Prairie Paper & Ink

Sneak Peek - Gingersnaps Spring Thing!

Ick - I'm not feeling that great at the moment. I wasn't feeling good for a while yesterday but I was hoping it was just a passing thing (or something I ate!) but now I'm feeling ill again. A flu bug is going around our area again and I am trying to avoid it - I'm supposed to go to the city tomorrow to celebrate a friend's birthday and I will be really upset if I'm too sick to go! *keeping fingers crossed*

Anywho tho here is another sample I made - this time using CC Designs soon-to-be-released Gingersnaps Spring Thing set - seriously just OOZING the cuteness factor:

   

I was just tickled with myself as this card came together - it turned out SO cute!! The duck, puddle, tulips and butterfly are all from the Spring Thing set, I drew in the sidewalk with a black marker (I took inspiration from Lauren on that one), and the sentiment is from my Friend Sentiments set (yes again - I've been using this set on every card I've made lately - so y'all just might get sick of it before it's even released! ACK!!).

For the main image all I did was stamp the puddle, then I drew in the sidewalk using a ruler and a black marker.

Once I did that I stamped one of the tulip images from the set twice along the sidewalk and stamped the butterfly in the air.

The duck was stamped and colored separately then cut out and adhered to the main image with dimensionals.

I added Stardust Stickles to the butterfly, tulips and puddle.

The sentiment was stamped then punched out with a circle punch.

I was originally going to mat it with pink cardstock and a lighter pink scalloped CS but changed my mind and used yellows instead - I was thinking it sorta looked like the sun that way - a cheerful sun with a sentiment in the middle LOL! The scalloped circle was done with SU!'s scalloped circle punch.

I added some May Arts ribbon (this is one of my FAVORITE ribbons - I love the color and the texture - and EVERY time I go to re-order more it's sold out!) - I used my MM Ribbon Slot punch to punch a hole in the main image to thread the ribbon through before tying it in a bow.

All the colored cardstock is by DoodleBug. I used my Martha Stewart border punch to create the punched floral edge on the light blue CS.

On the inside I layered the 2 cardstocks similar to how I had them on the front, and added a strip of the same ribbon.

I didn't want to toss the punched pink circles I had made so I stamped the "Forever Friends" sentiment onto white CS, and another butterfly from the Spring Thing set in pink then matted it with the pink circle and scalloped circle and that was it :o)

 

STAMPS: CC Designs Gingersnaps Spring Thing set, AmyR Stamps Friend Sentiments set.

CS: CC Designs White, DoodleBug Textured Cardstocks in katydid, pistachio, buttercream, bumblebee, princess and bubble gum.

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Pretty in Pink, Copic Markers, Black marker.

ACCESSORIES: Ruler, Stardust Stickles, Circle Punches, Scalloped Circle Punch, May Arts Ribbon, MM Ribbon Slot Punch, Dimensionals, Martha Stewart Border Punch.

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You can check out the rest of the DT samples as well as leave a comment to be entered in to win the Spring Thing set HERE <------click!

Same goes for my set Friend Sentiments - more samples and a chance to win HERE <-----click!

And of course there is Diane's set Mushroom Friends - more DT samples and your chance to win HERE <------click!

Sneak Peek - Cookie Crumbs Mushroom Friends

I'm already a day behind with the peeks - bear with me!! I will have another post up later today with another sample.

My creative mojo is on overdrive right now - an AWESOME thing - but not having the TIME to make everything I want is driving me nuts!!

Stay tuned over the next few days and keep checking in - I've been making LOTS and will be posting as often as I can!

Anywho yesterday was the peek for Diane's soon-to-be-released Mushroom Friends set - SO cute:

 

This is one of three main images in the set - isn't it cute??

    I stamped the image onto white cardstock and colored it it with Copic markers (you can click on the pictures to get a larger image).

I used my Labels 2 dies to cut out and emboss the main image before sponging on some light blue ink for the "sky" then edged the CS with a dark purple ink.

The sentiment is from my Friends Sentiments set - I stamped it then cut it out with the smallest Labels 2 die then sponged it like I did with the main image.

The Kiwi Kiss (SU) cardstock was run through my CuttleBug with the Forest Branches folder.

