Prairie Paper & Ink

Birthday Fun

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE CC Designs It's Your Birthday set?? I'm pretty sure I have......*grin*

Both of these cards were made during my Autumn Leaves Techno Pop phase (I TOLD y'all I made a ton of cards with this paper - and I still have tons of it left!) and were pretty quick and easy.

Lulu and her gifts were colored in with Copic Markers and I added Stickles to the cupcake and the top of her party hat.

I added some ribbon (WalMart) along with a Bazzill flower (the felt one is from Target) and a jumbo brad.

This one is a 4.25" square card. I stmaped the cupcake from the set several times in a row, colored them in with Copic Markers then added Stickles to the icing and the flame.

The sentiment is from A Muse, card base is Prism and the brads are DoodleBug.

:o)

Sneak Peeks and FREE Stamps!

That's right I said FREE stamps *grin*

Head on over to the All That Scraps Blog to check out all the sneak peeks of the new stamps being released on the 4th and you can enter to win them for free!

I have my fingers crossed that my stamps arrive today or at least before the weekend but considering my track record with the PO lately.........well I'll just keep my fingers crossed!

Hey Cupcake

So not too long ago I couldn't take it anymore and ordered some Kim Hughes stamps from Cornish Heritage Farms.

I have been SOOOO good and held off for SOOOO long and then after her last release I was talking to a friend on the phone and we decided to order together and then she'd ship me my part of it (since she's in the states we qualified for free shipping no problem *wink*).

I hafta say we got AWESOME service from CHF - she placed the order on a Friday and the following MONDAY the order was at her door!

She then shipped me out mine and I sat here and waited FOREVER (which is odd b/c everything she mails me gets here really fast).........when the envelope arrived I could see why.

I should have taken a picture of it b/c it literally looked like a couple of postal workers got in a fight over it as it was badly ripped on each end and the biggest tear was taped up (and I know for a fact the envelope was brand new when it was mailed out!). That was all well and good b/c the stamps were fine - until I started cutting them it was when I realized that the Kim Hughes SOTM (stamp of the month) wasn't there! It was the smallest of all the stamp packages and musta slipped out of the envelope! *sad face*

I am still super bummed about it as it's no longer available (well 'till tomorrow anyway) and I loved that little turtle but I can't afford to buy it again and pay for shipping just for the one little set - *shakes fist at the PO*. I DO get a chuckle over my "story" of the fighting PO workers (I bet they just KNEW there was some sweet stuff in it......) and I hope one of 'em gave the little turtle a home where he will get inked up regularly.......ROFLOL!!!

ANYHWO - back to the card - I just threw this one together for fun before I have to get Josie up from her nap and start making supper.

I stamped the cupcakes from the Hugs and Kisses set with Brilliance Coffee Bean ink, colored them in with Copic Markers and then cut them out. I then pulled out one of my marvy scalloped punches and took a few "bites" out of the cupcakes before adhering them to the circles with dimensionals.

I used CHF's Weave backgrounder (one of my all-time favorite BG stamps) on the card base (masking off where I didn't want any ink), and stamped the hey cupcake sentiment on the bottom right and that was it!

And the end of this post is just in time as I can hear Josie so she's awake and there's time to take the girls outside to play before I start supper (we are FINALLY getting nice weather!! I wish I could be outside all day and so do the girls!!).

Have a great night everyone!

Added A Couple More

If you scroll down to the Simple Alphabet post I made yesterday morning you can see 2 more cards that I added to the collection :o) The last 2 cards in that post are new - enjoy!

I hope to be back later today with another post.........

A Little Happy Somethin'

I just sat down real quick to check some of my fave blogs thru Google Reader (LOVE that - makes blog hoppin' SO much easier) before a nail client is supposed to show up and lo and behold I won something off the Cosmo Cricket blog!! YAY me!!

FYI y'all should head over there and check out their blog - I love their stuff and they have some pretty funny video posts every once in a while and totally random blog candy posts too (I won some free iTunes songs - it just brightened my day! *grin*)

Gotta run my client is here!!

Papertrey - Simple Alphabet Samples

When I got so sick last month I missed getting my Papertrey samples up in time, and now I have a lot going on in my personal life that's making it a bit harder to get my "older" to-do lists done when I'm focusing on my "now" to-do lists!!

However I do have these 4 samples to share using Papertrey's Simple Alphabet set - I LOVE this set and these samples were SUPER-quick and easy!

I decided to incorporate PT's Everyday Blessings 6x6 papers in all the cards and focus on just them and the stamps.

On this first card I punched out several different sized circles of papers, adhered them to the card front (SU! Kraft cardstock) then used my sewing machine and randomly stitched over them for some added texture.

