{The Polka Dot Cafe}

thank you, thank you, thank you...

2011-11-14T11:20:00.003-06:00

Lime green and berry is a delightful combination, don't ya think? My friend has chosen them as her wedding colors, and I happened to have to a thank you card to make, so I thought I'd try them out. I love it! I'll definitely be using these colors again!

thanks

2011-11-12T15:34:00.003-06:00

I whipped up this card for some friends who had us over for supper last weekend. I bought these cute stamps from Purple Onion Designs a few months back when they were on sale and thought the house would work nicely for a "thank you for your hospitality" card.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

another happy anniversary

2011-11-07T14:45:00.002-06:00

I made another anniversary card today, this time for my BIL and SIL. I just ordered some fun doily dies from My Favorite Things and was a tad bit disappointed when they didn't have the one I really wanted. I'm dying to get my hands on the High Tea Party Doily, which I may just have to break down and pay full price for once it's back in stock. But this one's pretty cute, and I'm happy that I bought it. I'm still lovin' The Cat's Pajamas bunny rabbits, and I'm hoping they come out with lots more new ones SOON!

The weather here is crazy warm for November, and I'm heading out to soak it all in since it might be one of the last nice days we'll get.

Thanks for stopping by!

.

happy anniversary

2011-10-25T22:36:00.003-05:00

Our friends, Janeen and Paul, just celebrated their 10th anniversary. I made this card for them. I can't seem to get enough of this bunny! Don't ya just love stamps that can be used for almost any occasion?

Here's a peek at the inside:

So glad you stopped by!

such exciting news

2011-10-18T17:51:00.002-05:00

My best friend Jess got engaged earlier this month, and I'm tickled beyond words for her! So of course, I had to make her a card. I've had this dress stamp for ages, and it was the perfect opportunity to pull it off the shelf and use it. Can you believe that in my huge collection of stamps I couldn't seem to find the right sentiment? Really great handwriting would come in handy about now. Oh well.

Thanks for stopping by!

4 YOU

2011-10-12T11:13:00.003-05:00

I'm popping in today to share a card I made for my husband's mom. She just had surgery and thankfully is doing well. I used the Nantucket stamp set by Pink Paislee and some lovely crinkled seam binding I ordered from a quaint little shop on Etsy.

So glad you stopped by!

so thankful

2011-10-06T10:57:00.003-05:00

This week I've been busy making thank you cards... which is a good thing. It means I have a lot of people in my life to be thankful for. My husband and I just celebrated our 23rd anniversary, and we received lots of thoughtful cards and wonderful gifts.

I found so much inspiration from color challenges, personal blogs, and magazines. Baker's twine seems to be the trendy thing right now, and I was delighted to get my hands on some. As you can see, I seem to be going through a kraft paper craze at the moment. Better add to that my love for these sweet little chubby birds and darling bunny rabbits. Oh... and clouds and gingham.

I don't just have a lot to be thankful for, I also have a lot to be excited about. My bestest friend in the whole world just got engaged... and on my 23rd anniversary at that! I'm happy beyond words for her!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a bee-uuuu-tiful day!

you're the bestest friend ever!

2011-09-15T06:01:00.001-05:00

I'm back again with another one of those cute bunnies by The Cat's Pajamas. I made this for my bestest friend, Jess, who bought me lunch at Applebee's earlier this week. Wasn't that sweet?

my head's in the clouds

2011-09-14T17:42:00.003-05:00

I can't believe that I already made an anniversary card for my husband, and our anniversary isn't until next month! Woo hoo! I love having something done ahead of time FOR ONCE!

I ordered a few stamps from The Cat's Pajamas when they had their end of summer sale last month. I had been drooling over a few sets featuring this adorable bunny, and after seeing Amy Rohl create some of the cutest cards I've ever seen with them, I knew I HAD to have them! Amy is one of my favorite stampers, and once you stop by Ink About Me you'll see why. She is one talented chickie, and I couldn't resist borrowing a few of her super cute ideas. Like the pennant sentiment and how she paper-pieced the bunny's plane. She's got an eye for mixing patterns and colors, and that's one of the things I always notice about her cards.

Here's a peek at the inside:

It takes a little extra time to stamp the inside, but it is so worth it!

Thanks for stopping by!

tea for two

2011-09-08T14:38:00.003-05:00

I'm about to dart out the door to pick up the kiddos from school, but wanted to share another vintage-y card I snuck into my stamping room to create this morning. Embossing folders are such a great way to add a bit of texture. This one's called vintage wallpaper, and it's made by Stampin' Up.

Thanks for stopping by!

herbal tea company get well card

2011-09-07T17:33:00.003-05:00

I'm so glad you stopped by. Today I'm sharing a vintage get well card I made using some awesome stamps by Prima Marketing.

Here's a close-up view of the tag. The tag and sentiment are from one of my favorite sets by PaperTrey Ink.

Here's a peek at the inside.

I've been thinking about listing a few of my cards on etsy. I've never tried selling any of my cards before. It might be fun.

Have a beautiful day!

friends

2011-09-03T12:57:00.004-05:00

Every once in a while, a person makes a happy little discovery quite by accident. I recently stumbled upon Julie Marshall's blog, Stamping Impressions, and I was inspired to create this card after staring for quite some time at this delightfully, wonderful creation of hers! I'm always tickled when stampers are so generous about sharing their creativity. I'm also humbled by their incredible talent!

I love new stamps, but it's surprises me how quickly I get tired of what I already have and think I need to buy something new. So it's good for me to see other stampers using their retired stamps. It helps me to appreciate that while new is always nice, it isn't necessarily better. All of us have stamping supplies sitting around that haven't been used in ages, and it makes my heart happy when I'm able to find a good reason to pull out some of those old items and put them to good use. So here's a big thanks to Julie for helping me do just that!

Thanks for stopping by!

another thank you

2011-09-03T06:36:00.003-05:00

Here's a sweet little thank you card I whipped up yesterday between running errands and attempting to clean my house. There are so many great blogs out there, and I found inspiration for this card on one of them... but can't seem to remember which one! I love the look of stamping the flowers on top of a newspaper background.

It's been ridiculously hot here the past few days. I guess I'll just have to stay inside and stamp! Thanks for stopping by!

thanks so much butterfly card

2011-08-24T15:00:00.005-05:00

I found a little time to play with my new Stampin' Up goodies this afternoon. I mixed in some eucalyptus cardstock and ink from A Muse Studio along with their chocolate pearls, and then I found some chocolate seam binding by Martha Stewart that I bought ages ago but for some reason never used. I'm really happy with this color combination. It would be great for a guy card too.

Here are a few close-ups:

I colored in a portion of the flowers with colored pencils and then added some glitter glue. Don't ya just love this polka dotted butterfly?

I must have a thing for butterflies, because I love this swirly one, too! I thought I'd attach the sentiment to it and try to make the linen thread looks like it's antennae.

Thanks for stopping by!

kindness matters

2011-08-20T17:47:00.004-05:00

It's not often that I almost completely CASE a card, but when I saw this amazing sample for the Kindness Matters set in the new Stampin' Up catalog (on page 121, in case your wondering), I knew I wanted to copy it! I *love* this stamp set, and at $8.95 for the cling set, it's a bargain!

