A Muse News

Happy Mother's Day!

 

Happy Mother's Day
by Julie

"My mother adores pink and green together, and the pretty cherry blossoms on the branch image are a perfect accent to my framed Mother's Day greeting!  I embossed the larger oval label from the Anniversary Set with a pretty green pigment ink pad and Simple Stick embossing powder, and then applied a lush micro-fine glitter in a grasshopper green tone--the results are dazzling and a few pale pink Micro Dot Twinkle Stickers on the sakuras help finish the look.  I've been having fun with some pretty pink tulle I picked up down at the A Muse shop, and tucked a little snippet of it in the ribbon for an airy, delicate effect!  I hope today is filled with great love--Happy Mother's Day!"

Soo pretty!  And I thought it was very clever of Julie to use the blossom branch this way too!  We have even more inspiration featuring our Anniversary Classic Labels clear set today if you click over to Dawn and Lori's blogs.   Also - if you haven't already entered our 5th contest, be sure to see yesterday's post below! 

A Muse Product Links:
Classic Labels clear set, Happy Mother's Day script, Blossom Branch, Blush 4-bar notes, Juliette cardstock, Micro dot twinkle stickers, Palm Sheer ribbon

Anniversary Ideas!

We have a special treat for you today!  We are featuring TWO fun Classic Label ideas from Creative Team members Melinda and Sherry! 

Thanks
by Melinda

       "This frame set is so versatile!  I’ll be using this all the time to frame images and sentiments, but on this card I used the small and large circle frames as design elements.  The Super Dot is stamped in the background.  Did you know the Super Dot fits perfectly inside the small circle frame?  Love it!  I masked the circles and stamped the eucalyptus.  My EK Success 1 ¼” circle punch did the trick.  Of course, I had to add a little bling, so I scattered some gold mini-dot Twinkle Stickers."

Little Lady
by Sherry

       "My very first punch was a 1/2" circle punch.  I have made tons of things with it, flowers, wheels, lollipops, but never a lady bug head until these A Muse anniversary labels came along! I used the circle label stamped in black then added dots with my black copic marker, I think you could make a bumble bee too!  The leaves are the oval label.  The ability to use these labels seems endless!"

Aren't these both so cool!?  Melinda and Sherry were thinking out-of-the-box!  And we have even more inspiration using this set today if you click over to Lexi, Geeta, and Sherry's blogs.   Also - if you haven't already entered our fourth contest, be sure to see yesterday's post below! 

A Muse Product Links:
Melinda:  Classic Labels clear set, Super Dot, Eucalyptus, Thanks Script, Buttercup Yellow 4-bar notes, French Roast 4-bar notes,  Mini-dot Twinkle stickers 

Sherry: Classic Labels clear set, Little Lady, Palm 4-bar notes, Madiera Green 4-bar notes

Classic Labels Inspiration

Mother's Day Box
by Dawn

"My mom loves blue!  I wanted to make a special gift box to hold the earrings I made her for Mother’s Day.  Good thing A Muse is celebrating their 8th anniversary this month and I have the new 2009 Anniversary Clear Set to play with.   It was great fun to use the oval frame and stamp the new Happy Mother’s Day sentiment inside.  She’s gonna love the new blue Juliette paper I used for my base."

Check out the inside of Dawn's box below - so fun!  And be sure to pop on over to Lyndsay, Joyce, and Jennie's blogs today for more Anniversary set inspiration.  If you haven't already entered our 3rd contest, there is still time - so see yesterday's post to share your favorite flower!

 

A Muse product links:
Classic Labels clear set, Sakura flower, Happy Mother's Day script, Juliette sky blue cardstock, Tiny flower Pretty Little Papers, Surf Sheer ribbon, Clear Twinkle Stickers

Anniversary Inspiration

 

For Mom
by Novell

"Wow! This A Muse 8th Anniversary Labels set is fabulous! While it's ideal to use with your Marvy Punches, it's also easy to just trim around it and then layer it with a Marvy punch. I just love how the light pink border really helped to keep this card feminine and soft, grounding the focal point in the card."

Such a fun grouping of stamps and punches!  Now hop on over to check out Jennie's and Tracy's blogs today for even more Classic Labels inspiration!  And if you haven't already entered contest #2, be sure to see yesterday's post below. 

A Muse links:
Classic Labels clear set, Vine border stamp, home is, Kitchen grass notecard, Blush notecard.

Anniversary Inspiration

It's great to be 8 and today we bring you some inspiration from Michelle Clark for our anniversary clear set - Classic Labels!  (Click here to read how to get your own 2009 Anniversary clear stamp set - FREE!)   

