a little man with a BIG heart!

Happy December!

I love this little guy! It's one of the easiest projects ever. 

(and if you come to the workshop on Saturday you'll get to

make one of your own!) 2 dies and a little twine and you

have the cutest little guy. The only thing better is...

more than one!

All products are by A Muse Studio

Card Recipe:  Cardstock- cocoa, cherry; Accessories- gingerbread die, heart trio die, cherry baker's twine

Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Thank you for visiting my little corner of the web. Today I want to share this little inchie card and my gratitude to all of the friends, old and new, that share their creativity with me. Thank you to my customers and hostesses for spending time getting crafty with me. I appreciate doing the fun business that we do together! Thank you to my fellow A Muse Studio Creative Consultants--working with you is a joy and a privilege. I thank God everyday for the blessing He has given through this creative endeavor and sharing that with people like you makes it all the more rewarding. Many blessings to you.

I  hope you like my little card. Inchies are one of my favorite things to make. They are great any time of year with any kind of stamp or style! I'd love to see what kind of inchies you make. 

All products by A Muse Studio

Card Recipe: Stamp Set-Turkey Time; Cardstock- vanilla, pumpkin; Ink- memento rich cocoa, french roast; Accessories-copics, 1" square punch

a little inspiration!

Sometimes we all need a little inspiration. These are some of the things that have been inspiring me lately. These designs are from the A Muse Studio Inspiration Guide & Catalog. This is one of my favorite places to look when I need some ideas. So here's a little something to get your creative self going....

This Warm Winter Wishes card uses a pretty stamp set that's on sale right now through the end of December. I'll be teaching it at my November and December workshops. If you're interested send me an email. at  lara@amusestudio.com.

It uses a few of my favorite things: glitter and super stick tape, a stamp positioner (love that tool for lining things up "just right") and candy cane stripe patterned cardstock.

What are you making this Christmas?

And how cute is this tag?

A little cocoa cardstock, a g-man die, a warm felt heart, some bakers twine for a scarf, and little glitter to give it a sugar dusted touch!

I just love this little guy....he will be making an appearance on my Christmas gifts this year. Everyone needs a little man so cute and yummy...makes ya just want to bite his head off. I'm hungry for some cookies all of a sudden. How 'bout you?

What inspires you lately?






All products used are from A Muse Studio. These cards were designed by the talented Creative Muses at A Muse Studio. I did NOT make them....yet.....just was so excited I had to share.

red and white (& the new Spotlight!)

I am a big fan of red & white. I love to mix these colors any chance I get. And Christmas gives me an occasion to really play with that. So when I saw the new Spotlight projects it was love at first sight.                                                        The coasters are adorable and I am going to be making some tomorrow. {Ann, if you are reading my blog, close your eyes! You may be getting these for Christmas!}  How cute & easy! Gotta love that....tie them up with some ribbon, add a hot cocoa mix and you've got a cute little Christmas gift good to go. Come to think of it I wonder who else might like this. Hmm... This could be fun!                                                    If you haven't had a chance to play and create with the A Muse Studio felt you have been missing out. The colors are lovely and coordinate perfectly with the ribbons, paper, pearls and twinkles. But as you can see, sometimes you don't even need bling (did I really just say that...no sparkle necessary? But look at how cute, fast, and fabulous these coasters are!!). All you need is some felt, some heat'n'bond and some dies. Easy-peasey-lemon-squeezy! Crafty goodness at it's best! 

And I love this little tree. SO easy to make! Isn't it great when a simple project gives you that big WOW! factor you're going for?!  I may just have to host my own Cookie Swap after seeing all the beautiful and inspiring project for this month's Spotlight. Click on the a|s Spotlight tab about to see more inspiring photos and all of the Spotlight details! And if you really love it, email me and we can set up YOUR VERY OWN WORKSHOP featuring the current Spotlight features or anything else that you'd like to make. I do workshops all over the New England/Seacoast area and New Jersey when I'm in the area. I'd love to get crafty with you and your friends! Email me with your contact info and we will set something up. I have a  few spots left but they are going to go soon....don't miss it!

lara@amusestudio.com

...acorns!

I saw this card at the A Muse Shop and knew that I was going to have to make it myself just because it is so cute! I also live in a place where there are a lot of squirrels and acorns so it feels rather home-y to me. 

