Everything's Rosy - Moxie Fab

Today is the last day of the A Muse Everything's Rosy peeks! I've had such a fun time making cards with these stamps - so easy and effortless. The last day is Designer's choice so I used the Leaf Frond II to make this card for the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger Challenge. I do the Trigger Challenges a lot but this one is special because the trigger came from my good friend Veronica Ramsey (her peeps call her Roni)!!
I just had to put all my cards out on the table and take a pic of all their floral goodness! Can't wait to design a class around these wonderful stamps - in fact, I plan to do so in June. Have you noticed in the sidebar that I will be teaching at the Doodlebug in Jasper, IN starting this month? Hannah and Melanie are great and their store is chock full of wonderful papercrafting goodness! They've been in business for 8 years and I know that many of you have already visited their store - I hope to see you there!!

Everything's Rosy - Day 1

HOORAY - the time has come to start unveiling all the beautiful new stamps from the Everything's Rosy stamp release! I am in LOVE with these beautiful stamps - This first card features a BIG stamp - Marigold. A clean and simple design like this one is super fast to produce and makes you want to make more -
How about three more? I scalloped the bottom front of the card to break up the "white space" just a hair and added a strip of white paper behind. Did I mention that this is a BIG stamp?
Told ya!! Can't wait to be having lots of fun with this stamp! The possibilities are endless! Hope you "Have a beautiful day."
Stamps - A Muse Marigold 9-4185N. 9-8630C Beautiful day fl
Ink - New Sprout, Bahama Blue, Rosebud, Cantaloupe, Tuxedo Black Momento Dye Ink
Paper - A Muse Latte 4b notecards, Watermelon, Sage Green, Buttercup, Robin's Egg Blue
Accessories - A Muse clear Twinkle stickers, SU! Edge punch

A Muse Bouche - Part IV

Today's theme is Elegant Sea-Themed Greeting. The new Coral stamp makes that an easy task. First, stamp with Ladybug Momento ink, then stamp again (I used a stamp positioner to line things up) with a gluepad, then add glitter. Super sparkly coral - super quick!!
I paired the coral with the new Seahorse stamp - colored with Copics and popped up with dimensionals - The A Muse twinkle stickers are a "must have" with these great sea images!

The coral is stamped on watercolor paper which adds a fun texture to a CAS card layout -I've been really enjoying all the sneak peeks of these versatile images! Haven't you?

BTW - Did you realize that the seahorse is the only creature in the animal kingdom in which the males have babies??!! Wouldn't that make life easier if humans did that too??!!

Stamps - A Muse 6-3145C Sea horse, 6-4171J Coral, 8-8347B Just a Note

Ink - Momento Dye Ink in Ladybug and Tuxedo Black

Paper - White and black cardstock, watercolor paper

Accessories - A Muse Sheer White Polka Dotted Ribbon, Tsukineko Essential Glue Pad, Art Institute Glitter, A Muse twinkle stickers, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Copic markers

A Muse Bouche - Part III

Ready for another peek at the A Muse Sea of Love release? Frankly, I'm not even sure why I made this card - really - do you ever think that I would be crabby??!! (No, you are not allowed to ask my husband or two sons!) hee hee - I hate to admit it but there are many times when a card like could come in handy in my life. I particularly enjoy how sheepish the crab looks as if he is shocked/embarrassed at how "crabby" he got!!
I stamped off the Retro Rectangle first so the red background would be muted. I colored the crabby dude with my Koh-i-Noor pencils and did some shading with a W4 copic marker. Stamping on ribbon is always fun - I don't do it often enough -
Guess I should make a few more of these!
Stamps - A Muse 6-3147D Crab, 9-8625B Been Crabby, 3-5021G Retro Rectangle
Ink - Momento Dye Ink in Tuxedo Black and Ladybug
Paper - A Muse 4b Cranberry, kraft and white cardstock
Accessories - Twill ribbon, EK Success Edge punch - Swiss Cheese, Koh-i-Noor Pencils, Copic Marker, Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher

A Muse Bouche - Part II

Look at the googly eyes those two clams are making at each other - looks like me and Corey (LOL!!) - Novell flipped her card inside out yesterday and inspired me to try it today - The clams were stamped on white paper, colored with Copics, shined up with a Glaze Pen, cut out and popped up with some dimensionals.

