Van Gogh girl. . .

Last week was the start of Studying Under the Masters (portraits and self-portraits).  Jeanne Oliver chose Vincent Van Gogh to apprentice under and her projects and videos are superb! 

To be different I attempted to paint one of my girls in the style of Van Gogh.  Not sure if I was very successful but I had gobs of fun!  There is tons of movement in this girl.  I used a mixture of matte and satin paint so in real life there is even more movement when you walk past her. 

This week is Picasso - can't wait to start watching those videos but I've got to finish the first week first.  I've got a feeling it will take me months to finish this class!

Linking to Paint Party Friday and

Art Journal Every Day

Fabric Flower Pin Class -

Just a reminder - the Fabric Flower Pin class is this Wednesday at 10:00AM at Make Time to Create in Newburgh, IN.  If you want to learn how to make these fun flowers be sure and call Dolly to register - (812) 490-4790.  I'd love to see you there!

Make Time to Create

Guess what I did today?  I took a stamping class taught by Dolly LaBelle at Make Time to Create!!  I had so much fun - it is really nice being the student and not the instructor.

The poppy stamps are from Flourishes.  I'm not so great with my Copics still - I need to practice more and I wasn't brave enough to make my poppies super red -

Make Time to Create has a retail side too - I picked up a couple of 6x6 paper pads today that I will be using soon!  I am even going to teach a class there in December.  Be sure and check out their blog for upcoming specials and classes.

Sneak Peek - A Muse Floral Class at the Doodlebug

Ever want to make a paper rose but were afraid that you couldn't do it?  Fear no more - Just come to the Doodlebug on Wednesday night and I'll show you how!!  We will be using gorgeous A Muse products and some fun tools (Cuttlebug, Fiskars crimper, Martha Stewart Fringe Scissors, etc.) to make some great projects.  Be sure and click on my sidebar for details on how you can join me there!!

2011 A Muse Calendar Project

Every year, A Muse offers digital calendars in various sizes for download. Proceeds benefit a worthy cause. This year, A Muse has chosen Charley's Fund. Please visit this blog post to see photos and learn more about this darling little girl. This week, the A Muse Creative Team is showing lots of inspiration to get you started on your very own calendar project!

I like making the 4" calendar - it comes complete with cutting guidelines (whoo hoo! anything to make life easier!!) and is just the size to feature some of the tiny images that A Muse is famous for!

The front and back covers are made from chipboard and the calendar is bound at the top - that makes it sturdy enough to stand on its own on your desk, countertop or table.

I like to match A Muse gingham paper to the color of the month. Seattle Girl is the perfect stamp for April - "April showers bring May flowers - - -"

Punching the bottom edge of the gingham paper adds a fun element. With the variety of edge punches available, you can punch each and every page of your calendar with a different decorative edge!

If you'd like to skip all the hard work and learn more about using the Bind-It-All, sign up for my Calendar Workshop that will be taught at the Doodlebug on Saturday, October 23rd. Info is in the sidebar on the left!
Please note: The A Muse Calendars are a download product only (nothing will be shipped to you.) There are five different versions available this year. For a small donation, you are able to download the calendar file and print as many copies as you like for personal use or to create handcrafted items for resale. Calendars make a wonderful gift for family, friends and co-workers.

Busy day at the Doodlebug!!

WOW!! What a great day I had teaching at the Doodlebug! Fourteen joined me in making A Muse Summer Vacation cards - We had so many laughs! It is spectacular spending time with people who understand how fun papercrafting is!!

These eight ladies joined me in the A Muse Marvelous Monograms class - we learned the elements of making boxes and had a blast! A special thanks goes to my "Four Favorites" - the quartet of gals who made my day by staying for BOTH classes!! You guys are hard core papercrafters!
Since I had so many students I was able to indulge in more "playthings" than normal - LOOK at all the goodies that will be showing up in future posts!

I am exhausted and even have a bit of a sore throat from all that talking but I definitely have a smile on my face! If you haven't visited the Doodlebug yet - you are really missing out! Hannah and Melanie run a gem of a store!!

Class Sneak Peek - A Muse Seahorse

Did you know that I am teaching at the Doodlebug this Saturday? If you want to have fun making this adorable card featuring the A Muse Seahorse/Coral plus use Nestabilities dies, Copic Markers and learn lots of fun tips and techniques then you'd better hurry and call the Doodlebug to sign up -

This card goes perfectly with the current Color Cue challenge from Wplus9 stamps!! Click on the class picture in the left column for further class details.

