A Muse Studio & PTI Color Comparison Chart *UPDATED*

Edited to add:  I have updated this post to reflect more matches that I have found.  You can see the additional colors in the second photo.  You can click on both photos to see them larger.  As I find more or as either company comes out with new colors that are matches, I will continue to update. :)


Hi all!!

After a few requests, I decided to post a color comparison chart using A Muse Studio inks and Papertrey Ink cardstock. 

You can view a larger version by clicking on the image.  While I don't have all of the A Muse ink colors yet, these are the color matches I have found so far.  As I find new matches, I will repost the chart.

If you are interested in trying out these inks (which are nothing short of FABULOUS, by the way), please visit my online store at www.amusestudio.com/laurenmccabe

For anyone who places an online order through my website of $50 or more, I will send you a catalog for free!! ($9.95 value)  Please note that A Muse Studio will only ship within the U.S. (Sorry, international peeps!!)

Thanks for stopping by!!

Lauren

WMS Tea Party Challenge

With the 2nd birthday of WMS soon approaching, Claire has issued a challenge for a chance to win a FABULOUS prize!!!  Here is my entry into the contest.

I used Claire's free tea baggie download and decorated it with a text background stamp and the new doilies just released from WMS.  I love how these stamps coordinate with several of the Spellbinders Big Scallop Circle dies!  No need to buy additional dies!

All stamp by WMS.  Pigment ink by A Muse Studio.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Lauren

Make It Monday: Heat Embossing

This week's Make It Monday challenge from Papertrey Ink is heat embossing.  Here's my take on this challenge:

I decided to make a card for my dad.  His birthday was in March, but we will be celebrating it this weekend when he comes in town for a visit.  (Don't tell him that I hadn't made his card yet!)

I used Masculine Motifs stamp set and heat embossed the green leaf images and the tree scene in the center of the card. 

The center panel is adhered with foam dimensionals to give a little depth and interest.  The inks I used are Evergreen by Colorbox, Versamark, and Tea Dye duo by Papertrey.

I used Pinefeather, Fine Linen and Rustic Cream cardstock as well, all by Papertrey.  The die shape in the center of the card is Mat Stack 1, also from Papertrey. 

Thanks for stopping by and, as always, your comments are very much appreciated!!

Lauren

Today's the BIG DAY!!!

Today is the big day I've been waiting for!!  I'm so excited that my new A Muse Studio online store is now live!!  For those who haven't heard, A Muse Artstamps has changed their name and their business model.  They are now called A Muse Studio and are a home party papercrafting business.  They sell cling-mount rubber stamps, high quality photo-polymer clear stamps, cardstock, ink (which is AWESOME!), patterened paper, ribbon and lots of other adorable embellishments!! 

I'm excited to be a new consultant for A Muse Studio, so please stop by my online store and take a look around!!  I think you'll find lots of really cute ideas.  If you're interested in buying a catalog, send me an email at laurenmccabe.amusestudio@gmail.com and I'd be happy to send one along to you.  Catalogs are $9.95.

As a special for the new launch, I am offering a little treat.  For anyone who places an order of $75 or more (before tax and shipping), I will send you a catalog for FREE!!!  All you have to do is place an order through my online store. 

If you're interested in hosting a party or getting together with your friends to place a large group order, you will qualify for some amazing hostess benefits such as free product and stamp set discounts!!  If you have any questions, please feel free to email me. 

Thanks for stopping by, and I look forward to hearing what you think about the new A Muse Studio!!


Lauren

I'm a Consultant!!

                                

Today I signed up to be an A Muse Studio Creative Consultant!!  I have been a fan of A Muse for a while, and recently they changed their company to be a home party company rather than a retailer.  I will have an online store that will go live on April 1 and I will also be available to do home parties and demonstrations.  Please stop by my online store and check it out.   HERE is the link.  (Again, it won't go live until April 1st.) Very cute, high quality cling mounted rubber stamps as well as other paper crafting supplies like paper, ink, ribbon, buttons and dies.  Hope to see you soon!!

