Well Said Cards

Way to go!

Did you happen to see the card I made for the last A Muse newsletter?  I really like the sports set and I had loads of fun making this card.  It was super easy to make.  I used Momento black ink, A Muse Sports clear set, my red copic marker and A Muse card base.  The black frame is some generic black cardstock I had laying around.

This is going to be a great month for me.  Today my DH and I celebrated our four year wedding anniversary.  We went to see Billy Idol on Tuesday as our date night.  Nothing like some 80's music for a fun night out!  I cannot believe that Billy Idol is still around and touring.  He put on a pretty good show and his songs brought back a lot of fun memories.

Today was my last day of work with my current employer.  I've left my company and I'm joining another company on August 1st.  I decided to take a month off between jobs and the timing could not be better!  We have a week long vacation planned in Cannon Beach.  We're headed to Portland to visit some family.  And I will just be enjoying some time with Baby B and heading to the gym as often as possible.  Oh..AND MAKING CARDS!  Are you all ready for A Muse A Palooza?!

I'm still stressed out from work.  I think it's going to take me the weekend to relax and come down from all the stress.  I've never had a month off before from work.  I had four months off when I had Baby B; but trust me...that was NOT a vacation.  I hope to have lots of fun cards to show next week.

happy stamping!  have a happy and safe 4th of July.

Take a look around. . .

Do you think you could spot a card I made in a random line-up?  Do you think that I have a distinct style to my cards?  Well why don't you head over to the A Muse A Palooza blog and test your skills?!  There are some fabulous prizes for your correct answers.  Good Luck!!!

Happy Stamping.

Twinkle Time Challenge

I decided to try Taylor's challenge last night.  I stayed up late to craft a little and it was really worth it!  I took out my flocking and decided to give them a shot on this little bear.  It's a lot easier to flock that I thought.  I added some spica markers to the little bear's shirt for some visual interest.  Then three little A Muse twinkle stars under the sentiment.  I colored the bear with Copic markers before flocking him.  I inked up the A Muse image and sentiment with my Memento ink in Tuxedo Black.  It works wonderful with the Copic markers.  No feathering at all!  I colored right after I inked him up.  So it dries instantly.  You can pick up Memento inks at A Muse.

I wish I could take a photo in the daytime, but if I try and find the time when it's daylight outside I'll never get a photo of my card.  So these will just have to do for now.

The sun has been peeking out around here a little more often, but it's still not summer.  We're still in the 50's and 60's around here.  I'm so sick of it.  I'm ready to just pack up and move!  I hope it is sunny wherever you are today.

Happy Stamping!

Yay A Muse!!

If you need an excuse to come visit Seattle.  The A Muse shop is the best excuse I can come up with for a visit.  They just won Seattle's NW Source 2008 People's Picks in the Knitting, Sewing, Craft Shop category!  This is a huge honor in our city and I'm so excited that A Muse won.  Linda puts a lot of thought and effort into the shop and she has a fantastic group of people working for her.  The shop staff are very helpful and always excited to see customers when they come in.

You may have also noticed that A Muse images have been featured a couple of times on the new Copic Markers blog by Marianne Walker.  If you make it to Seattle and you get to the A Muse Shop, they carry the Copic Markers.  I know everyone can't make a trip to Seattle just for the shop, so you can also order them on-line here.  Linda has put together some great sets for using with the A Muse images.

And last, but certainly not least.  Have you seen the July 2008 issue of Cards Magazine?  Well on page 80 you'll see this card that I made using A Muse images, card stock and ribbon.  This is a huge honor for me because I've NEVER been published.  I still don't have my copy of the magazine; I'm anxious to see it.  Julie  told me about it!  Thanks Julie!!

Happy Stamping!

