Prairie Paper & Ink

Birthday Blowout

I actually participated in a couple of Splitcoast Challenges! YAY me! LOL

This week's color challenge was an interesting one: YoYo Yellow, Going Gray and Basic Gray. I like yellow but this was definitely out of the norm so I wanted to play along.

And then I saw the sketch challenge and I was off and running:

I knew right away what stamps I wanted to use, my color combo and layout were already set - so I was good to go! And here's what I came up with:

Even tho Stampin' Up!'s Hip Hip Hooray set is retired I still LOVE this set - I just think it is so cute!

I stamped the raccoon in Basic Gray ink then used a blender pen and inks to color him in. I cheated and added a little Pretty in Pink to the color combo - as I was filling in the ears I decided to go a little further with it and added it to his clothes as well...

The balloons were stamped onto a scrap of card stock and cut out and adhered.

The ribbon is May Arts - I got the idea to add the button with the little ribbon flag from this post Anna did the other day.

The sentiment was stamped with yellow chalk ink and is kind of hard to see in the picture (you can click on it to get a pop-up window with a bigger image) - it says "birthday blowout" (the sentiment is from A Muse - I'm not sure if it's retired or not...).

I actually really like this color combo! I think adding a teeny bit of an accent color (I was originally going to do blue but since I already had the pink out I went with that) just makes it POP all the more!

STAMPS: Hip Hip Hooray set by SU!, sentiment by A Muse. CS: Papertrey White, Whisper White, YoYo Yellow, Going Gray and Basic Gray (all SU!). INK: YoYo Yellow, Going Gray and Basic Gray, Pretty In Pink. ACCESSORIES: Blender Pens, Ribbon, Button, String.

SUPERfast Card!

This card LITERALLY took me about 5 minutes to make - the only reason being I already had the glittery die-cut letters sitting here otherwise it would have taken 15 minutes or so.......

When I made these 2 scrapbook pages I made red glitter card stock (embossed plain red card stock with Iridescent Ice (Stampin' Up!) Embossing Powder) then die-cut them with my CuttleBug Red Tag Alpha for the title. But I didn't like the look of that so I went with the black instead.

So I had these letters sitting here and thought I may as well USE them - so I made a card!

The patterned paper was a scrap from the scrapbook pages (it's by My Mind's Eye), I adhered it to a white card base, then adhered the letters.

I finished off the card with some black grosgrain ribbon and a heart-shaped rhinestone (from the Michaels $1 section) and that was it! And I LOVE how it turned out!! *grin*

(THIS picture was taken with my new light tent - BEFORE I ironed all the backdrops to get rid of all the wrinkles).

It's late and I'm heading for bed......is anyone else as excited as I am that LOST is starting tonight??? Tim and I have been re-watching the season's on DVD and are so pumped for it to begin again!!

2 Quick Bella Kid Cards

I made both of these cards the other day in record time.

Both the miniwagonfella and miniwagonbella were stamped and colored in some time ago - so then all I had to do was assemble the cards!

I kept them both simple - I don't see a reason to put a TON of time and effort into a card for a child who isn't going to care much about it anyway if you know what I mean. If the mom is a stamper then yes I'll go to more effort *wink* - but otherwise I try to keep it CUTE- but simple.

I used my CuttleBug Stars embossing set to emboss the stars on the turquoise card stock, then stamped the sentiment (comes with the miniwagonfella stamp) and added some DoodleBug brads.

The ribbon is from Michaels.

STAMPS: Miniwagonfella and sentiment by Stamping Bella. CS: Papertrey White, Black And Tempting Turquoise (Stampin' Up!). INK: Brilliance Graphite Black, Copic Markers. ACCESSORIES: Ribbon, CuttleBug Stars embossing set, Brads.

I kept the layout on this card almost the same as the other one to keep it quick and simple.

I used my CuttleBug Bloom Dots Embossing Folder to emboss the pink card stock then stamped the sentiment below and added the DoodleBug Brads.

The ribbon I got in a ribbon share months ago (I'm pretty sure it's from RABOM).

STAMPS: Miniwagonbella and sentiment by Stamping Bella. CS: Papertrey White, Pretty in Pink and Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!). INK: Brilliance Graphite Black, Copic Markers. ACCESSORIES: Ribbon, CuttleBug Bloom Dots Embossing Folder, Brads, Dimensionals.

...........................................................................................................................................

FYI these pictures weren't taken with my new light tent - I took them before I got it (and am too lazy right now to start re-taking pics that have already been shot, uploaded and edited!).