Lauren

Another Make-It Monday card

Hi all,

In my last post I mentioned a new weekly challenge at Papertrey Ink called Make-It Mondays.  I decided to create another card to go along with this week's challenge.

And here it is...

Here's a bit closer look at the details...

This is a "Hello" card for a friend of mine.  The background sentiments are from Everyday Button Bits by Papertrey Ink.  The large center sentiment and bottom scroll are from Big Bold Wishes also by Papertrey.  The cardstock, also Papertrey, is Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet. Spring Moss, and Ripe Avocado. 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Lauren

Back in the saddle with Papertrey Ink

Wowza...has it been a LOOONNNNGGG time since I've been around Blogland or what?!!!  August?  Really?  Well, one of my crafting goals for 2011 is to do a much better job at posting.  (Not doing so well so far, huh?) I've been creating like crazy, but lately the idea of blogging has just seemed SOOOO tedious.  That and the fact that I recently convinced myself that I need to start quilting.  Who knew? I must do better.  Starting now. 

The contests recently posted for Papertrey Ink's 4th anniversary (LOVE them!) are just the ticket to get me back in the blogging saddle.  You can't win if you don't enter, right? Right.  So here goes....

Papertrey has a new weekly challenge called Make-It Mondays, where they post an idea or technique for us to attempt.  You can find the challenge here.

Here is my card....

I decided to make a Valentine's Day card for my hubby. (Don't tell.)  All of the various sentiments and images are from the Papertrey set called Love Birds.  The birdcage die is also from Papertrey, as well as all of the cardstock.  Here I used Enchanted Evening, Spring Rain and Rustic White.  The border punch is by Martha Stewart. 

Overall, I'm pleased with how this one turned out.  My husband likes blue, which is why I chose this color palette.  And it's just not quite Valentine's Day without a *little* red.  :)

Thanks for looking and check back because I *just might* post another card for this challenge tomorrow.  ;)  I'm really liking the idea behind this week's challenge.

Til next time...

Lauren



Papertrey Blog Hop {Special Edition}

Tonight I'm participating in a special blog hop to show appreciation for one of the most amazing women in the papercrafting industry.  Nichole Heady.  Here's a big THANK YOU to Nichole not only for all the endless inspiration you've giving me and countless others, but also for the simply amazing products that your company (Papertrey Ink) has to offer.  You and your products have truly made this hobby more enjoyable for me!  I just love everything PTI!!  Congratulations on your much-deserved success!! 

This card uses PTI white and simply chartreuse cardstock.  I stamped the "Grateful" sentiment (from the Signature Greetings stamp set) several times in multiple colors.  I finished this simple card off with a bit of ribbon, a button tied with twine (Enchanted Evening) and a bit of bling. 

Nichole, I hope you are enjoying the many thank you notes from your loving customers and friends.  Let this be a reminder that you are doing a FABULOUS job and there are many of us who admire what you do each and every month!!  Keep up the great work!!!  And THANK YOU!!!!!

Lauren

A Muse Lounge Monthly Challenge - August

The theme for this month's challenge is Stick to the Pattern.  So, we need to create a project with either a stamped pattern or patterned paper.  Here are my takes on this challenge.  I should mention that all stamps and patterned paper are by A Muse. 

This first one shows a pattern I created with Leaf Frond II stamp and gingham paper.  Nice and simple.  Just how I like it.  I just love the lime green and orange color combo.  I just so happened to have the perfect coordinating ribbon and button on hand.  Don'tcha love it when that happens?

For the second one, I stamped a Christmas tree background in unconventional colors just for fun.   I scalloped the bottom edge with a Martha Stewart punch and adhered colored cardstock behind the scallops.  I topped the center trees with a bit of bling and tied it up with a bit of ribbon.  The sentiment is one of my favorite new A Muse stamps!!

This last one is uber-simple with some gingham punched squares and nice, simple sentiment.  Doesn't get any easier than this, but I like how it turned out.  I just can't get enough of this petite gingham patterned paper...it's the best!!!

Thanks for stopping by, and as always your comments are very much appreciated!!

