*another thank you* - SNEAK PEEK!!!

My last two sneak peek cards have carried a definite garden theme, but today my garden theme took a bit of a twist, and I ended up with something a little more on the "whimsical" side. This card features a new A Muse image called mushroom trio. I colored the mushrooms light pink with dark pink polka dots and gave them some sparkle with a clear spica glitter pen. I love incorporating images from the clear sets that were just released at the beginning of the month. The butterfly from the oval frames set is quickly becoming one of my favorites... as is this funky, oriental-style tree from the nature set.
------------------------------
A Muse images, sentiment, notecard, and papers. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. PrismaColor markers. Copic markers, black multiliner pen, and spica clear glitter pen. EK Success circle punch. Stampin' Up scalloped punch and sanding block. Decorative scissors (grass). Pop Dots.

*thank you* - SNEAK PEEK!

I decided to share another garden scene today. I *love* garden scenes and the new release lends itself perfectly to the garden theme. I've used three new stamps... the birdbath, songbird, and thank you sentiment... along with an oldie-but-goodie, the hydrangea. I masked off the stem and leaves to create a row of bushes and gave it some dimension with pop dots. The hydrangea stamp has been in my collection for a long time, but I still love it, and it's perfect for the new backyard garden images in this release.
------------------------------
A Muse images, sentiment, notecard, papers, and ribbon. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers and spica clear glitter pen. Stampin' Up sanding block and markers. ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink (rouge). Decorative scissors (grass). Pop Dots.

*i wheely like you* - SNEAK PEEK!!!

It's *sneak peek* time again, and today I'm sharing two of my favorite new A Muse images... wheelbarrow and songbird. I wanted to create a beautiful backyard garden scene, so I added the fence (if you don't have it, you really NEED it!) and a sweet, little butterfly from the oval frames set that was just released this month. To finish things off, I added a corner stamp from the circle frames set that was also released ealier this month.

If you look closely, you will notice that the notecard is also new! Included in this release is a new collection of 4 bar notes called *Chiffon*. I used the pink chiffon notecard for my sneak peek today. It's the loveliest shade of pale pink EVER and a fabulous addition to A Muse's wonderful line of papers!
------------------------------
A Muse images, sentiment, papers, and ribbon. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers. Stampin' Up sanding block and markers. ColorBox fluid chalk ink (rouge).

*a shower*

Here's a card to tide you over until sneak peeks of the new A Muse release start TOMORROW! It's been rainy and gloomy here since yesterday, so I thought this would be a good card to share. Plus it qualifies for Heather's *Share Your Spark Friday* challenge to create something wet! Speaking of rain... have you seen how Novell used the new rain stamp? That girl just oozes with creativity! You can see her card here. It's darling!
------------------------------
Notecard, papers, ribbon, images and sentiment by A Muse. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. VersaMagic red magic chalk ink. Island (blue) Fresh Ink. Copic markers. Fiskars mini scalloped scissors. Stampin' Up sanding block.

*a fabulous anniversary*

I found a little time this weekend to make an anniversary card for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. I completely forgot to send them one last year, so I was determined not to forget again this year! I think these chubby little lovebirds are pretty sweet. I've had this set from Verve Visual for a little while now, and I'm glad I finally had an occasion to use it!

------------------------------

Stamps by Verve Visual. Kraft cardstock, white craft ink, creamy carmel classic ink, ribbon, and sanding block by Stampin' Up. 7Gypsies and Mustard Moon patterned paper. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers. Heidi Swapp edge distressor. Pop dots.

*hey dude!*

You may recognize this cards from Friday's A Muse Weekly. If you're a subscriber to the newsletter, you already know about a fun, new feature called Masculine Cards. It's designed to give a little inspiration to those of us who struggle with cards for men and boys. For the month of April, I was asked to contribute a weekly article for this new feature. Last week, I posed a color challenge to Geeta, Novell, Emily, and Heather, and they joined me in creating some fabulous masculine cards using brown and blue. If you don't already subscribe to the newsletter, there's a link on the right in the *A Muse Essentials* section. It's easy to sign up; it's full of fun ideas; and it's free!

-----------------------------

Notecard, papers, images, and sentiment by A Muse. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers, spica glitter pens, and black multiliner pen. Stampin' Up linen thread, sanding block, and creamy carmel ink. Paper Source scalloped punch. EK Success circle punch.

*gardening time!*

Here's a fun design using the new April Banner set along with A Banner Year, Fences, and Winter Wonders from The Saltbox Studio's very first release. Farmer Hare makes such a cute garden banner. He's hard at work digging up his carrots... which reminds me that I've got plenty of gardening work to do myself! There's grass to plant, leaves to rake, mulch to spread, and flowers to plant. It's been a long winter here in Iowa, and I'm ready to get outside and dig in the dirt! There's something therapeutic about a garden. I can be having a bad day, but it's usually nothing a lesiurely stroll through my flower gardens won't fix! Farmer Hare knows just what I'm talking about!