Thanks for stopping by!

baby girl

2011-08-18T13:50:00.004-05:00

I was digging around in my messy stamping nook the other day and found some stamps I completely forgot I had. I know.... it's borderline ridiculous. But on the other hand, it was a happy little discovery. Usually when I find something I forgot about, I find myself wondering why in the world I bought it in the first place! So I mixed the old with my brand new PaperTrey goodies and a set of cling stamps I recently bought at Michaels and came up with a baby card.

My kids went back to school today. Here's a funny little story for ya. I drop my son off at the high school only to get a call from him minutes later. Apparently, only the freshman class started school today. Oops.

Thanks for stopping by!

another rooster thank you

2011-08-12T16:45:00.002-05:00

I made this for my friend, Pam. So Pam, if you're looking, and you haven't already got this in the mail, try to act surprised when it comes.

I seem to be in a collage making mood these days. One reason being that collages are so forgiving. You can mess up and no one really even notices!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you find some time to stamp today!

chocolat and flowers anniversary card

2011-08-11T10:07:00.004-05:00

Can you believe I'm back again today with another card? It just so happens that I've needed to send out several thank you's and an anniversary card all in the same week, so I've been a busy girl.

This card is for my in-laws. They celebrated their anniversary on Monday, so it looks as if I'm late yet AGAIN, but better late than never I always say.

It's been a beautiful week here in Iowa. Hope you're enjoying the weather in your neck of the woods! Thanks for stopping by!

thanks so much

2011-08-10T13:04:00.002-05:00

Here's a card I made for my mom. She donated a generous sum to the Rusher Kids Go Back to School Fund AND took us to Biaggi's for lunch! How's that for an awesome mom? She loves roosters, (something I could never quite figure out as a kid but have grown to appreciate as an adult) so I figured I couldn't go wrong giving her a rooster thank you card.

Thanks for stopping by!

for you

2011-08-04T07:59:00.006-05:00

Here's something pink and girly card that I whipped up to include in a package for my husband's mom. It's been a while since I've made a collage card. I tried to make it as old and tattered as I possibly could. I love to create things with a vintage flair.

Have you tried the new a muse studio inks yet? I finally got my hands on them, and they are positively delish! I also love their yummy chocolate-y brown pearls. They make lovely flower centers.

Thanks for stopping by!

49 years

2011-06-22T17:22:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow my parents will be celebrating their 49th anniversary. I put this together with some papers I found in my stash by Fancy Pants. They are one of my favorite companies. I love the shabby feel of their designs. This flower by A Muse Studio is another favorite of mine, as are their yummy chocolate colored pearls that make perfect butterfly bodies.

Thanks for stopping by!

butterfly cards

2011-06-10T09:09:00.003-05:00

I can't think of a better way to use up the left over scraps on my desk than to punch out a bunch of wonderful little butterlies! There is just something so sweet and cheery about butterflies. They make my heart happy.

For the second card, I made my own background paper by stamping on top of ledger paper with a clear set by Pink Paislee called Butterfly Garden. It reminds me a lot of something made by Webster's Pages. What a happy discovery!

Thanks for stopping by!

my garden and some cards

2011-06-07T12:03:00.002-05:00

These past few months have been a whirlwind, and I'm just now finding the time to do some of things I enjoy the most... gardening, and of course, stamping! Here's a few pics of my flower and herb garden. If you're not much into plants and are looking for the cards, just scroll down a bit. ;)

I'm so glad you stopped by! Have a great day!

a warm hello

2011-05-13T14:41:00.004-05:00

My photography skills haven't improved since my last post, so here I am again sharing another card with such poor light quality that I'm embarrassed to tears! I definitely need a new camera and some photography classes. I don't foresee either happening in the near future, so please bear with me.

This bikini girl cracks me up with her long, gangly legs and big feet! She makes such a sweet summer card. We just found out that my husband's grandma is having some health issues, so I'll be sending this off in the mail to her.

Thanks for stopping by!

our deepest sympathies

2011-04-27T14:53:00.005-05:00

I can't tell you the number of times I tried getting a better picture of this card. I'm well beyond frustrated, so this one will have to do. Is there anything more difficult than a sympathy card? Ok, masculine cards... maybe. I usually end up choosing nature images, like flowers and butterflies. There's just something comforting and peaceful in them. I kept this card pretty simple, without a lot of layers and patterned papers. I didn't even use ribbon, which is unusual for me. One thing there is a lot of on this card is mistakes, and a ridiculous amount of them. So don't look to close! Somehow I managed to cover them up being the sneaky person that I am. Or more like the lazy stamper that I am. Hopefully the recipient won't notice.

Thanks for stopping by!

balloon girl anniversary

2011-04-21T09:22:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, my sister-in-law and brother-in-law celebrated their 20th anniversary. I'm late once again, but I'm doing better than last year when I forgot it entirely!

Isn't this little girl sweet? She's being carried away by a bouquet of heart balloons, and she's perfect for an anniversary card. I used two of my favorite new A Muse Studio products on this card. I love their crystal clear glaze. I used it to give some dimension and shine to the balloons. My favorite thing about it is that it never gets clogged up at the tip. I also love their stardust finishing spray. It sprays nice and even and gives the perfect amount of sparkle without any globs or blotches.

I hope you're having a beautiful day! So glad you stopped by!

BABY girl card

2011-03-26T15:52:00.002-05:00

I couldn't resist adding a little bit of pink to the design I used for the envelope in my last post to create a sweet baby girl card. This time I added A Muse Studio crystal clear glaze to the BABY letters and to the balloon.

Can you believe I posted two cards this week? ;)

So glad you stopped by! Have a great weekend!

BABY boy card

2011-03-23T16:13:00.002-05:00

The other day, my friend, Janeen, asked me to make her a baby card for her sister-on-law's baby shower. I jumped at the chance! I *love* making baby cards! I decided to go with a non-traditional color scheme. Blue for boys and pink for girls gets kind of boring to me, and this way I got to use a lot of color. I hope she likes it.

I like to make coordinating envelopes. That way the outside is just as cute as the inside! I also like to decorate the inside of the card. Sometimes I even decorate the back! I have a fun stamp that says, "Don't even think about throwing this away." I didn't use it on this card though.

Thanks for stopping by!

just floatin'

2011-02-14T10:12:00.004-06:00

Don't these sweet little mice look like the best of friends? They're from a retired Stampin' Up set I've had for quite a while. It took me a while to dig through my stamps and find them, but I knew they were just what I wanted for a card for a dear friend of mine.

I think much of the time we worry about making cards for special occasions, but once in a while it's nice to give a card for no particular reason other than to say "I'm glad we're friends."

Thanks for stopping by! Have a beautiful day!

friends

2011-02-08T12:40:00.002-06:00

I am blessed to have the sweetest neighbors. They are a retired couple who are truly some of the kindest people I have ever met. They are the kind of people who love it when you stop over for no particular reason other than to visit. Livi and I dropped in on them the other day, and Marilyn gave me a candle. Then she sent Jerry over with the coolest set of candlesticks just because she had a few extras stored in the basement and she thought I would like them! How sweet is that? They have the cutest home. Everything is in it's place, but it is so warm, cozy, and inviting. They remind me of what true neighbors really are. Years ago, everyone knew everyone that lived on their street. They were like a big family who looked out for each other. I am so very blessed to have neighbors like that. I made this card for Marilyn, and she is the kind of person who will appreciate that it was handmade just for her.

gone vintage

2011-02-04T16:40:00.003-06:00

I am such a vintage girl at heart. I {love} anything old and shabby, but sadly it's been a while since I've found the time to design something that reflects the style I adore the most. I have a shelf of old stamps in my craft nook, and it always makes me happy to use something that's been neglected for a while. I found jars of buttons, rolls of lace ribbon, stick pins, and stacks of vintage papers that had never even been opened. How sad is that! But today I put them to good use and made some sweet cards that make my little heart happy. Thanks so much for stopping by!

thanks {so much}

2011-02-02T15:55:00.002-06:00

My kids got a surprise card from Funny Grandma & Grandpa last week. They sent each of the kids a check. (Go figure. How is it that the kids get all the money?) Anyhoo, it was awfully sweet of them, and the least I could do was whip them up a thank you card.

