Amuse-bouche Day 1

Back To School

Here it is!!! Day 1 of amuse-bouche! Have you figured out the theme for the new stamps? LOL! I used the new School Girl stamp on my card. Isn't she adorable in her Red Gingham dress! She's ready for her 1st day back to school



The dress is paper pieced out of the A Muse Red Gingham cardstock. I also added some shading with my Copic markers.



I have a little story behind my card design. Every year when my kids were all dressed and ready for the first day of school - I always took their picture in front of the house before sending them off to school. This tradition continued all the way through High School. My girls were always happy to pose for the Kodak moment. But...when my son got to High School...I pretty much had to force him to let me take the "traditional" picture. 4 of my kids are all finished with their school years. Michaela will be starting back up to school August 10th....and of course I will continue the tradition and snap a pic on her first day. Actually...I'll probably take about 20! Gotta love it! She's going to be in 3rd grade!

Don't forget to check out THIS thread over at the A Muse Lounge for more amuse-bouche. And...the A Muse News Blog has lots to share...so check that out as well!

More to come tomorrow!!

Recipe:
Stamps - A Muse Artstamps School Girl, House & Trees, Birthday Builder Set
Paper - A Muse Artstamps Red Gingham cardstock; White CS; Black CS
Ink - A Muse Artstamps Black Dye Ink
Misc. - Copic markers; Foam Tape

amuse-bouche is coming!

Friday July 31st: amuse-bouche!!

Yep...that's right...more new A Muse goodies are about to be released! Starting tomorrow, some of the A Muse Creative Team Members will have sneak peeks on their blogs. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!!

Make sure to visit the A Muse News Blog -- there just might be some goodies there to checkout. Also - a comprehensive list of links of each day's amuse-bouche among our Creative Team Members will be posted over at the A Muse Lounge.

House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge

House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge #48 - A Sketch

This fun sketch has the perfect spot to showcase one of your House Mouse images. You can use it anyway you like, add embellishments...or whatever you want as you can still see the original sketch. AND there's a prize this week! Get all the details and samples by the design team HERE.

This image was the perfect size for the sketch. I stamped mouse prints on the background with Wild Wasabi Ink. Sponged all the layer edges except for the white layer. On the white...I used my Scor-Bug to get those perfectly spaced piercings. I LOVE THAT BUG!

I used my new glitter on the flower. This isn't just plain ol' crystal glitter...it's Bonnie Blue Ultrafine Transparent Glitter!! When you color your image...then apply colored transparent glitter on top...the results are breathtaking! Nothing ever compares to seeing this stuff in real life! I also used a clear glaze pen on the eyes and nose. :)



Have fun creating this week!

Recipe:
Stamps - House-Mouse Designs Mudpie Munch and Footprints, SU Warm Words
Paper - SU Whisper White, Wild Wasabi and Lovely Lilac cardstock; SU Designer Paper; SU Textured White Cardstock

Ink - A Muse Artstamps Black Dye Ink; SU Wild Wasabi and Lovely Lilac Classic Ink
Misc. -Prismacolor Pencils & Gamsol OMS; Sakura Clear Glaze Pen; Art Glitter Bonnie Blue Ultrafine Glitter; 2-way glue pen; Scor-Pal and Scor-Bug; Ribbons from stash; Dimensionals; Sponge

House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge Blog HERE.

House-Mouse Designs Official Website HERE.

Tips on how you can easily color the House-Mouse Stamp Images HERE.

Somebody Pinch Me!

Guess who's Featured Stamper today over on Splitcoaststampers?!!!!

ME! I'm totally flattered! This is fun stuff. Go HERE to check it out. I hope you have a chance to play along.

OOPS! I haven't posted all week!! I've been busy with a bunch of stuff. Lots to clean up after all the A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA events. I FINALLY installed my new printer. This thing prints fast! I'm also working on my August & September classes. Something I'm not doing much of is going outside. It's HOT OUT THERE! You know it's bad when they put out an EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING! Walk outside for a breath of fresh air? Don't think so! And Michaela goes back to school in 2 weeks!! YIKES! Gotta get ready for that too!

I also got together with some friends for lunch. The "new" Golden Girls! LOL!!! I worked with these ladies for over 20 years. Not bad for a group of computer nerds! ha ha!


Michaela got her first pair of glasses this week. Doesn't she look smashing! ;)

Hope some of you have a chance to play the Featured Stamper Challenge. Heck...I might even do it myself! (is that ok??)

My August Classes are posted on my Classes & Events Blog.

House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge

House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge #47 - White on White
This weeks challenge is super easy! Everything except the stamped image MUST be white. All your papers & embellishments must be white. Clean & fresh...and the perfect way to showcase your House Mouse Image! All the challenge details and samples by the design team can be found HERE.

