A Few Simple Cards for August

I had some cards to send so I got to pull out some of my favorite stamps a few weeks ago!

This set from Lawn Fawn is perfect -- there are other sentiments and images, but simple and to the point was perfect for my brother's (LATE) birthday card.

I love when I get to pull out things I haven't used in awhile -- like my poor neglected scallop die, which added just the right "something special" with dots on mermaid to match the mermaid card base (and mermaid stamped zinnias)!



I wanted simple -- but the Glossy Accents flower centers added just enough "bling" for a customer thank you!

 

I think I'll get to stamp a bit this weekend -- and possibly with some friends! I'll share my creations next week. I also have some pages to share of our late July trip around North Texas -- as soon as I get my Cricut back to finish the titles. It's nice to have a machine that could be useful at work -- except when you need it at home at the same time! I let the Marketing Committee borrow it to create titles and images for the Library's bulletin board on campus -- I can't wait to see what they've come up with (but I hope they finish soon, I have pages to title!!) I was able to get quite a few pages assembled during a one-day retreat in Austin last month with the Heart of Texas Scrapbook (HOTS) Club. I met some lovely scrapbookers and with Austin only an hour away I think I'll join them more regularly.

I hope you are having a fabulous week.

Happy Stamping,
Christina

New Catalog!

So, I'm definitely behind on giving you the news, but the new catalog was released July 1st!

One of my favorite new sets is Big Words. I've only had the opportunity to make a few cards with it thus far, but that is more a function of an incredibly busy summer than my affection for it!

New patterned paper and Big Words, with a diecut tag and a bit of bakers twine made the perfect "thinking of you" card for a friend of my son while at camp. I love the modern look and the simplicity!

In addition to Big Words, the patterned paper is from the new catalog -- I love it paired with Bubblegum paper and pink sequins for a shabby chic look! The arrows are from the I Was Here set.

I also LOVE the many opportunities of the Sprinkled With Love set -- and I found the perfect background paper at Tuesday morning to complement the donuts in this set:

There are several topping choices for the donuts -- from sprinkles to stripes and some really cute sayings, too!

The crystal clear glaze doesn't really show up in this photo but it REALLY adds to the donut in real life

I don't have it yet, but there is also a die that fits all the donut shapes!! I can see a Baker's Dozen of cards with this set in my future!

And finally, I had the unfortunate reason to send a sympathy card last month and I brought out a couple of sets that aren't new and my Tombow markers and made this card with the daffodil in the He is Risen set. I like the muted simplicity for such a somber occasion.

I'll try to get back in the craft room before I go on vacation and to a work conference later this month -- I still have some new sets to try out, and I'd love to show them to you! And the Holiday catalog is just around the corner (September 1st!) so get ready for some peeks of that next month.

Until then -- Happy Stamping!
Christina

Age is Just A Number

Today is my husband's birthday, one of those big number (half a decade) birthdays, so I pulled out my favorite AMuse set, Eat Cake, and a few of my other favorites (I just got the SU! Chevron border punch) and this is what I came up with:

Paper & Eat Cake stamp set: Amuse Studio, chevron border punch: SU! Number background: Deadbeat Designs

 

The number background is from Deadbeat Designs, another favorite of mine. I got this stamp at the retreat I did earlier this year.

I gave him the card along with the canvas I created at the retreat. The saying on that project -- Home. The nicest word there is. -- is especially fitting for this year, since we bought a house (and are spending a lot of time and effort on it.)

Happy Stamping!
Christina

Cards TO Camp

My son attended Boy Scout leadership camp immediately after school got out, and because of the type of camp it was we had NO communication with him the entire week. I was able to send a couple of cards, though, to let him know we hadn't forgotten him!

Because it was leadership camp I wanted to let him know how proud I am of him -- he really WILL do amazing things!

The inside says "D'oh, I already do!"

As soon as he got home from camp we were able to get the dog we promised him once we bought a house. So Peaches joined our family this month.

She's got some Golden Retriever, a bit of Shar Pei and possibly some lab in her -- the sweetest of breeds all in one incredibly sweet 7 month old. She's going to be a pretty big dog in the next 18 months or so. She's really smart (too smart??) and we are working on training her (and us), especially since she may have been bullied and so is a bit dog aggressive.