I stamped the sentiment using the Simple Alphabet set and that was it!

I went with a similar idea for this card but instead used a base of Papertrey White Cardstock and used less circles and this time punched squares of Kraft cardstock.

I used star punches for this card, and adhered them to the front with dimensionals.

And last but not least I used a flower punch and stitched "stems" onto the Kraft cardstock with my sewing machine, then attached the flowers with white brads.

I cut a slit through the spine of the card for the Spring Moss twill then tied the bow to finish it off.

I hope y'all liked them and now I hafta run and make lunch for the girls.

Happy Monday everyone! :o)

EDITED TO ADD:

Here are 2 maore cards I just made this morning (April 29) using a couple of Martha Stewart punches - since I keep them stored separately from all my other punches (their handles make them too big to fit in the drawers all my punches are in) I totally forgot about them when making the other cards!!

Both of these cards were quick and simple - and I think they finished off the "set" quite nicely! *grin*

What's In Your Tin?

I sat down the other night and pulled out Melanie's What's in Your Tin 1 & 2 stamp sets. I got a couple of Altoid Tins from GinaK's store (which are the size that Melanie's sets were made for) and altered them both using some patterned paper and her stamps.

This first one uses the What's In Your Tin 1 set and patterned paper from Basic Grey's Cupcake Collection.

I used the sprinkle paper for the top, stamped the frame with red ink, then stamped the sentiment with blue ink.

I used Stampin' Up! ribbon to line the bottom of the tin (strong double-sided adhesive works great to adhere ribbon and paper to tins like this).

I lined the inside of the tin with some other papers from the Basic Grey set, then filled it with a few suckers.

I think these would make great little gifts or party favors don't you??

For my second tin I wanted a more elegant feminine feel to it.

I used the What's In Your Tin 2 set along with GinaK's Comfort & Peace set.

I stamped the floral image first (I inked it up with markers), then stamped the frame with ColorBox pigment ink and heat embossed it with clear glittery embossing powder.

I sponged the edges of the cardstock with yellow ink before adhering it to the tin lid.

The ribbon wrapped around the base is May Arts.

I lined the inside of the tin with some green Basic Grey paper, then filled it with some fancy chocolates I bought at Costco some time ago (and that I shockingly have some left of!).

Friday Sketch! #15

Happy Friday everyone!

This has to be another quick post as I have some things that need taking care of and errands to do and whatnot and FYI it is STILL SNOWING here!!! AURGH!!!!!!

Anyway here is Friday's Sketch! I kept it simple (well they seem to always be pretty simple I think) and used one of the new GinaK Designs stamp sets: Rupa's King of the Grill stamp set.

I also used my new Basic Grey 6x6 Boxer paper (LOVE this paper - it is ALL manly colors and patterns - it's fabulous!) and paper-pieced part of the bag.

Copic markers were used to color the bag in, and I stamped the golf clubs onto the creamy patterned paper with Navy colored ink.

I also used my Crop-a-dile and punched several holes along the side and added some Making Memories vintage eyelets.

Also this week the All That Scraps Design Team played along so check the All That Scraps blog later today as I will be posting my sample along with all the samples they made too!!

And here's the sketch:

If you upload your card using this sketch to any public galleries please use the keyword AMYRS23 to make it easier to find.

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

Beautiful Butterfly

Just a quick post this morning - my sister is going to be here soon to get her nails done.

This was a card I made not too long ago again using the Techno Pop papers by Autumn Leaves (did I not say y'all will prolly get sick of this paper before I do? And I still have more cards to share using it LOL!) and CC Designs Beautiful Butterflies stamp set.

I used Copic markers to color in the butterfly and then filled in the wings and head with Fruit Punch Stickles.

The scalloped mat was created with a Nestabilities die, and I added a Bazzill flower and a Prima flower (the bauble for the flower center and along the bottom is from Stamping Bella).

The card base is Prism cardstock, and I cut a slit in the spine of the card with a craft knife to thread the May Arts ribbon through.

Gotta run!

This is me right now

Except I don't look as cute after a bunch of cleaning LOL!

I've been working on my "spring" cleaning the past couple of days (I use the term "spring" loosely b/c there is still snow on the ground AND it's snowing AGAIN!! It's like the middle of winter for us right now along with cold and wind - it's just gross! And it's almost the end of April - something is seriously wrong with this weather.....) and doing a bunch of de-cluttering too.

So I thought this image from CC Designs Queenie Cleans set was more than appropriate for today's post!

I stamped her onto white cardstock then used my Copic markers to color her in.

The patterned paper is from the Techno Pop Autumn Leaves line, the felt flowers are from Target (thanks Lauren!), with red primas attached with Black brads, and the ribbon is from either WalMart or Michaels.