 

All Occassion Box and Cards
by Michelle C

"This limited edition set is perfect for all the gifts needed this time of year. Teacher, brides, moms, moms-to-be and grads all need thank you cards. The little box holds about 15 3x3 cards and envelopes. By changing the image used inside the circle, you can easily customize this set for any occassion."

There are so many possibilties with these two - so simple and classy!  And we have even more inspiration using this set today if you click over to Michelle's, Tisha's and Heather's blogs.   Also - if you haven't already entered our 1st Anniversary contest, be sure to see yesterday's post below!

A Muse links:
Classic Labels clear set, Open Zinnia stamp, Polka dot alphabet lowercase large, Madeira Green cardstock.

funnest birthday card ever!

Amanda and Heather (who lovingly package and process all A Muse orders) made this super fun birthday card for Makenna.  It is - without a doubt - The Funnest Birthday Card ever!

Can you count how many A Muse stamps are on this card?  {you can click the photo to enlarge it}

 

What's the most stamps you've ever used on a card?

Newly Hatched amuse-bouche!

As we get closer and closer to the online release of the Newly Hatched stamps on April 22nd, I've got another cute amuse-bouche for you!  And ... as I mentioned a few days ago, this release isn't ALL about baby!  Becky's amuse-bouche showcases two of our new Asian stamps: the Kokeshi Doll and Bamboo!

These stamps are available in your local shops now (and online at www.amuseartstamps.com on April 22nd!)

Newly Hatched amuse-bouche!

Today's amuse-bouche is a cute little nod to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Lexi style!  It's such an adorable way to use the new Hands stamp!  (And the Star is Born sentiment is the perfect addition!)

Look for stamps from our Newly Hatched release in your local shops now (and on the A Muse website on April 22nd)!

 

Newly Hatched amuse-bouche!

 

Today's Newly Hatched amuse-bouche had me "ooh'ing" and "ahh'ing" the moment I saw it!  The colors, the layering, not to mention the cool way the ribbon was added!  That Julie, always so clever, isn't she?  

You're getting a look at more than one of the new stamps on this amuse-bouche too: the Rocking Chair, the Flourish Frame (used twice!), and "Mom" is from a portion of the new Home Is sentiment!

Our Newly Hatched stamps will be available on the A Muse website on April 22nd, but are showing up in your local shops now!

Newly Hatched amuse-bouche!

A "real" amuse-bouche is designed to give you a little tasty morsel before your meal and make your mouth happy!  OUR amuse-bouche is sorta' the same: something to give you a little taste of what's to come ...

 

Our latest release, Newly Hatched, is a fun mix of images (and not just for baby)!  Over the next few days I'll be sharing creations from our design team, like this one from Elena, showcasing some of the adorable new stamps on their way to your local shops now!

Newly Hatched stamps are showing up in your local shops now (and will be available on the A Muse website on April 22nd!)

Love Blooms amuse-bouche!

 

I've got one more amuse-bouche to share with you today before the entire Love Blooms release is revealed tonight at midnight EST!

Blossom Branch with Bird is a first for A Muse!  Why, you ask?  Well, it's two stamps in one: the branch AND the bird are two independent stamps, mounted on the same wooden block!  

Our Love Blooms release is filled with sophisticated, whimsical, versatile images I just know you're gonna' love as much as I do!

 

PS - And a big thank you to Julie, Lexi, Elena, and Emily for sharing their creations with us this week!

Love Blooms amuse-bouche!

 

I love elegant cards, especially if they're simple too!  And our new Damask Solid stamp makes sophisticated simple and easy!

Stamps from our Love Blooms release are available in your local stamp shops now!  (Or find them online at www.amuseartstamps.com on March 25th!)

Love Blooms amuse-bouche!

Today's amuse-bouche features another of my favorites in the Love Blooms release - the Cherry Blossom!   It works so well on it's own, with simply a sentiment!  But also with so many other A Muse stamps and clear sets!

And make sure to check out the notecard, made from one of our new Juliette cardstock colors!

Love Blooms stamps, notecards, and cardstock are available in your local stamp shops now (or at www.amuseartstamps.com on March 25th!)

Love Blooms amuse-bouche

 

Today's amuse-bouche is sure to make you happy!  Not only is it a peek at a few of our new notecard colors, but more than one of the new stamps too!  

I think our new Wedding Couple is so stylish!  And versatile enough to be used on a sophisticated card like this one or something more whimsical!   Perfect for any of your nuptial stamping needs!  *grin*

The Love Blooms release is available in stores now (or through www.amuseartstamps.com on 25 March)!

Love Blooms amuse-bouche!

A "real" amuse-bouche is designed to give you a little tasty morsel before your meal and make your mouth happy!  OUR amuse-bouche is sorta' the same: something to give you a little taste of what's to come.  But ... please just pet the yummy stamps, don't EAT 'em.  *snicker*

Julie's card is simply stunning, isn't it?  The Solid Zinnia is one of my favorites in the Love Blooms release and she's really made it shine!