I added the ribbon, then some primas (I colored one of them with a Copic to get it to the color I wanted), and mini brads (DoodleBug).

 On the inside of the card I lined it with light blue cardstock then added another strip of Kiwi Kiss embossed with the Forest Branches folder.

I cut another labels 2 from white CS and adhered that, and added a Prima flower. To "finish" the center I just punched a small circle from white CS and adhered it with a glue dot so that it would look good but still be flat.

The "Forever Friends" sentiment is also from my Friend Sentiments set.

 

STAMPS: Cookie Crumbs Mushroom Friends set, AmyR Stamps Friend Sentiments set.

CS: White, Bashful Blue, Elegant Eggplant, Kiwi Kiss (all SU!).

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Bashful Blue, Elegant Eggplant (both SU!), Copic Markers.

ACCESSORIES: Spellbinders Labels 2 Dies, Ranger White Gel Pen, Sponge Daubers, Ribbon, Prima Flowers, Brads, Forest Branches A2 Embossing Folder, Circle Punch, Dimensionals.

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Don't forget to check out the DT samples with this set HERE <----click! You can also leave a comment on THAT post to be entered in to win the set!

You can also win my Friend Sentiments set by leaving a comment on the ATS Sneak Peek post HERE <-----click!

I'll be back later with another post!

Sample for Friday Sketch! #51

**This is post #3 for today so be sure to scroll down and check out the other posts!**

Scroll down to the post below to see the sketch.

 

I just recently (yesterday in fact LOL) got this Rachel Anne Miller stamp in an order and had to ink it up ASAP. I actually chose this specific sketch to use for the Friday Sketch (it's based on a card I made sometime last year) so that I could use this stamp!

I stamped the My Little Friends stamp onto white cardstock then colored it in with my Copics.

  I used a clear and a lemon Spica glitter pen on parts of the image - something that is REALLY hard to pick up on a photo!

If you click on the picture you can get a pop-up of a larger image and you should be able to see the shimmer - I added it to the flowers, the bow and cap on her sleeve, her hair etc etc.

The sentiment is from my soon-to-be-released Friend Sentiments set (March 2nd!!) - I stamped it onto DoodleBug cardstock then cut it out with my double ended tag die and just cut off the one end.

The patterned paper is from the Basic Grey Urban Prairie pack. The ribbon was from my stash and the brads are DoodleBug mini brads.

For the inside of the card I lined it with more of the yellow patterned paper then added the remaining bit of the green floral paper to the bottom.

The sentiment is also from my Friend Sentiments set - I stamped it onto a scrap of the same DB cardstock used on the front then rounded the 2 corners before adhering it to the inside.

 

STAMPS: Rachel Anne Miller My Little Friends Lily Stamp, AmyR Stamps Friend Sentiments set.

CS: CC Designs White, Brown, Aqua Mist, DB Pink, Basic Grey Urban Prairie Patterned Paper.

INK: Tuxedo Memento Black, Copic Markers.

ACCESSORIES: Spica Glitter Pens, Corner Rounder Punch, Ribbon, Tag Dies (Spellbinders), Brads.

Friday Sketch! #51

Here's the sketch:

- keyword to use when uploading to public galleries is AMYRS60 (here's why)

- link directly to your creation when posting a link to your card - why you ask? Check out this link for more info.

-you are welcome to save this sketch to your computer (right click then save to your computer) and upload it to your blog post along with a direct link to this post with credit given to me for the sketch :o)

- have your card done and linked before next Thursday at 12pm noon EST in order to have it included with the participants links - other than that there is no time limits - this is all for fun! (note the time change - it's taking me a lot longer now to get these posts up so I'll be starting them earlier in the future!)

- ANYONE can participate - you can use whatever products/stamps/embellies you want - sky's the limit :)

- I WILL remove any links I deem inappropriate and/or not post them with next Friday's sketch (self-promotional, spam, card not following sketch in any way etc etc etc).

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If you'd like to display this badge on your sidebar check out THIS POST for the html code!!

I can't wait to see what y'all create! I'll be back later with my sample :)

Roundup - Friday Sketch! #50 Submissions

Here are 10 random participants from Friday Sketch! #50 - click on the pictures to be taken to the creator's blog/gallery page with the full image and all the details

                 

AmyR Stamps - Info

I've had a lot of questions about the stamp sets I've released at All That Scraps and even tho I've answered them here and there throughout my posts I thought I'd share a video I just took - hopefully getting to SEE them in real life will help answer any questions!

