral, you better get that drool cloth ready.

But first, I want to take a few lines of this here blog post to thank Linda, for giving me a chance long ago, to be the first A Muse Guest Designer (scroll down to see my designs) and then to join her team of Muses. I am still honored to be a part of such a talented team! Also to Julie, who leads us fearlessly into the stamping wilderness and hasn't lost me yet, and Heidi, who keeps us supplied with all the goodies we need for survival! Emily and Heather deserve a shout out for making us look good on the AMN blog and the newsletters that are sent each week. I am constantly pinching myself and hoping that I don't wake up anytime soon!

Who's ready for some amuse-bouche? Today, prepare yourself for something different from A Muse. Take a look-see:

This card features something HUGE! I was a little nervous working with stamps this size at first, but once I got used to it, I found a way to incorporate the large marigold onto a 4-bar notecard. I've seen this layout on cards before and figured that I'd never really use it, but now it's a piece of cake.

I forgot to add ribbon to the card before adhering the flower, so for a little extra dimension, I stamped the center on some scrap paper, colored it in and added it to the card on pop dots. It really was pretty easy, although it took me a little more time than usual to color and cut out the flower.

I know that there will be lots more to see out there today, so thank YOU for stopping by here, leaving me comments now and then, and sharing your love of stamping with me.

Happy 9th Birthday!

2010-04-28T06:06:00.001-04:00

Do you love to celebrate birthdays? I think that one of my favorite things about birthdays is the cake. Even if it doesn't suit my taste, I love looking at the cake. Whether it is beautifully decorated or creatively styled, cakes can say a lot about the birthday person. I think, that if I had to make a cake for A Muse, it would be stylishly simple and fun (and probably have some scalloped edges on it). I wonder if they will serve cake in Seattle to celebrate the birthday...

As you can see, there is something new forthcoming from A Muse. This card was made using a great clear set that has all kinds of words that you can put together to customize your own sentiment. I've only used the Happy and birthday so far, but there are loads of possibilities. And, if you saw the AMN blog yesterday, you spotted a big banner stamp, which is also a part of this clear set. The banner has to be my favorite part of the set because it is flexible, so you can curve it and extend it, to fit your card. Can I get an "Amen"? Seriously, it is the best!

Well, I know there are lots of other birthday cards out there, so go find some more birthday wishes! You also need to stop by this AMN blog post and leave a comment for Linda so you can be entered in the giveaway (trust me, you NEED to do it because the prize is amazing!).

Picnic Time

2010-04-27T08:06:00.003-04:00

Good morning! Yesterday I hinted that there would be lots of fun new things headed your way from A Muse and this is just the first of many things I can (finally) share with you. This is from a clear set of stamps of some long retired A Muse images.

I chose the picnic basket to make an entirely too easy card. I was being lazy, I promise. I just wanted to work on some colored pencil work. When the coloring spaces are small, I like to reach for the pencils, sharpen those tips really well, and get to coloring. It doesn't take long since it is a small image, but it soothes me. I do this with my kids; we like to sit and color together while listening to some fun music. Coloring makes us happy.

There are lots of other amuse-bouche today; hope you find lots to entice you.

Didja Notice?

2010-04-26T17:01:00.004-04:00

There were some new goodies previewed on the AMN blog today (and my card)! It is always fun to celebrate birthdays with something new, so check back with me tomorrow!

Updating

2010-04-12T11:50:00.002-04:00

Since I got my hair donation haircut on Saturday, I thought I'd update my picture. I know that part of my head is cut off, but my eight year old daughter took the photo and it was the best of the bunch. Hope to be back soon with something fun and stampy!

Happy Birthday

2010-04-10T00:02:00.001-04:00

Today would have been my sister's fortieth birthday. I miss her terribly, especially on those special "family" days and I have been thinking about her all week. Last night I made her a birthday card. She'd have liked it because each monarch represents each of the five siblings in our family. I'll probably send it to her husband and girls sometime soon, but for now, I need to keep it with me.