My trusty Cuttlebug folder gave the "wavy" look I wanted and a few A Muse twinkle stickers completed the look.
When you open the card you see the sentiment inside - I may use this for our anniversary card this year (don't tell Corey!)
Stamps - A Muse 2-3142C Clams, 9-8629B Happy as Clams
Ink - Moment Dye Ink in Tuxedo Black
Paper - A Muse 4b Robin's Egg Blue
Accessories - A Muse Sheer Ocean Dotted Ribbon, Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirl Embossing Folder

Amuse Bouche

It is time for our most tasty morsels - A Muse Bouche. The NEW Sea of Love release features many beautiful images including Curling Waves. Really, have you felt the air outside? Nobody could surf on those waves except Baby Penguin.
The penguin is such a fun stamp to use since it takes no time at all to paper piece his tummy so it is always bright and white. Copic markers were used to color the waves and then some bling was added with a clear Spica on the penguin and a Gelly Roll pen on the waves.
Be sure and check out all the great sneak peeks today!!
Stamps - A Muse 2-4170E Curling Waves, 7-3098B Baby Penguin, 8-8471B Love is for the Birds
Ink - Momento Dye Ink in Tuxedo Black
Paper - A Muse 4b notecards in Navy and Sky Blue
Accessories - Clear Spica marker, Sakura Gelly Roll Clear pen

A Muse Bouche - Part V

WOW - 5 days of peeks at the new release - Don't ya just want it all? For the final peek, I decided to do something fun and different from anything else I've done before. I was trying to decide how I could show several different shimmer papers at one time and I decided to make some paper ribbon - Here is how you do it -
First - Gather your supplies - I used a piece of white cardstock cut to 8 1/2" x 5 1/2. Then I cut varying widths of shimmer paper (from about 1/4" - 5/8") that were 8 1/2" long.

I decided to stick with a blues/greens/purple/pink palette. After arranging the paper strips in an aesthetically pleasing way (to me, anyway) I started attaching them to the base cardstock with Scor-tape. I even put a few pieces of Scor-tape as spacers (when the cardstock base was completely covered, I removed the waxed paper from the Scor-tape and poured super sparkly glitter over the sticky lines).

Lastly I used a guillotine cutter to slice the paper ribbon into 1/2" lengths - you can get a lot of paper ribbon this way! Now many of the new papers are represented. . .

Funny how such a little bit of shimmer paper can make such a big impression.
I've been staying up late every night to get my projects posted - I'm hoping to sneak in a quick nap tomorrow - I'm exhausted but has been well worth it! Be sure and check the A Muse News blog for one more terrific contest!
Stamps - 9-8616C A Muse (big) Thanks

A Muse Bouche - Part IV

Have you been as impressed as I have with all the amuse bouche we have been seeing? The things that have been created with the new stamps and paper are outstanding - I've been waiting with excitement to show the new Chrysanthemum stamps! When I was in the shop today I picked up some new Metallic Perfect Pearls and decided to play with them tonight - This card features the Bronze Pearls - (apparently I have a real thing about the contrast of the shimmer paper with kraft paper - Kinda like putting silk with burlap - pretty weird but I like it!)
When you angle the card you see how striking the pearls can be, especially when coupled with the A Muse Couture Shimmer paper. I cut out the panels with my Nesties and then layered a piece of acetate behind the black damask paper and added the kraft panel on top.

The piece I cut out got layered onto another card (can't waste a bit of this luscious paper). This chrysanthemum got colored with Silver Perfect Pearls. Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig ensures that your Solid and Open Chrysanthemum stamps line up perfectly!!

Don't forget to visit the A Muse blog to be in the running for a wonderful prize - ALL 5 sets of the new clear stamps!
Stamps - 6-4165J Chrysanthemum Open, 6-4166J Chrysanthemum Solid, 9-8613C Deepest Sympathy

Ink - Moment Dye ink in Tuxedo Black

Paper - A Muse Damask Couture paper in Slate, kraft paper

Accessories - A Muse Sheer Ribbon in white, acetate, Nestabilities, Perfect Pearls, Stamp-a-ma-jig

