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Julie Ebersole (WA), Creative Teams Director
Julie first put stamp to ink and paper, over 14 years ago, and has been demonstrating, teaching, writing, and designing in the field of art stamping for over 10 years. In April 08, she stepped down as Design Team Coordinator for Splitcoaststampers.com, to serve as A Muse's Creative Teams Director full-time. Julie stamps and works in her home studio on Whidbey Island, WA state, where she lives a wonderful life with her husband of 24 years, son, age 12, and daughter, age 19.
Julie's blog: Paper Trufflez
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Beth Thomas (AL)
Beth is a SAHM living with two beautiful daughters and a very supportive rocket scientist husband in Madison, AL. When not homeschooling, leading her Girl Scout troop or playing "mom taxi," you will find her tucked away in her craft studio with ink on her fingers and glitter in her hair. Beth's introduction to stamping came in late 2005 and what started as a hobby soon became her passion/obsession. She loves to stamp using cute, whimsical sometimes quirky images and when she first saw A Muse stamps in 2007, she knew they were the perfect match for her! Now as an Instructor in Northern Alabama and Middle Tennessee, she is able to share her enthusiasm and inspire the creativity of others.
Beth's blog: A Stamping Good Time
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Cheiron Brandon (NY)
Cheiron started stamping in 2004, when a stamp store opened up a mile down the street from her house. She immediately fell in love with the adorable images and clever sentiments from A Muse, and has been addicted ever since. She works in the financial district during the day and relaxes at night by spending time in her crafty space. She loves sending handmade cards to family and friends. Cheiron will be teaching classes in NYC and NJ. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband Paul.
Cheiron's blog: What Matters Most
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Dawn Stein (WI)
Dawn is sure paper crafting is in her genes as her mother has always been very crafty and creative. Card making was just a natural progression for her after making a scrapbook of family vacations for her daughter’s graduation from college. Her interest in A Muse started after the first A-Muse-a-palooza where she saw how adorable the images were and couldn’t wait to bring some stamps home and start designing her own cards. For the past 23 years, Dawn and her husband have owned a successful business in Wausau, WI. She loves photography, traveling to the National Parks, and visiting her daughter on the East Coast. Dawn’s classes are held in Wausau and Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Dawn's blog: Lavender Giraffe
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Donna Hitz (Alaska)
Having loved glitter, glue and paper since very young (winning a card making contest sponsored by a Seattle TV station at age 6), Donna was born in Seattle and spent most of her life in Anchorage, Alaska. Recent empty nesters, she and her husband enjoy visits with their children and young grandchildren. Donna loves sharing the joy of creating card art and papercrafts and helping others experience that same delight and pleasure. Inspiration for card design comes easy with the beauty of Alaska and the clean, simple and often elegant images from A Muse.
Donna's blog: Frozenstamper
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Emily Montenaro (CA)
Emily has always had a fondness for any type of paper craft. When she was little, she made cards for her family with her little "Great Greetings" fashion plate card maker. She remembers going to an art supply store with her Dad every weekend where she got to pick out a fancy marker to add to her collection. She started stamping in 2001 and has been loving it ever since! After a 10 year corporate career in Information Systems, she became a SAHM in 2005 when she moved from Ohio to California with her husband and young son. Emily has been designing for A Muse since 2006. She is one of our A Muse News blog editors and teaches classes in Southern California.
Emily's blog: Stamping Scoops
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Geeta Suggs (TX)
Geeta lives in Austin and is married to her best friend. She and her husband met in college where they both received Electrical Engineering degrees. They have two sweet boys, ages 6 and 2. Geeta moved to Texas from Canada when she was 11 years old. When she left her childhood best friend in Canada, her dad said she could write to her as much as she wanted. He took her to the local office supply/stationery store all the time to get supplies. This was the beginning of her love for paper.
As an adult, Geeta scrapbooked a lot, then found stamping and card making and the rest is history. She left her job as a Software Engineer when she was pregnant with her first son, but the engineer in her lives on in everything she does. She has always liked the simple and elegant look, although at times she feels she gets bogged down with adding too much to her work. She found A Muse in March 2007 and felt a pull towards our simple approach. She took 3rd place in the A*Muse*A*Palooza contest in 2007 and was hooked forever. Now, she can’t wait to share her passion for A Muse with others and teaches classes in Texas.