2nd FYI - Stamping Bella is having a "Pajama Party" TONIGHT over on her Splitcoast Member Forum. It's running from 8:00-10:30 Central, with 3 challenges, prizes, and specials in celebration of the new line of stamps she's releasing tonight at 10pm!! I don't know for sure if I can make it but I DO know that I can't wait to see the new stamps!!

LOVE Scrapbook Pages

I got 2 more pages done!! YAY!

I worked on this 2-page layout on and off all day Sunday, finished them Sunday evening then took the pictures of them with my new Light Tent (it's a 24" tent and these are 8x8 scrapbook pages - the 2 of them fit perfectly inside). I have to say I am loving the tent! ESPECIALLY for taking pictures like this - usually I have to take a LOT of shots and have to deal with glare on the photos and not being able to get a very clear end result - with the tent I only took a few shots and it was done! :o)

*You can click on the picture to get a pop-up window with a larger image*

I printed the pictures myself with a Kodak EasyShare 5300 printer - they were 5x7 with a border and I cut the border off so they're a bit smaller than that.

The patterned paper is by My Mind's Eye, and the title was done with my CuttleBug Red Tag Alpha (I embossed some black card stock with Iridescent Ice embossing powder (Stampin' Up!) before die cutting the letters) and adhered to 2 Super Jumbo Scalloped hearts.

The flowers are grey Prima Sprites, and all the bling is from the dollar section at Michaels. The die cut hearts are another CuttleBug die.

I used my Crop-a-dile to punch the holes to thread the ribbon through.

The journaling was done by hand (I HATE my handwriting - but I know that it's something the girls will appreciate when they're older (at least I'm hoping so!)) on 2 Mega Scalloped heart punch outs.

*snicker* I just love these pictures - Josie really IS a total goofball - AND a drama queen - it will be really interesting to see what she's like as she gets older!

A Little Chilly?

Tim's trying to start the Equinox to go to work right now (yup we still work even at almost -50 temps!) and it's not starting. I'm *hoping* he can get the day off and stay home b/c it is COLD!! but I don't think it will happen....

You really can't complain it's COLD till you live in temps like this (and it was almost this cold yesterday too!)...

Stay warm everybody!

Using The Corner Rounder Punch to Make a Scalloped Edge VIDEO Tutorial

I have been asked a LOT how exactly I use my Stampin' Up! Corner Rounder Punch to make a scalloped edge on my card stock.

So I just did a short little video to show you what I do (it took me forever to get it all set up b/c I had to use my web cam and it's not wireless so I had to re-arrange some things in order to shoot a video! It worked tho so YAY!).

Things to keep in mind:

1. You have to take the paper guide off the punch - in the video you will see how easy it is - just make sure not to pull too hard on it when removing the guide b/c it can break!
2. I don't punch all the way through each time - just enough to make each scallop.
3. When you're punching you can see the marks on the edge of each scallop - I line up the next punch at the corner of the previously punched scallop.

And here's the video:

Textured Cardstock

This is the first time I've used Stampin' Up!'s Time Well Spent set (the level 3 hostess set in the Spring/Summer catty).

I stamped the butterfly and colored it in with a  blender pen and In Color inks then used my Scor-pal to score the lines around the image.

The sentiment is from SU!'s Take Three set.

I kept the card simple and I like how it turned out - which is great b/c "simple" doesn't always mean "easy" - in fact it's usually the opposite!

I used textured card stock in River Rock and Soft Sky - I think that gave the card the little extra "Wow" factor without going overboard (I LOVE textured card stock!!).

I made the scalloped edge with the 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch then added some Guava ribbon and brads and that was it!

STAMPS: Time Well Spent, Take Three. CS: Whisper White, Basic Black, Soft Sky and River Rock Textured. INK: Basic Black, Groovy Guava, Soft Sky, River Rock. ACCESSORIES: Blender Pen, Ribbon, 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch, Black Brads, Dimensionals.

This card was quick and simple as I just used scraps that were sitting on my desk.

I did the same thing as the previous card - stamped the image then used a blender pen and inks to color it in.

After fiddling with the layout a bit and adding some brads and ribbon I called it a day LOL!

STAMPS: Time Well Spent. CS: Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate, Blue Bayou and River Rock Textured. INK: Basic Black, Purely Pomegranate, Blue Bayou, River Rock. ACCESSORIES: Blender Pen, Ribbon, Silver Brads, Dimensionals.

Sunday Q&A

I love how you tied the ribbon - do you have to make the holes bigger to fit the ribbon through there? (referring to the card in THIS post)

I don't always have to make the holes bigger - but for that card I did - I just used my Crop-a-dile to punch larger holes to fit the ribbon through.

