Jumping on the Organizational Bandwagon

So after seeing all of the organizational tips and tricks that are all over the web right now because its the new year I decided to jump on the bandwagon and organize something.

When using my Peerless watercolors last week to create this owl tag, I realized that using the watercolor sheets from the package was counter productive   A) they made a mess on my desk...

B) and they were hard to use!  I'd have to test each one out before using it EVERY time because I could't remember which color is which. How frustrating!

So I made a palette/swatch book. To create it:

1) cut a small section off of each paint swatch. Be sure to leave it matched with its name so you don't get them all mixed up as your are working with them.

2) adhere paint chips to watercolor paper. Label each swatch and paint a sample of it below it so you can see the color of each on white paper

Now I have a my color swatches and a usable palette that I can work from. As I use up the paint, I can simply replace the swatch from what is left. I added them to a binder ring and now they hang on my desk ready to be used when I need them.

Have you organized any of your crafty supplies this month?

2015 Workshops Announced!

Hi everyone! I'm excited to announce my workshops for 2015! One of my crafty  goals for the year is offer more card making and paper crafting workshops here at home for all of my local and crafty friends, so here they are...

Style Made Simple

Friday, March 13, 7-9 pm ($10)

Are you a fun & cute card maker or one that is classy & elegant? Perhaps you are more graphic in style or verge on shabby chic. In this class you will learn the difference between all of the different styles in paper crafting and try your hand at creating three different cards in three different styles.

The Secret Garden

Friday, April 24, 7-9 pm ($15)

If you love flowers, this workshop is for you! We will create set of five all occasion cards that will be sure to suit any recipient in this wonderful season that is so full of blooms. If you wanted to try pretty peonies 2 or mini blooms stamp sets, you’ll want to attend!

New Product Party!!

Friday, June 5, 7-9 pm (FREE)

It’s Friday so get ready to party with some new products! Come and see what’s new for 2015 from A Muse Studio and create a few make & take with our newest of the new products.

Summer Travel Album

Friday, July 17, 7-9 pm ($20)

Be ready to document your summer vacation by getting your mini vacation album all ready before you even pack your bags. Don’t miss a single well deserved memory in 2015!

Holiday Catalogue Release Party

Friday, August 21, 7-9 pm (FREE)

Come check out all of the new holiday goodies released in our new Holiday Catalogue! We’ll have both a Halloween and Christmas make-and-take as well as holiday treats and good company! As an added bonus, attendees will be the first to sign up for my Holiday Card Shops!

Thankful Three Ways

Friday, September 18, 7-9 pm ($10)

Join us to create three thank you cards that you can use to celebrate our blessings throughout the holiday season.  This workshop will also focus on 2 fun techniques: coloring image with markers and inks and adding glitter to your cards!

Bootiful Halloween Cards

Friday, October 16, 7-9 pm ($10)

Join us for a fun evening of Halloween treats without the tricks! In this workshop you will learn to make Halloween cards that are cute, fun & bootiful- not scary! We will also create coordinating lunch box notes so you can send Halloween greetings to your little ghost or goblin all day long.

The Holiday Card Shop!

Saturday, November 7, 1-4 pm

Friday, November 13, 7-10 pm ($25)

Get a jump on you holiday card making by creating your holiday cards with A Muse Studio this year! You will go home with 10 handmade cards that will be ready to mail after the Thanksgiving holiday. Don’t wait until December 21^st… be the first to send out your holiday cards this year!

Wrap it Up! Workshop

Friday, December 4, 7-9 pm ($12)

After joining me for this workshop you will have the cutest wrapping in town! Don’t miss out on an evening of holiday cheer with treats. You will create gift tags, two gift bags and a clever wrap for those holiday treats!

____________________________________________

Thanks for your interest in signing up for one of my workshops! 

All classes are held in my home located in Loveland, Ohio (45140). Once you sign up for your selected workshop(s) a PayPal invoice will be emailed to you. Please pay promptly via PayPal or by sending cash/check as space is limited to 10 guests per workshop. Seats will only be reserved upon receipt of payment. A confirmation with driving directions will be mailed to you and serve as a receipt for payment. I look forward to crafting with you!

Click HERE to sign up for 2015 Workshops!

Sign up for a year’s worth of classes for only $100 (save $12!). Offer valid through February 21, 2015.

KISS Stitched Rainbow Cards

When was that last time you created a card using only stamps & ink? I can't think of the last time I tried to keep it simple, so when I heard that the monthly A Muse Studio Consultant challenge was to KISS-- keep it simple and create a card using only stamps & inks- no dies, embellishments, etc. I jump in.

