We have an immediate part-time opening in the A Muse Retail Shop located in Seattle. Must be 18 years or older and able to work Saturdays. Please contact Heidi for details.
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Sunday, May 18, 2008
It's Ballet Recital time!
My youngest ballerina, Makenna, had her Petite Finale at the Pacific Northwest Ballet school last weekend. Their dance was called Swan Lake and it was adorable! At one point each of the girls was supposed to do a little twirl but one little girl wouldn't do her twirl. All the other ballerinas waited and waited for her to twirl and at last, she did it (and the audience went wild!) Yay!
Here's Makenna with her teacher after the recital.
This beautiful card was designed by Jennifer and it is ingenius! It is PERFECT to give to a ballet teacher at the end of the year. I *love* how Jen created a mirror for the ballerina. I will definitely be making some of these cards for the girls' ballet teachers. All stamps, papers & twinkle stickers by A Muse.
Hailey's end of year Ballet Performance will take place on June 17th at McCaw Hall. It is so fun that these girls get to dance on a professional stage for their School Performance. Tickets are availalbe to the general public at the PNB Ticket Office and is a great inspiration for budding ballerinas.
There are a few more PNB shows remaining in the 2007-2008 Season. The next Rep is All Robbins and includes three ballets by Jerome Robbins. We can't wait to see The Concert again. We saw this at the Opening Gala in September and LOVED it. The Dress Rehearsal for this Rep is on Wednesday, May 28th at 7pm. Tickets are only $20! Such a deal!!
The last performance of the season is 8 Encores. It features EIGHT ballets from the 07-08 Season. The line-up looks amazing and it's like seeing the whole season in one night. It will also be the last PNB Performance for one of our absolute favorite PNB dancers - Noelani Pantastico. She will be joining Les Ballets de Monte Carlo in the fall.
So, if you are in Seattle, be sure to get your tickets soon!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
A Muse Round up!
I just *love* to see what our customers do with our stamps! I thought you might enjoy some of my favorites from this week. Click on the photos to see the whole card and card designer's post.
Here are some inspiring ideas in PINK...
Rhonda, Katie, Amanda, Melissa
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And, here are some in GREEN and BLUE...
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And YELLOW, RED, PURPLE and PINK!
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Thanks ladies for sharing your creativity with A Muse products!
Please leave them a little love on their posts - I know they would appreciate it!
ETA: If you would like to have one of your creations considered for a future A Muse Round-up, simply email me a link to your blog or gallery and I will be sure to check it out. Please email me and be sure to include round-up {spelled as written for my email rules :) } in the subject line of your email. :)
Have a great weekend!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Guest Designer Dawn McVey has more to share!
We always invite our guest designers to share a little about themselves with a fun word-association questionnaire and it's always a kick to see what unknown little tidbits we just might share in common! Check out Dawn's responses:
- Name – Dawn McVey
- Stamping – Every chance I get!
- Style – Clean, simple
- Inspiration – I’m extremely inspired by color! Maybe that's why I love Target so much!
- Color – Fuchsia….it just makes me happy!
- Work space – My studio…..actually, it’s an extra bedroom in our house that we’ve turned into my work space. But really, doesn’t “studio” just sound so much more fun to play in than “stamp room”??? Heehee!!
- Perfect day – Ahhh……well, traveling around Europe would be ideal! LOL! But if I’m home, then an entire day with no prior commitments! Sleep in a bit, spend some time in the studio & spend the rest of the day with my hubby! (Oh, and throw in some yummo sushi for lunch and a nice dinner out in the evening!)
- First job - babysitting
- Wildest dream – Designing for a living……in my HUGE home studio with built-in everything and tons of windows. Heehee!
- Ink – Stampin’ Up! or Palette
- Family – Hubby & doggy; also oldest of 5 & recently, I’ve become a new auntie!
- Beverage – Mocha latte….mmmmm.
AHA! Dawn is a fellow bean worshipper!
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Just A Note
At first glance, this design appears fairly straightforward, but, Dawn added a bit of dimension and interest by trimming out and 3D mounting a few of the cherry blossoms on the branch from the Sushi set!
The Micro Dot Twinkle Stickers add the perfect amount of dazzle to the centers.
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Zoom, zoom, zoom!
There she goes, cruisin' by on her glamorous pink Vespa! Seems like a fun way to spend one's birthday, eh?!
This classic combination of pink and brown features a kraft card base, enriched by a dark chocolate grosgrain ribbon.
Notice how the scallop edging along the pink polka dot layer is echoed by the scallops of the oval punch out!
Simple and stylish--exactly what I often need in a birthday card!
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You're a hoot
I loved seeing the owl from the Nature set stamped directly onto patterned paper and then showcased with the Open Daisy as a backdrop! 
