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as i get ready to send the girls off to camp--4th year for big sis, 2nd for little--i thought i'd look back to that first year. i made lots of fun stuff to start them off and shared it all right here, just like i have this week. this stationery box is one of the first things i made. it's filled with sketch paper, markers, and of course, stationery. i just wish they'd use the stationery as much as the sketch paper...
have a great weekend!
:) lexi
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we're in the home stretch of gathering and packing for camp and, as usual, we've done a little creating along the way. camp colors are blue and orange, so we had some fun with craft store flip flops and pony tail bands, drawing on the shoes with paint pens, and tying fabric scraps on both for a fun, fluffy look from head to toe! another project was the soap pouch. the girls don't like to drop their soap on the floor of the camp shower--who does?! so we made the soap pouch so they can wear it on their wrist and scrub away! i tried to find one already made with no luck, so we found a nice scrub mitt to modify instead. it's a simple project--cut off the cuff, sew a seam almost all the way around, pull the twill ribbon through it, and tie. you can even wash it and save it for next year. unless you lose it. then you have to make another!
i also had one more laundry bag to sew for another camp buddy. nine letters--currently the longest name i've appliqued on a bag! i hand cut the letters, so i just had to make them smaller. i was really worried that i would place them out of order or skip one, but i didn't and it was a perfect fit! i dare someone to challenge me with ten...
:) lexi
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it's almost time for the girls to head to camp and we've been busy packing their trunks. they're always so excited for the camp packets to arrive so they can finally find out what their theme nights will be. text messages and telephone calls quickly follow! which then leads to pulling together the perfect outfits and accessories. remember the cavegirl costumes last summer? as you can see, one of the themes this year is 50's sock hop, so i sewed up a couple of poodle skirts. they were so easy, too, especially with the ready made appliques above. we also made a last minute extra for colleen's camp buddy, so they could both have blue...
since i didn't have another applique, i made my own! i drew it based on one from another poodle skirt, cut it from a piece of softer white felt from my scrap stash, and sewed it on all the way around. it was a lot easier than i thought it would be. i was also out of the wider waist band elastic, so i did the waist a different way with a thinner elastic. even with the hand cut applique, the poodle skirt really is an easy project--a basic circle skirt made of felt. the benefits of making your own? you can choose your own colors, personalize the appliques, and customize the length--we went a little shorter than the ones you can order because it's hot in texas! the second theme night is more of a gathering task--pirates & mermaids. my girls chose pirates, and since we had pirate night on the disney cruise two mardi gras ago, that was easy, too!
:) lexi
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here's another card from the weekend. actually, two takes on the same card. like the others, i started it for two splitcoast dare to get dirty challenges--girls & ginhgham and paper piecing. what you see above is the original "finished" card. beachabella was the perfect subject, her suit perfect for paper pieced gingham! i used the a muse lc polka dot alpha for the fun signature bella phrase. but the more i stared at it, the more i thought it needed something on the left edge...
so i added a row of pink primas, with jewels in the centers, to match the punched flower on the beachabella's bag. and then the card worked for two more challenges--floral, feminine, & flirty and all that glitters--bonus! i think they're both pretty. the first is my usual cas/clean and simple. the flowers add a little more punch to the second. but i'm really not sure which version i like better. do you have a preference?
:) lexi
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in the middle of camp packing and sewing, i made some time to play a few challenges for "dare to get dirty" on splitcoast. in other words, i stayed up and stamped way too late! but i had fun and created some really cute cards. "hello orange" above was for an orange challenge + a garden challenge. i don't get why people don't like orange--it's such a happy color, with lots of possibilities. i kept my "garden" clean and simple. eucalyptus by a muse makes a pretty pattern in orange and blue!