The new images are arriving in your local shops now (and will be available online 25 March)!

Stayed tuned ... more amuse-bouche to come!

Weekly Newsletter

Are you signed up to receive our email newsletter?  Each week we share our Card of the Week, Blue Light special, and more.  This week, we are sharing the newsletter right here on the blog so you can see what it's all about (and that it is packed full of fun!)  If you would like to join our newsletter mailing list CLICK HERE to complete a quick signup form.

..........................................................................................................

Card of the Week
by Elena Shacochis

 

"When I first saw the new Peep stamp, I pictured those cellophane wrapped packages. I can never resist buying at least one. It is as if the sparkly candy bunnies are pleading with me to take them home. I just had to stamp rows of Peeps, just like you see them in the packages. I completed the "package" by adding overhangs at the top and bottom. Don't forget to add the brown dots for the eyes and noses, just like real Peeps!
My favorite tool for this card has to be my stamp postioner. I could not have had straight rows without it!" 

A Muse Product links:
Stamps: Peep, For peep's sake!
4-bar solid notes: Buttercup, Popsicle Pink

..........................................................................................................

Blue LIght Special

Our three Blue Light Special stamps this week are perfect for Easter.  Two adorable Missy Ballance bunnies, MB Bunny Girl and MB Bunny Boy, along with our Happy Easter NS sentiment! 
For this week only, while supplies last, you can add MB Bunny Girl, MB Bunny Boy, and Happy Easter NS to your collection for just $2 each.

..........................................................................................................

Punches and Purses are here!

We added a few fun new items to the A Muse website!  Three newly released Fiskars scallop border punches and super cute mini purses which would be perfect for holding a gift card or as favors for a baby or bridal shower!  Remember, you can always click on the what's new link at the top of the page to find all our newest products.  

..........................................................................................................

Be sure to pop back here tomorrow to see all the upcoming classes that our instructor team has scheduled for March!

Sneak Peek - Little Chick!

 

This new Little Chick is soo cute and I just adore the new "hello" sentiment too!  Blue and orange are one of my favorite color combos, and I used two new 4-bar notecards on this design - Orange Crush and Robin's Egg Blue!         

Sneak Peek - Swing Girl!

Our sneak peek today features the new Swing Girl and "sky's the limit" stamps!  Isn't she the sweetest?  The colors on this card just pop and I love that Elena added some clever little flowers made of twinkle stickers!  Our new spring stamps will be available on February 11th - only a few days away!  Be sure to check with your local stamp store to see if they've received them yet!  

 

Sneak Peek - Bunny Basket!

 

This bunny looks like he's being a little sneaky, peeking from behind the basket - LOL!  Our next sneak peek features the new "Bunny Basket" stamp.  One thing I love about this stamp is that there is room to "fill" the basket with tiny images!  So I masked it and then stamped two of the eggs from the Egg Line stamp.  It would be cute with flowers too!  And did you notice, another new 4-bar notecard - in Buttercup yellow!  

Sneak Peek!

 

Our next sneak peek is by Elena and features two new spring stamps!  I'm sure you've already noticed this cutie in our new blog banner - the adorable bunny princess!  And I love the way Elena colored her dress!  I'll be back with another peek tomorrow!    

 

Spring Sneak Peeks are Here!

 

This fun sneak peek by Julie features THREE new stamps!  Isn't the snail cute?!  He is definitely one of my favs in this release.  And the clouds and long grass have so many possibilties for making scenes!  Oh - and did you notice the new 4-bar notes?  There are two new ones to see here - Palm Green and Lime Band!  Our new Spring release will be available to purchase from your local stamp stores beginning February 11th.  I'll be sharing more sneak peeks over the next few days, so be sure to check back!  

 

Oldies but Goodies

There's been a lot of snowy weather in the cold spots of our country this winter.  If all those flakes floating past your window aren't inspiration enough for a few wintery cards, this week's Oldie but Goodie will surely be ...

Oldies but Goodies - Lots of Flakes
by Geeta

It's ironic that I love snowflakes, being from Texas, but I do. There is something very calming to me about snowflakes; maybe it is the uniqueness of each one, or the fluffy, pure, clean nature of them. When I sat down to make a card with the Lots of Flakes stamp, I instantly thought of making a clear card to show off the snowflakes. This stamp makes a quick background for any wintery card.

[Stamps: Lots of Flakes BL, Thanks Script.  Paper: Cabana Blue Solid Notecard.  Embellishment: Clear Twinkle Stickers.]

Many members of the A Muse Creative Team saw snow this Holiday Season, including those in Seattle at A Muse HQ.  After my recent trip to Seattle, I was inspired to make a card for all those girls and their snowy adventures ...

