For my husband...

So often I make quite a few Valentine’s Day cards for my blog and then leave them laying out on the kitchen table…so I feel a little sheepish then giving it to my husband after he’s seen it for about a week. This one is just for him, and I’ve kept it hidden away until tomorrow! On the inside I’ve stamped “You are one of a kind”.



I’ve used these exclusive heart dies and woodgrain/harlequin impression plates from a•muse studio. I repeatedly cut out white hearts using the smallest of the 3 heart dies and then just used one heart from Cranberry paper. Maybe a touch of black ribbon would’ve been nice but it’s all stuck down now. Oh well!

Valentine's Coasters

We had a great hostess club meeting today – thanks to Cheryl for bringing such yummy treats! These chocolate covered pretzels were addicting and I can’t wait for my a•muse studio order to come in to start decorating cupcakes!



This Valentine coaster was designed by Seleise and she had the idea based off of the December Spotlight project from a•muse studio…I loved her twist and she was gracious enough to let me use it for my get together. We used a•s felt (it’s a wool/rayon blend and cuts beautifully!) and the largest of the 3 heart dies. I preironed the back of the pink felt with Heat and Bond and once we die cut the felt, the ladies got busy ironing the pieces together…it took just minutes to complete! So easy but so cute.

If you like this project idea, I hope you will share it via one of these social media buttons!

Vintage Birds...

I was so excited to use one of my newest sets from the 2012 a•muse studio catalog. Did that make you do a double take? This catalog is crammed pack full of variety...you won't be disappointed!

I had initially planned to do a spotlight technique on this card and had the birds all watercolored in and cut out in an oval. But, when I stamped the whole image on the vanilla a•s cardstock with Memento ink - it was so crisp and beautiful, I couldn't bare to cover it up!

This card is one of the projects at my hostess club and the only hard decision is whether to go with the sky blue or lime ribbon - they both look beautiful!

Card Details: all supplies from a•muse studio (stamp: Touch of Nature), bind it all for punch detail at top

I have a lot of fun things to unveil in the upcoming weeks...stay tuned! And, double check your inbox for this month's newsletter! I sent them out last week using Mail Chimp for my service and it may just be hiding out in your junk or spam box!

February Spotlight Specials

File boxes covered in a•s cardstock that has been stamped and white embossed...


Such a quick and easy project!

Our maple tags stained with an inkpad and then stamped...I've got lots of ideas for this!

For one month, you can save 10% on the stamp sets used to create these fabulous projects!

Floral Duet
Birthday Builder
Beautiful Botanicals
Woodgrain Background
Just Because

And, for a limited time, order the special Urban Wildflowers cardstock assortment pack - an easy way to get the look showcased in this month's spotlight.

Urban Wildflowers Assortment Pack contains four sheets each:

Pebble
Lido
Vanilla
Seattle
Bermuda

Pencils wrapped in washi tape and a covered can...perfect for any teacher or office!

Email me if you need anything from this month's special! It's a good time to get a catalog too...they are hot off the presses!

a•muse friends Blog Hop!

Welcome to our blog hop hosted by Sunghee! Be sure to visit her site after leaving a comment on each post for a chance to win her blog hop candy!

Card Details: a•muse studio: Beautiful Botanicals 2, Satin Pearl embossing powder, green cardstock, embossing buddy, corner chomper: others: ribbon, Basic Grey DP, DCWV maroon cardstock, ribbon.

Look at those richly embossed leaves! (Sorry, I took the photo at night so it's a bit dark) Can you believe this is the Satin Pearl embossing powder from a•s? On dark papers it comes out silver and on light papers it's a true, beautiful pearl color! I use it often but I suggest you test it out on a scrap if you are worried about which way it will emboss...I tend to just go with the flow...tee hee.

I've been trying to use up some of my papers that I've been hoarding for years and it feels good! I think this economy is starting to weigh us all down and is making me stop and think a bit before I buy like crazy. I like that a•muse studio has sampler paper packs and that I can buy those instead of 25 sheets of just one color -- although if I really like a color, I will! :)

So now begins the hopping!

Sunghee
location: McLean, VA
blog: http://www.CreativityInProgress.com

Sandi
location: Aspers, PA
blog: http://www.sandileescraps.blogspot.com

Kandy
location: Lebanon, IN
blog: http://www.kandys-keepsakes.com

Chris (that's me!!)
location: Springfield, VA
blog: http://allamericanstampers.blogspot.com

Angela
location: Cottonwood, CA
blog: http://angelakelley.blogspot.com

PS. Psst! Have you heard that the a•muse studio catalog is now LIVE? You can click on it here to download it for free or if you want a hard copy to thumb through...click on my sidebar and I'll mail it same day. Want it for free? Ask me how?!? It's easy...

