It came!!

On a SU! note ... IT CAME!!! I received my demonstrator copy of the 2007-2008 Fall Idea Book and Catalog today! There is a lot of new stuff, and it is gorgeous! Yes, some of the prices went up ... but that's life! Everything else has gone up, I don't know how we can expect to spend 12 bucks for a stamp set forever!! I will say that I haven't spent a ton of time on SCS in the forums this week ... I kind of want to form my own opinion of things ... so I will let you know what I think as I spend more time with my new best friend! The one thing that I really notice is that the samples in the catalog appeal to me more than in prior years ... I may actually CASE things straight from the catalog! I also think that I am going to hold off on ordering until I go to St. Louis for A*Muse*A*Palooza - I want to have every available resource available for my A Muse purchases first!!

SWAP-A-RAMA #2

I have received 2 amazing sets of swaps in the last couple of days- one from Katie and one from Sarah! I really think that my favorite part of this competition has been meeting so many super cool stampers ... I am surrounded by greatness!! A*Muse*A*Palooza rocks!! I am going to try to get a decent picture tomorrow so everyone can see how amazingly talented these people are!! Check back!!

SWAP-A-RAMA #1

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Challenge #9 - card #2

So, this cute bella is for Emily's little sister, Gabi (their birthdays are a week apart!) Gabi just turned 15, and is in the midst of all that teenage angst! Oh, I can hardly wait for mine to be 15! Yep, I wiped her butt, too! Still feeling old ...! I'm really getting sick of this patterned paper - need to move the scraps off my desk!

Stamps by Stamping Bella and A Muse, CS by SU!, paper by Paper Studio, punches by SU!, ribbon by May Arts.

Challenge #9 - card #1

Here's a quick card I did for my friend Emily - Happy Birthday, Em! I used to babysit her ... now she's 20!! I'm really old! I'm pleased with how it turned out - again it would be better if I took a pic - you could see that it is one of those cute tent cards and the bella stands up ... oh well - you get it, right?!

Stamps by Stamping Bella and A Muse, CS & paper by SU!, punches by Marvy and SU!, ribbon by SU!, bling by A Muse.

Challenge #9 is UP!

Did you see challenge #9 over at the AMAP blog?? Besides being an awesome challenge, the prize is an amazing assortment of stamps! I was kind of lukewarm on the whole golf theme (I think it's related to having an ex who worked in the golf industy and having the golf channel on while I was in labor with my son 'cause he wanted it ... sorry, I digress!), anyway - I think the stamps are super cute and they can come live at my house anytime!! My goal is 5 cards for this challenge!! Nothing like Miss Katie, but hey, it's something!!

Ambassador Winner announced!

Lucky Kristina is a WINNER, WINNER, WINNER! I am so happy for her! She won an awesome prize pack just for being an ambassador! I have to say that my favorite part of being in this AMAP ambassador competition has been getting to know some new stamping friends! It has been so neat to read some new blogs, get new ideas, get to know new people ... I love it! I've always known that the "stamping community" is full of awesome, friendly people - it's just great to get to know more of them better! What I'm trying to say is "Thanks for being so cool, stamping friends!" And congrats to Kristina!!

Weekly winners announced!

Congrats to Zoe Farmer and Nicole vanSenus - they are the lucky weekly winners on the AMAP blog! Awesome prizes too!! Yeah!

Challenge #8 - Card #1

It feels so good to be making a challenge card again! I have been having so much fun with A*Muse*A*Palooza! It has really "forced" me to stamp for fun! I find that I sometimes just go from one big project to the next one, and it can take some of the fun out of stamping! Now, I make ONE of each card (what a concept!) and am really enjoying it! This card is for Challenge #8 - the Silly Holiday challenge! I saw somewhere that someday is Pig Appreciation Day (does it really matter what day ... we love the pork products around here just about every day ... wait, maybe that's not what they mean ...) Anyway - here's my first one! I'm hoping to get more stamping time this weekend ... tomorrow I have to work ... poopie! (Literally, I am sure that at some point tomorrow I will have to deal with poopie ... oh well, it's a J-O-B!)

Stamps by A Muse, CS by SU!, punches by Marvy, paper by the Paper Studio (scraps from my SWAPS), ribbon from Michael's. There is a bit of Fruit Punch Stickles on his nose!

SWAP inspiration card ...

I decided to go ahead and post the inspiration card for my pink recliner swap ... I am quite pleased with it and wanted to share it! The chair in this one was done as a kind of modified cracked glass technique - my Glassy Glaze was MIA so I had to use regular clear embossing powder, but it still worked! In real life it is all cracked up - just like grandpa's old leather recliner!

