Prairie Paper & Ink

Bellas and Babies

Yup, you guessed it - I got some more Bella stamps!! WooHoo!! I got nursabella, flowahbella, javabellas, stampingbella (of course!), and parisbella. I am having THE hardest time limiting myself - I want them all!!

I've been in a bit of a stamping funk for the past couple of days - I just haven't really "felt" it if you know what I mean. But after my envelope of Bellas arrived I thought it was high time to get back in the groove! And what better way to do that than to participate in this week's SCS Color Challenge.

So I had my colors picked out, and saw all my Michaels $1 stamps sitting there (as I had yet to put them away - as usual!) after making those 2 quick cards - and this baby stamp caught my eye. Then the wheels *really* started turning - and this card was the end result!:

STAMPS: Nursabella by Stamping Bella, a*muse small oval, Baby sentiment by Kolette Hall (Michaels $1 stamp). CS: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Taken w/ Teal, Night of Navy. INK: Basic Black, Taken w/ Teal. ACCESSORIES: Prismacolors and Gamsol, SU Small Oval Punch, Navy Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, CuttleBug A2 Baby Embossing Folder, Not Quite Navy Brads, Dimensionals.

I stamped the bella first, then masked her and stamped the sentiment and the a*muse small oval (I don't even bother putting that stamp away anymore - it just sits on my desk right in front of me). I used Prismacolors and Gamsol to color everything in, then doodled a border around it all w/ my SU! Basic Black marker.

I created the "tab" using my SU! small oval punch, the tied some Navy Organdy ribbon into a knot and adhering it w/ a mini glue dot.

The embossed BG was created using my CuttleBug A2 Baby embossing folder.

I think I got my groove back ROFL!!!

Experiencing Technical Difficulties

My Internet connection is acting all wonky today. I can't access my e-mail and I get like 5-minute spurts on the Net (before I lose the connection - SO frustrating). I keep calling my service provider but I can't sit on hold for half an hour (blech!!). Hopefully tho I can get the issue fixed SOON (it's not quite lunchtime here so I BETTER have this working by supper time!! I have a TON of e-mails to answer!!)

So anywho if no one hears from me for the next little while THIS is why!! :o(

I'm still able to get onto sites here and there (mostly SCS but not the gallery) but it's a hit and a miss.

So I guess this means I'll be using my computer time to stamp (so it's definitely not a total loss ROFL!)

2 Quick (and CHEAP!) Cards

STAMPS: Michaels $ stamps. CS: Sage Shadow, Whisper White, rob & bob patterned paper. INK: Basic Black, More Mustard, Rose Red, Sage Shadow, Orchid Opulence. ACCESSORIES: Marvy Mega and Giga Scalloped Oval Punches, Prima Flower, MM brad, Ribbon (from Michaels).

I whipped up a couple of cards yesterday using some of my $1 ($1.50 in Canada) Michael's stamps - I have this really bad habit of *wanting* them (and buying them!!) but *rarely* use them!!

I *love* this sketchy flower stamp - and all these new sentiment stamps are so much fun. All I did for this card was stamp them and then color them in w/ SU! markers - *really* quick and easy!!

STAMPS: Michaels $ stamps, a*muse small oval. CS: Whisper White, Brocade Blue, patterned paper from The Very Useful Paper Company (slab from Costco). INK: Basic Black, Brocade Blue, Pale Plum, Elegant Eggplant, So Saffron. ACCESSORIES: Marvy Mega Circle and Giga Scalloped Circle punches, Stipple Brush, Stickles (Icicle), Prima Flower, Bazzil Brad, Dimensionals, Ribbon (Michaels).

Another fun sentiment - for this card I omitted the present and just used the words.

The cupcake I stamped then masked and stamped the a*muse small oval (as usual!!) and before removing the mask I stippled on some So Saffron ink around the flame (to make it look like it's "glowing"). I then colored in the cupcake w/ markers and punched it out and hand drew the "frame".

After the card was assembled I added the Stickles (I get mine from StarLitStudio - I used the Icicle one on this card) as they take some time to dry, and that's it!

