The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

August is always fun at A*Muse Studio because the holiday catalog is released -- and Holiday Hoopla happens!

I have added the Holiday Catalog to the blog sidebar, it's got a lot of great stamp sets as usual, but some fabulous surprises as well . . . in addition to new dies, we now have an adorable mini scrapbook, perfect for capturing the highlights of the Christmas season. There are a variety of page configurations, and 3 nice Kraft (oh so alterable) dividers. I just received mine, but will have to wait until next weekend to decide what to fill it with. I usually scrap 12X12 so it will be a fun challenge to stick to the true HIGHLIGHTS.

One of the nicest things about Holiday Hoopla is the added incentives for hostesses

And just because there is all this holiday going on doesn't mean the monthly spotlight is neglected!

Later this weekend I will post some cards -- I just sent a birthday card for a friend and tomorrow I get to make a card for a colleague who is taking a job in Qatar -- which is a long way from Texas (in more ways than one)!

Happy Stamping!
Christina

American Crafts Giveaway

I usually don't enter contests that I have so little chance of winning, but when the prize is American Crafts supplies I can be swayed. Winner will be chosen next Wednesday (11:59 Mountain Time/ 12:59 Central). For more details see: http://create.northridgepublishing.com/friday-giveaway-american-crafts/#comment-292256


I use a lot of American Crafts paper (it works well in the Cricut, and I love the texture) but this giveaway is a great reminder of all the other great products available.

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

Anniversary

Today my son and his girlfriend celebrated a year of boyfriend/girlfriendness and so I made a small container for him to give her some things he had collected (including a survival bracelet . . . this IS still middle school, afterall).

 

I pulled the colors from the tag (which has her initial) and had recently found some great pearlesque paper while unpacking that turned out to be perfect. The box was cut on the Cricut and my son picked the saying (from the new First in My Book set from AMuse Studio) -- so of course we added a bookmark to tie it all together.

All-in-all a quick project, and I hope it was well received!

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

The last couple of months have been unbelievably full, with the return of students, the end of basketball season for my son, a business trip to Dallas, and, of course, the "big move!"

Unfortunately, I have had the opportunity to make more sympathy and get well (from a serious illness/surgery) cards already this year than I do most years! Fortunately I've also gotten some birthday and thank you cards out, as well! I already posted the silver lining card I made for my Dean, but here are some of the other cards I've managed to squeeze in:



A dear friend lost her father in January



An administrator at my son's school suffered a massive stroke -- this card is appropriate because he is known for being FUN!

The screenprint background on the butterflies really tie this card together

 

A quick thank you for our realtor on the day of closing

 

Happy birthday to my cousin -- I love the versatility of the marvelous marigolds set!

 

Washi tape madness for a friend far away!

Thanks for letting me share my recent projects -- seeing them again makes me eager to finish unpacking the craft room. I've already found some really great things that I'd forgotten about -- I wonder what else is in those boxes?!

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