Life is good.

So, this weeks challenge is a huge hurdle for me. This is one of my MAJOR weaknesses in stamping. I am not blessed with a natural ability to “paint” scenery with my stamps. I have 2 entries for this, and I am afraid that regular stamping will resume from this- i.e. no more scenes, LOL! But who knows?

This first card is inspired from 2 things, a) Michelle’s Green Day Card, b) Emily’s AWESOME card, and c) my love of the White Stripes. The White Stripes are a band, and for those of you who don’t know, they are a 2 person band. Meg White, a drummer, and Jack White, vocals and guitar. They jam out like no one’s business.

Also, if you are a Napoleon Dynamite fan, the opening song, “We Are Going to be Friends,” is a White Stripes song, and I ripped off the sentiment for this card from that!

The base of this card is wisper white, the stage is Chocolate Chip, and the stage curtains are K & Co. Amy Butler paper. All images are by A Muse. I  colored the images with SU! markers and they are stamped in Palletee Noir. I used stickles for the girls top and for the drum base (I love when a band has glittery drums!).

-

When I saw this image, I knew it was going to be between two trees. Even though it’s baby clothes, I would send this to my mom. She loves hanging laundry out. So it is very her!

All of the images are by A Muse. The base is Certainly Celery accented by Bashful Blue. The main image is whiper white, stamped in SU! black marker and Pallette Noir. All images are colored in with SU! markers. The “grass” is done with a combo of creative coloring and the A Muse grass stamp in Old Olive with Always Artichoke accents. The tire swing is a SU! black eyelet. The ribbon is from my stash.

Okay all you game show junkies! Today is your lucky day, go to the  A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA Blog  - There you will find an awesome Hollywood Squares A Muse style game! All you have to do is guess which A Muse girl has the prize, if you are right, you move on!

To play, you have to register, so don’t forget to do that and tell them Andrea Bentz said, “Come on down!” I know, wrong show, right concept!

I stress stamp. I was telling my friend Jami the other day that this whole A Muse contest has not stressed me. I have been enjoying it. Of course I want to win, but I am not stressing over it. However, I had a personal situation over the weekend. My dad was hospitalized. To make a long story short, he is going to be fine, but for moments there I was pretty scared. I didn’t know what to do with myself, so I stressed stamped. I made 6 cards.

 Stress stamping for me can be good or bad- this time it was good, as in I was happy with what I turned out and it made time pass. Here are a few of my creations:

For this card, I used my Chatterbox Vines paper. So lovely to work with! It has a linen texture. The base of the card is Certainly Celery, the scallop is Apricot Appeal and the main image is So Saffron. I used Versamagic inks and a Sakura Souffle pen for the circle and accents. Images are by A Muse and Stampin’ Up!. The ribbon is from Michaels.

I love the Prego girl. I used more of the Chatterbox paper, and I cut a piece to mask over the dress. All images by A Muse and sentiment Karen Foster Stamp Stamps. The note card is by A Muse and the ribbon is from my stash.

Shake it! Shake it! I love shaker cards… they are so cute.

More Chatterbox! I am trying to use as much of one sheet as I can when I cut it. I cut a cicrle out of the middle and used a transparency. Images are by A Muse and Stampin’ Up! Ink is by VersaMagic and Pallette Hybrid Ink in Noir. The card base is an A Muse note card and the background of the circle is Certainly Celery. I used clear microbeads (which are stuck on the flower for some reason)

Challenge 5, Seeing Scenes, is posted over at the A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA blog! Their example card is one of my most favorite ever, by Emily, aka Scoopy, check it out here.

I can’t wait to see what you all post!

HOLY COW! A ton of winners were announced over at the A-Muse-A-Palooza Blog!!They gave out tons of awesome prizes… you could be the winner next week!!!  All you have to do is register on the A-Muse-A-Palooza website and will be entered in to win. Go here to register and tell them Andrea Bentz made you do it!!!

Ahh… my summer kick off has begun! I am spending today with my family over at my Mom and Dad’s. They have a pool so I will be water bound and hopefully getting slightly crispy in the sun! I took the weekend off from stamping- I needed a break. I have been doing my best to keep up but I had to walk away!

 This card turned out exactly as I had envisioned it- clean and elegant. I have a secret- now don’t be mad… I don’t like going to weddings. They are not my thing.

With wedding season upon us though, I do need a card here and there…

I used my C-bug for the Shimmery Silver card base. I stamped the A Muse Image in Palette Noir Black ink and filled in the brides dress and veil with Diamond Stickles. They are stamped on Shimmer White. The basic black scalloped oval is accented with a white gel pen, and the circles are punched out with SU!’s circle punches. The organdy polka dot ribbon is from my stash.