Pretty ribbon ...

Have you seen Of Mice and Men lately ... you know when the one guy ... Lenny, I think ... says "I want to pet the rabbits" ... that's how I feel about Strano ribbon ... I want to pet it! I am just about going crazy trying to decide which ribbon I NEED, knowing full well that I will probably hoard it and just sit there and pet it! Anyway, Strano is one of the sponsors of this amazing fun time that we know as A*Muse*A*Palooza - go check 'em out!

SWAP #2

Okay, here is one more swap card for today! This one I created for Sarah's full card swap! I had originally made this card in much more masculine colors and was going to use that for the swap, ... but it just screamed Father's Day and I kind of felt like I was a day late and a dollar short ... so I adapted it and made it more of an everyday card ... still really like it! The recliner is cut out and embossed with Glassy Glaze (ultra thick) embossing powder! Makes me think of some really hip and cool 50's throwback kind of gal ... you know the ones that have teeny, tiny waists and can wear cute vintage clothes and would love to have a pink leather recliner! I wish I could be that gal ... but no, its all fake Pottery Barn for me in suburbia (not to mention the fact that I don't think they made my size in the 50's!)!!! Again, if you are in Sarah's (Suki's) full card swap and want to be surprised next week, then don't peek!!



















Looks a bit washed out in the scan ... I have to get off my lazy bootie and start taking pics .. the results are so much better!
Stamps by A Muse, CS by SU!, paper by the Paper Studio, Eyelets by Making Memories (at least 5 years old - I love it when I can use something from my stash - Aura, you must be so proud of me!) and there are LOTS of dimensionals on this card - seemed appropriate for Sarah's swap!

SWAP #1

Here is the first SWAP card that I have done for a AMAP swap! This one is for Katie's full card swap! I am pretty pleased with how it turned out ... I just don't think that you can go wrong with Makenna! I think Katie is sending all the swaps out tomorrow ... I can't wait to see what everyone else has done! If you are in Katie's swap and want to be surprised, I will post the card down low - don't look!!

Stamps: Makenna & Wheely like you by A Muse
Cardstock: Barely Banana, Regal Rose & Whisper White by Stampin’ Up!
Designer Paper: Taylor by Basic Grey
Accessories: Rose Grosgrain by SU!, Scallop Punches by Marvy, Small Corner Rounder by SU!, Twinkle Sticker by A Muse, Sarkura Stardust Gel Pen, Dimensionals & Glue dots by SU!, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder by SU!, Versamarker, Banana, Blush & Rose Markers by SU!

Challenge #8 - Get Silly

Challenge #8 is up on the AMAP blog (I have made the executive decision to go with the masses and shorten A*Muse*A*Palooza - I think I have typed it a gazilllion times in the last few weeks!) - it's all about silly holidays! There is a fun list of options here ... the really scary thing is that I can come up with card ideas for so many of these! I have a lot more card ideas than I do time! Think silly, think A Muse ... come play!

Don't give up on me ...

I'm still here!! Things have been incredibly busy in my life for the last 10 days or so! I wish I could say that I got to go to some exotic locale or something ... but no, I've been right here in the hot, hot, hot, midwest playing cruise director for the kids! We've had houseguests and lots of family get togethers, and it has all been a blast! But, the only downside is that I have had zero time to stamp, and I have been so darn tired that even when I have had a few moments, I couldn't even get it together enough for a blog post! I apologize, loyal readers! Stick with me ... it's bound to get better!

Challenge #6 - Card #4!!

Where was this Mojo last week when I needed it? This card is okay, but it really shows that I have no formal art training whatsoever!! I think someone with a bit of training would have put Miss Jane more in the foreground so she wouldn't look like a giant standing next to the tree!! Oh well! I have a really hard time pulling something completely apart after I do it - I'll just make it better next time!!
Stamps by A Muse, SU! and Karen Foster, Ribbon from Michael's, CS by SU!. Again, Jane is embossed with II EP and a versamarker!

Challenge #6 - Card #3!!

So, I CASED myself on this one!! I needed a thank you for my cowgirl friend, Mariann, and I just loved this card the first time I made it! I mixed up the colors a bit (OH, what will I do without Cool Caribbean??) and embossed the Paisley Background with detail white EP! Calamity Jane has sparkly boots and shirt thanks to a versamarker and Iridescent Ice EP!
Deets: Stamps by SU! and A Muse, CS by SU!, hemp twine by SU!, brads by Joanne's, punches by Marvy.

