Talk about retro...

How about a pink and green living room, lol! Another "scene" card for AMPA. This chair and lamp is one of my favorite A*Muse stamps. For this card I colored the chair in with my prismacolor markers and colored the little hopper in with a Gable Green stampin' write marker. I also gave him some eucalyptus stickles on his wings.

The rug was created with the small skinny oval and then I drew some scallops with the stampin' write markers around the edges to make it look like a rug.

The background is Dotted from SU! and I added some small dots with a prisma marker. All the rest of the stamps are A*Muse, and the ribbon is from Mike's.

I really want to go to the beach, lol

And Jaden's pool just isn't cutting it. Here is another of my A*Muse beach cards. For this card I used my new lighthouse stamp. This card took quite a bit of masking. Once everything was stamped and masked, I created the background. The water, beach, and sky were all created with prismacolor markers. After they were colored I added the wave stamp in the water.

To finish it up I used my ticket corner punch, some gingham ribbon from Mike's, and a little charm that I picked up at Wal-mart I think.

Hide and Seek

Aren't these little puppies just the cutest? This card was inspired by the week 5 challenge from Amuseapalooza. I decided to make the scene with my dog house and Patch. The rest of this card kind of came together from there.

Everything is stamped with Hybrid ink and colored with Prismacolor markers. I also created the grass with a Prismacolor marker. It is handy that there are two sizes of tips on these markers. I drew long fat lines to create the grass and then used the fine point to color in the smaller places, like between the dogs' legs.

The ribbon is from Michael's and so are the little bling stickers in the bottom corner. Simple and sweet...

Circle Journal

I joined a circle journal swap on SCS a month or so ago. If you don't know what a circle journal is, you're in for a treat. A circle journal is a group of stampers (10 in this group) who all create a little book with a theme. You create your book, and do the fist layout yourself. Then you send the book on to the next person in the group. They complete a layout according to your book's theme and send it on to the next person.

Our group is 10 people and we are keeping each book for a month. We decided if we get them done earlier we may change the timeline in a month or so. As it stands now, we will each complete a layout in each of the 10 books, and then in 10 months we will get our finished book back. Sounds fun huh?

My book is going in the mail tomorrow. Before it heads out on it's long journey, I thought I would give you a peek. We each used the 5x5 book art book from Stampin' Up. I am not finished with the cover, I decided to finish it after I get it back in 10 months. I figure it has more chance of being messed up by the mail if the cover was all done up. But, on the other hand, I couldn't send it off to 9 other people's houses "naked" so I covered it with some designer paper and sanded the edges.

For the inside, I added a divider page for each of the 10 people's section. To create the dividers, I cute 5x5 pieces of cardstock, stamped them, and punched them with the spiral punch from the Spring mini. Then I cut a piece of designer paper to 5"x2", scored it down the middle, punched it with the spiral punch, and adhered it to the edge of the cardstock. I had to do it this way because the punch couldn't quite punch through the cardstock and 2 layers of designer paper. It lined up really easily though, and turned out pretty nice.


To finish them off, I punched the coordinating paper with the round tab punch, mounted it on matching cardstock and punched it out again. This gave me a cute and sturdy tab. I mounted these on the edges of the cardstock pages, lining them up along the sides so that they overlapped a bit and made their way down the side of the book. Five tabs fit down the side, so I ended up with 2 strips of 5 tabs down the side of my book.

I really like how it is turning out. Tomorrow I'll post some pictures of my layout before I put it in the mail. It's journey starts tomorrow, with a trip to the beautiful state of Washington. I am extremely jealous!

Lazy cow

Is that a lazy cow or what? lol This card cracks me up!

All the stams (the cow, the tractor, hay wagon, fence, and the sentiment) are all seperate images, and all from A*Muse. I stamped them all in hybrid ink and colored them with my Prismacolor markers. Then I added some yellow stickles to the hay to glitz them up a bit.

I cut a slit with my craft knife in the hay wagon and slid the cow in it and taped it on the back so that he looks like he is in the hay.

The card base is Garden Green stamped with the Flannel Plaid BG. To finish it up I added some stitched yellow grosgrain that I picked up at Michael's forever ago. I think it was on one of thoes tiny little baby spools. Funny, now that I have the ribbon in my jars, I am feeling much better about using it. Guess it's because I can't see the spool getting empty, lol.

Secret Squares

Have you checked out the AmuseaPalooza blog lately? They have a new game posted this week. It's called secret squares. Kind of like Hollywood Squares for stampers. How fun does that sound? Go check it out CLICK HERE.

Oh yeah, you have to be registered to play. You're registered right? You're not? Well register while you are there, and tell 'em Cori Bravo sent ya!

Doesn't San Diego sound nice about now?

Sure does to me. It was 102 today. Yuck! I am so not fond of heat,lol. I think I was supposed to live somewhere cold...like Denver. Thank goodness convention is in July- gives me a week escape from the nasty sun here in Tucson.

Anyhow, on to the card *wink*

I made this card for the weekly challenge on AMPA. The challenge was to create a "scene." The beach sounded like a good scene to me.

Everything is stamped in hybrid ink and colored with Prismacolor markers. The ocean was created with a strip of Cool Caribbean cardstock that was stamped with the A*Muse wave stamp (I think that is it's name).

I have a ton of other beach stamps I wanted to use but decided that would be overdoing it. You know "Think simple. Think A Muse"

Ribbon storage

I love looking at other people's scrap space. I get tons of great ideas, and really just love it. I think crafters like the organization of their stuff almost as much as actually using it, haha.