Lauren

Papertrey Chicks Challenge

This week was my turn to host the weekly Papertrey Chicks Challenge.  With today being the first day of school, time seemed to pass me by very quickly.  So I cheated a bit and decided to use a Clean&Simple card sketch.  It's FTL67.   It's a clean and classic design that can be interpreted any number of ways.

Being in a time crunch, I kept pretty close to the original sketch design.

I used Orange Zest and Spring Moss as my color palette.

All Supplies Papertrey unless otherwise stated:

Stamps:  Polka Dot Basics II, Text Style II, Signature Greetings

Ink: Memento

Patterned Paper:  Bitty Dot Basics

Dies: Beautiful Blooms II #1

Felt, Ribbon, Rhinestones: Hobby Lobby

Button: Dark Chocolate

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your week!!

Lauren

You're My Anchor

Wow, has it really been over 3 weeks since my last post?  Time flies and I've been very busy lately with the boys' birthdays and travelling to my step-sister's wedding.  But I found a little time today to play with my "toys".  Today's post is of a card I made using my new Waltzingmouse stamps (I just found this company and LOVING it!) and Out to Sea by PTI. 

For the "rope" border, I used Waltzingmouse's Vintage Labels No. 3 stamp set , which matches the Nesties Labels 3 and stamped in Colorbox Creamy Brown chalk ink.  The anchor, sentiment and stars are all from Out to Sea by PTI.  (PTI Scarlet Jewel, Enchanted Evening and Versamark inks.)

I wrapped a little PTI Rustic Cream twine around the kraft card front and adhered my frame over it (Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 3 cut from PTI Scarlet Jewel cardstock).  Then I added a little PTI Enchanted Evening saddle stitch ribbon and adhered my focal point label over it with foam dimensionals.

I then added a few stars stamped in Versamark to the bottom left corner since it just looked too blah without a little something more. 

My goal was a clean masculine card and I'm pretty happy with how this one turned out.  I'm loving these Nestie-friendly stamps by Waltzingmouse!!  What a great idea, especially for someone like me who has almost all of the Nestie Labels!!

Thanks for stopping by and, as always, your comments are very much appreciated!!

Lauren

MFT Guest Designer Contest-June

This month's MFT Guest Designer Contest's theme is "Some Like It Hot" and we can take that in any direction we want to.

I created 2 cards for this contest.  The first is this one...

Since this is the type of card I'd only give to my hubby, I made it more masculine. The fireplace scene is from an older MFT Christmas set Home for the Holidays and the sentiment is from MFT Who's That Grillin' Guy?

I used Spellbinders dies to cut out the front panel and frame, and adhered it with pop dots to add dimension. The woodgrain stamp and impression plate are from PTI.

  I colored the scene with Prisma pencils and added a little twine and button to finish it off. 


Here is the second card I made for this contest.  This sassy little lady is laying down the law in her kitchen, the "hottest" room in the house. ;) 

 

Isn't this sentiment just great?!  How many times have I wanted to say these very words myself? ;)  The main image is from MFT Lovin' from the Oven and the sentiment is from MFT Twisted Threesome.  This sentiment set is filled with tongue-in-cheek sassy sayings like this one...just LOVE it!!

 I paper pieced the main image and adhered her to a Spellbinders die cut with pop dots.  All patterned papers are by October Afternoon. 

I added a little crocheted lace and some die cut kitchen utensils to add a couple of finishing touches. The sentiment label is adhered with antiqued brass brads.  Thought that added a little something to the vintage feel of this card. 



This was a fun contest!  Thanks for looking, and as always, your comments are very much appreciated!!

Lauren

OLW6: Overlapping

This week's One Layer Wednesday Challenge is Overlapping.  Here's my take on the challenge...

I made this square card with A Muse's Marigold stamp using Papertrey Ink's Hawaiian Shores ink.  The sentiment is also Papertrey- Signature Greetings.  I used a square Nestability as a template for the black outline.  And then, because I couldn't help myself, I popped a matching rhinestone in the center of the flower. 

Thanks for stopping by, and as always, your comments are very much appreciated!!

