OLW47: Sketch-o-mania

Time for a One Layer Wednesday Challenge - This week's challenge is hosted by Jennifer Styles and is a sketch challenge - I kept very closely to the sketch, used my A*Muse|Studio products and popped out this card -

 Liked it so much I popped out a whole set of these cards!!

Once you've masked an area in the center of your card, the background is easily/quickly stamped with the Darling Dots background stamp - the sentiments and label stamps are from Avian Notes.

A tried and true method of enhancing a masked area is to emboss it with a Nestabilities die (Classic Rectangles).  My husband even commented, "You sure got your money's worth out of your Cuttlebug." - so true - I did my first craft fair to earn money to buy it!!  LOVE that little guy.  Do you see the two small pieces of Washi tape on the handle?  Those come in so handy for holding the edge dies in place while cutting - that is a tip I picked up from Julie Ebersole.

The little bit of embossing helps to give the background dots some definition and makes the cutest frame for your sentiment.

YUP - a pink one - couldn't resist - it was the last one I stamped and I tried to not to do it but pink seemed like the best color to go with the other cards.  That's for you - Kim and Jen!

Here they are - happy little "Spring"-y, polka dotted cards.  Don't polka dots make you smile?
Tomorrow is the day our A*Muse|Studio web stores go live!!  I'd love it you dropped by -

CAS112 - I Thought of You Today

Today's card is a mash of two challenges - Less Is More blog's Challenge 8 (sketch challenge) along with SCS's CAS112 challenge (Cut Up Sentiments).  Look at all my white space - WHOO HOO for me!!  I have issues with letting white space "be" - usually I feel a need to tinker with it - I almost embossed it for texture but I didn't and I am happy with the results!

That little adorable flower image (Smile Inside, Lots of Dots), flower ribbon, patterned papers, twinkle stickers, Copic markers are all from A*Muse | Studio!  Paper piecing the flower really makes it stand out from the punched/stamped circle, wouldn't you agree?

PDCC #74 - Smile!

This card features a technique that is new to me - Delft Tile.  The tutorial was featured on Splitcoaststampers a few weeks ago and it intrigued me.  When the colors popped up for this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge #74 I decided to give it a whirl - Doesn't it really look like tile?  So cool -

I had a hank of purple silk ribbon and some iridescent Zva crystals to embellish this card that features stamped images/ink from A Muse | Studio (stamp sets - Hand Scripted and Ornate Elements).

Gotta dash - time to get things ready for the week and watch Celebrity Apprentice (definitely a guilty pleasure)!!

Tuesday Trigger: A Citrus Celebration (Part 2)

Couldn't resist another stab at the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger - I apparently like those colors more than I originally thought. These butterflies were made with the new A*Muse|Studio Butterfly Trio Custom dies.

This week's sketch from the Clean and Simple Stamping's blog (FTL133) was perfect for this look once it was turned on its side. After a mighty struggle with my sewing machine (we aren't always on the best of terms) I finally "pinned" these butterflies onto my card!

All supplies (paper, ink, sentiment, etc.) are from A*Muse|Studio.

WHOO HOO - this card got picked as a Trigger Target.

Tuesday Trigger: A Citrus Celebration

Tuesday Trigger time - This week's trigger took me way out of my comfort zone for sure!  WOW - bright, citrusy colors - I do like these hues but all together in one place is a bit overwhelming!!

The sketch is courtesy of Card Positioning Systems - CPS210.  Mixing gingham and polka dots together is such a fun summery look!  Look closely along the left of the card - can you see the bit of peach Washi tape?  It is so easy to work with and is sheer enough to let the pattern of the gingham show through.

All papers, ribbon, ink and stamps (Lots of dots, Marvelous Marigolds, Friend to Friend) are from A Muse Studio.  This card kinda makes me want to go eat a Creamsicle!  Yummy!

FTL132, PDCC73 - A Muse Studio Avian Notes

Once again life is conspiring against my crafty time so it will be a super quick post today!!  AARRGGHH!!  This quick creation is based on the Clean & Simple Stamping's FTL132 and the colors from the current Play Date Cafe Challenge (PDCC73).  All paper and stamps are from A Muse Studio (Avian Notes, Essential Elements and Lots of Dots).

