My First ATCs

I signed up to participate in an ATC swap.  This was my first time making ATCs.  They are 2.5"x3.5".  For this swap we had to chose a stamp set from a*muse | studio.  I chose Nordic Noel.  I think it is a very classy and versatile set.

I started by stamping the reindeer in French Roast on to Pebble card stock and a sentiment from Holiday Tags in Cranberry.  I added Silver Glitter below the reindeer and around the next using 1/4" super sticky tape and Quickie Pen.  To simulate snow flakes, i added little dots of glue using my Quickie Pen and sprinkled Diamond Glitter.  A Twinkle Sticker colored with R29 Copic Marker was used for the nose. Finally Cherry Bakers Twine was a tied near the bottom and the layer attached to a Cherry cardstock base.

I had an extra ATC, so i used it as a front panel for a card.

All Supplies from a*muse | studio 
Card 1

Paper: Pebble, Cherry (a*muse | studio)

Stamps:Nordic Noel, Holiday Tags (a*muse | studio)

Ink: Cherry, French Roast (a*muse | studio)

Copics:R29

Other: Twinkle Stickers, Silver Glitter, Diamond Glitter, Cherry Bakers Twine (a*muse | studio)

PTI September Blog Hop and Mojo Monday 207

This is my first participation in the Papertrey Blog Hop.  This month we have to use the inspiration photo below.

 I am also using this week's Mojo Monday 207 sketch. 

I started with making my background paper using a stamp from Mad for Plaids and multiple ink colors.  Lately I've made lots of different patterned paper using inspiration from the PTI Make it Mondays.  The snow man and tree are from Holiday Tags.  I colored them using Copics and a Tombow marker.  I've had lots of fun finding ways to use the Snowflake die trio.  For this card, I embossed it with white embossing powder and accented it with a button and baker's twine.  I hope you enjoy.

 I don't think I've ever made a card with as many layers as the one above.  I had to balance out all that layering with a clean and simple card.  This card is also inspired by the PTI Blog Hop photo.  In this card, I made 4 rows of colors using Washi Tape (summer collection).  I added a simple sentiment from Celebrate in Style.

Supplies 
Card 1

Paper: Sugar, Cherry, Papaya, French Roast, Wasabi, Winter Sky (a*muse | studio)

Stamps: Mad for Plaids, Holiday Tags (a*muse | studio)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Papaya, Cherry, Bubblegum, French Roast, Sky, Wasabi (a*muse | studio)

Copics:YG95, YG97, B00, B02, R24, R27, R29, RV14, RV09, YR18, YR09, E47, E49, C00, C1, Y19,

Other: Twinkle Stickers, Tombow Papaya, white embossing powder(a*muse | studio), Hibiscus Burst Ribbon (PTI), Dark Chocolate Baker's Twine (PTI), Snowflake Die Trio (a*muse | studio), Wide Oval Punch (SU!), brown button (from stash)


Card 2
Paper: Sugar (a*muse | studio), Stampers Select White (PTI)
Stamps: Celebrate in Style (a*muse | studio)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Other: Washi Tape - Summer Collection (from a*muse | studio)

World Card Making Day Promotion

World Card Making Day Promotion

World Card Making Day Promotion
October 1st to October 3rd, 2011

Saturday, October 1st is World Card Making Day.
Celebrate your love of cardmaking with A Muse Studio and let’s get stamping!

Host to win!
Host a qualifying* World Card Making Day Workshop and you will automatically be entered into a drawing to win one of five $100 A Muse Studio Shopping Sprees! And, every Hostess will receive a free set of A Muse Studio 4-bar notecards with envelopes - 10 pack ($6 value).

Free Gift with Every Purchase!
Something for everyone! Each customer that places an order at a World Card Making Day workshop, will also receive a free set of A Muse Studio 4-bar notecards with envelopes - 10 pack ($6 value).

Facebook Fun!
Celebrate with us all weekend long as we post fun World Card Making Day challenges and award prizes to our Facebook friends.

* Qualifying Hostess must have minimum workshop sales of $150 and a minimum of 4 unique customer orders to qualify for entry into the $100 Shopping Spree!
* To qualify, Workshops orders must be submitted in the Business Center between Saturday October 1st and Monday October 3rd at 11:59:59 pm EST.

PTI Make It Monday #33: Frosted Images

This weeks Make It Monday over at Papertrey Ink is Frosted Images.  It is a cool technique that I plan to use again.  I already have another sheet of homemade patterned paper ready for my next project.

I'm planning to put this in the mail to a girlfriend of mine.