Sneaky Peeky

The sneak peek is up on the A*Muse*A*Palooza blog!! It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ... hmm!! Go check it out while you can!!

Challenge #6 - Card #2!!

Here's another one for Challenge #6! I embossed Makenna's dress using a Versamarker and Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder and embossed the sentiment with white detail EP!
All stamps by A Muse, paper by SU!, ribbon by May Arts.

Challenge #6 - Card #1!!

Yes, I know ... this is supposed to be a blog to showcase the things that I stamp!! There has just been so much going on over at the amazing A*Muse*A*Palooza blog ... I had to share all the fun with ya'll!! Here is my first card for Challenge #6 - Heatin' it Up! I embossed the sentiment with white detail embossing powder, and used stickles on the leaves!

All stamps by A Muse, CS by SU!, Patterned Paper by Wild Asparagus (I think - its from that monster pad at Costco and I threw away the wrapper - oops!)

My wish has come true ...

I can get my very own A*Muse*A*Palooza t-shirt!! I am so excited! I thought that the only way to get a shirt was to win a shirt, but now I can buy one!! YEAH!!! I will be placing my order today!! I can't be the next A*Muse*A*Palooza Ambassador without the wardrobe, right??

Secret Squares Round 3!!

Oh my goodness - they are moving now! It's on to Round 3 in the Secret Squares Game at the A*Muse*A*Palooza blog! If you guessed Heidi or Emily in Round 2, then you get to move on to Round 3! They also announced the prizes for Round 2 - some awesome background stamps! The big winner at the end of the game gets all the prizes for all the rounds! Wish it was me, but no luck!!

Sneak Peak Coming Up!

Set your alarms, get out your datebooks and make plans to check out the next SNEAK PEEK tomorrow on the A*Muse*A*Palooza blog! For only 24 hours, we will get to see some of the new stamps! I can't wait!

Secret Squares Round 2!!

Don't forget about the Secret Squares Game over at the A*Muse*A*Palooza blog! If you were lucky enough to guess Jenn on round one, then you are eligible to play in round two! Get on over there and submit your guess! I'm betting that this will be the mother of all prizes when it is all said and done!

:( I'm not moving on ... just like my lottery tickets ... Sorry, not a winner!

Challenge 6 is up!

Get out the Embossing Powder and your Heat Gun! Challenge 6 is up on the A*Muse*A*Palooza Blog! It will be fun to play with some EP - I haven't done much of that lately!! Check it out and come play!!

My Best Friend's Famous!!

WHOOO HOOO!! I'm jumping for joy! One of my bestest friends, the AMAZING Sarah Bertolino, is this week's A*Muse*A*Palooza Ambassador winner!! I am so proud of her, and I feel very lucky to be blessed by her creative genius! She is da' BOMB!! (Maybe, after saying all this nice stuff about her, she'll share just one little lime dot notecard with little ole me!!)

Challenge 5 Winner!!

Have you checked in on the A*Muse*A*Palooza blog lately?? They announced the WINNERS of Challenge 5!! Congrats to Andrea Bentz who won the "Seeing Scenes" challenge! She got an absolutely AWESOME prize pack from A Muse! Remember, you can't win if you don't play, so get on over to the A*Muse*A*Palooza blog and enter your cards! Challenge 6 should be up any time now!! Publish Post

Work, smork...

I don't really like my real job ... it really makes it difficult to stamp 24 hours a day!! Insert menacing laugh here!! I miss you, blog readers! I miss you, stamp room! I miss you all!! I have one more day this week, then I have some serious time to make up! There are swaps to get done ... Father's Day projects ... fun to be had! Seriously - I will make something in the next 36 hours or so!! Thanks for checking in!

Challenge #5 - 5th card

I do love this little chair stamp - it is one of my all time favorite A Muse images. Today, I tried it with paper piecing - I'm pretty pleased with the results! I think this challenge has been the most difficult for me and I'm not sure why. I love making scenes with my A Muse stamps - am I just trying too hard? Do I just have too many things on my mind, so I can't focus very well?? I don't know, but I will be very happy to see what is next for the A*Muse*A*Palooza weekly challenges!

Deets: Stamps by A Muse, CS, ink, word window punch and brads by SU!, scallop and circle punches by Marvy.

Challenge #5 - 4th card

Here's a couple more for this week's challenge! This piggy card is inspired by a Card of the Week from the A Muse News blog from March (I think).
Stamps by A Muse, CS by SU!, bling by A Muse, heart punch from Marvy (really old!).