BTW, I used the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger for this card's layout. It's a pretty good one for clean and simple stamping. Thanks for stopping by today.

card info: cloud cardstock, white cardstock, and monarch by A Muse Artstamps, Copic markers, black pen, superfine glitter by Stampendous.

Card Mania!

2010-04-08T22:06:00.004-04:00

This one has lots of photos, so sit back and scroll!

Last night I was cleaning up my desk and found lots of scraps. Hmmm, what to do with those? Just a couple of days ago, I saw a small card on Jenn's blog and I thought that it would be great to make some to have on hand for those birthday gifts that always need a quick card. So, instead of sorting and organizing, I thought I'd make a bunch of small gift-sized cards.

Using the tiny butterfly to make a quick card for a friend.

Maybe a card to go along with some perfume?

I like giving books as presents, so this would be great to go with a book (a little Scoopy inspiration on this one).

So would this one. Or, it could go with a picnic basket. I used tiny pearls and flock on this one (thanks, Krystie Lee, for the inspiration).

Easy for all occasions.

Fun birthday card.

Another tiny bird birthday card. I had to make him a teeny tiny hat.

This one is kinda my son's idea. He saw a package of googly eyes and said I needed to use some on one of the animal images. I thought it would be silly to have the squirrel get a HUGE acorn for his birthday. It made my husband chuckle!

And, finally, a simple thank you note. I took a picture with the small envelope that A Muse now carries that fits a 3"x3" card or smaller.

My last card was the last I made. I had the idea, but it didn't make much sense to have it in the 3"x3" size, so I made a 4-bar note. I'll be able to use this one as a "miss you" note to stick in my husband's luggage when he travels. I used some Krsytie Lee and JulieHRR inspiration for this one. Thanks for sticking with me through all this!

Butterflies in the Sky

2010-04-06T10:38:00.001-04:00

There is a challenge in the A Muse Lounge called "Cut It Out." Fairly self-explanatory, right? Well, the new cloud paper was sitting on my desk, some scraps staring at me. I couldn't bear to waste the smallest of scraps but wasn't really sure how to use them. So, I pulled out the scissors and cut out a few clouds. Then, with the help of pop dots, I mounted those on a larger piece of cloud cardstock and added some butterflies, flight trails and a sentiment and *poof!* a completed card.

Also, on a personal note, Happy Birthday to my dear brother, PJ!

card info: cloud cardstock, blueberry notecard, tiny butterfly, silver lining by A Muse Artstamps, black pen, Spica clear glitter pen, pop dots.

It Is Almost Too Hot

2010-04-05T10:23:00.003-04:00

It is only April 5 and we are going through a mini heat wave! I walked my daughter to preschool this morning and I was really hot by the time I got home. But it felt good to get in the four mile walk! My youngest daughter enjoyed the flowers and birds along the way, except for the "stinky trees" that lined the sidewalk. I have no idea what type of tree these are, but they are quite aromatic.

Last night, after the kids got to bed and my husband went to meet a friend to watch the Red Sox beat the Yankees, I sat and did some just for fun stamping. I didn't really get too much in last week, so I made up for it last night. I still had some of the woodland critters stamps out and lots of scraps, so I got to work creating.

This card was inspired by all the mushrooms we find in our yard every spring. We don't have pretty red ones, just the regular gray and white ones. But, those wouldn't look fun on a card. I hand cut the tree and used my Slice to cut out flower petals to use as the leaves.

I have a love-hate relationship with the Slice. Sometimes it works great and I am so happy. Sometimes, I have the most skewed shapes and I get frustrated. Maybe I hold it down to hard? Maybe not hard enough? I don't know, but it kills me to waste cardstock. I'm thinking the new hands free doo-dad for the Slice might help. Anyone with good Slice pointers care to share with me? I'd love some feedback!

card info: sky blue notecard, chiffon green paper, woodgrain paper, white paper, mushroom trio, just sittin' here, and swiss red polka dot ribbon by A Muse Artstamps, Copic markers, Signo white pen, green colored pencil, Slice.