Out of the Box Challenge

Have you seen the card challenge Elena put together for A Muse A Palooza today?!   Run on over and check it out.  If you have not registered, get registered and join in on the fun.  There are tons of opportunities for fun prizes.  Have you started playing the A Muse Clue game?  If not, you should join in.  Let me know if you're playing the OUt of the Box challenge so that I can check out your card.  I've been checking the Splitcoast board all day to see what everyone has created!

Not much time to make cards around my house lately.  There are so many things going on at work for me and my DH.  It has been a challenge to get enough sleep, keep up with Baby B and find time to make cards!!!  I'm going to make at least two cards tonight.  I hate going for so long without crafting.

If you read my blog regularly, can you let me know if you've encountered any issues reading it?  I've been having a heck of a time with Typepad.  Thanks!

Happy Stamping!

My brush with fame. . .

L to R:  Adelina, Robert & Kara {my coworker}

I had the pleasure of attending a keynote address by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on Monday, June 9th in Chicago.  I sat in the front row and listened to a very inspiring speech about the environment and some politics on the US role in the oil and coal industries.  RFK, Jr. is the nephew of JFK and it was an absolute honor to meet him in person.  I even had the chance to speak with him and get a quick photo at the end of the speech.  I'm 5'-6" tall, so you can see how tall he is from this photo!  If you're new to environmental issues, I urge you to check out his website. 

It's not stamping, but it's a pretty big deal for me.  I admire this man a great deal, so I was VERY excited to have met him.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Inspiration Challenge

Have you been playing along with the A Muse A Palooza fun?!  Jenn Shurkas has put together a little inspiration challenge for this week.  Who does not love Vera Bradley?!  I don't carry around her bags or products, but I certainly admire the designs.  So head on over to the blog and play along.

I got home last night from my trip to the mid-west for my friend's wedding and my business trip.  I missed Baby B and my DH.  I hate being apart from them.  My business trip was exhausting and I'm having issues focusing at work today.  Which is why I'm posting instead of going through the hundreds of work emails I received while away.

Back to work. . . .Happy Stamping!

Masculine Happy Birthday

Not sure if you caught the newsletter this week, but one of my cards was in there for the Masculine Cards for June.  I stamped these images from the Manly Set by A Muse with Versafine Ink onto some watercolor paper.  Then I used my twinkling h20's to color them in.  It was a lot easier than I thought.  I work in the construction industry, so this is great for some of the men in my office who are celebrating birthdays this month!  The sentiment is from the Celebration Kids Set.  The card base is also an A Muse square card.

Hope you're enjoying your weekend. One of my best friends from college is getting married today in Madison, WI.  We're attending the wedding.  We're alumni of the UW, so we're all excited to be back on campus.  Woot!  Woot!  GO BADGERS

Happy Stamping!

NKOTB

It was the spring of my sophmore year in highschool {circa 1990}.  I was getting ready for school when I heard our local radio station having a contest for tickets to see New Kids On the Block.  I thought, what the heck . . . I'll give it a shot.  So off I go to dial our phone.  They answer, the next thing I know I'm on the radio and I've won two tickets to see NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK!  I was screaming my head off!!!  I could not believe it.  It was the best concert EVER!  My aunt Eunice sat in the parking lot waiting for me and my cousin as we watched the concert.  Well my friends, it's time for me to re-live my youth.  On November 22, 2008 I will be attending the NKOTB concert with a group of girlfriends.  Unbelievable.

Color Challenge anyone?

So it is time for the first challenge of A Muse A Palooza!  Geeta has cooked up a fun little color challenge to kick off the festivities.  So head on over to the A Muse A Palooza blog and check out all the challenge details.  Then head on over to Splitcoast and add your card to the site.  The keyword should be AP08COLOR.

Here's my sample card for the challenge.  I used the Baby Wishes clear stamp set for this card with Distress Ink by Ranger in Tea Dye.  Then I colored the rocking horse with some copics and added a little glitter.  Finished it off with an A Muse stitched ribbon.  Lots of babies arrived in the past couple of months, so this card will come in very handy for me.

Happy Stamping!