A late Valentine - Pocket Card!

Although Valentine's Day has come and gone, I wanted to share another fun pocket card. I love the fuse tool!This one is filled with melon sequins and a cute reverse polka dot sky cardstock with neon pink and orange inks stamped on top and used for edging too! The pocket looks great on the sky petite hexagon cardstock with more neon pink ink stamping and edging. And, the tiny attacher!! I can't get enough of that tool either! It's just the most awesome easy to use, easy to re-load stapler. So great to have both of these tools as part of the a muse studio products!

This stamp set was from the January collection and it may still be available in the webstore so check out the past collections to see. www.amusestudio.com/seleise

Have a wonderfully creative day!!

I like your face!

Basket Case is such a fun set. I paired it with a die cut from the Birthday Balloons set. A copic multiliner works perfectly for the string. There is a string stamp but I wanted a thinner line for this particular card. The basket of the bike is filled with rainbow sequins. Isn't that fun?! And, the balloon is from the Fiesta patterned paper pack. It pairs perfectly with the lime and bubblegum cardstocks. This is just a sweet and easy card to make someone's day. Especially with that cute sentiment - I like your face! Use this for Valentine's Day or birthday or just a general card for that special someone. :)

Here's the inside. Simple but an awesome sentiment. This sentiment would also be great on lunch pail notes for your kids!

I always try to look at stamps to see how to use them for other things. Put them on treat sacks for Halloween or Valentine's Day or on a gift card for the holidays or birthdays. This particular sentiment would be great on a gift card to a local ice cream place. You could pair it with We All Scream which is a cute frozen treat stamp set with smily faces. There are many more options but this will jumpstart the ideas.

Shop online anytime: www.amusestudio.com/seleise

Have a wonderfully creative day!!

Spreading the Love!

The January collection was just awesome! I can't tell you how much I adored the Mocha Me Happy stamp set. It was one of my faves!

And, although the collection has ended, if there are any items leftover, they can be purchased until the stock is depleted.

The scalloped heart die was one of my faves. It's the perfect size and looks great paired with the heart border created by using the small scalloped die and the medium pinking border die at the same time. You just tape the two border dies together (sidebyside) and run it through your die-cutting machine and you get an awesome heart border accent.

And, isn't that sentiment awesome! I just love it! It's from Love is all you need.

This sweet love you is from the Mocha Me Happy set. So fun!

And, check out the scalloped heart on top of the treat bag! So cute! And, another sweet sentiment from the Mocha set. The stitched candy wrapper dies are the most cute things too! That little details just knocks my socks off!

Nothing like a candy treat to make someone's day, don't you agree?

Shop Online for all these papers, bags and stamps and more! www.amusestudio.com/seleise

Have a wonderfully creative day!

Pocket Card Tutorial - Happy Valentine! Fuse Tool!

What happens when you use the fuse tool on a 4X4 mini album pocket page? Fabulosity!!

The three "layers" of the pocket card were stamped and glued first. The bottom layer is the happy die cut and the small heart die from the heart die trio. They're glued to a piece of cherry cardstock. The quickie glue pen is PERFECT for this step.

The top layer is using the stamp set Punny Valentine on vellum cardstock. I love the variation with the black card base, the cherry and the vellum.

The middle layer is clear sequins and more mini hearts cut with the heart die trio. I have three sets of those heart dies because there are many, many times I want to cut multiple hearts and they're so economical, it was easy to add the three sets to my collection of dies.

The cardstock width is 3-1/2" so that even with the seals, it will fit on a standard A2 card.

Once I had all the pieces and parts for my pockets, I went to my fuse tool. The fuse tool needs at least 15 minutes to heat up. You want it to be good and hot and ready to go when you start making your pockets.

"How do you make the pockets?," you say. "I'm so glad you asked! Let me show you!"

1. Prepare your items for your pocket. And, place the pocket that you're ready to seal on a stack of paper (if you have grid paper you'll help yourself out tremendously!) and a hard surface. Do not use your silicone cutting mat or any plastic surface as you'll change it forever...don't ask me how I know *headsmack* LOL! and sigh! ;)

Line up the filled pocket on the grid lines. (this pocket has some of our patterned paper and some of the Valentine heart sequins).

 2. Use the fuse tool ruler and line up the opening over the grid line where you're going to make your seal.

3. Place your heated fuse tool over the pocket and pull towards you to seal shut. You'll want to experiment with different thicknesses to know how slowly to pull your tool to seal the pocket. And, it has to be really warmed up to work effectively.

There are some really great YouTube videos on using the fuse tool if you want more guidance or more ideas on using the tool.

