*what's cookin'?* - SNEAK PEEK!!!

I'm a little late with today's sneak peek... but better late than never, I always say! This cute little apron is my favorite image in the new Baking Set. Does it remind you of anyone? Maybe it's just me, but I thought of Cinderella the moment I laid eyes on it. I attempted to re-create the scene where those sweet little birds are bringing Cinderella her apron. What do ya think?
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A Muse images, sentiment, notecard, papers, ribbon, and black pigment ink. Copic markers and clear spica glitter pen. Stampin' Up sanding block and dimensionals. Cuttlebug swiss dot embossing folder.

*you're sweet!* - SNEAK PEEK!!!

How about some no-bake cupcakes! You can create your very own scrumptious cupcakes without ever stepping foot in the kitchen! A Muse has designed the Cupcake Builder clear stamp set, and you can "build" a cupcake to your liking by choosing from 4 different bottoms and 4 different tops. You can even add sprinkles, if you like! It's a fun set with endless possibilities, and it will be available on the A Muse website November 3rd.
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Images, sentiment, notecard, papers, ribbon, and black ink by A Muse. French Lavendar Fresh Ink. Copic markers, black multiliner pen, and clear spica glitter pen. Heidi Swapp edge distressor. Fiskars mini scalloped scissors. Stampin' Up sanding block.

*nutty about you*

I resisted this stamp set for quite some time, but in a moment of weakness I broke down and bought it! These little guys just crack me up! I had a few scraps laying on my desk from the color challenge I did earlier this week, so I put them to good use.

I spent a little time last week reorganizing my stamping area. This week I need to get some outside work done before winter hits. So if the weather cooperates, I'll be heading out to cut back all my perennials. Last year I was attacked by a not-so-friendly bunch of yellow jackets, so I'm not especially looking forward to this. I'd rather be stamping!
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Just Nutty stamp set by Clear Dollar Stamps. Cardstock, white craft ink, and dimensionals by Stampin' Up. Black ink by A Muse. Copic markers and clear spica glitter pen. Punches by Marvy. Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder.

*thanks a latte*

Yesterday's color challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers was to use pink pirouette, kiwi kiss, and chocolate chip. This is a gorgeous color combination, and I just had to play along! I cheated a bit and added a tiny little layer of regal rose.

It's been a while since I've dug out my coffee stamps. I chose this fabulous row of steaming coffee cups from A Muse along with a sentiment and a few other images from the Coffee Break set. The background, which might be hard to see unless you click on the photo, is from a stamp cube I bought ages ago. It's a bunch of coffee words with little coffee cups in between. I think I'll be sending this to my mom. She's a coffee drinker, and I know she'll love it!
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Cardstock, white craft ink, creamy carmel classic ink, and linen thread by Stampin' Up. Background stamp (Coffee Block) by Embossing Arts Company. All other images, sentiment, and black ink by A Muse. Copic markers and clear spica glitter pen. VersaMark ink. Swiss Dot Cuttlebug embossing folder. 1/8" handheld circle punch. Fiskars mini scalloped scissors. Scalloped circle punch by PaperSource. Pink ribbon by RibbonFX.

*a little bird told me...*

I'm always delighted to discover new color combinations. I often find myself in the rut of choosing the same ones over and over again, but a fresh new mix of colors can really jazz things up and give a whole new look to your project. And so can a fun little frame! If you haven't tried any of A Muse's clear sets yet, let me suggest the Rectangle Frames set. It contains this super cute frame along with three others, and at $7.75 it's a steal!

For more fun card ideas, be sure to check out October's Inspiring Ideas Album over at the A Muse News Blog!

*it's a boy!*

I'm back today to share the card I made using the Baby Boy set by Inkadinkado. It's the same layout that I used for the baby girl card. I just swapped out the colors and added this cute little puppy from the Dogs set.

We're enjoying some beautiful fall weather here in Iowa. There was rain in the forecast, but the sun is shining, and it turned out to be the perfect day! My little girl, Livi, went on her very first field trip today, and it couldn't have been better weather.

Well, I'm off to bake cookies. Tomorrow is Livi's treat day at school, and I promised to make chocolate chip cookies. I can't wait to eat some of the cookie dough! YUM!
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Baby Boy and Dogs clear stamp sets by Inkadinkado. Dimensionals, kiwi kiss and very vanilla cardstock by Stampin' Up. DCWV blue textured cardstock. Tea leaves VersaMagic chalk ink. Yellow citrus and creamy brown ColorBox fluid chalk ink. Freesia (blue) Fresh Ink. Swiss dot Cuttlebug embossing folder. Grass decorative scissors. Best Value organdy ribbon (purchased at JoAnn's).

*it's a girl!*

I have a soft spot for baby stamps, and I just couldn't resist this darling set by Inkadinkado. That sweet little dress on the clothes line was the clincher! There is just something about that dress!

I couldn't resist the baby boy set either, so be sure to stop back to see what I created with it!
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Baby Girl clear set by Inkadinkado. Dimensionals, pink pirouette, kiwi kiss, and riding hood red cardstock by Stampin' Up. Rhubarb stalk and angel pink momento inks. Tea leaves VersaMagic chalk ink. Creamy brown ColorBox fluid chalk ink. Swiss dot Cuttlebug embossing folder. Grass decorative scissors. Best Value organdy ribbon (purchased at JoAnn's).

