Creative Grace

I want to be here right now

Well, the heat wave is in full force this summer and I'm not a happy camper about it.  I've learned I have a narrow range of thermal happiness and this has far surpassed it.  So, in the spirit of cooling off, I thought I'd share a card with the fun new *winter scene* stamp by A Muse.

 

 

The good news is the stamps are now available at your local stamp store!  If you aren't lucky enough to have a store to support, you can now get them on-line form A Muse.  Hope you've enjoyed A*MUSE*A*PALOOZA and our marathon amuse-bouche (8 days in a row!  Although I did cheat a little and had to take yesterday off).

Stay cool peeps!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: winter scene by A Muse.  

Paper: blueberry, sky blue, white shimmer couture, and woodgrain by A Muse

ink: A Muse black dye ink

coloring tools: White gel pen, diamond stickles, and Copic bg10, r29, e37, w4, 0

Other: swiss red grosgrain stitch ribbon by A Muse

For A Muse products click here 

Team EC

You know what today is, don't you? 

 

My nieces and Mom are in town and came over yesterday to make cards with me.  We had a blast!  I set up a bunch of "challenges" for them to help inspire their card making.  One challenge was for all of us to make a card using each other's favorite stamp.  I was especially *tickled* when my oldest niece picked the wolf stamp as her favorite - perfect for a card to post today!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: wolf, sports words clear set, and fancy alpha clear set by A Muse.  

Paper: fern solid, woodgrain, and red shimmer couture by A Muse

ink: Memento rich cocoa and bamboo leaves

Copic: E33, E57, blender solution (texture effect)

Other: french roast and swiss red grosgrain stitch ribbons by A Muse, circle punches

For A Muse products click here 

Another *inspiring* summer idea

Summer is just around the corner and the signs are popping up everywhere. Turns out, a pod of orca's was spotted of the LA coastline this past month. Apparently this is quite the sight to see, and a bit unusual for us.  We typically get gray whales, but my whale friends tell me that seeing different types of whales is a sign of summer for us!  (And yes, I really do have whale friends.  Or should I say, friends of mine that are really really really into whales, LOL.)  So to commemorate the occasion, I thought I would make a card with A Muse's fun little orca stamp as my contribution to A Muse's summer fun inspiring ideas today!

 

I had a little fun making water splashes with my Copic Airbrush system!  Just a little effect I wanted to try :)

Card Recipe:

Stamps: orca and fun in the sun by A Muse.  

Paper: lime and ocean blue by A Muse

ink: A Muse black dye ink

Copic: B02

Other: black grosgrain stitch ribbon, lime twinkle stickers, and clear twinkle stickers by A Muse

For A Muse products click here 

I Love Woods Hole!

I have a happy card to share today :)  

I was very lucky two years ago to take a "pilgrimage" to Woods Hole.  You see, this was very special to me since I had always heard of Woods Hole as an undergraduate marine biology student.  It's like this amazing mecca of marine biology, the home of the submersible Alvin (sigh...) and the oldest oceanographic educational facility in the US.  I was attending a conference in Boston, and made sure to get a rental car so I could make the trip!  I was able to meet up with my friend Kate, a Ph.D. student at the time, who toured me through her lab filled with fabulous equipment and wonderful specimens from the deep.  I was in heaven!!!

This is Kate and I in a replica of the inside of Alvin's "ball" located at their little museum (and believe it or not, the real thing is even more cramped.  The pilot actually sits on that white box). 

A few months later I joined A Muse's creative team and got to meet Jenn Shurkus (initially just "virtually", and later in person).  It's really a shame I didn't meet her sooner, I could have totally visited her too and the super fun store (Colorful Creations) that she manages.  

Jenn and I at A Muse headquarters, October 2009

Anyhoo... I found out recently that Jenn's store has their own line of specialty stamps, including a WOODS HOLE stamp!!!  My wonderful husband contacted Jenn and got me the stamp (along with their fun lobster stamps and lobster trap stamp... or should I say, "lobsta"??? LOL)  Last week, I had a reason to make both of these fabulous girls a card - and I knew they would both appreciate one made with those special stamps :)

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Woods Hole and Lobsta sm by Colorful Creations.  Thinking of you and long grass by A Muse.  

Paper: navy, woodgrain, and red petite gingham by A Muse

ink: A Muse black dye ink, Memento desert sand

Copic: e53 (chisel nib) and e25 (brush nib) airbrushed

Other: A Muse swiss red grosgrain stitch ribbon

For A Muse products click here 

Class card and amuse-bouche

Today's post serves a dual purpose:  It's my amuse-bouche for the day and a preview of one of cards we'll be making in my "A Copic Christmas" class on Saturday at Stampin' EJs in Costa Mesa.

Students in the class will be making simple cards like this that emphasize special Copic blending and shading techniques. These techniques will help you get the most out of using your Copics with stamped images.  This is a great class for those hoping to get some practice and learn more about the effective use of the markers.  Space is still available and you can find more information on how to register by linking to my class schedule here.   Students who take this class will learn how to make this beautiful card.

I have to say, this new tree silhouette stamp by A Muse doesn't need much!  So it's the perfect stamp to pair with a unique background made with Copics.  All of the stamps in this release are so wonderful!  You can get your hands on them by visiting an A*MUSE*A*PALOOZA store.  You can find a list of participating stores on the A Muse website.  

Happy stamping!