HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Apparently, I send Halloween cards. So says my family. A couple of years ago, or maybe it was last year, I didn't send one. And they noticed. And that's when I realized I sent Halloween cards. Hmmm. It's not a big production like Christmas but I do send a picture of the boys in the pumpkin patch or their costumes. So, not to disappoint anyone this year, here's my Halloween card (they should have received it by now!).

Stamps: All A Muse art stamps
Card stock: A Muse
Ink: Versafine black onyx, Yellow Citrus Colorbox Chalk
Accessories: Sakura glaze pen

I just love the kids in the costume parade!

Anyway, Happy Halloween! Stay safe and have a super, fun day!

Teacher treats...

So, do you remember elementary school? Did you have a bazillion teachers? I'm a bit in shock at the sheer number. So, in my previous post I mentioned that my eldest son's class has 22 kids, right? Okay, let's back track a bit...

Eldest son was 2: 2 teachers, 1 aux. teacher (music), 8 kids
Eldest son was 3: 2 teachers, 1 aux. teacher (music), 12 kids
Eldest son was 4: 2 teachers,1 aux. teacher (music), 16 kids

This brings us up through last year.

Now, this year, the bunnies, they're a multiplyin'....

Youngest son is 19 mo: 2 teachers, 1 aux. teacher, 8 kids
Eldest son is 5: 1 teacher, 6 aux. teachers, 1 VERY NICE NEIGHBOR THAT DRIVES HIM TO SCHOOL EVERY MORNING because the BUS comes to *#*$!!#$?! early, 2 Martial Arts teachers (I forgot about these... he reminded me... I had to scramble yesterday to fix that!), 22 kids

OMG.

Can you imagine what will happen in 4 years, when 2 are in elementary? Ok, so most of you probably already have this "problem" but remember I'm an engineer and numbers are part of my makeup! ACK!

Breathe.

Good thing I started these projects a while back. No, actually that's not the GOOD thing... the GOOD thing is Papertrey's tins. OMG. WHAT a life saver AND SUPER QUICK! Thanks Nicole and the Papertrey gang. Your simplicity is exactly my lifestyle (or maybe it's exactly what my lifestyle needs at the moment!).




Stamps: PaperTrey's Spooky Sweets
Paper/CS: all SU!
Ink: SU! Only Orange
Accesories: PaperTrey's Tins (4 oz square clear top tin)

Thanks for looking (and listening :))!

No tricks, just treats!

Halloween! Time to make some stuff for those little goblins that live here and their classmates! Whew! With the toddler in preschool this year and the big one in Kinder... the number of treats MULTIPLIED! I had make 30 this year! ACK! And teachers... well that multiplied, too but that's for another post.

For my preschooler, I did 3 small tubs of play-doh. I seem to keep buying that stuff and forgetting that I have it! So, they all will get 3 tubs this year. I decorated the lids with my cute A Muse Halloween images! :) I love the little pumpkin baby! So cute!. I wheeled some small craft bags with the SU! Batty for You wheel. Quick and simple!

For my kindergartener, the inside holds spider rings, an eyeball ball, and some (you guessed it!) play-doh! Gotta get rid of this stuff! I didn't decorate any of these items.... have you seen 22 five-year olds OPEN stuff? Stand back... I wheeled white lunch bags with the SU! Spooky skyline wheel and called it done.

The real trick is how to get all 22 bags with my child to school... I think I'll have to take them up there when I go later in the day tomorrow!

My advice to you... know your audience. Even if it's going to be super-cute, don't spend a lot of time and money on stuff for kids! The packaging gets torn into and thrown away! I wanted cute but I really wanted FAST!

Teacher Birthday!

My 19 month old's teacher had a birthday last week! Good thing... I needed an excuse to make another paint can. I love these clear ones. They're so quick!

Stamps: Stampendous
Paper: American Crafts, SU!
Ribbon: May Arts, SU!, A Muse
Embellishments: Diamond Glaze, Sakura Glitter Pen

So, what did I put in it? A bunch of chocolate and 8 3x3 cards... oh, plus a gift card to a SPA from the whole class!

Happy Birthday, Ms Bobi!

Thin Witch gets brewed!

I wanted to make another sample for the super nice owner of Stamp Salado. We used the A Muse thin witch stamp and witches brew for a different card back in September at my first A Muse class. But I wanted to show her another way to use it. This is a very similar card to the one that fabulous, Jenn Shurkus made here. Thanks Jenn! Poor thin witch.... maybe she should have just kissed the frog!