I also made a little tag with the same image - I thought it would look cute on a basket full of cleaning supplies (when I actually get a basket that is - right now I keep all that stuff in the highest cupboard over the fridge where the girls can't ever reach it and keep forgetting to get an actual basket to make it easier for ME to get it all out at once!).

Another felt flower from Target-  this one red (she got me a container of like 100 felt flowers for $1!! I SO want Target to come to Canada......), with a couple of Prima flowers, baubles from Stamping Bella and some May Arts (red) and WalMart (green) ribbon.

Oh and I must add that in the time it's taken me to write this post the snow has stopped and the sun is out ans shining - I swear we have had THE weirdest weather this past week! I wish nature would just make up its mind already and stick with SPRING!!!!

Papertrey Anniversary Set - Simple Little Things

OK here are the samples I made using Papertrey's Simple Little Things stamp set!

I copied and poasted a little blurb about this set that was posted here on Nichole's blog:

Many of you have received our FREE anniversary set entitled "Simple Little Things".  This set was earned by dedicated customers who purchased 12 or more stamp sets during our first year (February 2007-February 2008).   The set is Limited edition and will not be for sale.  It is a very special thank-you for those who chose to support us in such a big way!  If you didn't earn this set, do not worry!  We are presenting this promotion again this year!  You have from February 15. 2008 through February 15th, 2009 to purchase 12 sets and earn the 2008 Limited Edition Anniversary set!  If you have any questions about any of this, just contact Customer Service!

I kept all three cards pretty simple and just focused on the stamps. The first one was made with just one stamp from the set - I stamped it in a line with Berry Sorbet ink on Sweet Blush cardstock. I then re-stamped it in black, punched it out and added some light pink bling to the "flowers". I attached the punched circle to a slightly larger punched Berry Sorbet circle with dimensionals, and attached that to the blush strip with even more dimensionals so it really pops! I finished off the card with a strip of black scalloped CS and that was it!

This is my favorite of the three samples - everything just came together perfectly!

I stamped the leaf image onto Spring Moss CS with Spring Moss ink, then matted it with black CS.

The sentiment was stamped onto a scrap of white CS, punched out with SU!'s Word Window punch, then attached to a Prima flower with a big black brad and then attached to the card with a strip of Aqua Mist CS.

This last one was super quick and simple - I stamped the squarish image onto Aqua Mist CS with white pigment ink, scalloped the bottom edge with a corner rounder punch (tutorial on that here), and added some Summer Sunrise Dotted Satin Ribbon and a sentiment and voila!

Don't forget to check out the special Design Team gallery with a bunch more samples using this set (FYI you need to click on each designers gallery to see all their samples as there are more than one!)

BIRD Invasion!!

So several people have asked me if we really did get the 2 feet of snow that was forecast - well I know that some areas of the province did (and even more than that) - and I think we got a good 6 inches or so? It snowed on Saturday night and then melted a bit then snowed almost all day yesterday and now is melting again.

The funny thing is that we have LITERALLY been invaded with BIRDS! Robins mostly - but I've noticed several other types hiding in the trees and bushes around the house. They showed up when it first started snowing and not only have they stayed but TONS more have come to visit!

I took this picture yesterday from my studio window - just a lone robin hanging out in the front yard in all the snow.

And then later on yesterday a bunch more showed up. A lot of the bushes in the front have berries and whatnot on them so they all chowed down and had a feast (and some of them looked like they didn't need it - I tried to get better pics but they would see me in the window and fly off into the bushes - but some of these guys were HUGE! Like it would take both of my hands just to hold one!)

And this is what it looks like now - and man if you could REALLY see them all - the bushes and trees on both sides of the house are FULL of robins - there has to be at least 100 of them in our yard alone!

The girls have had a blast watching them - and they (the birds) keep scaring the heck out of me b/c every hour or so one flies into either my studio window or the living room window and the noise makes me jump - just the last one was HUGE - I only caught a glimpse of the bird but it looked like a hawk (all these birds out front are like a walking buffet for them).

And this little guy has been hanging out for the past couple of days in the tree that's like a foot from the living room window. He just sits on the trunk and will scoot over to the other side where we can't see him if he catches movement in the window. When he thinks it's safe he'll slowly move over to the side here (when inevitably Josie jumps out and bangs on the window like any 2 year old must do LOL!).

So anywho I'm almost scared to open the front door for fear of a massive load of bird poop falling on my head from all these guys!

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

Stay tuned for a little later - I have my samples using Papertrey's Simple Little Things Anniversary set yet to be posted as my camera batteries just dies and I'm recharging them as I type this.

NEW GinaK Stamps

GinaK is releasing 4 super-cute sets - check them out HERE!!