Note to self:

Don't try to edit and fiddle with a post when you have a headache. I dont' know *what* I did - but my last post (not stamping-related - just some miscellaneous "stuff") ended up all jumbled and wierd - so I deleted it! Oh well.... tomorrow is another day!!

Altered Target $1 Mailbox

STAMPS: Sweet on You, Like it a Latte. CS: Whisper White, Loves Me DS Paper. INK: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip. ACCESSORIES: Flirty Ribbon, Light Pink, Rose, Chocolate and Taupe Grosgrain Ribbon, Sponge Daubers, CuttleBug Flowers 2x2 Die, Buttons.

This was a rather quick and easy project to do. It w as hard to "use up" my mailbox tho as I only have the one red one and this one (thanks Kelly!!). I so so SO wish we could get Target (that's where this mailbox is from - people are getting them for $1 from there!!! I *think* that Target is ONLY in the US? I KNOW they're not in Canada and I SO wish they were!) stores out here - they have all the best stuff (I'd prolly pitch a tent and just camp out in the Dollar spot  *wink*).

I used strips of the Loves Me paper to cover the mailbox - and I cut a notch of sorts so that it would slide over the part where the flag is attached - then I used the velvet ribbon to cover that up.

I tied a bunch of pieces of SU! grosgrain onto the flag, and made the flower using my CuttleBug 2x2 Flower Die. The buttons were the RAK I got from Wanda (Thank You!!).

For the front I used the Sweet on You set from the Winter Mini and just inked up the word "chocolate" from the Like it a Latte stamp.

To cover each end I just placed the mailbox onto the patterned paper and traced it w/ a pencil then cut it out - easy as pie! :o)

On a side note - Veronica sat with me the entire time I was making this - and when I was done she asked if I could put it in her room. I said *maybe* when she gets bigger I will (at not-quite-4-years-old she still has the tendency to ruin her things). Well for the rest of the day she was standing on her tip-toes and telling me how much bigger she got. ROFL!!! Goofy kid...

How I Take My Pictures

Well, as promised - here it is!! The big secret of how I take pictures of my cards (I never thought it was that big of a deal until I started getting *daily* e-mails and PM's and whatnot w/ questions asking HOW I do it!!).

So here is is - my oh-so-wonderful set-up!! (you can click on the pic to get a pop up of a closer image):

That's it!! I just prop up 2 12x12 pieces of Stampin' Up! card stock (see THAT'S how I get different colored backgrounds in my pics! *wink*) right on my desk (which is usually a LOT messier than this - I just shove everything aside to set up) and I have 2 lamps facing it.

Both of the lamps are daylight lamps - one is an OTT-LITE® and the other is a Daylight Lamp (pretty much the same thing - just a different brand) - I got both of them at Costco - the OTT is a floor base lamp and the other a desktop.

As for the type of camera I use - it's a FujiFilm FinePix E900 (so 9MP) - I got that at Costco too. Honestly I got just as good pics w/ my older (Canon) camera that was only about 4MP - I only got the Fuji b/c the other one stopped working properly!

I haven't even learned all the things I can do w/ this camera (they all say that you should read the manual and I so agree!! I just don't have time!) but I fiddle and figure things out and I get the pics the way I want them w/out really *technically* knowing what I am doing - so you guys won't be getting very detailed instructions on that end - sorry!! (I TOLD y'all what I was doing wasn't *that* great!! LOL)

I DO use a macro setting - almost all cameras should have one - it's usually identified by a small pic of a tulip. That helps by giving a more detailed image. I also do NOT use the flash EVER - I rely on my lamps for the proper lighting. Natural daylight from a window is also a great source of light (but NOT direct sunlight) however that doesn't work for me as it's difficult to get the proper exposure from the windows in our house.

And that's it!! I take several shots of my cards and tilt them here and there but to be totally honest - I'm finding that the FIRST picture I take is *almost* always the best one - I don't know why but it is!! But I still take several shots so that I can go through them and choose the *best* one - I then just delete all the rest.

I *rarely* edit the pics either - the most I'll do is crop off the "extra" space around the card, and (always) add my © watermark. On a couple of occasions I've brightened the photo and whatnot in my editing software - but usually if I've found that NONE of the pics I took turned out very well - I just take more and then go from there.

