All Is Calm

This is one of the Christmas cards I gave this year. I wanted something soothing and simple, but of course, I had to add some glitter too!

Holly Jolly Christmas

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas!

Chilly!

We had our first snow today in Northern Virginia so I thought this snowy card would be appropriate mark the ocassion.

2011 Already?

I just can't believe it's almost 2011! I guess I'm getting old, but 2000-2010 went way too fast for me. These pictures show the box and stand for my 2011 calendar class. I'll be teaching this class at Angela's this Sunday (12/12).

Simple Card

I think Vine Border was one of the best stamp purchases I've ever made. I've used it for elegant wedding cards, spring cards, Halloween, Fall and now I'm using it for this holiday card. In this card I interspersed snowflakes into the border and I think the vine helps to ground the sentiment. Next up for the Vine Border is Valentine's Day!

Birch trees

Now that Halloween is over I thought I would share some Fall cards. This card the birch trees. I used Memento Potter's Clay and Desert Sand for the trees. The leaves are on the side of the stamp so you can put them anywhere...very cool.

A Treat for you

Here's a fun little matchbox treat holder! It's so easy to make and it can hold candy corn or those bite size candy bars. Mmmmm.....excuse me while I raid the Halloween candy dish.

Open If You Dare

This is another simple Halloween card. I was trying to create the look of moss with my Copic markers and I think I did it. I colored the tombstones with gray and then splotched on Pale Olive. It didn't work too well so I went over the olive with the Colorless Blender making little circles. Voila! It worked (I think).

Versatility

I love to use stamps in unexpected ways. On this card I created a spooky scene with some stamps I wouldn't have normally used for Halloween. The sofa and lamp are old favorites that I've used in many different ways, but who would expect to see a rat sitting on the sofa, or a spider hanging from the lamp?

Hanging around again

Here's another hanger! We'll be making this and the Thankful hanger at Create It Crafts this Sunday.

Another Tricky card

When I was thinking of designs for my Tricks and Treats class I decided I would try a waterfall card. I know this is an old idea, but it was the first time I've tried it. It always looked complicated, but it's really easy once I got the basic measurements.

Tricky!

I'm teaching a class this Sunday at Angela's called Tricks and Treats. We'll be making some "tricky" interactive cards and some Halloween treat holders. This hinge card was so fun to make I think I'll be using hinges more often!

I have some hang-ups...

I shudder when I think of lima beans.

Clowns make me very nervous.

Socks that are inside out make me crazy.

Oh.....too much information?

Well, here are some hang-ups you may like. These are the hangers we'll be making in my Holiday Hangers class at Angela's Happy Stamper. You have your choice of Wicked or Thankful, but the class is long enough so just buy both and make them on Sunday, August 22. Fun!

Falling Leaves

It's still summer, but my head is already thinking about Fall. This card was one of my A Muse-a-Palooza class cards. The tree branch is definitely one of my favorite new stamps.

A Muse Bouche Baby!

This little snow baby is part of one of the new stamps. Snow baby actually has a birdie friend, but I didn't use him in this card. I love how this little guy is floating amidst the snowflakes.

Falling for A Muse

As part of A Muse*A*Palooza week at Angela's Happy Stamper I'll be teaching 4 fun classes. The first class (tomorrow evening) is called Falling for A Muse. This class will feature some of the newest A Muse stamps as well as some old favorites. This card features some of the older stamps that are perfect for Fall.

Stay tuned for more card creations this week!

Crabby shabby....

I have been a little crabby lately, but this little guy always cheers me up. You're probably wondering where the shabby is. My version of shabby is the loose and imperfectly cut panels behind the crabs. I tried (I really did!) to scuff it up and not be concerned with straight lines and perfect placement. I guess I'm not very good at it, but I like the card anyway.

Sailing away....

I've never been sailing, but this little boat makes me want to give it a try. I stamped, colored, and cut out the boat so it could be inserted into the waves. Life's a breeze was the perfect sentiment and I just had to use the new cloud paper!

This is one of the 10 cards we'll be making in my Life's a Beach! class at Angela's Happy Stamper and Create It Crafts. Can't wait!

Simply Rosy

Have you seen all the beautiful cards from the Creative Team? I've been so inspired by their designs. I didn't have much time this week, but I just had to pop in and show one of mine. I decided to make it simple (think simple, think A Muse right?). The new release, called Everything's Rosy, is just perfect for simple cards. On this card I used the new Bare Branch with leaves. The little leaves are on the side of the wood block so it's easy to add them where you want. I also use the new sentiment which I think is going to be another "go to" stamp for me. And then, of course, I had to use the new watermelon paper! It's so pretty I just want to lick it (mmm....).

Happy Happy

Happy Birthday A Muse! I case you didn't know, it's A Muse's 9th birthday. Check out all the incredible birthday cards by the Creative Team here.

Thanks

Thanks for hanging in with me.

It's been way too long

I know, I've been away far too long. My life has been moving much too fast. I just couldn't even find the time to stop in and say hello! I hope you'll forgive me. :(

Here's a little springtime gatefold card I recently made for a class (Fun Folds). Sometimes I get so locked into the typical folding cards that I forget about all the fun ways you can add a little spark to a card. Does that happen to you? I hope I'm not the only one.

I promise to check in again soon! I'm working on some summer/beach cards for my upcoming Life's a Beach class. I *heart* the A Muse beach images so much that we'll be making 10 cards in this class. I just couldn't help myself.....

True Blue

Little Moby is perfect for coloring. Here I used Prismacolor pencils to give him some shading. This card will be part of my upcoming Color My World class at Clare's Keepsake and Scrapbook Cove, Angela's Happy Stamper and Create It Crafts. Check out the dates and times under Upcoming Classes. If you're in Virginia, Delaware or Maryland I love to see you!

Sprinkles

Here's a simple card we'll be making in this weekend's Sweet Valentine Wishes class at Clare's Keepsake and Scrapbook Cove. We had to re-schedule to this Sunday, Feb. 14 due to the snow. I can't wait to meet new A Muse fans!

Splash

As I was designing cards with the new A Muse Sea of Love stamps I was reminded of some of my other favorite "sea" related stamps. The mermaid and tiny crab are always fun to use and the eucalyptus is perfect for seaweed. This card reminds me of the love story in the movie "Splash" so I thought it would be perfect for my Sea of Love Valentine class.

I *heart* cupcakes

Mmmmm....cupcakes. I love everything about cupcakes. They're perfect little specimens of deliciousness in one cute made-for-one package. I've made a little book about cupcakes and this is the cover. If you like cupcakes as much as I do, I hope you'll come to my Little Book of Cupcakes class on January 17 or January 24.

Did I mention that I like cupcakes?

Elegant Shells

It's been waaaay to long since I last posted! I kept thinking I should just pop in to say "hello," but life just seemed to get in the way. I hope you've had a wonderful holiday season and that your new year will be just has you hope!

I've got wonderful news! I'll be teaching at a new store called Clare's Keepsake and Scrapbook Cove in Bethany Beach, DE. Check the date (and Clare's website) on my upcoming classes!

Here's a little sneak peek from the new A Muse Sea of Love valentine stamp collection. I'm not sure how "elegant" it is, but I like the monochromatic look to it. Don't forget to check out the elegant cards by the Muses!