Anyhow, I am in the middle of revamping my stamp studio (which is actually my dining room LOL). I figured I would start with my ribbon stash shelf cuz at the moment, it is my favorite.

I am a collector. I love to collect, and I have accumulated tons of glass jars. Big ones, small ones, cool ones, spaghetti sauce ones...you get the picture.

Anyhow, so this weekend I decided to reorganize my non Stampin' Up ribbon (I'll show you the SU! ribbon on another day) and this is what I came up with. I split the ribbon into 9 groups; pinks, reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, purples, browns/creams, and black/white. I put each group into it's own cool jar, and stashed them on this shelf. Pretty huh?

Above this shelf I have my background stamps. Next to them are my A*Muse stamps. They are stored in two big glass cylinders that I got at Mike's. I also have my Basic Grey 6x6 paper pads, my gamsol and blending stumps (also in a little jar...lol), and in the little tin bucket are my sponge daubers.

This shelf is right next to one of my tables that I stamp at, so it's convenient to have everything nice and close.

As I get my room organized, I'll post some more pics

SCS Sketch and color challenge

It has been forever since I did a challenge on splitcoast, so today I decided to do both the color and sketch challenge in one fell swoop.

The colors for this card are Cool Caribbean, Garden Green, and Chocolate Chip. I kind of wondered how it would turn out, but I'm pretty pleased. I made the scalloped back to the photo with 4 scalloped squares that were just taped together on the backside.

A little faux stitching, some Dazzling Diamonds glitter, and two of my favorite backgrounds (Paisley Print and Weathered) and this card was finished. Fun card, fun challenges...not sure why I hadn't done more of them lately...oh yeah...finals *yuck*

A little friend...

Jaden caught this little guy in our driveway yesterday. For those of you who don't live in the desert, this is a baby "Horned Toad" or as most people call them...a horny toad **chuckle** It is actually a lizard as opposed to a toad or an amphibian. They are pretty slow, so they are easy to catch, and are really sweet when you actually get one. This one just sat quietly in Jaden's hand for a couple of minutes while he pet it. Jaden has learned to be very gentle with them, and puts them right back where he finds them "so they can go home to their mommy's." Such a sweet boy.

Just thought I'd give you a peek into our desert, where it is already over a 100 everyday. **YUCK!**

Time to break 'em all out!

The weekly challenge (#5) has been posted on the AMPA blog, and it sounds like so much fun! This time around you need to make a "scene" on your card. Time for the houses, grass, trees, fences, etc!! I can't wait!

I promise to have some cards posted tonight. It just didn't seem right to be posting cards yesterday. Memorial Day just felt a little more important. But, no worries..I have plenty to post to make up for it, hehehe!

Did you know?

That A*Muse is giving away awesome prizes every week? Like a ton of seriously great stuff? All you have to do to win one is register (don't forget to tell them I sent ya!) and then participate in the weekly challenges! Fun and easy peasey! Kind of like blog candy on steroids, lol.

Ambassador weekly random winner

A Muse picked a random Ambassador on the amuseapalooza blog for a yummy prize!

If you're like me...you are now dying to know what "they" won, right? Well, go check! Just click HERE and you can take a peek yourself.

Don't forget to register and tell 'em I sent you if you haven't yet!

Let us not forget...

What Memorial Day is about.

Let us not forget about the great men and women who have died for this country...for us...for freedom. Freedom of not just ourselves, but freedom for the oppressed everywhere. On this day, let us forget our political feelings about this war (ya'll know I have some strong ones) and remember...

The blog candy winner is...

Terry Molineux!!!

Terry said...
what that really stinks no computer...I would be lost without mine....I don't have a life so I spend it mostly on the computer when I am not stamping or shopping!!! LOL

I will go register and mention your name...thanks!

Now can I please win........... I NEVER WIN ANYTHING...

BTW have you been watching Young & the Restless...? I thought Nick was alive? Where is he? When is he coming back???????

Hahahaha, well I guess you can't say you've never won anything before now Terry! I used random.org to generate the winning number, giving each of you who had registered at A*Muse using my name an additional 5 entries. For example if the first person who commented had registered at a*muse, she would have been given #1 for her post, and numbers 2-6 for the extra entries. :)

Anyhow, the winning number was "unlucky" number 13, so Terry, please shoot me an email with your snail mail address and I'll get your goodies in the mail asap!
(and I don't know what the deal with Nick is on YnR, but I know his contract was extended for 5 years, so he WILL be back!! ) lol!!

Just sittin' here thinkin' of you...

Is the sentiment inside this card. Cute huh?

I decided to use up some of the patterned paper I have been hoarding. The paisley piece and the orange scalloped piece are from SEI. Petals and Paisley I think...pretty isn't it? The stamp and the sentiment inside the card are both from A*Muse. You didn't think I could skip my daily A*Muse card did ya? Gotta get my ambassador points. hehe

The ribbon is from May Arts. It is truly yummy....ties awesome because it is so soft. I also used some waterfall stickles on the chair and the lamp. They are all sparkly in real life :)

A Muse challenge 4

Did I mention that the 4th A Muse challenge is posted?? It is, and the prize this time is a surprise...what fun! Head on over to the AmuseaPalooza blog and check it out. It's quite "punchy"!

