Paper Trufflez

Peaceful Wishes

Been juggling a lot and had no time to create--this was a recent class design that I just loved. Wish you could see the gorgeous shimmer of the White Shimmer Couture paper, used to create the snowbank--it is so stunning IRL.

Every once in a great while a stag will saunter through our yard--they're quite regal looking and always make me catch my breath!  I have yet to catch one on film, tho.  LOL! 

BTW, if you're gonna be out and about on Black Friday, be sure to hit the A Muse shop in Seattle--I just got the newsletter and was drooling over all the great goods pictured!  Lolly!

All stamp images by A Muse

Flaky Flake . . .

Ok, alright, already!  So it's not the most ingenious title for a card, but, criminy, it is what it is--a mica flake covered snowflake.  

Moving on . . .

I fell head over heels in love with this maroon woodgrain paper from the Eskimo Kisses collection by Basic Grey.  I'm not really into pre-distressed papers all that much, except for Basic Grey--I just love their papers and love that they produce their collections in scaled down versions, 6x6" pads, that work fab for card-makers!  YAY!

In the Winter Snows Glitter Tri-Pack by Martha Stewart, there is a bottle of "Snow Glitter" (more like mica flakes) which I figured I'd try--really?  I only wanted the coarse grind clear glitter (totally reminds me of those coarse sugar crystals they sprinkle onto yummy bakery goods), but apparently, that specific corase grind glitter is not available all by it's onesie, so I had to buy the 3-pack to get the one. Boo. 

Figured I'd try out the flakes here on the die cut snowflake.  They are rather cool, but, I think I prefer 'em as shaker card filler or sumpin' along those lines.

Stamp Credits:  "Think Snow" by A Muse Artstamps
French Roast 4 Bar Note Card by A Muse
Fern Sheer Ribbon by A Muse
Patterned Paper from Eskimo Kisses Collection by Basic Grey
Snowflake Die, Cuttlebug/Provo Craft
Snow Glitter by Martha Stewart
Inks:  Memento Rich Cocoa, Sahara Sand by Tsukineko
Button by Making Memories
Scrapper's Floss in White by Karen Foster (I can't stand nekked buttons)
Scallop Border Punch by Fiskars
Tiny Tag Punch by Martha Stewart

Believe, in Silver & Gold

The recent snowman tag card I shared the other day sparked another design--this one turned out to be an OLC (One Layer Card), and I love that, doncha' know! *wink*

Stamped the letters first, then the stars.  I free-handed the little dotted swirlies with a gold Spica pen.  Originally, I didn't plan to put glitter along the bottom edge, but the balance was a smidge off as I'd stamped the letters just a tad too high.  So, I ran some 1/8" Scor-Tape along the bottom edge and applied some of that luxurious Martha Stewart Glitter in White Gold.  Oh, YUM!

This turned out so sophisticated, I could hardly believe my luck! (arms wrapped 'round self, chortling)

Tips:

Tying bows with such narrow cording can be very tricksy without a third hand.  Clamp the center of the first part of your bow with cross-lock (a.k.a. reverse action) tweezers.  These tweezers tighten and clamp when you release, but to open them you must squeeze them.  This will free your hands to finish tying the loops of your bow without it slackening mid way through.

To keep the bow from coming undone, as can often happen with cording like this, apply a small drop of crystal lacquer, such as JudiKins Diamond Glaze or Ranger Glossy Accents, to the center; it will dry clear and keep the cord from slipping out of the nice bow ya' just made.

 

Stamp Credits:  Fancy Alphabet (clear set), Tiny Star by A Muse Artstamps
White card stock, cut and scored to create 3.5 x 5" card
Ink:  Encore Silver, Brilliance Galaxy Gold by Tsukineko
Scor-Tape (1/8" width) by Scor-Pal
White Gold Ultrafine Glitter by Martha Stewart
Silver cording by May Arts

Fun--my Fast & Fabulous Holiday Card is up!

A Muse News: Day 2: Fast & Fabulous Holiday Cards

Linda featured some great photo cards last week on the AMN blog, and this week, she's got "fast & fabulous". It's so fun to see what everybody else made, and I'm rolling because neither of us had a clue what the other was doing, but Katie and I were apparently on a very similar wave length! Check it out!

This is the one I did:

I really, REALLY like that Leaf Frond.  Can you tell?! 

