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Aug 31, 2011

CIC125 Lilies of the Field

Welcome! I'm so glad you could stop by and check out my artwork.

Today I'm sharing a card inspired by this week's Cupcake Inspiration challenge.
Aren't those flowers gorgeous! I love flowers and while the season is rapidly winding down for my own flower beds I'm still enjoying a few blooms.

I love the colors on these cupcakes and while blog surfing I came upon this card by Laurie Jones that I really loved. A "light bulb" went off in my head right away I got out my Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set (SU) and set out to create my version of Laurie's card inspired by the colors and the lilies from the Cupcake Inspiration Photo.

So here it is...
I really love how it turned out and hope you do as well.

*Just a note: I made 3 masks of the lily and masked off while stamping the different colors.

Card Details: Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral & Best Yet (sentiment) Stampin'Up!
Card Stock: Whisper White
Inks: Tangerine Tango, Dusty Durango (SU) Fern-Amuse Studio
Ribbon, American Crafts
Orange Jewels - source unknown.
Corner Rounder Punch - retired SU

Aug 30, 2011

My 1st CAS-ual Friday Entry

Hello! Now that school has started again I'm finding more time to "create a mess, play in my stamp room. I thought I'd try out a challenge that I haven't participated in before. I picked the Cas-ual Friday #17 challenge, Use Stickers/rub-on's on your project.

I found this wonderful card on Kristina Werner's blog and decided to "case" her layout for my card. I took some liberties and flipped the sketch to work in with my stickers.

Last year I bought some cute and fun Sticker's and Rub-On's from Imaginisce that have just been sitting in their baggy sadly neglected until today. So without further ado...here is my card for the CAS-ual Friday challenge.


Autumn is one of my favorite seasons (Spring being the other) and I just loved that wonderful leaf pattern designer paper and the cute denim tree sticker.

Since Kristina does CAS so well and also is a cat lover she often shares pic's of her wonderful cat, Mannie I thought it would be appropriate as well to show off one of our cats, Harley along side my card. Isn't he handsome!

Card Details:
Card Stock: More Mustard, Old Olive, Kiwi Kiss, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla - Stampin'Up!
Designer Paper, Rub-ons, Denim Stickers, Ribbon - Imaginisce-Apple Cider Collection
Punch: Martha Stewart
White Gel Pen - Inkssentials
Paper Distressing Tool
Foam Mounting Tape.

Aug 26, 2011

BC227 Tic-Tac-Toe

Happy Friday! - My heart goes out to those back East who've gone through quite a week with the recent Earthquake and those facing issues with Hurricane Irene. I pray you will all be safe and sound and come through these situations with no harm to those you hold near and dear.

As promised here is a picture of Coleen on her First day of School this year. She started 1st Grade on Tuesday.
If you have time and want a good laugh check out this link:
- There is music that plays on the blog so scroll down and mute it so you can hear the video.

For this weeks, Blogger Challenge Lisa (Splendiferous Creations) gave us a fun Tic-Tac-Toe board to work with. Here is a picture of the board:

The object is to pick any row (vertical, horizontal or diagonal) and use the items listed in that row to create your card.

Today I have 2 cards to share. My first card was actually made last Saturday when my friend, Teresa from Spokane was down again for another visit. We spent the day stamping, visiting, laughing and eating. I realized that this card hadn't been posted yet and then figured out that it worked in perfectly as part of the Tic-Tac-Toe board.

The items I used on this card are: Embossing, Pattern Paper and Ribbon/Seam Binding. - Diagonal Row

Card #2 - I made this card to send to a woman who recently lost her mother. I used a sketch found in the new (Card Ideas for Paper Crafters) magazine (Pg.60 and did a "case" of the card on the page by Latisha Yoast).

I used colors from this weeks Color Throwdown Challenge. These are not colors I would normally pick out to use together but I think they worked out pretty well.
For this card I used: Embossing, Lace, Bling/Gems (Top Vertical Row) but it could also cover: Lace, Pattern Paper and Die Cuts (Middle Horizontal Row).

Now it's your turn to play this fun game of Tic-Tac-Toe. Just use the Mr. Linky feature so we can see what you came up with.


