{flower vase}

I wanted to play along with The Paper Dolls "Spring Bling" challenge.  I decided to pair it with Laura Bassen adorable cherry card layout.  It was a little hard to think of Spring today as it's been snowing off and on all day here in Seattle.  I'm ready for warmer weather though!

 

stamp: Memory Box flowers; A Muse chevron stripes
ink: Memento tuxedo black; A Muse sage & grass
other: scallop punch, hole punch, Copics (YG23, Y02, Y06, Y11), Memory Box jewel stickers canary yellow

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)

thanks a latte

I haven't been able to craft very much lately and the new Papertrey Make It Monday challenge (freestyle coloring) seemed quick enough, so I jumped in.  I don't have as many copics as I would like, so my brown tones aren't what I would like, but it was fun to play along.

stamp: A Muse latte cup; Memory Box "thanks a latte"

ink: Memento rich cocoa; Impress chocolate

other: A Muse twinkle heart sticker

{blank butterfly}

My friend, Nicolle, made this fun card a long time ago for one of our shoebox card parties.  It's still one of my favorites!

{I'm pretty sure the supplies are all accurate, but I'm working from memory}

stamp: Stampin' Up! butterfly

ink: Fresh Ink melon

other: glitter gel pen, jewel sticker

you are one of a kind!

Don't pinch yourself.  It's really me.  With two cards in two days.  I completely stole this card from Kasia.  I just love the monochromatic look paired with the butterflies.  Thanks for keeping me crafting Kasia!

stamps: A Muse "you are one of a kind!"
ink: VersaFine onyx black

other: Memory Box jewel stickers deep lagoon; A Muse butterfly trio die cut, circle punch

summer

I'm loving the heat we're having here in the northwest.  The kids and I have been able to log in lots of time at our community pool.  I just love it!  Here's something else a little refreshing.

stamp: Peddler's Pack citrus fruit; Savvy "happy summer"
ink: ColorBox marigold & canary
other: jewel sticker, Copic (chrome orange)

{blank flower vases}

I was inspired by the One Layer Wednesday Challenge: Make it Personal.  Often I just make cards that I like and I enjoy.  Then when I need a card I hunt through my stash and look for a card that best matches the person I need to give it to.  I make specific cards for birthdays, but typically I just create what I like.

For the challenge,  I decided to make a card for my mom.  I asked her to babysit the kids (last minute) tonight and not only did she say yes but asked "can they spend the night?"  Needless to say I owe her a big thank you.  My mom loves her garden, her flowers, and especially bringing those flowers inside to enjoy.  So here is a simple card with flowers for her kitchen.  I should really get some real flowers for her too!

stamp: Memory Box flower vases; Impress double stripe
ink: Memento tuxedo black; VersaFine onyx black
other: jewel stickers; Copics (cool shadow, aqua blue, wax white, new leaf, salad, buttercup yellow, golden yellow)

a|s blog hop

Welcome to the a·muse|studio 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). 


I love the  a·muse|studio twinkle sticker packets and wanted to play with some different shapes besides the circle (my go to twinkle sticker).  First up, is the twinkle sticker teardrop.

front

inside

This next card I used the twinkle sticker star.

front

inside

Finally the twinkle sticker heart.

front

peek-a-boo of the beans inside

Did you find it?  Oops, it's not there.  When I originally designed this card there was going to be a little twinkle heart in the circle on the latte cup.  Then my Seattle brain saw the circle and had to make it a Starbucks cup.  So no twinkle sticker on this card, but still fun a·muse|studio goodies.

thanks
stamp: A Muse chandelier, "thanks", & "you are amazing"
ink: A Muse ocean
other: A Muse twinkle stickers; Copic (process blue)


{blank birthday cake}
stamp: A Muse cake, stripes, & "birthday wishes"
ink: VersaFine onyx black
other: A Muse twinkle stickers, circle punch


how ya' bean?
stamp: A Muse latte cup, mini circle, beans, & "how ya' bean?"
ink: A Muse fern & french roast; VersaFine onyx black
other: circle punches, Copic multiliner


It's time for a prize!!
Become a "follower" and leave a comment for a chance to win one package of  a·muse|studio twinkle stickers (I'll even include the heart strip even though I forgot to use it).


Now you are off to Lesa Wolfe's blog (The Paper Pundit).



Here is a complete list in case you get lost along the way:
Kathy Hatzke
Karen Crisp
Kari Bell   you are here!
Lesa Wolfe
Lisa Wakabayashi
Lisa Chapman
Veronica Zalis
Ida P. Krause
Lianna Vigil
Kristen Watson

thanks!

Bright, bold, and white space come together in this great card by Susan Raihala.  I always get excited to see cards that use stamps that I already own, so I don't even have to vary from their beautiful design.

stamp: Papertrey Ink dots; Memory Box "thanks!"
ink: VersaFine onyx black; VersaColor opera pink
other: washi tape, jewel sticker

with sympathy

This card by Jennifer Rzasa was so clean and simple but the color scheme was different than what I normally turn to, so I wanted to try it out.  You know me, I have to add some bling.  What do you "always" add to your cards/projects?

stamp: A Muse flower & "with sympathy"
ink: A Muse french roast
other: A Muse twinkle stickers, Copic marker

home tweet home

I just love this simple bird card by Novell Eckstrom.  You know me, I had to add some bling to make it complete!

stamp: A Muse birdcage, chain, bird, & 

ink: A Muse french roast & grass

other: twinkle stickers, Copic marker

good job!