Love monsters

Ok, so I think I am going to stop with the step by step directions when I post a card...Whatda' ya think? If anyone will just die without them, let me know, otherwise I will just do a short run down. :)

I made this card with a couple of new A Muse stamps. Meet Skywriter and Monster Duo...cute aren't they? I stamped them on WW cardstock and colored them in with Stampin' Write markers. The "boy" monster is colored with a Bravo Burgundy marker and is almost as dark as the Chocolate Chip skinny oval. GRRRR! I wish SU! would come out with a better burgundy/raspberry color...oh wait, they are. Purely Pomegranate is coming in July!!!!!

The card base is Rose Romance and the burgundy scalloped square (giga) is Basic Grey. I am IN LOVE with the new ribbon. It's from May Arts and is to die for.

Don't forget to scroll down to the blog candy post while you're here!

Don't forget...

To scroll down to this post and leave a comment so you can win some great blog candy. The candy even includes an A*Muse stamp!

Also, if you haven't yet, head over to the AmuseaPalooza blog and register to take part in the amuseapalooza events.

And even better, if you tell them that I (Cori Bravo) sent you when you register, leave me a note in the comments section of the blog candy post, and I will give you 5 additional entries!!!

Run!

A Muse ATC

I cut an extra of each piece of the atc I made for the color coach swap, and made an A Muse atc with it.

This has the same colors, shapes, and accessories as the last atc. The only difference is that the previous atc was using Stampin' Up stamps and this one uses A Muse stamps.

I think it's fun to see the same card made with different stamps. Gives you more ideas!

Color coach ATC swap

I joined a color coach atc swap on scs a while back. Well, they are due asap, so I am trying to get them all finished. I signed up for 6 groups and this is for one of them. This is for my Chocolate Chip spot. The colored I used are Chocolate Chip, Almost Amethyst, So Saffron, and Rose Red.

The base is CC and then on it I mounted a piece of So Saffron that was stamped with the mushroom from the Unfroggetable stamp set. Then I tore the edge and adhered it to the card base.

Next I punched a piece of Whisper White cardstock with the small tag punch and stamped the dragonfly in Basic Black on it. I colored this in with my Stampin' Write markers, and then adhered it on to a piece of Almost Amethyst cardstock punched out with the large tag punch.

I punched a hole in these with my 1/8th circle punch and tied a piece of chocolate grosgrain ribbon. Then I mounted this onto the card base and stamped the sentiment (from the Warm Words stamp set) in Chocolate Chip ink on the bottom of the card.

So far the computer is being ok behaving again, so stay tuned for another atc.

Computer trouble=BLOG CANDY!

I am having allot of trouble with my laptop and may need to take it in to be fixed. If that happens I won't be able to post till I get it back. :( Very sad!

So, I decided to offer up some blog candy to keep things exciting while I'm gone. All you have to do is comment on this post.

And if you go over to the Amuseapalooza site and register to participate in the contests, and tell them that I sent you, I will give you an additional 5 entries in the blog candy contest! If you do register and use my name (Cori Bravo) as who sent you, please let me know in your comment on this post!

I fixed the above link too, so if you had tried to register and couldn't please give it another shot, the link should work now!! Thanks!

The blog candy is 2 of my favorite things...Christmas Red stickles, and the cow stamp from A*Muse!

I will draw the winner on Sunday night, or when I get my computer back, which ever is the latter.

Good luck!! Go register!!!!

I'm home!!

Only have had time for a quick card so far...

The berry is a brand new stamp I just got from A*Muse. I stamped it in Noir ink and punched it out with my mega and jumbo oval and scalloped oval punches. The strawberry was colored in with prismacolor markers and then blinged with some Christmas red stickles.

The base is Real Red stamped with the strawberry, then I ran some polka dotted sheer ribbon around the card, tied a bow and adhered the berry oval.

Quick and cute!

Holy stamps Batman!

Remember when I told you to go check out the Amuseapalooza blog and guess how many stamps were in Jennifer's suitcase? Well the winner was revealed and there were an amazing amount of stamps in there...956 to be exact! WOWZA. I was off my about 100 stamps, oh well! It was fun though! Make sure you keep checking the AMPA blog HERE for all the fun contests and if you for some crazy reason haven't registered, you should! And tell 'em Cori Bravo sent ya! Thanks!!

AmuseaPalooza winner announced

For last week's sketch challenge. Make sure you head over to the AMuseaPalooza blog and see if it was you! Plus you can check the links for all the pretty cards that were made for the challenge. If you haven't yet, be sure to register for the prizes and tell 'em Cori Bravo sent ya! Thanks!

My last Tennessee card...

Well it's about time to pack up the stamping stuff. I leave for home and the 105 degree heat tomorrow morning.

This was a quick card I made while packing up. The elephant was stamped in Noir ink on WW cardstock and colored it in with Prismacolor marker. I also used a 20% cool grey marker to create the shadow. This was mounted on a mega scalloped square punched from Basic Black cardstock.

The card base is 3"x4" of turquoise Bazzil cardstock. ON this I mounted the strip of Chatterbox paper and then the scalloped square with Ellie on it. To finish it up, I used some Fruit Punch stickles to bling up her bow.

Quick and easy...now time to pack it up. (even the new Faux Ribbon PTI stamp set and the essential glue pad that I just bought this morning...BWAHAHA!)

The "eyes" have it...

