Creative Grace

Playing With Gray

I'm enjoying having a teeny bit of free time lately... it's amazing what a little free time can do for me and how much more "grounded" I feel.  The best thing about it is I've had some opportunity to make cards for fun - it's been a long time since I've done that.  Of course, these pockets of free time will go away by the end of the month when the Spring semester starts up, so I'll enjoy it while I can!

I had an important thank you to send out to a friend who remembered something that I loved.  Don't you just love a friend like that?  I realized that I used gray on the project, and what a co-ink-i-dink (no idea how to spell that! LOL), it happens to match a very fun challenge, "Gray is the new black", over on Moxie Fab World.  I absolutely LOVE gray - and love using it as a neutral. 

I also used this as an opportunity to play with some shaker pouches I picked up from my Mom's LSS!  (Loving them!) Although gray isn't the main focal point here, it plays off of the gray in the whale and is used in an unconventional way as the water.  I almost always see water portrayed at blue, but those chilly overcast days and especially stormy days make the sea look gray, so I think it works here. What do you think?

 

 

 

Gingerbread time!

How are you blog friends?  I finally am feeling some pressure release - I'm presenting my masters thesis proposal to my committee in about a week, which means I'm half-way done! :)  I officially filed to graduate next summer - yahoo!!  I'm also so excited because this means I'm finishing a teeny bit sooner than expected, allowing me to be able and "walk" at graduation this Spring with two of my best friends.  If that doesn't put a girl a great mood, I don't know what will - well, except maybe for gingerbread *happy sigh*

I saw that Moxie Fab World has a fun Tuesday Trigger challenge this week (and you can play too!)  The challenge is to make a card inspired by this gingerbread snowflake:

I could always go with a snowflake theme, but my attention focused on the gingerbread and this adorable stamp by A Muse.  

Figured this might help to bring a little Christmas spirit to the ol blog! 

 

Card Recipe:

Stamps: ginger delights cling set and sweet christmas wishes by A Muse.  

Paper: french roast solid notecard and vintage red paper by A Muse

Ink: memento rich cocoa

Other: white enamel accents, paper doily, and french roast sheer ribbon by A Muse

 For A Muse products click here 

 

 

A Muse Movie Night Pajama Party

I'm so excited!  I actually had a little bit of free time tonight to play! :)  Tonight was the Fall A Muse Pajama Party - a night of chatting with friends over the internet, crafty inspiration from our fabulous hostesses, and crazy 30-minute card making.  I didn't have enough time to make cards for all of the challenges, so I just picked the two that fit cards I needed to make for some special people.  

 

My first card is for Katie's challenge: a color challenge based on the colors of the Dirty Dancing movie poster (light pink, dark pink, and black).  I thought this was the perfect opportunity to make a funky card that included some special New York stamps given to me by a friend.

Who wouldn't love a quirky pink city with pink taxi's, right? :)

 

For my second challenge, I went with Glenda's Breakfast at Tiffany's challenge.  This made me so happy because I *LOVE* this movie.  Haven't seen it in ages, and this is a good reminder that it's about time I see it again.  It was one of those movies that, for me, really reached me and made me think about life.  I think it should be mandatory movie watching for any young woman :)  Here's my take on it:

A little elegant, a little spunky, a little martini ;)

Thanks to all the hostesses for the fun challenges and the chance to connect again.  It was much needed therapy!

 

Card Recipe (for both!):

Stamps: Cityscape, one of a kind, hostess, tiny martini, and inner princess HC by A Muse.  NYC set by Yellow Owl Workshop

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

Ink: A Muse pigment ink and Versamagic midnight black

Copic: BG10, BG15

Other: Washi tape, red and pink twinkle stickers by A Muse, eucalyptus polka dot sheer ribbon by A Muse

 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 

Grateful pattern

Where has my summer gone?  WOW!  I've hardly had a chance to breathe, but I am grateful for the fabulous opportunities I've had this summer.  I've been crazy busy working teacher institutes (where I get the pleasure of being involved in helping elementary teachers augment their knowledge of science) and now I'm in the midst of a fabulous program that gives pre-service teachers the opportunity to teach hands-on science.  I'm a bit exhausted, but will start the school year (in only a few weeks! eek!) inspired :)

I was bound and determined to take a step back today and relax, since I truly haven't had a chance to this summer.  It turns out that being crafty has always been a part of my therapy arsenal!  So I challenged myself to combine two challenges in one today.  It's no secret I'm an A Muse fan, and I really wanted to participate in their Lounge Challenge this month (Challenge #19: Stick to the pattern).  The challenge was to either use an A Muse patterned paper in your card, or make your pattern with A Muse stamps - I went for the latter!  My second challenge was the Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger: She Sells Seashells, based on the photo below.  It's an interesting photo with A LOT going on! LOL

 

 

So I dug out some of my fabulous sea-themed A Muse stamps and produced the following:

With respect to the Moxie Fab challenge, I was most inspired by the shells and the anchor earrings (which seemed a bit traditional-nautical to me).  So I went for the shell, but picked the more nautical color scheme and edge to put the card together.  This will be a long-over-due thank you for a fabulous professor that loaned me a some materials for one of those teacher institutes.  Can you guess what he loaned me? ;)

I hope you all try and play along with these fun challenges and can find a little time for relaxing and inspiration!  

 Card Recipe:

Stamps: shell and many thanks fl A Muse.  