I was also able to whip up a couple of cards this weekend using my AMuse Studio supplies. One a very overdue thank you for an order and the other a thank you for a Scout that did the swim checks for the troop so they can swim at summer camp. The paper is from a Boy Scout scrapbooking pad, and I cut the lifesaver on my Cricut, with a little Thank You from Essential Sentiments in Cherry.

I love the new Mermaid color -- in ink and paper, both. The Modern Zinnia stamp set is also so versatile, and I LOVE the Thank You Mix set -- the inside of this card says "So very much"



 



 I am so excited about the July spotlight -- with its beachy theme AND the ribbon sale!

Until then -- Happy stamping!
Christina

Where did May go??

May is the month of end of school activities, graduation (at work) and other Spring activities. This weekend one of my dear work colleagues is getting married, and while I wasn't able to make the bridal shower I sent along a glass teapot (perfect because we "talk tea" in the staff kitchen) and this card:

AMuse Studio:Pennant Die & Contemporary Greetings. Bride & Groom from Cricut (Art Philosophy)
 

As my son ends his days as a middle schooler I wanted to show his teachers how much we appreciate them -- but was "not allowed" to make homemade gifts. I did manage to sneak in handmade cards, though, and my son was fine with them. We added Starbucks cards in each -- except for one teacher that he specifically wanted to get a giftcard to REI. I love how he considered each teacher's personality before agreeing to the gift.

The card from the dollar section at Michaels made me think of my circus elephant from Under the Big Top (AMuse Studio) -- part of this month's Spotlight, you might notice. I placed him in a ring from the Vintage Labels 1 die set (AMuse Studio) and added some liquid pearl toe nails -- how fun! The inside sentiment: You're unforgettable! (Get it? Elephants never forget . . .{grin})

 
And then there is always time to think about my dear grandma in California.

All supplies AMuse Studio: Marvelous Marigolds, Contemporary Greetings (Thinking of you), Essential Sentiments (with love), butterfly trio die, tuxedo black, papaya, bubblegum and orange ink, and some twinkle stickers

We finally got carpet installed so I can begin the process of fully unpacking and getting settled. I can't wait to get my craft room back together, so I can use it on a more regular basis, and have some crafting friends over! Next month will be perfect, for AMuse Camp Wanna Stamp (details coming soon!)

Happy Stamping!
Christina

Christmas Crafting

As busy as this month was, with the end of the semester (at work and home -- how can 1 kid forget to turn in so many assignments?! But we ended all caught up, whew!) and house hunting (we looked at 15 houses a week ago, and returned to our top 2 yesterday) I still managed to get a few craft projects finished.

In October I went to a SU! Christmas workshop, where we made 4 or 5 projects. My favorite was a really simple giftcard holder, and I re-created 2 of them to adorn gifts for family far away:

Gift card holder #1, for my in-laws

Giftcard holder #2, for my brother

The most difficult part of this project was finding the right double-sided Christmas paper, but as it turned out I some in my stash that was perfect!

I also made a couple of cards:

All supplies: A|Muse Studio

All supplies: A|Muse Studio (except the shapes are the Apothecary dies from SU!)

I am hoping to get a few projects finished over the Christmas Break, but it seems unusually short this year.

I hope Santa brought you just what you were wishing for!

Happy Stamping!
Christina

Thanksgiving Card

I hope the few Thanksgiving cards I stuck in the mail get to family (and a friend) in time . . . I just got them in the mail this morning! I was able to use up the extra pieces from the Holiday Hoopla workshop, and sent this card:

All supplies: AMuse Studio. Give Thanks set, papaya & vanilla c/s, white embossing over Versamark, cocoa memento ink and french roast baker's twine

I love the look of the white embossing on papaya paper. The sentiment inside says "For our blessings we are thankful." This set (from the 2012 holiday catalog & inspiration guide) is one I will use all year long -- with the simplicity of the wheat and the beautiful sayings about gratitude.

I have a lot to do before we leave for the beach on Thursday -- for a much needed relaxing long weekend -- but hope to get some cards designed for the Christmas workshop we are planning at work. The event isn't until November 30th, but we need to put up the projects to start getting people excited (and get on the calendar before Finals start!)

I hope you are able to enjoy some time this week to reflect on the things you are thankful for. As the sentiment (that got cut off in the photo, sorry) above points out, "gratitude can transform common days into Thansgivings."