How beautiful are these? These belong to my baby who isn't such a baby anymore. My baby who I just registered for kindergarten a week ago, my baby who after a week I am missing. But how could I not....just look at him.

Just thought I'd share before I head to bed. Beautiful isn't he?

Limited supply card #4

Ok, so I am trying to get back to my challenge of only using what I brought. I only cheated a tiny bit on this card...I used the scalloped square punch. That's not REALLY cheating, is it? lol.

Anyhow, for this card I stamped the cow on Whisper White cardstock in Noir hybrid ink and then colored her in with Prismacolor markers. I also used the 20% grey prisma marker to create the ground under her. Next I used my black Stampin' Write marker to doodle around the edge of the square. Then I mounted this on a piece of the Scarlett's Letter Basic Grey paper that was punched with the mega scalloped square.

The card base is Real Red with two strips of Scarlett's Letter paper across it. Then I used my scissors and slit a small slit along the crease to run the red polka dotted ribbon through (my very last piece). I tied the ribbon in a bow and adhered the image over the top.

To finish the card up I stamped the sentiment "holy cow!" in the Noir hybrid ink along the bottom edge. I am getting alot of stamping done here since I don't have anything important to do, but I sure will enjoy getting home and being able to use the rest of my "schtuff"!

Not so limited supply card #3

So my limited supplies just don't cut it when there is a scrapbook store 2 miles away, lol. This card is made with the leftovers from my atc swap and some other pieces of cardstock that I brought with me.

The cute little duck image was stamped on Whisper White cardstock in Noir black hybrid ink and then colored in with Prismacolor markers. Then I masked him off and stamped the small skinny oval in blue chalk ink. This was mounted on a mega scalloped square square that was punched out of the Chatterbox paper (the reverse size is a solid). I then used my Signo white gel pen to dot the scallops.

The card base is Yo Yo Yellow and I adhered a strip of the Chatterbox paper along the side and then faux stitched each side. Then I just adhered the scalloped square image, stamped the sentiment on the bottom, and added the button with the polka dotted ribbon tied through it. I'm not exactly sure if I like the button. The card felt like it needed something, but I'm still not sure if it what it needed....hmmmmm

A*Muse ATC swap...

So no one wanted to join my swap (insert sad face). It seems that only the "famous" bloggers can get a swap going. Stinks cuz you get 30 points in the A*Muse ambassador contest if you have a swap of 6 people. No 30 points for me...ok, I'm done whining now, lol.

Anyhow, since no one would join mine, I joined Taylor's. I just love this little bear stamp. I think it is so cute.

All the paper is from the Clarksville local scrap store (Memories in Bloom) who prolly think I'm crazy since I've been there 3 times in 2 days. What can I say, it's boring while the bro and sil are at work. Anyhow, the paper I think is all Bazzil and the patterned paper is Chatterbox. Very pretty I think.

The bear is stamped on white cardstock in Noir Hybrid ink and then colored in with Prismacolor markers. I masked him off (having to use cardstock instead of a post it, so it isn't perfect, grr!) and then stamped the skinny small oval stamp with French Blue chalk ink so that he could have something to sit on. I mounted him on a mega scalloped square (that I bought today, hehe) and mounted it on the atc base.

Next I used my signo white pen to dot the scallops, and tied some ribbon around the bottom. I had planned to use the stitched taupe ribbon around all of them, but somehow 3 yards wasn't enough for 10 atc's??? Maybe it was measured wrong, who knows. Anyhow, for the couple that I didn't have enough ribbon for, I used the sheer polka dotted ribbon. I think they both look a-ok with their different ribbons.

What do you think? Would you be ok getting this as a swap?? I think I have a swappers complex. I never am quite sure if it is good enough, lol.

Little Lady

Here is the first card I made with my new PaperTrey Ink set. This set is just so stinking cute!

The cardbase is Bashful Blue stamped with the small lady bug image all over to create a patterned cardstock. I used two colors of blue chalk ink to create the wings, and my noir hybrid ink to stamp the spots and bodies.

Then I tied a piece of black polka dotted ribbon around the base and tied it in a bow near the bottom.

The main image was stamped on Whisper White cardstock. I used the French Blue chalk ink and the noir hybrid to stamp the lady bug and then followed up with the two dot image to make the little trail. I stamped the sentiment along two edges of the image (masking them to create the two line sentiment instead of one long line as it was created.)

This was adhered on some Basic Black cardstock and then onto the card base. I apologize for the poor quality picture...didn't bring anything with me to take good pics with, lol.

Acrylic Stamps

I have had some questions about inks to use with the acrylic stamps. First let me preface this with I am not an experienced acrylic stamper. In fact the PaperTrey ink sets were the first acrylic stamps I had purchased. I now have them and a couple of sets from A*Muse.

Sometimes when you use acrylic with a dye based ink you get some ink pooling on the surface of your stamp. It looks like the ink is beading up and when you stamp it is uneven inking. One way to avoid this is to use a good quality acrylic stamp like the ones from A Muse or Paper Trey ink. These will sometimes pool the ink but not as often as say the acrylic stamps from the dollar spot in Michaels. If your classic ink pad is really juicy, they will pool, so try and ink them lightly to avoid this.

If you are open to purchasing new inks to use with acrylic, there are 2 types I highly reccomend. The first is a Pallete Hybrid ink from Stewart Superior. You can pick them up with your PaperTrey Ink sets for 6 dollars a pad at Paper Trey Ink's website.

