Friday, October 19, 2012

More PaperCrafts Holiday Inspiration
















My apologies for the poor photo quality but it's been pretty darned rainy and gloomy here in the PNW. Plus, the only time I have to take these photos is either very early in the morning or late in the evening when it's dark out.

Anyway, I wanted to share more PaperCrafts Holiday Cards & More, Vol 7 inspiration with you. I was inspired by the card on the left side of page 18 by Cristina Kowalczyk. I loved the grey birch trees with the red accents and realized I could play around with the same idea with my A Muse Studio stamps. I love this Peace on Earth cling set, but don't be looking for the little birdie there! I pulled that out of another set. I also love using kraft paper for winter cards. There are so many colors that work nicely with it, especially white and red. You can't see it in the photo, but there's a second layer of white cardstock that I glittered the top portion of with a glue stick and some sparkly diamond glitter (from A Muse, of course!). Such a peaceful winter card, don't you think?

Don't forget, A Muse is still giving away their Fight Like A Girl breast cancer awareness stamp set during the month of October, while supplies last. You can get yours here.

Monday, October 15, 2012

6a0148c71f3f0d970c017ee3e5c1cd970d-pi.jpg


















Supplies from A Muse Studio

Before I share more PaperCrafts Holiday inspired projects, I'd like to share some other information with you that's really important. For the month of October, A Muse Studio is kicking off their Breast Cancer awareness campaign. They have created a special stamp set called Fight Like A Girl and are giving away 10,000 FREE* COPIES!!  Included with each set is a brochure on breast health. This set includes a really cute pushpin stamp that you can ink up and use to mark important dates on your calendar like your mammogram, or other doctor appointments. 

The Fight Like a Girl Stamp set has a retail value of $18, but you can get one for FREE* during the month of October**. 

* Please note there is a $3 fee that covers shipping and handling for this stamp set
** Available while supplies last
*** Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery
Unfortunately, breast cancer has affected members of my own family (on my husband's side) as well as several friends. Thankfully, with early detection, each of those women is a survivor!! Please share the link so that you and your friends can all get one of these fabulous sets and spread the word about early detection.
Click here to learn how to order your very own free* set, available while supplies last. 

Thursday, October 4, 2012



















This Saturday, October 6th, I'll be holding my annual 4x4 Calendar class at the A Muse Studio retail shop. We'll be making the base, cover, and decorating the twelve months in-between with a variety of images and products. I hope you'll be able to join me!  Please see my 'Class Schedules' page with details as to how you can contact the shop and reserve your spot. Can't make the class but want a calendar? Just let me know!


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

PaperCrafts Holiday Cards & More Vol. 7
















Whenever a special publication like the new PaperCrafts Holiday Cards & More, Vol. 7 comes out, I'm always inspired to create. Let's take this zippered gift card holder, for example. Betsy Veldman created a fun design which you can find on p. 115. I don't have the same products that Betsy used, but this design made it easy to adapt with images and products I actually DO have in my collection. Not only that, but I actually even had an empty matching gift card! This gift card came from Macy's a year or two ago. I like to keep empty gift cards on hand for card designs... it's a good thing I kept this one!

















Stamp sets from A Muse Studio: Snowy Day Background, Let it Snow, Making Spirits Bright
Ink from A Muse Studio: Winter Sky, Cherry, Fern, Ocean
Paper from A Muse Studio: Vanilla, Vintage Blueberry


I don't have the die that Betsy used to create the zipper so I pulled out my Cutterpede paper cutter with a perforating blade to create the zipper. I stamped the snowflake from A Muse Studio's Let it Snow cling set with their Ocean pigment ink onto some Shrinky Dink ® plastic. I used a circle punch to punch it out, then used a standard sized hole punch to create the hole for the twine. When it all shrinks up, the hole is the perfect size for putting twine or ribbon through without a fight. The cherry/white twine with a little jingle bell was the perfect touch for my pull tab.

I've got some more creations I'll be sharing which were also inspired by other designs in this issue. I know it's a little early to be thinking about Christmas, but hopefully, you'll be inspired to create, too.