Put on your Party Hat!

Posted on May 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

tee hee…

a muse studio

This card is so cute and it came together so quickly!  I used the party hat die that comes with the candy box die set which is exclusive to a•muse studio.   It’s a perfect way to use up left overs too!  Here’s how I made it:

1.  Cut a piece of copy paper to 3 1/4 x 4 inch.

2.  Layer on four strips of 1 x 3 1/4 inch colored cardstock.

3.  Die cut image.

4.  Stamp sentiment and add baker’s twine.

5.  Pop up with 3D foam.  Done!

I can’t wait to try this with some of my other a•muse studio shapes…the heart or butterfly would be lovely, a cloud whimsical…

card supplies:  Candy Box Die TAD0037, Essential Sentiments SASU009, Polka Dot paper assortment PAPPAST, Summer paper assortment PAPSSMA, Baker’s Twine onyz RABT100, 3D foam ASFA001

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Posted in a muse studio, Essential Sentiments

CAS Thursday

Posted on May 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

a muse studio

This card is totally copied from one Lara brought to Boost DC…I so enjoyed getting together with other local a•muse studio consultants for a time of training and stamping (oh, and talking, laughing and eating!!).  I did add the leaf.  :)   I love the 4 1/4 square size…it’s nice to mix things up sometimes.

card supplies:  sky cardstock, grass cardstock/ink, button, flower die #2, Mad for Plaid and Hand Scripted

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Posted in a muse studio, Hand Scripted, Mad for Plaids

Fairy Lights

Posted on May 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

a muse studio

I know, I know!  Every month I have a favorite a•muse studio project from the Spotlight Special but this could be my all time favorite…it’s simply beautiful and I’m constantly scanning my backyard to figure out where I can string a batch for myself…now you can make your own!

Creating paper shades for fairy lights from vellum paper is easy and SO lovely!

Die cut a circle for each light.

Score lightly in half, turn, and score other half.  Then score again in middle of each segment to create 8 roughly-equal segments.

Pre-fold lightly on each score line.  While folded in half, use crop-a-dile to cut cirlce in center.

Cut along one score line to center.

Place around light, slightly overlapping vellum and adhere with glue dot.

a|s supplies: vellum paper spellbinders classic scallop circles small (largest) crop-a-dile score board scoring tool glue dots (to adhere)
other: string of lights

PS.  Did you get my latest newsletter?  In there I featured the colorful and inexpensive coasters that you can make at home as well.  Sign up today for my monthly newsletter if you don’t get!  :)

a muse studio

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Posted in a muse studio

Homemade Cheese!

Posted on May 14, 2012 | 3 Comments

Who would’ve known you could do this at home?  I received a lovely surprise package from my sister this weekend…for Mother’s Day.  She had a feeling that if she didn’t send something, the day would come and go like any other for me…so true!  I can’t wait to try making some mozzarella and I’ll be sure to let you know of my results!  In fact, later this week I plan on sharing some of my baking Pinterest successes.  Thanks Jens!!

And now for our fussy cutting Amusing Challenge winners!

Amusing Challenges

7.  Cindy Groh

Amusing Challenges

4.  Debra Miller

6.  Alyce

11.  Allison

Thanks to everyone who played along…hope you’ll join me this week with my flowers theme!

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Posted in Amusing Challenges

Amusing Challenge

Posted on May 13, 2012 | 1 Comment

First of, let me wish all the moms and grandmothers out there a very Happy Mother’s Day!

Each Sunday I’ll be having a different type challenge – but over a month you will see:  “use it”, theme, color or a sketch challenge.   This week’s Amusing Challenge is a theme:  flowers!  Perfect for Mother’s Day, right?!  And, the random winner this month will receive a prize package of 10 sheets of polka dot paper – each a different color!

My card was inspired by a color combo that I’ve seen a couple of times recently.  The Papaya and Slate are beautiful and elegant together, I think.  This is really a quick and easy card to make.  I used Floral Duets (yes, again!) and I find that I grab it often.  Having a bold and line image, in two sizes, makes this a perfect stamp set!  The a•muse studio inks have such a great look, if you don’t have any yet, they are on sale this month for 20% off so it’s the perfect time to try one or two…or get a few!

a muse studio

The next card is from Cyndi – I love this Damask Shimmer paper from a•muse studio and find it stunning in black!  Essential Sentiments always has the perfect saying for any cardmaking situation…

a muse studio

Juliet made a beautiful wreath by stamping Clever Girls over and over again in different inks and then punching them all out … which beats all that fussy cutting!  Fussy cutting was last week’s challenge so be sure to stop by tomorrow to see our winner and top three!

a muse studio

It’s super easy to play along with Amusing Challenges:

  • Link your creation to your blog, gallery (SCS or Flicker, to name a few) before midnight of the following Sunday.
  • Use any product but please follow the challenge criteria.
  • Double your chances to win by using a•muse studio products (just link in twice please)
  • Please tell your friends about my challenge – I’ll be sure to visit each entry by the following Monday!