Geeta's blog: Crafty Engineer
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Glenda Wyatt (BC)
Glenda has been playing with rubber stamps for about 10 years but has always had her hands in some sort of craft project. When she's not in her craft room, she is at her day job as a marine geologist which takes her travelling around the world. She and her hubby Karl, live in beautiful Victoria, BC and she will be teaching at various locations on Vancouver Island. This is her first time being on a creative team and she is really excited to be a part of such a fabulous group of talented women.
Glenda's blog: Glenda's Papers, Scissors & Rocks
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Heather Meeson (CO)
Heather is a geologist, turned photographer who’s been addicted to rubber stamping for well over a decade. She and her husband, Dave, moved from a small village in Germany to Colorado Springs in 2007 where she’s a busy paper crafts and stamping instructor when she’s not "on the road" photographing her travels. While Heather has been designing and teaching for years, A Muse was her first design team and she is excited to be part of the Clear team as well!
Heather's blog: One Little Spark
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Jennifer Daloisio (NH)
Jen has been interested in all types of crafting since childhood, especially paper crafting. A few years ago she discovered stamping and card making, and has been hooked ever since. By day, Jen is an accountant, and likes to get out her creative energy by brightening someone’s day with a handmade card. She lives with her husband, two and a half year old daughter, and two dogs in New Hampshire.
Jen's blog: Simply Inspired
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Jenn Shurkus (MA, NY, RI)
Jenn has always been crafty one way or another - from doodling posters for her bedroom as a young girl and writing short stories and poems in high school. It was only natural that she studied graphic design and fine arts in college! Jenn is originally from New Hampshire. She has been stamping for over 10 years, and when she isn't busy running a local paper crafting store on Cape Cod, she is teaching A Muse classes around New England! Jenn has been teaching for A Muse since 2005 and is also a member of our Clear Design Team.
Jenn's blog: Creative Chick
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Jennie Moczan (NV)
Jennie was first introduced to stamping in 2002 after the birth of her younger son when her mom wanted to stamp the birth announcements. They created the announcements together and Jennie has been addicted to stamping ever since! She likes to create quick and cute cards, and she loves how A Muse's fun images can make such sweet and simple cards. Jennie lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their 3 kids. She has been part of the A Muse Creative Team since 2007.
Jennie's blog: Simply Caffeinated
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Jill Grace (CA)
Jill has been a stamper and card maker for more than 15 years. She blames her aunt (also her best friend) for introducing her to the addiction, especially since it's only gotten worse! She is an A Muse instructor and certified Copic Designer, teaching classes in the Southern California area. Outside of stamping, she has a background in marine biology, is currently a middle school science teacher, a content/pedagogy specialist who trains other teachers, and is working towards her MS degree in science education. In her free time she loves to stamp (of course) and gets together with girlfriends a couple times a year for several days of stamping madness! She also loves to garden, kayak, and spend time outdoors.
Jill's blog: Creative Grace
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Joyce Wheeler (WA)
Joyce has always loved “all things crafty” but really became addicted to paper crafts when she began scrapbooking after the birth of her daughter in 1996. Scrapbooking eventually transitioned into rubber stamping and card making. She loves creating personalized gifts & cards and getting together with friends to share the craft. She has been a SAHM since shortly after the birth of her son, so when Linda asked her if she could help out in the A Muse Retail shop, she was thrilled! She loves A Muse’s clean and simple style and how the images all work so well together. She works and teaches classes at the A Muse Retail shop, volunteers at her kids’ school and is on the Board of Directors for two non-profit corporations. Her other hobbies include reading, gardening and she is interested in learning more about photography.
Joyce's blog: As the Wheels Turn
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June Gibbons (NC)
My journey into stamping began about four years ago, when I walked into a certain store on Cape Cod. I had no idea there was this wonderful world out there. I fell in love with stamping and more importantly with A Muse. My mother being Japanese taught origami to me as a child. So I guess papercrafts are in my genes. I am a SAHM of three lovely children. With my husband in the coast guard, we have had the opportunity to see many parts of our country. Having grown up on Whidbey Island, I miss it and the Northwest immensely. I hope to get back to it someday. I am so delighted and feel so privileged to be part of the A Muse instructor team.
