Almost There *sneak peek*

You have to wait less than 24 hours until all of the new A Muse images are revealed to you. However, I know there are some people lucky enough to have the stamps in their possession because some stores have the new stamps already.

This is a get well card, but I see the lovely Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell being used to make thank yous for doctors, too. I showed this one to my oldest daughter and she was glad to see Dr. Blackwell. Why? Because she is mentioned frequently in a series of books that my daughter reads, called Judy Moody. The main character aspires to be just "like Dr. Blackwell, first woman doctor." It is wonderful to have a female role model become a stamp, huh?

Can't wait to hear what your favorites of the new images are. Later this week, I'll have some more *new* stuff to share!

card info: notecard, papers, images and sentiment by A Muse, brad by Making Memories, pop dot, Copic markers - baby skin pink, cool shadow, sand, warm gray no. 2, robin's egg blue, black pen, Sakura black glaze pen, Spica glitter pen.

Special Day *sneak peek*

I thought I'd show another quick peek today. I love this tiara - so many possibilities for it, you know? It could be for a little girl's birthday or for a special woman or even for a high school girl headed to prom or something like that. I paired it with one of the new A Muse sentiments, too. I try to make many of my friends and relatives Mother's Day cards because they need to know that I think so highly of them all. This would be such an easy card to mass produce, too.

I should have at lease one more peek for you before the on-line release of the new images. We still have family in town, so we will be doing lots of visiting over the weekend. I might even got to go out on a date with my husband! Have a wonderful weekend!!!

card info: image, sentiment, notecard, ribbon and twinkle stickers by A Muse, Spica glitter pen.

Spring Treats *sneak peek*

When you think "spring" you think flowers, allergies, budding trees and Girl Scout cookies, right? Those lovely ladies are outside all the grocery stores on weekends in March, it seems, selling their extra boxes of yummies. For me, Lent usually keeps me from buying the cookies, but this year, I couldn't resist the call of Thin Mints (I hadn't had those in at least two years).

This new image from A Muse is great for all sorts of Girl Scout needs, like thank you notes, gift card notes (like this one), or even a congratulations card. I forgot to mention yesterday that these images will be available from A Muse on March 31. So only a few more days until you can see the new release!

card info: image and sentiment by A Muse, cardstock by Bazzill and my supply, ribbon by American Crafts, Copic markers - pale olive, pinkish white, Triplus fineliner pens.

Happy Spring *sneak peek*

There are actually two new images used here, but one is sort of disguised. See the little splashes coming out of the puddle? There is a stamp with raindrops - so I just inked up one drop and stamped it around the puddle. It is a great addition to any collection because of its versatility!

I decided that she could be out walking just after a storm, finding puddles and a rainbow (inspired by Heather's card and Julie's use of paper scraps).

There will be lots of others sharing sneak peeks with you today, so check out the links on the right hand side. By the way, NoVa/DC/MD stampers - Angela's has the newest A Muse images already, with card samples, too!

card info: notecard, papers, images, sentiment, twinkle sticker by A Muse, Spica glitter pen, Copic markers - Tahitian blue, lemon yellow, pinkish white, sepia, Prismacolor marker - jet black.

A Grand Weekend

Happy Easter to everyone. Yesterday my family had a big celebration - 30+ people at my mom and dad's house for lots of food and fun. Although it was a lot of work for my parents (as well as my aunts), I think everyone had a great time. I thought I'd share some photos from yesterday, in addition to this card, because I had a few inquiries about the egg hunt for people over 20. It is really just like a regular egg hunt, just maybe more cutthroat and brutal.



The starting line where everyone is jockeying for position. The three time past champ is my husband, so everyone was trying to get in his way.



Here are some of us in action (yes that is me in the foreground). This year we had our largest number of adult division participants - 17! And, this year I almost beat my husband; we tied for first place (I'll get him next year!).



These are the boxes of cascarones that we made for the kids to smash. We had forgotten about these until almost the end of the day. The kids had a good time and made a really big mess.



Cascarones in action - the two boys ganged up on the oldest girl and got her good. They were smart to stock up on the eggs before tracking her down.

I promise to be back with more stamped projects soon. I've been getting some sneak peeks together for you... be ready on Wednesday!

card info: notecard, image, sentiment by A Muse, ribbon scrap, Copic markers - cool shadow, sepia, shadow pink, warm gray no.4, canary yellow.

Quieres Tamales?

