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

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

Blog Hop: Christmas in July

In case you haven't heard by now, Holiday Hoopla begins NEXT MONTH! To wit, the theme for this month's blog hop is Christmas in July. I will admit this was a challenge for me -- I just joined A|Muse Studio as a consultant in March, so don't have a single Christmas-themed set! But one of the things I love, love, love about A|Muse Studio is the focus on simplicity, so I pulled out what I have and have made a simple, yet elegant Christmas card. I have to admit the distressing of the music background and the gold embossing are the details that really pull this off.

All supplies A|Muse Studio: that's the ticket & sheet music background (stamps), vanilla & cherry (cardstock), vintage labels 1 (die: cut and embossed), tuxedo black (ink), and gold (embossing powder)

If you are participating in the blog hop, you should have come from Pamela Frederickson's blog and if not, then you should start from the beginning with Samantha's blog until you come to my blog.And now I invite you to continue on to Angela Kelly's blog. 

In case you haven't seen all the other fabulous projects in this blog hop, here is the complete list:

Samantha Kania www.kania-amusestudio.blogspot.com
Karen Crisp www.papernstamps.blogspot.com
Melinda Fisher www.stampwithmindy.blogspot.com
Tami Grandi www.journeyoflifetamijo.blogspot.com
Pamela Fredrickson www.attemptedcreativity.blogspot.com
Christina Seeger www.morethanalittlerandom.blogspot.com (you are here)
Angela Kelley www.angelakelley.blogspot.com
Kristine Vicente www.checkerberrylane.wordpress.com

I hope this taste of Christmas gets you as excited about Holiday Hoopla as I am! But maybe it's just living in Texas that gets me so excited about seasons other than summer . . .

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