Soccer, Soccer, Soccer!

Both boys played soccer this Spring. It was the first time our youngest, really got to do anything but be the tag-along. He really enjoyed it. And even scored a couple of goals last week! They are all so cute at the age.

My older son played when he was 5 (like his brother is now) but then stopped because he really didn't like it. Well, he wanted to try it again now that he's 8. And WOW, has his tune changed since he was 5. He loves it so much that he has taken it upon himself to regulate all his homework and chores and other activities just so he doesn't miss soccer practice. Wouldn't have guessed that 8 weeks ago. He's a different kid now. The whining about doing anything stopped. ??? Okay, I'll go with it.

So, this season of soccer ends today. And both have told me not to forget to sign them up for the Fall. Uh huh. Got it on my list of things to do, boys.

With the end comes coach's gifts. There are 5 coaches between the 2 boys. Team gift cards to the sporting goods store always make an easy and usable gift. But they have to presented in something, right?

Five gift cards means five cards and envelopes. Simple, simple, simple. And quick thanks to that Accucut die because it's a busy weekend!

Hope yours is a happy one!

images: retired a muse artstamps

Kid craft class!

Back in March, my son's elementary school had our Spring Carnival. This year, I helped out with the Silent Auction by soliciting faculty donations and also by assisting classes with making some "AWESOME" art to auction off. I say "AWESOME" because the kids did the art and it looks amazing!

In addition to that, I made a bunch of stuff to auction off: a school scrapbook (just fill in the photos!), an elementary school frame (place for wallet size photos of each year) with our school logo on it, various grade level collage posters, a mosaic of this year's student body, and even 2 card/craft classes taught by me. One of the classes was a kid class and we had it today, after school. It was so fun! The kids were awesome – LOVE how they are so creative and free spirited. When do adults become those "perfectionists" types? 

So, we made 4 things – a personalized chalkboard for notes, a mother's day present, a mother's day card and finally a teacher's gift. Can't show you the mother's day stuff yet because some of the receipants may be watching…

But here is the teacher's gift…

It's a matchbox with 5 Hershey's nuggets in it. We covered the nuggets with stamped address labels.

The box is another Accucut die, called Matchbox #1. I used to make these by hand and cut and score everything. This is WAY easier. 😉 Cut and put together, lickety split.

We stamped the labels and the white cover with retired A Muse stamps.

Three of the girls in the class today are in the same class (which happens to be the same class as my son!). That teacher is going to get A LOT of chocolate :)!

Happy Weekend!

Moxie Fab Challenge: Gray is the New Black

I got a chance to play in my first Moxie Fab Challenge: Gray is the New Black over on Moxie Fab World. The challenge is "create a paper crafted project (card, gift bag, tag, layout, home decor item, mini-book cover, etc.) that incorporates gray in an innovative way".  

I was inspired by a photo on their blog of the purple and gray kitchen. Wouldn't that be fabulous? I used gray for my card base and also for the big block background for the focal image. The sentiment is in white (but a bit hard to see in the picture… grr.).

I made wedding invitations in purple, black and white back in October. I had this purple silk May Arts ribbon from those invitations left over. It is BEAUTIFUL ribbon. 🙂

Finally, I added a bit of sparkle to the marigold with my Spicas. 

If you get a chance to play along, do so here.

Happy Monday!

 

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Supplies:

 Images: marigold by A Muse, big block by A Muse, thank you unknown;

Cardstock: by A Muse

Ribbon: by May Arts

Ink: Mementos, Colorbox

amuse-bouche – Winter Scene!

So sorry I haven't been able to play along in this week's amuse-bouche! I've been busy teaching AP classes around Texas though. Two more classes today… YAY! It's my birthday today and I can't wait to be around stamping people all day! So fun!

This is one of my cards from my Holiday Classics class that I taught this week here. I *love* this stamp. It's called Winter Scene and it is a cling stamp. A Muse released several cling stamps for AP 2010. I think they are awesome! Love everything about them, especially the clean images. They ink up wonderfully!

The winter scene is white embossed on A Muse's navy cardstock. 
A Muse now has MANY colors of solid white core 8.5×11 cardstock (not to mention the BEST pattern cardstock around!). YIPPEE. I love that. Now I can make whatever size cards I want!

Supplies:

A Muse winter scene, let heaven and nature sing images; navy 8.5×11

Marvy Giga Scalloped Circle, White Detail Embossing Powder, Colorbox Frost White Pigment Ink, Memento Paris Dusk Ink

Have a great day!

Texas Tuesday – cheating? maybe…

1. I missed Texas Tuesday 2 weeks ago… It was the Last Day of School EVE and my head was spinning off. My apologies to my Texas friends and to all of you!

2. I *almost* missed today's edition… um, due to lack of whatthehecktodo 🙂

So, here's how the story goes…

You know the word association game? Well, I asked my 8 year-old (he *just* turned 8 last week… I need to show you the invites! ;)) what is the first thing he thinks about when I said the word "Texas" (secretly hoping his answer would be "LONGHORNS", of course! but um, no.). His response Wakeboarding. HUH? WHAT? Oh I get it. Sorta.

We bought a boat last week. Yeah, it's been in the works for OVER A YEAR. By works I mean we've looked, we've shopped, we've said no a bunch of times and then a couple of weeks ago… BAM. The right boat, the right situation, etc. etc. and we have a boat. It's a good thing my inlaws live on a lake 😉 So, this past weekend, my 8 yr old, tried his hand (and face!) at wakeboarding behind our boat. It was his first time and he ate a bunch of water and is now ready to go out again!