*cute chick with nice hare*

Here's a fun card I made for my little niece, Jazi. She gave my daughter, Livi, the cutest pink t-shirt. It had a chick and a bunny on it, and beneath them it said "cute chick with nice hare". It was the perfect shirt for Livi! She has tons of beautiful, long hair. Her cousin, Jazi, is cute as a button... a little towhead with baby fine hair. She just loves Livi's hair, so when she spotted the shirt and was told what it said, she insisted on getting it for Livi. How sweet! I love making kids' cards, and it was fun to create this one to match Livi's new shirt.

I was on the demo side of the Stampin' Up website the other morning, and I watched a short video that showed a fun technique. The demonstrator stamped a flower onto vellum and then flipped it over to the backside and dry-embossed it. It gave me the idea to try something similar on cardstock. I knew that if I colored my images with copic markers it would bleed through to the back and I would be able to see where I had colored the images. I embossed the balloons, the bow, the bunny's eyes, and the bunny's tail. I think I pushed a bit too hard, but with a little practice I think it would be a cool effect.

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A Muse notecard, papers, MB little bird, and balloon. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers, black multiliner pen, and clear spica glitter pen. Karen Foster snap stamps. Penny Black Fresh New Day clear set. Stampin' Up sanding block. Heidi Swapp edge distressor.

*share your harvest*

The Saltbox Studio just released *NINE* new stamps sets on Monday. Kids Table is a super cute mini set that includes the ear of corn and "share your harvest" sentiment you see in today's card. Marabelle thinks that Farmer McDonald needs a gentle reminder to be a bit more generous with his bumper corn crop! ;)

Hurry on over to the A Muse News blog for *two* chances to win a free stamp from the new release!
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Images and sentiment by The Saltbox Studio. Notecard and papers by A Muse. Marvy punches. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers and clear spica glitter pen. Stampin' Up sanding block.

*snowmouse's mittens* - SNEAK PEEK!

I'm back today with a fun winter scene I created using one of The Saltbox Studio's original sets called Winter Wonders and a new mini set called Brrr. It looks as though little mouse remembered the buttons and the scarf for his snowmouse, but he forgot the mittens. And everyone knows that a snowmouse needs a cozy pair of mittens... so little mouse is scurrying home to fetch them! This set and EIGHT others will be available for purchase Monday on the A Muse website. Be sure to check the A Muse blog for more inspiring ideas!

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A Muse cardstock. Kraft paper for pocket insert. Images and sentiment by The Saltbox Studio. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Sicilian Blue Fresh Ink. Copic markers and black multiliner pen. Stampin' Up linen thread, white craft ink, and sanding block. Heidi Swapp edge distressor. Button and ribbon source unknown.

*vintage baby* - SNEAK PEEK!!!

On October 6th, The Saltbox Studio will be releasing *NINE* new fall and winter sets! If you look "outside the box", you just might find some clever ways of using these seasonal sets beyond the seasons. For today's sneak peek, I thought I'd give you an example to get your creative juices flowing. This darling little sheep comes from the new Church Mice Christmas Pageant set, but I colored him blue, drew him a wagon, and turned him into a vintage pull toy... perfect for a baby boy card! And you could easily turn "him" into "her" with a little bit of pink!

My little Livi has been home from school for the past couple of days with a fever and a miserable cold, so I'm not sure if I'll have another sneak peek for you before release day. But the rest of the team has been hard at work with some ideas that are sure to *WOW* you! Be sure to check out their fabulous creations! You won't be disappointed!
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Images and sentiment by The Saltbox Studio. Papers by A Muse. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers. Punches by Marvy. Fiskars mini scalloped scissors. MayArts ribbon. Stampin' Up creamy carmel ink and sanding block.

*painted pumpkin* - SNEAK PEEK!!!

Fall is here, and Beth couldn't have picked a better time to release her amazing new fall and winter sets! For today's sneak peek, I decided to feature this charming pumpkin image. I thought I would try something new, so I dug out my box of craft paints and painted the background. I love that it's not perfect. It's dabbed and swiped and streaked, and that just adds to it's charmingly vintage feel, as does the crocheted lace and old brown button. I discovered that markers do not work well over paint, so I stamped another stem and leaf onto cardstock, colored them in, and then pop dotted them on top. Be sure to stop back tomorrow for another vintage sneak peek!

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A Muse notecard, paper, and sentiment. Tall pumpkin from Pumpkin Oak set by The Saltbox Studio. Paints by Making Memories. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers. Crocheted lace and button source unknown. Linen thread and sanding block by Stampin' Up.

*celebrating 20 years!*

Today my husband and I are celebrating our 20th anniversary! This is the card I made for him. It's a combination of ideas I got from two incredibly talented A Muse instructors, Jennie Moczan and Katie Stilwater. These girls ROCK, I tell ya! I drew my inspiration from this card by Jennie and this card by Katie. If you've got a minute, be sure to check out their blogs!

And be sure to stop back tomorrow for a *sneak peek* of the new Saltbox Studio release!
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A Muse notecard, papers, Bracket Frames and Birthday Builders clear sets, owls, party hat, and balloon. Sentiment and gift boxes by Studio G. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers and clear spica glitter pen. Crystal effects and pop dots.