The other ink that is great with acrylic stamps is a chalk ink. You can get these usually locally at a scrapbook store or even at Michaels. If you can't find them, you can get them online here at Eclectic Paperie and here at All That Scraps. The cat's eye pads are great. They are small, inexpensive, and last for a long time. I am actually going to pick some up today at Memories in Bloom so I can play with my new PaperTrey ink set, since I didn't bring any colored ink with me it gives me the perfect excuse to buy more, hehe!

Well that is my little run down on inks with acrylic stamps. I am by no means an expert, just learning, but hopefully this will help some of you!

Limited supplies card #2

Ok, so yesterday when I listed my supplies I brought with me, well I forgot one tiny thing. I also brought a bottle of diamond stickles. A girl can't leave town without some bling, can she? lol. I know I have been slightly cheating using the PaperTrey set, but they would cry if they were abandoned immediately after purchase...right? lol!

For this card I used a base of Bashful Blue cardstock cut to a 4x4 square. Then I used the ladybug trail to create the bg with my versamark ink. Next I took some black and white sheer polka dotted ribbon and tied them around the card using a piece of hodgepodge hardware that was in my button container I brought along.

The image of the cute little whale was stamped on one of the ovals in Noir black ink and colored in with a muted turquoise prismacolor marker. Then I used the 20% cool grey marker to create the shadow. This was mounted on a black scalloped oval (last one I have **sad face**) and then mounted onto the card base.

To finish it up, I added the diamond stickles to the whale, dotted the scallops with my Signo white gel pen, and stamped the sentiment in the bottom corner with my Noir hybrid ink. This was a 5 minute card and I am really quite pleased with how it turned out!

Have a great day...I'm heading back to the scrapbook store, hehe...well, once the Young and the Restless is over, lol!

How many stamps???

Head on over to the AmuseaPalooza blog and guess how many stamps are in Jennifer's suitcase. If you're right, you'll win a 100 dollar gift certificate to A*Muse!

If you haven't registered yet, do that too while you were there, and if you tell them that Cori Bravo referred you I will be forever grateful!

Limited supplies card #1

Ok, so when I left home, I brought a tiny bit of stuff with me to make some cards with. I brought...
* 6 sheets of cardstock
* 6 punched out scalloped ovals and regular ovals to mount with them
* 3 feet of ribbon. (1 ft of each of 3 colors)
* 6 prismacolor markers
* Signo gel pen
* Paper Piercer
* Scissors, Paper Cutter, and adhesive
* SU! button container with a few embellishments
* 6x6 pad of Basic Grey Scarlets Letter designer paper
* Animal Wishes A*Muse acrylic stamp set

This is the first card I made with my limited supplies. The kitty was stamped in Noir hybrid ink on a jumbo scalloped oval and then mounted on a mega scalloped oval punched from Basic Black cardstock. She was colored in, and the ground was created with prismacolor markers.

The card base is RealREd stamped with the flowers from the new PaperTrey Ink set Little Lady that I just picked up today in versamark. Then I mounted a small strip of one of the Scarlet Letter papers across the card and mounted the oval on top of it. The sentiment was stamped under the little kitty on the red ground that I created with my Prismacolor marker>

To finish the card up, I added a button that was tied with some polka dotted organdy ribbon. This was a really quick card, and with the few supplies I had, I'm quite pleased with it.

Ok, gotta run, the finale of Grey's Anatomy is gonna be on in a half hour...whoo hoo!

Look what I found!

At the local scrapbook store no less! Yup, the newest release "Little Lady" from Paper Trey ink. Uh huh, it's only been out 2 days and I have one, tee hee hee. Turns out that Nicole from PTI lives here in Clarksville TN and sells her stamps at the local scrap store Memories in Bloom. So today while my brother and sister-in-law were at work, I drove over there to investigate, and this is what I found. (insert huge happy face!)

I also picked up two bottles of stickles, Orange Peel and Fruit Punch, and a fab. set of Heidi Swapp goodis (not pictured cuz they are in a box.)

Now I'm gonna have to go back tomorrow so I can get some chalk inks to play with while I'm here. I didn't think about it while I was there, and all I brought with me was the Noir hybrid black and my versamark.

Stay tuned for a new card I made today...

Better late than never...

Sorry I am so late posting this tonight. I'm leaving to visit my brother in Tennessee tomorrow, and just finished packing, lol.

Anyhow, the 3rd week's AmuseaPalooza challenge has been posted. WHOO HOOO!! The prize this week is a year membership to the Splitcoaststamper's Fan Club, and a travel mug in your choice of colors. How great does that sound?

This week the challenge is a card sketch. Make sure you head over to the amuseapalooza blog (linked above) and check out the sketch. Here is my interpretation...

This card is 4x4 square and the base is Whisper White cardstock. I kept this card pretty simple. You know the A*Muse statement "Think Simple. Think A Muse" well that was the muse behind my newest A Muse card. (hehehe...cheezy I know!)

Across the card base is a strip of Polka Dot designer paper. It is from the Petals and Paisley designer paper collection from Stampin' Up. On this, I added a bow tied with some sheer white polka dotted ribbon and adhered with a mini glue dot.

The image is Sniffer. Remember her? Well today she is decked out in Tempting Turquoise bling collar, and has had her fur dyed Creamy Caramel. *wink wink* Behind this image, I created a scalloped frame with a couple of giga scalloped squares that were punched out of Tempting Turquoise cardstock.