I tend to be the one to send out thank you's. I love to make cards, so it's really no big deal, but I got to thinking that since the kids got the gift, they should be the ones to send the card. So today they're getting a lesson on how to write a thank you. I'm sure they'll love it. It will likely be one of those things they will thank me for... later.

We got hit by the big blizzard that swept through the midwest. I haven't seen this much snow since I was a kid. We got at least a foot of it, if not more. The kids are excited. Today's a snow day! Snow days are the best, especially when you get to spend part of it learning to write thank you's.

Hope you're having a beautiful day! Thanks for stopping by!

love birds

2011-01-06T14:57:00.003-06:00

I'm back today with another card very similar to the last ones I made, just in a different color scheme. I forgot that I needed to make an anniversary card for some friends of ours, and since I hadn't gotten around to putting any of my stamps away yet, I reached for them again along with a few fun patterned papers that I had stacked up near my desk. I almost forgot how much I love patterned papers. I cut a few strips, sanded the edges, and wadded them up in my hand. Doesn't that sound funny? It's the easiest way to get a shabby look, plus it's a good way to release some frustration. :)

If you're anything like me, making the card is the easy part. It's coming up with what to write on the inside of the card that's much more difficult. I envy people who have a way with words.

Well, I'm off to pick up the kids from school. Hope you're having a beautiful day! Thanks for stopping by!

birdie banner thank you's

2011-01-04T16:55:00.006-06:00

Yesterday I sat down to make a few thank you cards that I needed to get out in the mail. Since I get bored making the same card over and over again, but I'm too lazy to come up with completely different designs using completely different stamps, I thought I would try varying the design just a bit but keeping it simple by using the same color scheme and the same stamps. I think all the designs turned out pretty cute, but the top one is probably my favorite. It's kind of hard to tell by the photo, but it's stamped onto vellum. I haven't used vellum much lately, so it was a fun change.

It's been a while since I've had to time to stamp for myself. It was nice digging through my goodies, finding a few things I had forgotten I had. That doesn't say much for my organizational skills, does it?

Which one's your favorite? Leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

there's nothing like a fresh coat of paint!

2010-11-11T13:07:00.009-06:00

I thought you might like to see a few pictures of my completed project. It started mid-July, and I just finished up this week! I had begun to wonder if I was ever going to get done! I chose all new colors, and I'm thrilled with how it turned out. Now my house is all pretty again... and I can get back to making cards!

Here's a picture of the garage. I wasn't sure I could get it painted this year. I had resigned myself to the fact that I might have to finish it up in the spring. But the weather cooperated, and my sister put in some long days to help me get it done. Hopefully I'll be back soon with a card or two to share. Thanks for stopping by!

taste the snowflakes

2010-07-28T16:54:00.003-05:00

Here's a card you might recognize from last week's A Muse News. Sorry I don't have anything new to share. It's been a crazy summer for me. I spent a number of weeks helping my sister get her house ready to rent. Then I took on a decorating project at my house which involved re-painting my living room and dining room. It took me three tries to get the right color, which was a bit frustrating, but nothing was more frustrating than saving and saving to have my couch, ottoman, and love seat reupholstered only to get the couch back and realize that she upholstered it INSIDE OUT!!! It has been quite a fiasco, to say the least, and it's not over yet. Now I'm painting the outside of my house. It's been 10 years since it's been painted, and I've quickly discovered 3 things. 1.) Scraping is a horrible job. 2.) If primer sticks to the siding half as well as it sticks to my fingers, I should never have to paint this house again! 3.) I've gotten myself into a lot of work! But once you start a project of this magnitude, there's no turning back. Working out in the heat all day pretty much zaps my creativity, so I'm afraid that until this project is over, I won't have much to share.

Thanks for stopping by!

A Muse U: Finding Inspiration

2010-07-01T05:00:00.009-05:00

It's time for another session of A Muse U! This time it's all about finding inspiration.

Whenever I'm running low on inspiration, I sit down with a cup of coffee and browse a few of my favorite blogs or thumb through the pages of the latest issue of Paper Crafts, and in no time I'm inspired to create. Blogs, online galleries, and stamping magazines are full of great ideas that can help get your creative juices flowing. But sometimes it's fun to find inspiration in the not-so-obvious places.

I found this quilt in an advertisement from Younkers.

I was immediately drawn to it's colors, probably because they were such beautiful, muted shades with a vintage look to them. They weren't really colors I would have thought of putting together, but their combination was beautiful. I couldn't resist. I caved and bought the quilt. After it was on my bed, I kept looking at the colors. I started wondering if I had inks in similar colors. Wouldn't that make a beautiful card? Sages, browns, golds, rosy pinks, and a deep, almost eggplant purple. Why not stick with florals and use my Everything's Rosy stamps? And out of nowhere, I found myself inspired to create this card.

I found inspiration for the next card after watching my little girl, Livi, play with her tea set. I love polka dots, and those sweet little tea cups were all it took to inspire me to dig out my neglected cup and saucer stamp. I loved the colors of the tea cups and used similar colors on my card.

Inspiration comes when something catches your eye, even when that something is quite simple or just a tiny part of what caught your eye in the first place. It's all about what inspires YOU! Is it the colors? the style? Maybe it's a shape or the way something is put together.

You never know when inspiration will strike, so keep your eyes open. Who knows... you might find a fresh and fun new color combination, an idea for mixing up patterns, a new way of using an old stamp, or inspiration to dig out something you almost forgot you had!

A Muse U: Combining Patterns

2010-06-01T05:00:00.011-05:00

Welcome to A Muse U! Today is all about combining patterns... one of my favorite things about card-making!

I love patterns, and it's no secret that POLKA DOTS are my favorite! But there are lots of fabulous patterns to choose from, and learning a few simple tricks about how to mix and match those patterns is sure to take your card designs to an all new level.

Combining patterns is all about spotting what looks good together. Too many patterns, even if they match, can be busy and distracting. Not enough patterns can make your design a bit blah. If you like a lot of patterns, it can be a challenge to find a happy medium. Sometimes you might need to weed out a few. Other times you have to be daring enough to try a mix that you may not initially think will work. The results may surprise you.

The patterns you choose will likely be influence by your own personal style. An eclectic and whimsical style generally lends itself to a freer choice of patterns and might even include a few choices that seem somewhat mismatched. A shabby style lends itself to softer, muted tones and patterns. A simple style lends itself to fewer, well-chosen patterns that aren't too distracting.

You'll also want to think about the type of card you're making. A calmer mix of patterns is usually better for sympathy or encouragement cards, whereas you can be more liberal with your choice of patterns when you're making a kids' card or other cards with a more light-hearted tone.