Sorry I don't have any samples yet to share - my sets should be arriving early this week!

AND - if you want to win ALL of the new stamps - then go HERE!!

Store More Stamps

I get a TON of questions from people regarding unmounted rubber stamps.

First off some poeple don't know what they are (this was me a couple of years ago! I just didn't understand how you could have stamps NOT attached to wood blocks??) - an unmounted stamp is either just a plain rubber stamp - or a rubber stamp that has a cling foam backing (similar to the foam on a wood mounted stamp - but instead of baing attached to a wood block the foam has a "cling" side to it that clings to acrylic blocks).

Secondly people ask how do you store them?? Well there are lots of options out there - but for me it's been an issue of finding the right one - and I think that I finally have!

**FYI this is in no way a paid advertisement - I personally use this system and love it and want you all to know about it!**

I saw an add for the "Store More Stamps" system by Little Monkeys on SCS a few months ago.

The name caught my attention so I had to check it out!

I ended up contacting the owner (Susan) to ask a few questions and ordered a Starter Set - which is this box-like thing and 6 inserts with sleeves.

Susan was awesome to deal with and my set shipped out ASAP.

When it got here I got to work filling it and needless to say it didn't take me long!

The inserts are 8x8" and have a cling side to them (best way to describe them is like heavyweight cardstock with a cling side and a plain side) that stamps mounted on EZmount cling to easily.

**You can also store all your clear stamps on these sheets**

I was able to fit ALL the Bella stamps I own (close to 70 *cough* not including all the sentiments) onto the 8 sheets!

All my Bella stamps are on BLACK EZmount - it's thinner than the gray foam and I am liking it way more (the gray EZmount works with this system too - I am just really preferring the black) - and clings like a dream - I can hold an entire sheet vertically and none of the stamps come off :o)

I still have plenty of room in the box for more sheets too so I plan on getting another set of 6 (in the new Spring Colors no less!!) for the rest of my unmounted stamps and they will all be stored in one box! LOVE IT!

For now I have a bunch of my clear stamp sets stored in the box where I can see them and grab them easily.

So all in all I give this product a big thumbs up *grin* - I HIGHLY recommend it and Little Monkeys as they have fabulous customer service too!

If you end up ordering one (or more!) for yourself tell them AmyR over at Prairie Paper and Ink sent you! 

Sunday Q&A

I was wondering if you spray your chipboard letters, with hairspray or something to make the glitter stay put, after you have applied Stampin' Ups fine glitter.  And have you used the chunky glitter for something.  I bought some but I find them almost too chunky to use.  Do you have any suggestions.  Thanks

I never use a sealant on Chipboard - I generally apply glitter either with a strong adhesive (a lot of the time I will apply Mod Podge with a brush to the chipboard then pour on the glitter) or I'll cover the letter with VersaMark (or a slow drying ink) then use Heat & Stick powder - heat it till it melts - then apply the glitter.

For me that's enough to get the glitter to stick really well - and yes a bit will come off here and there - but really when using glitter I find no matter what I do *some* glitter will come off. And really I don't mind!

As for Stampin' Up!'s new chunky glitter - I DID get some but I haven't used it yet! I'll hafta play around with it before posting my thoughts on it.

My question is do you use a Cricut for anything?  And being on a budget, is it better to have the nestabilities or the giga punches for scalloped circles and ovals?

I don't own a Cricut - not to say I don't want one because I do! I think I could have a lot of fun with that machine - it would really come in handy when I'm scrapbooking and whatnot. I just can't afford it right now and there are always other things I want that I end up saving up for (like the Nestabilities dies) instead of saving up for that - but maybe someday......

As far as a budget - yes I think it would be wiser to invest in the Nestabilities dies (providing you already own a die-cutting machine that you can use them with) - as you get a lot more shapes for your $$ as opposed to the punches.

I still use my Marvy punches a lot b/c they're so much easier to just grab and punch out a shape as opposed to getting out my CuttleBug and the plates and dies and whatnot. BUT if I had to choose between my Nesties and my punches - well I'd keep my Nesties!! They are more than worth every $$ in my opinion!

Have you ever pressed real leaves from trees and used them as embellishments on your cards?

No I never have. I used to have a little wooden flower press YEARS ago (I must have been 8 or 9 yearls old I think) and I would FOREVER be picking flowers and pressing and drying them - although for the life of me I can't remember what I ended up doing with them! But as for doing that now I doubt I ever would just because of the time involved and the fact that items like that are SO fragile and being on a card it would only be a matter of time before they got wrecked.

Using pressed flowers and leaves would look quite pretty tho! But I'm gonna stick to the fake ones *wink*.