Who loves woodgrain??

I picked up this beautiful woodgrain background stamp in Seattle a few months ago (and it finally saw some ink!), so technically, this works for this week's A Muse Lounge challenge!! Wow, I am proud of myself for doing something that works for a challenge!! I have lots of other ideas brewing for this beauty! And I know - a pink owl?? Just seemed like it worked!

Do you see that ribbon? It started off white, and I colored it with my dark pink Copic marker! Love that!!
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Supplies:
Stamps: Woodgrain background (by somebody - I can't remember right now!), Owl from the A Muse clear Nature set, Hoo loves you?
Paper: Ruby Red CS by SU, Kraft, Chocolate Brown, A Muse Natural White
Accesories: White grosgrain by SU, French Roast Stitched Grosgrain by A Muse

***ETA: Okay, I went back and reread the challenge, and it's supposed to be new A Muse stamps (duh!). Oh well, I just don't have it in my to retype the whole post. Don't you think it should count since I bought the stamp with A Muse girls???

Oh my ... somebody should spank me!

No ... not like that! Get your minds out of the gutter! Somebody should spank me for being such a bad blogger! Okay - that's it ... no more flogging myself! Things have been crazy, which at some point I am going to have to admit is just the norm! I have missed blogging, and I have had way too little time to get crafty! I am trying to get back in the groove, and hopefully things will be better!!
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In other news - have you checked out the newest A Muse release?? OMG - the Sweet Shop is just amazing! There is going to be a lot of Valentine's love being shared with these fun new stamps!! If you haven't gotten yours, be sure to order soon - or get yourself to your local retailer and pick some up!

Have you checked out the new A Muse Lounge??!!?? It is a beautiful, amazing place to get together with all the A Muse gals, meet new friends, and chat about all sorts of things! There is also an awesome Gallery with some great ideas to inspire you!! Be sure to check it out!!
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And now, a card!!
One of my dear friends is expecting a baby, and this sentiment is just perfect! I've been sorting and rearranging some of my stuff, and I ran across my 6x6 pad of Basic Gray Lily Kate paper. I just love it, and I tend to hoard things that I love, but I am trying to make myself use the stuff I have! What good is pretty paper if it just sits in my craft room??
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Supplies:
Stamps: A Muse expecting joy ma and maternity dress
Paper: A Muse Chiffon Green 4-bar, white CS, Basic Gray Lily Kate Pattern Paper
Accessories: A Muse Sheer Pearl Ribbon, MS scallop border punch, pink heart twinkle sticker

The 11th day!

The 11th day ... there must be something lucky in that right?? Well, I think the lucky part is that the A Muse girls saved my patootie by stuffing my box with some yummy candy! Last minute Lucy that I am, I was making this box at the last possible minute before I went to Seattle last month, and I completely forgot about getting something for the inside. This probably stems from the same part of me that is so concerned about how a card looks, and then totally forgets to send it to the person it was made for! Scatter-brain, I tell ya - that's what I am! Anyway - let's just say that I filled the box with L-O-V-E!!
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Supplies: A Muse Fawn (from the clear Peace and Cheer set), numbers from the Cupcake Builder Clear Set, Vintage Green Paper, Vintage Red Paper, Green Kitchen Paper, Red Stitched Grosgrain, Red Micro Twinkle Stickers.

A Pirate Birthday

Yo Ho Ho!! Happy Birthday to my favorite little Pirate! This was a card from a while back that got lost on my camera! Our friend Addy had a Pirate birthday party a few weeks ago, and of course I had to make him a pirate card with the awesome A Muse pirate stamps!
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Stamps: A Muse Captain Jack, Treasure Chest, Yo! Ho! Ho!
A Muse Clear Stickers - Scallop Oval

Happy Birthday Parker!

My middle son turned 4 years old yesterday, and he got one heck of a celebration! We started off last weekend in Minneapolis for the Monster Jam show! We had a great time, and I even got to meet up with this cool chickie and her husband for dinner and margaritas! (Okay, I will admit it, the weekend was not really all about Parker!)
We also did a bit of shopping and playing at the Mall of America! The kids love the rides, and I like the shopping, for a little bit! That place is so huge, and I got turned around more than once! I swear that I used to have an excellent sense of direction! Lyndsay, Jenn and Tracy will beg to differ with me! :)
Me and Parker on the flying bus ride!
Lily really enjoyed trying on shoes at the Nordstrom Rack! I was looking at the Uggs again - when it is 10 degrees outside, fuzzy shoes look more and more appealing! - and I turned around and Lily had a black patent leather shoe with a shiny gold heel on her foot!
Henry got to do this cool flight simulator thing at the MOA. He got briefed on his mission, then he got in the plane and flew for 30 minutes! He loved it and is already begging to go back!

Thanks for sticking with me with this photo heavy post! I am a bit beat after working a night shift last night, so I apologize if none of this makes much sense! Take care and have a great Thursday!

P.S. Be sure to check out the A Muse News Blog tomorrow - there may be a little something from me!
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All stamps, paper and twinkle stickers by A Muse, ribbon by Martha Stewart.

Celebrating the Season

A super quick and easy card featuring the A Muse Big Block Stamp, one of my faves! Just a little pink square, and the flourish tree and some bling!! When I was in Seattle last month, Julie tried to teach me (and the rest of the A Muse team) how to tie a bow ... I think I need to practice more!

This card also works for Glenda's Random A Musing challenge for this week, and the A Muse Addicts weekly challenge! Won't you come play along?
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In other news ... Lyndsay was nice enough to nominate me as a Kreativ Blogger! Thanks girlfriend! To pay her back, I am going to go to Minneapolis and give her a big hug!! Okay, really we are going to Minneapolis to see the Monster Jam show (yes, it's a little bit WT but my boys *love* it!), but I am so happy that I get to see Lyndsay while I am there!! Lots to do between now and then ...

I am going to tag some of the newest members of the A Muse Instructor Team! Check out these creative gals, and get yourselves out to one of their classes!

June - North Carolina
Sherry - New York
Michelle M - Kentucky
Liz - Massachusetts
Jen A - Florida

All stamps, papers, twinkle stickers and ribbon by A Muse.

I'm thankful for you!

I'm in a bit of denial about Thanksgiving (and I have to admit, about Christmas, too!)! I can not believe that it is one week away! I have to work on the actual day, so we will be celebrating next Saturday with some friends and family! I was thinking fondue or maybe a big steak ... does that say "thanksgiving"?

This card was created for the A Muse News Blog "Oldies but Goodies" section a while ago, but there were some techy problemos and it didn't make it (Jenn and I were thinking along the same lines today!), but I wanted to share it with you today! This little Pilgrim girl and boy are so fun - and easy! A little Copic to the face and hair and you are good to go! This is one of my favorite A Muse sentiments, too - and in my humble opinion, it gets way too little love!! In this season of counting blessings, I count my friends twice!

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Details:
Stamps: Pilgrim Boy, Pilgrim Girl, Mini Oval, A true friend MA
Papers: A Muse French Roast, Orange Crush, Kitchen Brown
Ribbon: A Muse Stitched grosgrain in Orange Crush