 
[Stamps:  Cityscape, Tower, Greetings from Seattle, Lots of Flakes BL.  Paper: Cabana Blue Solid Notecard.  Embellishment: Surf Sheer Ribbon.]

One More Sneek!

So how about those sneaks Julie posted from our Guest Designer, Rhonda!?!  Were they fabulous, or what?  Wow!  I can't wait to see what the next post in Rhonda's Guest Designer Series has in store for us!

And I don't know about you, but today's sneak makes me want ice cream in the worst way!  *laugh*   I really love Emily's choice of colors here too - so soft and pretty!  A perfect choice for this trio of frosty cones! 

Don't forget ... tonight's the night.   All the new stamps,  notecards, and ribbon will be available at midnight!  (9 PST)!

Sneak Peek!

 

Another day, and I'm back with another sneak peek!  SO exciting! 

Aren't these little pups cute?!  Puppy Love is just one of the really, really adorable stamps in this  release.  Elena's choice of coloring really looks great with the pink card (and I really like the pop of red she added with the tag and Twinkle stickers)!  The sentiment really finishes off the cuteness, doesn't it!?

Be sure to check your local shop to see if they've arrived!  (And they will be available at www.amuseartstamps.com on January 7th!)

Be sure you check in tomorrow when I pass the sneak peek baton to Julie!  She's going to be sharing some very special sneaks with you!  You're gonna' flip for 'em!

It's Sneak Peek Time Again!

 
How stinkin' fun is this card?!  Julie sure put the new milkshake stamp to super-cute use on this one!  I really like all the little details and textures she included: the red and white striped straws, textured polka-dot background, and can't forget the Sheer French Roast Ribbon that just screams "chocolate!"  And ... did you notice the new 4-bar notecard in Swiss Red!?  I just love 'em - can't get enough!

Over the next few days I'll be sharing even more sneak peeks - you won't want to miss 'em!  The new stamps have already started arriving in your local stamp stores and will be available at www.amuseartstamps.com on January 7th!

Shop News: 12/9

Holiday Open House

We have been having so much fun making crafty things for the holidays. We'd like to share them with you!  This Saturday (December 13th), we will be hosting a Holiday Open House at the A Muse Retail store between noon and 4pm.  Our retail store is located at 7107 Greenwood Ave. N in Seattle.

I hope you will join us to make FOUR fabulous Last-Minute-Holiday-Projects and help us to collect food for the Northwest Harvest Food Bank.  Come play with us - and you'll receive 10% off your purchases.
Admission: a non-perishable food donation or $5.

Here is one of the projects that we'll be making.  I got this idea from Stephanie at the Paper Garden Boutique. 

   

We'll also be making an ornament, a gift tag and a gift card holder.  So fun!

Can't make it on Saturday?  We'll be making two of the projects on Wednesday between 11:30am and 1:30pm.

As always, children are most welcome to participate with the supervision of an adult.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

More Holiday Gift Tag ideas

As promised, here are a few more photos from our Holiday Tag class. This tag uses the Marvy Giga Star Punch.  I folded a sheet of A Muse Vintage Red cardstock and punched out several stars from one sheet.  The trick is to note push the folded edge of the cardstock all the way into one of the points of the star.  I like to do this with almost all of my punches.

 

These sweet litte tags were all made from A Muse 4-bar notecards - you can make two tags from one notecard.

 

This acordian tag was a favorite from the class.  You can't see the snow we added with the Signo white gel pen.   This tag was made from an A Muse square notecard.  I cut the notecard in half lengthwise (2 1/8" x 8 1/2") and then added score lines 2 1/8" from the edges.  Fast and easy!

 

Merry Christmas Banner

This has been my "banner" year! LOL!  You may recall, I made this banner for Makenna, and one for Annabelle (scroll down in the same link as Makenna's) and one for Michelle.  Naturally, I couldn't resist making one for holidays.  This one says Merry Christmas and was created using a new XLarge version of the A Muse polka dot alphabet.  We are still trying to figure out how to package this fun alphabet but you'll be hearing more about it soon because I *love* it!

Here's a picture of the whole banner.  I used Grass, Red & Pink Kitchen cardstock for the flags. 

 

Here's a close-up photo where you can see the snowflake embellishments at the top of each flag.  I used an EK Success snowflake punch (we have a few different ones at the shop) and a LOT of clear twinkle stickers.  To divide the Merry and Christmas, I made a blank flag that I embellished with the Marvy Snowflake Punches and more bling!