As you know, I have 17 neices and nephews… they range in age from 12 to 3 months old (we are talking 2 sides of the family here, my 3 siblings and Pete’s 6 siblings, just to clarify!)

 A couple of them are learning to read right now. I thought it would be cute to get them some FUN summer reading and give them a little card to go with it. I came up with this design with the whale from A Muse’s Animal Wishes acrylic set.

This note card and image are both by A Muse. I stamped the whale in Going Grey and used a silver gel pen to doodle the waves. I covered the waves, horizon and sun with Stickles. The sentiment is also stamped in Going Grey and was made using Karen Foster Snap Stamps. The sun is punched out with SU! circle punches.

 I wish I still biked… I used to love that care free feeling of riding everywhere… then again I was 12. Still though, riding bikes was the best thing about summer! This card would be perfect to send to your best elementary school friend if you were still in touch. It’s so representative of that feeling of being a kid and peddling your way everywhere.

The base of this wisper white card is covered with a piece of scrap I had laying around. I am sorry I can’t tell you who made this polka dot paper… I wish I knew, I love it! I used the Doodlebug frills to accent the top and bottom and used a scrap of SU! Designer paper from the Polka Dot and Petals paper. The main image is on shimmer white and stamped in Palette Noir Hybrid ink and mounted on a base of basic black. I added the dots around the main image to mimic the designer papers. The image and sentiment are both A Muse. The sentiment is stamped in Pixie pink.

Enjoy your last day off before going back to work- I know I will!!!

I am very excited-Summer is officially kicked off this weekend (IMO). One of the things I love about summer is spending time at the shore. We spend a good amount of time in Delaware. My parents have this wonderfully small, hole in the wall of a house. I am not even sure if you could call it that. It’s more of a condo, but less than a condo… but I digress.

Anyway, one of my most favorite things about going to the shore are the little boutiques and shops. One thing I really like are the “surf” type shops. I love that relaxed sorta California type style. I don’t have that. I have that uptight East Coast I just left my desk job kind of style. I need a new style. LOL

This card was inspried by my love of beach side surf establishments. I used the Karen Foster Snap Stamps to create the sentiment, the image is by A Muse. The card stock is by SU! and is in Shimmery White, So Saffron, Real Red, and Cool Caribbean.  The inks are Pallette Hybird Ink in Noir and Real Red. I also used SU! red grosgrain and my Marvy square scallop punch.

I love a good quick card that comes together just so! I had Cuttlebug’d this card a week or two ago. I also had the Fancy Pants Scallop handy too. I used a scrap of pink scrapping paper. Voila! Card. I used Pallette Hybrid Ink in Noir and colored A Muse’s Flower Girl in with SU! WCW crayons.

Enjoy your kick off to summer… I know I plan on eating a few hot dogs and maybe having a beer or two! Be safe!!

In honor of A-Muse-A-Palooza, I challenge you stamp this weekend, just a little something. Post a link to your card here, I will share my favorites! I will also choose someone to win a few of my A Muse card designs!

Short and sweet tonight… I am just going to give you the skinny on these projects.

Maternity Dress, by A Muse. The dress was stamped with SU! Aida Cloth Cardstock by SU! in Night of Navy, Pixie Pink, Pink Passion and Whisper White. Background paper by Fancy Pants. The image was cut out and popped up with foam tape. The white gel pen was used to accent the scallop. The dress is mounted on a punch from Marvy’s mega oval scallop and the navy is the Marvy giga scallop.

Coffee image is by A Muse. The image is colored with SU! markers and I went a little crazy with the stickles. I am not sure how I like it… but I didn’t destroy it. The cardstock is by SU! and is in Pixie Pink and Cool Caribbean.  I used my Marvy oval Scallop and Giga Oval punches. I also used my SU! Punches as well. The ribbon is May Arts.

It’s almost Friday… and a holiday weekend. So if you are traveling, please, be safe!

I need to admit something. I say “dude” a lot. I use it all the time. When I get excited, I will say “dude…” instead of your name. It’s annoying from what I hear. I have a tendency to use it at inappropriate times too. Such as when I am talking to my dad. We will be at work and I might say something like, “Dude, did you see that check we go in?!?!?” It is soooooo unprofessional. I do it anyway.

As you can tell, I have been really busy working on my A Muse stuff. That is where “dude” comes in here. I swear this card makes me say ”DUDE!!!!” when I look at it. I love the A Muse Surfer. He begs to be cut out and popped up (IMO, what doesn’t though?).  You would die if you knew how many nights I sit around and cut little things, critters and people out. It’s ridiculous. I love cutting stuff out!

The note card is by A Muse, as are the image and sentiment. I used SU!’s Summer Sun and Yoyo Yellow for the sun. They are punched out with SU!’s 1 1/4″ and 1 3/8″ circle puches to make the “sun”.  

