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!
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!
Link: Paper Crafts Mother's Day Challenge.
Submitted my Mother's Day Design on a whim, and was surprised to get an email from the folks at PC! Fun!
So jazzed to share that I'll be teaching 6 (SIX) classes at The Paper Garden Boutique in Sacramento, on the eve and first day of A Muse-a-Palooza! Please see Stephanie's blog for pricing and further details! Call the store at 916-487-2737 if you are interested in signing up!
Here are class descriptions, dates and times:
Sunday, July 6th, 2008
Simply Sensational, 10am-12pm
Learn some of Julie's favorites--favorite A Muse stamps, favorite techniques and tips--for producing simple, yet sensational designs while making these 6 darling cards!
Happy Mail, 1pm-3pm
Everybody loves happy mail! Combine A Muse's whimsical images and colorful papers to create 6 clever cards for friends and family!
Simply Sensational, 4pm-6pm
Learn some of Julie's favorites--favorite A Muse stamps, favorite techniques and tips--for producing simple, yet sensational designs while making these 6 darling cards!
Make it Merry Part 1, 10am-12pm
Make 6 cards featuring the newest holiday stamps from the A Muse-a-Palooza 2008 Release!
Make it Merry Part 2, 1pm-3pm
Make 6 more cards using the newest holiday stamps from the A Muse-a-Palooza 2008 Release!Make it Merry Part 3, 6pm-8pm
Take this class for 6 more fresh and fun holiday A Muse designs, and you'll have the cutest collection of Holiday cards this side of the rubbah planet!
Note: These classes are all different, so take 'em all, and you'll walk out the door with 18 fabulous holiday card ideas!
Word on the street is that A Muse illustrator Missy Balance will be popping in--WOO HOO!!! I'm anxious to meet her in person! 
WOW! That's comin' up FAST! So much to do! I best get busy! 
Link: Paper Trufflez: A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA: Challenge 1 - Color Combo!.
SCS Keyword: AP08Color
Hey, Mikey! I likey! I wasn't sure at first, as I laid all the papers down together, but, then I looked at my Copics, and decided to pull in some French Roast paper to mat the focal for added "ooph".
Tiny Butterfly is actually a solid image, but, after stamping her in Wisteria, I traced around her with a fine tip black marker, and then did the flutter trail behind. I recently got the Willow marker and it's a wonderful muted green to use with these other colors--very tranquil.
I was determined to use the mushrooms in this--I just love those things! They are so stinkin' C•U•T•E!!! I *always* wanna do the mushrooms in RED, so I had to force myself to color them brown.
I didn't stamp a sentiment on it, but, I think I'll stamp "hi, friend" inside it, cuz that's one of my favorite sentiments, and I think it would be sweet with this design.
Hope you get to stamp happy today!
Stamps: Tiny Bird, Mushrooms, Tiny Butterfly by A Muse Artstamps
Paper: French Roast, Cabana Blue, Kitchen Chocolate papers, Passion Note Card by A Muse
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black by Tsukineko, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Wisteria by Clearsnap
Ribbon: Cabana Blue Stitched Grosgrain by A Muse
Coloring Tools: Copic Markers in Cool Shadow, Frost Blue, Honey, Willow, Cream
Other: Quickie Glue Pen by Sakura, Ultrafine Prisma Glitter, Slit Punch by SU! (to create scalloped edge)
Link: A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA: Challenge 1 - Color Combo!.
Geeta is hosting a fabulous color challenge over at the A Muse-a-Palooza blog!
I *LOVE* her choice of colors because:
I hope you will try it--I'd love to see your take on it, and you could win the challenge, so be sure to get yourself registered HERE as an A Muse-a-Palooza participant!
Click HERE to see what Lisa did. Click HERE to see what Julie did.
Thank you, Lisa! It was *uber* FUN! 
Images, Papers, Stitched Grosgrain, Twinkle Stickers all by A Muse Artstamps
Well, this is a pretty big day! A Muse is celebrating 7 (seven) years! WOW! Be sure to check out the A Muse News blog today, because Linda has such a fun post, and something fun for 7 lucky winners that leave comments on that post!
I feel pretty blessed to have been a part of that growth, in one form or another for the last 5 years, and for Linda to have become such a dear and important friend in my life throughout that time. She is one very special lady!
In honor of the 7th anniversary, I thought I'd list 7 of my personal favorite A Muse focal images!
, , , that was a warm-up! 