I've also been asked *which* photo-editing software I'm using. Right now it's just a program that came w/ one of my cameras - PhotoImpression by ArcSoft - I know how to use it so it works for me - that's also where I add my text to my pics - a lot of programs have an "Add Text" option - it shouldn't be too hard to locate. I HAVE Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 (thanks Dad!!) - I just need to get more time to sit down and play with it as there is a LOT of things that can be done in there - but I'm mostly interested in using it to edit and perfect pics I take for scrapbooking (so pictures of ppl) and for framing.

So really the *best* advice I can offer is LEARN how to use your camera and practice, practice, PRACTICE!! Take *several* shots of the SAME card - and move around to different areas of your house and try it at different times of the day, or use lamps like I do and experiment w/ how you set everything up until you hit upon a system that works for YOU.

So there you go - there's my big secret - a couple pieces of 12x12 CS and 2 lamps and I've got my own "studio" ROFL!!!

I really do hope tho that this answers all the questions that have been asked!! :o)

ETA - well of course I shoulda realized that a LOT of you would want to know more about my ribbon!!!! ROFL!!

Here's a link to a post I did a looonnngggg time ago about my ribbon storage:

Ribbon, Prima, Paint and Prismacolor Storage in my Storage Solutions Category.

You'll notice that I've changed how I store my ribbon slightly in the pic above but it's mostly the same (and yes one of these days I'll post pics of my entire stamp space - it's "in the works" just like everything else!! ROFL!)

So yes I can admit that I have a bit of obsession w/ ribbon (really go through my cards - very *very* few DON'T have ribbon on them!! *wink*) but you ain't seen nothing yet - I went in on a ribbon share (via my new bud Jody - who totally surpasses me in every way possible when it comes to loving ribbon - just check out the name of her blog *wink*) and have like 300 yards of different colors of grosgrain on the way here as I speak! *happy dance*

CuttleBug Folders

Just an FYI - AllThatScraps has received a BIG shipment of the A2 embossing folders - so now everything but the Friends Words folder is in stock!! The machine itself is also in stock.

I know a LOT of ppl have left comments and e-mailed me asking where to get them as a lot of places were sold out - so I'm guessing everyone is getting their shipments in!! Happy shopping! *wink*

Trees in Spring

STAMPS: Trees Three. CS: Whisper White, Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Loves Me DS Paper. INK: Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery, VersaMark. ACCESSORIES: Light Pink Embossing Powder, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals, Light Pink Grosgrain Ribbon, Pretty in Pink Eyelets.

I demo'd this card at a workshop I did last night. It was really quick and simple to do.

I used a sponge dauber to "fill in" the leaves some more, then the flowers were stamped in VersaMark and embossed w/ Light Pink embossing powder (from SU!'s Soft Subtles® embossing stack).

The sentiment is up on dimensionals. :o)

FYI - the eyelets go all the way through the card front (so you can see the backs of the eyelets in the card)- the pink showing through is the BG the card is sitting on :o)

Remember...

Me saying how FAB Ultra Clean cleaner was??? Well now you can get some for FREE!!! Stampingfreak.com is having a (pretty awesome) sale this weekend (Special ends Sunday 1/28/07 at 11:59 PM, central time) - order any 5 GinaK stamps (mounted OR unmounted) and you'll get a FREE 2oz bottle of Ultra Clean - and you don't need to put in a coupon code or anything like that - the bottle will be included in your order as long as you buy 5 or more stamps - cool eh?? Happy shopping! *grin*

And Dawn I didn't bother posting that you can't read this - I know how bad you wanted a couple of the sold out stamps - so now's your chance *evil grin*!!! ROFL!

Bee Mine!!!

Stamps: Honey Bee and sentiment by GinaK Designs. CS: Whisper White, Real Red, Spring Flowers DS Paper (all Stampin' Up!), black. INK: Palette Hybrid Noir (Stewart Superior), Summer Sun, Bashful Blue, Real Red, Basic Black (SU!). ACCESSORIES: Blender Pen, Marvy Giga Scalloped Square Punch, Dimensionals, Red Gingham Ribbon, Red Brads, Fiskars Scalloped Scissors, CuttleBug Tiny Tags die.