Everything's Rosy!

Last night was a great night at the Doodlebug!! Twelve ladies stamped, scored, embossed, laughed and talked their way through class! Can't wait to do it again - My next two classes are listed on the left - Did you know that if you book both classes on Saturday, August 21 I'll cut $5 from the price?

Look at my pile of stash that I brought home last night - Can't wait to start crafting with it - In fact, I already made two quick graduation cards that my mom needed this AM using the new punch - I'll get those up as soon as I can - I have a graduation party to attend on Saturday and I promised a big platter of baked yummies - I made butterscotch brownies and now I need to go to the grocery to pick up more staples to make 4 other kinds of bar cookies. Sure smells good in my house!!

Sneak Peek - Everything's Rosy class

We are home from Wisconsin - had a great/quick trip and now there is a mountain of laundry calling to me but I wanted to pop in a give you a sneak peek of two of the 5 cards we will be making Wednesday evening at the Doodlebug in Jasper! Soft shades of blue and green will be complimented by fun techniques, gorgeous florals and all new designs with A Muse's Everything's Rosy release!!

It isn't too late to give Hannah and Melanie a call and get registered! See ya on Wednesday~

A Day of Firsts -

Today was a fun day of firsts -
First time teaching A Muse classes at the Doodlebug in Jasper, Indiana.
First time teaching two classes in one day (once I taught 3 classes in 4 days but this was easier).
First time teaching some great new students!
Thanks to you ladies that made my firsts so enjoyable!! Hope to see you again soon!

Beautiful Birds -

Here is a closer look at two of the cards we will be making in the Beautiful Birds Tote Bag with Cards class next week. This particular card seems to be the favorite of most people who see the set -
The following card is my favorite! I love the ribbon (came from the fabric department of Hobby Lobby and it is elastic - go figure), the texture from the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder and the staples (Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher).

There is still room in class - just send me an e-mail to register - msmathey@gmail.com

Beautiful Birds Tote Bag with Cards

Here is a sneak peek of the tote bag with cards that we will be making at the Owensboro Hobby Lobby in February. The four cards/envelopes all fit in the little bag - so fun to use or to give as a gift! To register just send me an e-mail at msmathey@gmail.com
Hope to see you then - the details are on the sidebar to the left.

Sneak Peek - One Layout/5 Ways!

Here is a peek at another one of the cards we will be making in class this week. The darker blue/green panel is the same cardstock as the lighter one it is layered onto - Embossing the stamped panel with clear embossing powder gives it a great texture plus darkens it enough for layering. The patterned paper is Chamomile from the Carma Collection by Dream Street Papers. It has been such a popular paper at Serendipity that Kim has had to order it twice. Since this paper is double sided it is patterned on the inside of the card. Attaching a white layer to the inside makes it possible to write on this card. It is not too late to sign up for class - Give a quick call to Serendipity to register.
Stamps - A Muse 2-4141F Modern Poppy, 9-8588B Get Better Soon
Paper - Aqua Mist cardstock, patterned paper
Ink - Ranger Frayed Burlap Distress Ink, Versamark Ink (for embossing)
Accessories - A Muse Sheer French Roast ribbon, Ranger Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder

Sneak Peek - One Layout/5 Ways!

Here's a sneak peek of one of the cards we will be making in next week's classes at Serendipity. We will take one basic layout and show how we can interpret it 5 ways. This card features a technique that I call "Twisted Kissing". Wait until you see how fun and easy it is!
I get inspired for colors on my cards in the strangest ways - - - I turned the corner in my bathroom one day and saw these towels hanging on the rack. I was working on my class cards that day and decided at that point that one card would need to be kraft, white and chocolate.

If you haven't heard already Serendipity will be closing its doors at the end of January. These will be my last classes at the shop. While I am very sad to see this journey come to an end, I wish Kim and Randy all the best in their future endeavors. Its not too late to sign up for this class. Hope to see you then! Stay tuned for a few more sneak peeks of the projects over the next few days -

Stamps - A Muse 2-4163G Dill, 9-8233B Hi Friend, 3-5019G Big Block

Paper - Kraft, White and Chocolate Brown cardstock

Ink - Momento Dye Ink in Desert Sand and Rich Cocoa

Calendar Workshop -

WOW - Is it ever cold outside!! My boys are celebrating because they had a Snow Day today and they will get one tomorrow too! Snow Days are always exciting -
What is there to do when you've been cooped up with kids and tired of all the cold? hmmm.... I know - you can head down to Serendipity and make calendars on Saturday afternoon -

I've got lots of A Muse paper, stamps and bling plus punches and a laminator to complete this fun calendar that can fit in your checkbook or be used as a bookmark, etc.

