confetti by lexi

a muse u :: size & shape matters

welcome to a muse u!  class is in session...
today's topic:  creating cards of non-traditional size and shape

when i sit down to stamp, i often play it easy and reach for a 4 bar base card to begin.  i do love easy.  after all, "think simple. think a muse." is what led me here!  i'm happy to report that the a muse u challenge to create non-traditioinal size and shape cards was just what i needed to take a break from my 4 bar habit!  in addition to the motto, one of the things i love about a muse is the relatively small size of the images.  they're great for scene building, stamping multiples, and adding small focal images to sentiments.  and they're perfect for mini cards.  although it's been a while, i make mini cards for gifts quite a bit, so that's where i decided to start.

in addition to the collection of images above, i chose a variety of a muse papers.  the new and growing 8.5 x 11 collection is perfect for making your own cards of any shape and size.  since i was focusing on minis for two of my cards, i also pulled out my scrap box.  i try hard not to keep every scrap, but i do keep those that are still a good size for stamping on and layering.  i work hard to limit myself to only the one box!


my first card is a mini fold over gift enclosure, measuring 2 x 3.5, traditional calling card or business card size.  since i had my 10 year old's upcoming birthday in mind, i decided to make it a happy birthday gift card, using her favorite color as the backdrop.  oddly enough, i reached for stamps that are a little bigger than the norm in a muse world, but i love how they fill the space.  cupcake builder has great open spaces for paper piecing and a muse has the perfect colors and patterns to make it look yummy!


if i'm thinking of non-traditional shapes, my mind quickly goes to the square.  while it's not really a non-traditional shape, it's popularity comes and goes, especially as a full size card, since postal machines don't realize that it's hip to be square.  if you're worried about extra postage, how about making mini squares to put on gifts?  no postage necessary!  this gift card measures 3 x 3, cut from a full sheet of card stock, and fits perfectly in a muse's new square mini envelopes.  a muse has definitely supported my square habit over the years and i'm excited about this new addition to product line up!


finally, i can't create cards of varying shapes and sizes without cutting a shape card with my nestabilities!  i've made many scallop circles and squares, but this time i was drawn (ha! ha!) to the bracket look of labels one.  it made the perfect frame for my notebook sketches, pencils at the ready to color them in.  i have to say this was the first time i saw this pencil as a colored pencil--until now, it's always been a yellow #2!   when cutting a card with nestabilities or any other die, you have to be sure to place your die off the folded edge, leaving the fold in tact...


so are you ready to cut into those papers and stamp something new?  be sure to check out julie's and krystie's blogs for more class notes first.  i always love to see how my fellow design team members tackle the same task in different ways--in fact, i know we'll learn something amazing from those two.  hopefully, we've inspired you to break out of your rectangular 4 bar box and let your cards take shape in different sizes...

happy stamping!
:) lexi

amuse-bouche :: beautiful branch

how about another peek at everything's rosy from a muse?  this release is filled with pretty floral images, perfect for any occasion.  bare branch with leaves is the foundation for my beautiful spring branch.  the really cool thing about bare branch with leaves is that the leaves are a separate stamp mounted on the end of the block, so you can stamp them in a different color and add as many or as few as you'd like--gotta love versatility!  daisy duet helped me take it from simply budding to full pink blooming, with a little glitter pen as the perfect finishing touch.  the result is simply beautiful!  keep checking your favorite muses' blogs for more inspiration (so many wows!) and don't forget about the festivities on the a muse news blog.  there's even a giveaway in honor of the design team, which i'm so thrilled to be a part of--one of the best "jobs" i've ever had!

have a beautiful day!
:) lexi

amuse-bouche :: bonjour marigold!

another day brings another sampling of soon-to-be-released a muse stamps!  today, i give you three gorgeous stamps from the new wood mount collection, everything's rosy--marigold, leaf frond 2, and bonjour.  marigold is such a big happy bloom, don't you think? it's the perfect centerpiece against the green leaves!  the collection includes lots of pretty sentiments, but after seeing my 3rd grader's french play yesterday, i was in the mood for something en français--lucky for me, i had two to choose from!  be sure to check out my fellow muses' blogs for more rosy inspiration and don't forget about the everything's rosy giveaway and celebration challenge on the a muse news blog!

see ya' tomorrow!
:) lexi

amuse-bouche :: happy birthday dear a muse...

such a big happy, too!  today is all about saying happy birthday to a muse, with a great new happy clear set.  in addition to the birthday sentiments you'll see a lot of today, there are several other occasions to add a happy to as well--anniversary, graduation, or any ol' day!  and you can just be happy, too!  add the pennant banner, and you have an instant party.  speaking of party, festivities continue on the a muse news blog, where the muses are serving up happy birthday wishes, and linda has posted some history and a giveaway--and now, there's a celebration challenge too...

enjoy!
:) lexi

amuse-bouche :: the old is new again!

it's that time again--time for appe-teasers of what's coming from a muse!  this month a muse turns nine, so it's truly a celebration, and today is all about vintage a muse, images from the past that have been brought back in a clear set with brand new sentiments.  it's the witty image-sentiment pairings that caught my attention way back when, and the "old is new" vintage clear set doesn't disappoint.  the dragon of life just made me laugh immediately, so of course i had to showcase it!  if you haven't been by the a muse news blog this week, be sure to click on over to join the party, and then head over to the muses' blogs for more tasty vintage treats!

:) lexi

sweet daisy, take two...

the request was for a cut out flower invite for a daisy themed birthday party--sweet and simple!  and of course that led to take two of the daisy cake from a few months ago...

happy birthday emma!
:) lexi

super mario to the rescue!

a few cakes have contributed to my continued crazy-ness the last few months.  the request for this one:  a simple super mario cake.  And i loved the outcome.  my girlies are very into super mario bros. wii, so inspiration was as easy as walking into the family room!

:) lexi

snail mail & more

the last few weeks have been incredibly busy for me--family in town, mignon's 11th birthday (survivor: birthday island post coming soon!), easter, etc.  with everything going on, i couldn't get back to the woodland critters to participate in the a muse inspiration posts, so i thought i'd highlight a few of my dt creations from the a muse news blog here.  first up is the set of fold-over-and-mail stationery--snail mail!  the 8.5 x 11 a muse cardstock is perfect for these since you can cut your own size and they're white on one side.  i stamped a border design at the top and bottom, leaving plenty of room to write a letter on the inside, with lines for the address and return address on the colorful outside.  the whole card is scored and ready to fold over, seal with the snail mail closure, address, stamp, and mail!

how awesome is the new clouds cardstock?!  of course, i just had to make a card base with it right away!  the clouds are so cute and fluffy, and the sky is such a cheerful blue.  i have so many ideas floating around in my head with this paper--you'll definitely see it here again!

watermelon butterflies and seedlings sprouting--such pretty signs of spring!  for some reason, this card took me a while to finish.  the pieces weren't coming together, so they sat on my desk while i worked on another card.  but then something clicked and it all came together--i think it had to do with the butterfly.  in the end, it was one of my favorites of the assignment!  in addition to the pop of the pink butterfly, the hint of woodgrain makes me smile.

happy spring!
:) lexi