This is one of those cards where I like to use my stamp positioner to get those acorns all lined up "just so." If you haven't tried this tool yet it is worth playing with. It's easy to use and can save you a headache of what could be "fussy stamping."  You can just stamping it quick and get to the copic coloring.  So that's my little woo hoo for the stamp positioner and to the creative muse stamping away at the shop.....Love this card! Thank you!

All products by A Muse Studio
Card Recipe: Stamp Sets - woodland friends, autumn beauty; Cardstock - wheat, fern, sugar; Ink - Memento black, french roast, nutmeg; Copics - YG95, YG97, E33, E37, W2

...snow!

I think there is a frosty pumpkin card in my future.

....leaves.

 Happy Fall! This is my favorite time of the year. I love the changing of the season from Summer to Autumn. I love the changing of the leaves, the riot of color that happens every year. When I first saw this stamp set I knew I would have to have it to play with. It just makes me so happy.

Here's a close up! Don't you just love how the inks play so nicely together and layer like a dream?! 

Card Recipe: ALL ingredients are A Muse Studio. Stamp sets: autumn leaves, mesh background, contemporary greetings; Cardstock: squash, vanilla; Ink: nutmeg, squash, pumpkin, toffee
Post or go to www.amusestudio.com/larakalapacs for info on ordering these goodies.

It's Spotlight time again! 

This month we have a beautiful Autumn Harvest theme. It's perfect for Thanksgiving and any other get together you may be having this fall. I love the inspiration to take my stamping off the card and into so fun decorating.

I am giddy about these sparkling pumpkins! I love the shimmer of the A Muse Studio Diamond glitter in the candle light! What a fun way to add an elegant touch to a Harvest celebration of any kind. I've got my mind on Thanksgiving right now, but I can't help but wonder what in my house will wind up glittered by Christmas. Anything that doesn't move on it's own is in serious trouble!

If you are suddenly in need of some glitter or you're interested in shopping the Spotlight check out my website: www.amusestudio.com/larakalapacs.  And if you'd like to host a workshop in the New Hampshire Seacoast area send me an email at lara@amusestudio.com. I'd love to teach you and your friends how to make some of these fabulous Spotlight projects!

...halloween owls.

 I love this little owl! He makes such a perfect wrapping for this halloweenie button bracelet that I made. I first saw the owl as a spotlight project done in blues and yellow, and I knew I was going to have to make an orange and black version of my own.

It was so easy I can hardly stand it! (My favorite kind of project!) Just cut out some circles and an oval with your dies and Big Shot. Stamp some circles in onyx. Trim the top of your mini brown bag to a point. Stick everything down. Add some buttons to finish the eyes and you are good to go!

The bracelet was equally easy, just slip buttons through split rings and link them to a bracelet. It takes a little longer to do than the owl, but it's easy enough.

What a hooot! (couldn't resist!) Happy Halloween crafting!!

All products used are by A Muse Studio:
Stamp Set- rock star; Cardstock- sugar, onyx, pumpkin, papya; Ink- onyx; Accessories- (mini) brown paper bag, onyx buttons, glue dots, pumpkin buttons


Split rings and bracelet were from my stash of crafty goodness, but similar items can be found in craft stores and jewelry making websites.
https://www.amusestudio.com/larakalapacs

...chocolate

I've been obsessed with dressing up treats for the last little bit and I don't see that ending any time soon. Here are 2 of my latest. Hope you find them inspiring!

It's amazing to me how much fun a simple chocolate bar can look when you dress it well. So much fun to play with! Frightful and delightful indeed!

All Products are A Muse Studio

Treat Recipe: Stampset-too cute to spook, Ink-versamark, onyx, Cardstock-onyx, orange polka dot, Sleepy Hallow, wasabi, slate woodgrain; Accessories-web/swirl impression plates, onyx baker's twine, onyx and white embossing powder, twinkle stickers, nestibilities circle die, tag die, sanding block and score board.

...a funny pun

If you know me for any length of time, you will learn that I love a good pun. They make me laugh, I can't help it. So a friend sent me this picture from Disneyland of a sign it was called Le Bat en Rouge...I couldn't do anything but go and make a card...

All products are by A Muse Studio.

