3 Challenge Baby Boy card!!!

WHOO HOO - This card covers three different challenges! First one is the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger challenge that was inspired by a card from Paper Crafts Card Creations, Volume 8.

The second challenge is from Papercraft's Go to Gal, Teri Anderson Playing with Paint Challenge. Back at the end of April I decided to paint some old book paper and had lots of fun. It is a good idea when you are making a mess anyway to paint extra paper to have to play with later - that's what I did and now I still have a little pile of painted paper in my craft supplies.

The last challenge is the Just Us Girls #35 Dry Embossing. Did you know that they call these JUGS challenges? Cracks me up!! I used dry embossing on the kraft paper background. It was just the little something extra that finished up this cute card!

This the last day of May and I actually posted everyday this month!! I can't believe it - I've never done that before and I can't guarantee that I'll do it again soon but it was fun!!

Music Fills the Heart -

Sometimes I am CAS for the longest time then out of nowhere lots of froufrou starts popping up! This card gives ample proof of that - lots of glitter, silk ribbon, steel stamping, Zva pearls, vintage music paper, etc. It was so fun to make!!

Mass Production - Part 1

Got to stamp with my girlfriends today! We have so much fun when we get together - we try to do it every month and we have managed to for the past 3 months! It is hard with varying schedules to get it done sometimes but it is so worth it when we do! Today I wanted to make several cards as a gift set - I managed to make 12 cards! Haven't done that in ages!

To start, I decided to gather up some pretty goodies to work with - some beautiful Cosmo Cricket and A Muse patterned papers, ribbon, twine, buttons, old book paper, punches, wood veneer paper, etc. It is hard sometimes to know what to bring when you stamp outside your own space so if you have a "family" of matching items to work with things turn out better than when you grab stuff "hodgepodge" and then wish you'd brought other things (how do I know this - I've done it dozens of times!!)

Here is my first set of finished cards! LOVE how kinda rustic and vintage they look. That bird punch from SU! is so easy to work with - QUICK tip - the sentiment on these cards is from Papertrey Ink. Clear stamps are easily bent when you apply them to the stamp block - see how the words follow the curve of the tree branch?

All White - Sketch #3

How about an all white card?! I haven't done anything like this in a long time - I recently acquired the Slice Basics 2 card and was in the mood to cut out some flowers. After glittering them up, I layered them onto a base that was embossed with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder. The ribbon and sentiment are from A Muse. Layout is courtesy of the Go-to Sketches Challenge #3 from Paper Crafts. Hope you have a great day!!

A Muse - I'd be lost without you!!

One of my most favorite A Muse Stamps has always been Birds on a Wire (2-4103C) because they are just so stinking adorable!! For our last day of Fun in the Sun cards I wanted to feature these sweet birds. As a change I embossed with my Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder and sanded afterwards to show the white core of the cardstock. Some people sand ALL the time (Becky Rusher) and it looks great - it is just one of those things that I never think to do - - -

The cuteness factor is played up even more with a close up - notice how these little chickies are sparkly courtesy of the Clear Spica pen. PLUS another favorite tip I have is how much depth is added by a little shadowing underneath the birds and wires with a W2 Copic Grey marker! This fun layout is courtesy of the Get Sketchy blog - #39.

A Muse - Special Teacher

A special teacher deserves a blue ribbon, doncha think??!! This fun "apple" medallion was made from A Muse Ocean Shimmer Couture Paper - Adds a fancy shimmer that reminds me of satin ribbon. The apple (Martha Stewart punch) is shimmery too -If you look really closely you will see that I stamped the A Muse Solid Apple in red all over the background. I meant it to be subtle but not THAT subtle. My favorite part is that the ribbon is attached with temporary glue dots so that it is easily removed and can be placed upon your favorite teacher!! Do you want to make a blue ribbon for your teacher? I adapted it from this tutorial. . .