So, what does this have to do with Texas Tuesdays? Texas Tuesday is supposed to be some creation that is inspired by our great state of Texas. Well, Texas to me is about HOT. It's about no Spring and no Fall and being at the lake from Easter to Thanksgiving and if we're lucky on Christmas Day, too. It's about margaritas and boats and swimming and bbq and LIVE MUSIC and flip flops and yes, wildflowers, too. So, my creation below is a LEAP, I know but I hope that you can see how my inspiration came about and that it "fits" the Texas Tuesday model. It probably doesn't but I'm gonna say it does! Until I talk to Libby… 🙂

all images and papers by A Muse Artstamps

Okay, I hope you've enjoyed my Texas Tuesday. Be sure to check out
the other Texans:

Libby

Betty

Mark Jetton (of Deadbeat Designs!)

Tina

Y'all come back, ye hear… ha ha ha… just had to say something Texan.

Inspiring Ideas: Teacher Appreciation

Still working on teacher gifts. FIVE days left.

These four cards will be part of a set for a teacher gift.

Supplies: A Muse Wheat paper, Lined paper, a little note, pencil

Supplies: A Muse Wheat paper, Lined paper, solid apple, delicious day

This next card is CASEd from Jennifer
McGuire, when she was part of the Designer Swap on the A Muse blog.
Supplies: A Muse Wheat paper, Lined paper, hello,
pencil

Supplies: A Muse Wheat paper, Lined paper, solid apple, you're special

This last card was supposed to have the "you are one of a kind" as the sentiment. Goodness knows I've looked EVERYWHERE for that stamp. Sigh. It's here somewhere. Do you ever lose your stamps?

How are you liking the summer inspiring ideas? Pretty fun to see how everyone is using their stamps. Love to pull out the "old" stuff and give them some love. Be sure to check out the rest of the team!

Cinema Saturday Challenge: Becoming Jane!

Becoming Jane is the movie this week over on the Cinema Saturday Challenge. Have you seen it? I have but want to see it again because I can't remember much of it. I thought it was on Netflix streaming but it's not so no refresher course for me this week! This summer…

 
I like Anne Hathway. And I usually like all those period type movies.

Anyway, I did want to play this week though and seeing how this week is shaping up, now is the best time to play!

The challenge requirement this week is "use flowers and pearls in your creations".

I can do that!

Using emboss resist, I used A Muse's jasmine silhouette image and purple ink (of course!).

A Muse: jasmine silhouette, many thanks fl

I hope you like it! Come back tomorrow for more inspiring ideas.

Inspiring Ideas: Um, Eclipse!

One more inspiring idea using the A Muse tent… you know, *think* summer and camping. Of course around here camping is a Fall/Spring activity!

Now this card is just for fun. And in reality, I have a few friends I
*could* send this too! It's all about Eclipse (book/movie 3 of the
Twilight series) – the movie opens June 30th. I.CAN.NOT.WAIT!

 

Supplies: A Muse tent; A Muse Cobalt
blue paper

Inspiring Ideas: Summer!

It's almost summer!!! Well, school's almost out for summer, I should say (7 days but who's counting?). Temperatures around here are already screaming summer! Everyone is already swimming, going to the lake, and generally just ready to be outta school!!!

A Muse has some great summer images and it's time to get them out!

Check out the new Cobalt blue paper. Ooh la la. I thought A Muse had all the blues covered but this one is SO PRETTY. All of these images and papers are available at your LSS today! Don't have an LSS close to you, well then head on over to amuseartstamps.com

I have four cards to show you today. I am still working on teacher gifts. I know, hard to believe, eh? Well, I think this set of 4 gift enclosure cards will make a nice little gift. Right?

Supplies: A Muse fishing hat, fishing pole, relax it's your day; A Muse Cobalt blue papers, wood grain paper

Love this blue. Oh my.

Supplies:
A Muse tiny bee, mini flower, long grass, have a bee-tiful day; A Muse Lime paper

 
 

Supplies:
A Muse mini fishes, seaweed, fintastic day; A
Muse Cobalt paper

Supplies:
A bird on a wire,one of my favorite peep,A
Muse Cloud paper, papaya paper

This week is absolutely insane. I can't even keep track of all that is happening. One day at a time and hopefully I won't forgot to do something! Egads.

Happy Monday. It's one of my best friend's birthday's today. Happy Birthday, Sharon! And also to our Aunt Janie. Happy Birthday!

Now, be sure to check out the rest of the muses and also the A Muse News for MORE inspiring ideas!

Welcome to the ‘hood!

About a month ago, my good friend Heather moved. And even better, she moved into my neighborhood! 

I made her some just moved announcement cards in a jif. (everything these days is in a "jif", notice that? hmm… waiting for the "lazy" days of summer to arrive!).

First, her welcome to the neighborhood card. This retired welcome mat from A Muse was one of my first stamps. Back then a bunch of my friends were moving so it worked out well!

The set of 50 announcement cards uses more A Muse images and the MS grass punch.
 

The "we've moved" is a retired A Muse that I found at Stamp Salado a couple of years ago. I remember it vividly… I think I screamed a bit. I'm a bit of a "retired-A Muse-stamps-aholic". My friend, Jennie and I seem to always be on the lookout for those cute stamps!

And lastly, a bottle of wine…something she got to keep and not give away ;) 

Welcome to the neighborhood, Heather and family! Glad to have you here.