Stay tuned, I have an itty bitty bit of stamping stuff in my suitcase. You will all be witnesses to me having to use what I brought with me. I will definitely miss all my supplies, but am looking forward to the challenge. The only stamps I am taking with me is the A*Muse small skinny oval and the Animal Wishes acrylic set (also from A Muse). I know it's kind of cheating to take a "set" but luckily, acrylic is making traveling stamping easy.

More tomorrow from TN...

Hoppy little bugger...

Oooh here is another of my new stamps from the A*Muse summer release. This little grasshopper is one of my favorites.

I stamped him and the grass on Whisper White cardstock in Green Galore and Glorious Green (respectively). Then I colored in his head, body, and wings with an Avocado Prismacolor marker. I cut this out to a 1 3/4 inch square and mounted it on a giga scalloped square punched out of Glorious Green cardstock. Then it wouldn't be complete without the white dots on the scallops, (haha) so I added them with my Signo white gel pen.

The card base is Green Galore stamped with a polka dotted circle from a SU! set from a past mini (the name is totally escaping me, lol). Over this I mounted a piece of Taken with Teal cardstock that was also stamped with this stamp set. I tied some ribbon I got at Michaels around this and mounted it on the card base and mounted the grasshopper over this.

It needed a little something else, so I did a faux stitch along the edges of the Teal piece and some Eucalyptus stickles to the grasshopper's wings. The sentiment is from the SU! Unfroggetable set but A*Muse has a tiny one like it that I may need to pick up, he he. I used a marker and my stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the sentiment.

Fun huh? I am really happy with the card itself, but I am thinking the stamped part (hopper) needs something else....you think? Did you check out the Amuseapalooza blog yet? The new challenge is about to be posted and you don't want to miss out on awesome free goodies do you? Well then get over there! **wink**

I've been tagged!

For the first time!! I know all the rest of you bloggers have been going crazy and getting sick of being tagged, but not me! hehe...I'v been patiently waiting to be tagged and it finally happened! Thanks to Rebecca at Bella Carta!

So I am supposed to list 7 things about myself and tag 7 people, so here goes...

1. I have been going to school FOREVER it feels like, and just finished my last math class. I am now at the home stretch and hope to get my degree in December.

2. I have changed my major 7 times. Ha ha ha I know! I have wanted to be everything from an Interpreter for the Deaf to a Special Education teacher. Guess what my degree is going to be in? English literature. How funny is that? Too bad they don't have a bachelors degree in stamping huh? lol

3. I am addicted to soda...Pepsi especially. Every year I try to give it up, make it a month and fall off the wagon. Sad I know.

4. I am really short. I'm only 5'3" and my dad is 6'3" lotta good he did me huh?

5. Even though I am short, I have HUGE feet. I wear a size 11 shoe. I think that I was supposed to be tall...I have tall person feet...the rest of me didn't get the message.

6. I love the Young and the Restless. I have been watching it forever and was devastated today by the apparent death of Nicholas. (insert dorky sad face)

7. I refused to go to the first Stampin' Up party that I was invited to. Not interested I claimed. You can guess what happened, lol.

Ok now for the 7 people, I guess I am going to tag KK(cuz she hasn't updated her blog in a month, Stephanie,Cindy, Allison, Chris, Kurtis, and last but not least Linda because she is a stamping goddess and the life behind my current obsession with AmuseaPalooza (and if you haven't checked out the AmuseaPalooza blog yet, shame on you! Scoot! Get over there and join in the fun!!!

Sniffer

Sorry I didn't get anything posted this weekend. Between my stamp club, Mother's Day, and a final for my online class I was Busy with a capital "B."

I threw this card together last night before I went to bed. I was planning on uploading it then, but my computer had other ideas, lol.

The little dog on this card is brand spankin' new! It is from the Summer A*Muse release. The little girl's name is Sniffer. Cute huh? She actually looks like my Rosie who is a Jack Russel Terrier.

I stamped Sniffer in Burnt Sienna Palette Hybrid ink on Shimmery White cardstock. Then I masked her and stamped the small skinny oval (also from A Muse) in Real Red ink under her. I then took my Real Red marker to color in her collar. She seemed to need a little bling, so I added a teeny tiny rhinestone (I think it's from Hero Arts) on the center of her collar.

I punched her out with my jumbo oval punch and mounted it on a mega scalloped circle that was punched out of Real Red cardstock. Then I took my white Signo gel pen and added some lines to the scallops.

The card base is Pretty in Pink (4 1/4 inch square) that was stamped with one of the stamps from the Big Pieces SU! set. I then added a scrap of some Valentine paper I had been hoarding (I think it is from Fiskars Cloud 9) and tied some pink and red stitched ribbon from May Arts around the strip and adhered it to the card base.

To finish the card up I used my Pretty in Pink ink pad and direct to paper inked up the edges, and stamped the sentiment in the Burt Sienna Hybrid ink.

Don't forget to swing by the Amuseapalooza site today. The winner of last week's card challenge has been posted and the new challenge is going to be posted soon.

I promised...

To post some Stampin' Up stuff, and here it is! Tomorrow my lovely group of stamp ladies meet, and these are the two projects that we will be stamping. I try to use the same colors and stamp sets for all of the projects that we do on one day. I think that it helps to show the versatility of your "stuff". For these projects, we will be using Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, and Chocolate Chip cardstock, ink, and ribbon. The stamp set is Natural Beauty, one of my absolute favorites (and it's retiring *insert sad face*), Crosshatch BG (also retiring), and the Rough Texture jumbo wheel.