A Muse - Fun in the "Sun"

There is very little left of the school year here - you know you are at the end when it is time for Field Day. Today was VERY hot - over 90 degrees. One good thing is that I was assigned to help man the popcorn/drink table. It was in the cafeteria so it was cooler but was a very busy job as the sweaty kiddos kept pouring in in waves looking for snacks/drinks. It was hot as blazes which gave me the idea of a card just covered in suns! That would be "a warm hello" indeed!
Make sure and check out all the fun A Muse summer cards! ALL stamps, ink, paper, ribbon and twinkle stickers are from A Muse! The layout of this card is courtesy of Card Positioning Systems Sketch #168.

A Muse - Fun in the Sun!

There are several things that I love about summer and one of my favorites is the aroma of food cooking on a grill - the only thing better is the smell of Corey cooking food on OUR grill! Several tasty morsels have been served up for our pleasure already this year. Yesterday afternoon, Corey grilled up steaks for us, cheeseburgers for the boys and mussels for us all to share! YUMMERS!! This CAS card featuring A Muse stamps makes me hungry for more!

Stamps - A Muse 2-7055C Grill, 8-8562B A warm hello, Essential Ovals set (clear stamp set)

Ink - Momento dye ink ink Tuxedo Black and New Sprout

Paper - White and kraft

Accessories - Nestabilities rectangle die and fine tipped marker (for outlining), Copic markers

Embellished Butterfly

I "heart" this card! LOOK! I crocheted a flower with embroidery thread - Doesn't it look like the butterfly was so enamored with this bloom that she had to swoop in and check it out before flying away?! Most people put bright, airy colors with butterflies so this challenge from Embellishmagazine.com's using kraft, green and black may have been challenging to a lot of people but was right up my alley!
The stamps and patterned papers come from A Muse, the pearls are from Zva, edge punch from SU! Instructions for the crocheted flower come from PTI's own Nichole Heady.

A Day of Firsts -

Today was a fun day of firsts -
First time teaching A Muse classes at the Doodlebug in Jasper, Indiana.
First time teaching two classes in one day (once I taught 3 classes in 4 days but this was easier).
First time teaching some great new students!
Thanks to you ladies that made my firsts so enjoyable!! Hope to see you again soon!

Caardvarks - Hello!

Another foray into my new Citrus Stack of DCWV paper yielded up another bright card!! I used the other Caardvarks sketch for May. It is hard to tell from this picture that most of these papers are glittered! FUN!

I punched out the flower and stapled some PTI ribbon "leaves" onto the back - Fun, quick way to make leaves that are kinda different from the norm. Do you see the gleam on the stamped panel from spraying it with my Perfect Pearls mini mister? Sentiment from A Muse.

Bonjour - Leaf Frond II

LOTS of rich goodness going on with this card. Gold silk ribbon, Perfect Pearls in Pewter and Antique Gold, old book paper and Zva Pearls. The stamped image and sentiment are from the new A Muse Everything's Rosy release - I've been grabbing those images left and right it seems - they are so beautiful and perfect for just about anything -
Perfect Pearls are a little tricky to get pictures of - so shimmery in real life although they look kinda dark in the picture. The red frame was cut with a Nestabilities die and the black edge was done with my EKSuccess Scalloped Scallop Edge punch. I recently bought several lengths of "scrap" silk on Ebay so that's why this luscious ribbon has shown up on so many cards lately. Silk ties so beautifully making a tight knot but fluffing out so nicely! Wish I could afford it in every color!!
BTW - thought I'd post a link to a video I really like from Jennifer Maguire - Favorite Tools. I have some of them - I really love my ink blending tool (used it on this card) and craft mat. I am really wanting some of the Tim Holtz Alterations dies!! PLUS that Fiskars Premium Paper Trimmer has my heart all aflutter - the idea of being to cut up to 6" without having to drag out that measuring arm is wonderful!!

Flutterby Flock and class peek

I can create with color - go figure!! I was so attracted to the Citrus Stack of paper by DCWV that it made its way home with me - some of the paper is even glittered!! This layout is courtesy of Card Patterns Sketch 64. The stamped images (Flutterby Flock and A Warm Hello) are by A Muse.

When you look closely at the butterfly panel you see lots of yummy shimmer - that came from misting the main panel with a Ranger Mini Mister filled with water and a small scoop of white Perfect Pearls. A little bit of Stickles adds dimension and glitter to the butterflies. Speaking of fun glitter -

This is one of the cards we will be making in the A Muse Everyday Greetings class this Saturday at the Doodlebug in Jasper, IN. Want a peek at another card?