Lauren

May Papertrey Ink Blog Hop

Tonight is Papertrey Ink's monthly blog hop.  This month's theme: Felt. 

Easy enough, right?  Well, I must admit I struggled with this a bit.  Since my felt stash is just a couple of days old, I haven't had much time to play with it, so I decided on something that a felt novice could handle with relative ease.

The felt clouds are from a My Favorite Things die which includes 3 different sizes of clouds.  The felt scallop border is a die from Papertrey, the felt sun is a Spellbinders die.  The great thing about felt, which I've learned, is that steel dies cut through it beautifully.  If it's a stiff enough felt.  This felt came from Hobby Lobby and is quite stiff. 

 

The patterned paper is Papertrey Ink Bitty Dot Basics and the sentiment is from Papertrey Ink Up Up and Away Sentiments stamp set.  The center of the sun is stamp with an image from Papertrey Ink Daily Designs in Memento Ink and then I added a button to finish it off.  The ribbon is something I had on hand, but I'm not sure who makes it.

Playing with felt and dies was fun and definitely something I plan to incorporate into more cards and projects that I make.

Thanks for stopping by, and as always, your comments are very much appreciated!!!

Lauren

A Muse Celebration Challenge

Well, I've been challenge-happy lately as you can see from my last several posts.  This week is A Muse's  9th Birthday Celebration and they issued a "Celebration Challenge" in honor of the occasion. 

Here's my card...

Isn't it a cutie??  All stamps are by A Muse.  I used Party Chick, Happy Bird-day and Fancy Borders.  The paper is by PTI and the inks are Memento and Versamagic.  I chose my colors based on the ribbon.  I thought that ribbon was so fun and cheery so I made a card that was inspired by it. 

I colored my little chick lightly with Prismas and added a fun little green rhinestone to the top of her party hat.  I just love her...A Muse has the cutest little stamps.  They are having a new release tomorrow called "Everything's Rosy" and the sneek peaks are BEAUTIFUL!!  Go check them out at amuseartstamps.com !!

Thanks for stopping by, and as always, your comments are very much appreciated!!!

Lauren

My Favorite Things Guest Designer Contest

Wow...2 posts in one night!!!  Whew!!

OK, so I'm starting to get a little bold.  I've submitted a card to My Favorite Things for their June Guest Designer spot.  Their challenge for us was to use either fabric or felt on a project.  Having no felt on hand and very little fabric, my options were limited.  But did that stop me?  Nu-uh.  Here's my card...

I had a little bit of left over toile fabric from some cafe curtains I made several years back.  Now that fabric and felt are becoming very popular in cards and scrapbooking, I guess I need to do a little shopping.  ;)  I used a Papertrey scallop die to cut the fabrin in my Cuttlebug and glued them down with Scor-tape.  I used Spellbinders Petite Scallop Oval dies to create the focal point.  The sentiments are from a My Favorite Things set- Clearly Sentimental about Mothers.  The cardbase was embossed with a Papertrey Impression Plate.  The background of the focal point is a Hero Arts stamp, while the flourish brackets are Papertrey Ink. 

As it happens many times, I think this card is much prettier in person than online, but I still like the way it turned out. 

Thanks for stopping by!!! And wish me luck....  ;)

Lauren 

More Unity Challenges!!

As a part of Unity's Anniversary celebration (seems like lots of companies are having their anniversaries this time of year), they issued several challenges.  I've already posted my take on one of those challenges, but today I'll show you my take on a few more....

First up is their challenge for us to use a tree or bird image....this was a "no brainer" for me.  I love trees.  A lot.  I think I own every tree image available in a stamp right now.  No kidding.  I really dig trees.  So I had no shortage of options.  Here is what I came up with.

The tree and little bird images are from Giggle Grove, the background stamp is a Unity incentive stamp for being a member of their kit of the month, and the sentiment is from one of those monthly kits (not sure which one).  The patterned paper is by Basic Grey. 

