*friends to the end*

Here's a quick card I whipped up today using one of Basic Grey's new limited edition mini clear stamp sets. This tea set is my favorite! It's so sweet and vintage-y... plus there's a polka dotted tea cup in the set! I had a list of 6 cards I needed to make, 4 thank you's, a thinking of you, and a card for an old friend. I used this versatile little set for each one of them. I used a number of color combinations, but this one's my favorite. Plus I love this sentiment by A Muse!

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A Muse notecard and sentiment. Rhubarb stalk Memento ink. Pistachio grosgrain ribbon by JoAnn's Craft Essentials. Stampin' Up linen thread. Clear spica glitter pen.

*AP09TWILIGHT*

Here's my take on the third A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA challenge, TWILIGHT. It's a good thing the challenges are open to interpretation, because I know absolutely nothing about the Twilight book series... so I opted for a "girls night out" card instead.

There's still time to play along... and you could win some fun A Muse goodies!
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A Muse notecard, papers, ribbon, image, and sentiment. Stampin' Up watercolor paper, blender pen, markers, linen thread, star punch, sanding block, and dimensionals. Tattered angels pearl glitter mist. Memento rich cocoa ink.

*AP09RIBBON*

I was late getting my card done for the last A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA challenge, so I wanted to be sure to make the deadline for Challenge #2. This challenge is called RIBBON. At first I thought about going crazy with tons of ribbon, but once I decided on this design, I knew that a tiny little bow on one of the brackets would be all the ribbon it needed. I really like this color combination. I tend to use the same ones over and over again, so it's nice to come up with something new every now and then. And the fun thing is I really didn't plan it. It just sort of happened. Gotta love it when *wingin' it* actually works out!
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A Muse notecard, papers, ribbon, image, and sentiment. Bracket punch by EK Success. Memento rich cocoa ink. Stampin' Up blender pen, watercolor paper, markers, dimensionals, and sanding block. Clear spica glitter pen. Fiskars mini scalloped scissors. Heidi Swapp edge distressor.

*AP09SQUARE*

A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA is just around the corner, and the countdown has already begun! I'm just now getting a chance to join in the fun, and I finally found a little time this afternoon to make a card for the first challenge. This year's challenges are open to interpretation, which makes it easy for anyone to play along. The first challenge is called SQUARE. I made this fun card using squares of A Muse's wonderful solid and patterned papers. They're so easy to mix and match, and they're just one more thing about A Muse that makes my little heart happy! I say that a lot, don't I?

Challenge #2 is called RIBBON. I'm still working on an idea for it, and Challenge #3 will be posted Monday, so I'd better get scootin'! Have a great weekend... and thanks for stopping by!

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A Muse notecard, papers, image, and sentiment. Stampin' Up punches, blender pen, markers, watercolor paper, dimensionals, and sanding block. Memento rich cocoa ink. Yellow ocre ColorBox chalk ink. Copic clear glitter pen. Tattered Angels pearl glimmer mist.

*beach bum*

Somewhere along the line, I must have inherited my mother's love of chickens. I'm not sure when it happened exactly, but I'm certain that I didn't appreciate the huge collection of chicken statues, pictures, and what-not that adorned her kitchen when I was growing up. In fact, I remember thinking her collection was ridiculous, and I couldn't help but wonder why a person would choose to collect chickens of all things. I certainly never would have guessed that someday when I grew up I'd have a chicken collection of my own. My love of chickens is not confined to my kitchen. It has carried over into my stamping, and my favorite chickens are the crazy and oh-so-lovable creations of Anna Wight. Her chickens make my heart happy, and when she released her new Beach Bum set with a chicken in a floatie, I knew I just HAD to have it!

Yesterday was a mail day made in heaven! I got 4 packages! One was my Beach Bum set from Whipper Snapper. Another was a beachy set I ordered from Unity Stamps. The 3rd package was 15 new copic markers and the 11 brand spankin' new colors of spica glitter pens. I used them on this card, and the colors are yummy! The 4th package was a gorgeous pink and brown lampwork bracelet, earrings, and pendant set I ordered off Etsy. Jewelry from Etsy is my latest addiction. It ranks up there pretty close to Anna's chickens! ;)

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All stamps by Whipper Snapper. Kraft cardstock by DCWV. Pink pirhouette cardstock, blender pen, markers, white craft ink, sanding block, and dimensionals by Stampin' Up. Berry polka dotted paper by Bo Bunny. Canson watercolor paper. Spica glitter pens. Rich cocoa Memento Ink.

*happy summer*

I was completely blown away by all the AMAZING cards the Muses came up with for the summer release! There were countless times that I whacked myself on the forehead and thought: "Now why didn't I think of that?" They shared some of the most unique and inspiring ideas... and I just HAD to borrow a few! Here's a few of the ideas I *borrowed*. See those darling little fish? That's was Lori's brilliant idea! That little fish comes in a clear set, and I'd forgotten all about him! (GASP!) And see that *seaweed*? It's actually the leafy vine stamp, and I would NEVER have thought to use it for seaweed! That's just a sampling of Rhonda's genius!

I'm completely smitten with snorkel boy! He is such a fun stamp... and now I'm thinkin' we need snorkel GIRL! What do YOU think?
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A Muse orange petite gingham paper, images, sentiment, and twinkle stickers. Canson watercolor paper. Rich cocoa Memento Ink. Stampin' Up blender pen and markers. Tattered Angels pearl glimmer mist.

*a designer's challenge with Anna Wight!!!*

I was excited beyond words when the super talented and oh-so-sweet Anna Wight, aka SweetMissDaisy, invited me to join her in a Designer's Challenge! I have been a BIG fan of hers for a long time now, and I nearly fell out of my chair when I got her email! Anna proposed a color challenge using peach, robin's egg blue, and neutrals. Sounds like the perfect colors for a beach scene to me... and I just couldn't create a beach scene without my snorkel boy!

Anna's card is sure to knock your socks off, so be sure to head on over and check it out!

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A Muse notecard, papers, images, and sentiment. Canson watercolor paper. Stampin' Up blender pen, markers, dimensionals, and sanding block. Rich cocoa Memento Ink. Scalloped deco scissors. Crab punch from Dollar Tree. Copic multiliner black pen and spica glitter pens.