A Muse Bouche - Part III

Look at this beautiful Robin's Egg Shimmer Couture Damask paper - this box is much smaller than it appears in the photo - I love the little tag on it - It is made from Frosted Shrinky Dink film and is teeny tiny. I'd never used this stuff before and it was so fun! I did the shrinking with the Tim Holtz Heat Tool.
The sentiment comes from the new clear stamp set - Monogram Frames. There are so many beautiful ways to use this set - not only are there frames but 4 sentiments are included also. I paired the "Thanks so much" up with one of the new foliage stamps - this one is called Leaf Frond.
I attached it to the box with some silver cord and the A Muse Sheer White ribbon - So cute. Do you recognize the box shape?! YUP - Godiva (yumm!!). This is the size box that holds two candies. I just opened it up and laid the template on the back of the shimmer paper, traced, cut out and put together - super easy and quick! When I finished and showed it to my older son, Connor he asked, "What are you going to put in the box, mom?" His brain can't wrap around taking a picture of an empty box - boxes are only to open and get stuff out of - not to look at! hee hee
Stamps - A Muse 6-4167D Leaf Frond, Sentiment from Monogram Frames Set (clear stamp set)
Ink - Momento Pear Tart, Staz-On Black
Paper - A Muse Robin's Egg Damask
Accessories - A Muse Sheer Ribbon in white, Marvy Giga Scalloped Oval Punch, silver cord, Frosted Shinky-Dink, Heat Tool

AMuse Bouche - Part II

I don't think I've ever made an orange/red card before but I'm loving this combo!! The new A Muse Flatware and Thank you for everything stamps make a great "thanks for the delicious meal" card. The shimmer was hard to capture on this photo but the red/orange layers are the new Couture Shimmer papers. It is a super easy way to add elegance to a CAS card!

Stamps - 2-7195E Flatware, 9-8614C Thank you for everything

Paper - A Muse Shimmer Couture Solid paper in Apple and Mango, kraft and white cardstock

Ink - Momento Dye Inks in Ladybug, Tangelo and Tuxedo Black

Accessories - Corner rounder and popdots

Don't forget - The A 2010 Muse calendar classes are this week - Wednesday at 10:30AM and Friday at 6:00PM - I'd love to see you there - these are super fun to make - remember to download your calendar at A Muse or use the link on my sidebar!

A Muse Bouche!!

WOW!! The new A Muse release is so beautiful!! Shimmery papers galore - new pearls - new ribbons - new twinkles and best of all NEW stamps!! I got this layout from Clean & Simple FTL 60 - this is a great website to jump start your card creations!! To get the soft watercolor look on my leaves I colored my Maple Leaf Solid stamp with several Copic Markers. These are alcohol markers so you can't mist with water and stamp like you can with watercolor markers. What to do? Mist with Colorless Blender Fluid - easy when you have a Ranger Mini Mister filled with it. You can have one too when you visit Serendipity! Check out all the new peeks that the Muses will have on their blogs!!

Stamps - 9-8615C Beautiful Autumn, 6-4169D Maple Leaf Solid

Ink - Momento Bamboo Leaves

Paper - A Muse Shimmer Couture paper in Espresso, Shimmer Damask in Grass

Accessories - A Muse sheer ribbon in French Roast, A Muse Pretty Pearls in lime, Copic markers, Clear Copic Spica Marker (used on top of leaves to add additional shimmer - can't have too much shimmer!)

BTW - I do believe that this is my 100th post!!

A Muse Bouche- Mandy's World!!

As a mom of 2 boys there are not a lot of "girly" things in my world. Good thing that I stamp - aren't the Mandy's World stamps the cutest?! I LOVE argyle so Balloon Girl jumped right out at me - I date back to the "preppy" days when we would wear button down collar shirts with a sweater tied around the shoulders, wool skirts, argyle socks and penny loafers. SIGH - I miss that look!
This card is a "tent topper" card (mishmash invented those some time back) and I cut my layers with my Nesties. I had quite a lot of boring green space so I filled it some with some scoring (courtesy of my trusty Scor-Pal). Adds some interesting texture and kinda reflects the embossing on the edge of the main image. Finished off with some clear Spica pen.
Stamps - 1-6135J Balloon Girl, 9-8588B Get better soon
Paper - A Muse Fern square notecard, 4b Robin's Egg and Papaya
Ink - Momento Ink in Black Tuxedo
Accessories - Copic markers, Spica clear marker, Scor-pal, Nestabilities - Labels Four

Amuse Bouche!!