Here's the inside. Super simple and you can see the teeny staples that are holding the pocket to the card.

Here's a side view of the pocket. After I fused the pockets, I added a little bit of the cherry cotton ribbon from the January collection and used the tiny attacher (another awesome tool!) to adhere it to the card. Doesn't the pocket look great on the washi strip! (tuxedo collection)

So, what do you think? Definitely add the fuse tool to your collection of stamping and scrapping tools. You'll have so much fun creating and making pockets as it has a heated slit tool as well to add pockets where they weren't before!

All of these supplies are available in my webstore: www.amusestudio.com/seleise

And, if you use the code JANUARY10 before the end of the month, you'll get 10% off of your order!! Woo hoo!!

Have a wonderfully creative day!!

You Mocha Me Happy! - Holiday Coffee Lovers Bloghop - Final Day!

It's the final day for the Holiday Coffee Lovers Bloghop. I've been busy hosting a conference for my full-time job so posted on the start day and haven't really gotten to see many of the FABULOUS creations but I plan to spend part of my week-end looking at as many blog posts as I can!

I did find a bit of time before the conference started to make some cards to go in the hop but hadn't had time to post the pics (sad, isn't it?! lol!). So, finally - here you go!

This stamp set, Mocha Me Happy, is coming in the January collection from a muse studio and it's awesome! I saw it and had to have it immediately so I could start playing with it for the blog hop! I also got the valentine sequin mix. So many CUTE hearts and I love these silver ones that are kind of mid-sized and shimmery and lovely! Here's a link to the full collection that will be available in my webstore on January 1st!

I started out by making some layer pieces with the cup stamp, memento tuxedo black ink and the matching die. I added the sentiment and then highlighted the cup "shading" with the quickie glue pen and silver glitter. Next up was the heart. I stamped, colored with the Lipstick Red Copic marker and then fussy cut it out. Got the glittery cup, popped up the heart and glued on the heart sequin. Next, I took a layer of onyx, scribbled on it with the quickie glue pen and glittered it as well and then popped up the cup on that layer. Isn't that fun?! I love how the scribbles look all glittered up. Don't you?

 It's a perfect Valentine for a teacher in your life and you could easily put in a gift card to a local coffee shop, if you wanted to add a little something. :)

And, here's a Valentine for anyone who makes you happy! This time the quickie glue pen is just dotted all over the onyx layer and the heart and silver glue is added. Isn't that an awesome way to add a touch of sparkle?! I was in glitter heaven!!

Thsee extra cups are going to be tags on some home-made bread or scones or maybe attached to a gift card or a mug. So many options and I can't wait to make more!

Don't forget to comment on my earlier post to get in on the chance to get some blog candy!!!

Enjoy this final day of the coffee lovers bloghop! Want to play along? Here's the link: http://coffeelovingcardmakers.com/2015/12/2015-winterholiday-coffee-lovers-blog-hop/

Have a wonderfully creative day!!

We Just Fit - Layered Border Tutorial

Hello! Remember me? My poor neglected blog. Hope you're sticking with me.

 Here's a fun masculine birthday card with a custom border piece that could be made with so many different cardstocks and papers. It would look great on scrapbook pages too!

First, let's take a look at the stamp. This super cute puzzle piece is from My Punny Valentine which is available through February 14th. Although it's wonderful for Valentine'so day, it's also perfect for birthdays, anniversaries and for autism causes. Yep. A puzzle piece is the symbol for autism and I think it is awesome that we have a stamp for it! Close-up, you can see that the puzzle piece is popped up on the classic stitched die tag and has a bit of the border piece too.

The background of the card has the puzzle piece stamped all over and little dots of gold from the signo gold gel pen added. It's subtle but a fun little touch.

So. How do you make the border? First you start with three card stock strips. I used onyx, onyx petite polka dot and gold shimmer. I glued the gold to the polka dot to start.
First you layer the gold/polka strip at an angle over the onyx strip and trim the right side.

Then you take where you trimmed and line it up on the left side of the onyx strip and trim again on the right. This gives you the same angle on each piece that you cut.

You do it a third time and trim. If you do too big of an angle, you kind of overlap the bottom of the strip or you may only get two overlaps. But, that's no problem. It still gives you a cool border look.

Here's what the finished border looks like beside the one in process.

And, there's a close-up. Isn't that fun? I can't wait to make it with our patterned paper packs and with other cardstocks.

Since the outside has so much going on, I kept the inside simple.

If you want to pick up this stamp before it goes away on February 14th, shop my webstore.

Have a wonderfully creative day!!

Love Bug - Heat Embossed Vellum Bow

Here's a throwback to those wonderful old fashioned Valentine's that had doilies on them.