this one was for a challenge to strut your stuff + a cas white space challenge. i'm strutting a few things i either haven't used at all or haven't used in a while--the circle line stamp from the personal stationery clear set and the vintage bicycle and sentiment, all from a muse, plus an arturo note card i've had forever! i've pictured this bicycle as a simple color on color "letterpress" style card for a while now, so that was my plan. a bicycle t-shirt of my daughter's inspired my colors, but i had a hard time figuring out how to add interest to the one layer layout. and then i thought of the circle line stamp--i used to use this all the time! i think it added a modern edge to the design, for the overall modern vintage look i was going for. and you know how much i love white space!
and finally, bee sweet! this was for two challenges, also--cas color on color stamping (pink ink on pink paper for cupcake top, yellow on yellow for bottom) + winged things. sweet and simple and lots of white space here, too!! this is yet another idea i've had buzzing around in my head for a while now--so many stamps, so little time! oh so little time.
back to packing...
:) lexi
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in an effort to keep up with posting and try something different, i decided to start a new feature: flashback fridays. i think it's nice to look back and see what i've done that has led me to this point--i can't believe that i've been blogging for three and a half years now! these ladybug cupcakes, for instance, seem to be the most visited individual post on my blog. while i haven't actually counted the hits on them, and i don't check my stats very often, whenever i do take a look at my pageload history or keyword activity, these cupcakes are always listed, and usually more than once. i made the little fondant ladybugs for a birthday party in july of 2007--three years later, it looks like they're still just as popular as ever!
:) lexi
original post: july 7, 2007
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as promised, i have another "right now" card with one of my favorite stamps from the a*muse*a*palooza release. groovy partridge is just so... groovy! and such a groovy image needs a groovy layout and fun colors to go with. once i decided on "groovy punched squares" and just the right colors, i thought they needed a little tone-on-tone pattern, so i stamped them--the orange with tin plate, the green with eucalyptus (stamped a few times). for perfect placement, i stamped first, punched after. i paper pieced the partridge to match the sentiment band, and added each of the other colors to the stripe detail and tail feathers with copics. the end result is clean and graphic--perfect for the card style clean and graphic challenge in the moxie fab world. if clean and graphic is your thing, too, you have until august 2nd to play! and because i didn't use any patterned paper or embellishments (and kind of made my own!), this card is perfect for a splitcoast "dare to get dirty" challenge just faux you. it's been a long time since i've been able to play challenges there or anywhere, and i miss them. hopefully i can start adding them into my routine a bit more...
:) lexi
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it's taken me a couple of days, but i finally cleaned away the a*muse*a*palooza mess. it was a controlled mess--piles of paper scraps, little mess ups, lots of stamps, and of course the pretty cards, too! i'm so excited that i was able to post daily for all eight days!! anyway, i loved seeing all of my amuse-bouche projects together, so i snapped a picture to share. i'm impressed by the variety i was able to create. halloween, christmas, and even a few for right now! have you placed your order? i'd love to hear what you chose!
:) lexi
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here's the invitation that inspired yesterday's polka dot cake and baby cookies. a baby girl will be here soon and her room is lavender, which was the basis for my design. pink + lavender = a perfect sugar and spice color combo!
matching thank you notes are more fun to write on, too!
:) lexi
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my mixers got quite the workout this weekend mixing up cookies, cakes, and a ton of icing. it was all about pink and soon-to-be baby girls. the cookies and polka dot cake were for a couples' shower, matching an invitation i created. the booties, for a luncheon shower for expected twin girls. luckily for me, my girls are becoming expert assistants!
:) lexi
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i can't believe today's the last day of a*muse*a*palooza! i wanted to end my amuse-bouche offerings with a bang, so i decided to share two cards with you. and while the theme of a*muse*a*palooza has been halloween and christmas, i wanted to show you just how versatile these stamps are with a couple of ideas that are perfect for giving now! first up is wide eyed owl--i adore those big eyes! she reminds me of my grandmother's owl collection and is a great addition to my own owl stamp collection. i chose summery colors for this card, but there are so many possibilities. i'm sure she'll show up here again very soon. those wings are just begging for fun color combos!