My Poor Flowers!

2010-04-01T17:04:00.003-04:00

Ok, I took the day off and do not have something new to share. This was featured on the AMN blog today and it makes me giggle so I thought I'd share it here. Jill had a similar idea - check it out!

Today, I took my kids to Monticello. The visionary Thomas Jefferson had a lovely home with so many inspired and whimsical touches. If you have never been, you should go (it is even listed as one of the Eight Places Every American Should See). It really is an amazing piece of architecture, has beautiful grounds and gardens and the history is remarkable. I wish I could share photos of inside the house, but photographs are prohibited. When I have time to get photos off my camera, I'll share. Now is a great time to go, but if you wait a little, the gardens will be absouletly beautiful. I just hope that there won't be any skunks about the grounds!

If At First You Don't Succeed...

2010-03-31T07:00:00.005-04:00

This was the first version of the squirrel hole that I made. I liked it ok, but it just didn't quite work. I stared at it for a few days before I came up with the card that I shared yesterday. What I did like about this one was the way my Signo white pen blended with the birch woodgrain and took on a different color. It looked more like letters carved onto a tree.

While this was not the best card, it is a good one for me to save to tuck into my husband's luggage when he is ready to travel. He loves those little surprises !

Be sure to check the AMN blog for more ideas from the Muses (new paper!!!!), as well as other CT members' blogs for inspiration!

I'm a Total Slacker

2010-03-30T11:40:00.003-04:00

... unlike this productive squirrel. I have to say, this was one of my "aha!" cards. I cannot go so far as to call myself brilliant or genius, but I was giddy with the results of this one. So, safe to say, I am glad to be sharing it with you today, even though some of you may have already seen it on the AMN blog. It's worth a second look, right?

As an added bonus, it features another food-named color of cardstock: apricot. It is a wonderful, soft orange. Between the apricot cardstock and watermelon cardstock, I felt like I was looking at a carton of fruit sherbet!

I have yet to get my cards photographed because I've been shuttling kids to and fro. Then my mind gets going in a different direction. Really, no excuse is good enough. But, I WILL have a new card to share tomorrow. Promise. If you don't believe me, just come back and check.

Woodland Critters Inspiration

2010-03-29T15:47:00.003-04:00

Good afternoon!

It is Spring Break here in No. Virginia and I have had to fight my kids to get to the computer today. I'd be worried for the rest of the week, but I've got some things planned that will get them out of the house. The weather is supposed to be lousy to be outdoors through tomorrow, but Wednesday through the weekend looks great. Perfect egg hunting weather!

Today starts some card inspiration for stamps that you may already have in your collection, but with new notecard colors. I am late getting new cards together, so I am sharing two things that were featured on the AMN blog today.

First is a little notebook that I made. I used some square coasters and cut down some of the school lined cardstock for the pages. It came together quite quickly, too, which is always an added bonus!

I thought this would be a perfect little book to share with a friend. You could almost treat like a circle journal, even though it is a bit small. My oldest daughter has begun asking me questions on a twice-a-day basis, so this could be someplace where she could record all her questions and answers.

This card was also shared today. And, look! Beautiful watermelon paper (I cut it to 4-bar size). Oh, how I love it! Now, more about the card. I have a bitty envelope template that I've had for ages and it seldom gets used. I thought it would be fun to make snail stationary to put on a card. Get it? It is itty bitty, but still fun.

Now, I'm off to start soup for supper on this dreary day.

Jumping on the 3-D Bandwagon

2010-03-25T17:49:00.003-04:00

Don't worry, no special glasses required for this post because I'm not talking about the movies. Although, I'd love to hear about any recent experiences with a 3-D movie.