This second card is one that made it into the A Muse Studio catalog (page 31).  What makes it extra fun is that it is made with Bermuda cardstock turned so that the color is to the inside - The front of the card is trimmed back so that the inside color shows through.  Isn't that a fun look?  So easy too when you use A Muse Studio cardstock!
If you are interested in placing an order, getting a catalog or have questions about A Muse Studio, just drop me a line at - msmathey@gmail.com

Art Journal Fun - Pear & SheArt (part 2)

Today I decided to paint a pear - There is no real reason other than the fact that I like pears - how they look, smell and taste.  I've never painted a piece of fruit before but I think I succeeded because when you look at this page you definitely get the idea -

Well, lookie there -

It's a pear!

Don't be jealous of my mad skills!  Not only am I an "artist" but I am a "poet" too!

The other day I made another SheArt girl - She is definitely better than the first one (dubbed "sparkly and fat" by my rude 14 year old son).  I'm really pleased with this dress - not just one big hunk of paper this time - an actual paper pieced skirt and a blouse with a belt and collar!  The hair is cute too!  Usually when you make these girls you write something deep and philosophical on the side - I've been forced to leave it blank because all I can think of is -

She felt awkward (for she had the shoulders of a football player but the legs of a chicken).

or

She wanted to catch a butterfly but she had no hands.

Can you come up with a better caption than that?

Less is More Challenge - "Masculine"

This week's Less is More Challenge is to make a masculine card! Cards for the males in our lives can be tricky but not with the new A Muse Studio "Hey, Man" stamp set! I asked my husband what color lounger he'd like in his virtual world - he said blue. I am not a big fan of blue which makes him so very sad since there is nothing blue in our house - nor is there a Barcalounger to be found 'round these parts.

Don't ya just dig the Grunged Sunrays?!! That stamp draws your eye directly to the focal point of this card which is the chair. The larger margin of kraft paper on the left side of the card balances out the sentiment on the right of the card. I am really tickled with how this card turned out - hope Corey enjoys his paper chair - looks comfy! All stamps/ink from A Muse Studio.

Less is More Challenge - "Off the Edge"

This card is for the Less is More blog's current "Off the Edge" challenge (make a one layer card where an image actually goes off the edge of the cardstock).  WHOO HOO for me!!  I did it!  All the images with the exception only of the sentiment go off the edge of the card. I've been struggling with the challenges from this blog and have been getting gentle reminders from Chrissie and Mandi to work on my "white space" and this time I actually accomplished it!!

Look at the fabulous A Muse Studio goodies that make up this clean & simple beauty.  The new inks are awesome.  I've never been a big fan of pigment inks in the past but these inks are so easy to work with and dry to a chalk finish in only seconds!  I've been converted!! 

The colors are courtesy of the Wplus9 Color Challenge (grey, yellow, green and white) - This is the kind of card that I can see myself making for gift sets with a variety of sentiments.  Did you see the A Muse Studio Essential Sentiments stamp set in the picture?  Crammed full of sentiments - there are a few that I will be using over and over again!  If you want to order that set, look at the catalog or book a party contact me at - msmathey@gmail.com

FTL131 - Just saying Hello

This card is based on Clean & Simple's layout for the week - I started out with totally good intentions but look - when all was said and done - not so clean and simple.

I used some fun new toys on this card - Check out the STELLA ROSE paper and doily stamps - so cute!!  The sentiment, pearls and diecut butterflies are from A Muse Studio. 

The Parisian edge punch from EKSuccess was probably the part that totally threw the CAS right out the window - couldn't possibly be the busy patterned paper coupled with doily stamps could it??!!

PDCC72

This card is based on the current Play Date Cafe color challenge (PDCC72). I like to do challenges because it is the only way that I would ever put colors like this together. This definitely isn't one of my favorite color combos but it forced me to stretch (maybe a little too much).

All products used in this card are from A Muse Studio (Just Because and Marvelous Marigolds stamp sets)!! Notice the liberal application of one of my favorite new A Muse products - Stardust Finishing Spray!! Love that stuff - a few squirts and what a huge difference!

Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger - Oh So Lovely

Time for another Tuesday Trigger!  I painted this cardfront using some of the techniques that I've picked up in Christy Tomlinson's She Art workshop -

Those flowers are so fresh and spring-y!  It got to nearly 70 degrees today - my trees are starting to bud!  Won't be long now until it will be time to enjoy the flowers (and mow the lawn).