This card came together SO fast (I'm talking *maybe* 15 minutes??) - and I am SO happy with it!! This little Honey Bee stamp is adorable!

I stamped the Bee onto Whisper White CS, then colored him in using a Blender Pen and ink from a few ink pads (all SU!). I used a Basic Black marker for the stripes, and hand drew the little border around him before mounting the CS onto a Real Red scalloped square (that I got from my Marvy Giga Scalloped Square punch).

Did y'all notice I even used another piece of my Spring Flowers DS paper?? I'm pretty sure this was the biggest piece that's left - I'm *thisclose* to completely using up all that paper - FINALLY!!

I used my Fiskars Scalloped Scissors on the black CS, then after adhering the patterned paper to it I tied on some SU! Red Gingham ribbon. I added the tag (made w/ my CuttleBug Tiny Tags die) - that I stamped just the "Honey," on - using Real Red Brads, and adhered the  whole piece to the card - which on the inside has the rest of the sentiment:

This is a 4.25x4.25" square card. :o)

Yup, It's Time For.....

Another Enabler Alert!!!! (So Dawn if you're reading this you can stop right here!!! *wink*)

Stampingfreak.com now carries Ultra Clean in refill (8oz) size!!! How awesome is that??? If you've never tried Ultra Clean you HAVE to - I swear it's the best stuff ever. It's made by Stewart Superior and is wonderful for cleaning and conditioning stamps - and it's great for clear stamps too. It even removes old stains off your stamps - I didn't believe it till I tried it for myself - it removed *old* StazOn stains from some of my oldest sets!

We've been begging for refill sizes for MONTHS now on SCS (altho some of us were thinking that a gallon-sized refill bottle would be *perfect* LOL - this still rocks) and they listened!

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming...(I just realized how much this sounded like an advertisement LOL - it's not a paid ad - just me going nuts over a cleaner! ROFL!!!)

Font Sizes

Just an FYI - I was fiddling around w/ the font sizes and whatnot on here trying to get them in a "nice, readable size" ( a couple ppl have e-mailed me saying the font was small and made it difficult to read).

Well anyway I HAVE the font set at medium - which is VERY easy to read - and then I discovered that it's the internet settings that need tweaking!! I won't be fiddling w/ the fonts on here any more *wink* - they are set at medium - any bigger and they're TOO big and any smaller and you can't read!

So if you have a tough time reading my posts (or reading anything on the Net for that matter) - you can just go to View (this is for Internet Explorer BTW) and Change Font Size - and then choose a size that works for you. I keep mine set at either larger or medium (usually medium). I don't know how you change it on other versions but it shouldn't be too hard.

Anywho I hope this helps!

CuttleBug Stuff

Just to let all those know who've asked - I get my CuttleBug stuff from AllThatScraps - they carry ALL the embossing folders, dies, alphabets, the machine etc etc etc. As of right now they're sold out of a bunch of the folders and the machine BUT the home page says they will be in stock TOMORROW!!

I highly recommend ATS - I've ordered a few times now and recieved the BEST (and FAST!) service - I am a very happy customer!!

And thanx to you all for your support!! I had a laugh over a couple of the comments (yup it's true I'm not chained to my computer - tho some days it feels like I AM!! and no I don't make money doing this - tho my mom says if I could only get a dollar for each hit......... I wish!!!! ROFL!!)

Give Thanks

STAMPS: Happy Harmony, Print Pattern. CS: Whisper White, Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Bravo Burgundy. INK: Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Bravo Burgundy, Always Artichoke. ACCESSORIES: Marvy Giga Scalloped Square Punch, Sponge Daubers, Paper Piercer, Small Square Punches, Dimensionals, CuttleBug 2x2 die - Sliders, CuttleBug A2 Embossing Folder - Textile Texture, Ribbon.

I made this card for this week's SCS Color (that the oh-so-wonderful Bethie thought up - b/c she ROCKS!!!! *wink*) and Ways to Use It (BG's) Challenges.

I used markers on the flowers, then repeatedly stamped them on the punched out scalloped square. I made the photo corners using SU!'s 2 smallest square punches.