It took me 3 tries to get this video on to YouTube - it kept acting up and the sound was all off so HOPEFULLY I got it right this time!!

Links:

All my stamp sets are here: AmyR Stamps

The scissors I used in the video: Tonic/Tim Holtz Scissors

The acrylic blocks I showed in the video: Small Medium Large

SNEAK PEEK - AmyR Stamps Friend Sentiments

I'm releasing another stamp set on March 2nd via All That Scraps - this time a sentiment set with Friends/Friendship as the theme!

I am REALLY pleased with how this set turned out - and I hope y'all will love it as much as I do!

Here's the first sample I've made with it (this is a 4.5" square card by the way):

 

I HAD to pull out my CCD Bear Hugs set to use with my new Friend Sentiments set.

I stamped the sitting bear ontowhite cardstock then colored him in with these Copics (you can click on the pictures to get a bigger view) before highlighting spots with my white gel pen.

I used my paper snips to cut him out then got to work on the rest of the card.

I stamped the sentiment from my soon-to-be-released Friend Sentiments stamp onto posie pink DoodleBug cardstock then punched it out with my marvy extra jumbo scalloped heart punch (fits perfectly!).

The Kraft CS was punched with my Martha Stewart Scalloped Lace punch (YES!!! I FINALLY got my hands on the darn thing - and I LOVE it).

I punched out another heart (mega) from DB bubble gum CS and a giga heart from some DB patterned paper.

I added some May Arts wide dotted grosgrain, and narrow pink grosgrain from my stash along with some DB mini brads.

 On the inside of the card I just lined it with more Kraft CS, added a strip of the posie pink (punched with my MS lace punch of course!!) then added another strip of the bubblegum CS.

The sentiment is also from my new Friend Sentiments set - I stamped it in black then added the patterned heart that I punched with my marvy punch and that was it!

 

STAMPS: AmyR Stamps Friend Sentiment (to be released March 2 at allthatscraps.com), CC Designs Bear Hugs.

CS: CCD White, DoodleBug Posie Pink and Bubblegum Pink, Kraft, DoodleBug Patterned Paper.

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers.

ACCESSORIES: Ribbon, Marvy Scalloped Heart Punches, Martha Stewart Scalloped Lace Punch, DB Mini Brads, Dimensionals, White Gel Pen. 

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Would you like to win this set??? If so head on over to the ATS Sneak Peek blog post <-----click! and leave a comment to be entered in to win!

Badge for the Friday Sketch!

I was asked if I could make a badge for those that would like one for my Friday Sketch!'s - so here it is:

 

I don't know HTML code to save my life - but if anyone out there does and is willing to help me out I'd love you forever!! LOL

I'd like a code that I can post here that you can just copy and paste onto your sidebar that will display the badge and will hyperlink to my Friday Sketch! section. I can't for the life of me figure that out on my own - thus the call for help!! :o)

Until I can get that figured out y'all can copy/paste this badge and for those that know how you can link it back to here: http://prairiepaperandink.typepad.com/amyr/sketches/

EDITED TO ADD:

OK this SHOULD work - Erin sent me the code (and it worked for me! - see my badge in my sidebar on the left??) and I copied and pasted it here. If you copy and paste this onto YOUR blog sidebar the badge above should show up and link back to my Sketch category on my blog:

<p> <a href="http://prairiepaperandink.typepad.com/amyr/sketches/" target="new"> <img alt="prairiepaperandink.typepad.com" src="http://prairiepaperandink.typepad.com/.a/6a00d834515aa769e2011168975d88970c-800wi"/></a></p>

I also want to thank Hope who e-mailed me the code as well. You guys rock - I seriously couldn't have figured this out on my own!!! ((((HUGS))))

Scissors

I was asked a question about what scissors I use and which ones I recommend.

Since I own several pairs, and they all have different uses I just did a quick video about them rather than take pictures and type everything up - so here is all my blah blah blah about my scissors!:

A note about the KAI scissors - I mentioned that I had the SU Craft & Rubber Scissors and they went dull after a couple of years. This is true - I think about 2 years or so of use dulled them - but I cut a good couple of hundred stamp sets out with them. They are nice scissors - but I most definitely prefer the Tonic/Tim Holtz ones to the KAI/SU Craft & Rubber Scissors.