 

Versatile Leaf Frond

I just love an image that can take on many different moods--the Leaf Frond I illustrated for A Muse is fast becoming a "go to" stamp for me.  It can transition from organic, to rustic, and to modern elegance so easily, depending on the colors and techniques used.  It works well for both for masculine and feminine designs, too!

Add a few our Cranberry Red Pearl Stickers, and you've got a fab, sophisticated holiday design in 2 seconds flat!      "That's the way, uh huh, uh huh, I like it, uh huh, uh huh!"-KC & the Sunshine Band

Oh, *snap*!!!  I think I just sparked m'self for another very beautimous holiday design! (arms wrapped 'round self, deep chortling) I better go get inky!

Happy Monday!

 

Stamp Credits:  Leaf Frond, Merry Christmas Script by A Muse Artstamps
Chiffon Green 4 Bar Note Card by A Muse
Petite Damask Apple Red Shimmer Couture Paper by A Muse
Sheer Swiss Red Polka Dot Ribbon by A Muse
Cranberry Red Pearl Stickers by A Muse
Versamagic Ink:  Tea Leaves, Jumbo Java
Corner Rounder (Corner Chomper) by WR Memory Keepers

Think Snow (I always do. *chortle*)

Love our Fancy Alphabet--LOVE it!  It's perfect for a modern vintage look! (Modern vintage.  Total oxymoron, but, hey--it's the best way to describe what I mean! *chuckle*)

Alpha stamps have so many great uses and this is one of my faves!

It's been a hectic week--Taylor has his first basketball game of the season this afternoon, and we're all pretty stoked--basketball is THE sport in this household!

Have a good one!

Stamp Credits:  Fancy Alphabet by A Muse Artstamps
Petite Grass Gingham Paper by A Muse
Cranberry Red 4 Bar Note Card by A Muse
Black Twinkle Stickers by A Muse
Black Stitched Grosgrain & Sheer Lime Edge Ribbons by A Muse
Ink:  Versamagic Red Magic, Memento Summer Sky Blue by Tsukineko
Scallop Border punch by Fiskars

Busy, busy me!

Doncha' just love m' new blog banner?  *snarf*  Yeah, still haven't had time to make a new one myself.  So, I'm messin' with the Typepad stock ones.  I loved the idea of the other Typepad one I was using for a while, but, it was too dark!  I'm not dark.  I mean, as a person, I'm not dark.  I mean, my personality is not dark.  Kept feeling like I was blogging from a cave or sumpin', UKWIM?

So, I've been hunkered all week . . .

. . . *crazy* busy    prepping my holiday classes for this weekend.  So looking forward to seeing all the gals at Precious Memories--GOOD TIMES!!!

Hoping to have more time next week to stamp some stuff I can share here at Paper Trufflez--I've had some lovely ideas rolling around in my head, but had to bonk m'self  to stay focused on prepping--I am easily derailed (distracted), I'm afraid:

 

And, thaaaar she goes . . .

Hope you have a great weekend!

Thanksgiving Pumpkin

More pumpkin love!  *chinkle*  Stamped this up the other day, taking a chance the solid image would look well over the Flowers & Vines Background and absolutely loved the effect!  Solid images are just so fun to shade like this--so much fun that I just keep playing with the technique and trying different hues to see what I'm gonna get!  I LIKEY!!!

I don't think it would have worked as well if the background had been stamped in a darker color or the paper I stamped on had been much darker, tho.  This seemed to provide just enough definition and contrast to pull it all off.

I've used that pretty background stamp for *so* many different designs and it can look so different each time, depending on the approach you take with it--I swear, it's one of the most versatile stamps in my collection!

Hope your Monday has been more maaaahvelous than manic! *wink*

 

Supplies & Materials
Stamp Credits:  Solid Pumpkin (yes, I did it!), Flowers & Vines Background, "Happy Thanksgiving" by A Muse Artstamps
Paprika 4 bar Note card by A Muse
Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk Inks-Tangerine, Olive Pastel, Burnt Sienna, Dark Brown; Versamagic Tea Leaves
Antique Copper Mini Brad by Making Memories

Julie Ebersole: Live Classes: November 7-8, 2009 Precious Memories, Langley BC

Julie Ebersole: Live Classes: November 7-8, 2009 Precious Memories, Langley BC

The designs for this series of classes turned out fab, and I'm so excited to share 'em!

Hope to see you in class at Precious Memories next weekend! Good times!