Creative Grace

Happy St. Patty's day!

Top 'O the mornin' to you all and happy birthday to my Mom!  I always have a blast making a special card for my Mom's birthday (although, I think my Dad has more fun - he always sends her a flower arrangement and insists that the florist puts a potato in it - seriously - I can't make that up).

In the past, I've made her classic St. Patty's cards for her birthday, but this year I thought I'd try something different.  She loves stamps of flowers and plants, so I thought I'd try my hand at using only that on a special birthday card (that I *hope* she gets in the mail today).  This isn't really my usual style, so don't be too critical! LOL

It was fun playing with my new A•Muse|Studio stamps on this card! I added some detail to the leaves using colored pencils, and a white pen on the flowers.  The little bird makes me happy.  The rest of the card is growing on me :)  Although there's no shamrocks or leprechauns in this photo - hopefully this will do the trick!

 

Love my girl!

I'm alive!!! Really, I am! LOL  

I hope that all of you out there in blog-land can be patient with me - this will be a challenging year!  I am finishing up my course-work for my graduate degree and started my thesis this month - eek!  I'm just hoping too keep my head above water and come up for a little crafting every now and again.  

 

Speaking of crafting, I had the perfect opportunity for that a couple weeks ago as I celebrated the birthday of one of my besties.  

We had a fabulous dinner 

 

Fabulous dessert

 

Truly, a fabulous time with the birthday girl and our wonderful friend, both of whom I am so unbelievably grateful are in my life!  We are all in the grad program together, so needless to say, a girls night out once in a while is much needed therapy!  How much do I appreciate these girls?  The sky's the limit! :)

I chose this card layout for the challenge this month over on the A Muse lounge!  Check it out :)

Card Recipe:

Stamps: rocket and the sky's the limit by A Muse.  

Paper: kitchen blueberry and blueberry solid by A Muse

Ink: Versa Magic chalk ink aegean blue, A Muse black dye ink

Copic: boo, b32, b34, yr14

Other: A Muse twinkle stickers, Spica black, A Muse orange polka dot sheer ribbon

For A Muse products click here 

 

 

 

Sketch inspired card

Just a quick one today as the beginning of the school year is leaving me with no free time (astonishing how it all vanishes so quickly)!  I really needed to make a fun birthday card for a special someone, and I was inspired by the new challenge this month over on the A Muse Lounge (Challenge #20: A Sketch Challenge).  I picked this card by Krystie as my inspiration.  It's a fun layout :)

 

 

Be sure to hop on over to the A Muse lounge to play along!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: tiara (retired) and inner princess by A Muse.  

Paper: white, pink shimmer couture solid, and pink shimmer couture damask by A Muse

Ink: StazOn Metallic silver (so fun!) and Versamagic midnight black

Other: A Muse twinkle stickers

For A Muse products click here 

Green and Blue Inspiration

I had a little "forced" crafty time today.  I left work early today since I wasn't feeling so hot.  A couple of hours of "resting" started to drive me batty (I have yet to learn the art of relaxation) and so I did mange to get to the craft table for a little while this evening.  I noticed Glenda posted her new weekly challenge (use green and blue in a card), and thought it was perfect to inspire a needed birthday card.

 

 

If only I could have forced relaxation every day... 

Card Recipe:

Stamps: swirly cake (retired) by A Muse.  

Paper: sky blue solid and white by A Muse, patterned paper by Dream Street Papers

Ink: A Muse black dye ink

Copic: bg10, yr04

Other: orange polka dot sheer ribbon and white pretty pearls by A Muse

For A Muse products click here 

Happy 9th!

Today I get to share with you a very special card to celebrate A Muse Artstamps 9th birthday!

 

 

This features a couple new stamps from the versatile new *Happy* clear set!  I thought it paired well with Fancy Numbers clear set to make a special card for the big festivities this week!  I was going for the top-down look of a layered birthday cake, not sure I pulled it off, LOL, oh well!  It's the spirit that counts, right? :)

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Happy and Fancy Numbers clear sets by A Muse.  

Paper: Apricot, sage, robin's egg blue, and green kitchen by A Muse

ink: Memento rich cocoa, Tsukineko Versa Magic multi surface chalk ink sea breeze

Other: A Muse orange twinkle stickers, EK Circle punches

For A Muse products click here 

Welcome to the party!

A Muse Artstamps is turning 9!

