Countdown to moving day...

The moving van arrives on Friday, so I'll get a post or two in before I go missing for a while. The above card was inspired by a hexagon card Kristina Warner made for the Stretch Your Stamps class. Clearly my take went terribly wrong. This card is so horrible that it makes me chuckle every time I look at it. What else would I do, it's just paper?

 Essentially the same supplies here, but no punching and twisting the hexagons. Much better! I stamped the background stamp twice, a little offset, and in two colors. Do you love those black A Muse Studio Twinkle Stickers? I do!!

 On a shopping trip with my sister one summer, I bought a K & Co.tin box full of sayings. I can't use it up. It's like a bottomless pit. I wish my wallet was like that. Anyway, the focal image here is a tag from that box.

 I want to put the cluster I made here on every. single. card. I love it that much. The blue piece is fabric tape.

The baby prints here are from an SU! set that is at least 13 years old. I know this because I joined in 1/2000, and we had the flatter plastic cases. This one is in one of those chubby cases.

In other news, I was packing my stamp room today and had a box with about 50 wooden stamps in it. I stepped on something slick, my foot went out from under me, and I flung stamps everywhere and fell COMPLETELY DOWN, crushing a bunch of innocent boxes. There was some shrieking, and a bit of groaning while I groped and flailed around on the floor for all the stamps and got myself back up again. None of this is remarkable, unless you know that my 8yods was only ten feet from me and in complete view, and his eyes never left the computer screen. My 18yods was in the next room, both of our doors were open, and he never took his eyes of the screen either. I think I need one of those "I've fallen and I can't get up!" necklaces for when Troy is out of town. Clearly, my children are useless in an emergency.

Praying For You

Praying For You

No one wants to make a sympathy card, or a card for a hard time. However, think about how you might brighten someone's day, even if it's just for a moment. This card could have any sentiment, though. I used our shimmer chalks, and I LOVE them! I've been using my SU! chalks for 12 years, but when I joined A Muse Studio, I thought I'd better have what we sell. I'm SO glad I did! These chalks are so pretty, I have a hard time resisting a little eye job in the middle of cardmaking. I KNOW some of these colors would look GOOD on me!;)

The sentiment has a matching die set!! It was absolutely one of the first things I ordered out of the 2012 Inspiration Guide. 

ALL SUPPLIES FROM a|s

Stamps: Charming Gardeners, Say It With Style
Paper: Apricot, Sugar
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Apricot
Accessories: Shimmer Chalks, Sky 1/4" organdy, Sugar Pearl Stickers

More Stretch Your Stamps and Other Random Stampings

 The "thank you" is from A Muse Studio's Essential Sentiments. It's one of my most reached for stamp sets. The sentiment is stamped on a|s Ocean, and embossed with a|s white. I added a couple of a|s Twinkle Stickers as a finishing touch. This card was inspired by a Julie Ebersole card from SYS.

 This is another SYS card. The flap in front is actually from the back of the card. I had never done this technique before. It's pretty cool.

 This is just a card I made. I don't like it very much. No one loves ice cream more than I do, but I have never made something cute with this BG ice cream paper.

 I used a|s's gorgeous Vintage Label Dies 1 for the central shape. I really like the way this card turned out. It's very sweet and a little shabby and girly, but not over the top. This is CAS for me, and a design I can get behind, as there's enough to keep me interested here.

This is my second version of this card. I made a similar one in neon colors and posted it about a week ago. I like this one much better!

I really enjoyed SYS, and can enjoy it forever, as I have access to everything forever. I will most likely take another class with Online Card Classes. I've made some really hideous cards, but I always do when I'm learning new techniques or CASEing someone else. It takes me a while to get my mojo going with new stamps (I bought ALL of the stamps for SYS!) and techniques. Eventually it all comes together, and I make some decent cards.

Greetings Earthling

Boy Birthday Card

The new Holiday Catalogs are in! Leave a comment if you'd like one, they are $3.95, or free with any purchase.

I made this card in February, so I am having a hard time remembering how I colored it. It looks like Koh-i-noor pencils, which is one of my favorite ways to color. Even though I have three sons, I rarely make a card for boys. This set came with the consultant pre-order for the 2012 catalog. At first I was pretty lukewarm about it, but I actually love the way this card went together, and I enjoyed working with this set.

SHOP FOR A MUSE STUDIO SUPPLIES HERE

Stamps: Greetings Earthlings, Say It With Style
Paper: Sugar, Rialto, Wasabi
Ink: Rialto, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Koh-i-noor Pencils, Silver Elastic, Grass Buttons, Silver Glitter, Silver Embossing Powder, Stardust Spray

Stretch Your Stamps Class Samples

 This one actually isn't from SYS. I don't know what went wrong with this card, but it's a doozy. YIKES!

 This one is from SYS, and I like it. It's nothing special, but at least it isn't hideous.

 Another SYS. This one is fine. I don't love it or hate it.

 This one I hate. I don't like this background technique at all. Actually, it's just the final step of rubbing a black pad all over it that made it ugly. How am I supposed to make an attractive card with that black rainbowed mess?

 Please don't let these ugly samples give you the idea that SYS was a bad class. It was excellent, I just am a slow learner with new techniques. It takes me a while to come up with something decent when I'm trying new things.

This is just a random card. I made it while I was taking SYS, but it isn't a card specific to them. I heat embossed SU!'s Aida Cloth background on top of the vibrant and modern Tinkering Ink paper. I like the result much better than the original, and I think it's a striking effect. Of course, my love affair with white embossing powder probably helps!

I used A Muse studio's Hand Scripted for the "Smile" sentiment.

