Paper Trufflez

Paper Trufflez: Snow Place Like Home!

Link: Paper Trufflez: Snow Place Like Home!.

Alana asked me to spill the beans on the oatmeal card stock I used in that design!

It is Speckletone Oatmeal, 80 lb. Cover weight Card Stock.  It is recycled and acid-free, too.  Made by Astro Converters; I got it at a Paper Zone store.

It's nice stuff!  It's on the smoother side, stamps nicely, kinda "toasty" in hue.  It doesn't have "flecks", but, you can see it has recycled fibers.  I likes it quite muchly!

Mmmmmm.  I also had a recent card stock find when I was teaching down in Sacramento, at The Paper Garden Boutique:

Stephanie carries the highly sought after Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb. card stock!  AWESOME weight, smooth surface, nice bright white!  I was so excited, I bought 3 packages to bring home with me!  LOL!

Oh, the *madness* when one finds good paper . . . "wicked" good paper, as my buddy Shurkus always sezzzzzzzz . . .

Online Chat Tonight, July 15th!

Chat Info:
When: July 15th
Time: 8:00pm to 11:00pm CST.
Where:  My Creative Classroom

The MCC faculty will be chatting about all things rubbah!  I'll be a featured guest at 9pm CST, so I hope you can join us!

MCC will also be giving away free seats to upcoming classes to those who participate in the chat. Yes, that's right,  FREE!

All ya' need is an MCC user account to get in on the fun!  Click HERE to get started!

Chat with ya' soon!


 

Snow Place Like Home!

I know today's the "dreaded": but, mebbe some eye candy will brighten the day! *wink*

Isn't this fun?! I've been playing a little bit with oatmeal card stock--I'm finding I like it better than kraft, because it's lighter and a little "warmer" in tone.  This coloring effect was achieved using a gift from a dear friend:  Faber Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils

They're a fantastic pastel (chalk) pencil--the colors lay down fabulously--and you can blend them out!  They're wonderful for accuracy in tight spots due to the pencil format and, I'm having a ball experimenting with 'em!  And, I can already tell I'm gonna have to go see if I can buy a single white pencil (OK, not just one, but, 2--you know me!  I buy in two-sies cuz ya' never knows when ya' might mess yer dress cuz ya' ran out! I just *hate* when that happens!), because it's gonna get used a LOT for highlighting, and whatnot!

Missy Ballance's Hippie Snow Chick is so STINKIN' CUTE!!!--I'm a sucker for snow men (I have a collection), and I adore daisies, so, gee, she's right up my alley!  LOL!  I had to pair her up with last year's igloo, and  "There's snow place like home"--could NOT resist!  This sentiment is from the new Holiday GreetingsII clear set, so I could curve it around on the block to match the curve of the igloo!  COOL!

I also used Copics on this piece--I bought some of those Paper Frills in white, and then custom tinted them to match my project using the chisel tip on my Copic Crimson! WAAAAAAAAY!!!

Well, I have a full day (and evening) of work ahead of me, finishing up for tomorrow's online class with the Peace & Cheer Kit, so I bettah gitter done!

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Supplies & Materials used:
All Stamps, Note Card, Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon by A Muse Artstamps
Ink:  Brilliance Graphite Black, Moonlight White
Coloring Tools:  Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils; Copic Marker:  Crimson
Other:  Paper Frills by Doodlebug Designs

Julie Ebersole: Peace & Cheer Card Kit with Class

Link: Julie Ebersole: Peace & Cheer Card Kit with Class.

The exclusive Peace & Cheer Card Kit is now available for online ordering at the above link!

This exclusive kit is available only online and supplies are limited.  If you've never tried online learning, this is a great opportunity--the class is free with the purchase of every Peace & Cheer Card Kit!

Here's a link to some Frequently Asked Questions with regards to e-learning:

E-Learning FAQs

There's also an online stamping chat hosted by MCC, on July 15th, in the evening!  For more times and other details, please click HERE!

Everyone is welcome to participate in the chat, even if they don't purchase the kit.  All you need is an MCC user account, which is easy and completely free!  Click HERE to start.

Hope to chat with ya' soon!

If you're ever in Sacramento . . .

Stephanie's Paper Garden Boutique gave me heart palpitations from the instant I looked in her windows. 

I do declare I PIMPd when I stepped inside the door . . .

Stephanie's boutique is filled with paper and rubber goodness and eye candy, everywhere you turn!

This is the A Muse-a-Palooza display--isn't it faboo???!!!!

And, for the first time ever, I got to meet Missy Ballance, the newest A Muse illustrator, and her mama--both gaaaw-jus goddesses!!!  I am the stumpy pygmy in between 'em.  I made 'em stay seated so I could appear taller.  It did not work.  *snarf* 

Missy is a total kick in the pants--great sense of humor, and a contagious smile--I loved her instantly!  And, her plush creations are among the most charming things you'll ever see--OMG!  Girl can sew ANYTHING!

This is Stephanie Nishikawa, the owner!  Let me tell you, she is one of the nicest--like QUEEN OF NICE--people you will ever meet!  Her cousins also work in the store, and they are both da' BOMBS, too!  I watched them assist folks time after time, in coming up with their wedding and party invitations, and selecting the stamps and ribbon to make the most beautiful custom invites--they are AMAZING!