More often than not, the first thing to come to mind when you think of patterns is paper, and there's no shortage of fabulous patterned papers to choose from. One advantage stampers have is that we can create our own patterned papers using background stamps or a random mix of coordinating images. Embossing folders are another great way to create patterns. This is an especially fun technique when you're using white core paper. By lightly sanding the embossed image, you reveal the white layer hidden underneath, and it really makes the embossed image pop.

There are lots of fun patterns to be found on this oh-so-sweet friendship card. Notice how I added a few extra polka dots by paper piecing the umbrella.

Here I mixed paisleys, polka dots, and gingham. Even the stitching on the ribbon creates a subtle pattern.

Patterns aren't only found on paper. They can also be found on ribbons, brads, buttons, paper flowers, and all sorts of embellishments. So why not get creative? Add lots of fun patterns to your next creation, and you'll be amazed at the outcome!

Be sure to stop by and see Krystie and Heather for more fun tips and A Muse U projects!

A Muse Anniversary Blog Hop

2010-05-04T06:00:00.019-05:00

Welcome to A Muse's 9th Anniversary Blog Hop! I'm so glad you stopped by! The Blog Hop began back at the A Muse Blog, so be sure to go there to get started. If you have a problem with any links along the way, you can always hop back to the A Muse Blog for a complete list of direct links to all the participants. If you started at the beginning and have followed your way here, you should have come from Anna Wight's blog.

For those of us who *love* collage style cards, the new Everything's Rosy release is a dream come true! I couldn't resist creating a collage-style accordion card. No sanding on this one. Sorry to disappoint! ;) I replaced my usual sanding with some ink to the edges just to make it look a little aged and worn. Now for the fun stuff!

There's a giveaway on each individual blog along the hop, in addition to a grand prize! Be sure to leave a comment on this blog post for a chance to win two of my favorite new Everything's Rosy stamps, Queen Anne's Lace and the Hello sentiment you see on my shabby accordion-style card. One winner will be chosen at random. The grand prize winner will be chosen randomly from all the comments left on all the blogs participating in the hop, so the more you comment, the more chances you have to win! Winners will be announced Monday, May 10th on the A Muse Blog.

My fellow Muse, Elena, is the next stop, so be sure to hop on over to her blog to see what crafty goodness she has whipped up for you and for another chance to win some amazing new Everything's Rosy stamps!

amuse-bouche- flutterby flock

2010-05-02T12:16:00.004-05:00

The new Everything's Rosy stamps are perfect for one layer collage-style cards, like this one. Just pick out four or five inks and start stamping! It doesn't get any easier than that!

Here's another super easy idea. Stamp directly onto a lunch-sized sack, scallop the edge, fold it over, add a few holes for the ribbon and a sweet little tag, and you've got a cute gift bag.

This sweet little pocket card doesn't feature any of the new Everything's Rosy stamps, but I couldn't resist sharing it here anyway.

And last, but not least, is a favorite of mine. Every once in a while, I make something that turns out just like I envisioned. It doesn't happen very often, so I'm giddy when it does.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a beautiful day!

amuse-bouche - Everything's Rosy

2010-04-29T00:01:00.004-05:00

The A Muse celebration continues, and today I'm excited to share with you a peek of the new Everything's Rosy Release! It's an amazing collection of wood-mounted botanical images and sentiments in a bit bigger size. Today I'm showing off *bursting blossoms*. Don't ya just love it? A Muse makes it so easy to create lovely, elegant cards in no time flat! What more could a girl want?

happy anniversary, A Muse!

2010-04-28T00:01:00.006-05:00

Welcome back for a peek at another fun new set being released in honor of A Muse's 9th anniversary. The set is called Happy... and yes, it makes my heart happy! It includes a banner and lots of fun phrases to pair up with the "happy" sentiment you see on the first pane of my accordion-style card. I used a white gel pen and outlined some of the letters and added polka dots to others for an extra fun look! And of course, every party needs balloons and a tiny little party hat, wouldn't you agree?

This summer will mark my 5th year with A Muse. How exciting is that? I've seen A Muse grow to include clear stamps, twinkle stickers, ribbons, pearls, an amazing array of fabulous papers in a yummy assortment of colors and patterns, and so much more! I'm truly honored to be part of the A Muse Design Team, and I wish Linda and A Muse many more years of continued success... from the bottom of my happy little heart!

congratulations, A Muse!

2010-04-27T06:41:00.005-05:00

It's one BIG party at A Muse this week! To celebrate their 9th year in business, A Muse is releasing two new clear sets, Happy and Vintage A Muse. Vintage A Muse is a fun collection of retired images with all new sentiments. I used the kite and sentiment from the vintage set for this card.

One of my cards showcasing the Happy set is featured over at the A Muse blog today. See if you can tell which one's mine! ;)

all ears

2010-04-10T09:01:00.004-05:00

There's nothing like a good mail day, and yesterday I hit the jackpot. Two packages in one day!!! I got two new Puddle Jumpers stamps AND some yummy new paper pads by October Afternoon. I couldn't resist this cute little girl, Emma, and her darling little bunny friend. And I'm completely smitten with October Afternoon's new Fly a Kite and Thrift Shop papers... especially the polka dot ones! They are so vintage-y and fun!

And while we're talking about things I love... how cute is this A Muse sentiment? It's perfect for this card! For those of you who visit often, you know how much I talk about things that make my heart happy. Well, A Muse sentiments make my heart happy! I reach for them all the time. I'm kind of funny about sentiments. In fact, I'm down right picky. A Muse fonts come in all sorts of fun styles. Some are created with fonts. Others are handwritten. I especially love the handwritten ones like the one I used for this card. It amazes me that anyone can write that perfectly!

It's going to be a beautiful day here in Iowa. I'd love to take a nice long walk, but I've managed to mess up my foot. I hope it's lovely in your neck of the woods and that you're able to get outside to enjoy it!

thank you

2010-04-06T16:15:00.003-05:00

This morning, as I was enjoying my early morning coffee and browsing through my favorite blogs, I spotted this card made by my good friend, Michelle. It inspired me to dig through my stash of American Art Stamps and create this fun and whimsical thank you card. It always makes me happy to dig out something I haven't used in a while... and it makes me feel less guilty about all the money I've spent on stamps. ;)

day 4- simply scent-sational

2010-04-01T11:35:00.002-05:00

Today I created a smaller version of a card I made that was posted over at the A Muse Blog. It's been a while since I've made one of these fun cards with a toilet paper tube.

The weather is absolutely beautiful here in Iowa, so I'm headed out the door to take a nice long walk. Hope you're having a *scent-sational* day!

day 3- spring is in the air

2010-03-31T00:01:00.000-05:00

Welcome back for another dose of Woodland Critters inspiration! Did you spot what's new? The cloud paper, of course!!! Isn't it fun?

I've been seeing lots of fabulous paper flowers lately and since today's theme is all about spring, it's the perfect opportunity to add a delightful paper flower with a wonderful *watermelon* center!

Be sure to bop on over to the A Muse blog for more inspiring ideas!

day 2- woodland friends

2010-03-30T06:00:00.007-05:00

I'm so glad you stopped back for some more Woodland Critters inspiration! Today's theme is *woodland friends*, and I'm thrilled to give you a glimpse of the new watermelon paper that was introduced yesterday AND today's new color.... apricot!

My card today was inspired by the amazing JulieHRR! For those of you who frequent the A Muse Lounge, you know that this month's challenge is to create something inspired by Julie. It's a pretty easy challenge since everything Julie makes is inspiring!

