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

April Spotlight: Spring Fling

This month's colors, Bermuda, Lime, Grass, Buttercup, and Mermaid, are such a subtle reminder that Spring is on the way (or possibly already here -- in Texas, anyway).

I have begun to unpack the craft room -- one of the few rooms that is not waiting for the (backordered) carpet to be installed, and am finally able to dig out some of the fun things from the new catalog. One of the new sets I know I will get a lot of use out of is called silver lining -- a great set of rain (and rainbow) related sayings with some fun clouds (although I also snatched up the cloud dies before they retired, and they will get used with this set as well!) Unfortunately the first card I made with it is because someone dear to me had emergency surgery this week. She is now recovering in ICU and although visitors are not yet allowed, cards are always welcome!

All AMuse Studio products, including the silver lining set

This card was quick to come together -- although you probably can't see the shine of the raindrops, a special touch for a special lady. A nice "get well soon" from the essential sentiments set finished off the inside and left plenty of room for a note. 

I have been working on the idea of a "You are my sunshine" page about my son, and the silver lining set has a nice "you make me happy when skies are grey" to complete that, which I am excited about. Yep, this set is going to see use in a variety of projects . . .

I'm glad to be back in my craft room, and hope to have time to try out the other new sets I got, really very soon!

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

Happy Mother's Day

At my Business Launch Open House last weekend we made Mother's Day cards -- based on the one I made for my own mother, and using Marvelous Marigolds from the May Spotlight.

All supplies: A|muse Studio

I should say that was the project at the Open House -- the results were wildly different. I put out my Essential Sentiments set for those that didn't want to make a card for Mother's Day, and there were a variety of occasions covered. I had several first-time stampers in attendance, mixed in with some veterans, and it was fun to watch the creativity spark and be encouraged by the others in attendance. 

We also did a treat project that involved embossing (the butterfly from Papillon done in white on Navy) that was a lot of fun to teach.

One of my colleagues decided she wanted too many things from the amazing A|Muse Studio Catalog & Inspiration Guide -- so she's planning a workshop in June (either at her apartment or at work). She hadn't stamped before, but her card was a masterpiece for her mother back in Pennsylvania. She's a lot of fun and I can't wait to work with her as she gets more involved with papercrafting.

Happy Stamping & Happy Mother's Day,
Christina