The Journey of Life

Love...

2012-01-23T00:01:00.000-05:00

well, I know that a lot of projects lately have had this- and honestly there is no reason. I wasn't even sure I was going to get a card made for this week's amuse challenge blog challenge. However, I did- put this together very quickly this morning- the challenge was to stamp on anything BUT paper. I had this felt heart cut out from last week and thought- why not! I put this together very quickly Sunday morning. I think this is one of my favorite things about a|s- it's easy to be CAS and it's easy to add layers. So, without further rambling- here you go!

Recipe
Stamps- Just my type
Ink- memento black
Paper- cherry, heartbreaker, sugar
Accessories- red felt, dimensionals

This is also for this week's Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge to make hearts stand out on your project.

Also- if you are interested in any of the products you can see them HERE or contact me for more info. If you do not receive my mailings you will want the one I sent last week so email me (address to the right) and I will forward to you!

Love is in the air...

2012-01-16T00:01:00.000-05:00

but not for me ;) It's the challenge over at the a muse studio challenge blog- to create a project that showcases love. This one will go in my "stash" so if anyone is interested in it let me know! This one was quick and easy- love my CAS designs...

Recipe:
Stamps-just my type
Ink- cherry
Paper- shell, cherry, sugar
accessories- felt

All supplies are a*muse|studio and can be found HERE!
And just an FYI- let me know if you want a catalog and I'll let you know how you can get one. Just comment here or send me an email! The new ones start Feb. 1

All Good things must come to an end :)

2012-01-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

Today is the 10th of January- hard to believe that in just a few days we'll be halfway through the month already! Yikes! Anyway, with the end of January brings the end of the current a*muse|studio catalog/idea book. Which means the new one starts February 1! I have seen a sneak peek at a few of the new stamp sets and a few of the new colors- and am wondering if anyone has seen the money tree? :)

All that to say- if you are interested in purchasing a 2012 a|s idea book and catalog please let me know by commenting here/sending me an email. Also- I will be compiling an email this week with the list of retired stamps and the retired tools list-probably Wednesday. If you are interested in receiving this email please comment here/send me an email (email is to the right or on my a|s website) and I would be thrilled to pass this along to you. If you already receive emails from me you are good to go :).

How about a card before you go!?

Yes, it's a Christmas card! I was a bad, bad cardmaker and didn't get any of the few cards I made sent out SO I am doing a Christmas card challenge- I'm making 5 in a month (this one is for January) to try to have a good start on them!

Recipe:
Stamps- Vintage Holiday Greetings
Paper- cherry, cherry gingham, sugar
Accessories- satin ribbon

Thinking of You

2012-01-09T00:01:00.000-05:00

This week's challenge over at the a muse studio challenge blog is to once again use embossing (heat). Only this time we were supposed to use it with adhesive instead of versamark. I had never done this and I am sure it looks much nicer with embossing powder that is colored. However, all I had to work with from a|s is clear so I stuck with two lines straight across the bottom.

Recipe:
Stamps-Beautiful Botanicals 2, Friend to Friend
Ink- Blackberry
Paper- Blackberry, sugar
Accessories- double stick adhesive, embossing powder, nestabilities, dimensionals

All products are a|s and can be found here

This is also for the Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge to make a thinking of you card

Deep Sympathy

2012-01-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

This week's challenge over at the a muse studio challenge blog is heat embossing. This was one of the first techniques I ever learned in my stamping life and it remains one of my favorites. Check out the challenge and play along...

This card was birthed out of the fact that I had a few people close to me (through church and work) lose loved ones right before Christmas. Because of the timing I did not have a chance to make any cards to send out so I decided that I needed to keep this type of card on hand.

I used the a*muse|studio inks here. They are moist enough that they allow the opportunity to emboss right on that stamped image without any type of versamark. I used the clear embossing powder that we carry. You can find any of the products that I used HERE.

Recipe:
Stamps-Loving Memories
Ink- Heather
Paper- Heather, kraft, vanilla
Accessories- nestabilities, vanilla button, heather satin ribbon, embossing powder (clear)

Countdown...

2011-12-26T00:01:00.000-05:00

This week's challenge over at the a muse studio challenge blog is to create a project that uses a number somewhere. i have decided that I am going to make a mini 2012 "scrapbook" and document important events in my life for the year. This will be my first page in my book and on December 31 or January 1 I will be sitting down with this page and recording some of my goals for the year. Can't wait to see what you create!

Recipe:
Stamps- Just My Type, Mini Clear alphabet
Paper- ocean, sugar, papaya
Ink- black
Accessories- dimensionals

Sugar and Spice....

2011-12-19T00:01:00.000-05:00

This week's challenge at the a muse studio challenge blog is to create a project/card/etc. that shows the sugar, spice, and everything nice (treats)

Mine will be posted on Wednesday (it's a card FOR someone and I don't want to post it just yet-just in case she sees it) :) Go check out the challenge- in the meantime- here's a fun little project from the past :) (it's another popcorn slider treat)

Recipe:
Stamps: Friend to Friend
Paper- onyx, sky gingham, sugar
Ink- Memento
Accessories- nestabilities (not available through a|s) and onyx buttons, slit punch, onyx sheer

Cold Nights, Warm Drinks

2011-12-12T00:01:00.001-05:00

I hosted a VSN (virtual stamping night) challenge over at SCS this past weekend. My challenge was simple- make a gift card holder with a "coffee"/warm drink theme. I'm not a coffee drinker- but I LOVE Starbucks' Caramel Apple Spice drink. YUM! Here's my sample- all supplies are a|s and can purchased online 24/7 right here.

Recipe:
Stamps- The Perfect Blend
Ink- memento black, copic markers
Paper- Fern, onyx polka dot, vanilla
Accessories- Nestabilities, sheer onyx ribbon

Whew

2011-12-12T00:01:00.000-05:00

Things around here have been crazy- I have been sick so crafting has been in between naps and laying around and occasional other things. I have several things that I crafted before so am sharing some of that. This past weekend was VSN over at SCS (you still have time to play along with the challenges). One of the challenges was to create a "winter wonderland" scene card. I pulled out this older stamp set from Gina K Designs (Warm Winter Wishes) and created my little winter scene. If you want to play along this also fits this week's a*muse|studio challenge (I don't have any a|s snowflake/snow stamps, dies, or impression plates so didn't play along over there).

Recipe:
Stamps- Gina K Designs- Warm Winter Wishes
Ink- black, copics
Paper- baja breeze, white, crumb cake
Accessories- cuttlebug embossing folders, label punch, pearls

Just a reminder

2011-12-11T16:44:00.002-05:00

For the Ten Holiday Must Haves and the Retiring List. Those on the retiring list are only around until they are sold out so get them now!

Merry Christmas tag

2011-12-05T00:01:00.000-05:00

This week's challenge over at the A Muse Studio Challenge blog is to create a tag. I kept mine CAS and was able to use my new a|s tag dies. They aren't a big "canvas" to work with so with these CAS is the way to go. We all need tags for those Christmas gifts so get creating!

Recipe:
Stamps- Essential Sentiments
Ink- cherry
Paper- kraft, cherry
Accessories- cherry twine, heart dies, tag dies

No Coloring?!?

2011-12-03T22:47:00.003-05:00

WOW- Julie- nothing like a hard challenge there :) I am a teacher- I LOVE to color! I was putting some of these 2.75x2.75 cards together for gifts and thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to play in Julie's challenge over at Paper and Such. I used all a*muse|studio products on these cards and you can see the list of them down below. If you need a good gift- these are perfect- I made several (and you'll see them here and there this week) that fall under various occasions. These two are just good "friend" ones- birthday, thinking of you, etc. They are the perfect size to slip into a gift bag, on a present, or on a co-worker's desk just to say thanks or thinking of you, etc. If you are interested let me know and I'll work out a deal for you :)

Recipe:
Stamps- Friend to Friend
Ink- memento black, cherry
Paper- kraft, red gingham, sugar

*no coloring tools were harmed in the making of these cards :)

TOP 10 MUST HAVES (from a|s)

2011-12-03T00:01:00.001-05:00

If these are on your Christmas list let me know :)

It's a Poppin' Good Time :)

2011-12-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

Okay, I couldn't resist. Today is the day for December's Creative Consultant blog hop!

"If you are participating in the blog hop, you should have come from Samantha's blog.

The theme for this month was anything goes! I went for something easy- I made these popcorn sliders for a craft show/bazaar earlier in November but these make fun gifts for teachers, friends, or stocking stuffers. You can add a movie gift card or a gift card for a video store (if there's any around anymore) and it makes a fun little gift. Enjoy and if you need any let me know- I have several or can make them quickly! All supplies are a*muse|studio and can be found here!