The rest of the team is sure to have some more inspiration for you, so be sure to check out their blogs!

woodland critters- snail mail

2010-03-29T06:52:00.002-05:00

Nobody does critters like A Muse, their Woodland Critters are sure to make your heart happy!

This card features a few of my favorites... snail and caterpillar. The A Muse team has been whippin' up lots of inspiration, and you don't want to miss it!

A Muse/Hero Arts Designer Swap

2010-03-26T06:02:00.000-05:00

Ever had one of those secrets you couldn't wait to share? Well, I finally get to spill the beans! I'm tickled to be part of the A Muse/Hero Arts Designer Swap, and today I'm swappin' with Nancy Taylor of Hero Arts! It has been so fun to see what those brilliant Hero Arts gals created with A Muse stamps... and equally as fun to see my fellow Muses, Julie and Heather, whip up some magic with Hero Arts stamps!

Check out the A Muse News blog to see Nancy's fabulous designs, and then hop on over to the Hero Arts Blog to see what I created. Be sure to leave comments on both blogs for a chance to win some free stamps! I hear Hero Arts is giving away some of those sweet owls that I adore!

thanks {so much}

2010-03-21T20:46:00.004-05:00

You can never have too many thank you cards on hand. I make more thank you's than any other card, but I never seem to have one when I need one. How is that possible? I normally don't use a lot of purple, but lately I've had a thing for purple and green. It makes a great combination, especially when you've got a yummy polka dot ribbon to match.

meet Phoebe

2010-03-20T16:07:00.003-05:00

She's the newest member of our family... and she makes my heart happy. :)

sweet friend

2010-03-20T15:46:00.002-05:00

I've always loved these sweet little mice... and to think that I nearly forgot that I had them! I'm so glad I picked up Martha Stewart's grass border punch the last time I was at Michaels. It has become one of my favorite punches, and I love pairing it up with A Muse's wonderful green gingham.

I hope it's sunny and warm where you are. It's snowing here in Iowa!

Bunny Bonanza

2010-02-16T16:35:00.004-06:00

Here's a fun little project I created for Bunny Bonanza over at the A Muse Blog. This oh-so-shabby apron holds a packet of flower seeds. Wouldn't this make a great gift for that friend who loves to garden?

If you're ready for spring (who isn't?) and looking for some inspiring ideas, be sure to hop on over (wink) to the A Muse Blog. You'll find lots of cards featuring A Muse's super cute bunny images and some fun project ideas too!

more Izzie cards

2010-02-09T12:55:00.004-06:00

I've got a few more *Izzie* cards to show you today. I just love this image. Izzie's as cute as a button... AND she's holding daisies, my favorite flower! Both cards feature the same image, just different color combinations. It's been a while since I've mixed blue and yellow. It makes for a sweet mix, don't ya think?

Here she is done up in a combination of coral and pink. I love this combination as well. It's so sweet and feminine.

Thanks so much for stopping by! We're enjoying a lazy snow day here! Hope you're having a wonderful day... and finding a little time to stamp!

Izzie, Eunice, and Irving

2010-02-06T10:51:00.006-06:00

I've got a couple of cards to share with you today. First up is Izzie with a big sparkly bouquet of balloons. Isn't she sweet? I kept this card fairly simple, which can be difficult for me, but I wanted little Izzie to steal the show.

Next up is Eunice and Irving. Have you ever seen a cuter couple? Almost changes my mind about mice! ;) I'm tickled that you stopped by! Hope you visit often!

so grown up

2010-01-15T13:26:00.005-06:00

Here's an oh-so-sweet and oh-so-girly card I made for my little girl, Livi. She's only 6 years old (almost 7), but she did a very grown-up thing, and I couldn't be more proud. She donated 11 inches of her hair to Locks of Love!

She's now sporting a spunky shoulder length "do" that's very "big girl", and it looks darling on her! And the best part is that what she did is helping someone else!

underwater elegance

2010-01-04T13:17:00.003-06:00

I've switched gears a bit today to show you the elegant side of the new Sea of Love release. Soft, subtle colors, a soothing underwater scene, and a delicate little row of pretty pearls makes for a sophisticated card with a slightly shabby feel to it. Be sure to stop by the A Muse blog today for some more elegant sneak peeks!

YOU are a treasure

2010-01-03T00:02:00.001-06:00

I'm delighted you're back for another peek of A Muse's new Sea of Love release! It's a fabulous collection of cute underwater critters and coordinating sentiments. Seahorse is one of my personal favorites. She makes this sweet friendship card even sweeter!

Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to check out all the other peeks!

my anchor

2010-01-02T00:02:00.001-06:00

Cards for men can be challenging, but A Muse has done it again and come up with some great images that are perfect for masculine cards. Be sure to check out the rest of the creative team blogs for more peeks of what's coming!

stuck on you

2010-01-01T08:15:00.004-06:00

Have you ever seen a cuter jellyfish? A Muse's new Sea of Love release is full of the cutest underwater creatures ever! And the sentiments are TOO FUN!

Be sure to check out all the sneak peeks! You're gonna love 'em!

vintage lovebirds

2009-12-31T14:23:00.002-06:00

I'm popping in to share a card I made for some friends who are celebrating their 17th anniversary tomorrow. I hope they like it.

I wanted to thank all of you who left such sweet comments for Livi's snowman. She was so excited! Thanks for making her day! Have a great weekend!

vintage butterflies

2009-12-23T21:26:00.003-06:00

I love butterflies. They add such a delicate and feminine element. The smaller butterflies were made with a Martha Stewart punch. The brown butterfly was punched from a piece of cardstock that had first been embossed in my Cuttlebug. That made it a bit more interesting and gave it some texture as well. I didn't do much to the pink butterfly except for sponge the edges with some distress ink. The larger green butterfly was made with a Sizzix embosslit. It's cool because it cuts and embosses at the same time. Then I sanded it to make the swirls from the embossing stand out a little more. I used linen thread (I love that stuff!) to attach the tag and discovered that once the ends were snipped, the linen thread took on the look of the butterfly's antennae. I chose A Muse's sheer ribbon to dress up the card, and the way I tied it almost gives the appearance of another butterfly. Cool, eh?

So glad you stopped by! Have a beautiful day!

Hannah's sign

2009-12-20T16:10:00.000-06:00

This was such a fun card to make. I've had this punch for quite some time now and never used it. I was delighted to make it work for this design. It makes the perfect sign for sweet little Hannah Lollipop. Hope you're having a wonderful weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Livi's snowman

2009-12-19T17:22:00.002-06:00

Here's the snowman I promised to share with you. My 6 year-old daughter, Livi made him out of socks, beans, string, buttons, and a toothpick. I think he's darling. He makes my heart happy. I will treasure him forever just because my sweet little girl made him just for me. Livi would *love* to know what you think. (((wink)))

Gracie

2009-12-17T14:22:00.003-06:00

I haven't made a tall card in a while, and come to think of it, I don't think I've ever made a monochromatic card before. I usually get bored with just one color and start adding others. Technically, this one might not exactly qualify either, but I say it's as close to monochromatic as I'm gonna get. Ok... enough of that.

Isn't little Gracie Lollipop fun? I just had to give her a vintage dress. She's awfully cute done up vintage, don't ya think?