Glad you are having fun w/ your Wii! You guys have not almost broken your tv, right? We have -- and thankfully you can get free "jackets" for the controllers. Nintendo is offering them for free after all the mishaps. Have you seen the blog where there are pics of broken tvs, black eyes, etc? Here is the link: http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/jacket/jacketrequest.jsp

Nope - we haven't come close to breaking the TV - but I did just about hit the lights on our ceiling fan the first time I played LOL! I've got the hang of it tho and we re-arranged the furniture in the living room so that we have more room to play!

Also thanks for the link for the "jacket" - I was able to order an extra one for that extra remote we bought so hopefully it will be here soon!

Hi Amy,

Can you tell me who makes the pink ribbon you used on the card "Wild about you"?  It has the little CC Designs pig on the front, dated 1/17/08 (in THIS post)

Thanks so much and I love your work.

.

Yes I stated right in the post that the ribbon was made by Stampin' Up! - it's not available anymore as it was in last year's Winter Mini and was retired. I don't know of any other place to get something similar as I've never come across ribbon like it!

.

Your designs are just FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Can I ask a question about Ink?  I love the SU colors but I have such a hard time getting there ink pads open.  Do you have a recommendation of a flip top pad?

The only flip-top pads I own and even know about are SU ones and I'm pretty sure the design to them is exclusive. All my other ink pads are little - I have the Brilliance Dew Drops, and VersaMagic Dew Drops, the Palette Hybrid Spots (same style as SU!'s Spots) and ColorBox's Cat's Eyes.

If you have too much trouble with the larger ink pads you could consider getting SU's ink spots instead, OR you could try to find a different style of empty ink pads that you could ink yourself with SU! re-inkers (a more pricey option....)

Just a quick question, I noticed in your photographs that you always have a white background, and it looks really nice and clean-cut. It there a special box or something that you use?

Up to now I've just been using sheets of card stock and daylight lamps to take my pictures - but I *just* got my Christmas present from my hubby which was a soft-box photo cube (see this post). I'll be playing around with it and will be posting more about it over the next little while.

how do I add my name to my cards (watermark)???

Most photo-editing programs have an option where you can "add text" to your pictues - and you can type in your own info. That's what I used to do for the longest time - until a friend of mine made me a custom watermark. It took me FOREVER to figure out how to add it to my photo's using Photoshop Elements (if you do a search in the Splitcoast forums using the keyword "watermark" you should find lots of helpful info - I'm horrible with all the technical stuff!)

Amy I tried to add your blog to mine and I guess I typed the wrong URL I typed: prairiepaper&ink.blogspot.com what do I need to type??? Thank you.
Nancy

My blog address is: http://prairiepaperandink.typepad.com/

FYI - I went through all the comments on my Blogroll post and added all the blogs that linked to me. It took FOREVER ( I wasn't expecting nearly that many LOL!) but I got it done and I edited the couple that were pointed out to me that had wrong links/names.

I know you use Copic markers.  I am just using regular markers & whenever I color in my rubber stamping, the black outline always bleeds.  Does this happen with the Copic markers as well.  I have even tried a heat gun on my stamps & it still bleeds.  Any suggestions?

The big thing isn't the markers but rather what black ink and card stock are you using? I used to have a lot of issues with SU!'s Basic Black ink on Whisper White CS - but last week I sat down and made a bunch of cards using that ink and card stock and coloring in all the images with a blender pen and re-inkers (I'll be sharing the cards soon!). I found that if I let the stamped image sit while I would finish off the rest of the card - it rarely smeared. I don't know why but heat setting that ink doesn't seem to help.

One thing I have noticed is that it almost doesn't matter what ink you are using if you are using Whisper White card stock - the smooth quality of the card stock while great for stamping on - seems to make most inks smear.

I've found that if I purposely try to avoid the lines of the image when I'm coloring it in keeps the smearing to a minimum (and I do that with almost every image I color - whether it be with water-based (ie Stampin' Up!) markers or my Copics - I don't color over the lines if I can help it).

My absolute FAVORITE black ink (after trying several kinds!) for stamping images that I plan on coloring in with markers is Brilliance Graphite Black. It either needs to be heat set or set aside to dry as it takes some time - but it's one of the "least" smearing black ink's I've tried out so far. Palette Hybrid Noir is a close second.

Do you have any tricks for getting a straight line using decorative scissors? I don't use them cuz they drive me crazy!

When I use decorative scissors I just eyeball it. What you can do tho is make a light pencil line and then follow it with the scissors then erase the line when you're done (this works best when you're wanting to cut a straight line - then all you need to do is pull out a ruler, draw your line, cut, then erase!)