Stamps and Notecards by A Muse; May Arts Ribbon, A Muse twinkle stickers, Crystal Stickles, Giga Scallop Oval Punch, Mega Oval Punch, Markers

Hook 'em Horns! Go horns! Go!

The Eyes Of Texas

The Eyes of Texas are upon you,
all the live-long day,
The Eyes of Texas are upon you,
you can not get away.
Do not think you can escape them,
at night or early in the morn'.
The Eyes of Texas are upon you,
'til Gabriel blows his horn.

So, here's a little story for you... This summer I got a random email from a lady in Louisana that wanted to know about stamp stores in the Austin area. I didn't know her or from where she found me. But didn't matter... she found me and asked so I thought I'd show her some of that Texas friendliness. Well, turns out that she actually went to school at the University of Texas. Huh, so did I! Wait... what? She graduated in 1991. No way. So, did I! So, she comes to Austin ends up going to Archivers because she hadn't been to one and that was closest to where she was ultimately heading. Then all the A Muse instructor stuff happened for me (just giving you some time references here). And then, this one time in band camp... oh wait, I wasn't ever in band.... ... So, then a month goes by and GUESS WHAT? She's the guest designer for A Muse... do you know who I'm talking about? Yes, yes,.... Ms. Lexi Daly. Can you freakin' believe that? If you don't know who I'm talking about, check out her unbelievable blog, Confetti... she's oh so talented... I just can't believe how "small" the world is and how many things she and I have in common... just finding it out because she asked for directions (see, Men should try it... might just find a new friend!).

Anyway, we share in the love for our alma mater and A Muse. But she's pretty much got A Muse covered. So, I can only "help" her in the Longhorn department. I sent her a little goodie package the other day along with this card.

Hook 'em Horns Lexi!

Rhonda Rocks...

Okay, so Rhonda is another A Muse pal of mine. She is one of the fab 4 that helps to run the A Muse Addicts Yahoo Group. And you know what she does? She sends a hand made card to every new member of the yahoo group. Do you know how many members we have right now? ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-NINE! You heard me, 179! Now, she's working through the list so if you haven't gotten one, don't panic. She's on it. Can you believe that? WHAT A SWEETIE! Such a generous heart. Seriously. I am so glad to know you Ms. Rhonda... she's manyblessings on SCS.

Anyway, she needed a card. And she likes to stamp (duh!) so I thought using the A Muse stamp store was the right choice for her. The outside says "so many stamps... so little time".

On the inside I stamped a Stamping Bella saying....

Stamps: $6457.33
Supplies: $7872.58
Handmade card: priceless

Rhonda, it should say "Handmade card BY RHONDA: priceless".

Thanks for all that you do and for just being you.

Thinking of you

My fellow A Muse sister, Jenn Shrukus, had a rough week last week. Read about it here. While I haven't actually met Jenn in person yet, she seems like such a fun girl! And now she's had to deal with something that many of us had to do at some point in our lives. I feel for her. So, Jenn, if you read this, I'm so very sorry and I wish for your heart to heal soon.

All stamps and notecard by A Muse. Vellum CS by SU!. White embossed and colored with SU! pastels. SU! Tafetta ribbon.

Pumpkin patch!

My son's kinder class had their first field trip on Tuesday. It was to the pumpkin patch at a local nursery. The nursery happens to be RIGHT NEXT door to the elementary school. How cool is that? The lady that owns the nursery is awesome! She has a little outdoor classroom (covered) - just right for kids! She talked about all of the different pumpkins. Then she brought out her bird. WOHOO. I, even, held it. I had this look of fear on me though. Not surprised are you. Yeah, me either. My next door neighbor was there and lucky-for-me she got a picture of my "trying-to-be-calm" self holding the cock-a-too. Anyway, what does this have to do with crafting? Well, my fellow A Muse sister, Michelle, aka crazystampchick happens to be a teacher in her other life. Of Kindergarten. Funny, eh? She took her class to the pumpkin patch (in Georgia) last week. Must be the thing to do with kindergarten! She, of course, stamped some cute thank yous for the parents that helped with her class. Here is her card. Now, I had to copy her. Well, no, I'm not the teacher. Yes, I'm one of the parents. But come on... stamping is in my blood and I have to compete with her, don't I? :P It's a healthy sort of thing... I think ;).

So, I made some thank yous for my teacher to give to the other parents. I wasn't really there to "help" since I had my 19 month old with me. I just went as a spectator (and picture taker!). Anyway, here's my card.