This is what consumed my afternoon yesterday: making tamales! It is a laborious task even when you have eight adults doing it. We are having a HUGE family Easter celebration this year and we need lots of tamales for the occasion. Usually tamales are a Christmas food, but we were not all together for Christmas. Since my sister and her family have come to Virginia for Easter, we are having foods that she wants (she is feeling well, up to travelling and eating!). I love tamales, too, so I am so happy we could convince my visiting aunts and cousin to help make such yummy food. I am so excited about Sunday, too. I have filled over 300 Easter eggs for hunting! Lots of fun for us, so long as the weather cooperates.



This is the other activity that I was busy with yesterday: dyeing eggs. You might be wondering why the eggs have holes in the tops. That is because these were later filled with confetti so we can have cascarones for Easter, too. All the kids will get to smash the eggs/confetti on each other and make a big mess. My kids are already plotting who they are going to "get" with the cascarones. It is going to be a great time!

I have been stamping, too, but it is stuff I can't share yet. Check back with me next week for a peek-a-loo at what I've been doing ;)

Everyone is Irish Today

A quick card to share today for all of the Irish out there today! I used to teach second grade in a very diverse school - kids form over 20 different countries, at least 15 different languages were spoken in homes, lots of new immigrants - and somehow, all of the kids knew to wear green on March 17. I had one Korean student show up wearing every green piece of clothing he owned and said he was a leprechaun.

My kids are all sorts of mixed up because we are the type of family that will eat quesadillas on St. Patrick's Day while sporting a Lithuanian tye-dye t-shirt and some shamrock temporary tattoos. Really. We are having Guinness Beef Pot Pie for dinner, though, and maybe gold Jell-o if I can find it in the cabinet.

So, the card. I made this for Heather's Share Your Spark Friday challenge. It was to make a card using only one layer. I think this qualifies because the little shamrock embellishment isn't stamped and is small, not really a layer in my book.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!


card info: notecard and papers by A Muse, sentiment by Verses Rubber Stamps, shamrock punch, glitter by Stampendous, ribbon by May Arts.

It's Raining Men!

Ok, well, it is raining boys. I had two friends give birth in the last week and a half, both boys. One now has six boys and two girls, the other had three girls and finally a baby boy. "Boy oh boy" indeed! While I love the sentiment from The Saltbox Studios, "Congratulations on the newest member of your flock", this one just seemed so much more appropriate for my friends. I was able to make two cards lickety-split with the one-layer card, which is fantastic for days like today when I seem to be going in lots of directions. Now, I just have to get these in the mail with the promise of delivering meals to my friends soon.

card info: notecard, ribbon and sentiment by A Muse, image by The Saltbox Studio, Copic marker- warm gray no.2, black fine tip pen.

Sharing Time

I thought I'd play along with Heather this week and share a "spark." The challenge was to use a product or technique that was new to you. I wasn't really sure what I could do at first, then I spotted a package of Twinkling H2O's that I borrowed from my mom about 8 months ago. I had wanted to try these but never found the time or right image. But the wreaths from The Saltbox Studio seemed like a good fit. The H2O's were bold colors, though, which I am not used to using. I had to scrounge a bit for papers that would compliment the H2O's. I even found a sheet of cardstock that had a shimmer to it. In the end, I like how it turned out, but I think I need to experiment more with it. H2o's are easy to use and this card was still pretty quick. Below is a better view of all the "twinkling."




In other sharing, the lovely and talented Korie B. tagged me to share some random things about me. Since I have a few minutes I'll play. By the way, check out Korie's site if you are in the D.C. Metro area; she has news on the local craft scene and teaches some really neat classes, too!

1. I am a middle child.
2. I will bake anything, just to try it, not for any purpose.
3. I like to play in the garden.
4. I have top-secret A Muse rubber on my desk right now.
5. I need to go to the bus stop in about 10 minutes.
6. I organize, not one, but two Easter egg hunts every year: one for the under 12 set and one for the 20 years and over set.
7. I love to hear Brett Favre talk.

Ok, enough about me. I know that I am supposed to tag more people, but I don't know who to tag. Anyone want to play? Let me know :)

Have a great day!

card info: image and sentiment by The Saltbox Studio, cardstock and ribbon from my supply, Twinkling H2O's.

Let The Madness Begin!

My team is in!!!!! I am a college basketball fan and I am devoted to my alma mater, George Mason University. Last night they beat William & Mary in the CAA tournament championship, which means they will get to play in the NCAA tournament. YAY!!!

I have been following this team since I was a junior in high school so I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly, but I have always rooted for them. It is awesome for me to see how far the program has come and how many students now attend games. When I started watching games, tickets were being given away just to get people to fill seats. This year the student sections were so full, it was awesome.

I will have to get lots of stamping done here in the next 10 days before the tournament starts. This one is dedicated to my team and to Mason Nation. Way to go!

card info: images, sentiment and paper by A Muse, black cardstock, fine tip green pen, Spica Glitter pen, pop-dots, Copic markers - apricot, warm gray no. 4, warm gray no.2, raw silk.