Supplies 

Paper: Sugar, Blackberry (a*muse | studio), Fine Linen (PTI)

Stamps: Marvelous Marigolds (a*muse | studio), Signature Greetings (PTI)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Blackberry (a*muse | studio), Summer Sunrise, Fresh Snow (PTI)

Copics: YR12, YR15, YR18, V17

Other: Twinkle Stickers, Clear Spica pen

CMC Challenge #26

It is a Fall /Halloween Theme over at CMC Copic Challenge Group.  I'm not usually a fan of Halloween but I have had fun using different Halloween elements on my cards.  The image i used for this card is Dee Dee from The Greeting Farm.  I think she is a cutie pie.  I colored her in some fall colors with a punch of blue.  Added some pumpkins (too cute to spook, a|s) to tie her into Halloween.  For the background, I made my own patterned paper with a spider web stamp.

Supplies 

Paper: Sugar, Slate (a*muse | studio), Aqua Mist, Orange Zest (PTI)

Stamps: Dee Dee (The Greeting Farm), Too Cute To Spook, Spooky Boo Day (a*muse | studio)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Pebble (a*muse | studio)

Dies:  Banner Die ( PTI)

Copics:E00, E11, E13, E25, E29, E33, E37, Y15, Y17, Y19, YR00, YR12, YR15, YR18, BG10, BG13, BG15, BG18, W1, W1, 00

Other: Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch (SU!), Corner Chomper (WRMK), Sharpie Poster Paint Pen

PTI Make It Monday #32: Stamping with Acrylic Paint

This week's PTI Make It Monday is Stamping with Acrylic Paint. This was definitely a stretch for me.  I've never used acrylic paint other than as a kid.  I bought some paints years ago and fortunately it is still good.  My color combo for the card was dictated by the paint colors i have.  I used all three colors I have but am already thinking of doing a monochromatic card as well.

I used the first stamp set to come to mind and that was Grunge Me.  The paint colors I used are Huckleberry, Creamsicle and Cherry.  Cherry was very close to PTI Berry Sorbet so I used the cardstock as a layer for my panel that i stamped with the acrylic paint.  I have to admit that i wasn't sure where i was going with the card when i started. I then used Ad Sense dies for additional layers.  Last I cut out the guitar from a|s Rock Star and added a sentiment from the same set. In the end I like how it turned out.

Supplies 

Paper: Sugar (a*muse | studio), Berry Sorbet (PTI)

Stamps: Rock Star (a*muse | studio), Grunge Me, Ad Sense (PTI)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)

Dies:  Ad Sense dies ( PTI)

Ribbon: Enchanted Evening Bakers Twine (PTI)

Other: Huckleberry, Creamsicle and Cherry Scrapbook Shades Acrylic Paint (Li'l Davis Designs), foam dimensionals

PTI Make It Monday #31: Creating Backgrounds with Non-Background Stamps

I love this technique of using non-background stamps to make backgrounds.  It is a great way to make custom patterned paper.  For this technique, I used images from Nordic Noel from a*muse | studio and the Mat Stack 2 die from PTI.  The upcoming PTI release of the Mat Stack 2 Layer would have been perfect for this card, but since it hasn't been release, I used a 2" circle to give it a layer.

I don't always know in the beginning how my cards will turn out.  Many times I don't know what base cardstock i will use until i'm done with the layer.  I had planned on either using Cranberry or Eucalyptus as my base but decided that i like the non-traditional Onyx (black) as the base.  It really makes the colors pop.

On the inside I stamped a sentiment from Holiday Greetings Inside & Out also from a*muse | studio.

You can see some additional card backgrounds made with non-background cards here.  I did these as a part of a blog hop. 

Supplies 

Paper: Onyx, Winter Sky, Eucalyptus, Sugar (a*muse | studio)

Stamps: Nordic Noel, Holiday Greetings Inside & Out (a*muse | studio)

Ink: Winter Sky, Eucalyptus, Cranberry (a*muse | studio), Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)

Dies:  2"Circle Punch (Fiskars), Mat Stack 2 die ( PTI)

Ribbon: Black (unknown)

Other: brads

Inky Fingers Blog Hop

Welcome to the First Inky Fingers a*muse | studio Blog Hop. Our theme is Autumnal Splendor!

If you are visiting my blog as part of the Blog Hop, you should have come from Liz's blog.  It is the first stop in the Blog hop.

For the hop I have decided to focus on the versatility of the stamp set Seasonal Branch.  This is a great set for year around use.  It includes leaves, flowers, snowflakes and berries.

The first card below is inspired by the wonderful colors of fall.  Wasabi, Orange and Papaya are the focal colors.  The branch is stamped in Pebble ink onto Vanilla cardstock.

Yesterday we went to Fishkill Farms Apple Orchard for a birthday party.  I wanted to make a special card for the birthday girl.  This time i stamped the branch in French Roast.  The School Days stamp set would be the perfect set to use to add the apples.  Since I don't have that set, I used School Time from PTI. I clear embossed the large apple and added it to a felt scalloped circle.  I hope she enjoyed the card.

