April ATC and Cards...

I have been working on Thank You cards for our neighbors. They were wonderful during our two weeks of travelling back and forth to the hospital to visit our pre-term baby girl in the NICU. This is one example.

*You likely can't see from the photo...there are pop up dots under the deckled edged paper...



Amuse Stamps
Amuse Card Stock
Amust Pretty Little Papers
Copic Markers
Martha Stewart Tag
Fiskars Deckle Edged Scissors














I made this ATC for an ATC Shoebox Swap at The Paper Tree (my favorite place in NH to shop for papercrafting stuff). Our theme for the month was "Wings".

For these Shoebox Swaps, I like to try new techniques and use them as an opportunity to learn. For this Swap, I wanted to practice use of Ranger Alcohol Inks and Ranger Crackle liquid. I also used a new Paper Shapers oval punch. I applied alcohol Ink to photo paper, then stamped the image onto it. Then, I used the oval punch to focus on the bird. I stamped the image onto white carstock in a different colored ink. I lined up the oval image onto the white cardstock. I then applied glitter to the leaves of the image and Crackle all over the white cardstock. My goal was to put the focus on the bird in the image.



Tim Holtz Stamp
Ranger Alcohol Inks
Archival Black Ink
Memento Ink
Bazzill Cardstock
Ranger Crackle
















Babies are wonderful! I know; I have a four month old little angel:) This month's theme for the Shoebox CardSwap at The Paper Tree, in Manchester, NH, was 'BABY'. I was happy to 'NEED' to purchase this adorable stamp by Stamping Bella. Not only do we have a precious little baby at home, but friend of ours in Seattle were recently blessed with a little bundle happiness. So, gotta make a card to welcome baby!

I would like to make changes to this composition, and I will continue to ponder what would work...

Stamping Bella Stamp
AMuse Sentiment Stamp
AMuse Cardstock, Pretty Little Papers, and Ribbon
Copic Markers

Updates At Last!

At last, I found a few moments to update. I have more to add, but am very content to have done this much.

How time passes! It seems like yesterday that I started this blog. Seems like yesterday I found out I was pregnant. Yet, my little Sylvia is napping next to me while I blog. It was last year, on a Friday, during National Scrapbook Weekend, that I found out Sylvia was 'on board'.

National Scrapbook Weekend is coming up...and, I just don't know what I want to do. Do I go to an event or stay home? I don't know that I want to be away from my baby for 12 hours. I could always scrap at home...but, would that be as fun??? Sylvia is fun, but it is also nice to be with a group of adults. Too bad she could not come with me! It is the anniversary of her conception...a wonderful celebration:)

I am enjoying card-making and ATC's. I still have much to learn, but the process is fun. It is a great creative outlet. I would like to get back to my scrapbooks. I am putting together a HUGE scrapbook for Sylvia.

I would love an entire weekend of non-stop paper-crafting. No cooking. No cleaning. Just crafting....maybe in a few year.

Until Later...

A Muse Challenge #4: Think Simple, Think A Muse....Entry 2

This is another entry to the A Muse Lounge Challenge #4: Think Simple, Think A Muse. I recently bought this stamp, Blossom branch with bird, along with other of the newly released A Muse Stamps (Wonderful/Diverse Collection). I was anxious to use this stamp and look forward to using it many more times!

Card INGREDIENTS:
*A Muse 4-Bar notecard in Latte
*A Muse Pretty Little Papers Cottage Polka dot reverse
*A Muse Blossom branch with bird stamp
*Fiskars Deckle edged scissors
*Memento Ink in Tuxedo Blac
*Copic Markers: YG17 (Green Grass) and Y06 (Yellow) for the leaves, R00 (Pinkish White) for the bird, RV10 (Pale Pink) for the flowers

The Polka dot paper is attached to the notecard with foam squares, to make it 'pop'. The flowers are adhered directly to the polka dot paper, and the bird is attached to the branch with a foam square (again, for 'pop'). The branch and flowers, as well as the polka dot paper, are cut with the deckle edged sciccors.

Later, I will add a sentiment to the inside, bottom right corner of the card. Probably THANK YOU.

A Muse Challenge #4: Think Simple, Think A Muse

This is an entry to the A Muse Lounge Challenge #4--Think Simple, Think A Muse. I had just gotten this adorable little bird (MB Little Bird stamp by A Muse), and I wanted to find a simple way to use it. I thought it would be fun to use the grosgrain stitch ribbon as representing 'chirps' by the bird. When you open the card, the ribbon continues until it reaches the cards sentiment.

Here are the INGREDIENTS to the card:

*A Muse 4-Bar Note cards in Latte
*A Muse MB Little Bird stamp
*Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black
*A Muse Grosgrain stitch ribbon in Pink Tutu
*Copic Markers: R00 (Pinkish White) for the bird's head and body, RV10 (Pale Pink) for the bow
*Art Glitter in Seashell in the middle of the bow
**The bird is stamped directly to the notecard. The head and bow were stamped onto card stock, and applied to the notecard with white foam, to make it 'pop'.

Is this Monday morning???

It is Wednesday and feels like Monday. Just trying to catch up around the house after a busy weekend. Trying to get to posting some pics, etc... Yesterday, my sweet little girl and I took a nap. That was in place of catching up my blog:) Priorities.

Working on an ATC with the theme, "Wings", a card with the theme, "Baby", another card with a, "Summer" theme and a few other things.

I also want to get back to scrapbooking. I have found that card making is providing me with tons of inspiration and layout ideas for scrapbook pages. In the same way, ATC making is giving me card layout ideas. It all works together.

My crafting room is coming close to being finished. Mostly, it needs to be organized: putting away everything in its place. Otherwise, I need only to paint my craft table. This needs to be completed soon, as we have guests coming soon....well, not really 'guests'--family. Exciting!

My aunt and uncle are coming from Seattle to meet their new, great 'niece'. This will be a WONDERFUL visit.

After completing the craft/guest room, we will be putting together our baby girl's room. I want to make most of the decorations for her room. I already have a scrapbook page layout to frame for it. In addition, a special cousin in Arizona sent us beautiful dolls and animals for our girl. And, of course, Granny has given baby girl several, precious stuffed animals. We are blessed.

Okay. Gotta play with my sweet cheeks, and try to fold laundry.

Great Weekend

A wonderful weekend!

Saturday with family, and Sunday with a group of creative, kind souls.

I have cards to post and stories to tell. For now, I must care for my baby girl and get some sleep.

Too Busy to Blog

Been to busy with baby to blog. Though, I have done a bit of card-making. Will post it soon. Friday and Saturday I will be prepping for a shoe-box card swap and ATC swap on Sunday. Can't wait to see what everyone has created.

I picked up my cards from "The Paper Tree's" monthly AMuse card swap. The theme was 'birthday'. Some great cards!

I will have lots to blog 'bout after Sunday:)