Happy stamping!
Christina

In My Thoughts

My cousin and her husband recently moved to Texas (the DFW area) from San Jose, California and are having a tough time getting settled. I got a couple of SU! single stamps in my hostess order this month and was able to combine the lovely saying stamp with gorgeous A|S paper to get a card out this week to let her know I am thinking about her, and wishing them both all the best!

In addition, today is the 88th birthday of an online friend's dad. He's been having some health issues and is currently in a rehab therapy center, so friends from all over sent him birthday greetings to bring a smile to his sweet face. He lives on the East Coast so I wanted to send a little Texas charm his way:

I only wish you could see the finish on the tag -- I used A|S Finishing Spray and it really adds a special touch. The stamps are a combination of Deadbeat Designs and a retired A|S set

My husband and son are camping with the Scouts this weekend, so my goal is to finish and mail a few Thanksgiving cards today. I will admit, though, that goal is competing with a strong desire to go out and enjoy this beautiful weather! Hmmm, perhaps the cards can go out on Monday . . .

Happy stamping,
Christina

Owl Grown Up!

This week my son turned 14. I make a good number of owl cards -- because I think they are so cute -- to the point that my son has picked up on the owl sayings, so I simply had to incorporate that into his birthday card!

The background is from the You Rock stamp set from A|Muse, the owl punch from SU! and saying from the Stamps of Life.

I recently started adding googlie eyes on occasion -- I love the added movement and the expression they give to the owls.

We let him choose a restaurant for his birthday dinner, but we ate so much that none of us was up for birthday cake after! He was happy with his presents, -- most had a music theme (from CDs to headphones and a mixing board) so you might want to be happy you don't live next door to us as he continues to explore (and experiment with) his love of music!

Happy stamping!
Christina

October Stamping

A friend from work got married earlier this month, and this is the card I made for the happy couple:

Simple elegance: one of my favorite cuttlebug folders with a sentiment from Essential Sentiments in grape, and vanilla pearls, on Vanilla c/s

As a gift to the couple I offered my husband's photography, and they took us up for the rehearsal and dinner. The couple was married in the chapel on campus -- and it would be difficult to find a more beautiful place.

I also had to get a card out to my dad's wife, and my mom for their birthdays (a couple of days apart):

A cheery card for my dad's wife -- using some bright leftovers from a SU! class I took this Spring. I think I mailed my mom's before photographing it -- oops!

I have a dear friend -- who moved about an hour away (closer than she had been) and I *still* don't get to see nearly enough-- with a birthday next week and this is the card I am sticking in the mail to her today:

Touches of pink, and bits of brown -- I love the way the A|Muse Vintage Labels with the matching stamp allow me to coordinate! The inside sentiment simply says " You're one of my nicest thoughts."

And finally, to be caught up, here is the card I made for next Friday's baby shower at work:

A sweet baby boy card for a nice colleague and his wife, expecting their first in time for Thanksgiving! I love the mix of A|Muse vintage labels dies, gingham paper, stamp set AND a found item -- a tag off some pants I recently bought! The front says "welcome, little one."

I also attended a SU! Christmas Stamp Camp this month for some ideas, and I may post those when I have re-interpreted them into Cricut and A|Muse, which is what I am planning to do. BUT, I'll probably work on the small gifts for my work friends next -- October is nearly over, so Halloween goodies have to be a priority!! I can't let them down after years of special treats in their mailbox, right?!?

Happy Stamping,
Christina

October Blog Hop: Support & Encouragement

As you may have noticed from the FABULOUS Stamp Out Cancer set, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and A|Muse is all over it!

If you are following the A|Muse Blog Hop you should have come from Pamela's blog. If not start at Karen's blog and follow the creativity until you come back here.

This month's Blog Hop theme is a get well card or one of encouragement or support - to tie in with the 'stamp out cancer' campaign. I had all the supplies out to make a get well card, and then I decided to do something a little more cheeky. One of the first sets I bought when joining A|Muse was "Let's Be Adventurers" and I LOVE what a versatile set it is -- here it is as a card of support for a friend:

Sets: Let's Be Adventurers & Make A Scene ; Cardstock: Sugar, Bermuda Chevron & Bermuda; Ink: Tuxedo Black and Bermuda; Other: 3-D foam and brown colored pencil

In case I haven't mentioned it, I also LOVE the chevron paper from the holiday catalog -- and it comes in such great colors!