Recipe:
Stamps: School Days
Paper: Cherry Damask, Cherry, Sugar
Ink: black, copic markers
Accessories- Nestabilities, cherry satin ribbon

Recipe:
Stamps: mini alphabet
Paper: Orange polka dot, vanilla, onyx
Ink: black
Accessories: onyx sheer ribbon

Thanks for visiting and now you're on to your next stop- Maria at It's all very a-musing

Merry Christmas- CAS

2011-11-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

Today's challenge at the a*muse|studio challenge blog is to create a holiday card- I used my Holy Night set to create this very CAS Christmas card. This is the first stamping I have done in about 2-3 weeks so wanted to make something "easy" yet classy. You can get all supplies HERE and don't forget to create your wishlist for Christmas. a|s ships FAST (it does take a week to get from Seattle to TN) but I have customers in Oregon who have received theirs within 2 days of shipping- so- Make that wish list and direct your shopper to my site and let them have at it :)

Recipe:
Stamps- Holy Night
Ink- Cherry
Paper- cherry, cherry gingham, sugar
Accessories- white button, cherry twine, cherry satin ribbon, dimensionals

ABC...it's easy as 1,2,3

2011-11-21T00:01:00.002-05:00

I am the hostess over at the a*muse studio challenge blog this week :) Check it out here but here are all the details:

No, we aren't headed back to school (although since I am a teacher I head there every day...) :)
My name is Tami Grandi and I am your East TN a*muse consultant. If you are in the east TN area (from Johnson City to Nashville to Knoxville to Chattanooga) I would love to be your consultant! Anyway, I want to keep this short and sweet since I know we are all very busy with the Thanksgiving holiday this week (which should also mean lots of time to play). My challenge is simple- create Anything But a Card. I know that I tend to create a lot of "projects" for the gift giving side of the holiday and since most people give gift cards I went with a lip balm/gift card holder. I found the tutorial through SCS and it was a pretty easy and quick gift to gather together. Take a peek-here and then get creating!

Recipe: (all supplies can be purchased here)
Stamps- Clear Alphabet
Ink- memento black
Paper- bermuda polka dot paper, vanilla/ivory, onyx
Accessories- nestabilities

FYI- These hold lip balm, candy, and gift cards. If you (anyone local) would be interested in purchasing one I have several left for sale. Please feel free to contact me at my email or leave a comment and I would be glad to get it to you!

I'll Be Home for Christmas

2011-11-11T22:00:00.000-05:00

One of the challenges over on SCS for the mini-VSN (virtual stamping night) was to create a card based on your favorite Christmas song (and include 2 embellishments). I don't necessarily have a favorite but I love Bing Crosby's version of I'll Be Home for Christmas in the movie White Christmas and this image just reminds me so much of that song. This is an old PSX stamp.

Recipe:
Stamp- PSX and a*muse|studio
Paper- Real Red, white
Ink- black, copic markers
Accessories- black rhinestone twinkle stickers, copic spica pen

Thanks so Much

2011-11-07T00:01:00.000-05:00

Today's challenge over at the a*muse|studio challenge blog is to create a thank you card and try to stick with the holiday theme. I decided to use holiday colors- this was a quick and simple card and one that can be reproduced quickly when the need arises. Don't forget to play along with us- and you don't have to use a*muse products unless you just want to show them off :) Can't wait to see your creations.

Recipe: (all products are a|s and can be purchased 24/7 here)
Stamps- Just Because and Contemporary Greetings
Ink- Fern, cherry
Paper- cherry, fern, cherry gingham, sugar
Accessories- nestabilities, twinkle stickers, dimensionals

Noel

2011-11-02T06:07:00.001-04:00

Welcome to November's consultant blog hop- First, I want to apologize for completely messing this up- I was supposed to have it all ready and got so wrapped up in school stuff I forgot to finish my post!

You should have come from Samantha's blog

Our theme this month was holiday! I used my Vintage Holiday Greeting stamps to create this gift card holder. I know that I give quite a few gift cards at Christmas so figured this would be the perfect time to make one.

Recipe:
Stamps- a*muse- Vintage Holiday Greetings
Paper- Fern, sugar, cherry
Ink- cherry
Accessories- cherry twine, cherry satin ribbon, grass button

Next you are off to Angie's Blog

Embossing...or is it?

2011-10-31T00:01:00.000-04:00

This week's challenge over at the a*muse|studio challenge blog is to use dry embossing. i don't have any a|s impression plates and Carla sent me the link to this blog post- for faux dry embossing. You use die cuts to create embossed look (and those I do have). I decided to pull out my butterfly dies and use buttercup and french roast. All I did was die cut my butterflies, attach them to various places on my card front and voila! I did not ink it up (if I did kraft like the tutorial I may have but didn't have buttercup ink to do so). Very fun! Thanks for looking and I hope you play along with us (and remember you don't have to use a|s products but we would love to see them. And, if you are interested in a|s products- check out my page here, download the catalog (or contact me to purchase one) and make your wish list (Christmas is coming) :)

Recipe:
Stamps-handscripted
Paper- Buttercup, sugar, french roast
Ink- french roast
accessories- butterfly die

Pink and Brown inspiration

2011-10-24T00:01:00.000-04:00

Analyn is our hostess this week over at the amuse studio challenge blog. She drew her inspiration from the colors bubblegum and french roast. She said you can any color pink and brown though! I'm going to keep this short and sweet- just make sure you play along with us! All supplies are a*muse|studio and can be purchased anytime online right here.

Recipe:
Stamps- Hearts a plenty, Just my type
Ink-bubblegum, french roast
Paper- Bubblegum, french roast, bubblegum gingham, sugar
Accessories- pearls, bubblegum satin ribbon

Earnest Prayer

2011-10-23T12:14:00.004-04:00

Man, it's been a crazy, busy week- parts of it have been great and other parts not so great. I did get to see my parents a couple of times (they were at a conference) and so that was good. Yesterday I did get some things done so I had time to craft. Loving this card!

Recipe:
Stamps- Gina K- Lovely Shelf
Ink- memento black, copic markers, touch twin markers
Accessories- copic spica pen

Don't forget to check out the giveaway info HERE. I'm extending this for a day (or two) since I haven't been able to be here to remind you.

Happy Birthday!

2011-10-17T20:45:00.002-04:00

This is another one that I think I MAY have shared before but I wanted to share it again (and be sure to read all the way through for a fun crafty giveaway).

Recipe:
Stamps- A very merry unbirthday
Paper- Cherry, buttercup polka dot, sugar
Ink- cherry
Accessories- cherry twine and buttercup button

Okay- and now the giveaway (actually 2)- I just ordered a bag of French Roast buttons and now have another bag (from a set I ordered) on it's way. I would love to gift some of these buttons (of all sizes) to some of my crafty friends. If you are interested please just comment here by Sunday, October 23 at noon. Pass the word along :)

Giveaway #2: I have a Facebook page for my business- you can check it out HERE a|s had a WCMD promotion for a pack of 10 notecards. These are blank notecards and can be embellished or just written in as a blank card. The colors are gorgeous and are all different colors. My second giveaway will be on my FB page. All you need to do is like my FB page and spread the word. For each person that writes and says you referred them then you get an extra entry. If I make it to 40 likes (which is 16 likes from where I am now) I will add in a ribbon grab bag. thanks for your support!

Buttons

2011-10-17T06:07:00.002-04:00

Pretty sure I have already blogged this card but I wanted to have a post for today's a*muse|studio challenge. The challenge is to use a button on your card. Buttons and ribbons are two of my favorite embellishments so when I get a chance to make a NEW card this week it will not be a hard challenge to work! :) Thanks for stopping by and as always- products can be purchased here.

Recipe:
A*muse|studio- Friend to Friend
Ink- Navy, grass
Paper- sugar, navy, shell
accessories- buttons, satin ribbon

*come back later for a peek at a fun giveaway!

a|s October Spotlight

2011-10-15T18:55:00.002-04:00

a|s October spotlight (click the words to go to the file).

BTW- if anyone knows how to imbed a PDF into a blog post let me know please!

check out these fun projects! Aren't they just gorgeous! And that color combo is stunning!
Prices are good between October 15-November 14. Let me know if you are interested!

Friendship

2011-10-14T22:24:00.004-04:00

So, I am a little behind the eight-ball this week- it's been a busy one! I have enjoyed my last two days on fall break :) Last week I was one of the Saturday Spotlights on the Paper and Such blog. The set that was featured was A Song in My Heart. Love these birds! Of course I realized after the fact that my top layer was a bit crooked (hate that!)

Recipe:
Stamps- Paper and Such- Song in my Heart
Ink- black, marina mist, copic markers, chocolate chip
Paper- Marina Mist, Chocolate chip, vanilla, su dsp
accessories- button, twine

And don't forget about our challenge over at the amuse challenge blog (to create your own backgrounds). You don't need amuse stamps to play! However, if you are interested you can get some supplies here!

All About the Backgrounds

2011-10-10T00:01:00.000-04:00

Today's challenge over at the A Muse Studio Challenge blog is to use stamps to create your own background. I used the star stamp and the Merry Christmas from Holy Night to create mine. I'm liking this card.... :) You can purchase all supplies HERE. Hope you can play along with the challenge!