Give the Doodlebug a call and register - I'd love to see you there!

Paper Crafts - Phone Book Challenge

Recently, Jessica Witty issued a Phone Book Challenge on the papercraftsconnection blog. I'd been thinking for a few days about what kind of card to make. I was thinking vintage phone pic but hadn't found quite what I was looking for until yesterday when I stumbled across this downloadable gem on the Green Paper site. She is demonstrating the proper posture and demeanor for a responsible, sedate phone conversation. . .

"Hello Operator - I just found the best sale at the mercantile on gewgaws - you'd better hurry before Matilda gets down there and buys them all up!"

Don't ya just love all those gewgaws hanging from her waist?! Bet she couldn't sneak up on ya! This layout is from the Caardvarks site - another new challenge site for me! This is one of those very rare cards (for me) that has no rubberstamping on it - Have to wonder what this lady would think of cell phones - I think she'd add it to her gewgaw collection!! hee hee

FTL90 - Flutterby Flock

LOOK at the beautiful Flutterby Flock (A Muse 9-4178M)!! Stamped in SU! inks - and kissed with the A Muse Marigold stamp to add texture. The pearls and sentiment are from A Muse too!! I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to selectively stamp the butterflies exactly where I wanted them to be. This card layout is based on the FTL90 from the Clean and Simple blog; the colors came from the W plus 9 Color Cue- This is my first time playing with one of their monthly color challenges - the longer I do challenges the more I find out there - FUN!

Wish you were here . . .

Today I have a quick fun card - Love the Zva Pearls in this champagne color - so pretty! Another puffy bookprint flower and more Basic Grey Offbeat paper. I think I went a little "left heavy" with this card but they all can't be winners, right?? Sentiment by A Muse.

Steel Stamped A Muse

WHOO HOO! I love this card so much - Such a clean, graphic, easy way to express thanks for a great meal! I stamped the A Muse Flatware image (2-7195E) in Staz-On black ink onto a 4b size kraft notecard (kinda looks like a stamp - you know the wooden block with the black image on the back - no wonder I love it - what's more beautiful than a rubber stamp?) The metal piece is cut from Quickutz Metal sheets and stamped with my steel stamps.
Had so much fun with the first card that I made a second one - this one features the A Muse Flutterby stamp (9-4177F). Now I've got all kinds of ideas about A Muse solid stamp images to use - Small Chrysanthemum, Maple Leaf Solid, Damask Solid, Solid Apple, etc.
I trimmed a hair off the bottom of the card and added the scalloped trim with an EKSuccess Edge Punch. I thought it kinda grounded the black but I also think these cards would've been great even without that touch but I have a hard time leaving things "well enough alone" so I added it. That's why I will never be Susan Raihala but I had fun trying! Well, that and the part where Susan likes to use bright colors and I'm boring in the color world. Hope you are having a great day!

CPS166 - Hello Blooms

Wouldn't you love getting a "Hello" card in the mail? There is nothing like seeing your name handwritten on the outside of an envelope to make a person smile! This soft, pretty card is based on Sketch 166 from the Card Positioning Systems Blog. The stamped images are from A Muse's new Everything's Rosy release.

I love the touch that the silk ribbon makes. Quick layout tip - if you have a big bow that doesn't quite seem to fit don't be afraid to use a circle punch to snip a little out of your main panel. Adds "breathing room" for your ribbon and a fun element to your card. Have a great day!

CP63 - Leaf Frond Shimmer

I was looking around on Design Sponge yesterday when the picture below caught my eye - Can you guess which element jumped out at me?! I instantly thought A Muse shimmer paper and the new Leaf Frond II stamp! The layout is courtesy of Sketch 63 from the Card Patterns blog. Recognize that patterned paper? I got one step closer to my goal of using every pattern on the Offbeat 6x6 Basic Grey paperdeck - there are a couple left that are a bit more tricky to me but I am up to challenge!

Keep your eyes open to things that could "jumpstart" your creativity! It will give you a push in the right direction - and that's more than half the battle, right?