Thanks for visiting The Polka Dot Cafe! Have a beautiful day!

somebunny loves you

2009-12-16T10:13:00.002-06:00

I'm back today with another sweet Lollipop. Her name is Presley, and her bunny slippers are too cute! I'm not one for fancy corner punches, but I ran across this one the other day at JoAnn's, and I couldn't resist. Must be the scallops. Anyhoo... because I didn't plan this card out very well, I didn't have room to stamp the sentiment in its entirety, so I stamped it word by word on little tags. Most of the time when that happens, I end up pitching the whole idea and starting over. I hate it when that happens. I'm tickled when I'm able to salvage a card and make it work. This one's going to my little girl. She made a snowman out of socks and brought it home yesterday all wrapped up in a brown paper sack that she worked hard to decorate. It was so cute, and she was so proud of it. I'll have to post a picture of it.

Have a great day... and thanks for stopping by!

Ella Lollipop says thank you

2009-12-15T16:37:00.004-06:00

My Stamping Bella package finally arrived yesterday, and I could hardly wait to ink up Ella Lollipop. I adore her polka dot dress and matching bow, and her skinny little legs just crack me up. She is total cuteness! I had enough kraft cardstock left over from yesterday for the card base, and seeing that my Stampin' Up goodies were still conveniently out on my desk, I decided to go shabby once again.

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by The Polka Dot Cafe!

granny's wallpaper

2009-12-14T13:52:00.005-06:00

Here's another vintage creation. It reminds me of old wallpaper like you'd find in a sweet little grandma's house. I first stamped the flower image with antique linen distress ink. I picked some up at Michael's the other day, and it's quickly becoming one of my favorites. Then I stamped right over the top of it with a cream colored chalk ink. It was just the look I wanted... delightfully shabby and very Laura Ashley!

I'm expecting a Stamping Bella package today. I ordered some of those darling new Lollipop stamps, and I can't wait to get my hands on them! I'm sure the poor UPS man is swamped with deliveries, but the selfish side of me wishes he'd drop everything he's doing and bring me my package!

shabby baby

2009-12-11T11:28:00.003-06:00

I'm a shabby girl at heart. It's the style I chose when I first started stamping over 6 years ago, and it's still my favorite. Everything about it makes my heart happy. It's so soft and inviting, and it makes me want to go back in time. This card features some of Stampin' Up's newest goodies, and they were just made for shabby.

The kids are back in school today, but it's still a bit cold here and they say we're in for freezing rain this weekend. I hope it's warm and cozy in your neck of the woods! Thanks for stopping by!

in memory of Henry

2009-12-09T12:12:00.006-06:00

A few weeks ago, my sister lost her beloved black lab, Henry, to cancer. She rescued him, helped him get well, and took him into her home and into her heart. He was like one of the family. He was the sweetest dog, and we all miss him very much. I made her this card to let her know we share her sadness.

On a happier note, it's a snow day here. We're in the middle of a big blizzard that's hitting the midwest, and I'm content to stay home where it's warm and cozy. I was out scooping off the driveway this morning, when my neighbor from around the corner shows up with his heavy duty snow blower and insists on finishing it for me. How sweet was that! Looks like I've got another card to make!

friends are flowers...

2009-11-20T16:26:00.005-06:00

Today I finally found a little time to try the brick wall technique that was featured in last week's Weekly Inkling. It's always fun to try something new, and although it was a bit time consuming, it was definitely worth it. Sure, it's not one of those techniques that lend themselves to mass production or quick cards, but it's certainly eye-catching and probably a bit addictive too. I dug out some beautiful stamps that have been sorely neglected, AND I was able to use some papers that have been hoarded away in my collection for way too long. This technique is perfect for a shabby and distressed look. Right up my alley!

happy anniversary

2009-11-06T14:41:00.004-06:00

I love Basic Grey's Lemonade collection... which probably explains why I've hoarded it for so long. This particular pattern is my favorite. It has such an antique feel to it. I also adore these two chickens. They're designed by Anna Wight, who just happens to be another favorite of mine. For some reason, Farmer and Adell are one of my "go to" stamps for anniversary cards. Probably because they make such a cute couple and something about them says they've been happily married for so many years they've started to look alike. ;)

It's absolutely gorgeous here today, and it looks like we're in for a beautiful weekend. Hope it's beautiful and sunny in your neck of the woods!

oh baby

2009-10-30T14:58:00.003-05:00

Here's a baby card I made for a friend who's expecting in February. I ran across some of the sweetest little baby outfits while shopping at Kohls the other day, and you can't give someone a gift without a card, right? I've been anxious to try making my own paper blossoms, and they are perfectly sweet for a baby girl card. I wanted mine to look a bit on the shabby side, so I sanded the edges, crumpled them up, and then I gave the whole card several spritzes of wheatfield glimmer mist. I love that stuff! It adds such an aged look with just a bit of sparkle.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!

amuse-bouche thanks

2009-10-16T10:40:00.003-05:00

This chrysanthemum image is one of my favorites of the new release probably because it's so fun to watercolor. I've always loved the shabby look, so I gave my card a mix of shabby yet elegant. I wasn't sure I could pull off using gingham with the ever-so-elegant new petite damask shimmer couture papers, but the combination makes my heart quite happy, especially after I spritzed the gingham with a bit of pearl shimmer mist.

A Muse is giving away a complete set of the new wood mounted stamps, so be sure to hop on over to A Muse News for a chance to win!

mahalo amuse-bouche

2009-10-14T09:15:00.004-05:00

It's amuse-bouche time again, and I'm a little late jumping in on the sneak peeks. I've had a sick kiddo, so I haven't had much time to stamp. The new A Muse release is beautifully elegant. The new shimmer couture papers are down right breathtaking, and I'm thrilled that we have pearls in gorgeous colors to match!

My card features the new robin's egg shimmer couture damask and lime shimmer couture papers along with the new *leaves trio* stamp, seafoam polka dot ribbon, and sky blue pearls.

The rest of the team has been hard at work creating lots of lovelies to showcase all the new A Muse goodies. Why not grab a cup of coffee and check them out? And be sure to stop by the A Muse blog for a chance to win an assortment of the new shimmer couture papers!

a few owl cards

2009-10-02T11:49:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, my honey and I celebrated our 21st anniversary. I thought I'd share the card I made for him. That little snippet you see on the tag is a piece of A Muse's new *paprika* notecards. It reminds me of pumpkin pie. (I think about food too much.)

While I had my stamping stuff out, I thought I might as well whip out a few thank you cards. I made the moon using a circle punch and added a few A Muse twinkle stars. The ribbon I recycled from a shirt I bought a while back. It was stitched inside to make it easier to put on a hanger, but I hate those things 'cuz they always end up showing. The ribbon reminds me of pumpkin pie too. ;)

oh bother

2009-09-24T13:45:00.011-05:00

I've always loved a good mix and match of patterns and colors. It makes for such a fun, eclectic style. I have a rather large stack of 12x12 papers next to my stamping desk...papers that I've been meaning to use but that have ended up in my hoarded pile of *lovely to look ats*, as I like to call them. Here's a sweet little card I made using a few papers from that mountain sized pile and a few of my Classic Pooh images. Thanks for stopping by!