Anywho tho here is the link to the KAI's on ATS's website: 6" Rubber Stamping Shears - I didn't know ATS carried those 'till just now as I was shopping browsing this morning. ;o)

Also here is the link to the Tim Holtz Tonic scissors I have: Tonic Scissors

and the Bloom Titanium ones - they come in two different colors: Blue/Purple and Red/Orange

I can't find the Martha Stewart scissors on the MarthaStewartCrafts.com site to link to them (I can rarely find what I'm looking for on that site!) - but like I said in the video I got them at Michael's with a 40% off coupon - they come in a nice little brown box (that I stashed somewhere to alter then never did of course) and seriously are really nice scissors.

One last tidbit - I have Fiskars scissors - the orange handled ones that are the same size as the Martha Stewart ones. I prefer the MS ones - they cut nicer honestly! And they feel better in my hand than the Fiskars ones do.

However I did see some nice Fiskars ones at Costco that I THINK are titanium ones? I have wanted to try them out but they come as a set of two (or three I can't remember) and I really don't need any more scissors! But if anyone has them let me know what you think of them! I technically could get them and if I didn't like them I could return them but I rarely get to Costco anymore so buying and returning things there is more of a pain than it's worth.

Anywho I hope this helps anyone that was wondering! :o)

So Cute...

You can click on the picture and you'll be taken to Jennifer's blog - I saw her card today using my Warm & Cozy set and it's SO cute - so I had to share it with the rest of you!

The full picture of the card along with all the info is in her blog post (click on the picture!)

Gotta run - hopefully I'll have another card or somethin' to post later today. I was working on a couple of videos that I'll be posting on here sometime this week and that takes a TON of time - so I have to get back to finishing them!

**Note - the ribbon from my blog candy HAS been claimed by the winner.

I haven't forgotten about showing y'all my new studio - things are pretty much done and now it's just a matter of finding the time to take pictures and all that and getting the post(s) on here. It WILL get done!

Later! :o)

You Can Deal With Anything...

 

I just finished this today using the sketch I posted on Friday. I really liked how that sketch turned out so I wanted to make another card with it!

This card uses my Wardrobe and Wardrobe Sentiments sets along with my Warm & Cozy set.

I stamped the boots from my Wardrobe set onto this houndstooth paper from the Basic Grey Sultry pack.

I then cut them out and used a pink Copic marker to fill in the soles and tops of them.

The oval is from the A Muse clear oval set - I stamped it with ColorBox Ice Blue Chalk ink wanting to get a "puddle" look for it.

The clear dots are rain dots by Cloud 9 (I used them on this card too) - they look pink in the link on the ATS site - but in real life they're clear!

I used my Houndstooth embossing folder on the Kiwi Kiss (SU!) cardstock, and my eyelet border punch (also from SU!) on the pale blue CS.

The sentiment is from my Warm & Cozy set - I stamped it on 2 lines so that I could punch it out with a circle punch before attaching it to the card with a brad and a prima flower underneath it.

The ribbon is from Michaels - I got it over a year ago and don't think they sell it anymore (sadly - it's so nice!).

On the inside of the card I stamped the sentiment from Wardrobe Sentiments, added another pair of boots paper pieced from the same Sultry paper, and some ribbon and Kiwi Kiss CS and that was it!

I gotta run as I have a nail client showing up in a few minutes! Later peeps! :o)

 

STAMPS: AmyR Stamps Wardrobe and Wardrobe Sentiments and Warm & Cozy Stamp Sets, A Muse Clear Oval Set.

CS: White, Kiwi Kiss, Soft Sky Textured and Plain, Kraft (all SU!), Basic Grey Sultry Patterned Paper.

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, ColorBox Ice Blue Chalk Ink, Copic Markers.

ACCESSORIES: Cloud 9 Clear Rain Dots, Dimensionals, Ribbon, CuttleBug Houndstooth Embossing Folder, Circle Punch, Prima, Mini Brad, SU! Eyelet Border Punch.

What a Cake....

