Let your creativity grow!

Let the lists begin !

Don't you just love writing lists!  Ken teases me about the "honey do" lists I share with him all the time so I figured I may as well create a cute one!  Not only is this little project quick and simple...everyone loves it! 

I started with an 8.5 x 11 notepad and cut it into two pads measuring 4 1/8" by 11".  I covered each pad with an 8.5" x 11" basic cream colored cardstock and scored it 4 1/8" of an in from each side leaving a 1/4" in the center of the sheet to accommodate the thickness of the notepad.  I then applied A Muse kitchen notecard paper 3 7/8" x 10 3/4" to the front and back of the cover and embellished accordingly.

I just love these decorative notepads...they fit nicely in my handbag and I even keep one near the phone for messages and grocery lists.  Create a custom one for you or share them with your friends and family...just in time for Mother's Day!  ;)

This is the outside.

  This is the inside!  enjoy!

Make and Take Tuesday!

There's another cool free make and take on Tuesday from 11:30am-1:30pm.. and I totally forgot to bring home what we'll be making!!!  I'll make sure i bring it home for Ken to take some pictures because it is quite fabulous!  Hope you can join us.  Don't forget to buy your teacher something extra special this week!  It's teacher appreciation week and many of us don't appreciate them enough.. I mean teachers are thee best!!!  Thank you for putting up with all of us and especially the teachers who will soon be teaching my son... I feel for you!  hahahahahaha!

If you have time this week!  Please join us for our Asian card class!  We have a Friday am  and pm class and a Saturday evening class.  Spots are still available.  Here are 6 of the cards we'll be making! 

  This first card is made with Judkins bamboo stamp.  I just randomly stamped it in color box chalk olive pastel.  I then used the new Kodomo "Mon" stamps and used three different ones to punched out the blossoms.

This next card is a cherry blossom wood set from Hero Arts.  I used one for a background and one for the cream cardstock and then I stamped it again and punched out only the cherry blossom and raised it.  I then used the trio asian set by Hero Arts and stamped the cherry blossom twig in the corners.  Sentiment by Savvy stamps.

This next card is one of my favorites.  I used 4 different stamps by Kodomo and punched out a square and rolled it in orchid pastel ink to give it some color on the edges.  I then drew my own "t" (using a ruler) and stamped the 4 images inside.  For the background, I used a cherry blossom by Kodomo in a soft green.

This next card is also using the "Mon" clear set by Kodomo.  I randomly stamped two different blossoms using the new memento ink pads.  So pretty!  I then punched a flower out of vellum and punched out another flower using the new martha stewart punches we have at the store and put a big pink gemstone in the middle.  The sentiment is by A Muse art stamps.

Here's another spring-like card using some new papers by Basic Grey.  Have you seen our new collection?  wow.. we have 50 new papers and they are all so beautiful!  I stamped random cherry blossom by impress all over the side of the card.  Then punched out a scallop square frame-- first I punched out the blue scallop square and then I lined it up using the purple scallop square frame.  So pretty!  Ek Success has a cherry blossom punch and I used that for the corner of the frame.  Cherry blossom inside the frame is by Kodomo.

This last card is made by one of my all time favorites.  It's a cherry blossom sprig by Judikins.  I stamped it upright and punched out a vase.  I then layered two different green cardstocks to make it look a little contemporary.  The beading on the sides is cinnamon glitter glue.

Classes with the star...Julie Ebersole!

I'm so excited to announce that The Paper Garden Boutique will have the famous and ultra fun card making diva Julie Ebersole teach classes at the our Sacramento store!  As my son would say.... Hooooooray!

Julie is very popular in blog land, internet land and earth land.  Did that make sense?  Here's her blogsite:   www.papertrufflez.typepad.com

she recently took a full time position with A Muse art rubber stamps and Linda is so lucky to have her be a part of the team!  Linda has come to our store twice and I'm hoping she comes back for the holidays--- again!  (Linda, I'll jog with you and kill over again!)  I love her!  www.amusenews.typepapd.com

Girlfriend walks on water.