This 8 1/2x11 scrapbook page is the first project we will be doing. The background is wheeled with the Rough Texture wheel. Then both pieces of cardstock were stamped with the leaf from the Natural Beauty stamp set. I punched the edges of the picture mounting piece with the Ticket corner punch. I tied a couple of pieces of ribbon around the strip along the left side, and then stamped the title in Whisper White craft ink with the Whimsical Lower alpha (also retiring, and I am truly traumatized by this!)

This card is the second project we will be making. The card features the Pearl Ex Floored technique. The card bg is stamped with the Crosshatch BG, and then a piece of white grosgrain is tied around the card. The flower was stamped on Whisper White cardstock with black Stazon and then colored in with a Certainly Celery marker and the blue/green duo pearl ex and my aqua painter. I then direct to papered the white edges, punched all the corners with the ticket corner punch, and mounted this over the ribbon onto the card base. To finish up the card, I used the round tab punch and punched out a tab from some Cool Caribbean cardstock, and used a Taken with Teal marker and my stampamajig to stamp the sentiment onto the tab. (the sentiment is one of the tiny words on the word block in the Natural Beauty stamp set). I mounted this on the edge of the image square, and that was it!

My SU! stamps are still complaining of A*Muse favoritism, but at least they got a little workout tonight, lol.

I'm ducky, how r you?

I am so pleased with how this card turned out. Don't ya just love it when you get an idea in your head and it actually works out the way you were hoping it would?

The little duck was stamped in Chocolate Chip ink on Shimmery White cardstock. Then I colored him in with a blender pen and a Summer Sun refill. He looked a little boring so I touched him up with some yellow Stickles when I was finished. He was punched out with my 1 1/4 inch SU! circle punch and layered on a 1 3/8 inch circle of Summer Sun cardstock that was also created with a SU! punch.

The card base is Chocolate Chip cardstock stamped with CC ink and the flower stamp from the Big Pieces stamp set (from a couple of mini catalogs ago). Then I used my Signo white gel pen to add a dot to each petal. This added a little interest to the background.

Nest I used my word window punch on the bottom of the card, stamped the sentiment "Just Ducky" in Chocolate Chip ink on some more Shimmery White cardstock and adhered it inside the card so that the sentiment could be seen from the outside.

To finish the card up I tied a piece of stitched yellow grosgrain ribbon (from Michaels) around the card and adhered the duck circle over it with some Stampin' Dimensionals.

Cute huh? Ok, so I do love this one, lol. Did you notice anything else? Yup, this card uses NO BLACK INK...you know what that means right? That means that I can enter it in this weeks card challenge on the A*musea*palooza blog. Have you entered a card yet? Better hurry up and submit one, the prize is Amazing!

More new stamps

Aren't they cute? I picked these up last week, and today was the first day I got to ink them up. LOVE 'EM!

I stamped the chair and lamp on Shimmery White cardstock in Bravo Burgundy ink, then masked them off and stamped the bird and the small skinny oval in Brocade Blue. I colored all the images in with a blender pen and ink refills.

The hole was punched into the card base with my Giga scalloped square, and then the images were adhered from the inside of the card. The edges of the hole were brightened up a bit with some faux stitching, and then I added the sentiment "Just sittin' here thinkin' of you" in Whisper White craft ink.

To finish up the card I sliced a small slit in the crease, and tied some light blue sheer polka dot ribbon around the base.

This was a really fun and quick card to make. Don't forget to check out the A*Muse A*Palooza blog HERE to see all the entries for the card contest, and maybe enter one of your own.

The obsession continues...

Seriously, I do own some Stampin' Up stuff. I swear I do. I promise, that like every good Stampin' Up demonstrator, I have mountains of their beautiful rubber stashed everywhere in my house. But the chance at free goodies, is just forcing me to obsess over my A*Muse stamps. Do you want to win free goodies? Run to the amuseapalooza blog and check it out! hehehe

Here is my third card for the second A*MuseaPalooza challenge. For this card, I stamped the line of birds in Going Grey ink on Shimmery White cardstock. Then I used a blender pen with my Cool Caribbean reinker to color in the birdies, and a Vintage Violet reinker with a blender pen and the color spritzer to spritz up the background. I mounted this on a piece of Going Grey cardstock as well.

The card base is Vintage Violet 4x4 square, and I mounted the strip of scalloped Cool Caribbean cardstock that was stamped with the Linen bg stamp and scalloped with my slit punch. I adhered this strip on the card base with two silver brads, and then used my paper piercer and white Signo gel pen to faux stitch along the edge.

To finish the card up, I stamped the sentiment "A Little Birdie Told Me" in Vintage Violet ink. Fun Card....Fun Contest...Fun Stamps! Have you checked it out for yourself yet? NO? OMGosh, run to the amuse blog and register!

Mother's Day card..

I made this card last night for my grandma for Mother's Day. She is a quilter/knitter, so I thought she would appreciate this new stamp I got from A*Muse. I also got the awesome sentiment that goes with it "Knit Happens" haha but I didn't think she would appreciate that one so much so I used another one I just picked up yesterday that says "Have a Spenderifous Day".

