Crafty Lizzie

What? A blog post?

Boy oh boy, it has been ages since I have posted.  Funny thing is, I have been *intending* to post this simple little design (below) for at least a month... maybe two months.  I designed this card for my dear friend Lori, and since time was tight, I kept it simple.

All supplies used are from a*muse | studio.  The sentiment is from the "Con-grad-ulations" set.  Papers are petite polka dot (onyx), shimmer couture solid (onyx), and sugar.  I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  Since the super-simple design needed some bit of "oomph," I grabbed my Quickie Glue Pen and diamond glitter... voilà!

My little guy is approaching seven months later this week, and it's definitely hard to find time to get my craft on.  I'm optimistic that it will get easier.

One Announcement, Two Adorable Cards

First, the announcement:

I have concluded, after a great deal of thought and consideration, that I must step away from my A Muse Studio business.  I realized that there just are not enough hours in the day for me to be a good mom to my beautiful son (who is now just over five months old and is truly the light of my life) and a good wife to my wonderful husband, AND work my full-time job, AND devote enough time and energy to my A Muse Studio business and to my amazing customers.  I sincerely thank all of you who supported me in some way with my A Muse Studio endeavor over the past year.  I honestly love the products and will still use them all the time (like in the designs below)!  And there is a strong team of talented A Muse Studio consultants who would be happy to help you with your A Muse Studio needs going forward.  (If you have any questions at all, please drop me a line at any time.  I'd love to hear from you!)  Thank you again.

And now, the designs: 

I am just loving the "Little Peanuts" stamp set that was released in the 2012 Catalog & Inspiration Guide.  I mean, I really really love it.  Pairing it with the gingham papers... forget about it.

That sentiment is actually from the "Sleepy Sighs" set.  Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Blueberry and Sugar papers, some Nestibilities die cuts and a bit of fussy cutting.  LOVE.

Ah yes, a variation on a theme.  But so, so adorable.  Bubblegum papers and ribbon.

Stop by tomorrow!

A sneak peek at one of the projects we'll be making tomorrow.  Come by any time between 1-4pm.  Check my previous post for all the deets!

Come over Sunday & play with dies!

Hi friends -- Just a reminder that this coming Sunday, from 1-4pm, I'll be throwing a party in honor of a*muse | studio's first birthday!  Stop by for a bit (or for a while) -- I will have some pretty awesome make & takes for you, using some of the brand-new, custom a|s dies.  I'll have a door prize drawing around 3pm.  This event is FREE, so if you're around... come on over!  Drop me a line if you need my address!  No RSVP is needed but I'm not gonna lie... if you think you're coming, I'd love to know it!  :-)

Birthday Bash = Free Stuff!

Who doesn't love free stuff?  On March 1st, a*muse | studio celebrated its first birthday, and we'll be celebrating throughout the month of March!  Now, I'm sure you're dying for the details on the "free stuff" so here you go:

1) Any order of $25 or more (before tax and shipping) placed during the month of March will result in a free 10-pack of 4-bar notecards in the new Petite Polka Dot pattern!  (One card of each of the ten beautiful colors, plus 10 white A2 envelopes).

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!

2) If you host a qualifying workshop (where the order total, before tax and shipping, is at least $150 AND at least four unique customers are placing orders) during the month of March, you receive a free, limited-edition stamp set ("Best Year Ever," pictured below), with a retail value of $34.99.  AND, you receive this stamp set in addition to the standard hostess benefits!  Want to book a workshop with me in March?  My calendar is filling up quickly but I still have a few openings... drop me a line ASAP and we'll talk!

Happy Birthday Spotlight Promotion!

The March a*muse | studio Spotlight is here -- and since the company is celebrating its first birthday this month, it makes sense for this Spotlight's theme to be Happy Birthday!  Through the end of the day on March 30th, five awesome stamp sets ("The Perfect Disguise," "Hey Cupcake," "Cupcake Companion," "Birthday Greetings" and "Under the Big Top") are available at a 10% discount.  Additionally, the Confetti paper pack (four sheets of each of Orange, Bubblegum, Bermuda, Lime and Papaya cardstock) is available for the bargain price of $7.65 -- a $9.95 value!

Just Because...

Wanted to share a design I made using many of the awesome products featured in a*muse | studio's February Spotlight, "Organization Made Beautiful!"

I used (from base up) Bermuda, Lido, Seattle, and Pebble cardstocks.  I stamped the stems, from the "Beautiful Botanicals" set, in Bermuda and Lido inks, and stamped the sentiment, from the "Just Because" set, in Seattle ink.  After stamping, I spritzed *just* the Pebble cardstock (top layer) a few times with a * muse | studio's Stardust Finishing Spray, which gave the paper a gorgeous shimmer that I can't explain... you just have to see it.  After waiting a good long time (perhaps an hour?) for the Pebble paper to DRY ENTIRELY (as the spray does make the paper curl and expand until it's dry), I put all of the layers together with flat adhesive.  I just love how this card came out.  And it really is very simple -- you just have to allow for the dry time.

All of the papers and images I used are on special through the end of February.  Grab them now!  :-)

My Aim Is True

Stopping by with another super simple Valentine I made using some a*muse | studio goodness!

I used a Sugar card base and Cherry Heartbreaker, Cherry, and Sugar papers.  I stamped the image, from the "My Aim Is True" set, in Cherry ink.  I tied it up with a bit of Cherry organdy ribbon and used a smidge of Xmas Red Stickles to bling out the arrow.  Voila!

I realize I am dating myself, but I cannot look at this card without singing Trixter's "Surrender" to myself.  If you have forgotten about this (somewhat obscure) gem of a cheeseball hair metal ballad... check it out here.

And now, I am off to get ready to take a class with the incomparable Jenn Shurkus at Ink About It!

a*muse | studio First Birthday Party - 3/11/12

This FREE event is going to be super fun -- hope to see you there!

 

a*muse | studio's First Birthday Party 

Sunday, 3/11; 1:00-4:00pm in my Arlington, MA home*

a*muse | studio celebrates its first birthday in March, and that calls for a celebration!  Come see AND play with some of the brand-new products featured in the 2012 Catalog & Inspiration Guide!  Free for all, and no RSVP needed (but I would love to know if you're planning to stop by).  No need to bring anything except yourself.  There will be make & takes (featuring some of the awesome, new and exclusive dies) and a door prize drawing around 3:00pm.

* Drop me a line if you need to know my address!

You're such a tweet-heart!

Just stopping by to share a fun card I designed for a class I taught this past weekend.  This card was so super simple and I thought it was just so cute.  Love the color combination!

All of the materials used for this card are available through a*muse | studio.  I used Sugar, Ocean and Bubblegum cardstocks, images from the "Tweet-Heart" stamp set, and Ocean and Bubblegum inks.  I used dies from the Nestibilities sets Classic Ovals Small and Classic Scalloped Ovals Small.  I blinged out the heart with a Quickie Glue Pen and some Diamond Glitter.  For a final touch, I tied a knot with some Ocean organdy ribbon.  C'est finit!  You can find all of these supplies right here!