My last card today started out to be a birthday card for my husband whose birthday was yesterday but it ended being borderline feminine so i gave him a different card.  In this card I stamped the branch in Slate. I added owls from Spooky Boo Day and Friends Fur-ever stamps sets.  They fit perfectly with the sentiment from Friends Fur-ever.

Next, please continue on to Anna's blog and enjoy the rest of your journey.  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Card 1

Paper: Vanilla, Papaya (a*muse | studio), Orange Zest (PTI)

Stamps: Seasonal Branch, Essential Sentiments (a*muse | studio)

Ink: Pebble, French Roast, Wasabi, Orange, Papaya (a*muse | studio)

Dies:  Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Ribbon: Wasabi Satin (a*muse | studio) 

Card 2

Paper: Sugar, Cherry (a*muse | studio)

Stamps: Seasonal Branch (a*muse | studio), School Time (PTI), So Happy For You (SU!)

Ink: French Roast, Fern, Cherry (a*muse | studio)

Dies:  Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Ribbon: Cherry Satin (a*muse | studio) 
Other: French Roast Felt 

Card 3

Paper: Slate Woodgrain, Vanilla, Pebble, Cherry (a*muse | studio)

Stamps: Seasonal Branch, Friends Fur-ever, Spooky Boo Day (a*muse | studio)

Ink: Pebble, Fern, Cherry, Slate (a*muse | studio)

Dies:  1" Punch (EK Success)

Ribbon: Onyx Twine (a*muse | studio) 

Winter Wishes

It is September in New England so I know it won't be long before Winter is here and we are out shoveling snow.  The card today is inspired by SNOW.  I started with a tag made from French Roast Felt.  I kept my base colors neutral with Pebble and Vanilla and chose Cherry as an accent.  The pattern on the Vanilla layer was made using the negative from my die snowflake and Pebble ink.

Supplies:

Paper: Vanilla, Pebble, Cherry Woodgrain, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas  (A*Muse Studio)

Stamps: Holiday Tags (A*Muse Studio)

Ink: Pebble, French Roast (A*Muse Studio), Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Versamark (Tsukineko)

Dies: Snowflake Trio, Classic Tags (A*Muse Studio), Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Ribbon: Cherry Satin, Cherry Bakers Twine

Other: Copics R24, R29, B02, B04, French Roast Felt (A*Muse Studio), BigKick (Sizzix), White Embossing Powder (A*Muse Studio), Crop-a-Dile (WRMK),

 

A|S September Blog Hop

If you are participating in the blog hop, you should have come from Sarah's blog and if not, then you should start from the beginning with Samantha's blog until you come to my blog.

Thanks for joining in for the A*Muse Consultant Blog Hop.  You are in for a treat.  We are in the middle of A*MUSE*A*PALOOZA so we will be showing you lots of new products from our Holiday Supplemental Catalog.  During A*MUSE*A*PALOOZA hostesses can earn a free exclusive stamp set and more money for free products.  Check out this post for more info.


Now on to the cards to share today.

Halloween Cards

Card 1

Card 2

For the first cards (which are two cards with same idea just a slight variation) i was thinking about the window of a haunted house. I started with the Pebble cardstock and cut out a window with a Nestibilities die.    To cut the window frame from Slate cardstock, i use the same Nestibilities die plus the next size up.  I then cut strips of Slate cardstock to make the window slats.   On the outside I stamped the spider web and sentiment from 'Too Cute To Spook".  On the inside I stamped the ghost and bats also from 'Too Cute To Spook' and the sentiment from 'Spooky Boo Day'.  To add a little 'Boo' to the ghost, i covered him in Diamond Glitter.  Isn't he (or she) cute?  On the front of the bottom of second card, I used the left over slate paper from cutting the window frame to add an embellishment to the bottom.  Is it a fence? Broken house framing?  Use your imagination....I did :)

Christmas Card

One of the many things I love about A*Muse Studio is all the great ideas we get for cards and projects.  This card came with our Holiday Workshop Bundle.  A|S just makes it so easy for us with step by step instructions to help you get started and get inspired.  The card base is Vanilla cardstock, layered with Cherry and Vanilla cardstock.  The images and sentiment for this card are from the 'Nordic Noel' stamp set. The deer stamped in Wasabi ink.  Fern and Cranberry ink were used for the leaves and berries.  The sentiment is also stamped in Cranberry ink.  Washi Tape from the new holiday assortment was added to the bottom.

I hope you have enjoyed the cards I shared today.  Please visit again for more ideas and the latest A*Muse News.

Now on to your next stop Pamela's blog.