Creative Grace

Class schedule updated

Check out my class schedule page (click here) for upcoming Copic and card classes in Southern California.

A Trophy Friend

It's been my goal lately to find time to make cards for fun.  I seem to always be so busy and rarely have time to make cards for my friends.  I did manage to set aside some time last weekend to accomplish a little bit!  Since she should have received it in the mail by now, I wanted to share one of the cards I made for my friend Adelina who took me cupcake tasting while in Seattle!  Her favorite cupcake shop is Trophy Cupcakes:

   

Here's the little "trophy" card I made for her:

I like how it came together!  It was fun trying to make a card inspired by their logo.  A Muse's new shimmer couture paper and pretty pearl twinkle stickers really *makes* the card!  I love how it sparkles.  

Stamps: Cupcake builder clear stamp set by A Muse

Paper:  Robin's Egg, Espresso, and White shimmer couture paper by A Muse

ink: Stazon brown

Other:  Robins Egg and Ivory Pretty Pearls by A Muse

Fabulous holiday photo card

Today is my day to share a fabulous holiday photo-card over on the A Muse blog (you can link to it via the A Muse website)! I thought I'd share with you some details about this card.

 

I wanted to do something different for my contribution, and this was my first design.  It's a photo of my grandparents, eons ago.  My guess is that my grandmother asked my grandfather to smile, and this was the end result! :)  The picture cracks me up.  I thought the "naughty/nice" sentiment was the perfect touch and I made the "mistletoe" by stamping and glittering the top portion of A Muse's eucalyptus stamp, and turned it upside down.

I did make a second card for this challenge. I wanted to create a photo card I though would be quick and easy for mass reproducing for the holidays.  I figured the easiest and most affordable way would be to use an existing A Muse 4-bar notecard (easy-peasy... I didn't have to cut down the paper) and a photo small enough that I could print several on one page. 

   

I decided to print the photo in sepia so it would compliment the papers I chose (I also like how forgiving that effect is on my husband and I!)  I made a simple strip of cream paper (scallop edge made with the Marvy paper trimming buddy) for the sentiment, added a little ribbon and bling, and viola!  Mass-reproducing this card takes me less than a minute per card!  Now, that's my kind of holiday card :)

Be sure to check out the posts on the A Muse blog from earlier this week for more great photo-card ideas!

Photocard #1

Stamps: Eucalyptus and "naughty/nice" from Missy's Holliday set, both by A Muse

Paper: A Muse apple red and lime shimmer couture 8 1/2 x 11 papers, vintage red 4-bar note card, and cream card stock

ink: Memento bamboo

Other: EK create a corner punch and Martha Stewart golden beryl glitter

Photocard #2

Stamps: Happy Holidays by A Muse

Paper: A Muse red madeira 4-bar note card, and cream card stock

ink: Memento rich cocoa

Ribbon: swiss red polka dot sheer by A Muse

Other: cranberry pretty pearls by A Muse

Finding time for friends

Hi everyone!  Just a sweet little card to share with you tonight.  I've made it my goal to make more cards for friends.  Seems like lately I just haven't had the time and all the cards I've been making are for classes and things.  When I think about it, the joy in card making for me is sending them to people!  So, this is the first of a few cards I managed to make for my friends this weekend.  

I know the photo isn't the best, but I figured it was better than waiting a few days until I had time to photograph during the daytime.  I hope this finds you all well and sharing some love with your friends!

Stamps: Tree from Tree's 1 set, leaves from Cupcake set, tiny bird, and A Warm Hello by A Muse

Paper:  A Muse french roast and sky blue 4-bar note card, yellow petite gingham by A Muse, white card stock

ink: Memento rich cocoa

Ribbon: papaya polka dot sheer by A Muse

Copics: E37, E29, B41, Y15, Y38

Happy Halloween!

Wishing you all a perfectly delectable Halloween!

All stamps, papers, and twinkle stickers by A Muse.  Tiny bats punch by EK, glow-in-the-dark glitter (on frosting) by Martha Stewart.  