2S4Y52 - Bursting Blooms Hello

This card is based on Sketch 52 from the 2 Sketches 4 You blog. I used all 5 of my EKSuccess Edge punches on some Thin Cherry Real Wood paper from Creative Imaginations that I picked up at the Doodlebug. The main image is Bursting Blooms from A Muse and is inked in Pear Tart ink and edged in Real Cocoa. It is a pretty simple card but the layers add some whimsey - doncha think?
Stamps - A Muse 9-4175L Bursting Blooms, 9-8635B Hello
Ink - Momento Dye Ink in Pear Tart and Rich Cocoa, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Peeled Paint
Paper - Real Wood Thin Cherry Veneer paper
Accessories - A Muse French Roast Sheer Ribbon, EKSuccess Edge Punches, Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Stickles. Inkssentials Ink Blending Foam tool
BTW - My first classes at the Doodlebug are coming up next Saturday, 5/22

SSSC68/Embellish - Follow Your Dreams

This card is based on the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #68 and Embellish Magazine Color Challenge with Dimension. I decided to make a masculine card - Can you imagine using this as a graduation card? Not the typical one but that's why I like it- I used the Tim Holtz Sprocket Gears I've had stashed away for some time.

The sentiment and diecut is from PTI and popped up on dimensionals. The patterned paper is from Basic Grey's Offbeat Collection.

FTL89 - Masked Grateful

This card is based on Clean & Simple Stamping's FTL89. I stayed really neutral with this card with the browns and black. The flowers were cut with my Slice from the La Creme matstack. Stamped sentiment is from Papertrey Ink.
I used my new Tim Holtz Mask and Antique Linen Distress ink applied with a Judikins Color Duster for the background. Then I antiqued the edge with the foam tool and Frayed Burlap Distress Ink. Makes a soft, elegant, aged background - kinda cool!

Moxie Fab World - Tuesday Trigger

Time for another Moxie Fab World - Tuesday Trigger Challenge! I am not much of a pink person so I kept it to a minimum on my card but I LOVE green - the paper and sentiment are from Papertrey Ink.
I made more of the crinkly book paper flowers - so fun to make and these have an extra touch - Jenni Bowlin tulle ribbon that I picked up at the Doodlebug. Lots of dimension - not sure how I would mail something like this - bubble mailer, maybe? Don't ya love how puffy the tulle makes the flowers?!! My mom is not a lover of tulle like me so I know she's shuddering as she reads this - hee hee!

CPS - Queen Anne's Lace Hello

This card is based on this week's sketch at Card Positioning Systems. There was a lot of white space on the left of the main image that I didn't know what to do with - scalloping the left side of the brown layer and then adding the tiny brackets of work print helped to balance the weight of the buttons on the right side -

Don't know if I will ever get my fill of the new A Muse Everything's Rosy stamps - aren't they gorgeous?!

Stamps - A Muse 9-4183L Queen Anne's Lace, 9-8635B Hello fl

Ink - Momento Dye ink in Rich Cocoa

Paper - Basic Grey Archaic 6x6 pad

Accessories - PTI buttons and silk ribbon, EKSuccess edge punch, vintage book paper, corner chomper

Teacher Appreciation -

This is Teacher Appreciation Week - A Muse Instructors - Geeta, Jennie and Lori have shared some great ideas all week long - I linked up to my favorites of their posts but be sure and check out all their many great ideas. Here's what I made for my son's 3rd grade teachers -
I made each gift "color matchy" - FUN! Each gift consists of a post-it holder, two personalized pads of "from the desk of" (40 sheets each) and a mechanical pencil.
The post-its are made of 4" square chipboard coasters that I've had in my stash forever - the outsides are decorated with adorable A Muse Kitchen and Yellow Petite Gingham paper, stamps and ribbon - the inside is full of colorful flowers, a matching post-it pad and flags. Do you see where Caleb signed his name?
Simply packaged up in glassine bags (PTI) with a quick topper made with A Muse paper, stamps and a Martha Stewart punch.
These were so fun to make - it isn't too late for teacher gifts - if you are interested in me making some personalized notepads for your teacher drop me a quick e-mail at msmathey@gmail.com
Did you realize that I opened a Zibbet shop? The link is in the right column -