next up we have squirrels. i love the simple, graphic outline look of this image. it would be really easy to ink up just one squirrel on this stamp for versatility, but i wanted lots more, so i stamped out two rows for a cool visual effect. the heart twinkle sticker highlights one pair of the cute little guys in the perfect spot to add interest and accent the old sentiment, nuts about you.
i've had so much fun sharing my little appe-teasers with you all week. for those of you who don't have an a*muse*a*palooza store within reach, the new stamps will be available online on monday--i can't wait to see what you stamp with 'em! meanwhile, be sure to check out the blogs of my fellow muses and the a muse news blog for more final day fun. i have lots more ideas, too--so even though the party's over, the stamping will continue...
'til next time!
:) lexi
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for giving gifts! today's a*muse*a*palooza amuse-bouche is all about holiday gift packaging. this is one of two new holiday labels (more red rubber cling--yay!), both so perfect for wrapping and packaging. as i was thinking about what to create, i thought of the very nice acrylic box that my extra iphone charger came in and decided to recycle it. the stickers peel off easily and the insides come right out, leaving a wonderfully clear and sturdy box. i lined the inside width with the fabulous new candy cane paper, filling it with red tissue paper to wrap up a small gift. then for the outside, i made a one inch band of evergreen, stamped and cut out the holiday label on chiffon green, and stuck it to the top of the band so it can slide off the box. a few cranberry pretty pearls add a touch of red to the green label, and the perfect bit of bling. easy peasy--and i can't wait to fill it up for someone this year! be sure to check out the a muse news blog for more ways to stamp your gifts (another give-away, too!), as well as the blogs of my fellow muses--there are some really cute images to see today and they'll all be available online very soon!!
:) lexi
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merrily we roll along with another taste of a*muse*a*palooza and christmas in july! today is all about winter critters, and while these new critters are great for christmas, they'll be perfect for so many other occasions, too. in keeping with the christmas theme of the week, i decided to use groovy partridge and give her a "pear" tree to perch in. i used an old christmas fave, tiny ornie, to create the look of pears and the leaves from birch forest with leaves to fill in the circle tree top--a scrap of woodgrain is the perfect trunk. the other half of yesterday's winter sky card stock came in handy, cut into a 4.25 square card base--yay for 8.5 x 11 paper to cut to any size! the end result reminds me of a felt ornament from my seventies childhood. i really had fun creating with non-traditional christmas colors and thinking a little out of the box! as always, be sure to click on over to the a muse news blog for more winter critters (prizes, too!), as well as the blogs of my fellow muses...
happy hunting!
:) lexi
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another day of a*muse*a*palooza, another amuse-bouche--and today it's all about snow fun! meet snow lady, one of three new snow people. isn't she sweet? each one looks great on it's own like here, but put them together, and you have the cutest snow family ever! there are new snowflakes, too. we don't get much snow here in new orleans, so i love to let it snow on my cards--and the more snowflakes, the better! scandinavian snowflake is big and bold--another new red rubber cling stamp. it's the perfect accent here, but it would make a great focal image, too. and did you notice the new 8.5 x 11 paper color? it's called winter sky and it's simply perfect! especially when it comes to making card bases--this one is a good ol' 4.25 x 5.5 side fold. i use pre-made cards a lot lately, but it's fun to start from scratch sometimes! head on over to my fellow muses' blogs and the a muse news for more chilly treats--and yet another give-away!! it's the best way to beat the summer heat...
:) lexi
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a*muse*a*palooza appe-teasers continue with tastes of a sweet holiday! today it's all about the gingerbread--cookies, houses, candy, and more great sentiments! i cooked up a quick card using the new sweet houses red rubber cling set. i'm so excited about the cling sets--easy to store, easy to use, and i really like the index on the cling! anyway, i wanted my sentiment pairing to stand out, so i chose to stamp the houses in a mustard/gingerbread ink and left them uncolored, which allows the red and green sentiments to really pop. see the layer peeking out? it's a brand new 8.5 x 11 paper color: nutmeg! there's also a larger house in the set, and have you seen the gingerbread boy and girl and the candy? good enough to eat! once again, i'm late to the game--the city swim meet kept us busy all day!--but if you haven't already, check out my fellow muses' blogs and the a muse news blog for more sweet holiday treats...
yummy!