An additional element of interest is created by layering our Ric Rac Pretty Little Paper directly beneath the wide ribbon.
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Once again, some fabulously simple and charming card designs! Thanks for stopping by again this week, and be sure to leave a comment (one only per article, please!) on each article featuring Dawn's wonderful cards to enter your name into the drawing! Dawn would be thrilled for you to win!
--Julie See ya' next time! 
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Field Trip
Yesterday, I accompanied Hailey's class on a field trip to the Washington State Museum of History, in Tacoma. It is a great museum. The kids were so well-behaved that I was proud to be a chaperone! We learned a lot about the history of Washington (at least I did!).
I made this quick card for Hailey's teacher to thank him for organizing the field trip. You see, our school is somewhat anti-field trips because of the liability issues that go along with transporting students. I'm sure he had to overcome a lot of hurdles to make it happen and I want him to know that we appreciate it!
While driving to the museum, I spotted a cafe that appeared to be from the 40s. I loved the colors of the building and it was the inspiration for this card. It's hard to see from the photo but the border around the stamped image is our Kona brown. It's a red-brown color, very 'organic' and one of my faves! There was no room for chaperones to ride the bus. Let me assure you that IF I had been on the bus there would have been singing!
Stay tuned tomorrow for another installment of creative goodness from Dawn McVey, our Guest Designer for May!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA 2008
I am excited to let you know that the Registration is now open for A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA 2008! Click on over to the A-MUSE-PALOOZA website (www.amuseapalooza.com) and you will find a link on the home page. You must be registered to win prizes and participate in our online party. :)
This year's A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA store events will begin July 7th and run through July 13th. There are 56 stores participating including locations in Australia and the Netherlands too! Hopefully there is a store near you.
The countdown to A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA will begin on the AP blog (www.amuseapalooza.typepad.com) on June 2nd. Join us for stamping challenges, silly contests, fun games and more! The party will continue on the A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA blog through July 20th. This will give you a chance to play with your stamps and have more opportunities to win prizes after the store events are all completed. For those of you that are not located near a store event, we have something special planned just for you! It all happens over at the A-MUSE-A-PALOOZA blog so be sure to check in there beginning June 2nd!
I would like to thank all of our wonderful sponsors for supporting this event. It wouldn't be nearly as much fun without them! Please be sure to let them know you appreciate their support!
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Guest Designer Dawn McVey
Today it's my pleasure to introduce our newest Guest Designer: Dawn McVey
Many of you may know her from the beautifully happy and clean designs she showcases at her blog, My Favorite Things
Dawn shared her biography with us, so we could get to know her even better:
My name is Dawn McVey and I have been stamping for about 4 years now, however my love of all things paper, was pretty fully developed by the time I was about TWO! Ha! I’ve been making my own cards for years, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I was introduced to Stampin’ Up! and it was about a year later that I became SU! demo myself. One of the things I love about stamping is being able to use my stamps to make high quality paper-crafted items that almost look store bought! I love being able to get the same image every time I stamp it and in any color I want it! Heehee! You can’t ‘run out’ of a stamped image! It’s yours to use over and over again!
I also enjoy scrapbooking, although I haven’t been doing much of that lately, as I’ve been busy pursuing my dreams of getting my cards published. My first cards were published in March 2008. You can find my work in Cards Magazine and later this year in Paper Crafts, Paper Crafts Card Creations 6 & Paper Trends! I have close to 30 cards scheduled to be published in magazines this year and I’m just SO excited!
Bart and I have been happily married for 7 years now. He always encourages me to go after my dreams. I couldn’t ask for a hubby more perfect for me! Bart and I LOVE to travel and have been blessed to go on some amazing trips together. Riley is our 60 lb. ‘baby’ – he’s a golden lab/shar-pei mix. :) I also love photography, reading, singing & blog-hopping.
I have been so amazed at the blessings God has brought to my life. Creativity is a tremendous blessing (wouldn’t you agree, especially during those moments when you feel like your mojo is complete toast! Haha!). I’m so grateful to have such a wonderful hobby that is so rewarding! I’ve made so many friends thru paper crafting and I’ve been given some awesome opportunities – working with A Muse, being one of them. What an honor!
Before I share this installment of Dawn's A Muse designs, I wanted to invite you to leave a comment (1 only per article, please!) on any of the articles in her Guest Designer series with us cuz she's picked out her A Muse favorites for us to give away to readers! WOO HOOOOO!!!
Eiffel Tower stamp
Pink Kitchen Collection 4 Bar Note Cards
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You're a hoot!
How fun is this?! I loved how Dawn created a branch from the A Muse Twinkle Stickers for the darling owls in our Nature Set to perch upon!
The beautiful shades of cyan and moss green look wonderful against the dark green Kitchen Note.