July Spotlight

July Spotlight

Look at that adorable memory game! This is a fast, fun and easy project featuring our irresistible Maple Tags, Polka Dot Paper and London themed stamps. Of course any set in the catalog would be just as cute. I'm booking July workshops for the next week for sure, then we're into August and Holiday Hoopla! I can't wait to show you the holiday catalog! It is the best catalog I have ever seen! Let me know if you'd like for me to reserve a copy just for you!!

Take this down...

The A Muse Studio Holiday Catalog has the CUTEST little sticky note memo cubes you ever saw!! When I found out we were going to carry them, I got right on designing a gift with the memo cube I had on hand. I stamped the sides with the Harlequin Background stamp, then made a little cardstock wrap and lid. I was pretty impressed with myself over the lid. I don't generally even understand how 3D things go together, designing my own was quite a feat. I also used the beautiful Sea Shells set to pretty it up, and some gorgeous satin ribbon. Now, I have to tell you that the cubes we carry are about half this size. I can't wait for you to see them!

If you would like your very own copy of the new catalog, just let me know. They are $3.95, and I'll cover the postage.

A Muse Studio Supplies:

Stamps: Harlequin, Sea Shells, Just My Type
Ink: Heather, Amethyst
Paper: Buttercup, Sugar
Accessories, Victorian Labels Dies 1, Heather Satin Ribbon, white eyelet, Vanilla Twine

Stretch Your Stamps Day 2 Card 2

More background playing.

Stretch Your Stamps Day 1 Card 1

Nothing fancy here. I was just playing around with my new Tim Holtz Papillon set. I used a piece of Tinkering Ink 12 x 12 that has flummoxed me for about five years. I finally decided to just cut it up and be done with it.

Card 5

Card 4

Card 3

Card 2

Stretch Your Stamps Day 1

 Not only did I clean today, but I also made five cards for Day 1 of Online Card Classes' Stretch Your Stamps! I did a very naughty thing and bought all the stamps for the class, but they won't be here for a day or two. In the meantime, I'm playing with what I already own, which is what prudent people do.

The first card was supposed to be made with a homemade stamp pad. I could not do this because A. I sold all of my SU! dye ink reinkers. B. I don't have the Ranger make your own pad stuff. Instead, I sponged A Muse Studio ink all over my background stamp and stamped away. a|s ink is my favorite anyway, so I was happy enough.

 For this card, I used a Creative Memories punch that I have had for at least 10 years! Hexagons are back! Everything old is new again! I stamped a background stamp inked up with a|s Watermelon all over some Tinkering Ink paper which I cannot stand. I found it very satisfying to have my way with it. It's possible, though, that I made it uglier than it already was. Oh well, I never fret when I make something weird. It's paper. Who cares?

 This is the craziest card I have ever made. Well, they say that neon is back, so I'm on trend, right?

 I used an eight million year old SU! stamp set for this card. I also added some of the much despised TI paper. I hope all the other additions mellowed it out a bit. I'm a colorphobe. I admit it.

Stamping on transparencies is slippery business. Who needs perfection, anyway?

I thought Day 1 of SYS was super fun, and I look forward to the rest of the class. I am really looking forward to my new box of stamps. A Muse Studio is my favorite stamp company, so I don't buy from other companies very often, but I splurged big time.

July Spotlight

I have the cutest projects all planned out for your July workshops! During the month of July only, these five stamp sets are on sale, and you can get a professionally designed paper pack! This paper pack has five gorgeous a|s colors, all perfectly coordinated, and designed to work with the sets on sale this month. I especially want to spoil my Holyoke customers this month as a thank you and a farewell for being such great friends and customers!

Have you started Halloween yet?

 These are the last of the new colors of trinket pins for my Etsy shop. Pink hearts, and pale pink, rose and green pearl pins.

I made these tags using Too Cute to Spook by A Muse Studio. This is an extremely versatile Halloween set. It has nine images, and 11 sentiments. You could literally do all of your Halloween projects with this one set. I stamped it in Charcoal Black ink and sponged the edges. These tags are ready to be attached to small treats or gifts. Fun, fast, and easy. To make them more special, use your Quickie Glue Pen to draw an hour glass on her abdomen and sprinkle some Cherry glitter on top. Instant glam and creep factor!

Can I tell you a secret? Promise not to tell! I have a big box of goodies from the new Holiday Hoopla catalog arriving on my doorstep this Friday! Be sure to check back for a preview of just a peek of the fun stuff we have for Halloween, Autumn and Christmas!

Some shabby goodness...

 I had all my Crafty Secrets stamps out the other day and made lots of shabby little tags for my shop. These will wind up in someone's antique shop, or as tags on a favor bag for a ladies' event or wedding.

 Don't ya just want to stick these on a card? I have a hard time not using all the embellishments I make before they go in my shop. This green is such a great color for summer!

 These are as easy to make as they look. They are half-size clothespins and measure  just two inches long. You can get small and mini clothespins from my A Muse Studio shop. You get 36 small ones for $3.95 and 50 mini for the same price. Now that's a lot of fun for not too much money! Check it:

	clothespins - mini
	1 inch clothespins. Adds an adorable touch to any project.  50 per pack.
	clothespins - small
	1.5 inch clothespins.  glitter, cover with washi tape, or use as is.  a great embellishment for cards, treats, and great to use with garlands. 36 per pack.

 More Crafty Secrets tags.

White Pearl Heart pins. The Little Black Dress of the Shabby Chic paper crafting set.

A special shout out and thanks to my two truest blogging friends, Amy Tsuruta and Pat Dadisman. No matter how long I go between posts, they are always there with a kind word as soon as I surface. Go see them, you won't be disappointed. Amy & Pat I hope to see you again soon!