Supplies: Card 1 - All Stamps/Papers Amuse Studio with the exception of the Grosgrain Ribbon (SU) and the Spiderweb Punch (MS) Colors: Wasabi, Pumpkin, Pebble and Spooky Hollow DP. Stamps: Spooky Boo Day-Sentiment and Too Cute to Spook.
Spiderweb Textured Embossing Plate, Onxy/White Baker's Twine,
Tag Die, Sparkle Gems colored with Orange Copic Marker, Onyx Glitter

Supplies: Card 2- Card Stock: Perfect Plum, Crumb Cake, So Saffron-SU
Sentiment-Amuse Studio
Textile Cuttlebug Embossing Folder,
Butterfly Die - Amuse Studio
Gems colored with Copic Markers
Eyelet Lace
Nestabilitie Dies







Aug 19, 2011

BC226 August Sketch Challenge

Howdy! Just a note that I'll be popping by your blogs to catch up on commenting as I can this weekend. Now it's time for the Blogger's Challenge. This week Lisa has given us this awesome sketch to work with:
I really enjoy working with sketches...It makes things so much easier. I knew exactly what I wanted to do with this sketch. Today I am showing you a "Sneak Peak" of some of the soon to be available Amuse Studio holiday stamps, papers & embellishments. All these wonderful products will be available on Monday - You can purchase them by clicking on the Amuse Icon on my sidebar.

Aren't those stamps CUTE!!! - Everything went so well into the sketch but I stuggled with the Flower element in the corner and after trying numerous things I settled on the Twine bow as I really wanted my Spooky Fence to show.

Here's what I used:
Spooky Boo Day stamp set
Spooky Fence Die
Swirls Impression Plate
Card Stock: Slate, Pumpkin, Lemon Whip, Sugar, and the new Wasabi.
Designer Paper: Sleep Hollow
Ink: Wasabi, Memento Tuxedo Black and Memento London Fog (this one is not available through Amuse Studio)
Accessories: Onyx and White Baker's Twine
Twinkle Stickers - Dyed with a Copic marker but they do come in Orange (I just don't have any).
Paper Distressing Tool.

Now it's your turn to try out this sketch and link back using the Mr. Linky feature below:



Aug 15, 2011

Annabelle Stamps is Turning 2!

Have you heard the news...AnnaBelle Stamps is turning 2.




In honor of this momentous occasion they are throwing a Birthday Bash complete with Prizes. Want to know how you can win? Head over the to the AnnaBelle Blog to find out.

Off you go now....

Aug 12, 2011

BC225 - Learning Your ABC's

Wow summer is rapidly coming to a close (I'm so not ready) and all over the country kids are soon (if not already) headed back to school. So in honor of that event our List Mom, Lisa (Splendiferous Creations)has assigned this weeks theme as, "Back to School."

Here is what I came up with for the challenge:


This was a quick and easy card because the patterned paper really helped pull it all together so easily. I used 3 different pieces from DCWV-Grade School Stack. The Apples were stamped with Grass Pigment Ink (Amuse Studio) and embossed with clear EP. I did add a touch of brown to the stems using a marker.

I punched one layer to resemble school notebook paper and added some Red Bakers Twine to finish it off.

I think this card is going to Coleen on her first day of 1st Grade.

So now it's your turn to give this fun challenge a try.
Link below:

Supplies: Stamps: Mint Motif (School Basics)
Card Stock: Basic Black (SU)
Designer Paper (DCWV)
Ink: Grass Pigment Ink (Amuse Studio)
Clear EP
Punches (SU)
Baker's Twine
Foam Mounting tape

Aug 9, 2011

Whale of a Time - Amuse Style

So did you all go and check out the Studio Stampers blog yet? If you haven't you might want to do so. I'm this weeks "Featured Stamper" and there is a PRIZE up for grabs.

Here is my card for the Challenge:


I just love that adorable little Whale and had such a fun time creating the card. I had an idea pop into my head as I was falling asleep one night and got up the next morning and drew out a very "rough" sketch. Then my daughter showed me how to use a program on our computer so I was able to draw up a better sketch using my idea.

Here is my sketch:
You'll have 2 weeks to enter the challenge but you must post your card on the Studio Stamper's blog to be eligible to win the prize. Try to use atleast 1 Amuse Stamp on your card. I'm offering up one Package of the Sky Blue Grosgrain Ribbon used on the Whale card and one Package of Buttercup Buttons used on the previous day's Snail card.

Here's a close-up of the seaweed and fish (so fun)


So get creating if you'd like a chance to win those items.