 

Ornament/Place Card
Oh yes, here's another fun thing to make - a wreath ornament.  To make this, you will need a 1.75" circle punch and the Marvy Giga Scallop Circle punch.  First punch the 1.75" circle punch and then use the Giga Scallop circle punch to "frame" the smaller circle.  I added some A Muse Red Dots twinkle stickers and a bow made from A Muse Sheer Swiss Red Ribbon.  This was a super easy project and would make a nice table decoration.  Instead of Merry Christmas, you could write the name of your dinner guests and you will have a beautiful place card!

 

So tell me, what are YOU making this holiday season?  Are your cards started or finished yet?

Baking Sneak Peek

Today's sneaky peek is from A Muse's new Baking set!  Wouldn't a card like Erika's be absolutely adorable hanging from a bag of homemade holiday goodies (or goodies ANY time of year for that matter)?!

Only one more day!  Available online tomorrow - November 3rd!

 

Cupcake Sneak Peek

Another Cupcake sneak today!  This is such a bright, colorful, fun card!  And I LOVE how Tisha used Twinkle Stickers for sprinkles - such a cute idea! 

I know you're excited to get your hands on these stamps and it's not long now!  They've already shipped to your local stores and will be available online November 3rd!

Baking Set Sneak Peek

I knew you guys were gonna' love Cupcake Builders, but I've got something equally cute to show you today!  Images from A Muse's new Baking Set!  Is this adorable or what!?   And the perfect addition to any holiday food packaging you might be planning!

And ... Happy Halloween!

How about a Sneak Peek?

Boy do we have some cute stuff coming your way - that's right!  It's sneak peek time again!  Over the next few days I'll be sharing peeks at images from two new clear stamp sets ... first up today is a card made with the new Cupcake Builders set!

As you might guess from the name, you'll be able to "build" the perfect cupcake from the bottom up with these stamps!

Cupcake Builders will be showing up in your local shops soon and will be available on the A Muse website at midnight on November 3rd.

I'll be back tomorrow with another sneak peek!

Operation Hero Mail Now Available

I am so thrilled to announce the availability of Operation Hero Mail!  This program has been under development since February so it's great to finally be able to share it with you!  These ideas strike us at the most bizarre times!  We were sitting at a coffee shop (doesn't happen very often!) waiting for a press check when the idea for Hero Mail took shape.  We are really excited about this program and hope that you will be too!

First, I must give a shout out to A Muse illustrators (Nina, Margarete & Beth) for a GREAT job on the stamps and notes that are part of this project and also for DONATING their time and talent so that we are able to offer these Hero Mail kits at a great price *and* donate $ to our partner, Operation Troop Aid to help with their efforts in sending care packages to our troops overseas! 

A Muse has created TWO Hero Mail Kits -- one for individuals and one for groups.  Each Kit includes the Hero Mail Clear Stamp Set:
(sorry for the fuzzy image... will fix tomorrow)

 

Hero Mail Individual Kit

The Hero Mail Individual Kit costs $25.  With your purchase of an Individual Kit, A Muse will donate $5 to Operation Troop Aid. You may purchase the Hero Mail individual Kit here.

Hero Mail Group Kit

The cost to purchase a Hero Mail Group Kit is $39.  This kit is great for getting together with friends, classrooms, service organizations such as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, etc.  A Muse will donate $5 to Operation Troop Aid for every Hero Mail Group Kit sold. Click here to purchase.

More purchase options

Everyone likes options, right?  So, we've made all the individual Kit components available to purchase separately.  You will find them on our website here.

We've heard lots of great comments about the Hero mail notecards (Red stars, Blue stars & Green Camo).  We agree, they are lots of fun, however, you should be aware that on the back of each notecard you will find a Hand stamped by box, like the one on our Green Camo Card.

What to do with your Hero Mail cards?
A Muse has partnered with Operation Troop Aid to ensure that the Hero Mail cards you create will be included in care packages sent to US Troops around the world.  Each kit includes an envelope addressed to Operation Troop Aid along with an instruction sheet with things you should know about sending cards to troops. 

Of course, you are welcome to send your cards to other organizations too. 

I Invite you to visit the Operation Hero Mail website for more information and some great card ideas by the A Muse Creative Team.

Honoring YOUR heroes!

While these Hero Mail products were designed to create cards to send to our US Military Heroes, I think they are great for honoring the Heroes that impact our everyday lives too!  I know that our Postman, Jim, deserves a special thank you for going out of his way every day to pick up loads of extra boxes for us!!

 

Operation Hero Mail Sneak Peek!

Our next Hero Mail sneak peek is this design by Michelle Clark!  Along with our new Hero Mail clear stamp set, we are releasing three new 4-bar notecard designs:  Green Camo, Star Red, and Star Blue.  Here Michelle cut a strip from a Green Camo notecard and paired it with French Roast for a fun twist!  And she used one of my favorite clear stamps from the Fancy Borders set to make the road!  Be sure to check back tomorrow for another sneak peek!