Paper: latte, navy, and white by A Muse

ink: Memento desert sand and versa magic night sky

Other: twine

For A Muse products click here 

Take Flight

A special card today for three challenges!  Ha ha! I'm catching up from all those months I seem to lack in free time :)  The challenges are the A Muse Lounge Challenge #17: Taking off some layers (create a one-layer card), Splitcoaststampers Clean and Simple challenge #71: Things that fly, and a challenge from my girl Glenda, Glenda's Random Amusing Challenge #70: Kissing Technique :

 

 It took a lot of restraint for me to NOT layer this sucker, LOL.  After inking the butterfly stamp (with two different colors), I then pressed A Muse's modern wood block stamp against it to get the "kissing technique" texture, then stamped on the card.  I thought it needed a little *more*, so I hand sketched the veins in the butterfly's wings with a pink Spica pen (if you haven't tried one yet, you need to get one!  They are fabulous! They have gorgeous tiny glass flakes that give a fabulous sparkle effect).  

 
Really hard to show how pretty this is in a photograph, but I did manage to pick up some of the sparkle.  

On a side note, I did just post my class schedule for this year's  A*MUSE*A*PALOOZA!  You can check it out here.  

Hope you are able to find some time to play today! :)

Card Recipe:

Stamps: flutterby, modern wood block, and dreams take flight fl A Muse.  

Paper: popsicle pink by A Muse

ink: Colorbox chalk orchid pastel and blush rose

Other: pink atyou Spica pen

For A Muse products click here 

Sunshine for you

I love the end of the school year :)  I actually only have a few days off here and there between some summer jobs and other responsibilities I have, but these are wonderful days filled more sleep (I'm so much happier when I get more) and wouldn't you know it, I get all ambitious with my free time! 

First of all, I finally got my classes posted for this Summer's  A*MUSE*A*PALOOZA!  I'm so excited to be at Paper Tales in San Diego this year!.  It's a crazy fun time and I hope to be able and see some of you!  Be sure to check out my class schedule here.  

Second, I had a little time today to make a card and I decided to tackle TWO challenges in it (gasp!).  The challenges are Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger:mapping color and Splitcoaststampers Clean and Simple challenge #71: Things that fly.  Here are the results:

I loved the patterns in the pillow inspiration for the Moxie Fab challenge:

 

 

I thought the pattern would be fun to replicate in a sun.  I know someone who could use a lil sunshine - so this should do the job :) 

  

These are both fun challenges, and anyone can play along!  Hope you all are enjoying the extra sunshine we are getting every day!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: sending you sunshine and song bird by A Muse.  

Paper: sage green, yellow petite gingham, orange kitchen, vintage green, and apricot by A Muse

ink: A Muse black dye ink

Other: white polka dot sheer, orange polka dot sheet, papaya polka dot sheer, lime polka dot sheer, and papaya sheer ribbon by A Muse.

For A Muse products click here 

Spring Pajama Party - Card #4: for a mom

Whew - one more card to share!  Some of the Muses hosted a fun Pajama Party over on the A Muse lounge last night.  Four card challenges were posted and we only had 30-minutes to make each!  Hard to believe I can make anything that fast, but I did it.  Geeta hosted the last challenge of the evening which was to make a card for a Mom.  (Scroll below to see my cards for the other three challenges.)

I'll admit that the first thing that popped into my head was the mama bird who built a nest above the door to our house.  All weekend I've been listening to those baby birds chirp frantically while being fed - that's one busy mama!  Not the best shot, but here's the bottom of nest (I didn't want to climb up and disturb the birds.)

 

 

Here's the card I created:

 

 

I don't think the bird mama will appreciate this, but I'm sure I can find a human mama to give this to! :)

Card Recipe:

Stamps: flowers and vines, happy mother's day script, and egg nest (retired, but there's a similar stamp here) by A Muse.

Paper: sage green, robins egg blue, and latte by A Muse

ink: Memento rich cocoa and bamboo leaves

Other: A Muse sky blue polka dot sheer ribbon 

For A Muse products click here

Spring Pajama Party - Card #3:

Card #3!!! WooHoo!  These challenges are keeping me on my toes.  This challenge was posted by Jenn and she wanted us to make a card inspired by a favorite flower.  

This was really tough for me since I have several favorite flowers.  But I'd have to say that all of them would fall into the category of purple!  Which, upon reflection, is really interesting to me since I'm really not a purple person. I never wear purple, purple is not in my home, and I rarely design with it... but there's something about purple flowers in my garden that makes me so happy.  Maybe because purple flowers can be hard to come by, or maybe it's because I really want my garden to look like the haunted mansion garden at Disneyland! LOL! Regardless, all of my favorites are purple! :)  I guess that's also what inspired my blog header too!

Here is some of the inspiration from my garden:

 purple pincushion flower

 

lavender that kinda grows wild in one of my pots

purple delphinium (not the best photo - but I love how the light looks)

No idea what this one is called, but I LOVE the black mondo grass!!!!  

(but in my head I say "black mambo" grass cuz that sounds cooler, LOL)  
 

 

   purple nemesia

California Lilac (native plant) - these are itty bitty flowers - the cluster is only about 10cm or so in length.  I'd love to plant *real* lilacs, but they don't do well in my zone 

purple sweet peas (just started blooming this week!!!) 

So, with that inspiration in mind, here's my card:

 

It goes with the black mondo ;)

  Card Recipe:

Stamps: chrysanthemum open and you're in my thoughts sentiment from monogram frames clear set by A Muse.

Paper: black and white card stock, and blackberry solid notecard by A Muse

ink: A Muse black dye ink

copic: v06, v12, yg95

Other: EK scroll punch (holiday 09 release) 

For A Muse products click here