Fortune Cookies

These are fun any time of the year and I love a•muse studio's take on them for Valentines Day!



So what's the recipe?

as supplies:
sweet love stamp set
sugar cardstock
bubblegum cardstock
shell cardstock
blush cardstock
apricot cardstock
orange cardstock
bubblegum sweetheart cardstock
bubblegum heartbreaker cardstock
nestabilities classic circles large
glue dots (or glue gun)

To make cookie, cut a circle (we used the largest Nestabilities circle die from the Large set). After it's cut, simply gather two sides together (without creasing), push in on the center, and fold together. Use glue dot to hold together.

If you're adding the super cute fortunes, just lay it inside before you fold!

LAST CHANCE for January's Spotlight Special!! You have just until tonight, 11:59 pm, to get this special paper pack and these stamps on sale for 10% off...email me or place your order here!

I'm back!

I had a wonderful trip visiting my folks last week. I think it's the first time I've been home alone for a few days since I've been married and I'm glad to say my family survived without me and perhaps (I'm hoping!) gained a little appreciation for me. tee hee... Can you believe I went snowmobiling with my Dad on his 80th birthday? Wonderful!

I finally had a moment to play and I must say I've missed my stamping!

Card details: a•muse studio Friend to Friend stamp set, copics, Basic Grey paper, DCWV green cardstock, assorted ribbons, a•s button and onyx bakers twine

I hope you'll come back to visit on Wednesday, 1 Feb! My upline, Sunghee, is hosting a team blog hop and she's going to have a special prize. I may just find a little prize to put up too. After all, my box of brand spanking, new catalogs arrives TODAY!! There's still time to order your copy - I'll be mailing out all the spoken for copies tomorrow. :)

2012 Calendar and a•muse inks!

Sunghee, my a•muse studio upline (times 2) and I got together for a wonderful morning of stamping ink charts. I hadn't gotten to see all of the lovely a•s inks until today and I was blown away by the colors...so much better than in the catalog! She's got a great stamping room and look at how efficiently she set up the inks. It is always fun to talk and stamp with someone, I think!

Sunghee is extremely generous and gave me this business card sized 2012 calendar that fits into a plastic business card holder. I got to pick one out and this was my favorite using Wasbi ink and the Friend to Friend stamp set.

What is especially neat is that since our a•muse studio paper is white on one side, she could use a piece of woodgrain DP and print out her calendars on the white, underneath side. My photos don't do this justice and this is so much neater in real life!!

If you are interested in this calendar or any of Sunghee's other templates, you can find them here. And don't forget about my birthday special this week! You can find the details on the previous post...

Celebrate my Birthday!!

Yup! Today is my birthday and all week long I'm offering a special deal in celebration of me...if you place an order this week of $25 or more I will automatically send you a free 2012 a•muse studio catalog! It's the perfect time to take advantage of the January Spotlight stamp/paper specials - you can get these Valentine stamps at a discount with plenty of time to get busy for that special day! - or don't forget about the retiring a•s products and stamps. After 31 January you won't be able to get these goodies...so send me an email or place your order online at my secure shopping site before midnight, 27 January to get in on my birthday celebration!

PS. If you are in one of my hostess clubs you will be getting one free already - and if you have preordered a catalog and take advantage of this special I will refund you your money...

Card details: I love that I can have matching a•muse products and that is why my ribbon matches my paper so perfectly! They are both sky blue and after I embossed the paper, I rubbed it with a sanding block to let the white core show through...it really adds so much I think! I colored in my cake with copics and then used a ruler and an exacto knife to carefully trim part of it away.

I think this card will be perfect for my Dad's 80th birthday on Friday. I'm so excited to be able to fly out and celebrate with my parents and sister and her family...see? It's a double birthday celebration!!

New Catalog!

Phew! What a week...

but the exciting news is this weekend is the a•muse studio convention where the new catalog will be revealed!!

I'm so excited to see the whole catalog but I've enjoyed seeing some great sneak peeks! In fact, you can check some of them out here on Pintrest.

In the meantime I wanted to let you know that I just ordered 50 catalogs and you can now begin preordering them from me. It's just $8.50 which includes shipping to you...and includes a little thank you. :)

You can send me an email or click on my paypal button on the side!

Catalog goes LIVE on 1 February...just try to Keep Calm! tee hee...