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Classic Pooh baby card

2009-09-18T17:07:00.003-05:00

"Sometimes a cheering surprise just happens along." Isn't that sentiment perfectly sweet for a baby card? I recently started collecting Classic Pooh stamps. They're a bit hard to find, so my collection is pretty small. So far I've got Pooh at School, Letters from Pooh, Pooh Travels, and two different sets called Pooh-isms. I have no idea how many sets are out there, but I'm keeping my eye out for 'em!
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Notecard and gingham paper by A Muse. Rich cocoa Memento Ink. Classic Pooh stamps by All Night Media. BABY stamp by studio g. Pistachio ribbon by JoAnn's Craft Essentials. EK Success border punch. Stampin' Up blender pen, markers, linen thread, sanding block, and dimensionals. Clear spica glitter pen. Button by MME. Lime Ice Stickles.

Classic Pooh teacher's card

2009-09-10T13:15:00.005-05:00

I won an e-bay auction last week for a cute set of Classic Pooh stamps called Pooh at School. I bought them with every intention of giving them to my little girl, Livi, who loves to play school... but after stamping with them today, I think I might just keep them for myself!

Last month, A Muse released a new clear set called *school time*. I added the A+ and the row of abc's from that set to the front of the card. Then I decorated the inside with a sentiment and quote that is also from that set. I made this card for Livi's first grade teacher, Mrs. Kiddoo. I hope she likes it. Thanks for stopping by!

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A Muse gingham cardstock and school time clear set. Pooh at School stamp set by All Night Media. Rich cocoa Memento Ink. Stampin' Up chocolate chip cardstock, punch, watercolor paper, blender pen, markers, dimensionals, and sanding block. Pistachio ribbon by JoAnn's Craft Essentials. Tattered Angels pearl glimmer mist.

words to live by

2009-09-04T16:42:00.005-05:00

"You are what you eat, so eat something sweet!" Now that's my kind of thinkin'! I couldn't wait to pair up this sentiment with Mandy and her nine scoops of ice cream. She obviously thinks like me! Except her waist is a whole lot smaller than mine!

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A Muse papers, images, sentiment, twinkle stickers, and ribbon. Rich cocoa Memento Ink. Stampin' Up punches, watercolor paper, blender pen, markers, sanding block, and dimensionals. Tattered Angels pearl glimmer mist.

happy anniversary

2009-08-31T22:48:00.006-05:00

I'm having a hard time figuring out where the month of August has gone! Getting the kids ready to head back to school and settling back into the school year routine has left me little time for stamping.... but hopefully I'll be back in the swing of things soon.

I have a bin of wood mounted stamps next to my desk that's full of stamps I've collected here and there. Sadly, most of them have rarely seen ink. I decided to pull a few of them out storage and actually use them. Imagine that!

A big *HAPPY ANNIVERSARY* to my friend and fellow A Muse sistah, Michelle and her husband, Corey! Hope you have a wonderful day! ;)
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A Muse natural and green gingham cardstocks. Rich cocoa Memento Ink. Background stamp by Savvy. Hot air balloon by Just Johanna's Odd Bird Planet. Sentiment by Melissa Frances. Butterfly, watercolor paper, blender pen, markers, chocolate chip cardstock, sanding block, and dimensionals by Stampin' Up. Pistachio grosgrain ribbon by JoAnn's Craft Essentials. Clear spica glitter pen. The Robin's Nest poinsetta dew drops.

owly anniversary

2009-08-08T08:06:00.005-05:00

Aren't these owls cute? I love their little heart shaped eyes. They're just perfect for an anniversary card. I've been eyeing this tree image and finally broke down and bought the Pendant Park set along with a few others from the new Stampin' Up catalog. I think the owls are pretty sweet perched up there in that tree, and A Muse's new woodgrain cardstock adds a nice warm and woodsy touch.
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A Muse woodgrain cardstock and tiny party hat. Melissa Frances "happy anniversary" sentiment. Stampin' Up Whoo's Your Valentine?, Pendant Park, and Look Who's Turning stamp sets, sanding block, linen thread, dimensionals, and kiwi kiss cardstock. Marvy punches. October Afternoon pink polka dot designer paper. Karen Foster snap stamps. Fiskars mini scalloped scissors. Tea leaves VersaMagic chalk ink.

sparkles and sunshine

2009-08-07T09:11:00.012-05:00

I was planning on sharing a card I made yesterday with some new goodies I got recently, but it's stormy here today and my chances of getting a good photo aren't looking too good. So instead, I'm sharing yet another *Mandy* card that you might have seen over at the A Muse blog last week. I love bubble girl! She's another innocently sweet image from the new Mandy's World collection. She reminds me of my little girl, Livi, who loves blowing bubbles. It looks like it's going to be a quiet day around here. We don't have much planned, and I always enjoy days like this. Have a wonderful Friday... and be sure to sneak in a little stamping!

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A Muse notecard, papers, ribbon, sentiment, and images. Canson watercolor paper. Stampin' Up sanding block, blender pen, and markers. Rich cocoa Memento ink.

more Mandy's World

2009-08-04T11:55:00.009-05:00

I'm back today with another card featuring Mandy's World. She's sweet and girly and so fun to watercolor! I'm absolutely smitten! It's been a while since I made a square card, so I thought I'd switch gears a little today and do something different. Change is good, right?

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Amuse natural and palm papers, ribbon, twinkle stickers, images, and sentiment. Pink polk dot paper by October Afternoon (Ducks in a Row collection). Marvy punches. Stampin' Up watercolor paper, blender pen, markers, and sanding block. Tattered Angels pearl glimmer mist.

everyday fun with Mandy's World amuse-bouche

2009-08-03T17:48:00.006-05:00

How about some more girly goodness from the ever-so-cute Mandy's World collection? Is that

really *nine* scoops of ice cream on top of that cone? Now that's my kind of ice cream cone! I love A Muse twinkle stickers, and they add just the perfect little something to the sentiment, don't ya think? I hope you're enjoying all the fun sneak peeks! What's on your wish list?

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A Muse notecard, papers, image, sentiment, ribbon, and twinkle stickers. Stampin' Up sanding block, dimensionals, blender pen, markers, and watercolor paper. Marvy oval scalloped punch. Rich cocoa Memento ink. Tattered Angels pearl glitter mist.

summer fun amuse-bouche

2009-08-01T00:05:00.006-05:00

I'm thrilled to introduce you to Mandy's World, a sweet new collection of the cutest little girl images ever! Hawaiian girl is just one of seven little girls in this new release, and I simply adore her! The release also includes eight fun new sentiments... and you're gonna want 'em all!
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A Muse notecard, papers, ribbon, images, and sentiment. Stampin' Up watercolor paper, blender pen, markers, sanding block, and dimensionals. Rich cocoa Memento ink. Spica glitter pens. Scalloped deco scissors.

back to school amuse-bouche

2009-07-31T00:01:00.002-05:00

Are you ready for another round of amuse-bouche? Here's a peek at A Muse's fun new Back to School release. I just love this school bus and all those cute little faces peeking out the back! Looks like they're enjoying one wild bus ride! I'm not sure I'd be sending a thank you to that crazy busdriver!

Notice any other new goodies? How about that school lined cardstock, the papaya 4-bar notecard, and that yummy swiss red polka dot ribbon? Be sure to check the A Muse blog and rest of the creative team blogs for more peeks of the upcoming release!
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A Muse notecard, papers, ribbon, images, and sentiment. Rich cocoa Memento ink. Copic markers and clear glitter pen. 1/8 inch circle punch. Stampin' Up sanding block.

winter mini album

2009-07-17T09:38:00.012-05:00

I thought you might like to see a few more pages of my mini album that was posted on the A Muse blog yesterday. Here's the cover. Look at all those yummy A Muse ribbons!

