guitars & glitter!

There was a Moxie Fab World challenge a few weeks ago and this card would have been perfect for it. I made it and was about to post it when I saw that one of my favorite Stampers, Julie Ebersole made a card that looked a lot like it (see her blog http://www.papertrufflez.typepad.com/ and look for the April 27 post), and had just posted it. Maybe great minds think alike or maybe I got lucky. Either way, I didn't post it in the challenge because it felt like I was coping, and although I do borrow (and give credit) from other stampers it just didn't seem to feel right for a challenge. Anywho, here is my card. I liked making the double polka dots. It's hard to see in the pics, but the kraft dots were run through my Big Shot and debossed with the mini polka dot impression plate.

I think it ended up being a fun "boy" card and that can be a hard thing to do.

After making the boy guitar card I found myself teaching a class for teenage girls. I had no idea what to design for them and when I asked for some advice on color I was told black and purple. It took me a while but I finally came up with this card. I recycled an old layout (that I got from Julie E. gee she has been helpful lately...may need to start making some thank you cards!) and changed the stamps and colors and what do you know....a whole new look!

Even though I do feel 15 years old when I look at this card I kinda like it!

I'll give you 3 guesses as to my favorite part of this card, but really it shouldn't take more than one!

YES it is the glitter! However did you know? I love the little sparkle that it adds. That is what the girls liked best too! Sometimes I wonder how I ever did anything without a Quickie Glue Pen & A Muse Studio Diamond Glitter. It is just the prettiest, sparkliest, yummiest glitter that I have ever used! I LOVE this glitter!

If you like the look of it and decided that you just have to have some too, let me know. I am happy to place an order for you or you can place one yourself here at www.amusestudio.com/larakalapacs.

new techniques!

Check out this video and learn how to make a recessed window card. It's easy-peasey-lemon-squeezey! And step by step visual instructions make it even better!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTNg6iZpw3s

I'm going to be making something using this technique tonight and will post pics of what I come up with.

...the beach

I was in the mood to enjoy some crafty-goodness the other day, but I could not make a single thing. I had no ideas. NONE! So I was poking around online and I remembered a card that I saw and loved. Sometimes, even when you have no ideas of your own, you just HAVE to make some thing. So I copied a card from a very talented designer, Julie Ebersole. You can see her original card here:

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/03/at-home-with-julie-ebersole.html

and you can read Julie's own blog here:

http://papertrufflez.typepad.com/paper_trufflez/

If you ever find yourself in need of some creative juice, ideas or inspiration....Julie and her blog is a very good place to swing on by! Seriously beautiful and amazing stuff! Julie--I so hope that you don't mind a little shout out....or copycatting! :)

Anywhoo! So this is what I flat out copied from Julie! All the credit goes to her!

I had to make a few changes....I didn't have any craft sand hanging out in my closet just waiting to get used so I ran a piece of toffee paper through my Big Shot with the A Muse Studio tiny polka dot impression plate, sanded the dots to reveal the white core paper hiding just under the pretty toffee color and voila! sand...paper sand! I used a darker blue for my card base, again, that's what I had... I am a HUGE fan of using what ya got! Make it work! :)

This is what I really learned from making this card...coping Julie's technique-white embossing powder is amazing and a little bit of copic makes a big difference!

I love the white embossing powder on the buttercup paper! I love the highlight of the copic and how it adds depth and detail to my little starfish! This is something that I am sure I will be doing again. Note to self (and anyone who's listening): Copics are not just for elaborate coloring on white paper! They can do so much more and this starfish is a great example of that.

Hmmm, now I 've got summer on the brain.... let's see what else I can make....

Don't you just love how sometimes all you have to do is START the crafty-goodness and then it just keeps right on coming...I'm off to see where it leads me. Have an a*musing day!

card recipe: Cardstock-ocean, sugar, toffee; Ink-latte, sky, sugar; Stamp Sets-seashells, contemporary greetings; Accessories-twine in vanilla, polka dot impression plate, sugar embossing powder, 3D tape, Y17 copic (all products are from A Muse Studio)

...finding inspiration anywhere & everywhere.

So there I was, going through the mail and THWACK I was hit by inspiration. My Muse must have been getting bored with all of the housework and directed me straight toward a divine moment of craftiness. So here's what the Muses sent me in the mail:I love this catalog! Inspiration on every page. It makes me want to create things, and shop. I resisted ordering anything (for the moment) and instead got myself busy creating, not wanting to waste a moment of divine inspiration.

So here's what came of it:

My goal was to balance the concentrated bling with some blank space and simplicity. I started with the pink paper and then made the "bling." I painted a piece of paper until I was happy with the color and got the gold and shimmer that I was looking for. And then I added the twinkle stickers. I stamped the sentiment and then punched that out and inked the edges. I decided it needed just a little bit more. The ribbon that I had didn't work at all so I just colored it until I liked the look of it. Pop it all together and this is what I got. So glad I made the time to craft when inspiration thwacked me in the head!

Where do you find inspiration? What inspires you? What do you create when inspired?

Supplies: Stamps- A Muse Artstamps; Paper- naturals ivory cardstock Stampin'Up, pink Paris & Co. by My Mind's Eye; Ink- rich cocoa Memento; Paint- LuminArte twinkling H2Os in pink crocus & autumn butternut; Bling- twinkle stickers A Muse Artstamps; 1/4" pink satin ribbon; Marker- E57 Copic.