I am still trying my hand at a little doodling. I drew the “waves” with a SU! Basic Black Marker. The Surfer is stamped in Palette Noir Hybrid ink and the sentiment in SU! Summer Sun. He is watercolored with SU! WCW crayons.

Again with the cutting:

I couldn’t get a good shadow on this… it took several tries. I ended up needing to cut the A Muse take out box out for a better look. I stamped the images in Palette Noir Hybrid Ink and SU! Going Grey. All images are by A Muse. I covered the take out in Star Dust Stickles and X-mas Red Stickles. It is so pretty! The ribbon is some polka dot organdy from Michael’s.

I have a fun filled evening of plant watering to lookforward to! We haven’t had a lick of rain and my garden is suffering! Have a great night girls and stay tuned for more stamping!!!

As you can tell, I am so busy working on my A Muse stuff… I hope that none of you are sick of it yet!!! I used to be super exclusive to a stamp company, but little by little, I am realizing how fun and important it is to branch out. I love how A Muse images really stress the clean and simple card.

I know it’s not Valentines Day, but I love this image and Black and Red are what makes it! I used my Marvy Scallop punches for this card. All of the images are by A Muse. I love the true blackness of Pallet Noir… in the past month it is all I use for my images. I think I may go exclusive! I accented the scalloped oval with my white gel pen and the circles I punched out. It gave it just the right touch!

Summer time is Ice Cream truck time. I never had one growing up… but there was one at the beach and that always made our annual vacation worth it to me!

I have recently fallen in love with Sakura Souffle pens. I have been using them to color in so many things! I used it on this card to accent around the oval and color in the ice cream cone. Doodlebug is the maker of paper frills and let me tell you, they are AWESOME! If you aren’t familiar, that is the pink scalloped accent strip.

I have lots more to share this week, so stay tuned. I have been stamping up a storm!

Challenge 4 is up! Go check it out at the A-Muse-A-Palooza blog! This weeks theme is Get Punchy: Pull out your punches and use them! I have a ton to upload this week so stay tuned for an installment later tonight.

 You know, it’s a good think this week is get punchy, because I sure love my punches!!!!

The A-Muse-A-Palooza weekly winners are up! Did you win? Who knows… so you better go and check it out!!!

Don’t forget to resigster at www.amuseaplaooza.com so you can be entered to win in these contests! Tell them Andrea Bentz sent you there!!

I promise not to give anything away, but first off I am a HUGE fan of Heroes. Did you see the last chapter of Vol. 1 tonight? OMG!!! Sooooooooooo good! I can;t wait for the fall!

To pay homage to such a fantabulous show, I made myself a super girl! She is faster than a speeding bullet! I love everything she stands for!

——

Images and note card are by A Muse. Sentiment by Karen Foster Sanp Stamps. In in Pallet Noir and SU! Old Olive. Images are colored with SU! markers and WCW crayons.

——

I love hula dancers. I wish I had some of that kind of hip action! Maybe someday I will take some lessons… maybe not *wink*

Anyhow, this paper felt sort of Hawaiian to me and the Hula girl needed to go with it.

All images by A Muse. Ink is Pallete Noir and SU! Gable Green. Card stock is SU! Barely Banana and Gable Green. Image is watercolored with SU! WCW crayons.

And getting caught in the rain…

 Okay, so it’s not Pina Coladas, it’s margaritas. This is for a swap I am participating in for Novell. This card was such fun to make! I don’t like margaritas (tequila, or ta-kill-ya rather is not my thing), but I love this stamp and sentiment. So cute!!

 ——

All images and note card by A Muse. Ink is Pallet Noir Hybrid and Versamagic in Key Lime. Decorative paper, maker unknown, SU! cardstock in Basic Black. Ribbon by Offray.

—–

This swap is the ATC that I did for Taylor’s A-Muse-A-Palooza swap. I love Vespa Girl- she is so chic! I colored her Vespa in with Sakura souffle pen. If I had a Vespa, it would totally be a minty Caribbean blue color!

—–

Images by A Muse and SU!. Cardstock by SU! in Cool Caribbean, Basic Black, Real Red and Shimmery White. Ink is Pallete Noir and SU! Real Red. Image is colored in with SU! WCW crayons and Sakura Souffle pen.

—–

I hope you all had a great weekend… I hope your week to come is GREAT!

Don’t forget to check out challenge 3 on the A-Muse-A-Palooza blog. Also, don’t forget to register for the other cool prizes! Tell them Andrea Bentz sent you!!!

Since it’s almost midnight here, I am going to skip a lot of the chit chat- I hope you don’t mind! I am going to post up some smaller images and the details.

 As always, your continued support of me and my creative journey never ceases to amaze me! Love you all!

*****

Image by A Muse. Cardstock Pretty in Pink, Shimmery Silver and Shimmery White. Silver Cord by SU!, brads by Queen & Co., Marvy Giga Scallop Punch.