Mr and Mrs

What a quick and easy wedding card! I like it because it has just a hint of sparkle but the woodgrain paper still makes it somewhat masculine. Perfect for a new couple. And, you could change the sentiment and it would make a nice Valentine too!

Bubblegum and Slate - it's a great color combo!

Have a super weekend!

PS. I hope by now you've received your email for my a•muse studio catalog preorder...the new catalog goes LIVE on 1 Feb and I should be able to mail them (hopefully!) by 30 Jan. I am also looking for a few more folks for a NEW Hostess Club starting in February...email me for details!

Stamping Kissing!

Sounds like a perfect technique for a heart stamp, right?

I love the heart from the Happily Ever After set. It's just the right size. I inked it up with Cranberry ink (retiring 31 Jan!) and then "kissed" it...when I say "kissing" I just mean you ink up your solid stamp with pigment ink and then tap with another fine lined stamp or texture.

Above I used an elegant damask, a music score background, some texture stamps (do you recognize Rock Star in there?), florals (my favorite, Marvelous Marigolds!), and the thin lined on the bottom left is just from stamping once on peeled cardboard! The combination is endless!

I cut out some of the hearts and spread them out on a leftover piece of slate woodgrain paper from a•muse studio. I added a piece of onyx twine and stamped just a portion of my "with love" sentiment on a tiny sizzix oval tag.

Quick and super easy! :)

Don't miss out on this set or inks - after Jan 31 the retired items will no longer be available.

Breaking news...

SO LONG! AUF WIEDERSEHEN!
FAREWELL! ADIEU!

2011 RETIRING PRODUCT LIST

87 as cardstock - cranberry
87 as pigment ink pad - cranberry
87 as pigment ink refill - cranberry
88 as cardstock - polka dot (all colors)
91 as cardstock - mirror silver (5)
92 buttons - cranberry
93 as twinkle stickers - clear (shapes)
95 tiny flowers (all colors)
95 twine - cherry (12 yds)
95 twine - fern (12 yds)
95 twine - french roast (12 yds)
95 twine - navy (12 yds)
95 twine - onyx (12 yds)
95 twine - shell (12 yds)
95 twine - toff ee (12 yds)
95 twine - vanilla (12 yds)
96 copic refills (all colors)
97 water brush medium (12mm)
101 nestabilities - labels 2
101 nestabilities - labels 4
103 encore metallic ink pad - champagne
103 encore metallic ink pad - silver
104 glue dots - pop up
104 super-stick double-sided tape (all widths)
105 edge distresser
105 paper trimmer - 8.5”
106 embossing pad kit
106 hammer (6”)
106 ribbon slot punch tool set
107 precision file set
108 cello bags - extra large (9” x 12”) 50 pk
109 card frame horizontal - galvanized
109 card frame vertical - galvanized
109 enamel noteboard 12” w/stand - galvanized

Please send me an email if you need anything or place your order at my secure shopping site: https://www.amusestudio.com/chris_franco

Heavily inspired by...

Jill, of the Inspired By blog! She did a video for Penny Black on using white gel pens here. After one white flower, my gel pens (I had two!) gave out. I ended up reaching for my white Prismacolored pencil and basically got the same effect (I hope!).

I used the Marvelous Marigolds stamp from a•muse studio and the music score is from Purple Onion Designs. Thinking of You is from the a•s Essential Sentiments set - lots of great sayings in a variety of fonts!

Speaking of a•muse studio don't forget the retiring list is only available for a little while longer - and I'm expecting to hear any day about retiring accessories. I'll be sending out a newsletter when that info is available. I do know the color Cranberry is retiring but have no fear - they are adding 4 new colors to redesign the summer, winter, spring and fall color palettes...I'm in love!

Boxers or briefs?

tee hee...that cracks me up! This card started in my head as a possible Valentine's Day card but now I'm not sure it really would work. Either way, it's okay because I like it!

This set of boxers is from the a•muse studio hey man! set. It is true "a•muse" style so while it scares me a little, it also intrigues me and I can't wait to make a set of "guy" cards with this. {Look for a meet up coming soon if you live close by!}

Following my card I have a mini-tutorial that shows you how easy it is to use the dies from a•muse studio. Normally I cut and then stamp but this time I computer generated my saying so my die placement was crucial...they make it so easy!

You can barely see the dots on the background but I used the big dots from Polka Dot Patterns and stamped it tone on tone. I used them in the last post for a more elegant card - love how versatile they are!

For my tag:

1) I found a font that I liked and typed up my saying in Word. I printed it out on a scrap piece of paper.