For the slider - I ran a piece of Whisper White CS that I had glued to a piece of lightweight chipboard through my CuttleBug using one of the Sliders (2x2) dies. I then stamped it and attached it to the card using SU! White Grosgrain and May Arts Organdy (from StarLitStudio).

I used my CuttleBug A2 Textile Texture embossing folder on the Brocade Blue CS and sponged the edges.

****~~~~****~~~~****~~~~****~~~~****

On another note - I have been getting a LOT of questions and requests on exactly *how* I take pictures of my cards. I don't have enough time to be answering each person individually (I tried that and I can't get replies out fast enough) so I'll post on here one of these days (with pictures) what I do and how I do it - don't expect anything fabulous - I have a very simple set up!!! I'll try to get that done and up on here w/ in a week or so.

ALSO - I just wanted to make a note to all those that have sent me e-mails, PMs, and comments on here. I've received a few (half a dozen or so) messages from ppl that are quite upset w/ me for not replying to them in a "timely" manner (as in I'm not replying w/in 24 hours).

I have to honestly say that there is almost NO way that I can get replies out this fast. I TRY and sometimes I do - but not to everyone. If you don't get a reply from me w/ in a WEEK - then *please* just send me another e-mail to remind me b/c there's a really good chance I missed it!!

ALSO - if you have a question that you want answered - send me an e-mail (vs a PM on SCS or a comment on here). I'm more likely to respond to an e-mail as it's a lot more difficult (for me) to keep track of all the comments on here and all my messages on SCS.

I DO read every comment left on here (and enjoy them!! So don't stop! *wink*) but I just don't have the time to personally answer every single one - at times I try to answer them in a post on here for everyone to read (especially when it's something that several ppl want to know or it's something I didn't explain clearly enough).

That said - I LOVE receiving feedback - whichever the form it takes (comments on here, PMs, e-mails whatever!!) and getting questions from ppl. It just hurts when I get blasted for being "insensitive" b/c it takes me a while to get a reply out.

Have a great day everyone!!! :o)

Valentine Bloggers Swap

I participated in a Valentine Bloggers Swap on SCS not too long ago. My cards have been shipped out to me but haven't arrived. However I took a few pics of the one I did before I mailed them out:

STAMPS: Olive You, Linen, Lots of Hearts Jumbo Wheel, a*muse small oval. CS: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pretty in Pink. INK: Basic Black, Pretty in Pink. ACCESSORIES: Marvy Mega Circle and Giga Scalloped Circle Punches, Prima Flowers, Rhinestones, Romantic Red Glitter, Google Eyes, Prismacolors and Gamsol, Red Grosgrain and Black Gingham Ribbon, Word Window Punch, Paper Piercer, White Gel Pen.

I stamped the little bug from the SU! Olive You set, masked him then stamped the a*muse small oval stamp (I can't seem to get away from using that oval stamp!! I use it on almost everything!). I colored him in using Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol, added the Romantic Red glitter to the heart, and the google eyes of course. After punching it out I doodled a border around it, then matted it onto a black giga scalloped circle.

The card base is stamped w/ Linen (really hard to see in the pictures but in real life it gives it a nice textured look) and the Lots of Hearts jumbo wheel.

I stamped the sentiment onto scrap CS then punched it out w/ my SU! Word Window punch.

All in all I made a dozen of these cards for the swap. Here's the other bloggers who participated:

Staramaze (Sarah Moore): blog

Michelle Laycock: blog

StampinSweetie (Alora Sweetser): blog

Foxde (Denise): blog

Lynn in St. Louis (Lynn Mercurio): blog

AnneMarieZ (Anne-Marie Zimmerer): blog

Sereikastamper (Keri): blog

Amanda_Sewell (Amanda Sewell): blog

Buglady (Terri): blog

STAMPINGODDESS (Colleen Laux): blog

SunshineMama (Erika Martin): blog   

Once I get the package I'll post all the cards I got in return!!

Also - here is the thread for the swap: *BLOGGERS ONLY* Valentine swap!

You can subscribe to it as there will prolly be an announcement made on that thread for future swaps.  You can also send a PM to Sarah (Staramaze - she's the one who organized this swap) and ask if/when she'll do another one! :o)