:) lexi
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as much as i love halloween, i'm so excited that a*muse*a*palooza continues with christmas in july! and for today's amuse-bouche, we're serving up a classic christmas. i stamp a lot of gift tags and cards for the holidays, so that's what i have for you today, using a jolly cute santa, a sweet young rudy, and a great new holiday tree. a little simple stamping, coloring, and quick assembly is all it takes. a fun idea is to chose a couple of papers (like the new candy cane and evergreen above!) and make a variety of cards--different enough for interest, but with a coordinating color scheme that will look really cute on the packages under your tree. the santa card is a small fold over with a punched slot closure, the tree is a 3 x 3 mini with a matching envelope, and the rudy tag is an embellished shipping tag with a ribbon ready to tie. a muse 8.5 x 11 papers make it easy to create cards of all sizes and have leftovers for layering. i'm a little late today, but if you haven't already, be sure to check out my fellow muses' blogs, and the a muse news blog, too...
merry! merry!
:) lexi
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for today's amuse-bouche we're throwing a halloween party and you're invited! every party should have sweet treats, but for halloween, it's even better to have sinful sweets, a muse style! i love the size and look of this new sentiment and the three mice silhouette image is perfectly icky. the project was a quickie, too, which is important if you're mass producing for a party. it doesn't get much easier than stamping in black on slate for clean and simple halloween style. i punched the corners and layered my stamped piece on orange for a pop of color and interest, and stuck it to a ready-made box. mini twinkle stickers add just the right bit of spooky sparkle to finish it off. minimal work, maximum look--now, all that's left is to fill it with something sinful! don't forget to check the muses' blogs for more tricks & treats, as well as the a muse news blog. there's another give-away, too...
party on!
:) lexi
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tonight was the a*muse*a*palooza pajama party and i did it! four cards, thirty minutes each. i tried to join in the fun chatting, but had to stop and focus to get it done! so here they are...
jennie's theme: *hot* ~ and since i finally saw eclipse last night, this card immediately came to mind because, "let's face it, i'm hotter than you." i'm totally team edward, but i love that line!
donna's theme: *beach party* ~ a camp fire on the beach is the perfect place to start a party!
michelle m.'s theme: *water* ~ a muse has so many great water-y shades of paper and images that can jump right in!
glenda's theme: *summer food or beverage* ~ let's get together for something apple green! bottoms up!
it's been a while since i stamped four cards in two hours just for fun. hopefully i can do a better job of multitasking next time...
'night!
:) lexi
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it's time! a*muse*a*palooza is here!! which means new stamps, which of course means new peeks!! if you have an a*muse*a*palooza participating store nearby, you can see the stamps in person and participate in some classes. if not (like me), the muses are sharing the stamps day-by-day as usual on our blogs. today's special: halloween! i love halloween--tricks, treats, decorating, neighborhood boo-ing, etc. and it's even better with new stamps! my card features spider tag and trick or treat. spider tag would be great as a stand alone tag, but also works perfectly as the focal point of a card, like i've used it here. and isn't the font of trick or treat great? two details that don't show up well in the photo are the tiny black pretty pearl sticker on the spider--the perfect size to give his body shape and dimension--and glitter pen on the web for a sparkly, dewy look--gotta have a little bling! so, be sure to check out the rest of the muses' blogs for more tastes of what's coming, as well as the a muse news blog. today, tomorrow, and for several more. there are give-aways, too--a*muse*a*palooza means fun, fun, fun!!!
:) lexi
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when you go to new york, it's almost impossible to come back without a few predictable pictures--i think i came home with several more than my share...
predictable, schmedictable! from times square to grand central station, and everywhere in between, i love 'em all...
all aboard!
:) lexi
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