*****

Images by A Muse and SU!. Ink, Pallet Noir Hybrid and SU! Tempting Turquoise. Cardstock by SU! in Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, and Shimmery White. Ribbon by SU! and Marvy Giga Scallop Square Punch, and SU! Markers.

*****

Images by A Muse and SU!. Cardstock, SU! in Apricot Appeal, Shimmery White and Bashful Blue. Ribbon by SU!, and SU! markers. 

*****
Images by A Muse. Cardstock by SU! in Tempting Turquoise, Shimmery White and Gable Green. A Muse notecard 1/2.  Ink is Pallet Noir Hybrid. Non SU! ribbon, Marvy Giga Scallop Punch.

I had never done ATC’s before last week. They are so easy and fun! I am hosting 2 swaps (see here if you want to sign up for the 2nd round). I need to start doing more of these- great ideas in little packages!

 This ATC is a shaker. I have had these really great multi pink colored microbeads. I love to use them when I can. I am big fan of black and pink together also. I don’t use them together enough.  I hope my round one swappers like it!

*****

Images all by Amuse. Ink, Pallet Hybrid Ink Noir. Cardstock, Pixie Pink, Basic Black, Shimmery white. Images colored with SU! WCW crayons. Ribbon, Silver grosgrain, SU!

 —–

 I like to receive cards that I am not sure what they are for until I open them. It’s like a secret… That is what I like about the sentiment, “A little bird told me…”

If I opened this up, I would be like “What’s up with this??? What does this person know?!” Teehee!

*****

Images by A Muse. Ink by Pallet Hybrid. Paper is Fabrino. All images colored with SU! markers. Ribbon in Red and Blue Bird by SU!

More stamping fun for everyone! Check out the super fun A-Muse-A-Palooza Contest today- wait until you see a *huge* pile of stamps like you have never seen!

This first card is for my nephew Matt, he turns 4 this month, isn’t he the cutest???

 I love the Surfer dude… it was apparent to me that the “Happy Birthday little dude,” had to be used with him! I also used my new Cuttlebug EB folder… so I was all smiles! I tried my hand at a little doodling with the waves… it’s new to me and not too adventureous, but it’s a start!

 ………………
Images by A Muse. Cardstock in Shimmer White, Tempting Turquiose, Gable Green and Yoyo Yellow. The image is colored in with Stampin’ Up! WCWS crayons. Ink, Palette Hybrid ink Noir. Accessories are ribbon from my stash,  Marvy scallop square punch.

I have a lot of golfers in my life- Mr. LOL, his dad, 3 of his 4 brothers and so on. When I picked up the Golfer stamp and the Golf Cart. They are perfect for a guy card (obviously, LOL) But isn’t it hard to make a masculine card?

Images by A Muse. Cardstock in Whisper White, Old Olive, and Creamy Caramel. Ink is Palette Hybrid ink Noir and the image is colored with SU! Markers. The ribbion is Blue Bird Grosgrain by SU!.

The last card I am sharing with you tonight is my favorite! I am sure I am not the first and won’t be the last person to say this, but she is the Morton’s Salt girl! I watercolored some clouds by hand and made sure it was a little dreary to go with her little outfit! Seattle Girl is the name of this stamp.

Images by A Muse. Cardstock in Cool Caribbean, Yoyo Yellow, and Shimmery White. The designer paper is by SU!, Petals and Paisleys. Seattle Girl is popped up and cut out. Ink is Pallet Hybrid Ink in Noir and and Versamagic Ink. The image is colored in with SU! markers.

——–

I hope your week has been going well, thank goodness we are in the home stretch for the weekend!!!

Andrea

Assignment # 3: Sketch by Jennifer Pebbles (who’s blog rocks, btw).  This card is for Mr. LOL, he plays softball for 3 teams, competitively. I thought he would get a kick out of this! I added some Stickles to it for some “faux sunshine”. I am not sure how I like that part of it, but it needed something, KWIM?

……………….
Images, and notecard by A Muse. Cardstock in Shimmer White and Real Red,  and markers by Stampin’ Up!. Ink, Palette Hybrid ink Noir and Versamagic in Jumbo Java.  Accessories are Stickles in Yellow and ribbon from my stash.

 —————

The birdies are the best! I love them, and the sentiment is too cute. I also got these Doodlebug trims in the mail today, so I *had* to use those!!!!

……………….
Images by A Muse. Cardstock in Real Red, Brocade Blue and Shimmer white. Main Image is stamped on a Fabrino scrap. Ink is Palette Hybrid ink Noir and the image is watercolored with SU! WCW crayons. I also used the  Marvy scallop square punch and Doodlebug Trim.

————–

As always, I appreciate your continued support.

Peace out!

-A