Ok, what I am talking about is the current *hot* trend in papercrafting: 3-D paper flowers. I have seen lots and lots and lots of flowers on cards lately. And each one is made differently. I've seen flat, curved, scrunched, big, small, etc. A couple of weeks ago I was at a store and spied a pretty top with a row of ruffles down one side of the neckline. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that the ruffles were made from a scalloped shape that had been folded a couple of times. So, when I got home that day, I experimented a bit with a flower punch and some cardstock.

Not sure how I feel about it right now. I am thinking that I will go back to the drawing board, maybe less layers. Suggestions?

A Wee Bit O' Inspiration Goes A Long Way (and some sewing)

2010-03-13T16:18:00.006-05:00

Happy Weekend, everyone! We have had a rainy couple of days here, so the kids are inside playing and keeping the house noisy, but I have had some time to do some sewing and stamping. I am a much happier person when I've had time to do something just for fun, and today I am happy.

Yesterday I managed to sew four, count 'em FOUR, aprons! I made three aprons for my girls using a vintage-style print tablecloth. They love wearing aprons whenever they help in the kitchen and they always want the same apron, so now they don't have to share. Here is a photo of my youngest two modeling their new aprons.

Then, I made myself an apron. I have other aprons that I like to wear, but this one is a pretty apron, and it is kinda fun. I wore it this morning when I made coffee cake and cleaned the kitchen. Here is a photo (and the tutorial) for the apron I made.

I mentioned that I got to some stamping, right? Well, my little stamping hole has been neglected lately. I've had lots going on and I just haven't made time to stamp. But, today I managed a couple of cards. The one I'm sharing today is actually for a few different challenges. In the A Muse Lounge, there is a challenge to create a card using Julie Ebersole's genius as inspiration. Last year, she created this beauty. It is so simple and elegant! I knew what I wanted to do, then I realized that it also fit the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger challenge, using green and white (and even some gingham print). And, finally, I found that it fit the CAS challenge on SCS from last week - It's Hip to be Square.

So, do you want to see my triple-whammy challenge card?

I used the tiny heart to make the mini shamrocks since I don't have a shamrock stamp. The shamrock stencil came from a newspaper advertisement that I found this morning. Talk about serendipity!

It came out rather lovely, I think. To quote JulieHRR, "I'm bouncin' with my arms wrapped 'round myself!"

card info: white and petite gingham green cardstock, tiny heart, luck and fortune, lime twinkle stickers by A Muse.

Need Some Sunshine?

2010-02-26T13:16:00.004-05:00

It has been wicked cold and windy here today. I am thankful that there wasn't any snow here and I am feeling badly for those in the Northeast who've had to deal with feet of snow these past few days. I don't think my kids could take any more snow this season.

All this wind has curtailed my errand-running today. My youngest daughter just did not want to be outside more than necessary, so I blew off the library, Target and the gym today. While she played and I waited for laundry to wash and dry, I found a few minutes to stamp. A few minutes was all I needed, too for this card. I think Julie calls it a "5 Minute Quckie." I love cards that take little time to make yet satisfy the need to be creative, don't you?

Last week I noticed some people that I know had participated in a Tuesday Trigger on the Moxie Fab World blog. Que es esto? I wondered. I looked and thought it would be another good way to challenge myself to create a card for fun. I just ran out of time. So, I am caving to peer pressure and participating this week. The trigger plus the weather equals this card. Who doesn't love an easy, one-layer, 5 minute quickie? (As I reread that sentence, it is a bit risque, isn't it? Oh, well.)

card info: sun, sentiment and pearls by A Muse Artstamps, kraft cardstock, yellow gingham ribbon by May Arts, colored pencils.

Bunny Bonanza - Got Eggs?

2010-02-16T07:52:00.003-05:00

If you have read my blog in the past, you might remember me mentioning how much my family loves Easter, especially The Egg Hunt. We use the plastic eggs for our hunt, but my mom decorates with pretty, fancier eggs in the house. I think she adds at least one new one each year and most of the time it is one she papercrafted. I always look forward to see what she has made.