Operation Hero Mail Sneak Peek

Welcome! 

Here's another sneak peek from our Hero Mail stamp set, created by Elena.  I *love* her clever "dog tags" idea. 

How can you get involved?

A Muse has created several HERO Mail Card-making Kits to make it easy to create and contribute cards to the Operation Hero Mail program. There will be two card kits available:

• Individual Kit, with supplies to make 12 cards
• Group Kit with supplies to make 30 cards

Hero Mail Kits will be for sale on Monday, Oct. 13th on the A Muse website.  (You will find them in the A Muse Favorites section, in the Kits category).

These kits would make for a fun evening of stamping with friends, or perhaps a project for your son or daughter's class or youth group.  I plan to spend an afternoon at a local Senior Center making Hero Mail cards.  All Hero Mail cards sent to Operation Troop Aid will be included in care packages sent overseas.   

Stay tuned for another sneak peek tomorrow! 

Announcing Operation Hero Mail!

We are excited to introduce Operation Hero Mail!

As we all know, many US military personnel are currently overseas serving our country. These brave men and women miss home terribly. For many, a letter from home means the difference between hope and despair.  Correspondence from home is the MOST requested item from most military personnel.  Sadly, many of those stationed overseas never receive regular correspondence from home. 

A Muse has teamed up with Operation Troop Aid to put a handmade card of appreciation in the hands of as many deployed military men and women as possible. The mission of Operation Troop Aid is to make a positive difference and inspire deployed U.S. service members by letting them know America stands with them.

We have created several card-making kits that make it easy to create and contribute cards to this program.  We’ll post the details tomorrow, so please stay tuned!    

Sneak Peek - Trees 2

At first glance you may be thinkin' - "Huh?  Where's the Trees 2 sneak?!"  But wait ... see the clouds Becky added over Seattle girl?  They're the "leaves" from one of the trees in the Trees 2 set!   Not only are these sets great in their own right, but I bet you'll be able to come up with lots of clever "out of the box" ways to use the images too!

If you haven't already - mark your calendar!  Tomorrow is the day! 

 
 

Sneak Peek - Trees 2

Don't you love the colors on this card? They're so bright and happy!  But my favorite bit is Julie's clever use of the Big Dot bl stamp, along with a tree from Trees 2!  How stinkin' clever is that?  Perfect!

Only a few more days before Trees 1 & 2 are available!  And - I'll be back tomorrow with another sneak! 

Sneak Peek - Trees 1

Have a cosy Christmas, indeed! Novell used an image from Trees 1 to create this fabulous winter scene!  Makes me chilly just looking at it!

Trees 1 and Trees 2 should be showing up in your local shops any day now (if they aren't already there!) and will be available online, through the A Muse website, September 22nd!

Sneak Peek - Trees 1

Today's sneak peek was made by Tisha!  She used one of the trees and a matching leaf stamp from Trees 1 - it's so easy peasy to stamp the leaves in a different color since it's a seperate stamp!  And ... because they're clear, perfect placement is a breeze!  (I also love that she added tiny bird!  An adorable touch, don't you think?)

See you tomorrow!

 

Sneak Peeks are Here Again!

I bet you weren't expecting a sneak peek today, were you?!  *laugh* 

Over the next week, I'll be sharing sneak peeks from two new clear stamp sets: Trees 1 and Trees 2!  A fantastic group of mix and match images (that also work smashingly with the entire A Muse line)!  These stamps are on their way to your local shop now - and will be available online September 22nd!

I made this card with Trees 2; paper piecing the leafy bits for a bit of fall color!      

Be sure to check out the blogs of the A Muse team today for even more sneaks!  I'll be back here tomorrow with another!

-Heather

We're mooooooving!

Later this month, we will be moving 14 blocks south into a newly remodeled building!  We are very excited to move to higher and drier ground... especially with the rainy season fast approaching!  Nina created a fun display for our current shop window.  I love the polka-dot moving van and that looks like Cindy in the driver's seat!

Our new building is still under construction, however, big changes are happening every day and we plan to move at the end of September.  Actually, we HAVE to move at the end of September because our lease is up at the end of the month.  My husband is confident that we are still on track but I foresee a LOT of late nights in the coming days.

Here is a photo of the exterior of our new location... this was taken early last week.  I'll  admit, it doesn't look all that great at this stage.

The masonry was completed last Friday and it really looks great.  I'll post an updated photo soon so you can see what I mean.

It's been fun to listen to passersby speculate on what type of business will be moving in.  It seems everyone in the neighborhood has an opinion as to what type of business they'd like to see.  Surprisingly nobody has mentioned a rubber stamp store! 