Card Details: All Products A.Muse|Studio unless otherwise noted and can be purchased by clicking on the Online Store button on my sidebar.
Stamps: Keep Swimmin'
Card Stock: Sky, Bermuda,Lichen and Sugar
Sky Gingham
Ink: Lichen, Sage, Sky, Bermuda, Memento Tuxedo Black
Cloud Die
Punch: Fiskars
Sky Grosgrain Ribbon

Aug 8, 2011

What's my Stamping Style?

Welcome back! - Did you figure out from my "Sneak Peak" yesterday what this card is about? Have you popped over to the Studio Stampers blog yet?
My Upline: Krystie asked us to send a card that showcases our Stamping Style. Goodness that was a "toughie" for me. I struggled with my answer mainly because I really don't think I have a particular style of stamping. It's whatever hits me at the time I start creating. Sometimes I'm more of an "elegant" stamper, occasionally an "artsy" stamper, and at time's I even try something totally out of the box (at least I think I do). Right now though I'm into more of the Whimsical/Cute stuff so that's what I went with as my current style of stamping.

How do you think I did?

Here's a little peek of my card for Tuesday's challenge.



Make sure you pop into the Studio Stamper's blog to see the full card and read the challenge. A prize is involved.

Card Details: Stamps: A.Muse|Studio - Snail & Co.
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Lemon Whip, Papaya, Grass, Latte , French Roast & Copic Markers on the Snail. Card Stock: Sugar, Sage, Buttercup, Latte, Buttercup Gingham Other: Buttons (Buttercup) Lemon Whip Tiny Flowers Ribbon,
Circle Nestabilitie Dies

All Supplies can be purchased on my On-line Store. Just click on the icon in my sidebar.

Aug 7, 2011

Amuse Teaser

Welcome...today I'm sharing a very "small" peek at a card that will be posted tomorrow on the Studio Stampers blog.
Each week we've been posting a "Featured" stamper and a challenge by that person on the following day. I hope you'll check out the blog and come back for my Challenge on Tuesday as well.

Here's my little Sneak Peek:

Aug 5, 2011

BC224 Color My World

It's FRIDAY!!! - Wow, the summer is flying by quickly. School starts here in just a little over 2 1/2 weeks. Coleen is ready though to head back to school. She loves learning and being with other kids so it's not going to be a problem sending her back to school. Now getting her to go to bed earlier is another story as she's been up past 9:30 all summer long.

Well enough "chit-chat" as you all know it's Blogger Challenge day and our list mom, Lisa gave us a "Color" challenge today. Here it is:

Now I don't know about you or anyone else who did this challenge but I was certainly "Challenged" to use these colors. In fact I emailed to ask if we had to use the exact colors listed or if any shades of (Green, Purple and Brown) could be use. Lisa assured me that any shades of the colors would work fine. My problem was that I just couldn't seem to get past the colors of the IP photo and then when I looked through my stash of paper I just couldn't seem to find the right shades of each of the colors. The "brown" really threw me for a loop. My stamp room is a disaster of papers strewn all over the desk in my attempt to find something that would work. So what may you ask did I finally come up with...

Since I live in "Wine Country" - Yeah, check out Walla Walla Wineries in a Google search and you'll see what I'm talking about...I decided that these colors would work well using Grapes for my image. I chose the only Grape stamp that I have from a retired SU set, (Sun-Ripened II) and colored the image with Copic markers. Sentiment is from Amuse Studio (Essential Sentiments) Once that was done I went in search of a sketch to use and since Allison
has a page of the Weekly Sketches on her blog I picked one out from there. I went with the sketch from the Crafts Meow which worked well with my Grapes. The background was done using a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Victoria) which I reminds me of Vines for some reason. I used a piece of Chocolate Coordinations card stock which has another color that when you sand it shows through. So that's where the "greenish" color comes from, pretty cool I think.
I also wanted to use my new punch, MS-Beaded Arch that I bought this week (yes, I'm addicted to punches). I added some Zva pearls and a flower (of sorts) by punching a circle, crinkled the edges with my fingernail and added a button with some faux thread (actually thin pieces of the brown card stock)- Of I also used some Shimmer Spray-Copper on the image which you can see in the close up here:

So now it's your turn to play along. Create a card and then link back so we can all see what you created. Have fun!