2) I taped a piece of cardstock over the saying and re ran it through the computer. You could just print it out on cardstock the first time but this allowed me to use up a little scrap. :)

3) Next I centered the clear plastic die over my saying - I can put it exactly where I want. See those two little circles extending out on the side? You stick your pencil inside each one to make a mark. NOTE: Here I'm just demonstrating on my scrap piece but you would do this on the cardstock piece that you want to die cut!

4) Remove the plastic template and replace it with the metal die. Match up the two marks in the center of those two holes... HINT! I use blue painters masking tape to then tape down each side so there is no shifting when I role the die/paper through my diecutting machine!

5) It's that easy! Perfectly placed and you are ready to go. Have a great week!

Happy New Year...and a peek at January specials

Wishing you a blessed and prosperous New Year!!

More fun and creative ideas from the a•muse studio design team...these projects will really get your valentine's day celebration off to a great start!

January Theme: Sweet Treats and the following stamp sets are on sale for 10% off...plus there is a special paper selection too!

Featured Stamp Sets:
Quick and Cute Valentines
Sweetheart Background (holiday catalog)
Love Conquers All
Friends Fur-Ever
Sweet Love

Featured Color Palette - Rock Candy:
Bubblegum
Shell
Orange
Apricot
Blush

The Rock Candy Assorted Cardstock Pack is item number PAST112

Lots to share!

Congrats to my blog candy winner! Kathy M

I'll be measuring out the twine this weekend and get it in the mail to you immediately! enjoy....

ah, it felt nice to stamp something other than a Christmas card! On top of it, I've been itching to ink up this new stamp set, Marvelous Marigolds...and I used only a•muse inks and papers - I really love both of these exclusive products. The saying stamp and dots are two stamps that are included in the a•muse studio starter kit.

Speaking of which, time is ticking!! 48 hours are left to get your very own a•muse studio starter kit at an unbelieveable price!

Starter Kit $99.00

Take advantage of our special introductory price!

The regular price of the Basic Starter Kit is $175

Basic starter kit includes everything you need to start your own business!
* four 2011 studio sampler stamp sets
* set of six clear blocks, one of each size
* ten as pigment ink pads {cranberry, currant, fern, french roast, grass, ocean, orange, papaya, bubblegum and sky}
* memento tuxedo black ink pad
* six copic markers {begonia pink, cool shadow, golden yellow, lipstick red, new leaf, sand}
* copic colorless blender
* double scrubber
* squeakly clean stamp cleaner
* adhesive runner
* glue pen
* diamond glitter
* solid paper starter kit - twenty sheets
* swatch ring
* twinkle stickers - clear
* pearl stickers - vanilla
* paper flowers - meadow mis
* three spools grosgrain stitch ribbon {slate, papaya, ocean}
* 4 catalogs, essential business supplies

It's super quick and easy to join - I did it in just 15 min! That was four months ago and now I have a great team of ladies and have easily made my minimums each month...okay, exceeded them!

Want to know more? Email me
or click on my direct link: http://www.amusestudio.com/chris_franco and click on START A BUSINESS in the upper right corner.

Last tag to share...

I hope by now you are not totally sick and tired of my Christmas tags - they were a joy to make and I was so glad that they could be part of a special gift used to uplift someone.

This stamp set is retiring in January and so you only have a short while to get it yet - it's called Celebrate the Season and I love the bold images for quick and easy stamping while getting a dramatic effect!



I want to thank all of my readers who have hung in there with me through some ugly duckling posts and all! I really appreciate it!

I have some blog candy to offer today! 25 yards of each of the 3 colors of bakers twine that a•muse studio carries: red/white, brown/white and black/white.

Just leave a comment by midnight of the 29th and I'll be back with a winner on Friday!

My Mitten

For the mitten exchange...this is clear embossing ink with the white embossing powder from a•muse studio! Everyone thought I had cut out the dove from white paper - that's how crisp it looked. I just love cardboard and had to work it into my mitten design somehow!



The Nordic Noel stamp, mitten and scallop dies, button and floss are also all from a•muse studio. Thanks for taking a peek!

Last day

to order the November Spotlight Specials...

One of my favorites is the Holiday Tags stamp set which is on sale this month. Not only is this set great for little tags, it's fun for gift boxes and full sized cards too!



I am finding a LOT of uses for my a•muse Candy Cane cardstock too! This fun little gift box uses just one sheet of paper and really went together quickly. It's perfect for tucking in some chocolates or something equally delicious!



Talk about cute gift packages...did you see these two ideas using the wooden clothes pins over on the a•muse studio website? I love it!