7 of my favorite A Muse background stamps:
And, here are 7 of my favorite A Muse sentiment stamps:
*I told Linda I wished I had these in stamps, and she made my wish come true!
Here are my 7 favorite A Muse papers
:
Here are 7 favorite A Muse card designs I've done over the years:
Pardon my lack of Photoshop skills, but, this was the best I could do, since I don't have a copy of Photoshop for Dummies on hand to guide me!
Happy 7th, A Muse!
Taylor's 12th Birthday Card
Stamps: Rock Star, Mini Oval, "You Rock!", Fun Star small (A Muse Artstamps)
Paper: French Blue Note Card (A Muse)
Ink: Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ice Blue (Clearsnap), Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Memento Tuxedo Black, Daffodil (Tsukineko)
Coloring Tools: Alcohol Markers in Cadmium Orange, Manganese Blue, Sepia, Baby Skin Pink, Pale Sepia (Copic)
Ribbon: Black Stitched Grosgrain (A Muse)
Other: Sponge Dauber (Tsukineko)
Inspired by Novell's Little Rocker Dude
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I only had 15 minutes to crank out a birthday card for Taylor, and I just loved Novell's Little Rocker Dude design and knew it would be perfect for that kid of mine who's been jammin' with his Guitar Hero game of late.
Here's the inside of the card, which made Taylor laugh because, well, he's 5' 5 1/2" now (I'm only 5' 2" . . . his dad is 6') . . . 12. Twelve. The T-man is only TWELVE!!!
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So, what does a 12 yr. old boy hope and wish for on his birthday? Certainly not these:
Um, Mom . . . ? . . . why does this box say it's from A Muse???
MOM???!!!!
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Socks.
Seriously? Socks??!!
MOM!!!
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BOXERS???!!!!!!!
Aaaawwwwe, man (!) . . . I cannot believe this . . .
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(The look on his face pretty much says it all . . . )
iPod Nano -->
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Thanks, Dad!!!
Awe, gee, thanks, too, Mom! 
(notice how even tho he's hugging his father, he cannot take his eyes off the iPod . . . )
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You should have seen his face the night before . . . when we told him that after a lot of thought we'd decided to get him a savings bond . . . and how gratifying it would be years from now . . . *chuckle*
I know--we're just so wicked! 
Link: amuseapalooza.com.
We had so much fun with last year's A Muse-a-Palooza and this year promises to be even bigger and better! It's been a wee bit crazy behind the scenes, as we gear up for this major event!
We have so much planned, including some fabulous online activities and prizes at the A Muse-a-Palooza blog, so make sure to get registered HERE because all that fun begins June 2nd and you don't wanna miss a thing! 
I'll be teaching a whopping 6 classes (am I crazy?! I must be crazy, but it'll be FUUUUUUUUN!!!) at The Paper Garden Boutique in Sacramento, on the eve and first day of A Muse-a-Palooza! Please see Stephanie's blog for pricing and further details! Call the store at 916-487-2737 if you are interested in signing up!
Here are class descriptions, dates and times:
Sunday, July 6th, 2008
Simply Sensational, 10am-12pm
Learn some of Julie's favorites--favorite A Muse stamps, favorite techniques and tips--for producing simple, yet sensational designs while making these 6 darling cards!
Happy Mail, 1pm-3pm
Everybody loves happy mail! Combine A Muse's whimsical images and colorful papers to create 6 clever cards for friends and family!
Simply Sensational, 4pm-6pm
Learn some of Julie's favorites--favorite A Muse stamps, favorite techniques and tips--for producing simple, yet sensational designs while making these 6 darling cards!
Make it Merry Part 1, 10am-12pm
Make 6 cards featuring the newest holiday stamps from the A Muse-a-Palooza 2008 Release!
Make it Merry Part 2, 1pm-3pm
Make 6 more cards using the newest holiday stamps from the A Muse-a-Palooza 2008 Release!Make it Merry Part 3, 6pm-8pm
Take this class for 6 more fresh and fun holiday A Muse designs, and you'll have the cutest collection of Holiday cards this side of the rubbah planet!
Note: These classes are all different, so take 'em all, and you'll walk out the door with 18 fabulous holiday card ideas!
I can hardly wait to see Stephanie's store, which everyone tells me is rockin' AWESOME, and see her once again--she's rockin AWESOME herself--and Missy Balance, one of our A Muse illustrators, has promised she'll pop in so I can meet her in person for the first time!
I've never been to Sacramento before, so I'm MUY jazzed!
GOOD TIMES!!!
Thanks a latte