Now, go on over to Angela's blog to she what she has in store for you! And, if you think you may have missed any of the creativity, here is the list for this month's blog hop:

Karen Crisp http://www.papernstamps.blogspot.com/
Linda Suarez http://luckydogstamper.com
Sarah Callahan http://wastamper.blogspot.com/
Pamela Fredrickson http://attemptedcreativity.blogspot.com
Christina Seeger http://morethanalittlerandom.blogspot.com/ <======= YOU ARE HERE
Angela Kelley http://www.angelakelley.blogspot.com
Kristine Vicente - www.checkerberrylane.wordpress.com
Barb Limone - http://barbscraftcave.blogspot.com
Sharon Roselli http://papersharing.blogspot.com



Happy Stamping!
Christina  

Laurie's Birthday

My best friend in high school had a birthday this month, and I made this card to send her:

Stamp set: Enjoy Life (CTMH)



 

I've had this stamp set for quite awhile, but this is the first time I've used it, and the saying is perfect for her!

On Wednesday my friend (and downline) and I are having a stamp camp at work. I'll post the projects after the event -- we're doing a Halloween project, a Thanksgiving card, and 2 Christmas cards! It will be the first time some of the people at work have *ever* stamped, can you imagine that?

Happy Stamping!
Christina

Cards of the Week

I got a FUN order from the A|Muse Studio holiday catalog in on Monday -- but since orientation began at work on Tuesday I haven't had much time to play with all of the things from the Holiday catalog. I had a couple of thank you cards to send out this week, though so I recycled an unfinished project and dug out some of the chevron paper for another:

Bermuda chevron on a bermuda base, with the thank you from hand scripted on sugar cardstock, french roast ribbon and butterfly trio and vintage label 1 dies

Recycled: vintage labels 2 & hand scripted on vanilla c/s with some random washi tape.

The saying on the inside, for both of these, is the same as the outer saying on this card, made with the scraps from the others . . . Gratitude can transform common days into Thanksgivings. This is also the first card I tried stardust finishing spray on . . . I got it since I had heard such good things about it and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Now I am only sorry I didn't discover it sooner!

And, finally, I ordered a few of the sets meant to be Hostess Booking incentives, or rewards or  . . . but at least 2 were destined for my collection from the time I set eyes on them, especially this one:

Unfortunately, I've had to send this one already -- a dear friend had a stent put in over the weekend. And since he is one of the MOST fun septuagenarians I know this was just the right thing to say!

 

I've since spent some time scrapbooking, since my son just ranked up to Life Scout I have to get caught up with his Boy Scout album in time to add all the things he'll do to earn Eagle (projected: next summer, so he has it going into high school), and worked on the pages I am doing for an A|Muse Studio calendar swap -- I'll post that when I send it off to the swap coordinator!

 

Happy Stamping,

Christina

August Birthday Cards

This Tuesday 2 of the nicest people I work with are having birthdays! The first is for my friend (and downline) Betsy and was done with a PERFECT* hostess gift set (not available for sale, but as a reward for hostesses) Past Due.


Set: Past Due; Paper: French Roast Petite Polka Dot & Bermuda (the library card is a scrap of SU! crumb cake); Ribbon: French Roast; Other: glitter embossing, clear twinkle stickers, memento cocoa ink

Set: Birthday Greetings; Paper: Eucalyptus and vanilla; Ink: memento cocoa

The other card had to be more masculine, and I was able to use some washi tape that I got online to check out this trend, and one of my favorite birthday sayings.

I have one more card to make this week -- for my "little" brother's 26th on Friday! I'll have to get it sent out soon, so forgive me if I don' get a chance to photograph it before chasing down the mailman!

Happy Stamping!
Christina

*Past Due is perfect, of course, because by day I am a librarian!!

Pink & Green

I had a request for a set of pink and green thinking of you cards for my Dean to send to her sorority sisters (their colors). I took the opportunity to try out some things I hadn't done in a while, including use up some scraps (important since I don't DO pink, so this was a bit of a challenge). I've done more pink cards this year than in the last decade combined, I think! ;-)

July is always such a busy month for me as I travel to conference for work and vacation for my wedding anniversary, so I am glad I was able to get these (a set of 5, actually) delivered!

I also got copies of the Holiday Hoopla catalog (contact me if you'd like a copy -- all the Hoopla begins August 1st with a lot of great new sets and some GREAT hostess rewards!), some CUTE hostess rewards sets and placed an order with both SU! and CTMH -- so August should be a more crafty month!

