Where have I been?

 

Waimea Bay, HI

I just finished a lovely vacation in Hawaii.  We gathered with a large group of my husband's family for a family vacation and celebration.  My brother in law rented a huge house right on the beach near North Shore Oahu that fit 18 of us comfortably.  We spent a lot of time at beaches, swimming, snorkeling and soaking up the sun.  Here's a little watercolor sketch I made in my art journal while we were chillin' at Waimea Bay one day.

  

Waimea Bay is famous for its big waves in the Winter but in the Summer is is docile and flat.  Its perfect for people like me who just want to float and relax. We put up an umbrella in the sand and took turns floating and reading in the shade.  Warm turquoise waters and pink sands are the cure for what ails the human spirit.  Tomorrow I go back to my cubicle but I will have warm memories to sustain me.

Craftwell eBosser Blog Hop

Welcome to the Craftwell eBosser blog hop. Scroll down to see today's special and to see the next stop in the hop.

For today's card I used the Craftwell 8 1/2" x 11" embossing folder to make 4 card fronts in one pass! I trimmed and mounted one of them on my card base.  Then I was able to cut the pretty scalloped lace piece and the three butterfly dies also in one pass!  It took about one minute to make all the cuts and embossing for this card! Yes, I had to go to a birthday party FAST! I inked the edges, cut some pretty paper strips and assembled everything super FAST and easy because lately that's the way I ROLL!

If you haven't used the eBosser yet you should give it a try.

• I became an affiliate because I simply adore this machine!  
• I am able to emboss and cut all the dies I need for a class in minutes!  
• It cuts through thin chipboard or felt like butter.  
• It can also cut fabric and other fun things easily and quickly. 
• Cuts or embosses up to 8 1/2" x 11"
• Cuts multiple dies at once.
• Quiet and easy to use.
• Saves wear and tear on your hands and shoulders--no cranking!

Click now to take advantage of an amazing special!  This special only lasts 24 hours from Saturday June 15, 2013 at 8:00 AM ET until Sunday June 16th at 8:00 AM EASTERN TIME! During the special time only; you can get this AWESOME machine for only $199.00. 

Includes:

• Three embossing folders
• Rubber mat
• Magnetic shim
• Retail value of $264.00 

 You will kick yourself if you wait too long and miss this sale! The $199 deal is like getting Black Friday pricing in June! 

Save time and effort with the Craftwell eBosser--the best automatic embossing and die-cutting machine that uses any standard dies and more!

Next up is LAWN FAWN.  I LOVE their stamps and everyone there is so NICE!

Below are the links in order in case you missed anyone. 

• http://SewCalGal.blogspot.com
• http://MountainsideBride.com
• http://purplepaperparadise.blogspot.com
• Llamatales.blogspot.com  (YOU ARE HERE)
• http://lawnfawn.blogspot.com
• http://jazmin-rose.blogspot.com
•  http://blog.craftwellusa.com

Card Supplies used:

• 8 1/2 x11" Embossing folder from Craftwell
• Butterfly dies from A Muse Studio 
• Border die from Cheery Lynn Designs

Check in tomorrow for something awesome!

Thought I'd try out my mobile blogging app so I can warn you about something tomorrow. Come back for an awesome deal on a great tool! 

In the meantime here's a happy gekko from Tahiti who keeps me company at work!

And tonight I'll fall asleep with you in my heart!

All supplies available from my A Muse Studio Store

I seldom make pink cards but I couldn't resist this pretty Valentine's theme.
 

All supplies from A Muse Studio:

All for Love

Love  Me Do

Valentine Washi Tape

Big Heart Die Set

Shell Paper

Pebbles Shimmer Chalks

Memento Cocoa Ink

Shell Ink Pad

1/4" Shell Organdy Ribbon

Goodbye Gingham!

Supplies available from my  A Muse Studio Store

I absolutely adore the A Muse Studio gingham paper.  I was stunned to find that it is being discontinued.  The good thing is you can still get it till the end of February and it is 30% off too!  Another fun discontinued item is the Perfectly Polished Stamp set that is also 30% off until it is discontinued till the end of the month.

This card features white embossed flatware and some pretty buttons on top of a cute cut up doily that I used to make a scalloped edge.  Time to get ready for a picnic!  