------------------------------

Images and sentiment by The Saltbox Studio. A Muse notecard and papers. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers and spica glitter pens. Fiskars mini scalloped scissors. Stampin' Up sanding block.

*come play with me*

Brother Mouse is so cute... and he's ready for an afternoon of tree climbing, bug hunting, and a game or two of kick ball. He just needs someone to play with. So I paired him up with the branch from the new Tweets set and the "come play with me" sentiment by A Muse for a fun play date invitation. Who could turn down this little guy?
------------------------------
Images from The Saltbox Studio. Notecard, papers, and sentiment by A Muse. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers, black multiliner pen, and spica glitter pens. Stampin' Up sanding block.

*you're tweet!*

The weekly challenge over at A Muse Addicts is *Lots of Dots*. What could be more up my alley than a challenge featuring polka dots? I used a brown kitchen note that comes with tons of dreamy polka dots, but I thought I'd add a few of my own since the challenge is LOTS of Dots. I used the Nature and Sushi clear sets from A Muse... and I love 'em! They're both versatile, fun to use, and the images are fabulous!
------------------------------
A Muse notecard, images, and sentiment. Stampin' Up very vanilla and black cardstock, sanding block, and creamy carmel classic ink. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers, multiliner pen, and spica glitter pens. White sharpie poster paint pen. Pop dots.

*all things tweets*

Today, when I sat down to make a card, I immediately reached for my new Tweets set by The Saltbox Studio. I love Beth's new bird images. They're all so cute, and I had a hard time deciding which ones to use. So I came up with a fun way of showcasing multiple images on the same card. I simply stamped rows of repeated images, colored them in with my copic markers, and separated each row with a little scalloped edge. Birds are becoming quite popular among stampers, and rightly so. They just have a certain charm and sweetness about them. Not only are they cute, but they're versatile and lend themselves to just about any style.

Beth has another contest going on over at The Saltbox Sampler, so be sure to head on over for a chance to win your favorite set!
------------------------------
Tweets and Tweet Houses by The Saltbox Studio. Kraft and black cardstock by Stampin' Up. Fiskars mini scalloped scissors. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers. Ribbon Trends orange gingham ribbon.

*Farmer Hare*

Farmer Hare is one of my favorite new images by The Saltbox Studio. You'll find him in the April Banner set that was just released yesterday. Not only is he a fabulous addition to The Saltbox Studio collection... he's also absolutely adorable! He's wearing his straw hat, checkered shirt, and patched bibs, and he's ready to get to work digging up his carrots. If you haven't seen all the new sets yet, be sure to "hop on over" to The Saltbox Studio to take a peek! And there's still time to leave a comment here for a chance to win the Banner Year set!
------------------------------
April Banner set by The Saltbox Studio. Notecard and papers by A Muse. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers. Marvy scalloped punch. Stampin' Up sanding block and linen thread.

*it's release day at The Saltbox Studio!*

It's release day over at The Saltbox Studio, and Beth has surprised us with an additional set called April Banner. There are 6 new sets to choose from, and you can view them all here.

It's been a while since I made a pocket card, so today I'm sharing a fun design featuring Mama Mouse. This would be a fun card for any mama-to-be. I think it's nice to give a special gift to the new mom. After 9 months on the "hormonal roller coaster" we call pregnancy, plus endless worry, sleepless nights, packing on extra pounds, stretch marks, and swelled feet, I think she deserves something just for her! ;)

Be sure to stop by A Muse News for a chance to win 2 Saltbox Studio sets of your choice!
-------------------------------
Images and sentiment by The Saltbox Studio. Stampin' Up cardstock, circle punch, scalloped punch, and sanding block. Patterned papers by Lasting Impressions and Making Memories. A Muse popsicle pink ribbon. Brilliance pearlescent chocolate ink. Copic markers. Pink lemonade Fresh Ink.

*boy oh boy!* - sneak peek!

When I sat down to make this card, I really wanted to create something with a simple and natural feel to it. The new Tweets set was just made for this style! I took the branch, nest, and bird images and created a background using creamy carmel ink to stamp the images and sponge the edges. I stamped another nest and colored it in with copic markers. It became the focal point. I tied a bow with linen thread, and it worked perfectly for the simple, natural style I was going for. Then I added the "boy oh boy!" sentiment to turn it into a baby card. You could easily swap out the "boy oh boy!" sentiment for the "new nest" sentiment, and give this card to someone who has just moved into a new home. The new sets are available tomorrow... and you're gonna want 'em all!
------------------------------
Images by The Saltbox Studio. Notecard, papers and sentiment by A Muse. Creamy carmel ink, sanding block, and circle punch by Stampin' Up. Brilliance pearlescent chocolate pigment ink. Copic markers. Marvy scalloped circle punch. Pop dots.

*home sweet home* - sneak peek!