This one also fulfills the week 2 challenge for AMUseaPalooza (go check out the challenge for yourself at the amuseapalooza blog) (anyhow, the challenge was to use no black ink). I was obviously stuck on Going Gray and scallops last night. The yarn was stamped on shimmery white cardstock in Going Grey ink and then colored in with a Cool Caribbean reinker and blender pen. I cut this out with my colluzzle and then mounted it on a mega scalloped circle stamped from Cool Caribbean ink. Then I took my paper piercer and Signo white gen pen to dot the centers of the scallops.

The card base is Going Grey stamped with the Floral BG stamp (which is way prettier on a card than it is in the catalog by the way). Next I took a small strip of Cool Caribbean cardstock, stamped it with the Canvas BG and used my slit punch to create the scalloped edge.

I adhered this on the card base and then added a couple of finishing touches. I dotted the side scallops with my gel pen and tied a sheer polka dot ribbon along the edge. The sentiment was stamped along the bottom edge in Going Gray ink and called it done. What do ya think??

Soldier card

I used one of my new A*Muse stamps tonight to make a card for one of the soldiers that we send care packages to. The second week challenge was to use NO black ink. Check out all the fab cards that have been made for the challenge on the amuseapalooza blog HERE Wowza!

For this card, I stamped the Lady Liberty from A*Muse in Going Gray classic ink on Whisper White cardstock. Then I took my blender pen and colored her in with some classic reinker. Even though she is supposed to be all gray, she looked a little dull, so I used some yellow stickles to add some color to her crown and torch.

Then I punched this out with a jumbo oval punch from Marvy and mounted it on a scalloped mega oval punched out of Yo Yo Yellow cardstock. Then I took my white Signo gel pen and added a dot to each scallop.

The card base is Going Grey cardstock stamped with the ribbon from the retired Godspeed stamp set, and then stamped again with the Linen background stamp. Along the left edge, I mounted a piece of Whisper White cardstock that I scalloped with my SU! slit punch. I used a Going Gray Stampin Write marker to add the dots to each scallop. To finish the card up, I added a small bow with some Maize grosgrain ribbon.

I promise to try and have a Stampin' Up creation tomorrow. A*MuseaPalooza has invaded my brain, hehe!

A*Muse swap

Since A*Musea*Palooza is happenin' I thought I would try my hand at the ambassador contest. One of the ways to earn points is by hosting an A*Muse swap. You can read all about the ambassador contest and other great challenges on the Amuseapalooza blog. Just click on the link over on my side bar.

Sooo, if you would like to help me out, and get some cute cards, join my swap!

Deets-
7 full cards featuring A*Muse stamps with NVR on papers and embellishments.

Cards due to me by June 1st and will be returned to you within a week. Please include a SASE with the same postage it took you to mail to me, plus an additional loose stamp just in case.

If you would like to join, please email me at coribravo1014@aol.com. I will then confirm your spot and send you my address to mail your swaps. Thanks for joining and helping me with the Ambassador contest!!

1. Cori Bravo
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Birthday card

My friend Sally's little one turned 5 a week or so, and today is his party. I had plans to make a pirate card, but HAD to use my new A*Muse stamps instead, lol.

To start with, I stamped the blow up pool in Cool Caribbean ink on Whisper White cardstock. Then I masked the pool and stamped the lifeguard chair in Close to Cocoa. I masked this as well, and then stamped the little bird on top of the chair in black ink.

The little dino was stamped in Basic Black on Whisper White, colored in with a Gable Green marker, and then cut out. I used my craft knife to cut a slit in the pool and put the dino inside. The chair and bird were colored in with reinkers and a blender pen. Then I used my blender pen and color spritzer tool to spritz the sky in.

I punched the corners with the ticket corner punch, and stamped the backgrounds with the retired Paisley Print bg from Stampin' Up.

To finish the card off, I tied some sheer white polka dot ribbon around the edge, and added a chipboard tag that I cut out with my Cuttlebug. The tag was stamped with "Wish" from the Small Sayings stamp set and then I used direct to paper to color the tag green. I hooked it to the ribbon with a little jump ring.

Hope you all had a great weekend! Don't forget to swing by the A*Muse A*Palooza blog and join in on one of the challenges. Tons of fun for all!

A*MuseA*Palooza

Omgosh, you guys know how obsessed I am with A*Muse stamps right? Well A*Muse is having their 2nd annual A*MuseA*Palooza right now. It has prizes and contests, and tons of stuff. You can check it out by clicking HERE. If you register, please tell them Cori Bravo sent you! **wink**

Here is my card for the first week's challenge. It was to use only black ink. I started out with one of the Brown Cottage Argyle note cards. I trimmed it down a little so that it was a 4 inch square card. Just slightly smaller than they come. Then I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the fence across the card in Noir hybrid black ink. Once the fence was complete, I used a black stampin' write marker to ink up the birdies (omitting the wire) and used the SAMJ again to line them up and stamp them on the fence.

Next, I masked off a portion of the fence and then stamped "Patch" on the ground behind the fence in the black Noir ink. I colored the whole card in with my Prismacolor Markers, and then stamped the sentiment "A little birdie told me" on the bottom of the card in the Noir black ink.

It seemed a little dull to me, so to finish it up, I used some icicle stickles to bling up the birdies' feathers a bit. I really like this card, I think it makes a nice "sister" to the card I made last week before the evil illness wiped me out. **wink**.

Keep checking back, I got a TON of new A*Muse stamps this week while I was sick. (There was nothing else to do but shop, hehe) and the A*Musea*Palooza is the perfect reason to ink them up.