Quick update

Just an update...

Things have been rather, um, crazy lately.  October has come and almost gone in a blur!  My day job is never really done but at least the kids are getting into their groove now so I'm breathing a bit easier.  School has been a new kind of challenge as now I'm hanging with the "big boys and girls" (aka biology graduate students).  I've also done quite a bit of traveling lately.  

I got to see New York for the very first time! (This is the window at the Anthropologie flagship store)

I taught some SUPER fun classes at the adorable shop, One Little Spark in New Jersey with my friend and fellow muse, Heather (the witch).  We even got to play with Cherion (pirate chick) and Dawn (cute kitten) who are also on the A Muse team.

This past weekend I got to go to A Muse in Seattle!!!

 

It was our Instructor Training weekend where I got to play with all the other girls I love so much and learn fun new crafty tricks!  

(Cheiron, Glenda, me, and Sherri)

(Donna and I)

(Julie teaching us inky things!)

(Heather teaching us some special effects)

For a special treat, Nina Seven (A Muse's main artist) stopped by to autograph copies of the adorable children's book, "Theodore the Tree".  This is her first children's book that she's illustrated!

For the grand finale I got to meet up with my friend Adelina for cupcakes!!! Yummy!

So, as you can imagine, I'm pretty pooped, but also grateful for the fun experiences this month!  Now... if I could just find some time to make cards! LOL!

Amuse-bouche Harvest Feast

Wow!  I'm so excited to share a card today featuring some gorgeous new stamps and papers from A Muse.  

I had to photograph it at a wonky angle so you can see how shimmery the new paper is!  It's unbelievably gorgeous.  I also love this new sentiment and image of dill.  Whenever I think of dill I think of butterflies - they love it!  

Be sure to visit the blogs of the other members of the A Muse creative team to see more fabulous cards featuring this new line.

Stamps: dill, thanks large, and tiny butterfly,  by A Muse

Paper: A Muse apple and mango shimmer coture solids, A Muse bark 4-bar note card, and white card stock

ink: Memento and color box

Ribbon: swiss red sheer by A Muse

Other: cranberry pretty pearls by A Muse

Celebrate World Card Making Day!

Join me at Stampin EJ's @ Debrah's Cottage in Costa Mesa this Saturday!  I'll be hosting a fun make-n-take with two different projects from 10:30 - 12 and teaching a fabulously fun fall card class at 1:00.  Here's a sneak!

Click here for more information.  I hope to see you there!

Pajama Party, part 4! AMLPJFALL04

Here's my fourth card for the A Muse Pajama Party over on the lounge tonight!  The challenge was to make a thank you card.  Perfect for me since I have lots of those I need to make!

I love the open zinnia stamp and the blue-brown-orange combo!  

This was a great night and MUCH NEEDED creative relief for me.  Especially the chatting on Yahoo and Sherry in her blond wig!  LOL!

(Can you see her on the left?  I think she was laughing about the pole!)

Thanks for a fun night girls!

Pajama Party, part 3! AMLPJFALL03

This is my third card for the A Muse Pajama Party.  This challenge was to make a card based on my favorite TV show returning in the Fall.  Took me a little while, but I finally came up with this:

Do you get it?  LOL!  It's for the TV show, "Big Bang Theory".  I was thinking of the relationship between two of the characters, Penny and Leonard.  

They've been hinting at a little romance in the future!  

I love this show.  It's the only one that makes me laugh out loud!  Maybe it's the scientist in me, or the fact that I know people just like these characters, but I can't get enough of it.  That, and I also love the BNL!

Now, I had to use a non-A Muse stamp (since they don't make an atom model stamp) but everything else is all A Muse.  

Pajama Party, part deux! AMLPJFALL02

Here's my post for the second A Muse Pajama Party challenge: "create a card inspired by fall colors".  That's an easy one for me as I *heart* fall colors!  

I'll be back for challenge #3!