The heart doily pack in the January collection is a great addition to this card. I cut the doilies in half so they'd go further and make more Valentine's to share. The berry, grapefruit plain and petite polka dot and blush cardstock work so well together. Severeal of the cardstocks are in the Hem and Hadley collection which is also available through February 14th.

 It's cheery and sweet and if you leave the sentiment off, could be sent to anyone on your list of people you love - from Grandma to granddaughter to a good friend.

A little Valentine Collection Washi adds a super easy bit of interest to your card. It's a rice paper tape so you can just tear it and put it on the card. A little bit goes a long way and is so cute!

Here's a close-up of the heat embossed vellum bow. A Hundred Wishes stamp set was used to make the lacy look. Isn't that dandelion perfect for a lacy effect? I love how this turned out. And, heat embossing with white embossing powder on vellum paper is AWESOME! The vellum paper is also the easiest to use on the mini bow. I just love it! Isn't it pretty?! And, I think it looks even better under the popped up love bug cut out from Punny Valentine. Isn't that sweet?

Here's the inside. Another simple finish to the decorated outside.A sweet and simple finish.

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Have a wonderfully creative day!

You're the Bomb!

What could be better than a Punny Valentine? This new stamp set (only available through February 14th) is a great stamp set not only for Valentine's day but for birthdays and anniversaries and congratulations and general pick-me-up cards too!

The red lines around each stamp show the die size. As you can see, it's a good close fit and helps you get a great element for a card. You can pick this up in my webstore: www.amusestudio.com/seleise through February 14th!

Here's my "bomb" card.

It features the bomb on the stitched fishtail die that was splashed across rather than sprayed directly on. Here's what I mean by splashed across. Lay the tag on the bottom of your spray box and then spray straight across at the back wall of your spray box and let the splash fall onto your tag rather than spraying straight at your tag. It gives just a touch of spray to your tag and I liked this version on the vellum cardstock tag. The die comes with the matching circle that goes around the hole that you punch out. Isn't that cute?! 

The bomb was popped up on the tag and the mini banner with the mini heart cut-out  was added to the side of the tag. Mono aqua is perfect for this step as it dries clear. I love the peek-a-boo heart cut out of it from the heart die trio and the heart along with some sweetheart sequins finishes off the look. I put the embellishments on with Tombow Mono Multi as that also dries clear and is great for paper as well as embellishments. 

Blush cording went through the crop-a-dile punched hole and the circle popped around the opening. The sentiment was added and the card was spritzed across the top with the Stardust finishing spray. It's a great way to add a little shimmer to your cards and scrapbook pages. I did the same as before and spritzed above the card, shooting at the back of the spray box and let the spray fall onto the card.

Here's a close-up of that wonderful stitched tag die and the perfectly cut-out bomb. Isn't that fun?! To learn how to get a perfect cut every time from your matching stamps and dies, check out this blog post.

Since the outside had many layers and steps, I kept the inside simple and sweet. This A1 card is sure to brighten someone's day. :)

Have a wonderfully creative day!

You're My Cup of Tea - Valentine!

This fun card could be a valentine but it could also be an anniversary or birthday card too. And, since Valentine's Day is over, we'll just put it in the other category. :) You could leave the sentiment off and it would be a darling mother's day card, don't you think?

I participated in a swap recently and this was my swap card. I didn't want to put it online until the others had gotten theirs so I apologize that it's going up after the big red heart holiday.

It's a card that just makes me smile and hope it does you too. It's made with cherry petite polka dot, cherry chevron, onyx, onyx petite polka dot and onyx pinstripe cardstock. The stamp set is quick and cute valentines and the tea cup was colored with copic markers. I love that you can color right on the pinstripe paper. :) A heart twinkle sticker (do you see it?!) and some cherry baker's cording finishes off the look.

What do you think? It really was quick and easy and I love the cheeriness of it!

If you'd like to make your own quick and cute card, you can find all the supplies in my webstore: www.amusestudio.com/seleise

Have a wonderfully creative day!!

Wheely Like You - Valentine

I "wheely" like this card. It combines Enjoy the Ride and Tweet Heart with cherry, sugar and cherry pinstripe cardstock and cherry ink. And, a little cranberry glitter highlights the heart. All you have to do is touch the quickie glue pen to the bottom of the heart, sprinkle on glitter and that's it. Easy peasy!

And, here's the inside! Isn't it fun? I don't know why I haven't used the full card over the years. I used to just focus on the right side but now, it's a full canvas. So fun!!! I learned that option from some of my class peeps. good times!