Recipe:
Stamps- Holy Night
Ink- Navy
Accessories- navy satin ribbon

A Pink Elephant

2011-10-04T22:04:00.003-04:00

and a winner (but first the card) :) I'll start by saying that this is for Lydia's challenge over at Splitcoast to make a card with a pink critter. I chose this pink elephant and to make a baby card. They are having a Hope You Can Cling To drive for cards to be sent to a hospital in Texas. As this is the month that the focus is on "pink" (breast cancer) the challenges use a LOT of pink :) Within the past week I have had the moms of two different friends diagnosed with this disease- with one it has reared it's ugly head a second time. Definitely makes it hit home! So, as I make my various pink cards this month I will be praying for them and cheering for them as they travel this journey!

Recipe:
Stamps- a*muse|studio - Sweet Treats, The Mighty Jungle
Ink- black, copic markers
Paper- Pebble, Blush, sugar
Accessories- buttons, shell satin ribbon, dimensionals

And the winner: random.org picked #13 (out of 13 comments) and that person is Jessica of Kissin' Krafts. Jessica- pop me at an email at the email address in the "about me" section with your mailing address! Thanks for looking and I hope you continue to be inspired!

For Everything there is a Season...

2011-10-03T00:01:00.001-04:00

and the seasons are turning. I was driving down the road yesterday and noticed that the leaves are starting to change colors, the days and nights are cooler, and there is just an overall feel of fall in the air (of course they are calling for temps back in the 80's this week but hey, I can dream). This week's challenge over at the amuse studio challenge blog was to use leaves on your card. I don't have the adorable leaf stamp sets that a|s has released in their holiday catalog but I do have this great tree stamp that was in one of my sampler sets from my kit. I decided to combine it with this sentiment and make my trees ready for fall. That orange one is one of a kind. Hope you can play along and be sure to link up your creation!

Recipe:
Stamps- Woodland Friends, Sweet Love
Paper- Pumpkin, Papaya, Sugar
Ink- memento black, copic markers
Accessories- french roast sheer polka dot ribbon, french roast grosgrain stitch (for my pumpkin stem), lime sheer polka dot ribbon (for my pumpkin leaf), and pumpkin button

As always if you are interested in ordering or hosting a workshop check it out HERE for details!

One last thing- don't forget to comment on my Oct 1 post, my Oct. 2 post and this post for a chance to win some clear twinkle stickers and a ribbon sampler from me in honor of WCMD! The more you comment the more chances to win!

First Day of School!

2011-10-02T00:01:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the October a*muse|studio blog hop. Samantha had some things going on this month so I volunteered to "host" this month and my theme challenge was scrapbooking. I started out in this paper crafting hobby with scrapbooking and 4 years later was introduced to card making. Now, when I scrapbook I tend to do the smaller 6x6 pages instead of the 12x12 pages I started with. I put together this page for my nephew's first day of Kindergarten next year (*sniff I won't be able to be there). I am the first stop on this hop this month. So, take a peek and then take a few minutes to hop on to the next one.

Oh, and by the way- comment on any posts from October 1 through October 3 and you will be entered to win a set of twinkle stickers and a "grab bag" of ribbon in honor of yesterday's World Card Making Day!

Recipe:
Stamps- School Days
Paper- Cherry, cherry gingham, sugar
Ink- copic markers, black, black marker
Accessories- ribbon, dimensionals

Your next stop on the hop is Mindy!

Happy WCMD!

2011-10-01T00:01:00.003-04:00

For those of you reading my blog post through FB- WCMD stands for World CardMaking Day! Today's post is part of a large blog hop from The World CardMaking Day website (yes, there's a website just for the day). IF you are hopping along in order you should have come from Danielle's blog. My card today uses a few of my favorite things (all from a*muse|studio).

Recipe:
Stamps- Sweet Love, Lots of Dots
Ink- Ocean, bubblegum, grass, cherry, memento black, tombow markers
Paper- Ocean, sugar
Accessories-copic marker (R29), ocean polka dot ribbon, copic clear spica

**To celebrate WCMD I am giving away a package of clear twinkle stickers and a random "grab bag" of ribbon from a|s (two of my favorite things). All you have to do is comment. The winner will be posted Tuesday morning, October 4- just make sure you come back to check to see if you are the winner!

Twine, Twine, Everywhere there's Twine :)

2011-09-26T00:01:00.001-04:00

Sorry! Couldn't resist! :) The challenge at the a*muse|studio challenge blog this week is to use twine. Just a reminder that you do NOT have to use a|s products to play along (although if you have them we would love to see them)! I used one of the new Christmas sets with the cherry twine (little secret- this is the only a|s twine I have so far- I have several colors of solid twine and baker's twine here but it was purchased before a|s or before a|s started carrying it). Enjoy! All supplies are a*muse|studio

Recipe:
Stamp-Vintage Holiday Greetings
Ink- Cherry
Paper- Cherry, cherry gingham, sugar
Accessories- cherry twine, pearl twinkle stickers

Happy Birthday

2011-09-24T21:10:00.003-04:00

My friend Julie, over at Paper and Such, released this great masculine set a couple of weeks ago. It's called Deer Dad and it's available over there now! I'm keeping this post short and getting right to the info. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Recipe:
Stamp- Deer Dad
Ink- Chocolate Chip
Paper- Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Jillibean Soup dp
Accessories- sponge (I sponged Chocolate Chip ink on the outer crumb cake piece) and twine

You Make My Life Beautiful!

2011-09-21T20:23:00.004-04:00

Just a reminder to play in the a*muse|studio challenge blog this week. It's to "make" your own embellishments. I made this quick and easy card tonight by using the a*muse|studio clear twinkle stickers and coloring them with my E29 copic. I really like that I can customize my pearls and twinkle stickers by coloring them with my copics. You can find all supplies used HERE.

Recipe:
Stamps: Beautiful Botanicals 2, handscripted
Ink: Papaya, French Roast
Paper- Papaya, French Roast, sugar
Accessories- twinkle stickers (clear), copic marker E29

Merry Christmas with pearls

2011-09-19T00:01:00.000-04:00

It's Monday and time for another challenge over at the a*muse|studio challenge blog. Today's challenge is to "create" your own embellishment. I colored our pearl twinkle stickers with my Prussian Blue copic. This is one of my favorite techniques because it allows for customized pearls (you can color the rhinestones also). You can find all of these products here! Hope to see you playing along- you don't need a|s products to do so!

Recipe:
Stamps- Holy Night
Ink- Navy
Paper- Navy, Pebble, sugar
Accessories- Navy satin ribbon, pearl twinkle stickers, prussian blue copic marker

You Rock!

2011-09-12T15:12:00.000-04:00

I got an email the other day asking me to be a guest designer for the CAS challenge over at SCS. This challenge is always right up my alley- love to keep my cards CAS. I was supposed to have a turn later this year but she needed to switch and since I had some crafting time this week (I mean since I MADE some crafting time this weekend) I pulled this one together. The best thing about CAS is that they usually come together quickly! This week's challenge was a sketch! and a relatively easy one at that! Enjoy!

Recipe:
Stamps- You Rock (a*muse|studio)
Ink- Memento Black
Paper- Blueberry, Blueberry gingham, sugar
Accessories- black twinkle stickers

You Make Me Happy

2011-09-12T00:01:00.001-04:00

This week's challenge over at the a*muse|studio challenge blog is quite simple- to use ribbons! I hope you plan on taking a few moments of a busy week to join us! You can use any products (but we would love to see your a|s products)- just be sure to use ribbon (this was not a stretch for me!) Here's my card- the details follow! All products are a*muse|studio

Recipe:
Stamps: Beautiful Botanicals; hand scripted (more on this set later this week)
Ink: ocean (stamped off), memento black
Cardstock- sugar
Accessories- Ocean sheer polka dot ribbon

3-D Challenge

2011-09-05T00:01:00.001-04:00

Today's challenge over on the a*muse|studio challenge blog is to create a card that is 3-D in nature- providing dimension of some sort. My card here with the butterflies was made for another VSN challenge- Lydia challenged us to the state flag of TX as our inspiration- I used the sketch as a starting point. My dimension is with my butterflies (can you tell I like these dies?) and the twinkle stickers on the butterflies.

All products are a*muse|studio

Recipe:
Stamps- Just Because, Clever Girls
Paper- sugar, cherry, cherry gingham
Ink- cherry
accessories- butterfly die, twinkle stickers

ETA: Michelle, Kelly, and Mary Rose- thanks for your tips!