This is a very special occasion that I'm thrilled to be a part of.  A Muse has been an important part of bringing crafty goodness to my life for a while now.  

Today I get to look back with the other Muses and share a card made with a vintage A Muse stamp!

 

This adorable kite stamp is now a part of a fabulous *vintage A Muse* clear set!!!  It just screams A Muse to me - so happy, cheerful, and simple :)  It's those signature elements of A Muse that I fell in love with when I first discovered their stamps several years ago.  You are gonna have your head in the clouds when you get your inky paws on this set!!!  Too fun!  

On a side note, this vintage trip is making me a little reflective today...  It seems as though there are only a modest percentage of stamp/craft stores across North America that have managed to hang on out there in recent years.  I *wish* there was one left in my neighborhood, but sadly I'm only left with impersonal jumbo stores that don't sell the wonderful product lines, like A Muse, that we all love!  In fact, I drive pretty far to teach my classes at stores that do.  Please remember to support your local stamp/craft store.  Or, if you are like me and live far from one, call one up (they are often glad to ship to you)!  Sometimes, that 40%/off coupon just isn't worth it ;)  Supporting these local stores ensures that you have fabulous choices in products, like A Muse!  

So, with that in mind, let the 9th birthday party begin!!!  

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Vintage clear set by A Muse.  

Paper: Apricot, clouds, pink petite gingham, blue petite gingham, yellow kitchen and green kitchen by A Muse

ink: A Muse black dye ink

Other: A Muse white polka dot sheer, sky blue polka dot sheer, papaya sheer, lime sheer, and popsicle pink sheer ribbons

For A Muse products click here 

A Muse color challenge!

There's a fun new challenge this month over on the A Muse Lounge!  This month is challenge #13: a color challenge!  There are three combos to choose from and I picked the orange crush, papaya and sky blue color combo. I thought this combo would pair nicely with A Muse's Madeira stamp and the margarita!!!  This is the perfect card for my good friend, and margarita lover, Sarah, who just had a birthday.

 

 

I think this turned out pretty fun, although, I have to admit that I also loved the card before adding the birthday stuff!

 

Simple and elegant :)

Be sure to check out the A Muse Lounge and play along!  You could be the winner of a fabulous prize - now that's...

  

 

Stamps: Madeira and belated birthday (belated masked out) by A Muse

Paper:  White and orange crush papers by A Muse.

ink: A Muse black dye ink, Memento  tangelo, and Color box chalk ice blue and yellow citrus

Other: A Muse papaya and seafoam sheer ribbon, Copic BG10 and Y17, and diamond stickles

A fun new stamp

I had so much fun last weekend teaching at Paper Tales in San Diego.  My friend and fellow A Muse girlie, Michelle, is the owner and recently commissioned some new stamps just for her store.  They are so much fun and I was delighted to get my hands on this little number:

 

 

It was her birthday this week, so I figured she needed a special card made with her stamp!

Stamps: Sending you Sunshine by A Muse, and bird cage by Paper Tales Bird and Cage by Paper Tales

Paper:  White, blush, buttercup yellow, and shimmer couture damask lime papers by A Muse.

ink: A Muse black dye ink

Other: A Muse white polka dot sheer ribbon, A Muse white pretty pearls, and Koh-I-Noor colored pencils.  

So far, so good

I'm not one to take on new year's resolutions... I figure if something needs to happen, just do it, why wait for January 1st?  I guess I made an exception this year, just this once :)  Life usually gets ahead of me, I realize that a birthday is looming, and I find myself without the time to do something about it.  So I made the decision that I need to try and be better about sending birthday cards.  January seemed like a good month to start doing that!  So I made myself a birthday calendar and have been doing a good job about looking ahead and planning those birthday cards (of course, it's only been 4 weeks - ha ha).

There were two birthday's last week for people who are very special to me.  I thought they deserved a little something special with a little style...

 

 

I LOVE how this turned out.  Not a color combination I usually turn to, but I think it's very cool.  The Eucalyptus stamp is one of my favorites - very "Orla Kiely" to me :)  and the butterfly is a nice little touch.  

Hopefully it put a smile on their faces!

 

Stamps: Eucalyptus by A Muse

Paper:  White and blackberry solid papers by A Muse.

ink: Memento sweet plum, Colorbox chalk pink pastel, and Colorbox chalk yellow citrus

Other: Martha Stewart butterfly punch and A Muse papaya sheer ribbon