Card Recipe: Stamp sets-Essential Sentiments and Spooky Boo Day; Ink-slate, onyx, pebble; Cardstock-onyx gingham, sugar, onyx shimmer damask, onyx and cherry; Accessories- red twinkle stickers, spooky fence die, pinking border die, 3d tape, bat trio die (AND a very punny pun!)

...dressing up treats!

One of the things I like most about Halloween is all of the fun ways to make treats a little extra fun! A Reeses Peanut Butter Cup is a good thing all on its own, but how cute is it when it is all wrapped up in black & white polkadots and a fun halloweenie colors?! I couldn't resist making more than one! I think I like the orange best, but the reverse scallop on the purple is fun too, and I love the new wasabi green cardstock. It's good I don't have to choose. :)

It was easy-peasey-lemon-squeezey to make these just wrapped the polkadot cardstock around the PB cup, added a band of color and used a dot of adhesive to hold it together (don't want to make it too hard to get to the treat afterall). I did a little something different with each of the colors--stamped the green with "trick or treat", reverse cut a scalloped edge on the purple, and wound some onyx baker's twine around the orange.For all three I cut out circles in Sleepy Hallow text Cardstock and stamped and colored the pumpkin. I needed to cut off the top of the pumpkin and then stamped and cut out the cat and stuck 'em all together. So much fun!

What will your treats be dressing up as this year? I've got more ideas coming over the next couple of months so keep an eye out. If you LOVE an idea you see and need more info or would like to know how to get the goodies to make your very own please let me know. You can email me at laralovek@gmail.com.

All Products are by A Muse Studio.

Recipe: Stampset-too cute to spook; Cardstock-onyx polkadot, pumpkin, wasabi, heather, Sleepy Hollow, sugar; Ink- memento tuxedo black, onyx; Accessories- onyx baker's twine, scallop border die, 3d-tape, Copics in Y38, YR16, YR18, E31, E33.

...back to school!

I just had to share some of these adorable projects. The creative muses at A Muse Studio have out done themselves for this adorable Spotlight.

A cute gift for the teacher!

Love the "punny" notes!

Seriously cute book covers!

And a backpack that I just HAVE TO make! It features our new felt!

Love how easy it is to cut out these shapes with our custom dies.

And this owl is just my favorite! I am making this for some

special teachers as we start a new school year!

All of the stamp sets you see are on sale from Aug 15-Sept 15. I'd love to help you save and stamp at a workshop featuring some of this crafty goodness. email me to set up a stamping workshop of your own. laralovek@gmail.com

Hostess Bonus Days begin Aug 22nd

Ta-daaa!

A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA is HERE! And with it you can host a workshop and earn increase Hostess Rewards AND a FREE Hostess exclusive, never for sale, gotta host to have it stamp set! How's that for a good deal? Combine all of that with the new Holiday catalog with 32 new stamp sets, and tons of fun, brand spankin' new embellishments and WOW! do we have one awesome time to host a workshop! I would love to get stamping with you and your friends. Contact me today to set up your A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA workshop today! laralovek@gmail.com

...Hostess Bonus Days.

Can you say A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA?! Details coming soon!

...a lovey card.

Every now and again that lovey-dovey inspiration hits me. I love these little birds and the sentiment. Sometimes it's just best to keep it clean and simple and let the stamps do all the work.

All products are A Muse Studio.

Card Recipe: Stamp Sets-on the wing; Ink- onyx, bermuda, blush; Cardstock-sugar, blueberry gingham; Scallop die

...playing with plaid!

I have a new favorite stamp set! (I say that every other day, I know, but this is my fav for the moment anyway) The set is called Mad for Plaid and it is just so versatile! Wanna see what I did with it?

I love making patterns and playing with color. It is so simple! Just pick a few ink colors. And stamp away. Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy! I will tell you that I used removable sticky notes to cover the part of the card that I wanted to leave "un-patterned." And I also chose one color for each stamp in the examples you see above.

If you are interested in getting a Mad For Plaid stamp set be sure to let me know. This set is on sale now BUT time is running out. You have until July 15th! You can order this set and any other a muse goodies HERE. I'm happy to help you place your order and answer any questions that you may have. You can leave a comment or email me at laralovek@gmail.com.

Have an a*musing day playing with plaid!