I told my son's teacher not to give me one. Really. I try to give handmade cards as gifts for baby showers, etc. and sometimes I get them back as an official thank you. It's nice to know they are getting used but I'd rather someone else get the "joy" of getting something "fun" rather than wasting it on me! Do you ever receive stuff you've given as gifts?

Wanna join me for an A Muse class?

Are you going to be in the Austin area on November 17th? Come join me for a fun class at Memory Depot, here in Austin? If you've been to Memory Depot lately and you bought stuff then you probably have a ticket in your hand! Remember that big giveaway they are doing? It's on November 17th and you MUST be present to win! SO, why not come take a class? :)

HOLIDAY SPARKLE
A MUSE Stamps
Saturday, November 17th, 2007
10 am-12 noon
Space is LIMITED! Sign-up today!

Hope to see you there!

October Technique Club

My two hostess clubs met this month to make 3 cards using different techniques. The techniques this month were Paper Tole, Split Negative and Decorative Scoring. All can be found on Splitcoaststampers.com.

First card: This is really a CASE from my dear, sweet upline, Jenn Balcer. Here is her card.
Everyone (including her!) knows I LOVE purple and Elegant Eggplant is one of those colors I will never get rid of!

Here's my card:
Stamps: All SU! Fabulous Flowers, So Swirly Jumbo Wheel
Ink: Rose Red, Elegant Eggplant
Card stock: Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, Always Artichoke
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, 2 way glue pen, dimensionals, paper snips


Second Card:
Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Short and Sweet
Ink: Versamark, Staz-on Black
Card Stock: White, Black, Real Red
Accessories: Whisper White embossing powder, heat gun, paper cutter


Third Card:
Stamps: All Holidays, Baroque Motifs
Ink: Soft Sky, Versamark
Card Stock: White, Soft Sky
Accessories: Whisper White embossing powder, heat gun, paper cutter with Scoring blade

I saw this card by Natalia on Splitcoast and had to teach the technique. It's such a card you would see at Target or Hallmark or some place. And it's so me... simple, clean, and elegant. Thanks Natalia for the inspiration!

A card for a friend

Some of my A Muse buddies and I decided to RAK another fellow A Muse lover, Katie of Listen to This. We know she really likes coffee (and stamps) so we all sent her a coffee themed card. AND I got to use my new A Muse Kitchen 4-bar cards. WOHOO. The picture doesn't do it justice but the brown card is PERFECT for coffee, hot chocolate, etc. type things. This stamp is actually the cocoa stamp and I omitted the marshmallows. The sentiment is from SU!'s Like it a Latte set. Who knew I didn't have any A Muse coffee stuff? Gotta fix that.... I used the Sakura Glaze Pen (clear) on the cup to make it shiny!

Heidi's birthday

Do you keep up with any of your friends from times past? I try to with a few - one from elementary school (in Canada!), one from middle school, one from high school, and a few from college. Well, one of my dear, sweet friends from college had her 40th birthday 2 weeks ago. My friend, Sharon and I met Heidi for lunch last week. We gave her a gift certificate to her favorite shopping place! But, of course we needed a card. Oh, and we, of course, needed a box (right Janna? it's all about the box!). So, here's what I whipped up. One thing I love about A Muse, is the ability to do simple and QUICK cards.

The card:
A Muse retired present stamp
A Muse notecard
Versafine Black Onyx ink
May Arts Ribbon
Giga scalloped oval punch
Mega oval punch





The box:
The box is that origami box that I showed below. The 12x12 paper is from American Crafts and I got it at Archivers this summer.
Stamps by A Muse




Happy birthday, Heidi! You don't look a day over 29!

Janna's boxes - TUTORIAL

Here is the tutorial for those boxes I did below:

Nicole's Origami Box Tutorial

Janna's boxes!

I have an SU! customer, who I'm happy to say is not only a very cool person but also a sincerely sweet lady. She ADORES Halloween. I mean ADORES. She goes all out every year. The very first time I met Janna, she said to me "It's all about the box". And so true that is. Her eyes light up and sparkle anytime I mention box. Well, this year she out did herself and made this AWESOME boxes for everyone that came to hostess club that night, in honor of Halloween, of course. You may have seen this box style on Splitcoast. It's a no glue, no scoring box. And now, I love it. Here's the box Janna made for me. It's filled (I mean FILLED) with Hershey's Nuggets.



Well, of course, everyone asked her to show us how to do it. It's so easy. It's so easy that I made two the next day and one the day after that. And you know what else? I'm teaching it in Salado in a couple of weeks at the Pretty Packages A Muse class. THANKS Janna!