Here's a pretty basic question but not all of us are advanced yet. How do you start your card? Do you pick a stamp set, paper, ribbon, or embelishment to build your card around? I get lost with all the "stuff" I have and never know where to start.

See - to me that's the beauty of cardmaking - it is always different (at least for me!). Sometimes I start with a certain stamp set/certain stamp. Other times I have some patterned paper sitting out that I want to use - so I pick stamps and embellishments that will go with it. And yet other times I start with a certain color combo or sketch in mind and go from there.

My advice is for when you're feeling totally overwhelmed - pick ONE thing. It doesn't matter what that thing is (stamps, paper, embellishment, some ribbon - whatever!) just pick it. Take a good look at it and think of what else you have in your stash that will go well with it.

If it's some ribbon - what color is it? What color of paper do you have on hand that will go well with it?

If it's a piece of patterned paper - what colors are in the paper? Do you have any embellishments that will compliment the paper?

If it's a stamp (or stamps) - what style are they? Funky (leans towards bright colors), masculine (earth tones, blues, greens etc), little girl (pinks, purples, yellows etc)......

Really it just takes practice. When I first started stamping it took me some time to start thinking about the things I had and how to use them and where to start. I started participating in the weekly challenges over on Splitcoast and those really helped since they gave me a starting point - I highly recommend trying that out as they're really fun too!

Do you sell you stamped cards? at craft fair?

I sell cards at a local salon here town and I don't do craft fairs (don't have the time!). I have been toying with the idea of selling some of the cards that I post on here either right from my blog or having my own Etsy shop - I just don't know how many people would actually want to buy the things I've made!

A Little Sunday Funny

'nuff said eh?

More You're So Sweet Samples

Here are a couple more cards I made with GinaK's How Sweet It Is stamp set (with $7 from the purchase of every set being donated to diabetes research).

When I made this card I was in a purple mood - so I pulled out some Bazzill gumdrop card stock and went from there...

The image was stamped then colored in with Copic markers.

I added Liquid Applique to the icing and before I heated it I poured on Making Memories purple glitter (you can click on the pics to get a pop-up window with a larger image).

I finished off the card with a Making Memories clip (that I tied a bit of May Arts ribbon to) and a sentiment from the set (I used a circle punch to round the edge of it).

STAMPS: How Sweet It Is set by GinaK Designs. CS: Papertrey White, Basic Black and Lovely Lilac (Stampin' Up!), Bazzill Doodlebug in Gumdrop. INK: Brilliance Graphite Black, Copic Markers. ACCESSORIES: MM Glitter, Liquid Applique, MM Cheeky Clip, May Arts Ribbon, Dimensionals, Corner Rounder and Circle Punch.

I have to say I LOVED how this card turned out!

I stamped the stork onto Kraft (Stampin' Up!) card stock then pulled out my Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol to color him in (I haven't used them in MONTHS but they helped me achieve the look I was going for!) then outlined the image with a warm gray Copic marker.

I used one of my scalloped rectangle Nestabilities dies to cut out and emboss the image.

I stamped the sentiment with Versamark then embossed it with white embossing powder.

Finished off the card with a bit of paper-piercing and some white eyelets and that's it!

STAMPS: How Sweet It Is set by GinaK Designs. CS: Papertrey White, raft, Not Quite Navy and Black (SU!). INK: Brilliance Graphite Black, VersaMark, Copic Marker. ACCESSORIES: Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol, Spellbinders Nestabilities Die, Dimensionals, Taffeta Ribbon, Paper Piercer, White EP, White Eyelets.

HUGE Make Room Sale at ATS!!

I just got the e-mail that Christine at All That Scraps is having a HUGE "Make Room" sale - with CHA right around the corner she needs to make room for all the new product coming out along with tons of other new goodies! *wink*

You can check out what all is on sale HERE <----click!

It's Here!

My light tent finally arrived!! *claps hands*

Tim had ordered me one off e-bay for Christmas in the beginning of December and it never arrived (we're waiting on the refund through PayPal.....) - so he gave me a picture of it for Christmas and then when we found out we weren't getting that one I ordered this one from OBN instead.

I must say we had a MUCH better experience with OBN - they shipped it out the SAME day I ordered and now it's here!

I finally got done putting it together (the lights need to be assembled when it arrives - a little time consuming but not too bad) and will need to fiddle around with it and see what kinds of pics I get with it compared to my "propping up 2 pieces of card stock and using a couple of daylight lamps" method.