This fancy egg reminds me of the decorations at my parents' house. I wanted to make the eggs different but didn't want to spend the time coloring each one. So, using the scraps of cardstock on my desk (even the white card base was a remnant from a different card), I came up with four different eggs. It was quick and easy and I used such lovely spring colors like sage, chiffon purple, heather and buttercup! I am really looking forward to seeing colors outside my window soon.

card info: papers, fancy egg, sentiment by A Muse, superfine glitter, pop dots, Copic markers.

Happy Bunny Bonanza Day 4!

2010-02-15T07:23:00.003-05:00

I know it is President's Day and we should be celebrating all the good that the Founding Fathers did for our country, but, living so close to D.C., I feel that I celebrate them many times throughout the year. So, today, I'm celebrating bunnies!

The bunny line is actually a new stamp for me. But, honestly, it gave me stamper's block. A scene was one way to go, but I didn't like it. So I tried a different scene. Still didn't like it. Finally, after stepping away for a while, I started cleaning up scraps and thought I should just highlight the stamp on its own. Yes! Much better. I even found a way to use the scraps of paper I was sorting. Ah, how simplicity satisfies me!

I'll have one more card to share with you before the new papers are available through A Muse. However, if you have the day off, you might check out your LSS to see if they have it already!

Bunny Bonanza Day 3

2010-02-14T15:43:00.003-05:00

Here is a peek at both of the new colors of paper that will be available online later this week. I used Eucalyptus to make the bag and Heather is the wide strip behind the sweet bunny. The bag is smallish but a perfect size for some sweet treats for kids.

Now, are you ready for some more fun? Check out the A Muse News blog for ANOTHER fun giveaway. This time you have a chance to win a Memory Mug - a travel coffee mug that you can customize. Fun, fun, fun! I'll have another card tomorrow :)

Bunny Bonanza Day 2

2010-02-14T11:17:00.004-05:00

What was it the White Rabbit said? "I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date!" I feel like I am running way behind on so many things today. I'm blaming it all on the snow. And the sick kids in my house. My lack of posting yesterday is all their fault.

So, today I will reward you with two posts. The first was meant for yesterday and it features Little Chick. I don't know if it is a he or a she, but either way, that is one cute chickie. Everyone loves versatile stamps and Little Chick is versatile.

I'll have another post this afternoon, so come back. However, before you come back here, hightail it over to the A Muse News blog to enter your chance at a giveaway for stamps and paper! Hurry, though! The giveaway closes at 10:00 am PST (1:00 pm EST).

Let the Bunny Bonanza Begin!

2010-02-12T09:01:00.004-05:00

For the next few days I will be sharing some spring card ideas with you. After all the snow we've had, I am looking forward to the thaw and flowers and green things poking through the ground and, of course, cute little bunnies hopping in the yard.

Where my parents live, there are lots of rabbits but I don't see quite as many, probably because of all the foxes in these parts. Any bunnies we have would need a getaway car, like this one!

Do you spy new A Muse goods in the picture? There will be new 8.5" x 11" papers available (online next week) in favorite notecard colors like Paprika and Sage! I used the Paprika to make a square notecard - it was like hugging an old friend when I made the 4.25" cut of paper. There are more colors coming, too, just wait till you see!

To find the latest A Muse goodness, checkout A Muse Artstamps.

Snow Stamping and LSS Love

2010-02-09T14:07:00.005-05:00

Last Thursday, known around these parts as "My Last Day of Freedom," I decided to take a trip to my LSS, Angela's Happy Stamper, to spend a few minutes browsing. I knew it would be the last "me" time I'd get for a while. Plus, these small business owners, who've had it bad enough, are really hurting with all of the weekend snowstorms we've had the past two months and could use the small spending boost I could provide. Who better than the friendly Angela to get my business?