Here are the first two I have made:

This one on the right is made from SU! Halloween 12x12 Designer Paper (just in time for Halloween!).

The one on the left is my snowman one and my 5 year old has already "claimed" it. It doesn't even have anything in it. He just wants it. He does like little boxes ... like treasure boxes! This one uses paper I wheeled for the top (SU! jumbo wheel). And the bottom is ballet blue cardstock. The little tag has an A Muse snowman on it. Cute, eh?

So, these boxes are easy to make and I love them! Now, I just have to figure out what to put in them!

Albino Squirrels?

Have you ever seen an albino squirrel? Well, have you seen two? It's a rare occurrence around these parts, I think.

This was the same day, same vicinity. Maybe they are brothers? If you are from the Austin area, this was over by Korea House (yum!).

We've seen albino squirrels before but never two together.

WCMD - WINNER!

And the winner of the WCMD Scavenger Hunt is.....

BRENDA H!

1. Becca
2. Madelyn Beamon
3. Pumpkin tent 2-2650F
4. Geeta
5. Nicole Miller
6. http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=272617


Congratulations Brenda! Please email me your address. I'll pass your info on to A Muse and they'll send you your prize directly!

Thanks everyone for playing! Hope you had fun and Happy World Card Making Day!

World Card Making Day - CONTEST!!!

Michelle, aka Crazystampchick and I have come together for some fun -A Muse style. We are giving away prizes straight from A Muse! We are each having a Scavenger Hunt. We are each having a Scavenger Hunt. Enter on each or both of our blogs to win!

Now, you may know that A Muse is a Gold Level sponsor of WCMD. You may also know that A Muse has special project underway called Cards for a Cause where your handmade cards and money will be donated to St. Jude's Medical Research. How cool is that? YOU can make a difference. Go check it out.

Michelle and I wanted to do something fun together and to point you to several places that we find interesting, hip, and totally rockin'.

So, the rules...
* Answer all 6 questions here in the comments section for this post.
* The winner will be drawn randomly from all of the correct answers.
* You have until 8pm Central on Saturday (WCMD), October 6th to post your answers.
* Each blog (mine and Michelle's) will have it's own prize giveaway (so do both and you could win twice!)

Questions:

1. From Michelle's blog: Every so often, Michelle showcases one little girl's cards. What is her name?
2. St Jude's question - Who is the patient of the month on the St. Jude's website?
3. A Muse Artstamps - Name one of the new images on the A Muse website; Give the name of the stamp and the item number
4. A Muse News blog - Name one member of the A Muse team (designer or instructor)
   
5. A Muse Addicts Yahoo Group - Who is the artist of the card showcased on our homepage? Not a member, go there and register!
6. Splitcoaststampers Thread - What forum would you find the A Muse Addicts thread on SCS? Give the link here.
   

Good luck!

ETA: I've updated the links. SORRY. I don't know how they broke! ACK!

Balcerific...

So, I was poking around on Splitcoast and catching up on my google reader (all the blogs that I read on a daily basis!) and one theme kept jumping out at me... Balcer-anything... Holy Balcer... Balcerific, etc.

Hmm, why does that name sound so familiar? Oh, right... that's my long lost upline's name... Jenn Balcer. You know what? She's the featured stamper this week over on splitcoast. One of the many challenges every week over there is featured stamper. Basically, pick something from the featured artist and CASE it with minor tweaks. Well, how could I resist CASE-ing her? Isn't that part of my job? :)

Well, we all know that I like PURPLE. And well, Jenn likes a lot of colors... purple isn't right up there with the top gaziilion. ;) So, I, of course had to do something in purple! Now, I need a birthday card for a long-time, dear friend of mine. Two birds... one card. Love it when that happens.

Jenn's inspirational card is here. Mine is VERY similar but a bit different.


Stamps: SU! All around bundle birthday Hostess level 3
Cardstock: SU! Lovely Lilac, Ballet Blue, Basic Black, and Whisper White
Ink: Lovely Lilac
Accessories: Giga scallop circle punch, mega circle punch, 1.5" circle punch, Crop-a-dile, 1/2" circle punch, May Arts Ribbon (gingham), SU! retired Grosgrain (THANKS JENN!), Signo gel pen;

Here's what the inside looks like. I'm not sure why the ballet blue looks so funky in the pictures. It's not that bright.

Anyway, Jenn, thanks for ALL of your inspiration. You are truly the best upline I could ever imagine. Thank you very much for everything!

Going Pink!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I'm taking my Purple Pages to Pink! Find out how you can do the same here. And go get yourself screened!