Happy Stamping!
Christina

Owl Miss You

I took my son to college this week! He's taking a 3 week class, with other incoming 8th graders, at University of Kansas (Lawrence) as part of the Duke Talent Identification Program. He was willing to fly in as an "unaccompanied minor" -- meaning he is fine on his own and didn't see the need for me to waste my time getting him there. I explained that I wasn't going for him, but so I could see the campus and meet his roommates. I sent a note before leaving Kansas City, and am sending his first "care package" -- the 2 books he requested from his bookshelf, and of course a hand-stamped card:

Stampin' Up Owl & Bird punches, wood-grain washi tape, and  sentiment from  The {stamps} of Life

He'll probably use the card as a bookmark, but at least he'll know his mom misses him! The daily schedule is really packed, but he's texted with his dad and with me a couple of times, so we know he's having a blast and enjoying learning more about computer programming (and life on a college campus)!

Happy stamping!
Christina

Summer Wedding

The daughter of a friend is getting married next month. We won't travel to the event, but I wanted to let the happy couple know that we are thinking of them so I made this bright and happy card to send.

Marvelous marigolds & that's the ticket sets, papaya & orange paper and ink,  butterfly trio die and a  vanilla pearl sticker  -- simple and summery! I ran the butterfly through my Cuttlebug for some texture.

Best wishes, Nadia & Clifton!

Happy Stamping,

Christina

Card for Grandma

This is a card for my sweet grandmother -- and a chance for me to try out my new Copic markers! I got a book to learn what to do with them -- and this is my second attempt (the first looked amazingly similar, guess I'd better keep reading!). I bought 2 to blend with the blue that came in my kit, but I think I'm ready to branch out into another color family. I can't wait for Grandma to get the card and photo we sent -- so she knows we are thinking about her!

Marvelous marigolds & say it with style sets, watermelon & sugar cardstock, navy ribbon, and of course my 3 Copic markers  (BG05, BG10,  BG13) -- the twinkle in the center is a pink heart, too!

Happy stamping!
Christina

Thinking of You

I needed a quick card this weekend to put in some mail to my mom. I wanted a CAS card, to highlight the simplicity of A|Muse Studio, and came up with this (which is now on its way to Oregon):

A Muse supplies: essential sentiments set, onyx gingham and sugar paper, cherry ribbon, vintage labels 1 and butterfly trio die sets, twinkle stickers (clear dot), tuxedo memento ink pad

Here are a couple of cards I made to try to recreate things I had done at some recent SU! classes, with my A|Muse Studio supplies:

A|Muse supplies: hand scripted (thank you) and  lots of dots sets, vanilla & gingham ( bubblegum, sky and  grass)  cardstock, butterfly trio die, tuxedo memento, bubblegum, sky and  grass ink

A|Muse supplies: that's the ticket and script background stamps, vanilla &  bubblegum petite polka dot cardstock, butterfly trio and scallop border die sets, twinkle stickers (clear dot), tuxedo memento & bubblegum ink. Also: American Crafts pink cardstock, corner rounder

Tomorrow I'll share the card I made for my grandmother, to send with a new photo of my son. She is 90 years young and too far to visit on a regular basis (although the first question she asks on EVERY phone call is when we are coming to California . . .) so the best way for her to "see" my son grow up are the pictures we send of him in various events and hobbies. This time we were smart enough to put the photo (of him with his trombone) in a refrigerator magnet frame -- so she can see him every day!

Happy stamping,
Christina

Masculine Themed Blog Hop

If you are participating in the A Muse Studio blog hop, you should have come from Tami Grandi's blog and if not, then please start from the beginning, at Samantha's blog, until you get back to my blog. You DON'T want to miss all the great masculine cards this month! Men can be so hard to stamp for -- let us help you with some creative ideas!
With Father's Day just around the corner a masculine card is perfect to showcase for this month's blog hop! I wanted to go simple, and am not yet ready to share the Father's Day card I created, so here is an elegant -- yet masculine -- thank you card:

All products: A Muse Studio. Sets: script background & hand scripted; Cardstock: slate,vanilla & navy; Ink: Slate; Ribbon: navy; Die set: vintage labels1

 Now on to your next stop Angela Kelly's blog.

Happy Stamping,
Christina