the little one crafts

Lucky Day!

Look what I got in the mail today! It's my prize for randomly winning one of the challenges during the second Virtual Meeting of the A Muse Addicts (VMMA). Want to see?

Included in my prize are the newly released 4-bar Chiffon Purple solid notecards, a couple of new clear frame sets and a bunch of Passion Purple sheer ribbon from A Muse Artstamps. Click on the links to purchase these products directly from the A Muse blog. Their customer service is great and shipping is really fast. I usually receive my shipments from Seattle to Boston in 3-4 days using the USPS. These notecards are hands down my favorite color so far from A Muse. The other things were on my wish list for my next crafting splurge. Thank you Linda and the AMAZING A Muse gang for your generosity! A big thank you also goes out to the Fab 4 (Geeta, Michelle, Rhonda and Jennie) for hosting another fun VMMA! If you'd like to get involved with the A Muse Addicts, then click here and join now! It's free and totally fun!

Here's one of my recent creations for the A Muse Addicts April Swap and Bumper card. The swap theme was to tell something about yourself. I don't have any stamps related to food, my profession or knitting. My remedy that soon. So I used my favorite color combination. This card was another take on a card that I made for the VMMA.

Stamps: Daydreamer (Elzybells D0074) and Thinking of You hand (A Muse Artstamps 9-8246B)

Paper: A Muse Artstamps Cottage Blue Argyle Notecard (N702-AG) and Bazzill Basics Jacaranda cardstock

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black and Copic markers in Mauve Shadow (BV00), Canary Yellow (Y02) and Pink (RV11)

Accessories: May Arts white ric rac ribbon colored with my Mauve Shadow Copic marker, A Muse Artstamps Creative Candy Micro Dot Twinkle Stickers (TW101), Scotch Mounting Tape, Kokuyo Permanent Dot 'n Roller Adhesive

Tools: Marvy Uchida Jumbo Scalloped Circle & Mega Circle craft punches, Making Memories Paper Piercer Deluxe

I hope your day is filled with a great surprise too!

VMAA 2: Saturday Night Fever!!

The final challenge is brought to us by Jennie Moczan. The task was to use only black and white. Yikes! I'm not happy with this card. Wanted to add some white ribbon, but I didn't have anything but ric rac. That wouldn't have looked right.

Here's my attempt.

Images: Bride & Groom (A Muse 2-1035D) and Truly Madly Deeply (A Muse 3-8187B)

Paper: Bazzill cardstock in Raven

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black

Accessories: A Muse Creative Candy (TW105) and Martha Stewart Crystal Fine glitter

VMAA 2: Do the Hustle...

The third challenge is a sketch hosted by Rhonda Maynard. Here's the sketch:

Here's my entry:

Images: Birds (A Muse 2-4042E) and Little Something (A Muse 9-8159B)

Paper: A Muse Artstamps Cottage Blue Argyle (N702) and Bazzill cardstock in Jacaranda

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black and Copic markers in Mauve Shadow (BV00) and Pale Blue (B32)

Accessories: May Arts white ric rac ribbon

VMAA 2: Disco Ball

The second challenge is from Geeta Suggs. The task was to use old school, messy glitter. Here's my entry.

Images: Heart Ball (A Muse 2-1077C) and Love Blooms (A Muse 8-8470B)

Paper: A Muse Artstamps Popsicle Pink notecard (NS203) and Bazzill cardstock in Petalsoft

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black and Copic Markers in Celadon Green (YG25) and Olive (G99)

Accessories: Art Glitter in Taffeta (187), Pink Smoothie (268) and True Red (1)

VMAA 2: Let It Be!

Tonight's first challenge is courtesy of Michelle Clark. The challenge was to use no embellishments and focus on the images themselves. Here's my entry. Sorry for the blurry pictures. No natural light to be found at this time of night.

Stamps: Daydreamer (Elzybells D0074) and Thinking of You hand (A Muse Artstamps 9-8246B)

Paper: A Muse Artstamps Lilac Notecard (NS301) and Bazzill Jacaranda carstock

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black and Copic markers in Mauve Shadow (BV00), Canary Yellow (Y02) and Pink (RV11)

on the road again...

I've been away from home a lot lately. A couple of the trips that I have been on lately were unexpected. When I'm not home, I've been working. Unfortunately there has been very little time for stamping. I just finished my cards for the March swap or a bumper card for the A Muse Addicts group. Sorry ladies! I'll get them out tonight through the 24 hour post office.

The good thing about traveling so much is that it's given me some time to start knitting one of the new Knitty patterns. It's Honeycomb by Sarah Castor. I love the all-over texture. I'm about halfway through the back of the shell. I should really learn how to cable without an extra needle. Instructions on how to do so can be found here. My goal is to get the back finished by the end of next week. I am using Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, the recommended yarn, in Lava. Fingers crossed that it will actually fit the intended recipient.

I just came back from Chicago and while I was there I dropped by Loopy Yarn in the south Loop area. I restrained myself from purchasing a skein that was over $40 and bought three skeins of Koigu instead. It's a beautiful bluish colorway. I'm thinking socks. Yum!