The sentiment is from A Muse Studio's stamp set called Hand Scripted.  I was so excited to see this set- I love the look of a handwritten font mixed with type.  This set will be seeing a lot of ink!

Baby Card -

Mom needed a baby card for a shower this weekend so I dabbled in pink again.  Can you tell that the baby is going to be a girl?  They originally thought the baby was a boy and had the nursery ready but then found out otherwise!  That had to have been a big surprise!

The heart was cut with my Nestabilities dies and was made from white cardstock covered in A Muse|Studio Washi tape and Martha Stewart glitter.  Quick, fun and one of a kind!

In no time flat you can decorate your envelope with a couple strips of tape!

Mom and I ran to Books a Million today - I was flabbergasted to realize that I have projects published in three magazines right now!  WHOO HOO!!

OLW44 - Marta's Pinterest Inspires

This week's One Layer Wednesday Challenge (OLW44) is to be inspired by a pin from one of Marta Dansie's Pinterest Inspiration Boards.  If you haven't been on Pinterest before - be warned - you may not look up again for several hours and your children will need to be picked up from school, your laundry will not be folded, the floor will remain unswept and your eyes will be weary (not that that has happened to me - I am far too responsible to fritter time away on the computer).

Anyhoo - this poster caught my eye as a worthy candidate for a One Layer Wednesday interpretation.  The A Muse|Studio Tool-rific stamp set was just right to mimic this look.  Doesn't that orange pop against the A|S Bermuda paper?  Part of the sentiment was embossed in white to complete the card.

Today's handy tip - Don't have an acrylic block big enough to stamp an entire cardfront?  Just use your Cuttlebug's C plate!  Look closely and you'll see another trick - just a bit of Washi tape can easily hold your cardstock and prevent slipping when you stamp - a trick from none other than HRR Julie!  BTW - My A Muse catalogs are due to arrive tomorrow - if you can't wait to see all the wonderful A Muse goodness and want me to ship one to you just e-mail me at msmathey@gmail.com

CAS109 - Tickle your Funny Bone

This week's Clean and Simple Challenge on Splitcoaststampers is - Tickle Your Funny Bone.  There are two ways to interpret these dogs (depending on how long they've been together in  their doggie relationship).  Suppose these dogs have only been in love for a short while -

Scenario 1 -

Girl dog - "I Love You"
Boy dog - "I love you too because you are one hot dog!" (get it - hot dog? I'll wait 'til it sinks in . . .)
BUT - if these dogs have been together for some time (for the sake of argument I'll say 20 years because that's how long Corey and I have been married) the story may go more like this -

Scenario 2 -

Girl dog (named Michelle for demonstration purposes only) - "I Love You"

Boy dog (named Corey) - "I love you too - I'm hungry - I wish I had a hotdog!"

Now tell me - which scenario seems more likely??!!

All stamps, paper, twine (the whole shebang) comes from A Muse Studio!!  I have a thing for the little dogs - I made the card above - how cute is it to see a dog on a Vespa?!!  This is one of my cards that made it into the A Muse catalog!!  All it takes is a stamp positioner for your dog to go riding down the road - If you are interested in ordering this stamp set or some dies, etc. just contact me at msmathey@gmail.com

She Art - Art Journal Page -

Do you ever watch old Monty Python shows?  Remember when John Cleese would say, "Now for something completely different!" - That is exactly how I feel about my blogpost for today!  Have you ever, I mean ever, seen me do anything even remotely close to this?!

I have been taking Christy Tomlinson's She Art Workshop and I LOVE it!!  So many layers using so many products - paint, Mod Podge, patterned papers, rub-ons, glitter, old book paper, ink, Stickles, markers, doilies, stamps, computer text. . . (mom, now you know why my hands had orange paint on them today!)

If you had told me that I had this in me I'd have never believed it!  Christy actually made me feel like an artist!!  I definitely won't be tapping into this side of me everyday - it is kinda (really) messy.  Kinda of like when Bruce Banner turns into the Hulk!

The males in my family aren't sure what to make of this - My oldest said she looks "sparkly and fat" - but, of course, we know he has no taste at all!  BTW - this started as a lined piece of paper in a composition notebook - never would've guessed that would ya?