It is that time again!! A Muse Bouche - Usually I am rushing to finish teacher gifts at the end of the school year - not this time!! This year I am going to get in good with Caleb's teacher at the beginning of the year. I've gathered a lot of things from her wish list and I'm going to give them to her along with this card.
The front actually is a window with the apple stamped on the inside - I used white pigment ink for the sentiment to look "chalkboard-y". The inside is cute too. I've been noticing that lately a lot of visual interest is put on the inside of cards too - not just the outside.

If Ms. Olssen decides she loves me this year I'll have to give part of the credit to A Muse!!

Stamps - 3-4159C Solid Apple, 9-8596B Thanks for all you do, 9-SCHLSM Clear set - School Time

Ink - Momento in Tuxedo Black and Ladybug

Paper - A Muse Woodgrain 8.5" x 11" paper, papaya 4b and

Accessories - A Muse Swiss red polka dot ribbon, scallop edge punch

Snorkel Boy in a Bubble

I LOVE Snorkel Boy - he is my "hands down" favorite stamp from the summer release! It has been very hard for me to wait to post this card! I stamped him on Neenah Classic Crest White cardstock and colored him in with my Copics. Then I put an A Muse Clear Circle Sticker on top and cut him out - I stamped him, the sand dollar (another new stamp!!) and the tiny crab on kraft paper.
Finished him off with some A Muse Clear Twinkle Stickers for extra sparkly bubbles. Did you see the new BROWN gingham paper?! Anyone who knows me knows my love of all things brown! Weird, but true! I am really tickled with this card - Snorkel boy will definitely be part of a summer Copic class!! Hope you've been enjoying all the Amuse bouche that the A Muse team has put together - they've been great!!!

Stamps - A Muse 2-6129D Snorkel Boy, 2-4135B Sand Dollar, 8-8565B Little fun today, 2-4096A Tiny Crab
Ink - Momento Dye in Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa
Paper - A Muse Gingham Brown, A Muse 4b notecard in Sky Blue, kraft paper
Accessories - A Muse Clear Circle Stickers, A Muse Clear Twinkle Stickers, copics, Koh-i-noor pencils

ME on the beach!! Jealous?!

Here is a recent lovely photo of me enjoying some fun in the sun! WAIT - maybe Corey snapped this pic when I hopped up for a smidge more sunblock and another Diet Coke (it is too early for a drink with an umbrella - sigh). Nope - Today is the first day of A Muse's amuse bouche (sneak peek) for the Summer Release!!! Check out the blogs of the A Muse Creative Team in my sidebar for 5 days of sneaks at the new stamps!!!

Stamps - A Muse 2-7175D Cabana, 2-4148C Sun, 8-8570C Sunsational day, 3-4097C Waves, 2-4096A Tiny Crab
Paper - A Muse Gingham paper in blue, Cabana Blue Band square notecard

We had a blast on Wednesday making lots of fun acetate creations!!

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

Amuse-Bouche - Deux

Hee hee - I sound so french don't I?? Oui oui!

Here is my second sneak peek of the new A Muse Love Blooms release - I dug out my Tsukineko Glue pad to bling up the new Damask stamp. I love the look of soft pink and black. I was just at a wedding yesterday and apparently came home with wedding fever and had to make a card. I accented the black strip with a Cuttlebug folder and added a couple pink twinkles for just a little added bling. These new stamps are going to see a lot of ink!!
Stamps - A Muse 2-4138E Damask Solid, 9-8549C Mr. & Mrs.

Ink - Momento Dye in Angel Pink and Tuxedo Black

Paper - A Muse 4b notecard in Blush

Accessories - A Muse Twinkle Stickers, A Muse Sheer Ribbon in Pink Tutu, Essential Glue Pad, Cuttlebug and folder, glitter, Nestabilities - Labels

Remote Post!!

Hey - Corey and I are in Barbourville helping his mom recover from gallbladder surgery. I am online at the public library - I can only go so many days without an Internet fix!! ;-)
Anyway, there are big things happening at A Muse!! Check out this blog entry - Sweet Shop Revealed.
Great new stamps, the A Muse Lounge and Design Studio!! WHOO HOO!!