I asked Nina to create a sign for us to put in the window to end the speculation.  It's a little difficult to read because we have protective plastic over the windows.   The "stroller" crowd seems pleased that we will be moving in. :)

We do expect to be closed for a few days towards the end of the month as a result of our move. We will keep you posted on the details as we know more.  In the meantime, be sure to note our new address:

A Muse
7107 Greenwood Ave. N
Seattle, WA 98103

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I also have a few cards to share with you today!  I just got back from a fabulous trip to Sacramento to visit my good friend, Stephanie, owner of The Paper Garden Boutique.  She was celebrating her store's 2nd anniversary and it was fun to be there for such an exciting day.  I took my two youngest daughters with me and they LOVED it.  The Paper Garden Boutique is a treasure trove of fabulous things!

Here are a few of the cards that I taught on Friday evening.  Are you getting in the mood for Halloween yet?  I sure am!  Especially now that all the stores have their shelves stocked with Halloween CANDY! 

This pink and black crow card was a lot of fun to put together. 

We had fun practicing with a stamp positioner to get all of the images in the right spot on this card.  You can't see it in this photo but the chandelier is colored in with a Silver Spica glitter pen.  It is super sparkly!

I just *love* Bernice!  She looks right at home with this Halloween color combo.  We stamped her on extra thich vellum in Brilliance Graphite black ink.  Since Brilliance takes a while to dry, we colored the image from the back side.  You can attach white vellum to white cardstock with a regular glue stick and the glue won't show.  Or, vellum glue dots also do the trick!

I hope you've enjoyed the sneak peek of our new building and my card creations. I have a few more cards to share later in the week.

Have a beautiful day!

   

Sneak Peek - Halloween/Fall Release

The last of our sneak peeks features this adorable little devil from Missy's Halloween Set!  This clear set is perfect for cards AND scrapbooking!

I sure hope you've enjoyed a peek at our new Fall & Halloween images - be sure to check back later today for information about the brand new A Muse website!

-Heather

Sneak Peek - Halloween/Fall Release

Ahoy mateys!  Today's sneak peek welcomes a new addition to A Muse's seafaring family, the appropriately named ... Pirate!  *laugh*  He pairs so well with so many A Muse images: like the treasure chest Michelle used for this card!

Only one more day until the Pirate (and the rest of the A Muse Halloween & Fall Release) is available!

-Heather

Sneak Peek - Halloween/Fall Release

Today's sneak peek is for an image we've all been waiting for - a gal pal for Boris (who looks pretty happy about it too)!  Everyone ... meet Bernice!

Bernice and the rest of our Halloween/Fall Release will be available August 20th!

-Heather

Sneak Peek - Halloween/Fall Release

Novell really got into the Halloween spirit with her sneak peak by dressing up a Lime Peel notecard in it's very own costume!  The new Skull & Bones stamp adds the perfect finishing touch to this little pirate's eye patch! 

These new images (and more) will be available on August 20th!

-Heather

Sneak Peek - Halloween/Fall Release

Sneak peeks continue today with a look at an image from a new clear set named Leaves!   This is such a versatile set!  And what could be prettier to play with this time of year than a whole set of lovely leaves!? Adelina, one of the "Muses" as Julie would say, made this gorgeous birthday card ... what will you make?!

-Heather

Sneak Peek - Halloween/Fall Release

It's time!  Sneak peeks are here!  I'll be sharing sneak peeks with you - all week long - from our upcoming Halloween/Fall release!  These images (and more!) will be available on August 20th!

Our first sneak includes a bewitching little lady we call Sabrina!  (The crooked fence and "You're Bewitching" sentiment are also new!)  A Muse Creative Team member Melinda combined these three new images with the Tiny Cat to create a great card, showing off Sabrina's sassy style.

Also used for this card are Orange Crush Sheer Ribbon and a Vintage Orange 4-bar Notecard.

Stayed tuned all week for more sneak peeks!

-Heather

Oh Canada!

This is a fun card I made for all our Canadian friends!  The A Muse Crew would like to wish you all a very Happy Canada Day! 

I will be heading *home* next week to our cottage in Quebec.  Wahoo!  In my suitcase, I will be bringing a special treat for one of our Canadian blog readers!  So, if you live in Canada or have a stamping sister that does (with a Canadian address!) post a comment here about what you love most about Canada and you might be the recipient of my fun little stamping prize.    Comments will close at midnight Pacific time on July 2nd (because I know you'll be busy celebrating on the 1st, right?!)

Catching up

Happy weekend everyone!

Sorry for the lack of posts this week.  It was a busy week!  I took all three of my girls to get their hair cut. Their hair got quite damaged with all the lice treatment stuff.  Ugh!  Bella (as she now likes to call herself) got hers cut the shortest.  It's fabulous and she loves it too!