June's blog: Perfect Like a Curl
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Kamila Younkman (WI)
Kamila’s paper crafting life began 7 years ago when she was introduced to scrapbooking and the underground paper-crafting world we all share. However, she really found her passion in stamping about 3 years ago when she was introduced to A Muse! She now teaches stamping classes in Madison, Wisconsin. In addition to being an A Muse Instructor, she also is a certified Copic Designer and teaches alcohol marker techniques in all her classes. Her goal in teaching is that each person has fun, learns a new technique (or two) and leaves the class feeling inspired to create.
Kamila's blog: Little Scraps of Heaven
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Katie Stilwater (OR)
Katie lives in Portland, OR with her wonderful husband and is a SAHM to her two sweet little boys. She started stamping in 2002 after discovering A Muse stamps in a local stamp store. She was immediately hooked on the sweet, cute little images and all the square notecards. Her style is clean and simple with a twist of funky and she loves bright colors - especially orange! Katie will be teaching A Muse classes in Oregon and southern Washington.
Katie's blog: Listen to this...
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Liz Ballard (MA)
Liz has long had a love for stationery, glitter, snail mail, stickers, ribbon, and rubber stamps... it wasn't until she happened into a local craft store a couple of years ago and noticed the adorable A Muse sample cards for an upcoming Halloween class that it all fell into place. She loves making cards, for all occasions. She loves creating handmade expressions for her friends and loved ones and knowing that her creations are appreciated by those who receive them. And she loves having a fun hobby that allows her to explore and express her creativity, while meeting fellow lovely crafty ladies along the way! She will be teaching classes in Massachusetts.
Liz's blog: Crafty Lizzie
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Lori Barnett (AZ)
Lori lives in sunny Arizona and will be teaching in the Chandler area. Since Lori was a child, she has loved doing all sorts of arts & crafts. In 2004 she attended her first stamping party and has been addicted to Art Stamping and Paper Crafting ever since. She fell in love with the “Think Simple. Think A Muse” style after visiting her local stamp store in 2006 and since then has been totally hooked on A Muse! Lori is married and has 5 kids and 8 grandkids.
Lori's blog: Stamp Scents
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Lyndsay Breid (MN)
Lyndsay started scrapbooking soon after her daugther was born in 2000 when she realized how quickly she was growing! It wasn't long after that she discovered the world of rubber stamps. The flower drinks stamp was a gift from a friend, and started her love of A Muse!
Lyndsay works a full time corporate job, but her true love is crafting! She was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota and lives in Woodbury with her husband and daughter. Lyndsay has been an A Muse instructor since 2005.
Lyndsay's blog: Nerdspecs Gets Crafty
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Meghan Fahey (Newfoundland)
Meghan discovered stamping in 2003 when she realized this wonderful hobby gave her an excuse to colour and was instantly hooked! Two years later she landed her dream job at the local Scrapbooking and Rubber Stamping store where she has been teaching classes and sharing her love of paper crafting ever since. Meghan gravitates toward anything "cute" so she found the small, whimsical A Muse stamps immediately appealing and is inspired by how all of the clever Muses combine the different stamps and sentiments. She is thrilled to be part of such a talented team of creative women and hopes to share her love of stamping with as many Newfoundlanders as possible!
Meghan's blog: Driven to Ink
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Melinda Matzen (VA)
Melinda has been in love with ‘all things crafty’ since she was a little girl and discovered that cotton balls make great clouds! She continued her crafty ways with handmade gifts for friends and family and, of course, handmade cards were the next logical step. In 2001 she discovered the wonderful world of rubber stamps and since then she has worked (part-time) in two different stamp stores to feed this growing addiction. Melinda has experimented with many styles, but it was “love at first sight” when she first saw the simple and whimsical designs of A Muse Artstamps in 2005. Melinda’s card designs, many of which have been published in Stamper’s Sampler and Take Ten, are clean, simple, and fun. Melinda has been an instructor for A Muse in the Virginia/Maryland (mid-Atlantic region) since 2006.
Melinda's blog: Melinda's Musings
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Michelle Clark (GA)
Michelle discovered stamping through a co-worker that shared a box of cards she had made. She attended a few in home parties, but wasnʼt hooked until she found one of Julieʼs A Muse cards online. She has been stamping for only 3 years and feels very privileged to be a part of the A Muse team. When Michelle isnʼt stamping, she is working with children with developmental delays. She also enjoys photography, reading, cooking and traveling.