Since everything needs to be white...I went right for this cute image of Monica called Dreampuff. Thought it would be a good match with the soft cotton ball :) I used 2 Cuttlebug Embossing folders on the cardbase...and added a piece of velvet ribbon.

I added Sugar Sparkly Fluff on the cotton ball....Angel Dust Ultrafine Glitter around the oval...all layered on top of the scalloped oval punched from White Flocked Cardstock.


Check out the embossed buttons...I painted them with Moonlight Smooch ink!! Cool stuff huh!!


Hope you have a chance to join us for this challenge!
Recipe:

Stamps - House-Mouse Designs Dreampuff

Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Doodlebug white flocked cardstock

Ink - A Muse Artstamps Black Dye Ink

Misc. -Prismacolor Pencils; Gamsol OMS; Marvy Uchida Punches; Our Craft Lounge Sparkly Fluff Sugar; Clearsnap Smooch Moonlight; Art Glitter Angel Dust Ultrafine Glitter and Designer Dry Clear Glue; 2-way glue pen; Misc Ribbon; Dimensionals

House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge Blog HERE.
House-Mouse Designs Official Website HERE.
Tips on how you can easily color the House-Mouse Stamp Images HERE.

A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA Stampfest

Saturday Stampfest at Stamp Works

Yesterday was the last day of classes for the A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA celebration over at Stamp Works. We had an absolute BLAST stamping all day. Did you know there were 49 other stores participating with us this year? Lots of fun stamping going on around the US, BC and even Australia!!

Check out these awesome stampers! They made over 200 card in less than 7 hours!!!

Getting ready for round 2!

A HUGE THANKS to all of you that attended my classes.I look forward to doing this again next year. Enjoy all your new A Muse stamps & goodies!

amuse-bouche Day 5

Christmas in the Neighborhood

The new Noel Banner from A Muse is so stinkin' cute! I know...I know...I say that about all the new stamps...but it's true! Problem is...that makes you want them ALL! A couple ladies that came to my A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA classes did buy them all!!
Git-er-done ladies!!!

This card also uses the new Evergreen Branch which I totally love...but you already knew that ;) I stamped the Noel Banner then masked it off to stamp the Evergreen Branch.

Then...I added a bunch of fun stuff...Red & White Fun Flock and Crystal Snow Glitter. I colored the banner with Clear Spica Glitter Pen. NOW these birds are ready to deck out the neighborhood with their banner! If you click the pictures...you can really see the fun fuzzy stuff :)

Speaking of decking out the neighborhood...my favorite neighborhood stamp store - Stamp Works - was decked out yesterday with a bunch of wonderful holiday packages from my Pretty Little Packages class. We were having so much fun...we lost track of time and closed the shop! (oops!) Thanks ladies for spending your afternoon with me celebrating A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA!

Card Recipe:

Stamps - A Muse Artstamps Noel Banner, Evergreen Branch

Paper - A Muse Artstamps Kitchen Grass Notecards; White CS

Ink - A Muse Artstamps Black Dye, Clearsnap Vivid! Olive

Misc. - Copic R27, R29, W1, BG10, YG95, Y17, 0 Colorless Blender, Clear Spica Glitter Pen; Spellbinders Large Scalloped Oval Nestabilities, Mark Enterprises Ultra fine White Crystal Snow; Stampendous Red & White Fun Flock; 2-way glue pen; JudiKins Eclipse Tape; Dimensionals

amuse-bouche Day 4

Christmas is for Kids

More A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA fun today!

This was a super fun and easy card to make. No coloring except for a little with a Spica Glitter Pen. I used the new Woodgrain cardstock to create the door. The new Wreath and Berries was stamped on white cardstock - then trimmed out and popped up on dimensionals. Red Sheer Ribbon to top it off and a large clear Twinkle Sticker for the door knob.

Here's the fun part for kids - both young & old

I cut out a doorway from the front of a new Cranberry note card - adhered it down flat - then stamped the new Under the Mistletoe & Wishing You Delight in the doorway. The door is attached to the ouside of the notecard.

If you want to make it even easier - you can punch out the wreath instead of cutting. Then stamp the Under the Mistletoe kids & sentiment on the inside of the note card instead of creating the cut out doorway. You could mass produce a bunch that way!

See even more wonderful samples of the new Holiday images on the A Muse News Blog. There's also a comprehensive list of links of each day's amuse-bouche among our Creative Team Members HERE in the Lounge.

amuse-bouche Day3

Celebrate the Season - with Elegance

Yes...we are STILL celebrating A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA. Yesterday I taught a wonderful bunch of ladies over at Stamp Works. They learned how to use Copic markers for coloring A Muse images. But not just ANY A Muse stamps...the NEW Holiday ones of course! :) Let me tell you...these ladies "got-er-done" with these markers! Some of them had never use them before (GASP!) - but with a few tips & tricks they were coloring beautiful stamped masterpieces!