Tips and Tricks for Frugal Crafting 1

2011-09-04T19:36:00.000-04:00

I have thought throughout the day how I am going to do these tips and tricks to be a frugal crafter and have decided that I am going to list the tips and then at the end of the post I will make a list of the ladies who shared their fabulous tips! (I put my comments in red)

-keep packaging from my purchases and reuse the boxes also the twine/ribbon to use on my projects

-I keep all my pattern paper and cardstock scraps and go to those first when I want to die cut a shape. No piece is too small, you never know when you need to punch a 1/4" circle

-Choosing one company for my inks & cardstock (and most of my dp & ribbon) My suggestion of course is a*muse|studio. There are so many companies with lovely papers & inks - but I just can't afford them all, nor do I have space to store them all. Though I have made an exception for black - I have quite a few black ink pads! In keeping with the above, I also limit the number of stamp companies I buy from. There are just SOOOOOOOOO many wonderful, wonderful stamps out there. I want them all! Anyway, I have found that limiting myself to wishlists & purchases from no more than 6 really helps keep my spending under control and closer to my budget.

* Get your inspiration from the internet rather than trips to the store...it's a lot cheaper! (I visit SCS)

* Do not succumb to the temptation of the craft store coupon. When you enter the store, you will be lured into buying things you don't need!

* Ribbon shares and paper shares are a great way to get a sampling of a product without needing to have a huge quantity. (a|s has fabulous ribbon- simply gorgeous! I would LOVE to do a ribbon share/baker's twine share/or a paper share- if you are interested either comment here or send me an email and I will gladly set that up)

-I think being organized is a great way to be frugal.....not that I speak from experience LOL....but when you keep things organized you are less likely to buy doubles or unnecessary items.....THAT part is from experience . (Ummm... yeah, I have done this too!)

This ribbon came from a roll of ribbon from a*muse|studio- I LOVE this satin ribbon- it's so easy to work with. The satin ribbon comes in a multitude of colors. I also look for versatile sentiment sets- this one- Contemporary Greetings from a|s has a LOT of versatility to it and can fit with lots of occasions. More bang for my buck! Don't forget to let me hear your frugal tips...

How to be a frugal crafter...

2011-09-03T21:58:00.002-04:00

in tough economic times. Things are tight- recent unemployment rates (especially in the southeast) are extremely high but one thing I know from being in these tight times (as well as what I have learned in the past) is that everyone has to have an outlet. For my dad- it's cycling and reading. My sister's is running. My mom's...well, she likes to play games on the phone and watch tv (and recently walking). Me? I like to zumba (but haven't been able to for about 4 months (1 due to end of school stuff and 3 due to bad back) and stamp. The thing is- most hobbies are not cheap and therefore can "test" the money part of life.

I am participating in Faith United Methodist Church's Ladies Night on September 15. This will be the third year for this event and the first year I am participating as a vendor. I am going with a dual purpose: One- to try to build my a*muse|studio business. Things are going well but I would LOVE a little more income to help with traveling and Christmas. Two- to sell some cards and spread the love of my hobby. One thing I used to hear over and over was, "You must save so much money making your own cards." That made me laugh! I started this craft in 2005 (after 4 years of scrapbooking) and can't imagine the $$ spent on this craft. However, along the way I have picked up some ideas to make this craft a bit more frugal. And, to help with this list- I asked some of my "nearest and dearest friends" over at SCS (and the a|s Lounge) to share their tips to be a frugal crafter. They shared lots of great ideas and I plan to share a few of them every day- my goal is to share a few daily. This post is going live on Saturday night. I am going to be away from my computer most of the day on Sunday but hopefully on Sunday night I will sit down and share a few per day (and then share a card that goes along with those tips). There were some GREAT ones! Please plan on stopping by and if you have any you would like to share I would LOVE to hear them!

Christmas Inspiration

2011-09-02T00:01:00.000-04:00

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

This is probably my FAVORITE new stamp set from the a*muse|studio holiday catalog. It's called Holy Night and can be found right here (along with the cardstock and inks used). One of the challenges at VSN last weekend was to create a telescoping card. I decided to use the new stamp set as well as the new pebble color to help with this card. You can see the closed and open versions. The only part NOT a|s are the brads (and that's only because I rarely use them so I haven't bought any).

Recipe:
Stamps-Holy Night
Ink- Pebble, Navy
CS- Pebble, Navy, Sugar
Accessories- Nestabilities, brads, navy satin ribbon

Don't forget to play in my inspiration challenge! You can find the details HERE!

Now on to your next stop Sherri's blog.

Merry Christmas!

2011-08-30T01:13:00.000-04:00

Well, I know it's a few months away- but I need to start working on my cards early. I am not a fan of mass production and so I have been doing them here and there. This is one I made using a new set from a*muse|studio. I pinch-hit in a challenge for VSN over at SCS this past weekend and my challenge was to create a tent-topper card. These are fun and easy. Enjoy!

Recipe:
Stamps- Vintage Holiday Greetings
Ink- Cherry
Paper- Cherry polka dot, cherry, evergreen, vanilla
Accessories- nestabilities, cherry satin ribbon

Don't forget to check out this post HERE for a chance to play along!

Inspiration!

2011-08-29T00:03:00.002-04:00

That's what you will get when you participate in our a|s challenge blog. Today's challenge is all about inspiration. I have provided a photo for your inspiration- your task/challenge is to create a project/card based on this photo. You can draw your inspiration from any part of this photo- just be sure to note what it is when you link up.

My card takes the inspiration from the color scheme and the butterflies on the pillow.

Recipe:
Stamps- Birthday Greetings
Ink- Memento
Paper- Ocean, Orange, Sugar, Pebble
Accessories- butterfly die, dimensionals

If you are in Tennessee or a surrounding state and are interested in a*muse|studio please feel free to email me at zephan3.17@gmail.com. I would love to be your a|s consultant.

Now for the rules:
1. Although we would love to see your A Muse Studio supplies in action, you do not have to use a|s to play.
2. Make your project and link it to Mr. Linky.
3. I will choose one random participant to win a sampling of a|s ribbons and buttons. Can't wait to see your inspirational projects!

Summer is Hot, Hot, Hot :)

2011-08-23T21:50:00.004-04:00

This summer has definitely been a hot one but this week, for being the middle of August, has been surprisingly pleasant. Not too hot, nice breezes, and lots of sunshine. The CAS challenge over at SCS was to create a card that symbolized "hot". I went with the bright colors that I love to see in the summer. Pretty soon we are going to see lots of fall colors (oranges, browns, etc) and then winter colors (red, green, blues, whites, etc) so let's get one last hurrah in! I drew my summer inspiration from the ocean and papaya colors. Loving this color combination so may have to make a few more with this one before summer is over! Makes some bright and cheery cards! All supplies are a*muse|studio and can be found HERE.

Recipe
Stamps- Life's a Breeze, Graphic Sunflower
Paper- Ocean, Papaya, Sugar
Ink- memento black, ocean, papaya
Accessories- ocean polka dot organdy ribbon

Don't forget the Holiday catalog is now available for ordering! You can see it HERE

Glitter...really? Nah!

2011-08-22T00:02:00.003-04:00

Those who know me know that glitter is definitely NOT my favorite embellishment (and for most teachers that's just crazy talk) so when I saw Carla's challenge for our brand new a*muse|studio challenge blog I just shook my head. I am so excited about this new blog where you will get to see a|s goodies every week! We will have a new challenge every Monday (mine is next week!) and you don't have to use a|s products to play (although we would love to see them).

So, since glitter was the first challenge and we all know I don't do glitter- well, what's a girl to do? Improvise- a|s also sells the copic spica clear glitter pen. It's hard to see but I promise it's there on the red flowers. It's so hard to get a picture of sparkle...

This was also for this week's CPS challenge. What a great sketch! ALL products are a*muse|studio and can be found HERE. Don't forget- amuse-a-palooza starts TODAY!! Contact me if you would like to order or if you would like information!

Recipe:
Stamps- Friend to Friend
Ink- memento black, copic markers
Paper- sugar, cherry gingham, cherry
Accessories- cherry satin ribbon, copic spica clear glitter pen

Here's the close up- see, told you it was there:

A New Challenge in town...

2011-08-21T17:50:00.003-04:00

Check HERE tomorrow morning for a brand new challenge blog coming! My post will be going live shortly after midnight and you'll be able to check out the challenge then!

Spotlight in August!

2011-08-16T02:08:00.000-04:00

August 15 started a whole new spotlight set for a*muse|studio. These spotlights are great ways to add to your stamping "stash" for a sale price. You can save 10% off catalog prices on the stamps and get a special price on a variety pack of specially selected cardstock. Check out the pictures for some projects (not made by me) using these items and then after the pictures you will see a list of the stamps and paper on sale.

This is made with a set that I have coming:
AND, after seeing these next two projects- well, I know another set that I'll be ordering soon- *sigh* does it ever end?

(love that one and as soon as the directions are posted for this- or I figure out exactly how they did it I will have to make something up...)

Stamps on sale- 10% off
Rock Star
The Mighty Jungle
Past Due
Personal Stationery
School Days

Collegiate assortment pack includes:
Cranberry
Buttercup
Fern
Winter Sky
Eucalyptus

Go HERE if you would like to order or shoot me an email!