The other great part about this Valentine is that you could send this to anyone. So, even if you don't have a special Valentine, you can send this card to your nieces and nephews or your parents or whomever. It's just a fun way to spread some Valentine cheer.

A Muse Studio Products used:
Stamps: Enjoy the Ride and Tweet Heart
Ink: Cherry
Cardstock: Cherry, Cherry petite pinstripe and sugar
Other: Cranberry glitter and the quickie glue pen

Shop Online Anytime

Have a wonderfully creative day!!

I "heart" U - Valentine - Splash Technique

A gingerbread man on a Valentine? You betcha! Here's a fun splash card. You splash the top sugar layer with blush splash and then put three of the big hearts cut out from the heart trio die set and spritz with grapefruit splash. Take off the heart masks and voila! - a pretty background that's ready for a sweet message!

The pennant banner is straight so with a little curve added, you get a pennant across the card in grapefruit petite polka dot and some heart twinkle stickers to cover the bends in the paper.

A gingerbread man in grapefruit holds an "I *heart* U" banner stamped in grapefruit from the Sending My Love stamp set. It's tied to the gingerbread man with blush baker's cording and held in place with a pop dot. Isn't that little man adorable on a Valentine!!  :)

Here's the inside. Simple and sweet!

Take some time and looks at your stamps and dies and see what you have that could be used for other holidays and birthdays and baby cards. You might be surprised at the versatility in your collection!

Shop Anytime Online

* = items on sale through Feb. 14th

Stamps:            Sending my love

Cardstock:       Sugar

                          Petite polka dot grapefruit

                          Grapefruit

Dies:                  *Heart trio die set

                          Gingerbread man die

                          Banner die

Cording:           Baker’s cording - blush

Splash:             Blush

                         Grapefruit

Glitter:              Diamond

Ink:                   *Grapefruit

Other:               3D Foam

                         Crop-a-dile

                         *Heart twinkle stickers

Have a wonderfully creative day!!

Gimme Some Sugar! - Tent Topper Card

 Gimme Some Sugar! heh heh heh... I love it! And, it works both ways for Valentine's Day, right? :)

The last post with the heart m&m treat bag and the card featured in this post were both part of the Monthly Card Class (3 more projects to come!).

I hadn't made a Tent Topper Card in quite a while so started with that design in mind. The base is berry and the top layer is onyx and sugar. The background is from the Silver Linings stamp set. It's the "heart rain" from that set. Doesn't it make a wonderful background? I stamped the berry and the sugar layer and the flax flower with the hearts using blush ink. The inside has the same hearts stamped down the side. The tent topper piece has rounded corners using the 1/2" side of the corner chomper.

The flower is layered on the bow and the "tails" were clipped off after the bow was assembled and then glued on so that the right side would be showing. Since the a muse studio cardstock is two-sided with one side having the color or pattern and the other being sugar or vanilla, the tails would have been white. But, with a little scissor-action, they got turned around easy peasy. :) Then, layer the stamped flax flower and the heart twinkle sticker on top and you've got your front finished.

The cute little monster on front is from Monster Bash. Isn't he cute?! He's paired with a die cut from What's Up and a sentiment from Southern Sass. Not all Valentine's have to be super lovey-dovey, right? Although this one could be... :)

Since we have the current catalog for a few more months, I'm going to have fun playing with the stamp sets to show the versatility of using them for different occasions. So, Monster Bash is technically a Halloween set but I think it's perfect for Valentine's Day, Birthdays and more. Silver Linings is more of an every day stamp set but with the heart background - perfect to pair with Valentine's Day. So, watch for the upcoming posts to see more stamp experiments. :)

 Here's the inside with the hearts going down the side. Simple but pretty. And, if you start at the top, you give yourself more space to write your "love" note. :)

So, what makes this a Tent Topper Card? Well, the base is 8 1/2" X 4 1/4" and it's scored at 4 1/4" to make a square card. The rectangle "topper" is 3 5/8" X 2 5/8" for the onyx piece. You place it so it creates a topper but you want to be sure to measure it so you don't go past the 5 1/2" length so that it will fit in the A2 envelope.

What do you think?

Supplies:

Stamps:            *Monster bash

                        Southern Sass

                        *Silver Lining

Cardstock:       Sugar

                        Berry

                        Onyx

Dies:                What’s up die set

                        Petite bow die

Ink:                  *Blush

                        *Berry

                         Memento tuxedo black

Other:               3D Foam

                        Corner chomper

                        Flax paper flower

                        *Heart twinkle stickers

The asterisks indicate sale items (through February 14, 2014). Shop Online Anytime

Have a wonderfully creative day!