Here's my first attempt...

Products used on card: Stamps (Chevrons & Birthdays Inside & Out); Inks (apple, orange, berry, saffron, lime & violeta); Cardstock (sugar).

I like it but it wasn't exactly what I was going for. So after several attempts I created this one to give to my oldest daughter for Valentine's Day...

Products used on card: Stamps (Mad for Plaids & You're My Fav sentiments); Inks (apple, orange, saffron, lime & violeta)

And this one (because the control freak in me couldn't decide is I like the randomness of the stitched stamping on the card above)...

Products used on card: same as above

... which one do you prefer?

**To purchase A Muse Studio products used these cards, click HERE**

PASSION - only $49!!

The number one reason that Consultants join our team is PASSION! It is the whole reason I joined A Muse Studio this year. I am passionate about A Muse Studio products and love to share that passion through my creativity with my friends, family and customers! And I'm sure you would love it as much as I do! With the introduction of our new Monthly Collections, there's even more to love... every month!  

During the months of January & February, prospective Consultants can join for only $49 and receive two free stamp sets from the January Collection with the purchase of our Basic Starter Kit. They can also choose to purchase a Deluxe Starter Kit for only $99 (which includes over $350 in value!) and also receive two free stamp sets from the January Collection.  This is a opportunity that should not be missed!

$49 Basic Kit includes:

* Exclusive Sampler Stamp Sets (3)
* Paper Swatch Ring
* 2014-2015 Catalog & Inspiration Guides (4)
* Let's Get Crafty Invitation Postcards (50)
* Workshop Hostess Planners (5)
* Consultant Guide to Success
* Consultant Handbook
* Customer Order Forms
* Hostess Order Forms (5)
PLUS two January Collection Stamp Sets

The Deluxe Kit includes everything a new Consultant needs to start having Workshops the day they receive their kit (featuring the 2014-2015 Catalog Ready To Roll Workshop A). A new Consultant can easily earn back the cost of the Deluxe Starter Kit by holding just ONE average Workshop. An average Workshop will earn her $125 in commission plus an additional $40 in A Muse Studio product credit during her Fast Forward period (first 90 days). Pretty FABULOUS, right?! 

$99 Deluxe Kit includes:

* The Basic Starter Kit plus 4 extra 2014-2015 Catalog & Inspiration Guides
* A Muse Studio Pigment Ink Pads - Sky, Orange, Grass, Sage, Buttercup, French Roast, Seattle, Grapefruit, Currant, Fern
* Black Memento Ink Pad
* COPIC Original Markers - BG10 Cool Shadow, E21 Baby Skin Pink, YR07 Cadmium Orange, E33 Sand
* Cardstock Starter Pack
* Clear blocks - 1.5" square, 2.25" square, 4" square, 2" x 6"
* Baker's Twine - French Roast
* Sequins - Orange
* Twinkle Stickers - Orange Dots, Clear, Mini dots, Mini stars & Hearts
* Pearl Stickers - Onyx, Shell, Sky, Latte
* Ribbon - Sheer Organdy Lime, Satin Poppy, Sheer Polka Dot Eucalyptus, Grosgrain Stitch Shell, 7/8" Twill French Roast
* Buttons - Pumpkin
* Adhesives - Mini glue dots, Tombow Dots Roller, 3-D Foam
* Tools - Bone Folder & Angled Tweezers

Please note: Fabulous Marketing Materials are heavy and expensive to ship. There will be an additional $5 shipping charge for the Basic Starter Kit for a total shipping charge of $11.95. There will be an additional $18 shipping charge for the Deluxe Starter Kit for a total shipping charge of $28.95. 

A New Year! A New Business Opportunity! Say YES!

To join, click HERE.

Owl Love You Forever

Hello! How was your weekend friends? I've been busy, busy working on getting my workshops ready for the year (my #1 creative goal for 2015 is to host a workshop every month in my home). Well... January's has nearly slipped away, but I think I can squeeze 2 in February. What are your crafty goals?

I'm also excited to be working on February's free Scrapinar over at Layout a Day. More information will be forthcoming about my class... right now all I can tell you is that it will involve something that I used on the project that I'm about to share with you today. Can you take a guess at what my class will be about?

So on to my crafty share for the day. I wanted to create a Valentine's Day tag from a non Valentine's Day stamp set, so I chose A Muse Studio's Owl's Well set which is typically a birthday set.