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Posted in Essential Sentiments, Floral Duets, Hand Scripted, Mad for Plaids

Fussy Cutting

Posted on May 11, 2012 | 1 Comment

I love that word…it’s so silly.  Cyndi has a card to share for this week’s Amusing Challenge – you have until Sunday midnight to still enter yourself!  Just pop on over to Sunday’s post or click on the sidebar…

I love that little flower gem she added to the elephant’s blanket…and the dusting of glitter and sparkle.  Cyndi always has so many great details on her cards!

a muse studio

If you live close by and have some free time, I having a card class featuring Under the Big Top from a•muse studio.   We’ll be making 5 different cards – no clowns!  :)   Times are Thursday, 17 May 12:30-2:30 or Tuesday, 22 May 10-12.

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Posted in a muse studio, Amusing Challenges, Under the Big Top

CAS Thursday

Posted on May 10, 2012 | 3 Comments

a muse studio

Today’s card was a struggle.  I like how the panel turned out…I black embossed Sunny Side of Life from a•muse studio on watercolor paper.  {Hint:  Use your static magic!  I was too lazy to grab it and now I have lots of little flecks… }  Then I randomly scribbled on different hues of yellow and orange tombow markers working from lightest (bottom of panel) to darkest.  After that I spritzed it with a water bottle and then just finished blending the colors with a water brush.

That was easy.  The hard part – making a card that looked okay!  :)   This is my third (and final, sorry!) attempt…

a muse studio stamps

 I’d love to hear what you would do with this panel/card – leave me a comment with some advice.  I can take it, honest!

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Posted in a muse studio, Sunny Side of Life

Mother’s Day collage

Posted on May 8, 2012 | 2 Comments

Once again I was inspired by a card I saw elsewhere – so often that’s my springboard to get creating.  Often, they end up quite a bit different but it’s nice to kick start the creative juices once in a while.  :)   Here’s my inspiration piece – it’s gorgeous!

a muse studio

I piled on a lot of different stamps for this card, including one retired stamp from The Angel Company.  a•muse studio stamps include:  Sunny Side of Life, Essential Sentiments, Ornate Elements, Lots of Dots, Beautiful Botanicals 2.  Versamark ink was too light on the kraft and in the end I went with my Haystack Palette ink…

a muse studio

The flowers actually turned out prettier than I expected.  Intially I stamped them in Shell ink but that was too faint so I stamped once more with Bubblegum  ink.  That’s what I love about a•muse studio stamps – even though they are not clear, I can reline them up and placement is almost perfect because the image is indexed for you when you buy them.  You pop them out of the container and they are ready to go!

One last shameless plug – a•muse studio inks are on sale this month for 20% off so if you want to give a few colors a try, it’s the perfect time!

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Posted in a muse studio, Beautiful Botanicals, Essential Sentiments, Lots of Dots, Ornate Elements, Sunny Side of Life

Boost! DC…

Posted on May 7, 2012 | 4 Comments

I had a wonderful day on Saturday getting together with Lara from a•muse studio and 3 other lovely ladies.  We had a great day of training and stamping so I am fired up!  Don’t be surprised if you get a call or email from me checking if you are ready to throw a party and be a hostess!  :)

a muse studio

Here is one of the cards we made – I love it.  It’s cute and fun…these balloons are from the set, Under the Big Top and use copic markers, a colorless blender and crystal clear glaze.

By the way, I’m teaching a class using a•muse studio’s Under the Big Top on Thursday, 17 May and Tuesday, 22 May if you are local.  It’s just $5 for the class and we’re making 5 unique cards.

Drum roll please… It’s time for the Amusing Challenge winners!  Please feel free to grab these badges and post them on your blog

Amusing Challenges

Congrats to 7. Zehra

Amusing Challenges

This was incredibly hard to pick! If I had a top 5 button, I would’ve grabbed it for sure this week…thank you to everyone who played along.

15.  An

32 Peggy R

54. Janiel

And the grand prize winner for this month’s raffle for $5 to my webstore is:  Zehra so please contact me on how to claim your gift certificate.

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Posted in a muse studio, Under the Big Top

Amusing Challenges

Posted on May 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

Thanks to EVERYONE who played along this past week!  wowser…I still have a few more entries to visit and I’ll be posting the winner tomorrow.

This week’s Amusing Challenge is to do some “fussy cutting”.  Each Sunday I’ll be having a different type challenge – but over a month you will see:  “use it”, theme, color or a sketch challenge.   This month’s prize is 10 sheets of polka dot paper – each a different color!

My card features Rock Star from a•muse studio.  I cut out the two guitars and just layered them on my card…I think it’s a great teen card and it’s easy to mail!  I used the Vintage Label dies for the black oval to “ground” the guitars and the tag was just hand cut.

a muse studio

 It’s super easy to play along with Amusing Challenges:

  • Link your creation to your blog, gallery (SCS or Flicker, to name a few) before midnight of the following Sunday.
  • Use any product but please follow the challenge criteria.
  • Double your chances to win by using a•muse studio products (just link in twice please)
  • Please tell your friends about my challenge – I’ll be sure to visit each entry by the following Monday!
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Posted in a muse studio, Amusing Challenges, Rock Star

Text and Tulle

Posted on May 4, 2012 | 2 Comments

Since I run my own challenges, I thought it would be fun to play along with some one else’s!  I spotted a fun challenge, Text and Tulle, over on City Crafter Challenge blog.  I’m crazy for anything with “text” in it and have a shopping bag stuffed with tulle…good time to use it!