Supplies Used from A Muse Studio:

Perfectly Polished Stamp Set

 Blueberry Cardstock

Cobalt Cardstock

Blueberry Gingham Cardstock

3 1/2" Doily

Navy Buttons

Versamark Ink

White Embossing Powder

Glue Dots

Stamp set and Gingham paper 30% off through February at my  A Muse Studio Store

Two Cards; One Sketch

 How about a fun card sketch today?  I made two different Valentines using this sketch. Both cards feature the cute 3 1/2" doilies from A Muse Studio.  I also used the Heart Trio Die to make a peek-a-boo hole in the front so the inside of the card shows through.  The remaining heart that is cut out is popped up using 3D Foam Tape on the inside.

Supplies available from my  A Muse Studio Store

Come Fly With Me Card Inside

Come Fly With Me Stamp Set

Supplies Used:

Come Fly With Me Stamp Set

Cherry Cardstock

Cherry Heartbreaker Cardstock 

Onyx Versafine Ink

Cherry Ink

3 1/2" Doily

Cherry 1/4" Polka Dot Organdy

Heart Trio Die
3D Foam Tape 

Supplies available from my  A Muse Studio Store

Just Because Card Inside

Just Because Stamp Set

Supplies Used: 

Just Because Stamp Set 

 Burano Cardstock (renamed to Poppy in the 2013 catalog)

Shell Cardstock 

Washi Paper (Imported from Japan)

 Cherry Ink 

White Gel Pen

Sugar Pearl Stickers

 3 1/2" Doily 

 Burano Satin Ribbon (renamed to Poppy in the 2013 catalog)

Organdy Heart Trio Die

3D Foam Tape

Corner Rounder

 

Craftwell eBosser - Embossing

I'm so excited that I get to use the Craftwell eBosser for a couple of weeks.  The eBosser is a brand new automatic die cutter.  Yes, you may be thinking that you can do the same thing with your manual die-cutter, but this machine is AWESOME!  It can cut and emboss up to 8.5x11" and runs through intricate dies like you won't believe!  It takes no effort on your part to run it through and it only takes about 30 seconds to smoothly feed through the machine.  It's pretty quiet too considering all the work it is doing. 

Love and tag dies available from my A Muse Studio Store

 

My loaner machine came with 3 full-sized embossing folders.  By "full-size" I mean 8.5x11"!  I didn't have to cut my paper at all and you can see below that it just left a small 1/4" margin around the page.  It gave a nice deep emboss too!  I love that I don't have to crank my machine or hurt my hand, wrist or shoulder to use the eBosser. My cousin has a lot of shoulder pain so she invested in this machine because she cuts a LOT of dies and she couldn't be happier with it.

Supplies Used:

8.5 x 11" Embossing Folder - Craftwell

Big Heart Die set - A Muse Studio

Holiday Tag Die set - A Muse Studio

Kraft paper - A Muse Studio

French Roast Twine - A Muse Studio

Striped Ribbon - Stampin' Up

Meow Kitty Paper - Best Creation

  

One Little Word - 2013

Cloud paper and dies available from my A Muse Studio Store

I wish you all a wonderful, healthy and prosperous new year.  Each year I try to pick a word to focus on as a way to "set my course" and keep on track with things throughout the year. 

PS: I just found out that they are discontinuing both the cloud paper and dies and they are only available until Jan 31, 2013 (or until supplies last!)  I'm really going to miss these products--they are some of my favorites ever!

This year I decided that my word should be "up!"  To help keep up with it a little better than I did last year (which was not at all, ha ha!) I decided to sign up for Ali Edwards "One Little Word" class.  I thought this would make the word more visible to me than in years past and I could really get into using my word as a tool for personal introspection and growth.  To go along with the task I updated a little book from an old notebook I got at a trade show.  I discarded the branded cover and added a new cute cover with some of my favorite paper and cloud punches from A Muse Studio to make my new upcycled book.

Don't you think the cloud paper is adorable!?  Hopefully it will remind me to look up and keep my thinking upscale this year.  The words are made using Bodoni font which I just love for its happy feel. Doesn't this just want to make you sing "Up, up and away in my beautiful balloon"? 

I cut the cloud dies out with the new electronic Craftwell eBosser that they are letting me borrow for a couple of weeks so I can review it and put it through it's paces.  So far I am LOVING it and I plan to upgrade from my old purple Wizard soon.  The eBosser cut through chipboard like butter and just went through the machine with no fuss and absolutely no effort on my part.  It cuts up to 8.5x11" too so you can cut multiple dies at once.  You don't have to worry about putting something too thick through the machine and breaking it.  If you try, it simply gives a gentle beep and backs the machine up for you.