Miscommunication at A Muse?

I'm wondering if something went awry over at A-Muse-A-Palooza? In the posting for this week's challenge (see earlier blog entry), it said the prize was a mystry. But, when the newsletter arrived yesterday, there was this picture--->

That's the prize for the silly celebrations challenge! Errrr and I won a MUG! I want that one! I want A Muse for my prize. But, I guess winners ought not be whiners!

For more on the challenge, see http://www.amuseapalooza.com/

Challenge 8: Wacky Holiday #4 (Responsibility is overrated day!)

For my 4th entry this week, I declare today, "Responsibility is overrated day!" Won't we all love to throw the bills out the window, not think about insurance, ignore the mortgage thoughts, hop in a convertible, and CRUISE! Okay, maybe that's just my day!

Here, I stamped Cruisin' (an A Muse stamp I ADORE), then masked it to stamp the brownstone (A Muse) 4 times to create a block feel. I colored each a bit differently, in an attempt to hide the sameness of this block. : ) I used a bit of glitter on the windows to get some shine though didn't show up well in the photo. Also, I'm still playing with chalks to create some color on street and sky.

So, ignore the emissions test; forget about unemployment; who cares about figuring out mortgage rates! Relax, it's your day! And, remember, responsibility is overrated!

Challenge 8: Wacky Holiday #3 (Gardening Month!)

Is there an official National Gardening Month? If not, there should be and it should be now! Outside of stamping, gardening is a hobby I really enjoy that has been passed down from my maternal great-grandmother, my Grandma, my mom, and me! The whole bunch: Gardeners! Here's my Garden Month card! I used the Gardening Tools stamp, topped off with Creative Candies micro-dots (also A-Muse) and LOVE it hung like a picture against the pots paper. I will have a hard time giving this one away.

I thought I'd also paste a picture of my own backyard garden. Hehehee... just kidding. I took this last year at Versailles, one of the premiere gardens of the world. My own endeavors are much more modest in scale.

Challenge 8: Wacky Holiday #2 (Happy Birthday to You day!)

Did you know that June 27th (next week, Wednesday) is "Happy Birthday to You day"? I am assuming that it was inspired by Alice in Wonderland and "happy birthday to me" day. But, nonetheless, it gave me a chance to make a traditional card for a wacky holiday.

I used 3 A Muse stamps (sentiment; Lizzy; tiny present). I used shimmer chalks to give a little iridescent color to both the butter background paper and the white with the stamps. Kind of basic, but useful.

Challenge 8: Wacky Holiday #1 (National Grilling Month)

Did you know that July is National Grilling month? For the challenge this week, I found this website which lists official, wacky holidays. July is the month of the Grill so here's the perfect card!

Both Stamps are A Muse. The Grill is filled in using Mica D'lights in tiger eye to give it some shimmer. The flames/smoke is with glaze pen.

I outlined the Time for Fun using a gel pen 'cause I didn't like it in black. Finally, used a Souffle pen to do the dots.

Fun paper... can't remember where it ever came from-- it was a scrap, but good and summery!

Another Cottage Stamper winner!

Congrats to Kaylyn Conover who won the Scavenger Hunt at a-muse-a-palooza. Way to go! Her prize for the winning entry includes:
· A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA t-shirt (green or pink)
· A Muse Tiny Flowers Lowercase Large clear stamp set
· Color Box Petal Point Pigment Ink Pad
· NEW! Marvy Uchida Giga Scallop Rectangle punch
· 10 yards of assorted *yummy* Strano ribbon
· SCS prize package (mug and one year fan club subscription)

Yeah, happy stamping!

Both of us are mentioned on the Cottage Stamper homepage ! Yippee
http://www.thecottagestamper.com/

The big winner is.... ME!

Yipppppeeee! I won a design challenge! As posted this AM on the A-Muse-A-Palooza website, I won the sparkle challenge... and on my very first entry.

Ironically, the card that won was my re-do card! I didn't like (correction-- hated!) the initial attempt with clunky glitter on an "e" so I redid it with the carload stamp and it's okay. Nothing special. But randomly, it's a winner!

Lucky me... I get a splitcoaster stamper mug and a subscription to their on-line galleries. That should inspire something! Here's my winning card, again!

Creative Candy

As the winner of the 4th round of the A-Muse-A-Palooza secret squares game, Becky won packets of these fun stickers from A-Muse. Louise talked me into getting a pack once (at the Cottage Stamper, St. Charles) and I'm so thrilled with 'em. I got them to finish off the card as I had seen it in the a-muse news letter and I love how they look on the card. I will be buying more soon.

I don't see where you can order them directly from the website (www.amuseartstamps.com) but you can probably email and ask if your store doesn't stock them.

Get lookin' on that scavenger hunt!

Be sure you enter the A-Muse scavenger hunt at the A-muse-a-palooza website. Cool prize possible for a few minutes of looking at good sights! If you're right (answering simple content questions), and they pick your name, you win:

· A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA t-shirt (green or pink)
· A Muse Tiny Flowers Lowercase Large clear stamp set
· Color Box Petal Point Pigment Ink Pad
· NEW! Marvy Uchida Giga Scallop Rectangle punch
· 10 yards of assorted *yummy* Strano ribbon
· SCS prize package (mug and one year fan club subscription)

You've got 'til midnight tonight (Monday) so get crackin' already!!!

A-Muse Design Challenge #7:Sparkle (one final one)

Thought I'd whip out one final entry with my new stamp (thanks to my sister!). I love the summer... correction, I love to grill which mostly occurs in the summertime in Chicago. So, my sister thought I really *had* to have this A Muse grill to go with my Chef Sprinkle (by Cat's Pajamas) and "This cat's cookin' " (Also, Cat's Pajamas). I think she was right... they go together like summer and grilling, like bratwurst and saurkraut, like... oh, you get the idea! :)

Here, I used paper by Frances Meyer for the background. The hat is colored with a souffle pen to give it the raised, opaque look. The hotdog (look close at Sprinkle's tale!) is with a glaze pen.

Finally, to make it challenge-worthy this week, the grill is coated in Mica D'Lights tiger eye. Overall, I'm happy with the effect but now will have to play with my new toy! :)