My two youngest children went with me and were good enough to sit and play with Angela's toys and books while I circled the floor. They absolutely love going to the stamping store because they can play with Legos and the Little People farm and other customers will chat with them. Every one of the people they have met there have been so nice to them and the staff is always so welcoming.

So, they played and I poked along looking at samples on the walls, inks, glitter, paper and stamps. I had the intention to buy something just for me, just because. Every once in a while it is nice to do that, you know? Well, I found a cute Vintage Apron from Lockhart Stamps and decided it needed to come home with me. It is a much larger stamp than I am used to using and I wasn't really sure what I was going to do with it, but it was the last one on the shelf and I didn't want to pass it up.

When I finally got around inking it up, I thought of a long ago sewing project, my first sewing project, a red gingham apron. I pulled out some A Muse petite gingham paper and made myself a new apron. I've sent this card off to an aunt in Holly Grove, Arkansas, this morning who inspires me to carry on the tradition of being a good home cook, just like my Mamaw Cassie. Last July, she showed me how to make peach preserves.

It came out well, so I stamped one on some other scrap paper to make another. This one I cut out and placed on a tag (used Angela's Accu-Cut machine while I was there, too!) that I could attach to a food gift in the future. I used a sentiment and a teeny heart from the A Muse Baking clear stamp set for this, too.

After two quick projects, I decided to do some coloring. I stayed with the same colors, red and light blue, to make this one. I guess vintage images make me think of precious memories and what could be more precious than a mom? This sentiment just fits perfectly with the apron!

Thanks for letting me ramble. For those of you out there reading this, thank you for being my outlet to sanity. The kids are home from school through Wednesday (at least) and the Federal Government is shut down (yes, again today!). Wish us luck and patience!

Final Snow Update (Or Is It?)

2010-02-07T14:41:00.005-05:00

It stopped snowing before 5pm last night. We even had a sunset! Today has been a day of having some fun in the snow, clearing the remainder of the driveway and digging out a neighbor.

We already have word that there will be no school tomorrow. And, the forecast is for more snow Tuesday evening; maybe another 4-6 inches. Hooray for snow days!

Here is a panoramic look at our house (panorama are my husband's new favorite iPhoto trick).

I will have something crafty and stampy to share soon!

Snow Update #3

2010-02-06T15:48:00.004-05:00

It is still snowing. We've shoveled the driveway about four times now and the walls on either side are huge. The latest measurement is 22 inches.

Along with the snow, there has been some damage to trees in our yard and the neighbor's yard. We have a lot of cleanup to do once the snow is gone and the ground isn't saturated.

Want to see what I'm talking about?

David and Joey clearing the driveway this morning.

The white pine trees are not meant to hold so much snow and are snapping in half. We had one do the same thing back during our December snow storm. Our neighbor's garage, thankfully, wasn't damaged beyond a dented gutter.

Snow Update #2

2010-02-06T06:46:00.002-05:00

It is 6:45 am and it has been snowing for about 22 hours. The snow outside our front door is now measuring 17.5".

Everything is so quiet and peaceful outside. In a few hours, though, the kids will want to get out and play. I hope there isn't too much snow for us to go sledding.

Snow Update

2010-02-05T23:13:00.002-05:00

It started snowing this morning around 9:30. It is now 11:15 pm and the snow on our front steps is already at 10.5".

It is falling at about 2" an hour, too, because in the half hour my husband and I were out shoveling another inch of snow fell. I'll be back tomorrow with another update and maybe a photo...

I Might Just Get Some Crafty Things Done...

2010-02-05T12:59:00.004-05:00

... since the forecast is for 18-24 inches of snow here. I am not a parent who complains that the kids are home again from school, though I know that the teachers will have a hard time making up the lost days. But snow should be enjoyed, not dreaded, so we are glad to have another snow day this week.

Between outside playtime and chores, I am allowing myself a little bit of a snow day, too. I am letting the kids watch TV way more than usual so that I can stamp during the day. What a wonderful guilty pleasure it is to stamp during the day! I managed this card last night because I knew the kids would not be going to school today. This is an SCS Clean and Simple challenge card - Cut It Out!.