Here's page 2. I love the new snowflake! It makes a great background.

Page 3 features one of my favorites of the new release... *winter friends*. She's just so stinkin' cute!

And last but not least a shot of the inserts. Just add your favorite winter photos!

Thanks for stopping by!

friends to the end

2009-07-16T07:36:00.002-05:00

I've got more A Muse goodness to share today. *Winter friends* is the name of this sweet little girl holding a bird, and she is one of my favorite new images. I couldn't resist using some yummy green gingham paper and the brand new french roast polka dot ribbon... and a scalloped edge for some extra sweetness!
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A Muse papers, ribbon, images, and sentiment. Mimento rich cocoa ink. Stampin' Up markers, blender pen, watercolor paper, kiwi kiss ink, sanding block, and dimensionals. Copic clear spica glitter pen. Scalloped deco scissors from Michaels.

flurry of fun

2009-07-14T17:42:00.002-05:00

It's amuse-bouche time again... and I'm thrilled to share with you one of A Muse's darling new winter critters! These little cuties are called *squirrel capades*, and they are sweet beyond words!

Have you seen the new ribbons yet? There are 4 new colors... and they've got POLKA DOTS!!! My heart is happy!
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A Muse notecard, paper, images, sentiment, and ribbon. Memento rich cocoa and summer sky ink. Stampin' Up watercolor paper, blender pen, markers, linen thread, dimensionals, and circle punches. Tattered Angels pearl glitter mist. Clear spica glitter pen. Heidi Swapp edge distressor and sanding file.

friends to the end

2009-07-04T15:45:00.004-05:00

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

2009-06-30T18:20:00.005-05:00

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

2009-06-27T00:01:00.002-05:00

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

2009-06-26T14:35:00.003-05:00

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!

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

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

2009-06-02T15:44:00.008-05:00

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! ;)

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

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

2009-05-29T06:00:00.002-05:00

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!!!

2009-05-27T06:00:00.004-05:00

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.

friends to the end

2009-05-26T00:01:00.002-05:00

I'm so excited to FINALLY be able to share my favorite image of the new release with you! You've probably already seen snorkel boy over at the A Muse Lounge. I just adore him! Maybe it's his polka dot swimming trunks and his long skinny legs! And when he's paired up with my second favorite image, pirate chick, well... he is just cute beyond words!!! You can't tell in the picture, but I added some crystal effects to his goggles. I also gave the card a nice little spritz of pearl glimmer mist to give it some extra sparkle.

The summer release is available on the A Muse website TOMORROW!!!
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A Muse papers, ribbon, images, and sentiment. Canson watercolor paper. Stampin' Up blender pen, markers, baja breeze classic ink, linen thread, crystal effects, and dimensionals. Harvest (yellow) Fresh Ink. Scalloped scissors. Flower brads from Oriental Trading Co. Rich cocoa Memento Ink. Tattered Angels pearl glimmer mist. FolkArt vintage white and linen craft paints.

let's do lunch!

2009-05-25T16:42:00.003-05:00

What could be more fun that a cute stack of A Muse critters?!? These guys just make me smile... and so do all the wonderful new colors of petite gingham papers! I love mixin' and matchin' patterns, and A Muse makes it so easy!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for another amuse-bouche. It features my very FAVORITE stamp of the new release... I can't wait for you to see it!
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A Muse notecard, papers, ribbon, images, and sentiment. Rich cocoa memento ink. Canson watercolor paper. Stampin' Up blender pen, markers, and sanding block. Clear spica glitter pen.

{The Polka Dot Cafe}

*thank you, thank you, thank you...*

*thanks*

*another happy anniversary*

*happy anniversary*

*such exciting news*

*4 YOU*

*so thankful*

*you're the bestest friend ever!*

*my head's in the clouds*

*tea for two*

*herbal tea company get well card*

*friends*

*another thank you*

*thanks so much* butterfly card

*kindness matters*

*baby girl*

*another rooster thank you*

*chocolat and flowers* anniversary card

*thanks so much*

*for you*

*49 years*

*butterfly cards*

*my garden and some cards*

*a warm hello*

*our deepest sympathies*

*balloon girl anniversary*

*BABY girl* card

*BABY boy* card

*just floatin'*

*friends*

*gone vintage*

*thanks {so much}*

*love birds*

*birdie banner thank you's*

*there's nothing like a fresh coat of paint!*

*taste the snowflakes*

A Muse U: Finding Inspiration

A Muse U: Combining Patterns

*A Muse Anniversary Blog Hop*

*amuse-bouche*- flutterby flock

*amuse-bouche* - Everything's Rosy

*happy anniversary, A Muse!*

*congratulations, A Muse!*

*all ears*

*thank you*

*day 4- simply scent-sational*

*day 3- spring is in the air*

*day 2- woodland friends*

*woodland critters- snail mail*

*A Muse/Hero Arts Designer Swap*

*thanks {so much}*

*meet Phoebe*

*sweet friend*

*Bunny Bonanza*

*more Izzie cards*

*Izzie, Eunice, and Irving*

*so grown up*

*underwater elegance*

*YOU are a treasure*

*my anchor*

*stuck on you*

*vintage lovebirds*

*vintage butterflies*

Hannah's sign

*Livi's snowman*

*Gracie*

*somebunny loves you*

Ella Lollipop says *thank you*

*granny's wallpaper*

*shabby baby*

*in memory of Henry*

*friends are flowers...*

*happy anniversary*

*oh baby*

*amuse-bouche* thanks

*mahalo* amuse-bouche

*a few owl cards*

*oh bother*

*Classic Pooh* baby card

thank you, thank you, thank you...

thanks

another happy anniversary

happy anniversary

such exciting news

4 YOU

so thankful

you're the bestest friend ever!

my head's in the clouds

tea for two

herbal tea company get well card

friends

another thank you

thanks so much butterfly card

kindness matters

baby girl

another rooster thank you

chocolat and flowers anniversary card

thanks so much

for you

49 years

butterfly cards

my garden and some cards

a warm hello

our deepest sympathies

balloon girl anniversary

BABY girl card

BABY boy card

just floatin'

friends

gone vintage

thanks {so much}

love birds

birdie banner thank you's

there's nothing like a fresh coat of paint!

taste the snowflakes

A Muse Anniversary Blog Hop

amuse-bouche- flutterby flock

amuse-bouche - Everything's Rosy

happy anniversary, A Muse!

congratulations, A Muse!

all ears

thank you

day 4- simply scent-sational

day 3- spring is in the air

day 2- woodland friends

woodland critters- snail mail

A Muse/Hero Arts Designer Swap

thanks {so much}

meet Phoebe

sweet friend

Bunny Bonanza

more Izzie cards

Izzie, Eunice, and Irving

so grown up

underwater elegance

YOU are a treasure

my anchor

stuck on you

vintage lovebirds

vintage butterflies

Livi's snowman

Gracie

somebunny loves you

Ella Lollipop says thank you

granny's wallpaper

shabby baby

in memory of Henry

friends are flowers...

happy anniversary

oh baby

amuse-bouche thanks

mahalo amuse-bouche

a few owl cards

oh bother

Classic Pooh baby card

Classic Pooh teacher's card

words to live by

happy anniversary

owly anniversary