Michelle's blog: Sparkle Designs
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Michelle Mathey (KY)
As a former corporate gal, Michelle never dreamed that she would find a career in the world of crafting! She was first introduced to stamping in 2004 by her cousin and her initial reluctance quickly turned to obsession! For nearly 3 years she has been a demonstrator herself, joined a design team, and now teaches classes at a local store in Kentucky. A busy wife and mom to two active boys, she finds a wonderful creative outlet in papercrafting and just wishes there were more hours in the day to stamp, stamp, stamp!
Michelle's blog: Pigment of my Imagination
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Michelle White (CA)
Michelle majored in art with an emphasis on graphic design when she was in college. She always thought she would have a card/invitation store when she "grew up". When she discovered the scrapbook and stamp world, she became obsessed! Michelle has been an A Muse instructor since 2005. Then in 2008, she figured she was "grown-up enough" and opened Paper Tales in San Diego, California - a paper craft boutique with EVERYTHING that A Muse makes!
Michelle's blog: Paper Tales
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Novell Eckstrom (WA)
Novell dabbled with rubber stamps back when people used their toasters as embossing tools. She only became a serious rubber stamper about 4 years ago after many years as a scrapbooker. Novell attributes her 'craftiness' to her mom's side of the family, all of whom are also 'crafty' people. She also enjoys cute and dainty things, which is what drew her to A Muse. She likes the clean, simple, but cute designs and the fact that the stamps are smaller and easier to handle. Novell has a day job in the telecommunications industry but spends her free time with her husband and two very active boys, volunteering her Wednesday nights at church, and designing and teaching for A Muse.
Novell's blog: Mastering the Art of Procurement
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Rebecca Wright (IL)
A teacher of A Muse classes since 2003, Rebecca loves the simple sophistication of A Muse. Her introduction to stamping was in 1995 courtesy of Martha Stewart – stamping tissue paper for Christmas gifts. She was immediate hooked on rubber and ink. She currently lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with her husband, who is very supportive of her stamping addiction. When she is not paper crafting, she loves cooking and reading about foreign lands. Although life has given her the opportunity to be an electrical engineer, a sales manager, a stamp/scrapbook store owner, and a European tour consultant, one constant remains the same: the only thing she enjoys more than creating cards and paper crafts with A Muse Artstamps, is teaching and sharing her love of all things A Muse.
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Rhiannon Christianson (WA)
Rhiannon began her paper-crafting adventure over eight years ago with a dream to make her own Christmas cards and, as time has gone by, a passion for stamps, paper, ink and embellishments has ensued. Finding A Muse, via A-Muse-A-Palooza 2007, Rhiannon’s obsession with the simple, sweet and almost whimsical images of A Muse has brought with it many friends and an awesome opportunity to work part time at the Retail Shop. Rhiannon currently teaches classes at the A Muse Retail Shop and can be found “manning” the Make-and-Take table every Saturday. When Rhiannon is not chasing after her three kiddos, or spending time with her husband of eight years, you will find her in her craft space creating her next masterpiece.
Rhiannon's blog: Rings Like a Bell Designs
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Sherry Czarnecki (NY)
Sherry has been stampcrafting for over 12 years and is addicted to small stamps! She owned a stamping and scrapbooking store in upstate NY for 8 years and after selling the store she’s been busy being creative, the part she missed while owning the store. Sherry will be traveling across NY and some New England States to bring A Muse images to your area. She loves teaching classes, meeting new people, and absolutely enjoys sharing her ideas and getting to know so many wonderful stampcrafters. Her monthly classes are held at Stampin & Scrappin Time and Sweethearts Stamps & Stitches and are always open to beginners as well as advanced stampcrafters. She hopes to get to know you at a class, coming to your store soon!
Sherry's blog: Little Stamps Big Life
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Tracy Falco (CA)
Tracy discovered stamping over 10 years ago when she and her mom attended their first stamp show together. Since then stamping has become the 'crafty balance' to her day job in the tech world. (Her best 'craft hours' are after midnight!) She enjoys the cute and simple A Muse style that provides instant gratification of a well crafted card. Teaching has been a great way for her to share her love of A Muse with stampers, both new and experienced. Tracy redsides in the bay area with her husband and has been an A Muse instructor since 2005.
Tracy's blog: Crafty Insomnia
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