A Note of Thanks

2011-08-15T20:40:00.003-04:00

Today was the first official day of school. Teachers have been back here for a week but the students started back with a half day today! When I got home today- after being in information overload (for what feels like the hundredth time in the past week and a half) I had to sit down and make something-so I pulled out this week's CPS sketch challenge which can be found here. I used all a*muse|studio products which can be found here.

Recipe:
Stamps- Life is a song, avian notes, clever girls
Paper- Cherry, cherry damask, sugar
Ink- black, cherry
accessories- scallop edge die, dimensionals, pearls

Sneak Peek- Christmas

2011-08-13T22:24:00.003-04:00

Ready or not- Christmas is coming and if you are anything like me you like to make your Christmas cards. I like to have them made early but I am not big on mass-producing so I like to keep them simple. This one is sort of copied from the catalog using different colors and layers. Hope you enjoy!

Here's a look at the Holy Night stamp set and a new color from the holiday catalog from a*muse|studio. You will be able to purchase as of August 22 right HERE

Recipe:
Stamps- holy night
Ink- navy
Cardstock- Navy, sugar, pebble
accessories- dimensionals, satin ribbon (navy)

Life is a Gift

2011-08-11T21:59:00.003-04:00

The challenge over at the Paper and Such blog was to create a card focusing on the sentiment. I decided to use this quote from the Water Lily set at Paper and Such. I pulled out some of the SU papers to match the colors in the dp (which I can't remember who makes) and stamped my sentiment right on the dp. I also pulled out my cherry twine from a*muse|studio and made it look like a gift. Enjoy and Thanks for looking!

Recipe:
Stamps- Water Lily by Paper and Such
Ink- Memento Black
Paper- Real Red, Baja Blue, and dp
Accessories- cherry twine

So Nice

2011-08-04T01:08:00.001-04:00

I pulled out this retired SU designer paper that I had my stash and combined it with my a*muse|studio stamps from Just Because. Love the sentiment in this set. You can find the stamps here or by clicking the link at the top right.

Recipe:
Stamps- a*muse|studio- Just Because, Clever Girls
Ink- sky, french roast
Paper- Marina Mist, Chocolate chip, tangerine tango, su dsp, vanilla

Seashell Wishes

2011-08-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

Today is the monthly a*muse|studio consultant blog hop- our challenge this month was to take and share what summer means to us. To me, summer is all about spending time with family, relaxing and enjoying the less stressful side of life. For a lot of people that means vacations to the beach and when people head to the beach they usually pick up shells.

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

Recipe:
Stamps- Sea Shells, Life's a Breeze
Paper- Bermuda, Sugar, Bermuda polka dot, latte
Ink-bermuda, black
Accessories- dimensionals

and finish with "Now on to your next stop Dana's blog.

Samantha Kania http://kania-amusestudio.blogspot.com/
Analyn Mattero
Tamra Grandi (ME)
Dana Vincent
Cathy Pulickal
Carissa Fulkerson
Amber Smith
Lori Barnett
Pamela Fredrickson
Vanessa Buzard
Kelly Spivey
Kari Bell
Tara Johnson
Lianna Llama
Melissa Roell

Sunset Thoughts

2011-07-31T16:15:00.002-04:00

One of the challenges over at VSN was to use your brayer and make a sunset card. My first attempt- well, we'll just say it ended up in the garbage :) I found a tutorial at Michelle Zindorf's blog to follow. Once I did that, it went a lot smoother- thank goodness! Anyway, here's my card with a beautiful sunset. Since I am still adding to my a*muse|studio inks and didn't have all of the colors I needed I went ahead and used my SU inks but used my a*muse|studio stamps since I thought this silhouette stamp was perfect.

recipe:
Stamps- a*muse|studio- friend to friend
Ink- So Saffron, More Mustard, Tangerine Tango, Memento Black
Paper- Gina K white, Tangerine Tango, black
Accessories- die cut for mask

One last thing: The winner of this fantastic prize: I will give away to a lucky commenter on ANY of the posts throughout the week on my blog a catalog, some of the ribbon, a couple 1/4 sheets of polka dot and gingham paper and some buttons is.......

Ravengirl said...

Love this one! That paper is fabulous!

July 29, 2011 6:13 PM

Toni- I will get this out within the next two days (I have your address)

Doctor's Orders

2011-07-30T15:42:00.004-04:00

I made this for the final VSN challenge but didn't read the directions very well (well, I did read them but when I went to make the card I forgot the part to include gingham) so here's just a random card. The patterned paper is My Mind's Eye and I get it from Julie at Paper and Such, the stamp is a*muse|studio and can be found here.

Recipe:
Stamp- a*muse|studio (doctor's orders)
Paper- cherry, white, wheat, MME
Ink- black, copic markers
Accessories-cherry ribbon, dimensionals

Bright Colored Kites...

2011-07-29T19:40:00.003-04:00

For a clown! Here's my challenge from SCS to use 4 bright colors and have something pop up :) Love a*muse|studio stamps- I have found that the more cards I make- the more my style goes to CAS (clean and simple) and a|s stamps really lend themselves to that. I hope you enjoy and don't forget to check out the posts below for how you can win some a*muse|studio goodies!

Recipe;
stamps- Life's a Breeze, brief notes
Paper- cherry, sugar
accessories- dimensionals
ink- black, copic markers

Happy Birthday in Orange

2011-07-29T17:47:00.003-04:00

Tonight is the mini- VSN over at SCS- this was for challenge #1- to use flags/pennants/banners of some sort on the card. I found this BG paper in my stash and was able to use it here. The stamp set is from a*muse|studio and can be purchased HERE. If you have some stamping time tonight feel free to join us- each challenge is only 45 minutes (and I am hosting one tonight at 7). I will have one more post for tonight (my challenge card) shortly after 7. Don't forget to play in the CPS sketch challenge- details are here (this would be a perfect sketch to use for tonight) and don't forget to comment on every post through tomorrow night. I have a fun giveaway!

Recipe
Stamps- birthday greetings
Paper: orange, papaya, sugar, BG
Ink- orange
accessories- twinkle stickers

CPS Sponsorship- Part 2 :)

2011-07-27T06:19:00.000-04:00

Today, you get to see the prize as well as some cards. You can check out the CPS blog to see their designer's cards throughout the week- they have been FABulous!

First, here's my card :)

Recipe:
Stamps- Graphic Sunflower (a spotlight set- on sale for 8.99), A very merry un-birthday, Contemporary Greetings
Ink- black, ocean, copic markers, tombow markers, sugar
Paper- Ocean, sugar
Accessories- dimensionals

Next, my friend Stacy ordered some stamps and so I forwarded her the sketch so she could play. I am showcasing this one and then sending you to her blog so you can see all of her other beautiful creations.

and Finally- the prize! You can win this if you play along.

the Clear twinkle stickers, this Smile Inside stamp set, and the micro multi-color twinkle stickers.

Don't forget to check out this post for the sketch and details of the giveaway as well as my special.

*one last note- at this time a*muse only sells in the U.S.

Teaser

2011-07-26T20:10:00.004-04:00

Here's the teaser photo for the a*muse|studio catalog- isn't it FUN! If you want to see the catalog before it's released just send me an email (look to the right for the info) and I will forward you the pdf!

Don't forget to check out this post for details of the sketch challenge I am sponsoring this week! You can comment on every post this week (including this one) and be entered to win a catalog (and if you have a main one already I will be more than happy to send you a holiday one when I can).

CPS Sponsorship

2011-07-24T07:05:00.000-04:00

If you read the Card Positioning Systems blog this morning you saw that I am the sponsor for this week! You can check out the a*muse|studio catalog online here! I'm so excited and have a couple of cards of my own to share (and will link to a friend's cards later this week!). You will have to come back on Wednesday to see what goodies you can win just for playing along. Check out the end of the post for a special promotion for the week AND a giveaway. This is only good until July 30th at midnight.

Here's the sketch (makes great CAS cards) :)

and, here's ONE of my samples (the other will be posted on Wednesday with a few other posts in between!)

Recipe:
Stamps- Life's a Breeze
Ink- Cherry, black, copic markers
Paper- Cherry, Cherry gingham
Accessories- dimensionals

Purchase $50 in product and receive a catalog free- already have a catalog you can have your choice of twinkle stickers. If you choose to order online I will mail the catalog or twinkle stickers to you (but you will need to contact me to let me know which you want). Also, a*muse|studio has a Spotlight promotion until August 15!

Here's the posts with all of the fun information regarding the brand new holiday catalog which is available August 22 (make sure to send me an email so I can forward you the pdf file which cannot be shared online at this time!); amuse-a-palooza; and the Spotlight promotion.

I would love to have you join my Facebook page HERE- you can find other info and promotions right there on FB.