One of the class cards yesterday used the new Village Chapel and Mini Snowflake images. I thought it would fun to make another card with these same stamps - giving my students another idea - with a Winter Elegance theme.

(click image to zoom in)

The card base is the new Navy 4bar note card. Mini Snowflake is stamped with Frost White Colorbox Pigment ink. The sentiment is from a clear set called Holiday Greetings II (not a new set...but a must have for me!). The Village Chapel is stamped on white cs, colored with Copics and then cut out. White Sheer Ribbon from A Muse. Ultrafine crystal glitter on roof top, window ledge, above door, top of snow and around Chapel.

(click image to zoom in)

OK students - this is how I colored:

Building - W4 color the building. W6 go back and color in each of the stones.

Windows - Y11 color about 1/2 of each window (the left sides) and then very lightly feather the yellow with 0 Colorless Blender. You will be pushing some of the yellow color over to the left side of each window. W2 very very lightly add a stroke to the left sides of each window. If you get heavy with the gray use Y11 to very lightly push some of the gray back toward the window edge.

Door - W2 very very lightly add some shading to the lines and hinges. If you get a little to much in areas - use the Colorless Blender and lightly feather the edges of the gray. W4 lightly stroke around the top of door.

Under the Chapel- W2 lightly stroke across the white cardstock directly under the Chapel.

Have fun stamping & coloring everyone!

amuse-bouche Day 2

A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA Festivities Continue!

I'll be teaching A Copic Christmas today at Stamp Works. We're gonna have fun coloring new images with Copic Markers and Spica Glitter Pens.

I also have more amuse-bouche for you. Todays Theme: Cute Critters.

Do you know how hard it was to pick out which critter I wanted to share with you today! If you've seen all the new stamps A Muse has come up with in this release -- you KNOW what I'm talkin' about. They are ALL so darn cute! I decided on the new Penguin on Skis. He's perfect for my project.



The new sentiment "Flurry of Fun" is a MUST HAVE. It works with so many stamps both old and new. To make all the snow falling I just dabbed on random dots of the white pigment ink. Instructions to make these ornaments are from Splitcoaststampers. Click HERE for the info.

amuse-bouche

It's All Natural

Today is the first of 5 days that we get to share some of the new A Muse goodies just released in stores for A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA. The theme: "All Natural Christmas"

I love the new Winter Stag and Evergreen Branch. Anyone who knows me...knows this is just my style! I made a grid with the Scor-Pal and then stamped on top to create a tile effect. The new sentiment Season's Greetings works perfect for this card. Other new goodies are the Polka Dot Ribbons, Fern Notecards and Woodgrain Cardstock.

Then, to kick it up a notch (LOL!) I used my brayer to cover the piece with Versamark ink and embossed with Clear EP powder. WOW!! Is that cool or WHAT! This turned out awesome!

New stamps, new ribbons, new notecards, new cardstock - - - "life is good"

House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge

Can't touch this

House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge #46 - No Coloring

You can do ANYTHING except color in your stamped image. All the details and samples from the design team can be found HERE.

When I read this challenge I thought - WHAT!! Don't color my little Mousie! WOW...this is gonna be a hard one. Everytime I started to reach for my colored pencils...I remind myself "can't touch this" LOL!! That song is now totally stuck in my head.

I stamped my little mouse with Sepia Versafine ink. This stamp is called Party Mouse and features Monica. I glittered her party hat and cut out one of the cupcakes from the patterned paper - added glitter and a pink crystal rhinestone on the star. Plus...I added a BUNCH more glitter all over the card. I think it turned out totally cute.

On the inside of the card is this "official" House Mouse sticker. Not only do I have House Mouse stamps...I also have stickers :) Fun stuff.

Hope you can join us for this weeks challenge...but remember...do NOT touch those markers or pencils! ;)

House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge Blog HERE.
House-Mouse Designs Official Website HERE.

Tips on how you can easily color the House-Mouse Stamp Images HERE.

Smile...You're on Candid Camera!

A*MUSE*A*PALOOZA at Stamp Works!!

Sing it with me: "Deck the Stamp Store with New A Muse Goodies"

OH YEAH BABY! The A Muse fun has JUST begun!! Wanna see? Of COURE you do!

Day 1 in the classroom.

These 2 stampers are from Vermont!

Day 2 at the Make & Take counter

Check out the wonderful prize some lucky person is gonna win!! That bag is full of A Muse goodies!


This party isn't over yet. We have fun stuff planned at Stamp Works through the 18th! And don't forget to check out the A Muse News Blog for more A*MUSE*A*PALOOZA fun. They also have a special on-line class planned. Get all the details on the blog.

For those of you that were lucky enough to get some new A Muse goodies...have fun playing!