 

Isn't it awful??????????? (this is the local DQ's idea of freehanding a "princess" cake at the last minute - I dumped on the heart shaped confetti to kind of disguise the ugliness)

*Note to self - don't leave things to the last minute and don't assume that other people are going to do things that you yourself should take care of!*

Nevertheless Veronica's 6th birthday party yesterday went well - the cake was still good, she got spoiled with presents (more Barbies! her and Josie have been playing all morning with them), and enjoyed herself. Her birthday is actually on Wednesday so I'll be serving cupcakes with supper and we can have a little family celebration then :o)

I've wanted to take a cake decorating class for a long time now - after this thing me thinks it's time to start making all the birthday cakes myself! LOL

Two for One

Well I've got another Bella card to share with y'all today - and it ended up being two cards b/c I couldn't make up my mind with the first attempt so I re-did it!

Here's the first attempt:

I had stamped i-can't-see-a-thing-abella onto white cardstock, masked her feet and stamped one of my A Muse Ovals (tutorial on that here).

I then colored her in with Copics.

I went with orange, green and pink as the main color combo - and decided to follow out the circle theme (from the balloon).

I don't think it's a horrible card per-say - just has WAY too much going on!

I got a little too happy with my Swiss Dots and Spots and Dots embossing folders and circle punches!

I do love the texture of the cardstock (DoodleBug by Bazzill) mixed with the embossed dots but it still just looked WAY too busy to me!

SO.........I pulled the main image off and the ribbon and re-did the card:

 

This time I went much simpler - left the base just white, added the ribbon (May Arts), some DoodleBug mini brads, and switched the sugarcoated brad that held the "sentiment flag" from pink to white.

Personally I am now liking both versions - but the simpler one allows you to focus on the main image rather than all the embossed circles!

I used Fruit Punch Stickles on her shirt and had, and my clear glaze pen on the balloon to make it all shiney.

The sentiment is from A Muse (not sure if it's still available anymore or not) - I stamped it onto the DB cardstock, trimmed it with my paper cutter then cut the flag end with scissors.

I curled it a bit before attaching it then used some red-line tape to hold it the way I wanted (I don't plan on mailing this so I don't need to worry about it getting flattened).

On the inside of the card I just inked up the balloon and stamped it 3 times then colored it in with the Copics. I added a strip of DB cardstock (scalloped with my SU! punch) and more May Arts ribbon and that was it!

 

STAMPS:  i-can't-see-a-thing-abella by Stamping Bella, sentiment by A Muse, Clear Oval Set by A Muse.

CS: White, DoodleBug colored CS.

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers, Palette Green.

ACCESSORIES: Ribbon, Brads, Stickles, Clear Glaze Pen, Dimensionals, Scallop Edge Punch (SU!).

Enabler Alert!

I just got this e-mail:

All That Scraps C.C. Designs Stamp Sale

 

Between now and Sunday February 22nd all C.C. Designs Stamps, Digi Images, Ribbon, Stamp Ink Pads & Reinkers,and Brads are 15% off retail.

 

Stamps

 

Digi Images

 

Ribbon

 

Brads

 

Stamp Ink Pads & Reinkers

 

 

The discount is already taken on the items.

 

no rainchecks or backorders

 

 

That sale includes my oh-so-favorite May Arts ribbon - so stock up if you can!!

 

Happy Shopping!!! *grin*

 

 

Friday Sketch! #50

Here it is! I based it on the card I posted yesterday - Hello Chica!

- keyword to use when uploading to public galleries is AMYRS59 (here's why)

- link directly to your creation when posting a link to your card - why you ask? Check out this link for more info.

-you are welcome to save this sketch to your computer (right click then save to your computer) and upload it to your blog post along with a direct link to this post with credit given to me for the sketch :o)

- have your card done and linked before next Thursday at 12pm noon EST in order to have it included with the participants links - other than that there is no time limits - this is all for fun! (note the time change - it's taking me a lot longer now to get these posts up so I'll be starting them earlier in the future!)

- ANYONE can participate - you can use whatever products/stamps/embellies you want - sky's the limit :)

- I WILL remove any links I deem inappropriate and/or not post them with next Friday's sketch (self-promotional, spam, card not following sketch in any way etc etc etc).