Anyway... Julie's classes will be on a first come, first served basis.  She's teaching a whopping 6 classes during the week of Amuseapalooza.  Please call the store at

916-487-2737 if you are interested in signing up!  Here's the class lineup before it hits my newsletter!

Classes with Julie Ebersole -- classes are $45.00 each or 2 for $80.00

Sign up for 2 classes and get 15% off the boutique.

Sunday, July 6th, 2008

1. Class 1   10am-12pm 

Simply Sensational -- Learn some of Julie's favorite techniques and tips for producing simple, yet sensational designs while making these 6 charming cards!

2.  Class 2  1pm-3pm

Happy Mail -- Everybody loves happy mail!   Combine A Muse's whimsical images and colorful papers to create 6 clever cards for friends and family!

3.  Class 3  4pm-6pm

Simply Sensational -- Learn some of Julie's favorite techniques and tips for producing simple, yet sensational designs while making these 6 charming cards!

******************************************************

Monday -- July 7th, 2008

1.  Class 1  10am-12pm

Make it Merry  part 1 -- Make 6 cards using the new holiday stamps from A Muse

2.  Class 2  1pm-3pm

Make it Merry part 2 -- Make 6 more cards using the new holiday stamps from A Muse. 

3.  Class 3  6pm-8pm

Make it Merry part 3 -- Ok.. so take this class too and you'll get a nice collection of Holiday cards and such... come and make 6 more cards using the new holiday stamps from A Muse.  Note.. these classes are all different.. so if you take all three.... you'll get a total of 18 holiday cards.. you go!

Again.. space is limited.. my bar area only holds 14 students.. so sign up soon and we promise a great time!

Look what just arrived!

We got new ink pads from Tsukineko today!  These are the much anticipated "memento" ink pads in full size...not only are they fast drying, you can use the fabulous copic markers and not worry about the alcohol ink smearing into your inked images!  How wonderful is that! 

There's 24 colors available and the great news...these ink pads are only six dollars each and if you come to our "make and take" tomorrow (Friday, April 25th) between 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. you get 10% off your entire purchase.  Woo hoo! 

Can't make it in to the shop for the "make and take" because you don't live in Sacramento? 

Here's a one-time special offer just for you!

Call The Paper Garden Boutique at (916) 487-2737, April 25th, before 5 p.m. PST and purchase the entire set of 24 colors, receive 10% off the entire set and The Paper Garden Boutique will take care of the shipping anywhere in the continental U.S.  Hurry...offer expires April 25th at 5 p.m. PST! ;)

I'll be stamping a sample sheet of the entire range of colors so you can select the perfect shade for that special project.  Stop by and check them out...you have to see them to appreciate all wonderful colors!!!

Did I tell you how much I love these new flower punches from Marvy?  How simple and sweet are these!  I used the purple, pink and yellow punches and an assortment of the fabulous sheets of patterned papers from A Muse!  Mix and match...you can't go wrong!  Top them off with a little "bling" and everyone will enjoy a bouquet of your special creations!

Flourish cards!

We have a flourish card class this Friday evening from 6-8pm.. hope you can join us!  Here's the 6 cards we'll be making!  I stayed late at the store tonight to make the cards.. of course...I had my tv on to watch American Idol!!!  This first card is one of my favorites because of the color!  I stamped a hero arts flourish randomly in staz-on cotton white.  I then took a .75" piece of A Muse madeira blue cardstock and stamped merci on it and cut out a few circle punches and used an A Muse circle stickle bubble.  It kind of looks like it's floating.  I then punched out some blue daisys from ek success and glittered them.

The second card is made with the new 8.5 X 11 A Muse polka dot orange cardstock.  I just love all of them!  I used flourishes from Hero Arts, Memory Box and Impress rubber stamps.  The sentiment is from A Muse.