What I was most excited to use was my a•muse studio swallow die.  This was the first die I bought, over 6 months ago, but I just now finally used it!  I love the elegant shape of it and I think it’s terrific paired with peeled cardboard and the text scallops.

a muse studio

a•muse studio products:  swallow die set, scallop border die set, circle nestabilities die, french roast and vanilla cardstock  other:  book text, tulle, cardboard, shell button, twine

I hope you like this as much as I do!

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Posted in a muse studio

CAS Thursday

Posted on May 3, 2012 | 1 Comment

I have had a hard time “resisting” the resist technique this week! Wow…that was a tongue twister. :)

a muse studio

This is the kind of card my Mom will love. I’m putting together a package of cards to give to her for Mother’s Day. I clear embossed the leaf image from the Friend to Friend stamp set and then used my old cut up sponges to add some Distress inks. Of course I think the Woodgrain Embossing plate {also from a•muse studio} adds just a hint of something extra and still keeps it clean and simple!

I hope you like it too!

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Posted in a muse studio, Friend to Friend

May Spotlight Special

Posted on May 2, 2012 | Leave a comment

Some of our most popular stamp sets from a•muse studio are marked 10% off this month!  And…all a•muse studio ink pads (ie. from our winter, spring, fall and summer collections – plus neutrals!) are 20% off!!  Now is a great time to pick some up to give them a try – or, add to your collection! :)

a muse studio

Be sure to sign up for my newsletter if you don’t already get it! I’ll be featuring one of this month’s studio projects. Easy, pretty and inexpensive coasters. I’m thinking Mother’s Day, teacher gifts or a hostess thank you!

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Posted in Uncategorized

Inspired by {squared}

Posted on May 1, 2012 | 6 Comments

:)   I was blog surfing and found a lovely card on Paula Tracy’s blog who in turn said she was inspired by a technique she found on Betsy Veldman’s blog.  Thus, inspired by {squared}!

a muse studio

I took watercolor paper and white embossed my image.  The idea was to add distress inks in big swoops not really worrying about staying inside the lines…but I only have 2!  The green caused me some problems, and probably shows!  I tried a Hero Arts shadow ink – probably over 8 years old – and that just did not work.  Next I tried watering down some Tombow marker and sponged it on.  Much better.  Lastly, I took a water bottle and just spritzed all over the paper until it was really wet and the colors began to puddle.  Let it air dry, or if you are very impatient, hit it with a heat gun.  I pressed it under a stack of magazines overnight to get it to lie flat.

a muse studio

a muse studio:  Floral Duets, Friend to Friend and white embossing powder other: CB embossing folder, DCWV cardstock, watercolor paper, Distress inks and Tombow markers, water spritzer and twill – recycled from some packaging!

Thanks for visiting today.  PS.  I’m so excited about how many folks are participating this week in my Amusing Challenges…wow, wow, wow!  And, thanks for the great feedback on my first ever video.

 

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Posted in a muse studio, Floral Duets, Friend to Friend

Amusing Challenges

Posted on April 28, 2012 | 5 Comments

Phew…we’re back for a fifth Sunday of Amusing Challenges here in April!  So let’s make it a fun one and say “anything goes”.

Normally I have a set challenge each week and over a month you will see:  “use it”, theme, color or a sketch challenge.   This month’s prize is a $5 gift certificate to be used on my website!  I’m looking forward to seeing your great entries and visiting your blog or gallery – I’m always so inspired!

Juliet is back this week and I love her Beautiful Botanicals 2 card.  She was surprised by the results when she stamped this bold leaf on a linen textured paper…but loved it so much (and so do I) that she added just a small sentiment on vellum not to detract from the image.  What a great color scheme too!

a muse studio

For my card I was inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest.  That version used butterflies but I thought Floral Duets would be perfect here.  All of my products are from a•muse studio, including that fun button from their collection of “not your grandma’s buttons”.  I really need to pull out my sewing machine and try stitching on paper (did you miss last week’s post on that failed attempt?  I added some great helpful hints that I found on the web!) but I “cheated” and just did some paper piecing and then ran a blue colored pencil across the holes.

a muse studio

It’s super easy to play along with Amusing Challenges:

  • Link your creation to your blog, gallery (SCS or Flicker, to name a few) before midnight of the following Sunday.
  • Use any product but please follow the challenge criteria.
  • Double your chances to win by using a•muse studio products (just link in twice please)
  • Please tell your friends about my challenge – I’ll be sure to visit each entry by the following Monday!
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Posted in a muse studio, Amusing Challenges, Beautiful Botanicals, Essential Sentiments, Floral Duets