All Products by A Muse Studio

Card Recipe:

"Happy Heart"- Stamp Sets-Mad for Plaid, Hand Scripted; Cardstock-shell; Ink- blush, shell, lichen, grass; Heart Twinkle Sticker.

"Hello" - Stamp Sets-Mad for Plaid, Graphic Sunflower; Cardstock- vanilla; Ink-latte, toffee, french roast, eucalyptus.

...a Yankee Doodle Dandy BBQ!

Celebrating with friends today and had so much fun making this yummy dessert to bring along.

I couldn't help but decorate it after looking at all of the inspiring Patriotic Party pics

from the A Muse Studio designers.

My Red, White & Blue Trifle is simple, dee-lish, and easy to whip up. Here's what you need:

1 white cake (or pound cake or angel food cake)

strawberries

blueberries

vanilla pudding

whipped cream

Layer cake, pudding, fruit. Cover top with whipped cream and cover with fruit.

My wishes to you for a very Happy 4th of July!

Decorations Recipe: wooden skewers; cherry twine; Cardstock-sugar, cherry, blueberry, Gingham in cherry, blueberry and bermuda, Polka dot in cherry and blueberry; Vintage in cherry and blueberry.

...4 Ideas for the 4th!

I could not get the half circle idea out of my head. So I started playing with some card layouts.

Idea #4:

And another version:

I love to play with patterned paper. I love the simplicity. I love the sparkle. And it goes together so fast. Cut a strip of paper, punch some circles, cut them in half, stamp, glitter and you're done!

All products by A Muse Studio.

Card Recipe: Stamp Set-birthday builder; mad for plaid; Cardstock-Sugar, blueberry, Gingham in bermuda, cherry and blueberry, Polka dot in cherry and blueberry; Ink-cranberry; Glitter-cranberry; Twine-cherry; Buttons-cranberry; pearl stickers.

...4 Ideas for the 4th!

In my neighborhood the 4th of July is celebrated for days! Maybe because you can buy and set off fireworks here and it's fun. Or maybe because they take their state motto very seriously: "Live free or die!" Or maybe New England is just a very patriotic place. Whatever the reason, at the moment in sounds as if the War of Independence is raging around me. There are fireworks and firecrackers and well, just a heck of a lot of noise. I like it! There's something about it that is so celebratory. So this idea to make firecrackers out of lifesaver rolls was pretty easy to come by being that the inspiration is quite literally surrounding me. Idea #3:

All products by A Muse Studio.

Card Recipe: Live Savers; Stamp sets-polka dot patterns, birthday builder, woodgrain background; Cardstock-blueberry, cherry, sky, sugar, ocean; Ink-blueberry, cherry, sugar; Accessories-sugar organdy ribbon

...4 Ideas for the 4th!

When it comes to the 4th of July I start thinking STARS. So when I went to make a card I realized that I didn't have any stars. And then I remembered the starfish in my seashells set.

So here is Idea #2:

As a girl who grew up on the shore this is a card that makes me think of the 4th of July! It's super simple, patriotic, and beachy. Makes me want to go down to the beach to see the fireworks....

Oh, and I really should mention that both of these stamp sets are on SALE right now! But only until the 14th of July. If you are interested or would like to see more of the current a|s Spotlight sale you can email me at www.laralovek@gmail.com. Or you can see it here at www.amusestudio.com/larakalapacs.

All products by A Muse Studio

Card Recipe: Stamp Sets-seashells, mad for plaid; Cardstock-blueberry, sugar; Ink-cranberry, sugar; Accessories-white embossing powder.

...4 Ideas for the 4th!

Are you getting ready for some fun 4th of July celebrating? I am! I was trying to think of some fun ideas for getting crafty and this is just one of my favorites!

Idea #1:

This idea came from the creative minds at A Muse Studio. They are some crafty chickies over there! I love the idea of making this cute, bunting-like, mini garland! And putting it around the tops of jars and using them as candle holders. I love the dressed up-casual look of this for a BBQ. Now I just have to decide how I want to use it.

...chickens.

I really do love chickens. They make me laugh. I have a lot of friends who raise chickens so I am lucky enough to get some very tasty farm fresh eggs every now and again. More than actual, walking, laying, crossing the road type chickens, I love these stamped chickens.