AND- one last deal- how about a giveaway? I will give away to a lucky commenter on ANY of the posts throughout the week on my blog a catalog, some of the ribbon, a couple 1/4 sheets of polka dot and gingham paper and some buttons. If you tell a crafty friend about it and they let me know you get an extra entry :) This also ends July 30th at Midnight :)

amuse-a-palooza

2011-07-23T21:19:00.002-04:00

If you are interested in hosting a workshop between August 22-September 30 let me know! You can earn a hostess-only stamp set! Only thing needed is 4 purchasing customers and $150 in sales! Plus, when you reach a certain $$ amount in sales your benefits take a huge jump- I will get a chart posted this week!

So...

2011-07-22T15:50:00.002-04:00

I got a sneak peek at the a*muse|studio Holiday catalog- full color, full size and out to order from on August 22! I have been hem-hawing around but decided to jump in- I'm going to send out newsletters to customers if you would like to receive a newsletter please indicate this by sending an email to the email address listed on the right.

Psst... by doing so you just might get a sneak peek at the catalog also! So much fun stuff- dies, stamps, 2 new colors, twine, ribbon, etc!!!

A Smile of Peace

2011-07-20T16:54:00.003-04:00

Today's card actually combines an a*muse|studio image with a Paper and Such sentiment. I love the fact that a*muse images are able to be easily combined with other company's sentiments. It's like having brand new stamp sets :) I also am using some of my stash of SU paper (and believe me I have a TON) :) Enjoy!

Recipe:
Stamps- Graphic Sunflower (a*muse) and Water Lily (Paper and Such)
Ink- Elegant Eggplant, Crumb Cake
Paper- Concord Crush, Crumb Cake, Vanilla

Win it Before you Can Buy it!

2011-07-19T09:38:00.002-04:00

For all of my papercrafting friends! You know I have mentioned my friend Julie and her new online store Paper and Such recently- well, she has a win it before you can buy "contest" going on right now. You can check out the details HERE. I actually "met" Julie over on SCS and then a couple of summers ago she and her family came down to Gatlinburg/Sevierville/Pigeon Forge area for vacation so I drove over there and spent the day with her! Lots of fun :)

Oh, and don't forget to like her page on FB :)

Thinking of Bermuda

2011-07-17T21:56:00.003-04:00

Well, not really :) Just a catchy little title. I downloaded an app for my iphone a while ago that had some free card sketches on it. I was having some internet connection issues earlier today (all taken care of now) and decided to pull a couple of them out. This was one that made a very clean and simple card. All a*muse|studio products were used and you can get them here.

Recipe:
Stamp- Contemporary Greetings
Ink- French Roast
Paper- French Roast, Sugar, Bermuda, Bermuda Damask (which is shimmery IRL)
Accessories- scallop die

New Spotlight!

2011-07-16T22:25:00.004-04:00

Yesterday there was a new set of spotlight products released- here are some of the projects made with them- they are so bright and summery. :)

Feel free to ask for more details! OR Click JULY SPOTLIGHT FLYER to see the details!

A Smile

2011-07-15T23:12:00.003-04:00

Time for a non-a*muse post :) My friend Julie started the Paper and Such online store back in May- here we are 2 months later and she has just released her brand new stamp sets. Now, Julie has super fast shipping (and I am so impatient and deal with a slow mail service) so when I got this today I knew I had to play tonight! I was perusing my google reader earlier and saw this post over at the Moxie Fab World blog to be Fanatical about Botanical. This set is perfect for it! I kept it CAS to showcase the set! Thanks for looking and if you check out Julie's store you will see birds and chickens also :)

Recipe:
Stamps- Waterlily (Paper and Such)
Paper- Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy
Ink- Black, copic markers, white craft ink (SU)
Accessories- ribbon

Wishing You Were Here

2011-07-15T01:39:00.000-04:00

Here's another card using Sea Shells and Life's a Breeze (these are quickly becoming some of my favorite sets). Today's Ways to Use It challenge over at SCS was to use 4 different stamps to make a collage. I used three sea shells and the waves from Life's a Breeze (they are harder to see because I used a different color). I combined some of my products here because as much as I LOVE the a*muse|studio products the reality is that I have a TON that's not so I'm going to start using it here and there also :)

Recipe;
Stamps- Sea Shells and Life's a Breeze (a*muse|studio)
Ink- French Roast, Bermuda
Paper- Crumb Cake (SU), Bermuda (a*muse|studio), Sugar (a|s)
Accessories- twine, nestabilties, dimensionals

clarification

2011-07-14T18:05:00.002-04:00

Just a clarification- if you are interesting in any of the spotlight sets they must be ordered by tonight before midnight!

Wish You Were Here Spotlight

2011-07-14T02:38:00.000-04:00

Friday, July 15, is the last day to order the spotlight sets and paper from a*muse|studio. You can go HERE to order! I decided to make one last card to spotlight Life's a Breeze and using the colors from the Seaglass paper pack.

Wednesday's sketch challenge over at SCS had the perfect sketch to highlight the lighthouse from the set.

Recipe:
Stamp set- Life's a Breeze
Ink- Memento Black, bermuda marker, black copic marker
Paper- Bermuda, latte, bermuda polka dot, sugar
Accessories- ribbon, dimensionals

Just Because

2011-07-13T01:07:00.000-04:00

AI made this card using a CPS sketch a few weeks ago (which by the way- make sure to check out that blog in a couple of weeks- *wink*). I used some of the French Roast shimmer couture and damask paper. Loving the subtle shimmer it gives!

Recipe
Stamps- Just Because
Ink- French Roast
Paper- French Roast shimmer couture, French Roast damask, sugar, French Roast
Accessories- pearls

Thinking of You

2011-07-12T01:28:00.000-04:00

Today's CAS challenge was to follow a sketch that had three scallops on the bottom. The sketch/sample card was adorable. I used all a*muse|studio products on this card. You can find them online- 24/7 at my webstore. Thanks for looking and again, if you have any questions about any of the products please feel free to ask!

Recipe:
Stamps- Contemporary Greetings
Ink- French Roast
Paper- Bermuda, French Roast
Accessories- pearls, butterfly die, scallop edge die, bermuda satin ribbon

Facebook

2011-07-11T13:13:00.001-04:00

I started a Facebook page for my a*muse|studio business- feel free to check it out here :)

Tami Grandi- A*muse|Studio Creative Consultant

Great Blessing From Difficulty

2011-07-11T01:18:00.000-04:00

I have some sweet, sweet friends that had twins born in December 2009 at 25 weeks. They have endured a lot and doctors are just astounded by the progress they have made. This past week the boy twin was diagnosed with severe Aplastic Anemia and his sister was tested to see if she was a bone marrow match. They will find out this week if she beats the odds (25% chance that she is). Their faith through the lengthy hospital stay at birth (he tied the record at 13 oz. as the smallest baby to ever survive in the state of TN) has been so strong and I have watched them grow as individuals and a couple. This card was made for them in mind as I reflected on that and I hope and pray it brings some encouragement to them.

Patter was Sunday's Featured Stamper over at SCS. I have participated in several of Patter's Scripture challenges in the past so picked THIS ONE as my inspiration. My card is VERY LOOSELY based on her page- I kept the purple color (although mine is a bit darker) and the theme between her verse and my quote go hand in hand.

Stamp- Gina K- You Are Not Alone
Paper- Blackberry, Blackberry damask and sugar (a*muse|studio)
Ink- Blackberry
Accessories- butterfly die (a*muse|studio), pearls, nestabilities

The damask paper from A*muse|Studio is one of my favorite products so this is also for Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge to use your favorite item :)

All a*muse|studio products can be purchased HERE and if you ever any questions about the products please feel free to ask!

Spotlight on Daisies

2011-07-10T01:13:00.000-04:00

I made this for the last VSN to use the Spotlight challenge- what a fabulous challenge and I am going to keep this short and sweet. My goal for Sunday is to get cards scheduled to post for the week (because I have enough to do so) and get making some more!

Recipe:
Stamps- Flowers for Daisy- Gina K
Ink- black, copic markers
Paper- SU:crumb cake; a*muse: Bubblegum, Bubblegum gingham (you'll see another card with this tomorrow), white
Accessories- nestabilities, bubblegum ribbon

a*muse in the Spotlight

2011-07-02T12:07:00.004-04:00

a*muse|studio is doing a spotlight every month that will feature several stamp sets and colors that are will be discounted. It will go from the 15th of the month to the 15th of the next month. This month it was an Elegant Summer Event. The sets I used in the following card are both in the spotlight for the month along with the colors that came from the Seaglass assorted pack. Be sure to check out the webstore for more information and inspiration- you can see projects that were created with the spotlight products by clicking on the spotlight banner as it scrolls across (it's the one after the buttons). I used Tracy's Eat Sleep Stamp sketch as my guideline

Recipe:
Stamps- Life's a Breeze and Sea Shells
Ink- Memento Black, copic original E33 (sand)
Paper- Sage, Sky, Sky gingham, latte (the gingham is not in the seaglass sampler pack but I LOVE my gingham)
Accessories- dimensionals

Thank You (with sparkle)

2011-06-30T11:19:00.004-04:00

The current Moxie Fab challenge is to create a project where stamping is dominant so I pulled out my a*muse|studio stamps and got to work. I love working with them because they are so easy to create one layer/CAS cards with them. I decided to combine this with the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge to make a Red, White, and Blue thank you card and for the Cupcake Inspirations challenge

Recipe (all supplies from a*muse|studio- clickable link to the webstore in the top right)
Stamps- Beautiful Botanicals, Contemporary Greetings
Ink- Navy, cherry (I stamped off on the flowers)
Accessories- mini twinkle stickers (they are cherry)

You Rock (CAS)

2011-06-23T01:25:00.000-04:00

I did an event for the ladies ministry (well, I couldn't go because that's when my back decided to go out). Anyway, I wanted to do some CAS cards for the ladies to put together. All supplies are a*muse|studio (wanted to do a boy card and a girl card).