You know that by Saturday you'll just want to get out of the house (I know I will!!) - See ya then! I'll be there from 1-4PM.

Monogram Class

Number of students - 12
Number of cards created - 120
Hours spent in class - 2 (give or take a few minutes)
Pieces of cardstock that were cut/stamped/scored/punched - at least 650!!!
WHEW! Now that's what I call a class!!!
By the way - Time when UPS man showed up with new stamps, JustRite Stampers, etc. - 1:24PM!! Figures, huh??

Vintage Monograms

How would you like a boxed set of 10 monogrammed notecards?? My classes this week at Serendipity are featuring the above cards plus a box to store them in - I had a blast designing this set of notecards since it is so different from what I normally do. There are pages from an old book (after my initial reluctance to deface a book I am now looking forward to using all the pages so I can recycle the cover somehow), vintage crocheted lace and some new stamps from Stampington. Plus we'll use some fun tools - JustRite Monogram Stamp Set (with Damask rings), Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher, Bow Easy, Parisian Edge Punch, etc.

Don't ya love the patterned paper at the top of this card? WAIT - it isn't patterned paper at all - it is the clear stamp set - French Dictionary. There is a lot of potential for this stamp set as backgrounds, etc. Looks just like old newsprint.
Wednesday's class is already at capacity (can't believe I can actually type this!!) but there is room in Friday's class - See you then!

AMuse Bouche - Part II

I don't think I've ever made an orange/red card before but I'm loving this combo!! The new A Muse Flatware and Thank you for everything stamps make a great "thanks for the delicious meal" card. The shimmer was hard to capture on this photo but the red/orange layers are the new Couture Shimmer papers. It is a super easy way to add elegance to a CAS card!

Stamps - 2-7195E Flatware, 9-8614C Thank you for everything

Paper - A Muse Shimmer Couture Solid paper in Apple and Mango, kraft and white cardstock

Ink - Momento Dye Inks in Ladybug, Tangelo and Tuxedo Black

Accessories - Corner rounder and popdots

Don't forget - The A 2010 Muse calendar classes are this week - Wednesday at 10:30AM and Friday at 6:00PM - I'd love to see you there - these are super fun to make - remember to download your calendar at A Muse or use the link on my sidebar!

Sneak Peek - Calendar Class!

Here is a sneak peek of next week's calendar class - we will use our favorite A Muse stamps, Copic Markers, the A Muse gingham papers in pink, green, red, blue and yellow plus kraft papers and the bind-it-all to create this useful 2010 desk calendar. Not only is it cute and practical but A Muse is using the calendar to raise funds for a worthy cause - Water 1st.

Yesterday we had fun with Copic markers and the airbrushing tool! 2/3 of the students in class decided to purchase the Airbrush System - they will be having lots of fun!

Balloon Girl

Here's a quick look at a card that will be featured in the upcoming Copic Basic & Airbrushing class (10/07/09).

I decided to copy Becky Rusher's signature soft look for this card - Mandy is so sweet colored with pale Copics and then faded to white - sparkly white paper makes the perfect clouds. (Happy Anniversary, Becky & Al).

Stamps - A Muse 1-6135J Balloon Girl, 8-8565B Little Fun Today

Paper - A Muse 4b notecard in Sky Blue, Doodlebug Design Bon Bon Sugarcoated Cardstock

Ink - Momento dye ink in Tuxedo Black

Accessories - Scalloped Oval Marvy Uchida Punch, Copic Markers

Here's a card I put together yesterday - I'm trying to do some different things with my Copics. This is a retired image from Stampin' Up! I love that little bird - used lots of different colors and then cut out and embossed with Nestabilities. Look at that soft edge - I used the Tim Holtz (Inkssentials) foam tool and Old Paper distressed ink. HOW did I ever stamp so long without this tool - It makes the PERFECT sponged edge!! LOVE this! Naturally, if you'd like one of your own, you can find it at Serendipity!!