Oh the Scandal!

I am not a scandalous person (be quiet Michelle and Geeta!). However, that is what I was thinking when I saw this sentiment from The Saltbox Studio, "Feeling Sheepish?" When was I ever going to use that, I wondered. Now, I am no prude or anything, but I don't like to cause scandal. But I wanted to find a way to use it. The little sheep look too innocent to me, so I inked up all but one eye of this sheep and drew a wink! Super easy, huh? I don't know when I'll use this. I guess I'll have to save it for a special occasion *nudge, nudge, wink, wink*

card info: image and sentiment by The Saltbox Studio, cardstock from my supply, Copic markers - Robin's Egg Blue, New Leaf, white fun flock.

Easy Project for Every Reader

While I had reading on the brain, I thought my older readers could use new bookmarks. They are always getting paper ones at school or the library, but I thought they could use something a bit more sturdy. My daughter loves the books that come with the ribbon bookmarks built-in, so I decided that I wanted to use some of the wide ribbon I had, too. I made the ribbon (and the ribbon tape) stiffer by adhering two pieces together. And the A Muse creative candy is perfect for making a topper to the bookmark that highlights a small image. My kids just loved these and promptly found chapter books to start just so they could use the bookmarks. I have some more to share, hope to get to it later today!

info: images from A Muse and The Saltbox Studio, Creative Candy by A Muse, ribbon tape by Making Memories, ribbon by Michaels, Xyron sticker maker, Prismacolor markers - leaf green, jet black, sand, walnut, mocha light, cold stone, muted turquoise, scrap paper.

The Pleasures of Reading

Yesterday was Read Across America Day at school. Being a former teacher, I have a great love of reading, especially children's books. My kids have a tremendous love of reading, too. It has always been the case that my son would drop whatever he is playing with and come listen to me read to his sisters, even if it is a story he has heard before or if it is for wee children. That really astonishes me, but I am grateful that he does. And now my oldest two can read aloud to the little girls, so they get a lot of special sibling time.

I've been wanting to document my kids' love of reading in some way. This past Saturday morning, they were up early. While I was making waffles, they all found books to look at or read, so I snapped a few photos of the kids and books all over the floor (ask me how many times a day I pick up books off the floor!) and made this little mini book. I LOVE mini books better than large albums because these are fun to make and come together easily. Tired of reading my blah, blah, blah yet? Ok, so onto the pictures



This is the cover of the book. I used a mini scrapbook from Petaloo for this. I like the weight of the material and it was fun to embellish it, too. Sorry for the weird orange hue to the photo!




This is the first shot of the inside, where you can see the accordion that comes out. I think accordion pages are fun.




And this is the whole thing opened up. Like my subliminal message there in bright orange letters? I can't wait to show this to my kids today, they are really my biggest fans. And thanks to Heather for the color combo inspiration!

box by Petaloo, stamps, ribbon and orange/patterned paper by A Muse, cardstock from my supply, brads by Making Memories, Copic markers - manganese blue, honey, warm gray no.2.

Fun and Challenging Stamping

This weekend I tried just a bit of fun with my stamps and this was the result. My daughter got this plain white shirt for Christmas. Since she has three plain white shirts, I thought I'd pretty it up a bit. I did some research on SplitCoast Stampers and found some info there on using pigment/craft ink on fabric. One person said that sprinkling vinegar on the fabric after the ink dried, then heat setting it in the dryer would keep the ink. Since I need to wait to wash the shirt for a week or so, I'll have to wait to see what happens. I used some Aleene's Jewel It! glue to add the Stampendous fabric/washable glitter, too. My daughter really was pleased with the shirt, so I hope it keeps! I made myself one too, but I didn't take a picture of it. Soon...



In other stamping fun, I decided to participate in Becky's challenge to use my own handwriting on a card. I used to teach second grade, so I have the most simple and plain printing - BORING! I wish I had beautiful penmanship, like my mom and sister, but I didn't get the "nun handwriting" gene :( Oh, well, at least it is legible! I think this would be a great card to send to a friend for a stamping playdate (like Adelina, Novell, Melissa and Jennifer had...I'm a wee bit jealous). The pinwheel notecard and background stamp lend such a fun/playdate feel to the card!

I hope to get to more stamping this week. The last week was spent catching up on all the PBS Masterpiece Classic episodes featuring Jane Austen novels (hooray for TiVo). I hope everyone had time to stamp this weekend!

card info: images, notecard, paper by A Muse, Prismacolor markers - mocha light, avocado, Spica clear glitter pen, brads by S.E.I., black pen.