Recipe
stamps-a*muse|studio
Ink- ocean, grass, bubblegum
Paper- sugar, papaya, bubblegum, lime, ocean

Happy Birthday!

2011-06-21T01:18:00.000-04:00

A very CAS birthday card! Combined this a*muse stamp with some paper that I got from JenMarie through {ippity}

Recipe
Stamps- a*muse|studio
Paper- Cherry, vanilla, dp
Ink- Cranberry (a*muse)

Feel Better Soon!

2011-06-20T01:01:00.000-04:00

This card was made for one of the ways to use it challenge- but with my back issues I had a slight delay (two weeks late) in uploading the card. All products on this card are a*muse|studio.

Recipe:
Stamps- a*muse|studio- Friend to Friend
Ink- Grass
Paper- sugar, grass, grass gingham
Accessories- scallop border die, nestabilities, grass stitched ribbon

Fragile Trust

2011-06-19T01:59:00.000-04:00

I can't believe I forgot to blog this card! This one was for the challenge that I hosted at the last VSN- my challenge was to use the cracked glass technique. I combined these gorgeous a*muse|studio papers (love the shimmery damask!) with this verse from Our Daily Bread Designs. This is probably one of my most favorite stamp sets by them- actually I just love all of the verse stamps! I'm going to try to get back to my Scripture Sundays!

Recipe:
Stamps- Our Daily Bread Designs
Ink- Cranberry (a*muse)
Paper- Cherry, sugar, cherry damask (a*muse)
accessories- nestabilities, heat gun, UTEE, versamark

Happy Birthday Mia

2011-06-18T10:53:00.004-04:00

I made this card for the Paper and Such challenge! It was an inspiration challenge and I just adored the picture.

I drew my inspiration from the pastel colors!

Recipe:
Stamps- Wild Rose Studio (Mia with Cupcake)
Ink- black, copic markers, tombow markers
Paper- white, aqua, MME
Accessories- ribbon

FYI- the stamp, the MME paper, and the ribbon are all from the Paper and Such online store!

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-16T11:42:00.004-04:00

I made this for the Crazy 4 Challenges challenge to create a masculine card! This is one a*muse|studio stamp that makes it super easy to create a masculine card. If you like this stamp or any of the other a|s stamps I would love for you to check out the a|s link to the right or click HERE. Don't forget about the spotlight stamp sets and colors that are on sale through July 15th!

Recipe:
Stamps- a*muse|studio-Brief Notes
Ink- Memento, copic markers
Paper- sugar, cherry and dp (I think from MME)

a|s spotlight

2011-06-15T01:07:00.000-04:00

a*muse|studio is always working to keep things fresh and new and starting today (June 15th) we get to showcase the a*muse spotlight!

Here's the scoop in Linda's words: "On the 15th of each month a variety of new, creative projects will be unveiled on the A Muse Studio website in a fresh, magazine-like style as the a|s Spotlight! These projects will feature a selection of stamp sets and products, paired with a lovely color palette, around a central theme."

So, June's central theme is: Elegant Summer Event

Featured Stamp Sets:
Classic Alphabet
Sea Shells
Keep Swimmin’
Life’s a Breeze
Mad for Plaids

Featured Color Palette - Seaglass:
Bermuda
Sky
Sage
Lichen
Latte

The Seaglass Assorted Cardstock Pack is item number PAST611!

Here and Here you can find cards that I have made with Life's a Breeze. You can also see Bermuda and Lichen on the second link

The best part- you will be able to save 10% on the purchase of these items from June 15th through midnight on July 15th! And you can order them straight from the website for the sale price!

Don't forget- if you want to place an order that totals $150+ please contact me directly as that is a qualifying order for a workshop! Any questions, please free to email me!

Check out the online catty HERE

Baby Boy!

2011-06-13T19:56:00.003-04:00

One of my co-workers is having a baby and so I put this card together for her baby shower gift. I need to add some more baby cards to my stash.... :) Would love to see any of your baby cards so link them up so I can check them out.

Recipe:
Stamps- A*muse|studio (check out my link to the right for 24/7 shopping)
Ink- Memento, copic markers
Paper- Sky blue, sky gingham, grass, lemon whip (I think), sugar
Ribbon-sky stitched ribbon

Winner

2011-06-08T22:01:00.001-04:00

of the a*muse|studio goodies was:

Kathy H said...

Wonderful kissing stamped card! Happy Birthday!!! Have a great day!!!!

June 2, 2011 8:33 PM

Thanks to all who played- Kathy- if you would go ahead and email me your address (I know I have it somewhere but this will be quicker- I promise) I will get your goodies out!

Happy Day

2011-06-08T10:03:00.004-04:00

I have been laid up for the last two days with a lower back issue- still giving me trouble but when I woke up this morning to a pm over at SCS I was thrilled! The news can be found here at the ODBD blog. Here's the card that was chosen- I love the bright colors of this card and got the dsp from my friend Julie's store- Paper and Such (in fact, this card was for her sketch challenge).

Recipe:
stamps-ODBD
Ink- Bermuda Bay
Paper- Bermuda Bay, MME, white
Accessories- pearls, paper flowers, bermuda bay ribbon

I'll be back later to announce the winner of the a*muse|studio candy.

Happy Birthday Kisses!

2011-06-02T00:01:00.001-04:00

"If you are participating in the blog hop, you should have come from Pamela's blog and if not, then you should start from the beginning with Samantha's blog until you come to my blog. Since I was out of school I couldn't resist jumping in for this month and was so excited to be able to do so. The challenge this month was to use a|s stamps to create your dsp. I went with that and tied in a consultant challenge to use the kissing technique. I don't have a lot of backgrounds so had to with the polka dots on the circle stamp- I think it gives it a fun party look- I might have to do another one using different color circles, hmmm.... Anyway, to keep this short so you can get hopping here you go! Make sure to read after the card for some more info and where to go next!

Recipe:
Stamps- a*muse|studio: Birthday Greetings, Lots of Dots, Polka Dot Patterns
Ink- a*muse|studios: ocean
Paper-a*muse|studio: sugar, Ocean
Accessories- clear twinkle stickers and dimensionals

Okay- here's the deal- tomorrow (Friday, June 3) is MY birthday so I'm going to give a little something away... If you know me, you know that no matter how hard I try I just cannot make myself like glitter (not even stickles). Well, in the consultant kit there was a container of diamond glitter- I will NEVER (and I mean NEVER) use it so my loss is your gain. The Birthday Blog candy is: diamond glitter, a variety of a*muse buttons (pumpkin, buttercup, shell, blackberry, and cranberry), and a half yard of the bubblegum satin ribbon. All you have to do is comment here (and if you are not interested just state- don't put me in the drawing). I will close this the evening of June 5 and announce Monday morning, June 6.

Now, here's the list of blog hop participants:
Samantha Kania
Dana Vincent
Sherri Thacker
Melissa Roell
Pamela Fredrickson
Tami Grandi (you are here)
Patty Mowery (GO HERE NEXT!)
Adrian Winchester
Vanessa Buzard
Laurie Chilton
Sarah Callahan
Anna Keyes
Kari Bell
Angela Shellenberg
Kelly Spivey
Lorie Ames
Lori Barnett
Kristie Hartfeil
Lianna Llama

Don't forget to go to Patty's blog next!

Classy Thinking...

2011-06-01T17:47:00.003-04:00

I have been working on this card off and on for the last few weeks. It was one of those that I didn't know which way I wanted to go with it- when I got my order last week with Friend to Friend I finally got it to come together! Everything on this card is available through a*muse|studio and you can shop 24/7 using the link to the top right. Love these buttons and there's a huge variety of styles and sizes!

Recipe:
Stamps- Friend to Friend
Ink- Memento, Blackberry Tombow marker
Paper- Blackberry, sugar, Blackberry damask (love the shimmer on this)
Accessories- Nestabilities (Labels 4), Blackberry buttons

Be sure to come back tomorrow to see how you can maybe get some of these buttons!

Consultant Blog Hop

2011-05-31T15:28:00.003-04:00

Be sure to check in on Thursday, June 2 for the a*muse|studio consultant blog hop! Hope to be back later with a card! I have several made just need to get them off the camera! :)

Hello Carly!

