{christmas polar bear}

I thought I would share a Christmas card that I located in my craft space overhaul.  It was made by my friend Kathy.  She puts such amazing detail into every single card that she constructs.  Each card is worthy of being framed!

howdy!

I had time for another challenge.  This time it was the CAS-ual Friday 1, 2, 3, Challenge.  It requires a pattern, an image, and a sentiment.  I may have stretched the rules a bit.  I'm not sure "wood grain" is a pattern.  Plus I used "an image" twice.  Either way, it's definitely clean and simple.

 

stamp: Rubber Soul boot; A Muse "howdy"; Papertrey Ink wood grain
ink: A Muse french roast & latte
other: A Muse die cut, twine

happy birthday

I wanted to play along with the Embellish Magazine's Rosettes Color Challenge.  I've never made a rosette, but have seen many floating around on card blogs and projects on pinterest.  I followed this pictorial tutorial and made my first rosette.  It was easy and fun!

 

stamp: Papertrey text & "happy birthday"
ink: VersaFine onyx black
other: Papertrey die cut, A Muse washi tape, buttons, twine, circle punch, vintage label punch

{apothecary jars}

Since I cleaned out my space I had easier access to these sweet apothecary jars from my friend, Kathy.  I got to practice my coloring.  Not the best but it's fun to practice.

stamps & inks: done by Kathy for me
other: twine, colored pencils, Taylored Expressions die cut

life isn't about waiting for...

I have enjoyed playing along with challenges lately (have you noticed?).  It keeps me crafting even when I can't think of something on my own to create.  This time I participated in the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #43.  The goal was to make the sentiment the focal point of the card.

Ironically, it was raining when I took this picture.

stamp: Papertrey Ink cross & "Life isn't about waiting for..."
ink: A Muse grass; VersaFine onyx black
other: Papertrey Ink die cut, twine

celebrate today

I was intrigued by the Make It Monday #56  from Papertrey Ink.  The challenge is to use a partially die cut image.  I don't own any chipboard, so I had a hard time creating the right thickness to keep the one side from cutting, but it was fun to play with a die cut in a different way.

stamp: Papertrey Ink mat stack 4 & "celebrate today"
ink: A Muse slate; VersaFine onyx black
other: buttons, twine, mat stack 4 die cut, circle punch

studio stampers blog hop

If you are participating in the blog hop, you should have come from Lianna Vigil's blog and if not, then you can start at Karen Crisp's blog and hop until you come to my blog.


I'm not the self-proclaimed "copying queen" for nothing.  Layouts and color combinations don't come easily to this brain.  That's why I love reading blogs and checking out Pinterest.  I was able to make two valentine cards that I stole from some very creative ladies for our studio stampers blog hop.


The first card is an adorable clean and simple card by the extremely talented Cristina.  My card is a complete joke next to hers, but you get the idea.

I stole the next card from Krystie Hersch.  I just love the tree and felt heart combo and wanted to "reuse" for Valentine's Day.  Krystie has an amazing eye for color.  Mine looks a tad christmasy.  I wish I did the tree in french roast.

What is the best Valentine gift you have ever given or received?
Contest is closed.
Leave a comment telling me about the gift by January 15th and you'll be entered to win a set of nine A Muse studio felt hearts (3 of each size) to play with.

i {heart} u

stamp: A Muse heart, & "i <3 you"
ink: A Muse cherry, orange, buttercup, grass, & ocean
other: twine




hello
stamp: A Muse tree & "hello"
ink: A Muse cherry & grass
other: A Muse heart die cut, tag, random ribbon i had





We hope you enjoyed the hop and found some inspiration!!
Complete list:

Karen Crisp

Kristen Watson 

Angela Schellenberg

Lianna Vigil

Kari Bell <-------you are here

papertrey ink blog hop

So it's been awhile since I have actually crafted a card.  The holidays, the vacations, and life with three kids under 6 has kept me away from my craft desk (that and the looming pile of junk treasures that need to be put away).  I was on Cristina's blog and loved her card and the Papertrey inspiration photo.  I noticed that I had precisely 37 minutes to make a card, photograph it, and blog about it.  Nothing like procrastinating to get me in gear.  I was drawn to the woods and the bright read and came up with this.  Plus I have always loved this Maile Belles card. (ugh, my card so needs a button!)

stamp: Papertrey wreath pieces, "happy", & "holidays"

ink: A Muse cranberry & french roast

other: twine, Papertrey Ink die cut

wag more, bark less

My friend, Lydia and her family are HUGE dog lovers.  Everyone in her family has at least 2 dogs, so it came as no surprise when she brought this fun card for our ladies card night.

ladies card night

Every other month, my girlfriends and I get together for a shoebox swap style card night.  Everyone makes one sample card, precuts the paper, and includes all the supplies in a box.  Then we pass the boxes around the room until you make all the cards and you can whip up a bunch of cards in no time.  I'll be sharing them all with you but I won't be able to tell you all the supplies exactly since I didn't pay attention while making them.