I wanted to play along with the a·muse|studio consultant challenge, so I used this adorable layout and whipped up this card.  It's hard to see the "kissing" of the stamp, but I kissed the apple with lined writing paper stamp, then added "good job" on the lines.

{click picture for a better view}

You can get more "kissing" details from Julie's short video

stamp: A Muse apple, school house, lined writing paper, & "good job"
ink: A Muse cranberry, grass, & french roast
other: A Muse twinkle stickers, copic marker

you're the best!

With the medical issues that I had, I was a tad behind on Teacher Appreciation Week.  I finally got around to making these for the kids' teachers and putting together little treat bags for them.  I wanted something simple because I had to make 7 cards.  Yes, seven teachers for two kids in preschool.  Well, technically five teachers and two preschool administrators (got to give them thanks too).  We just love them so much!

stamp: a muse chalkboard, pencil, "abc...", & "you're the best!"

ink: Memento tuxedo black; VersaFine onyx black; Brilliance rocket red

other: Copic markers, twinkle stickers

dear friend

I was looking for a high quality, eco-friendly shower curtain and was inspired by this beauty.

stamp: A Muse birds & "dear friend"; Stampin' Up leaf

ink: A Muse french roast &

other: Papertrey Ink die cut, jewel stickers

a|s blog hop

Welcome to the a·muse|studio 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 Veronica's blog.  If not, you can start all the blog hopping fun at Krystie's blog.  She has a complete list of all the stops in case there's a glitch along the way. There are a few prizes involved and not too many blog hop stops, so why not?!  (The more blogs you comment on, the better your chances of winning a|s goodies.)  Even if you don't have time to comment, you'll get to see a variety of a|s inspired cards.




My kids were invited to another pirate party, this time it was for a little girl.  I was so excited, that I immediately created this card.  I've made a few pirate cards lately and the best way to get an aged map (that I've discovered) is to stamp your images on kraft paper, ink the edges, distress the edges, and crinkle it up. I thought a paper bag would work well but I like the look of the kraft much better.  I've also burnt the edges before but all the ashes can get quite messy.  Have you ever made a map/old scroll paper?  What do you like to do?

front

inside

This next card I wanted something for a tween or a teen.  A bit older with some attitude, yet still playful.

Thanks so much for stopping by!   I'm participating in another a·muse|studio blog hop tomorrow, "follow" me and come on back to see the goodness!

Wait, one more thing!  Want a little treat?  Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win a prize (a small sampling of a·muse|studio flowers).

happy birthday matey!
stamp: A Muse buried treasure set

ink: VersaFine onyx black; Memento tuxedo black; A Muse french roast

other: twinkle stickers, Copic markers


you rock my world
stamp: A Muse background, guitar, & "you rock my world"
ink: VersaFine onyx black
other: Copic Markers, washi tape, twinkle stickers


Complete list of blog hop (in other words make sure you commented on each blog for many chances to win prizes):
Krystie Hersch
Kathy Hatzke
Kelly Spivey 
Lianna Vigil
Lisa Wakabayashi
Lesa Wolfe
Veronica Zalis
Kari Bell-- YOU ARE HERE!!


Congratulations!  You made it through the hop (if not go on back to Krystie's blog).  We hope we inspired you to create some fun projects!

life is too short; eat dessert first

You've heard the saying, "Inspiration (for a card) can come from anywhere".  I got the idea for this card from my daughter's bib.  

I used the Fiskars paper crimper on kraft paper to get a textured look, then I die cut the paper liners which flattened them out a little.

front

inside

stamp: Papertrey Ink cupcake pieces & "life is too short; eat dessert first"
ink: VersaFine onyx black; ColorBox pink & dune
other: Papertrey Ink die cut, jewel stickers, square punch (edge of the banner)

it's your day

I just love this clean & simple, yet rockin' card by Nichole Heady.  Here's my almost identical version.  Thanks to my friend, Kathy Nakata, and Cindy Lyles I'm now hooked on decorating the inside of a card too!

stamp: A Muse circles, guitar, & swirls/waves; Inkadinkadoo "rock star"; Papertrey Ink "it's your day"

ink: ColorBox frost white; VersaFine onyx black

other: A Muse twinkle stickers clear, Papertrey die cuts

make it monday: challenge #10

The Papertrey Ink Make it Monday Challenge is masking with dies.  I had never tried this or even considered this before. It was fun and I'll have to try it again.  My photo didn't come out that well, but the ink and the paper match much better than it looks, not perfect, but not quite so glaring, yikes!  Looking back, I should have stamped some words over the ric-rac like Lisa did, to soften the color.

stamp: Papertrey Ink "thank you"

ink: ColorBox marigold; VersaFine onyx black

other: jewel stickers, butterfly punch, scalloped oval punch, circle punch (for lace effect), Papertrey Ink die cut, ribbon

happy happy birthday

Switching it up today and using my Papertrey Ink goodies to create.

stamp: Papertrey Ink flower, background type, squiggle frame, & "happy happy birthday"
ink: Papertrey Ink ocean tides, VersaFine onyx black
other: Papertrey felt, Papertrey die cuts, Memory Box jewel stickers

thinking of you

Another cute A Muse card that you can make with your starter kit.  This one is from Michelle Mathey.  While it is simple to recreate, it's quite stunning.

stamp: A Muse flower, background dots, & "thinking of you"
ink: A Muse blackberry & sky
other: A Muse twinkle stickers clear, corner punch