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Sending Sunshine
I don't know what says sunshine or summer more than the fabled ice cream truck--Dawn's design here brought back plenty of great memories of my childhood when we'd all race to the change jar and slam out the front door when we heard the tell-tale tunes wafting up the street!
I love how she covered the truck with one of the Clear Scallop Square Stickers and then punched a hole and knotted some ribbon through it to create a fun charm for this design.
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Meet me . . . under the chandelier!
LOL! The mood is very "light" (hah--pun intended!) on this design, with the suggestion of a clandestine meeting under the glimmer of our elegant chandelier!
The Fancy Frame is a fabulous way to showcase it and creates a wonderful ornamental effect.
I thought it was very clever to layer the Kitchen Papers in this way to tie in all the colors used!
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Ooh la la!!!
Ooh la la is right! This is probably one of the most clever uses of our Clear Stickers that I have seen in quite some time!
The scallop circle sticker was layered over a punched out circle of Kitchen Dark Brown Paper, and then affixed atop a larger scallop circle of vanilla paper.
By trimming out and layering the Eiffel Tower over the top, it creates a whole new depth and dimension for the finished embellishment on the design-- I'm pretty keen on this and can't wait to try it myself!
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Thanks so much for poppin' in our newest Guest Designer, Dawn McVey--I have no doubt you've gotten some marvelous inspiration for your next creations! Be sure to leave a comment on this article so your name can be entered into Dawn's give away of the Eiffel Tower and Pink Kitchen Collection Notes--Dawn wants ya' to win!
--Julie See you again next week for more of Dawn's faboo designs!
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
You are NOT going to believe this!
We were FLOODED again today!!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
If you've been keeping a tally, we've now been flooded FIVE times in two years. Not good. Today's problem was because the Mexican restaurant a few units down has been dumping their grease into the drains and it was blocked over 100 feet in the main line.
I owe a HUGE thanks to my DH, Heidi, Cindy, Heather and Amanda for their heroic efforts in keeping the flooding from damaging too much stuff in our unit.
Our slum-lord actually had the gaul to yell at my husband and Heidi and tell us it was our fault. Ummmm... hello? Despite the fact that the plumber explained to her (and drew a diagram for her) exactly what the problem was, she insists somehow that we are to pay for it. Yeah, sure!
Apparently there is no agency within the City that governs commercial tenant rights. I'm really suprised about this. Thank goodness we will be moving soon!
Tomorrow will be better. Right? Actually I know it will because we have an awesome treat for you... some fabulous new ideas from our next Guest Designer!!!
Hang tight!
San Diego classes!
I'm thrilled to be heading back to SUNNY San Diego later this month for the Grand Opening of Paper Tales! I saw the store twice before it opened but it was vacant. I'm excited to see it all dolled up!
I've got three classes scheduled so if you live in Southern California, I hope you are able to fit in one (or more!) of my classes. We may also have a surprise visit from an A Muse designer so it's sure to be lots of fun!
Here's the schedule:
Friday, May 30th, 6-8pm
Creative Clear Stamping (6 cards) - $35
We'll use A Muse's clear stamp and alphabets to create 6 fun cards! Learn great tips for acheiving the best results with clear stamps.
Saturday, May 31st, 10a-12p
Linda's Favorites (6 cards) - $35
We'll make 6 cards using my Favorites...favorite stamps, punches, inks, ribbons, markers and more!
Saturday, May 31st, 1-3pm
Think Simple. Think A Muse. (8 cards) - $35
In this class we will make *8* cards! Learn tips and tricks on how to make your simple cards POP!
Call Michelle today to reserve your spot!
619-222-2510
And, before I bid you adieu, here is a fun and easy card that I whipped up. I love the BIG eyes on this owl from our Nature clear stamp set. The branch is from our Stitched Garden clear stamp set.
Have a creative day!
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
For the boys
A long while ago, Emily created a card with the A Muse Penguin Pals sitting on our Many Thanks stamp. I've always wanted to try this out with some of our other images. Of course, we have lots of images that would work with this idea so it was hard to choose. Imagine how fun the Duck family would look marching along on top of the word 'many' - so cute!
I decided to use our new Scout image. He is part of our new May release and is one of Nina's favorite designs. Of course, I only have girls so I don't really know the current Boy Scout colors. A loooong time ago, I was chosen to represent the Girl Guides of Canada at an international camp in Zimbabwe. What an amazing experience that was! Zimbabwe had just gained their independence two years earlier (1980) so naturally my parents were a *little* worried about me for the six weeks I was away. The Zimbabwe Boy Scouts uniform at that time was all khaki colored. In fact, I still have a shirt, scarf & hat from one of the boys (no funny business involved, let me assure you!) and it lives in our dress up box.
I like that the letters can be colored in to coordinate with the rest of my card.
Have a great day!
Monday, May 05, 2008
Carved crayons
This is amazing!