I'm a little late getting my sneak peek posted for today. I had some errands to run this morning which took me way longer than I expected... so I'm happy to finally be home... for a few minutes anyway... until I have to leave again to pick up my boys from school.

I found a package of small kraft bags at WalMart this weekend and thought it would be fun to decorate one for a housewarming gift. I adore these little birds! They've just moved into a new birdhouse, and they've been out collecting flowers for the table and a few twigs for their bed. Aren't they a cute couple?
------------------------------
Images and sentiment by The Saltbox Studio. A Muse papers. Stampin' Up linen thread, scalloped punch, circle punches, and sanding block. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers and multiliner pen. Heidi Swapp edge distressor. Scalloped deco scissors. Pop dots.

*think summer* - sneak peek!

I live in Muscatine, a small town that's right along the Mississippi River. There's a farming community on the south end of town that we locals call "the Island". The soil there is sandy, and the farmers are known for growing some of the very best watermelon and canteloupe in the country! Every summer we look forward to weekly trips to Taylor's Market for sweet corn and melons. The same family has a row of greenhouses on their farm, and every year I buy all of my annuals there ... petunias, geraniums, zinnias, gerber daisies... you name it, they grow it! I made this card with all of those things in mind. I have a little birdhouse in my backyard that's painted up like a watermelon. I tried to re-create that look on this cute little birdhouse from the new Tweet Houses set. And you couldn't celebrate summer without a cottage-y bouquet of hand-picked flowers and a sweet little bird carrying a daisy bloom back to her nest. The new release includes quite a few smaller images, and creating a simple panel like the one on this card is a fun way of using them.
-----------------------------
Images and sentiment by The Saltbox Studio. A Muse notecard and papers. Stampin' Up linen thread and sanding block. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers and multiliner pen.

*weekend retweet* - another sneak peek!

Who couldn't use a *weekend retweet*? For this little bird, it includes a stay at the fabulous and ever-so-ritzy Blue Birdhouse Inn and a refreshing dip in the sparkling waters of the nearby Crystal Water Birdbath and Pool. These luxury accomodations are the perfect get-away for the weary bird who could use a little rest and relaxation. A quaint wrought iron fence encloses the property for those birds concerned about privacy. Only the best birdseed is on the menu. Space is limited, so make your reservations soon!

Beth has really outdone herself (again!) with the new Tweets and Tweet Houses sets. There are lots of fun new coordinating images... and for this design, I pulled out my Fences set from the last release to cozy up this backyard scene. I love the new branch. It's the perfect "hang out" for any of the new birdhouses, and it's the perfect perch for any little bird who needs to rest up a bit.

My favorite part of this card is the *weekend retweet* sign. I curved the sentiment so it would follow the shape of the scalloped oval punch, and then I took the little flower from the new Mama Mouse and More set (it's actually part of a sentiment) and added it right in the middle. What bird wouldn't want to come to this backyard for a *weekend retweet*?

If you've got an extra minute, check out yesterday's sneak peek over at The Saltbox Sampler. ;)
------------------------------
Images and sentiment by The Saltbox Studio. Notecard, papers, and ribbon by A Muse. Marvy scalloped oval punch. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers, multiliner pen, and spica glitter pens. Decorative scissors. Pop dots.

*meet Mama Mouse* - sneak peek!

Is she not the cutest mouse ever?!? She's part of the new Saltbox Studio set called "Mama Mouse and More". For this card, she's carrying her little baby mouse, but there are lots of other images in the set that would fit nicely into her hand as well. The set also comes with a bunch of little images that are perfect for creating a border, your own background paper, or a little postage stamp like the one I made with the little baby bonnet and baby sentiment.

Be sure to check the other designers' blogs and The Saltbox Sampler for more sneak peeks!
------------------------------
Mama Mouse and More by The Saltbox Studio. Flowers and vines background stamp, notecard, papers, and ribbon by A Muse. Colorbox chestnut roan ink. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers and multiliner pen. Fiskars mini scalloped scissors. Postage stamp decorative scissors. Stampin' Up sanding block. Pop dots.

*Saltbox sneak peeks start tomorrow!*

For me, one of the hardest things about being a designer is keeping all the new stamps a secret until I have the official OK to start sharing them. All of us girls on The Saltbox Studio Design Team are so excited about the upcoming release, that Beth has given us the go-ahead to start sneak peeks a day early! That's tomorrow! Beth has already shared a few snippets of the new stamps at The Saltbox Sampler, but starting tomorrow you'll be able to see what we designers have been busy creating with them! Be sure to stop back. I'll be sharing a card using my favorite new set.

*it's today!*

The latest release is now available from A Muse... and you can see it all here.

Today's card doesn't feature any of the new images, but *party chick* is back again, this time celebrating spring with one of her friends. It's not very spring-y here, so I'm hoping these two chicks are on their way to Iowa and bringing spring with them!
------------------------------
A Muse images, sentiment, notecard, papers, and ribbon. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers. Pop dots.