I took a class at Mind's Eye Yarns with Lucy during the 36 hours that have been home. I learned how to acid dye yarns and rovings. So much fun. Now all I have to do is learn to spin all the roving that I dyed.

I'm off to Houston in the morning. Yeehaw! Any tips on how what to see or do in Houston? There may be quite a few trips to Houston in the next few months. So any tips would be much appreciated.

spring knitting and plans...

Have you seen the new spring Knitty? I'm in love with one of the patterns.

I bought some Habu A-1-6 when I was in NYC last month with thoughts of making a Tangled Yoke Cardigan, but I'm not sure if I bought enough. I did buy the rest of what they had on the bulk cone, but it's a pretty thin yarn and may not be enough to make an entire cardigan. So maybe it'll have to turn into Honeycomb (photo of said pattern is by Matthew Castor)instead. Will I have enough? Fingers crossed. Otherwise, there could be a quick trip down to NYC in the near future. Although Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool isn't too terribly expensive.

Tomorrow will be a crafty day. I'll possibly enhance the stash. It's not like I need to do so, but I just might just because I love Honeycomb as is. I also have to finish a sweater that will be a store sample at Spark. It will be my last act there since I've decided to stop being an instructor there. It was fun while it lasted, but there are better reasons to leave. While there I'll try to make some cards for the A Muse Addicts March swap and a bumper card too. Ambitious, huh?

I think it's now safe to share my A Muse Addicts February card since it's well into March. The theme was friendship.

Images: Girl in Car (Elzybells G0073) & Road to Friend (A Muse Artstamps 9-8230C)

Paper: Tiny Dots notecard in Popsicle Pink (A Muse N203-TD), Bazzill cardstock in Wisteria, white cardstock

Ink: Brilliance Ink in Graphite Black, Copic markers in Salad (YG05), Canary Yellow (Y02), Pinkish White (R00), Warm Gray No. 4 (W4), Sugar Almond Pink (RV02) and Clear Spica glitter pen

Accessories: American Crafts Boutique Blush ribbon, Marvy Uchida Mega Oval and Giga Scallop Oval punches

I'll be out of touch for a little while. I have to make a couple quick trips. The rest of the time I'll be working like a dog. Any good tips on LYS or LSS in the Houston area? I'll have access to a car and may have a bit of time on my hands.

i can't believe it!!!

I can't believe that I actually won something. I won the first challenge of the A Muse Addicts VMAA. What the heck is wrong with the universe? If I had to do it all over again I would have used A Muse Twinkle Stickers instead of the Hero Arts ones. The problem was that I couldn't find my micro-sized Twinkle Stickers in the mad dash to finish the card.

The challenges were a lot of fun. Thanks to the Fab 4 for hosting such a fun event! I hope it happens again soon.

I also can't believe that there are people actually reading my blog.

A Muse Addicts VMAA Challenge #4: Good Things Come in Threes

The fourth challenge is from Jennie of Simply Caffeinated. The challenge is to use three of something on the card. I was running out of steam with this one, so I kept it very simple.

Images from A Muse Artstamps

• Leafy Tree (3-4068F)
• Big Dot Bl (3-5017C)
• Tiny Butterfly (3-4079A)
• Happy Spring MA (8-8486D) *new release*

Paper

• A Muse Artstamps Lime Peel Band notecard (N201-BA)

Ink

• Versafine in Black Onyx
• Versafine in Vintage Sepia
• Colorbox Pigment in Daffodil
• Colorbox Fluid Chalk in Ice Blue
• Colorbox Fluid Chalk in Wisteria
• Colorbox Fluid Chalk in Pink Pastel
• Copic Marker in Canary Yellow (Y02)

Other

• American Crafts ribbon in Boutique Blush - Satin with Picot Edges (57594)

There was a bonus challenge, but my brain was fried after attempting four cards in two hours. I usually don't work anywhere near that fast. Plus it was way past my bedtime. It was fun to stay up and play with the A Muse Addicts.

A Muse Addicts VMAA Challenge #3: Sketch-a-licious

The third challenge of the night for the A Muse Addicts group was "Sketch-a-licious". It comes to us courtesy of Rhonda of Crafty Blessings fame. The objective was to design a card using her sketch in 30 minutes.

 

Here's my attempt at following her layout.

Images

• Flower Girl (Elzybells E0063)
• Sending You Sunshine (A Muse Artstamps 9-8261B)

Paper

• A Muse Artstamps Blue Raspberry Tin Plate notecard
• A Muse Artstamps Lilac notecard
• Bazzill cardstock in Wisteria
• White cardstock

Ink

• Versafine Black Onyx
• Colorbox Fluid Chalk in Wisteria
• Copic Markers in Salad (YG05), Tender Pink (RV13), Burnt Umber (E29) and Pinkish White (R00)

Other

• A Muse Artstamps Sheer Ribbon in Passion Purple
• A Muse Creative Candy Twinkle Stickers in Clear

What great fun! I won't be able to post my card for Challenge #2 because it's missing in action. I can't find it among the mess that I made last night. Oh well...I had fun doing it and will find it eventually.