FYI the 24" tent is HUGE!!! I wanted to be sure to get one that I could take pics of 12x12 pages with and any larger items if I needed and this one will definitely fit the bill!

I love Christmas presents....(even if there are unforeseen circumstances that make them not arrive and replacements have to be ordered weeks later!! *wink*)....and I am so pleased with Tim for getting it for me (not that I hinted over and over again as to what I wanted................LOL!).

Friday Sketch! #4

Here's my new Friday Sketch!!

I wasn't sure what I was going to post today, but as I was on the phone this morning I started sifting through the stack (yes it is a stack!) of Bella images I had stamped out a while ago - and some of them were already colored in.....

So I pulled out the ipodabella image I colored the other day and made a card with it for my sketch challenge!

I had used Copic markers to color her in - and when I colored her I used this bottle of Prima Got Prints flowers as inspiration.

If you click on the picture you'll get a pop-up window with a larger view - and you can see that the Primas have little music symbols on them!! I HAD to use them with this Bella b/c really - how perfect was that?

The sentiment and iPod stamp are by A Muse (2 more things that go great with this Bella LOL!).

STAMPS: iPodabella by Stamping Bella, iPod and sentiment by A Muse. CS: Papertrey White, Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise and Pink Passion by Stampin' Up!. INK: Brilliance Graphite Black, Copic Markers, Pink Passion. ACCESSORIES: Dimensionals, Prima Flowers, Bazzill Brads, Ribbon, Corner Rounder Punch.

And here's the sketch:

If you upload your card using this sketch to any public galleries please use the keyword AMYRS12 to make it easier to find.

And don't forget to link directly to your creation in the comment setion of this post so that I can see it too!

My Project for the SWAK Challenge

OK so here was all the info Lisa gave us with her challenge:

1. Download this pattern. (this is the mini heart note card that Lisa made to go inside those BRILLIANT Papertrey heart tins!)
2. Create anything using this pattern.
3. Use Papertrey Ink stamps. (heart tin is optional)
4. post their project on their blog this Thursday (Jan 24th) and link to the other S.W.A.K.-down participants.

And all the other gals participating??:

Emily

Lauren

Debbie

Becky

Julie

Lynn

Jenn 

Amy (me!)

Geny

Taylor

Lisa

So ya - the pressure was ON!! Sadly my heart tins aren't here yet (gotta love the postal system!!) but I had another idea for the heart-card template.

My first attemt was crap and got tossed in the garbage - but then I made this and am quite pleased with it!:

I'm still on a major Valentine/love card kick - so I HAD to make a "love" card.

I printed out Lisa's template, cut it out then traced it onto Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Up!) card stock and cut that out.

I adhered the mini card onto some Real Red CS and then cut out around it with scalloped scissors (I just eyeballed it as I was cutting).

All the stamps used are from Papertrey's Borders & Corners {heart} set (that set is my absolute favorite out of all the B&C sets!).

I punched out a heart with my Marvy Giga Scalloped Heart Punch, stamped the heart image onto it then adhered it to the card.

To keep the little "secret note" heart closed I used a photo turn from Stampin' Up!'s Hodgepodge Hardware.

I finished off the card with a couple of Prima Flowers and used my Janome Mini sewing machine to stitch around the pink CS.

I used my fingernail to rough up the edges of the pink CS arter I sewed it.

*This card measures 4.25" square*

STAMPS: Borders & Corners {heart} set by Papertrey Ink. CS: Pretty In Pink, Real Red, Kraft (Stampin' Up!). INK: Rocket Red Brilliance Ink, Versafine Onyx Black, Regal Rose Craft Ink. ACCESSORIES: Marvy Giga Scalloped Heart Punch, Scalloped Scissors, SU! HP Hardware, Prima Flowers, Sewing Machine.

Now I'm off to go see what everyone else did with this challenge!

Feel free to download the pattern and participate - leave a link to your creation in the comment section of this post so I can see it too! :o)

Still snickering

This is COMPLETELY random (especially for me!) but have you seen the latest Tom Cruise video?? <----click!

EDITED TO ADD: Looks like TMZ removed the video - BUT you can still see it HERE (this is where I first saw it) <------click!! (thanks Charlene for the heads up!!)

Well if you have (and if you just did for the first time) - then you HAVE to check out THIS video! <------click!

I seriously couldn't stop snickering through the entire thing......ROFL!!

EDITED TO ADD AGAIN!: I can't believe I forgot to add this link (thanks Cherie for pointing it out!) - after watch the Tom video and then the Jerry video you HAVE to watch THIS video <------click! (FYI It's scrapbooking related and yes it does tie in to the other videos ROFL!!)