   This next card is using our new ribbon slot punch that I discovered when Linda from A Muse art stamps used it to teach one of her cards at our store--here's her blog.. i know everyone and their mother reads it!!  It's an awesome blog... amusenews.typepad.com

I look forward to her postings too!  I used the new impress rubber stamps distressed background stamp and the rest of the stamps are by Karen Neuburger. 

For the third card I used one of my favorite flourishes from Judikins and stamped all around chocolate cardstock from memory box and then cut out a piece of Madeira green cardstock from A Muse and distressed the edges.  I stamped a flourish and owl by Hero arts and cut out the sentiment you're a hoot by A Muse.  Ribbon also by A Muse.

This next card is one of my favorites.  I like the colors.  It uses stamps flourish stamps by Memory box and Hero Arts

and the sentiment is by A Muse. For some reason, using flourishes, makes me want to stamp birds with the images.  I placed pretty paper flowers and gemstones to sparkle the card.

This next card can be completed in no time!  It's so easy!  I used a judikins flourish stamp and satmped the corners and used liquid pearls at the ends of the flourish.  I then punched out a circle using cardstock papers by collage press.  She has lined paper. It's really cool!  I then stamped a memory box flourish and used a paper flower to add some color.  Sentiment is by A Muse.

Don't forget this Friday between 11:30-1:30pm is a make and take.. and on Saturday, it's our last make and take for the month of April.  Come in between 11am and 2pm to make something cool for the blushing bride.  You don't have to get married to make something.  We'll have something fun for everyone! 

More Husband Creations!

My husband had some down time on Sunday after sweeping the floors and taking care of Miles and other honey to do stuff and he created this cool tablet holder using the new A Muse 8.5 X 11 cardstocks.  I don't think he's into decorating with flowers and bling.. so i did that part.  Here's a look at the outside covers.

We used the new madeira and polka dot papers.  Ken says that you can get two tablet holders out of one sheet of cardstock.  The tablets inside measure 3 X 5.  My husband was once an engineering major, but decided it wasn't his cop of tea, so now he works for the State Dept. of Conservation, but you can can see that his engineering background comes through when it comes to measuring out stuff and cutting stuff to a "t".

This is a look inside.  I got the tablets at Walmart.  I think they were 3/.99cents.  I punched out the flowers with the new marvy flower punches (blue punch) and put a gemstone in the middle.  The tablets are held with a hairband.  You get like 50 of them for 2.00.

This is a look at what it looks like when you open the flap... he even made a section to hold a pen!  I will have Ken do a tutorial sometime this week on how to make it, but he says, it's really easy and fast.  My husband is also very creative and has made a few cards for the store and our asian classes, so hopefully he will teach a class or two during the summertime.  I'm wondering if any of you would take the opportunity to take his class if he were to accept the challenge?  I think it would be fun!  I'll even have him make his famous almond roca to share with the class (recipe is from our sister in law).  Go Ken!

Cupcake Cards!

I'm back!  Last Sunday and Monday we had special guest Linda Carnell of A Muse art stamps visit our store to teach 6 classes.  Linda's classes were awesome and almost comletely sold out!  Everyone had a great time and enjoyed meeting Linda's mommy Vi.  Vi is also a very inspirational creator and very sweet.  Linda and Vi remind me of Martha Stewart and her mom--big Martha.  Here's some pictures of Linda's classes.  I loved all of her card creations... we had to make them for the store as well!

This first picture is Linda and two A Muse lovers Tracy and Michelle who traveled from Northern California just to meet Linda and take two of her classes!  Tracy is with A Muse addicts and we even copied a few of her cards for store samples, she's an awesome creator.. here's her blog at:  www.eatsleepstamp.typepad.com

This next picture is two of my friends and customers, Kelly and Marion (have fun at your first day back at work!) who had a blast in the class.

Here's Liz and the team of sorority sister friends who often take my day classes during the week....they're so fun!

After Linda's classes and visit, I had to create cards for my cupcake class.  Here they are, again, I love cupcakes!

