CraftyEngineer

A Muse PJ Party - Challenge #4

WOW! I've said it before and I'll say it again... A Muse PJ Parties are the fastest TWO hours of my life!

Here we are to Challenge #4...

Our host is Glenda Wyatt...

Her challenge is make a card using ONLY RED, WHITE, and BLACK.

Hmm, seems that most of my cards tonight are that color!

Here's my card:

Seems like I've made a similar card with this stamp before. Maybe. Anyway, I like the color combo. Stands out.

All products by A Muse.

Okay, that's it! I hope you had a good time. Be sure to check out the lounge for links to everyone else's creations tonight!

A Muse PJ Party - Challenge #3

And here we are to challenge #3...

That's ME! I'm the hostess for this challenge. If you read my blog earlier this week, I was rambling on and on about how I'm trying to redefine my style... so I made my challenge one that CHALLENGED me...

CHALLENGE: Create  a ONE LAYER card...

Okay, so I made TWO... but I like the white one better. Which do you like?

Do you like the heart shaped mini flowers?

    

So, there you have it... a ONE Layer card!

Ready for the LAST challenge? Stay tuned...

A Muse PJ Party - Challenge #2

And here we are ... challenge #2...

Have no idea what I'm talking about... logon to the amuse lounge!

Challenge # 2 is brought to you by one of our newest DT members... Krystie Lee

Her challenge: make a card for your best friend

My bff and I have this thing about lady bugs. Probably because that was the first stamped card we fell in love with at our first Stampin' Up! party. And that's how it all began...

So, here is my card. I used the A Muse small polka dot alphabet set (clear) and then the tiny lady bug. Why are lady bugs so darn cute?

I put diamond glaze on each of the lady bugs to properly dress them ;)

See?

All images, ribbon, and note cards by A Muse

On to challenge #3... OOH that's mine ....

A Muse PJ Party - Challenge #1

It's time again for a fun night of stamping... get your pjs on, log in to the lounge, and get ready to stamp! Four challenges, 30 minutes each... REMEMBER THINK SIMPLE, THINK A MUSE

READY, SET, GO....

First up, the hostess of all hostesses, my dear friend Jennie Moczan...

Her challenge: Make a card inspired by your celebrity crush!

Well, I know you all have guessed RPatz is my celebrity crush but he's not, actually. Yes, I like him but I really want him to be with KStew, not to mention I'm old enough to be his mom! So, I dug a little deeper and realized my crushes from my teenage years have ALL turned to be losers in their older age. Humph. So, okay, back to the drawing board.

I would probably pick Johnny Depp. But I didn't want to make a pirate card. That's a movie inspiration.

So FINE. Alright. My celebrity crush card is not Rob Pattinson but Edward. Edward is a celebrity, right? He is an action figure, so he MUST be...

I used a "new to me" product on here. Smooch Spritz in clear and Cherry Ice. I *LOVE* them. I got 11 colors when I was up in Seattle. And um, yeah, broke them open today. It's only been 3 months...

The white heart has the clear sprayed on it and the cherry ice is the red heart. But the red heart is actually white cardstock so the spray coverage is excellent!

All A Muse images, ribbon, and notecard

Here's a closeup of the spritz but it's hard to see the shimmer and sparkle... edward HAS TO SPARKLE...

On to the next challenge....

amuse-bouche - Valentine Treats!

And here we are to the last serving of amuse-bouche - Valentine Treats! What is Valentine's, if not a day to give out treats? As I was creating this last night, I was trying to come up with something grand and clever and awesome and ... And nothing happened. Does that ever happen to you?

You know a few years ago, maybe it was last year, I don't remember, but I think it was Ali Edwards that talked about having a "word" for the year. A word defining what her world would be. Well, I've decided that my word for 2010 is "SIMPLE" - I'm using that in my craft world but then maybe it will spill over into my everyday world too.

I find that I sit and try to make something grand, big, more, better, etc. and in the end I just don't like it as much as if I kept it SIMPLE. It's day 5 of 2010 and so far so good - except that it is a HARD mind adjustment for me. I have to concentrate on simple. Julie had an awesome card that I'm CASING for my thank yous this winter and I keep coming back to how clean and simple it is.

Okay, so back to this endeavor... after a few failed attempts to make something clever, I decided I was trying to hard and needed to come back to simple. Hmm, what have I done in the past and really liked? My valentine treat amuse-bouche is none other than the good 'ol Bag-a-lope from days past. The first time I made one of these many years ago in my former SU! life, I was in awe of the cleverness of it. If you are unfamiliar with bag-a-lopes, here is a tutorial from SCS but I modified it a bit. It's a bag made from an envelope. EASY. BUT wait there's more... A Muse is so perfect for SIMPLE... you can get a pack of these already patterned (AND VERY CUTE) envelopes from A Muse (and 10 in a pack!).