Unity's next challenge was for us to creat a project using a stamp from our first Unity purchase.  Along with trees, I'm obsessed with houses.  I think I also own just about every house stamp on the market today.  So, it should come as no surprise when I tell you my first Unity order included the tree set used in the previous challenge and a sweet little set of houses a called Pixie Lane.  Here is my card using Pixie Lane.

I used My Mind's Eye paper to piece the house and a Spellbinders die to cut the center out of the top layer of cardstock.  The sentiment is also from Unity, a set called Hodge Podge of Happiness and it's one of my favorite Unity sets.  The cardstock is Papertrey as well as the button. 

The fourth challenge issued by Unity was this sketch:

Here's my take on it...

I used My Mind's Eye patterned paper and DCWV stitch rub-ons for the strips on the bottom.  The pocket, flowers, and sentiment stamps are from a Unity Kit of the Month...sorry, don't know exactly which month. I embossed the posies with white embossing powder to help them stand out.  I then added some bling to the flower centers and the pocket.  The twill tape is Martha Stewart. 

I have had so much fun participating in Unity's Anniversary challenges.  Thanks for stopping by, and as always, your comments are very much appreciated. 

Lauren

Unity Anniversary Challenge #1

This week is Unity's 2nd Anniversary and they have lots of fun stuff planned.  Today they issued a challenge using this sketch:

You have to use ribbon and at least 3 buttons on your card, along with Unity stamps. 

Here's what I came up with.  I've had this daisy set for a while and had never inked it up.  But they were the first thing I thought of when I saw this sketch. 

The stamps are all Unity...Crazy for Daisies and the March Kit of the Month.  The patterned paper is by K & Company, the cardstock is by Papetrey Ink.  The green ribbon and the buttons were just pulled from my stash.  I also used Memento Rich Cocoa ink and Spellbinders dies. 

Thanks for stopping by, and as always, your comments are very much appreciated.

Lauren

Papertrey Ink Blog Hop Challenge: Tissue Paper

When I read that this month's challenge was tissue paper, the first idea that came to my mind was to "upholster" the couch and chair from On My Couch.  So that's what I did. 

I added various decorative accents from On My Couch, On My Couch Additions and Chair-ished.   The paper is Green Tea Leaves and Rustic White cardstock, all by Papetrey. 

The couch, chair, rug, and pillows are all made from tissue paper applied to cardstock using Modge Podge.  I also added another layer of Modge Podge over the tissue paper to give the furniture a "leather" look.  Kinda fun how that works.  The couch and chair are cut from matching dies. 

I was lucky enough to have colored tissue paper in my gift wrap stash that matched the colors in the patterned paper.  The sentiment is stamped on a Spellbinders die label.  I also have a gold gel pen that I used to accent the picture frame and lamp to add a little more detail.  The "wood floor" is stamped on Cosmo Cricket woodgrain patterned paper.  You can see the detail much better in person.  The floor stamp is from Papertrey's Chair-ished set. 

Finally, I scored a strip of cardstock and adhered to the top of the card to make it look like crown molding.  I also should have added a small strip as a baseboard, but I didn't think of it until the card was assembled. Oh well. 

Hope you enjoyed looking!!!  Thanks for stopping by and, as always, your comments are very much appreciated! 

Lauren

Another Mother's Day Card

I am blessed to have many "mama's" in my life, which means this time each year I'm a busy little bee making special cards for each of these special ladies.  My great-grandmother is even still living...which means my family has 5 generations.  That has made for a priceless photograph. 

Anyway, here is another Mother's Day card I made today with a new Hero Arts cling stamp set I recently bought.  The background is stamped randomly with stamps from the set, while the center flower is colored with Prismas and cut out.  I layered the flower over a Papertrey Ink die and matching frame stamp.  The center flower is also adhered with pop dots to give it more dimension, but it's hard to tell in the photos.  I used a marker to color the center dots of some of the background flowers to add a little more detail. 

Of course I can't tell you who's getting what card, but check back as I will be likely be posting a couple more Mother's Day cards before I start moving into my Father's Day list.

Thanks for looking, and as always, I appreciate your comments.  Enjoy your day!!

Lauren