I hosted the most recent ladies card night about a week ago.  It's so fun to see all the different ideas and to pump out a bunch of cards in one night.  Here's the card that I made for the event.  I completely stole the idea from Krystie Hersch.

stamp: A Muse flowers & "thank you"

ink: A Muse papaya & lemon whip; VersaFine onyx black

other: twine, A Muse twinkle stickers, Copic (chrome orange)

studio stampers blog hop

Welcome to the studio stampers blog hop with my a muse "cousins".   We are all lucky to have Krystie as our upline lady.  If you are joining the blog hop, you should have arrived from Karen Crisp's blog (My Paper Paradise).


Onto my card, I just adore this layout by Maile Belles, but am in denial about fall being so soon and couldn't bring myself to use "fall" stamps.  So here's a more summery take on it.

butterfly close up

stamp: A Muse dots
ink: A Muse heather
paper: A Muse blackberry, heather, amethyst, kraft, & woodgrain
other: A Muse die cut; twine


Okay now you're off to check out the goodies at Lianna Vigil's blog (Llama Tales).

happy birthday

I couldn't pass up this masculine card by Amy Wanford.  Just keeping my copying juices flowing!

stamp: Papertrey Ink star, "happy", & "birthday"
ink: VersaColor pinecone
other: Papertrey Ink die cut, twine, button, Imperial scissors

a|s consultant blog hop

If you are participating in the blog hop, you should have come from Kelly Spivey's blog (Southpaw Paper Arts) and if not, then you can start at Samantha's blog and hop until you come to my blog.

Summer to me is warm weather, reading books, swimming at the local pool, beach bbq's, and staying up late.  Since my beach stamps aren't here yet, I settled for a butterfly theme.  I'm sure butterflies are more of a spring time thing, but it's been a very cool summer here in the northwest and they are still floating around here.

stamp: A Muse Studio woodgrain, & "your friendship is like a sheltering tree"
ink: A Muse Studio latte
paper: A Muse Studio apricot
other: A Muse Studio vanilla twine, A Muse Studio butterfly die cut, black Marvy marker


Leave a comment telling me your favorite thing about summer and you'll be entered for a chance to win one pack of a|s twinkle stickers (my "go to" paper accessory).

Okay now you're off to Tara Johnson's blog (pinkgeekstamper), enjoy the rest of the hop!

happy father's day

Who doesn't need more masculine card ideas?  That's where Laurie Willison comes to the rescue with this fun card.  I could use some more manly birthday cards, but with father's day coming up, I kept the fathery theme.  I'd love to try it in some different colors too.  What color scheme would you try?

stamp: A Muse harlequin background & "happy father's day"
ink: A Muse french roast
other: eyelets, twine, square punch

a|s consultants blog hop

It's the 2nd of the month which means it's time for another a·muse|studio consultants blog hop!

Today's hop includes a variety of a|s consultants who connected through the online forum.  You should have arrived here from Anna's blog, if not you can start it all at Samantha's blog.  She will have the complete list of all the blogs in case there is a glitch along the way.  Just follow the blog path; there are prizes to be won, so leave some comment love!!

Enough nitty gritty.

The theme this month is create your own DSP (designer series paper).  I just love the clean lines of this card by Cristina, so I made the same card, just created my own papers.

stamp:  A Muse dots, circles, & "happy birthday to you"

ink: A Muse slate, latte, & lemon whip

other: twine, buttons, corner punch

Leave a comment and I will select one person to get all these paper pieces, ribbons, and twine to duplicate this card.

Okay now you are off to Angela's blog!

with sympathy

Another mosaic tile card.  Now that my "stamp" is made, these are easy-breezy.

stamp: A Muse bird cages; Papertrey Ink "with sympathy"; & homemade mosaic tile

ink: VersaFine onyx black; Papertrey chamomile tea dye

other: Memory Box pearl stickers, mini scalloped scissors, twine, clear embossing powder

thanks

A little Dawn McVey inspired card today.  Lots of paper layers and of course some ribbon and buttons to finish it off Dawn-style!

stamp: Papertrey Ink "thanks"

ink: VersaColor pinecone

other: Papertrey die cuts, tag, buttons, twine, ribbon

happy day

After I finished a card the other day, I saw this bird scrap sitting in my scrap container.  I immediately had to get to work. This is what I came up with:

Do you ever have a scrap that you can't think of anything to do with it, and then a few hours/days/weeks later you see it and know exactly how to use it and wonder how you were so stumped before?

stamp: Memory Box bird; Papertrey Ink flourishes & "happy day"

ink: VersaFine onyx black; ColorBox white

other: twine, Memory Box pearl stickers, Copic Marker

who is counting?

I made this for my brother's birthday.  Can you guess how old he is now?!

stamp: Papertrey Ink "who is counting?" & "it's just a number"

ink: Memento rich cocoa, VersaColor pinecone

other: Papertrey die cuts, twine

live. laugh. love.

My friend Kathy was telling me how great the apothecary jars and matching die cuts are from Taylored Expressions.  Being the super sweet gal that she is, she die cut and stamped A BUNCH of images for me.  Then she tops it all of by sending me this adorable card:

(this is a great technique, read here to find out more)

look at all these goodies!

So I had to stop what I was doing and make something! I went for a beachy/cottage feel with this.  Seashore. Cozy. Weathered. Warmth.  Makes me want to read a book.

stamp: Papertrey Ink "live. laugh. love."; all others Taylored Expressions

ink: VersaFine onyx black

other: copic markers, Papertrey Ink die cut, Taylored Expression die cuts, twine