A Muse Studio Products used on tag: Stamps (Owl's Well & Mini Blooms); Dies (January Collection Fishtail Stitched Tag & Mini Blooms Coordinating Dies); Inks (violeta, berry lime & blush); Copics (E37 Sepia); watercolor (Peerless Watercolor Sheets); cardstock (sugar); twine January Collection metallic gold & natural twine); glitter (diamond);  twinkle stickers (heart)

To create this tag:

1) If you like to cut out dies individually after stamping images  (like me) then cut apart dies using jewelry nippers. This tool will easily cut apart metal dies without injuring you or your scissors. If you use these metal dies often, it is worth the investment:)

2) Play around with watercolor, creating skyline effect on white cardstock. Allow paper to dry. Select best spot from paper and cut tag with die. 

3) Stamp branch image and color. I colored the branch with a Copic marker, but didn't have the color I desired for the leaves in a marker, so I used my lime ink pad and a wet brush to color the leaves. 

4) Stamp & die cut mini blooms. Stamp and color owl. Add glitter to belly of owl by using quickie glue pen and diamond glitter. Fussy cut owl and adhere all images to tag.

5) Die cut, color and add hole reinforcer to tag. Stamp, make and adhere sentiment tag.

6) Finish tag with gold metallic twine and heart jewel.

***Don't forget that the items from A Muse Studio's January collection-- the stitched fishtail tag die and the gold metallic twine is only available until February 14th! You can order online HERE.***

Love Bug

Just jumping on real quick to share another card created with my new A Muse Studio My Punny Valentine Stamp Set & coordinating dies.  I just love creating fun & cute cards & my kids love getting them so bear with me...

To create this card: 

1) stamp and die cut lady bugs 

2) color images with Copic Markers (W2, 110 Special Black, R 81, Y17, B29, R27, RV04, RV21) and glitter with A Muse Studio diamond glitter 

3) create card that measures 4 1/4" x 5". Remove bottom portion of face of card using Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders die and replace with as Blush cardstock. Adhere lady bug dies along curve of white cardstock.

4) stamp sentiment and round corners with a corner chomper

That's all I have for today. I'm off to make dinner and then hit our school's monthly PTO meeting. Be sure to stop back later this week as I share a quick tutorial on how to separate all of those metal craft dies without ruining your scissors. It took me a few tries, but I think I've found the best solution- looking forward to sharing it with you soon!

My Punny Valentine Tag Trio

Hello, hello! I finally finished up this cute set of Valentine's Day cards that I created with a tag die and the new My Punny Valentine stamp set from A Muse Studio. I can't wait to show them to you... they are so fun. Sad that it took me so many days to finished them up, but crafting isn't about the race to me... it's the process & I LOVED making these!

I'm defiantly giving this one to one of my kids (most likely Hadley since she's my pizza lover)! I stamped and die cut the pizza, colored him with Copic markers and then added diamond glitter to the pepperoni and crystal clear glaze to the cheese.

Here's a few close ups of the others...
 
On these two I used the stardust finishing spray to add a little shine to my colored pieces. Its hard to see in the photo, but a few specs are visible on the olives. If you like subtle shine, its a great product!

So here's the fun part about these guys... making mini cards out of a tag die. Want to see how to do it?

To make it you simply fold your card stock, like you are making a card. Place your die so that the top is overhanging the folded edge. Tape your die down with some wash tape (so it can be removed easily), run it through your die cutting machine & you have a tag-- that is actually a mini card. Cute huh?

 

So if you like the My Punny Valentine Stamps (be sure to click over & see the whole set!) or this tag die with the darling stitching around the outside edge you can get them from A Muse Studio through February 14th. 

If you are in the Cincinnati area, we'll be making these at a workshop soon- stay tuned! If you'd like to host a Valentine's Day card making workshop in you home, email me at windyrobinson@gmail.com.

A Muse Studio January Collection

Hi crafty friends! Happy New Year to you all!  I hope that the birth of this new year is productive, healthful and full of love for you all.

I've been crafting with the new Monthly Collections from A Muse Studio the past couple of days and I am excited to be able to share January's collection with you. Every month, we'll be introducing a collection of new products that will only be available for one month. You can hop on over to my shop and check it out HERE.

The January 2015 Collection includes four fun stamp sets that I think you are going to love! I know I'll be making treats for my daughter's teachers and their valentines with the new My Punny Valentine stamp set and matching die set. It is so cute!

While you are over at the A Muse Studio Shop, check out a few of my other favorites from the new collection: 

AS Large Fishtail Stitched Tag

Gold Metallic and Natural Twine

Gold Heart Stickers 

Beatrice & Woodsley Cardstock Collection

I can't wait to head back up to my craft desk tonight and finish up what I've been working on so I can share it here with you! Share with you soon!