The other girls didn't want too much cut off due to bun requirements in the fall for ballet. 

It was Annabelle's birthday on Thursday.  She wanted to have a family picnic on her special day. The morning of her birthday it was very cold and grey.  So, she decided she wanted to celebrate her birthday on the ferry!  How fun!  We picked up some Thai food and took a ferry ride over to Bainbridge Island.  We had a picnic on the ferry and then on the return trip, Bella opened her gifts.  The day ended with cake and ice cream back at our housee.

If you've been a fan of A Muse since the "early" days, you may have spoken to Jenae on the phone or exchanged emails with her.  She was originally a babysitter for my girls and then took over running the day-to-day operations for A Muse for nearly two years.  Jenae has not missed one of the girls' birthday dinners EVER!  She is so awesome and we love her!!

And, the best part of any birthday cake is licking the candles as they come off the cake!  Yum!

I did make a few cards this week.  Yay, me!  I just love the happy colors on this card. 

And, since the girls and I have been working in the garden, I was inspired to make a Gardening journal to keep track of the things we planted and the work we do.

Here's Makenna in front of the plants the girls chose and planted in front of our house.  We've had such a cold spring that we didn't feel like planting anything until this week! As you can see, our garden is mostly dirt! LOL!

I have more to post so come back soon.

Stamping Fun!

Here are a few cards I made a few nights ago "just because".  My mother will be so happy because I forced myself to use some of the scraps of paper she stached in a box for me before she left for home! 

I had to get creative when assembing these cards because we used up all of our adhesive making sample cards for the stores that are pariticpating in A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA.  I discovered that the Sakura Quickie glue pen will do in a pinch! We received our shipment of adhesives today - thank goodness!

I just love this first card.  It's my Zen design.  The tree is from the A Muse Sushi clear stamp set and believe it or not it was the first time I've used it! 

This next card is also very clean and crisp.  The owls are from the A Muse Nature clear stamp set and the branch (one of my faves!) is from the Stitched Garden set. You can't tell from the photo, I used the Sakura clear glaze pen on the owls' eyes to make them POP! I didn't include a sentiment because I am building up a stash of cards to keep on hand for those card emergencies!

This next card is a happy little thing!  Our Kitty stamp is one of my favorites!  In University, I had two orange tabby cats named.  They were my pals and I miss them.  The fence in this card is also from our Stitched Garden clear stamp set.  I colored the fence and the kitty with some fabulous colored pencils that I can't wait to share with you.  You are going to love them!  I've been using my COPIC markers so much lately that I had kinda forgotten about these gems.  More info soon.  Promise!

One last card for you tonight.  The A Muse Elephant and Baby is a classic A Muse stamp! I used this stamp for one of my daughter's birth announcements and they were so cute (if I do say so!)  There is no coloring and I don't think any is required.

Thanks for stopping by!

I have another card to share tomorrow for Elena's A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA Out of the Box challenge.

Oh yes, one more thing.  Nina, our newsletter editor, is not feeling well today and her son is sick as well.  Our newsletter may be a little late this week.  We wish them both a speedy recovery.  It's no fun to feel crummy when the sun is shining!

Have a beautiful day!

Card break

I've been hard at work on a database for the past three hours (sounds like fun, eh?) and realized that I needed a thank you card for the girls' piano teacher, Keren, THIS afternoon.  Today is her last day with us because she is moving to St. Louis. 

Keren is not only a great piano teacher, she is also an amazing singer.  She sang for us at the girls' recent piano recital and I get goosebumps just remembering it. 

Of course, we don't have any piano stamps or singers so I decided our song bird would be just the ticket.  This card took me under five minutes to create and photograph.  Yessiree!  Think Simple.  Think A Muse!  Of course, not *all* my cards come together this fast but most do.

All products by A Muse.

Stamps: birdbath, songbird, micro oval

Paper: Chiffon Yellow 4-bar notes, PLP Spring Paisley, NS 303 Plum pink solid notes

Copic markers: W4 - warm gray no.4, B00 Frost blue, Y02 Canary Yellow

Stamping tip: To make the little bird standout on the Paisley paper, I stamped the first on the paisley and again on a Cabana blue notecard.  I then trimmed around the body of the bird - cutting off the legs and the beak.  I hate to cut out these fussy details.  LOL! Adhere the body over the stamped image on the patterned paper and voila! It completely covers the paisley and makes the bird really stand out!

Here's a pic of Keren & Hailey at the recital last month.

So tell me, do you play piano?  I studied for many years and actually taught piano lessons myself.  I tried teaching my girls but it was hard to keep to a schedule so we opted to pay for a teacher.  Do you have a need for a piano stamp?  Or perhaps a set of musical instruments?