whatmattersmost

holiday photo cards

I hope that you have had a chance to check out all the photo card inspiration on the A Muse blog this week. There are so many wonderful ideas on how to put together your own photo cards! My cards are featured on today's post and I thought you would like to know a little bit more about them.
They are both 5 x 7 flat cards.

My niece is one of my FAVORITE photo subjects, but she is going through this stage where she does not want her picture taken, and chooses to make silly faces or close her eyes.  After about 50 shots of her playing outside a few weeks ago, I was able to get one good photo of her...just one.  No wonder my mom could never get that holiday photo of the four of us together!

Supplies: Stamps (Sweet Holiday Wishes 8-8364B), Paper (shimmer couture solid-apple red, lime, shimmer couture damask -apple red), Pretty pearls (white), Nestabilities (Labels 4)

For my second card, I decided to use one of my favorite pictures of my niece from this summer. She absolutely loves to wear sunglasses, and this photo captures that perfectly. She also did not know I was taking these pictures, so I didn't get any crazy faces! I think this picture goes perfectly with the Cool Yule sentiment. I stamped the Tiny Holly, and used red twinkle stickers for the "berries".

 
 
Supplies: stamps (Cool Yule 9-8582B, Tiny Holly 2-2063A), Paper (woodgrain, petite gingham-red, kitchen-grass), Oval Nestabilities, Fiskars scallop border punch
  

 

a little fashion inspiration

I have a little fashion inspiration for you today!
Here is a picture of the Christmas dress that my mom made for my niece this year. Isn't it adorable?

 

I love the colors that she used on it. Pink and green have to be one of my favorite combinations, especially for Christmas cards. This dress inspired me to make this card using the Christmas Tree stamp..Thanks Mom!

A Muse stamps: Christmas Tree, Merry Christmas MA

Christmas Love Bus

Just a super simple card today using one of my favorite stamps ever... the Love Bus. I have been working on some different ideas for my Christmas cards that I will share with you throughout the week.

 

A Muse stamps: Love Bus, sentiment from Peace & Cheer clear set

 

Many Thanks Classes in November

Here's a quick peek at one of the cards I will be teaching in my Many Thanks classes in November.
See below for location details...

Scraptasia (Berkeley Heights, NJ) 908-286-1700
Tuesday, November 17th 7:30-9:30pm
221 Sherman Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ **note new location of store-please call the store to sign up**

The Ink Pad (NYC) 212-463-9876
Saturday, November 14th 10am-12:30pm
22 8th Avenue, New York, NY **please call the store to sign up**
**This class will be held right near The Ink Pad at the Westbeth Community Center-55 Bethune Street**

super duper busy

I have been super busy these past few weeks! I did get to enjoy a relaxing weekend and will have lots of fun things to share this week.

Last week I was in Seattle with all of the fabulous A Muse gals...finally got a chance to go to the A Muse shop-heaven!

got to meet Donna (aka Frozen Stamper)

getting up early and learning new things...

spending time with these terrific roomies...
(Sherry, Glenda, and Beth)

and going to my first World Series Game (GO YANKS!)

seeing Alicia Keys and Jay-Z perform...

and celebrating a Yankee win with my hubby!

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween! 
   

Glenda's Random Amusing Challenge #44

I am glad that Glenda extended her challenge another week! I finally had enough time to play along. This week's challenge was to make a card using red, purple, yellow and white. These colors made me think of something festive. I thought the drums would work perfectly with these colors...feels like a party!

 

A Muse stamps: Drum set, You rock

amuse-bouche: expressions of gratitude

Here's the last amuse-bouche of the new release! Make sure to check out your local stores for these new A Muse goodies. Also make sure to head on over to the A Muse blog today for a chance to win a complete set of the new wood mounted stamps! All you need to do is enter a comment on today's blog post for a chance to win.

Here is my expression of gratitude for today using the monogram frames and classic alpha clear sets. It is a card set that I made for a friend "just because" (which in my opinion is the best reason to give a gift). I also took out my Scor-Pal and made the cute little box to give the cards in.

A Muse stamps: Classic Alpha Clear set, Monograms frames clear set
 
 

amuse-bouche: fall floribunda

Just a quick and simple card for you today.
 With the new shimmer papers and pearls, it is so easy to make a simple yet elegant card. For this card, I used the pink shimmer paper (my personal favorite) and stamped the solid chrysanthemum using pink and purple chalk inks and stamped the open chrysanthemum on top in a darker purple to match the blackberry shimmer paper it is mounted on.

 

Have you checked out the A Muse blog today? Some of today's designs feature images and sentiments from one of 5 new sets being released on October 16th ... but you could WIN them today!  Simply leave a comment on today's post over on the A Muse blog (one per person), and you'll have a chance to win one of each of the clear stamp sets!

A Muse stamps: Solid chrysanthemum, Open chrysanthemum, Deepest sympathy
 

amuse-bouche: mother earth

This has got to be my favorite amuse-bouche so far! 
I can't get enough of these shimmery papers, and the blues and greens have got to be my favorites. They are SO pretty! I used robin's egg blue and lime here, and my new favorite sentiment...thanks. Don't you just love the font? It will also be perfect for a manly card. For this card, I went girly with the ocean sheer polka dot ribbon and a few robin's egg blue pearls.

Check out the A Muse blog today and make sure to leave a comment for a chance to win an assortment of these fabulous shimmery papers for yourself!!

A Muse stamps: Leaf Frond, Thanks large
 

amuse-bouche: harvest feast

Here's a little harvest feast amuse-bouche for you today.

I love to have people come over for dinner, especially in the fall. There are so many great things to cook! Wouldn't it be nice send a dinner invitation in the mail, instead of just calling someone up to ask them to come to dinner? Here's a simple little card using the new flatware stamp. I embossed it with some clear embossing powder, and stamped the modern wood block stamp on top of it.

Don't forget to check out the A Muse blog and the rest of the Creative Team Member's blogs for even more of this harvest feast!

 
A Muse stamps: Flatware, Please join us, Modern wood block
Papers: Apple and Mango Shimmer paper, Mango Damask Shimmer Paper