I stamped them on sugar paper and then used my 1-inch square punch to cut out the 4 squares. It was fun to play with the angles and the amount of image that got included. If you've never made a card this way, give it a try. You'll start looking at your stamps in a whole new light.

Happy Inchie Making!

Why did the lollipop cross the road? Because it was stuck to the chicken! :)

All Products used are by A Muse Studio. You can get them here!

Card Recipe: Stamp Set-Farm Fun; Cardstock-onyx polka dot, sugar, cherry; Ink-Memento Black; Accessories- 1"-punch, Copics-BG10, R27, Y38, E00

...a pretty party (that's on SALE)!

I am so excited to share this with you! Here is a quick look at all of the ever so pretty things that the creative muses at A Muse Studio have made with the stamp sets and paper that are on Sale right now!

Does it get any prettier than this?

Want a closer look at some of the projects you see here? Use this link to get a little closer!

Some of these ideas are so simple but have such a beautiful sophisticated look and

I can help YOU make them!

It is the perfect time to Host a Workshop!

Book a workshop and spend a couple of hours getting crafty with your friends. My workshops always include 2 total hands on projects that are easy enough for beginners and have something new to offer to stampers with ink in their veins!

I will be showing some of these super cute ideas and you and your friends can get the supplies that you need to make your own at a great price. This sale is going on until July 14th so be sure to book a workshop with me soon and don't miss out on these versatile stamps sets and gorgeous color palette!

Have an a*musing day!

...a wedding.

Who doesn't love a good wedding? Love. Happiness. Promise. Beauty. And a celebration! I love to celebrate and look to do so any chance I get. A close family friend got married recently, and of course I made a card for her.

There was a subtle wedding theme of starfish and I had a lot of fun creating this card with the Sea Shells stamp set. The watermelon paper and ink matched her colors perfectly.

Love you guys!

...her Dad.

Just a little something I made for my dad to say Happy Father's Day. He has the heart of a lion and I love him.

All Products by A Muse Studio

Card Recipe: Stamp Sets-the Mighty Jungle, Essential Sentiments; Cardstock-Grass, Onyx, Sugar; Ink- Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics

...quiche.

So when I'm not being crafty, I am often cookin' something up in the kitchen. Here is my fav recipe for quiche...it's so good!

And today I just love quiche. Especially when it bakes up so nice and fluffy.

Roasted Red Pepper, Goat Cheese, & Kalamata Olive Quiche

pie crust of choice

7 eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup cream

dash of salt & pepper

goat cheese, as much as you like

roasted red peppers, chopped, as much as you like

kalamata olives, pitted, sliced, as much as you like (LOTS!)

goat cheese, crumbled, as much as you like

whip eggs and cream together, add spices. Pour into prepared pie crust. sprinkle other ingredients in. bake at 350 til golden and just firm. Cool for 10 min. before serving

More crafty things on the way soon. But for the moment...I'm in the kitchen.

...to save the best for last.

You've been very patient with me as I have shared post after post of tic-tacs. I hope you have enjoyed it. Sometimes it's fun to take an idea and play it out multiple ways. This last one (for now anyway) is my favorite!

I love this little chicken! I loved creating a background with my copics! But do you know what I love most of all? I love how the white tic-tacs look like eggs! It makes me so happy! I can't help it I just love it!

Here's a close up of the copics. I used BG10 to create a sky and a little E00 to highlight the chicken's white feathers. YG 20 gave me a nice green field and YG23 added the blades of grass.

And just for some added fun I couldn't help but add this egg and sentiment to the back.

The egg is stamped and then die cut with the egg die. I added a little shadow with my E00.

I have to say that one of the things that I have learned from playing out this idea multiple times and in multiple ways is the idea of a front and a back. It's got me thinking about the inside of my card. From a design standpoint I'm wondering what needs to be on the front of the card and what I can add to the inside. This exercise has me thinking about how to continue the design, the fun, the "joke" from the front of the card into the inside of the card. I'm guessing that my card fronts will be more simplified and those elements that don't quite make the cut just may find themselves a home on the inside.

All products are A Muse Studio

Card Recipe: Stamp Sets- farm fun, egg-stravganza; Cardstock- sugar, cherry gingham (for that farm-y feel!); Ink- Memento black; Copics; egg die; white tic-tacs.