2011-05-22T19:53:00.004-04:00

Today's FS challenge over at SCS was Carly (PaperinBloom). She has some amazing CAS cards including one that she made for VSN. I chose THIS card to CASE.

Here's mine- I changed the color of the water, and the sentiment. I also left off the little flower she put on the sail but I kept the stamp set and general layout the same. I had to use my su scallop edge punch to create my waves because my scallop dies will not be here until later this week. Thanks for looking!

Recipe:
Stamps- a*muse|studio- Life's a Breeze
Paper- Bermuda and sugar (a*muse|studio)
ink- ocean and memento (both available at a*muse|studio)
Accessories- copic markers (E33 and B00), su scallop edge punch, and dimensionals.

All a*muse products can be purchased from my online store using the link at the top right!

A Warm Summer Hello

2011-05-20T20:58:00.003-04:00

Beate issued a color challenge over at SCS for the first VSN challenge- I had just received my first order of a*muse|studio goodies and knew exactly which stamps and such I wanted to use.

Doesn't this color combo just scream relaxation! And that boat!

Anyway, no more jibber jabber- just the details!

Recipe:
Stamps- a*muse|Studio- Life's a Breeze
Paper- Toffee, Bermuda polka dot paper (LOVE), Lichen, sugar (all a*muse)
Ink- black memento, copic marker

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner :)

2011-05-20T20:54:00.002-04:00

Okay- this week ended up being totally crazy and I finally went to random.org to figure out who won the catalog- and the winner is:

~Stacy said...

Ooh the idea that there is a paper catalog is COOL! ( I keep meaning to check the site and get sidetracked on facebook...)

May 18, 2011 1:25 AM

Thanks Stacy- and if anyone is interested in the catalog and more just let me know via email (to the right), facebook, or comment here and I will get the info to you. I am actually ordering a box tonight and will have them here probably shortly after Memorial Day if all goes well (they are shipping from across the country). :)

Arrrgh

2011-05-17T21:28:00.003-04:00

This Friday and Saturday are stamping days! SCS hosts a VSN (Virtual Stamp Night) every so often- the main event is THIS weekend and it's Pirate Style! You can check out the details in THIS FORUM. There are TONS of fun challenges and mine will go live on Saturday at 2! I hope you join in!

Two things before I go- first a card! This is from the mini at the end of April! Just a little pirate and some black pearls :)

Two- don't forget you only have until tomorrow night to enter to win an a*muse|studio catalog and some buttons/ribbon. Enter HERE

Let Go

2011-05-16T01:49:00.001-04:00

When I saw this set from Sweet n Sassy Stamps last month I immediately got my for sale list up so that I could get this set on May 1. It came this past week and I had the chance to play with it this weekend. I used this week's The Sweet Stop sketch. The sketch was perfect to use the sentiment with. I pulled out my a*muse|studio papers (which I loved the bright colors) and tied it all together with my a*muse Bubblegum satin ribbon, one of the paper flowers from a*muse (that I colored with a copic) and a pearl. Thanks for looking!

Recipe:
Stamps- Sweet n Sassy Stamps- Let Go and Let God
Ink- black, copic marker (for the flower), and bubblegum ink (for sponging)
Paper- Bubblegum, Bubblegum polka dot paper, vanilla
Accessories- satin ribbon, nestabilities, paper flower, pearl

Don't forget- I extended the giveaway of the catalog and other a*muse goodies through Wednesday (due to all of Blogger's issues last week). You can see the details HERE (the odds are good right now!)

Happy Birthday to You!

2011-05-15T18:14:00.003-04:00

My friend Julie, who just opened the online store Paper and Such. I ordered the night they opened and Julie got my order out ASAP. I ordered this cute My Mind's Eye paper- LOVE it. I decided to use this paper with my a*muse|studio Happy Birthday stamp. You can find this stamp and others HERE.

Also- due to the Blogger issues last week I am extending the a*muse|studio catalog, button, and ribbon giveaway until Wednesday, May 18. You can see the details HERE! Right now- the odds are good :)

This is for Julie's Paper and Such Challenge to create a birthday card :)

Recipe:
Stamps- a*muse|studio
Paper- Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, white, My Mind's Eye
Ink- Chocolate Chip
Accessories- nestabilities, ribbon, dimensionals

Wish You Were Here

2011-05-09T01:58:00.000-04:00

Isn't this a fun card- when I flipped through the a*muse|studio catalog for the first time I had several stamp sets that jumped out at me- this is one that made the first list to purchase. You can check it out HERE. It's on page 65 in the actual catalog but page 67 in the online version. If you would be interested in a catalog please let me know- I'm trying to gauge how many to purchase at this time. They would be $10.00 (and that includes shipping from me). Of course you also have the chance to win one HERE so go check that out (and then come back!)

Now, for the card- when I saw this set I had this scene in my head- it turned out somewhat like I planned (a little different with the sponging but...)

Recipe:
Stamps- a*muse|studio- Life's a Breeze, Make a Scene
Ink-French Roast, Memento black, ocean, sky, bubblegum, cranberry (all from a*muse)
Paper- Sugar, Papaya
Accessories- sponge

Thanks for looking

Paper and Such

2011-05-08T19:09:00.003-04:00

So much good news! My friend Julie of the blog Paper and Such started her online papercrafting store! I'm so excited (and have already ordered some dp and a few other goodies). You can check it out HERE!! To celebrate- my friend Chautona is having a $25 gift card giveaway! If you go there from my blog just let her know I sent you! I can't wait to see who wins- they will be so excited!

Thanks for checking it out!

Welcome Baby Girl

2011-05-08T18:40:00.003-04:00

Yes! I do have a card for you (and some odds and ends information) :) I am in the home stretch to finishing out the school year and this will mean more sporadic posts for the next few weeks. I'm going to try to get some posts scheduled but they definitely won't be every day. However, to celebrate the end of the school year I am going to have a little giveaway- more details will follow the card.

Recipe:
Stamps- a*muse|studio- Sleepy Sighs
Ink- memento black, copic marker
Paper- Bubblegum, bubblegum gingham, sugar (all a*muse|studio)
Accessories- Bubblegum satin ribbon, SU scallop edge punch (will be getting those a*muse scallop dies- just don't have them yet)

All a*muse supplies can be seen HERE (clicking the link will take you directly to my online shopping site). If you shop and qualify for a workshop you will need to contact me directly to receive those benefits. If you would like to have a workshop please feel free to contact me!

Okay- so, now for the giveaway!

I have an a*muse|studio catalog and 1 yard of the satin ribbon (bubblegum) along with some of 5 colors of the buttons (pumpkin, cranberry, blackberry, bubblegum, and buttercup).

To be entered in the giveaway- all you have to do is enter a comment. If you send people here and they mention your name in their comment then you get an entry for each person you send. Simple- no following (unless you want to- I would be honored but not a necessity), no blogging, no facebooking (although that would be a good way to get people to enter with your name). Thanks for looking!

ETA: the ending date- hmmm... how about Friday, May 13?!

GKD/Tami Mayberry Blast from the Past Blog Hop

2011-04-29T08:55:00.001-04:00

Today we are helping Tami Mayberry end her month long Blast from the Past with a customer blog hop. Tami is an illustrator for Gina K Designs; and, if you haven't been to her blog this month to see all of the featured ideas using her stamp sets, you'll want to be sure and stop by today. You could win FIVE of her stamp sets simply by leaving comments on her blast from the past posts. You can click here to find more details.

Here is a list of all of the blog hop participants.

Tami Mayberry

Emily Giovanni

Laura Williams

Tami Grandi (you are here)

If you didn't come here from Laura's blog you'll want to start back at the beginning on Tami's blog because each comment left on the blog participants' blogs will also count as an entry into the random drawing for the 5 stamp sets being given away.

Recipe:
Stamps- Oh Boy!
Ink- black, copic markers, soft sky
Paper- white, SU dsp (night of navy and poppy)
Accessories- dimensionals, nestabilities

Now, hop on over and visit Debbie's Blog for more ideas using stamp sets by Tami Mayberry and another chance to win. Also, If you have Tami's stamps and missed the deadline to sign up for the hop you can still play along by leaving a link on her blog.

You Are Amazing

2011-04-24T16:55:00.004-04:00

This is going to be my mom's Mother's Day card (so if she decides to visit- I hope she forgets by then). Anyway, I took my inspiration from the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger. This was a gorgeous bouquet and I took my inspiration from the flowers and the colors. I pulled out my new a|muse stamps, inks, and papers and went to town :). The lighter orangey color is the orange stamped off. I hope you enjoy!

Recipe:
Stamps- a|muse studio- graphic sunflower and elegant elements
Paper- a|muse studio- grass; white
Ink- a|muse studio- grass, orange, papaya
Accessories- SU scallop edge punch (will be looking at the dies in the a|muse catalog very soon!)

You can get a|muse products HERE!