1. seal the envelope shut

2. score on 3 sides at 1/2" from the edge (2 long sides and 1 short)

3. using a zigzag decorative scissors (or any you like), cut off the non-scored short end to height desired of bag

4. open up from top and form bag (like a paper grocery bag); secure points/corners on bottom with mini glue dot

5. decorate tag or image for front.

What do you think? If you haven't made these before, I encourage you to do so. Let me know what you think. I just love that the envelopes are already decorated. Sure, you could do this with cardstock but it's more work and the envelopes make a lighter weight bag - I almost made it a purse! ;)

Happy Tuesday!

amuse-bouche - Elegant Greetings from the Sea

Hello! Up next for today's serving of amuse-bouche is Elegant Greetings from the Sea!

That white base (mounted on French Roast) is the A Muse shimmer paper as is the pink shimmer damask. Very shimmery in real life.

Hope you are having a great day!

amuse-bouche - Everyday Greetings!

I see a trend here. I seem to be barely making the deadline for these sneaks! I'm still in holiday mode and surely don't want this week to start. Back to the hustle-and-bustle and all that. Sigh.

Well, you're here to see the latest amuse-bouche, right? Today's theme is cards for everyday. I'm *really* bad at having these type cards in my stock pile. I need to make a bunch of "everyday" cards - friendship, get well, congratulations, thank yous and even sympathies. Shoot, I probably need to make birthday cards, too!

Anyway, here's my amuse-bouche. I picked up this airplane recently from A Muse (it's available right now and not part of this release!) and thought I wanted him to pull a banner for the whole world to see...

The crab, matching sentiment and curling wave are all part of this new release.

It's not my favorite card but I'm going with it anyway. The idea is still there... the execution *not* exactly as planned!

Happy back to the grind week!

amuse-bouche: Cards for the men in our lifes!

Day 2 of the amuse-bouche for A Muse's valentine's day release... but the stamps in this release are so versatile, they could be used anytime!

I'm late posting today so I'll keep it short...

Here is my amuse-bouche!

Isn't the anchor and matching sentiment great? So many times I could have used this in the past!

Be sure to check out the other muses and the A Muse blog for more great amuse-bouche! Hope you are enjoying them!

Amuse-bouche - Valentine Greetings for Kids!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's time again for a little appetizer, or amuse-bouche! Valentine's Day is right around the corner! Can you believe that?

This release should be available at your LSS now so go check it out. Also be sure to check out the A Muse News blog and the other gals...lots of cute, cute ideas out there!

First up, valentine's greetings for kids! As a mother of small kids, interactive cards and book are very popular around here. And having boys makes it challenging to make valentine's that my 2nd grader wouldn't blush at! Geez, when did that happen?

I have to thank Novell for the inspiration. Here's what I came up with - a pocket card with a viewfinder... all blues too - think boys! In fact, my card disappeared - as soon as I took the picture, my 3 year-old claimed it for himself!

Dolphins are one of my most favorite sea creatures - I guess that's not saying much as I don't like a whole lot of fish and things... but dolphins, they're something else. I've been lucky to see them in groups in the ocean and they just are so graceful, even when jumping out of the water!

Well, Happy New Year! I hope 2010 is wonderful for you and yours!

Twins first birthday invitations

A friend of mine had twin girls at the end of 2008 and so now they are one! Happy Birthday little ones!
My friend asked me to make some invitations for her little princesses. I always enjoy creating something for multiples because it's a different way to think. Anyway, I asked her what their theme/colors were and she sent me this:

Two peas in a pod. Awesome! I have just the stamp... A Muse has a cute little pea in a pod stamp. Perfecto! Oh, wait. It's a pea in a pod. I need 2 peas in a pod. Hmm, think.

Oh wait. I think I got it. A little omitting and some cutting and I think it might work! And I have the vine border that will go with this too!

Put it all together and what do you get?

The saying at the bottom is "Two peas in a pod! Double the Fun! Mia and Kara are turning One!". The inside has the party info. 

I hope she likes them. I think they match the party stuff pretty well. I hope!

Stamps: A Muse: pea pod, vine border

Papers: A Muse: Moss square notecards (retired), Yellow gingham 8.5x11 CS, white CS

Ribbon: A Muse: Lime polka dot ribbon

Inks, Markers, etc: A Muse black dye ink, Copic Original Yellow Green

On the inside, I used a little flower punch with some yellow gingham scraps. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR! MAY 2010 bring you much happiness and laughter and may you find some time to be creative!