I have been working on some things today, but nothing really ready to share. Just exercising the stamping muscles a bit.

card info: cranberry notecard, swiss red sheer ribbon, black pearls, Fancy Alphabet clear set by A Muse, pop-dots.

Mini Calendar Idea #3

2010-01-22T09:00:00.001-05:00

Ok, here is the last one in my mini calendar series. This is the most simple of all the cards and probably my favorite. I still have a few more February calendars printed out sitting on my desk and I might just use them for cards like this to send to my nieces, nephews and friends.

I hope you have an opportunity to find the versatility in your stamp stash and make some cards!

card info: swiss red notecard, tiny heart, natural white and popsicle pink paper, Happy Valentine's Day and mini calendar.pdf by A Muse, fancy frame punche, Slice machine and pop dots.

Mini Calendar Idea #2

2010-01-21T10:00:00.001-05:00

Looking for another way to use the mini calendar file that Linda shared last year? Here is the second card in a series of three that I made.

This one is more simple than the first and actually only uses one stamp!

I've been putting my new Slice machine to work lately. It is fun, but I haven't tried too much with it yet. The fancy frame punch is 1 3/4" so I made the next layer with the Slice - perfect fit! I have one more card for you. Hope you'll stop by tomorrow.

card info: natural white notecard, swiss red paper, be mine, mini calendar.pdf by A Muse, heart and fancy frame punches, pop dots and Slice machine.

Mini Calendar Idea #1

2010-01-20T21:36:00.003-05:00

So, Miss Geeta, over there in Austin, TX, issued a play-along for some A Muse Addicts to choose one A Muse stamp a make a series of cards. Now, I did this recently with the new compass stamp and it was a fun challenge. I wanted to try it again but I couldn't figure out what to use.

I had seen these calendar cards online and thought I could use the mini calendar that Linda shared last December to make my own. I managed to make three cards with the mini calendar and I will share these with you for the next couple of days. Here's the first.

Despite this card having a bit more on the embellishment end than usual for me, I'm very pleased with it. I rooted around my paper flowers stash and my gingham ribbon, neither of which I had used in a loooooooong time. I know I am not alone when I say, I've gotta start using these things! Stop by tomorrow and I'll have another mini calendar card for you.

card info: calendar.pdf, tiny heart, hugs and kisses, twinkle heart sticker, chiffon pink notecard, cranberry and natural white papers by A Muse, paper flowers, ribbon by May Arts, scallop border and fancy frame punches, Slice machine.

Promises, shmomises

2010-01-19T15:16:00.002-05:00

Remember last week when I said I had some cards waiting to be shared? And then, I didn't post anything? Well, I had meant to get things set to post, but couldn't find the time.

You see, I was kinda, sorta busy. And not at home. Wanna guess where I was?

I will have something, soon.

Promise.

And this time, I mean it!

I'm No "10"

2010-01-14T20:52:00.004-05:00

... but I've got a "Perfect 10" challenge card for you. Over in the A Muse Lounge this month, the card making challenge is to create a card using 10 for inspiration. I didn't think that I could make a card with ten stamps or ten items, but as I got working, I realized that it was going to happen. I had this idea in my head, pulled out all the stamps and ink that I needed, set my timer for 10 minutes and got to work.

If you look closely you will see ten teeny tiny hearts acting like sprinkles on the cupcake frosting. I used nine stamps (ten, if you count the E twice, though); so close! I even managed to get this one done just before my timer rang. It isn't the greatest card but it is kinda cute and I think one of my daughters will enjoy it.

I've been busy working on another card series, similar to the compass series I did last week. Stay tuned!

card info: fancy alphabet, tiny heart, heart trio, cuckoo for you, cupcake builder set, chiffon pink notecard by A Muse, Colorbox fluid chalk ink.