And, looky, LOOKY!!! SCS GIRLFRIENDS AND TEE SPOTTING!!!  WOO HOOOOOOOOO!!!

I also got to meet A Muse Addict Tracy Clemente and her sweet friend Michele!

Ken, Stephanie's hubby, took this shot of the Simply Sensational Class, which I thank him for because my my muffin top is conveniently hidden by Stephanie's stamping bar!  Ken's the bestest!  And, lemme tell ya':  All the womens love Ken!  He is an amazing card designer himself--if you get a chance to take a class with him, sign up IMMEDIATELY!  I saw his work and fell down dead!   Blurted out, "SHUT UP!!!"  He's AWESOME!

Erik is the very first gentleman I've ever had take a class with me!  And, he ROCKED!  He's a most excellent stamper, and he can do it with his son right on his lap, too!  And, that's a proud Stampin' Gramma holding her grandson there!

It was SO fun, literally *everywhere* I looked, to see samples--GOBS of samples by our awesome Designers-- on display!!!
 

I set up an album there in the side-rail so take a peek at the rest of the photos--Ken was so nice to share the pics he took with me!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to everybody that came!

 

Teaching is my absolute favoritest thing to do, and I had SUCH a blast!   I can't wait to visit again!  It is indeed the Happiest Place in Sacramento!

A Good Day in Frog's Life . . .

I absolutely *LOVE* these mushroom!  They are one of m' new faves!  This design so CRACKED me!  Gee--a lotta things seem to crack me, don't they?!  ROTFLMBO!  Aaaah, well.

Can't tell in the pic, but the 'shrooms were glitterfied on their spots and underbellies with Prisma Glitter.

I know what you're saying . . . " 'Dat Julie has done gone and lost her marbles!"  *chortle*   Well, lack of sleep will do that to ya'.  But, look at FROG!  Isn't he hysterical?!  I mean, can you imagine anything more pleasurable in a frog's day than feasting on flies?  I drew those!  And, his long tongue snatchin' 'em outta' the air!  BRILLIANT  I AM!!!     (insert lots of chortling and bouncing!)

I was so jazzed to see some of you post  that I'll have the pleasure of workin' with you in class at The Paper Garden Boutique on Sunday/Monday!  YAY!  Can't wait to meet some of you for the first time IRL!

Are ya' havin' good times playin' the  A Muse-a-Palooza challenges and joinin' in the silly contests?  It sure has been a lot of fun for all of us A Muse Creative Team Members to see so many of you participating, and enjoying yourselves!  (oops, startin' to bounce again!  Criminitly!)

Well, I better bounce my way down to the airport!  Sunny Sacramento, here I come!  WOO HOOOOO!!!

And, HAAAAAAYYYYYY (No, it's not just for horses!)  Keep your eyes peeled on the A muse-a-Palooza blog--something wicked fun comes that way on Monday!  Heh, heh, heh! *snarf*

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All stamps, note cards, papers, and ribbon used by A Muse Artstamps
Ink: Briliance Graphite Black
Coloring Tools:  Copic Markers in Grass Green, Salad Green, Crimson, Sand, Cool Shadow
Other:  Black Mini Brad, Sakura Quickie Glue Pen, Prisma Glitter

Happy Birthday, USA!

Lady Liberty shows off the red, white & blue, in this festive salute to our country's birthday!

I love making little banners like this for sentiments on my cards.  I usually prefer to leave a clean edge, but, in this case, the banner would have been swallowed up by the bold red and white striped pattern in the background, so I took a chance and DTP'd yellow to the edges of the banner to see if that would "pop" it and that seemed to work great!  This design was also my first time using my new Martha Stewart Scallop Border punch, and, man, is that thing SUH-WEEET!

This just cracked me!  I had to create a design featuring the Patriotic Hat, and I was inspired by a completely non-patriotic design Erika had done that featured a "parade" using Celebration Kids and some of the A Muse animals following along behind the boy, and it occurred to me that the hat would fit, albeit somewhat "over-sized" on his head.

I thought it would be fun to have Piggy, watching curbside, with a Sparkler in his tail!  I swirled around some Spica Twinklette in yellow to "spark" up the Sparkler--too fun!

I've literally been hunkered down prepping for my classes that begin Sunday down at The Paper Garden Boutique--fly out to Sacramento tomorrow night!  WOO HOOOOOOO!!!

But, meantime, I'm up to the gills in paper, paper, paper, and packing class kits!  LOL!

I love prepping.  I love prepping.  I love prepping.

OK, honestly?  I don't.  I just figure if I repeat that enough times, that maybe, one day, it will be true . . .

Say whaaaat??? 

  *chuckle*

Have a Happy and SAFE 4th of July Holiday! 

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All stamp images, papers and Twinkle Stickers (rhinestone) used in these samples are by A Muse Artstamps
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Mediterranean Blue
Coloring Tools:  Copic Markers B34 Manganese Blue, R11 Pale Cherry Pink, E13 Light Suntan, E33 Sand, Y24 Pale Sepia, RV29 Crimson, BG10 Cool Shadow
Ribbon:  Papaya Stitched Grosgrain by A Muse
Other:  Martha Stewart Scallop Border Punch