This first card is a cupcake hanging from a vine.. you know.. you don't have to have cupcakes just on a plate.. they come in all places!  The cupcake is from A Muse, vine and it's your day stamps from Hero Arts.  You know.. this vine is my new favorite stamp.  It's a long twig with leaves and flowers.. you can stamp it at a diagnol angle and get this look!

This next card is a shaker card.  I used a savvy stamps cupcake and made it into a shaker card.  I punched out 1/8" circles to make chocolate chips and put some floral gemstones in the corner.  the best wishes sentiment is by memory box co.

This is a strawberry cupcake card --stamp is by Just Johanna and sentiment by A Muse, i love this stamp because you can use liquid applique and puff it up using a heat gun to make the frosting really fluffy!  Have you tried this trick?  I love it!  I framed the cupcake using the purple scallop square punch.  It looks like a picture!

This next card is my favorite.  It reminds me as a print that would be in a frame --hanging in a kitchen or something.  The cupcakes are from Impress and the leaf sprig from Hero arts (another cool branch!!  There's 4 different branches in all.. you'll want all 4.. really!)  The sentiment is from A Muse and i used an epoxy circle sticker to give it some dimension.  Have you noticed all of these cool notecards?  They are new 8.5 X 11 cardstocks from A Muse.  In all.. there's 4 madeira print colors in blue, red, green and brown and 10 polka dot colors.. we already have several customers who bought all 14!  They are must have cardstocks.  On the other side, it's a nice cream color! 

This last card is Missy's stamp image for A Muse.  The twin cupcakes are so cute.  Everyone should have a happy cupcake day!  We still have two more cupcake classes coming up in May and June.  Sign up now for a guaranteed space!  We have a european cards and flourish class coming up on Friday and a new techniques class on Saturday.  Hope you can join us.  Also... thank you again Linda and Vi and everyone who took the classes last week.. we hope you can join us for Amuseapalooza --July 7th-14th... stay tuned.. A Muse Designer and card creator Julie Ebersole will make a guest appearance during that week and teach three classes!  You'll love Julie's creations and perky personality.  Check out her blog at:

www.papertrufflez.typepad.com

By the way, Linda taught me how to do these sour cream holders that you put treats inside.  We made this for a make and take on Saturday and it was a big hit.  Here's some samples with Linda's new cardstocks..ok.. love the cardstocks! 

We just took a 4.25 X 4.25 piece of cardstock and used double stick tape on three edges.. rolled it like a tube and pressed down on one side of the cardstock, put it through the crimper a few rolls and then put skittles inside and pressed the edges in the opposite direction on the other side.... and crimped it again.  So fun!  I hope to post more creations as soon as i get my flourish cards complete for this Friday's class!!!

A Muse classes and Saturday Make and Take

There's still time to sign up for classes with the one and only Linda Carnell, owner and lead designer of A Muse art stamps.  Here's a chance to meet and greet Linda, we have openings for two of her most popular and favorite classes:

1.  Sunday, April 13th 4pm-6pm -- creative clear stamping

2.  Monday, April 14th 1pm-3pm -- wonderful women

classes are 45.00 each or 2 for 80.00 and you'll even get 15% off your entire purchase if you take two classes!  Please call the store at 916-487-2737 to reserve your spot.  We also have many surprise releases in house for you to see!!!!  Wow.. you can even take pictures with Linda and pictures of all of our wonderful A Muse cards!

Also, don't forget we have a make and take on Saturday from 11am-2pm.  What are we making?  A fortune cookie placecard.  It's a fun design I created as a guest designer for A Muse.  You can see it here on Linda's blog at:  www.amusenews.typepad.com

Check it out, now you can learn to make one of these fun crafts too!  see you soon.

WWWWOOOOWW....I'm Famous!!!

Wow!  Take a look at my mugshot and paper ideas over at Linda from A Muse art stamps blogsite.

www.amusenews.typepad.com

I feel so special!!  hahahahha!

WWWWOOOOWW....I'm Famous!!!

Wow!  Take a look at my mugshot and paper ideas over at Linda from A Muse art stamps blogsite.

www.amusenews.typepad.com

I feel so special!!  hahahahha!