A Musing Spring Greetings!!

Spring is finally arriving in these parts!! So lovely outside - it was hard to be inside on such pretty days but making bright, cheery spring cards was lots of fun!!

Pics from my backyard!!

A Musing Spring Cards - Sneak Peek!

Tomorrow I'll be teaching the first "A Musing Spring Cards" class - here is one of the cards we will be making - I still have openings for Friday night's class - call Kim if you want to join us!

Ever since I saw the sentiment, "Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come" I've been wanting to put a bird in the tree - The little tab slides in and out from behind the tree panel. Interactive cards are always fun, right?
Stamps - A Muse 2-TREISM – Tree 1 (clear stamps), 2-4075A Tiny Bird
Ink - Momento dye ink in Rich Cocoa
Paper - A Muse 4b notecard in Robin's Egg Blue, Bella Blvd. Swing into Spring - Little Buds
Accessories - A Muse Sheer Ribbon in French Roast, Copic Markers, silver eyelets, corner rounder punch, fine tip marker

Newly Hatched - amuse bouche - Part 3

Both our children are boys so when I see a "baby" stamp I naturally gravitate to making a boy card. I'm really enjoying the new Juliette papers - I used them on each of the amuse bouches. This time the added detail to both cards is AIRBRUSHING!!! We learned how to airbrush as part of our Copic certification but I hadn't done much of it since then. This was really fun - once you've stamped, cut out and embossed your image with your Nestabilities die you leave the paper in the die while you airbrush. That is what leaves the narrow white edge.
I decided to go all "girly" on the next card so I used a scalloped die and loads of pink paper.

I'm definitely going to start airbrushing more in the future!!

Stamps - A Muse 2-3124D Bouncing baby, 9-8554C Babies are
Ink - Momento Dye in Tuxedo Black

Paper - A Muse Juliette paper in Sky Blue and Popsicle Pink

Accessories - A Muse Sheer Ribbon in White, Nestabilities Classic and Scalloped Rectangles, Copic Markers, airbrush kit, A Muse Twinkle stickers, pearls

Newly Hatched - amuse bouche - Part 2

Time for another sneak peek of the new A Muse stamps!! This time I used the Dandelion stamp embossed on white against kraft paper to alter a notebook from Michael's. I really like how this turned out!! Naturally, I used my Nestabilities to cut out and "nest" my layers.
My parents host "family night" every Thursday. We take the kiddos to play with their cousins and we all enjoy a wonderful meal. My mom is constantly topping her last effort - here is what I mean. Last night was no exception - wish I had thought to take a picture of the Lemon Cake she whipped up (she even made up the recipe). Glad I had made this little notebook to give her as a token of our endless appreciation for all she does! A notebook is no good without a matching card.
After I made the notebook for mom I thought that this would also make an excellent teacher gift. Now that Connor is in 6th grade he likes a more mature looking gift and I thought that this might fill the bill -
I really like how sophisticated this turned out -

Stamps - A Muse 2-4146E Dandelion, 9-8558B Home is, 9-8244B Just because, 8-8455B For a special teacher
Ink - Momento Dye in Rich Cocoa, Versamark Ink

Paper - A Muse Juliette paper in Sky Blue and Latte, kraft paper

Accessories - A Muse Sheer Ribbon in White, Nestabilities, buttons, heat gun, white embossing powder and dimensionals

Newly Hatched - amuse bouche - Part 1

I am so excited about the new A Muse Release - Newly Hatched!! I've been stamping up a storm and I actually will have "3" amuse bouche to share with you over the next few days!!! The baby stamp has got to be my favorite of the new releases! SO CUTE and the sentiments are perfect to go with it. It is so easy to use and color - LOOK - I made a bib!!
I used my Classic and Scallop Circle Nestabilities to make the bib and paper pieced the baby's diaper with the new Juliette Paper - so soft and pretty. I even stamped on the inside.

Then I decided to make a onesie card - Lauren Meador designed these cards last year and they are so cute!

Then in a flash of brilliance I realized that the bib would fit on the onesie!!! How stinkin' cute is that??!! (if I say so myself!!) I patted myself on the back and then toddled off to bed.

Stamps - A Muse 2-3124D Bouncing baby, 9-8557B Hey Baby!

Ink - Momento Dye in Tuxedo Black and Bamboo Leaves
Paper - A Muse Juliette paper in Sage
Accessories - A Muse Sheer Ribbon in White, Nestabilities, Copic Markers, Crop-a-dile, silver eyelets, Scor-pal, punches and dimensionals

Why I "heart" A Muse!!

I was working on samples for my class next month (A Musing Acetate) and had a stamped piece laying rejected on the table (rejected cause the rock 'n roll technique wasn't as visible as it was in later attempts). In less than 5 minutes I was able to layer, punch and glue my way to a super cute card!!

Think Simple - Think A Muse!!

Stamps - A Muse 3-8039B Thanks script, 2-4134G Solid Zinnia, 2-4133E Open Zinnia, 2-4140C Eucalyptus
Ink - Momento Dye in Summer Sky, Bamboo Leaves, Rosebud, Ladybug and Rich Cocoa
Paper - A Muse 4b notecard in Sage, Popsicle Pink, dark brown paper from some scraps.
Accessories - Fiskars Threading Water Punch

A Musing Fun Folds - Encore

Mic says one day - "Michelle, it's too bad I missed the A Musing Fun Folds class - wonder if you will do it again?"
I say - "Sure Mic - just get 6 people together and I'll do a private class for you - it will be a blast!"
Mic says - "I'm not sure if I can get 6 together but I'll do my best."
WELL - Mic corralled 12 people!! We had such a fun time - this is a great group of ladies to stamp with!!

A Musing Spring Cards - Sneak Peek!

I think the Snail and Snail Mail sentiment are so cute! I used my W2 Copic Grey marker to make the snail trail and then covered it with Stickles! Quick and fun. We will make 5 bright and cheery spring cards this month - Stay tuned for more sneak peeks the closer we get to this class!!
Stamps - A Muse 2-3113C Snail, 88539B Snail Mail
Ink - Momento Dye in Tuxedo Black
Paper - A Muse 4b notecard Buttercup and Green Madeira
Accessories - A Muse Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon in Palm, Star Dust Stickles, Small Scalloped Square Nestabilites, Copic Markers, pop dots