Prairie Paper & Ink

SNEAK PEEK - Sugarpleum Beachies

It took me all morning to get all my photos uploaded and edited - my computer is really starting to drive me nuts!

Anywho I've got a couple of cards to show y'all using the soon-to-be-released Sugarplum Beachies set (along with the new AmyR Stamps Beach Sentiments set!) **remember the First Monday of Each Month is always new stamp release day at All That Scraps**:

 

I was so excited to be able to pull out my Flair Hit the Beach papers to use with these new sets - I haven't used these papers since last year and STILL love them!

I cut up this paper and used the "Island Girl" part to frame the main image of the card. I then made the sand from SU! Creamy caramel cardstock (freehand cut, sponged and spritzed with a brown marker).

I stamped Emma onto CCD White cardstock and colored her in with Copic markers.

I cut her out (video on how I do that here) and adhered her with dimensionals.

The gems are A Muse mini twinkle stickers.

I added Primas from my stash, and ribbon from My Little Ribbon Shop.

The inside was lined with more patterned paper, and the sentiment from the Beach Sentiments set was stamped onto a scrap of white cardstock. I cut it out with an oval nestie, left the die in place and sponged on SU Pink Passion ink before adhering the oval to the inside of the card.

 

STAMPS: CC Designs Sugarplums Beachies, AmyR Stamps Beach Sentiments.

CS: CC Designs Copic Quality White, SU! Pink Passion, Creamy Caramel and Gable Green, Flair Hit the Beach Patterned Paper.

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers, SU! Creamy Caramel, Green Galore, Pink Passion.

ACCESSORIES: A Muse Mini Twinkle Stickers, Ribbon, Dimensionals, Sponge Daubers, SU! Photo Corner Punch, Primas, Brads.

 

*shock* I'm posting more than one card??? I KNOW! I actually made four cards with this set - the other two I'll share over the weekend.

This one uses the sitting Emma image from the Sugarplum Beachies set along with another sentiment from my Beach Sentiments set.

I did the same thing with this  - cutting out one of the images from this Flair patterned paper and using it as the background for the main image.

And I had to make more "sand" - it's quick and fun and EASY so why not??

I used more Primas and brads from my stash, added a few pink twinkle stickers to her bathing cap, and finished the inside with more "sand" and that was it!

Don't forget to check out the other DT samples HERE <----click!

 

STAMPS: CC Designs Sugarplums Beachies set, AmyR Stamps Beach Sentiments set.

CS: CC Designs Copic Quality White, SU! Tempting Turquoise, Creamy Caramel, Flair Hit the Beach Patterned Papers.

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers, SU! Creamy Caramel, Close To Cocoa.

ACCESSORIES: Dimensionals, Sponge Daubers, Twinkle Stickers, Ribbon, Primas, Brads, SU! Word Window Punch.

 

Sneak Peeks

Sneak Peeks started today on the All That Scraps blog. First off is a new set by Diane called Tilly - you can check out the DT samples with this set here.

There will be new posts every day leading up to the first Monday of the month (May 4th) when all the new sets will be released (one of which is mine *grin*).

Don't forget that you can leave comments on all the sneak peek posts on the ATS blog and be entered in to win the sets being peeked!!

I'll be posting samples too so stay tuned!! 

Grrrrrr

I had this post typed up this morning before lunch and lost the whole thing when my 'net froze up on me. I HATE having to re-type everything up and basically repeat myself! It's so frustrating!

ANYWHO - here is the finished card using the bella image I spritzed with my Copic markers:

 

This bella is underwatergoddess-ABELLA (say that 3 times fast!) from Stamping Bella.

I stamped her onto white CCD cardstock, masked her (and left the nestie oval die in place as well) and spritzed on two different Copic colors (video here). I then removed the mask and colored the image.

I used 4 different Copic Spica glitter pens to glam up the image - again it's SO hard to pick up the shimmer on camera - but SO pretty in real life!

The sentiment comes with this bella image, so I stamped that onto a scrap of CS, cut it out with a circle nestie die, then spritzed it like the main image.

The patterned paper is from Cosmo Cricket's Snorkel Collection.

Ribbon is May Arts satin.

The grape juice baubles are from Stamping Bella - I used teeny dots of Mono Multi to attach them.

**and yeah I'm starting to feel like my mojo is coming back! Yeah baby! (LOL)**

 

STAMPS: underwatergoddess-ABELLA and sentiment from Stamping Bella.

CS: CC Designs Copic Quality White, SU! Barely Banana, Green Galore and Elegant Eggplant, Cosmo Cricket Snorkel Patterned Paper.

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers.

ACCESSORIES: Oval and Circle Nestabilities Dies, Ribbon, Dimensionals, Spica Glitter Pens, Baubles.

Using Copics with SU!'s Color Spritzer

Check out what I just discovered!!:

I'll have the card to share using that Bella image from the video once I get it done. Then I can take a close-up of it so y'all can see it better.

I was totally stoked tho that it worked. I am getting a couple more air cans for my airbrush (I'd LOVE to get a compressor at some point but untill I can find one for cheap....) but until I get them I can totally use my color spritzer with my Copics! Woot woot!! LOL (yes I know I'm a total nerd *grin*)

{celebrate}

Yeah the mojo is still struggling - it may not "show" when y'all see the finishde project - but trust me it's taking me forever to make anything and I'm just not feeling it!

That said I made this card for my latest Friday sketch. Normally once I've got the layout done the rest of the card can be whipped up in no time - not so for this one! I struggled with the color combo, with the embellishments, and generally just kept fiddling till I was happy with it:

 

I pulled out an "old" Bella stamp (in fact I think this was one of the first ones I purchased back when Stamping Bella first started well over 2 years ago!) - curly surpriseabella.

Once I decided on what colors I wanted to use I stamped the image onto white cardstock then colored her in with my Prismacolors and blended them with Gamsol.

I used my Clear Spica glitter pen to dress up the image - pretty subtle shimmer and SO hard to pick up on camera! I likes it tho *grin*

The ribbon is from My Little Ribbon Shop.

I used a big prima flower and added a bazzill flower (that I tinted with a Copic marker as it was too light) for the sketch and attached them to the card with a big Making Memories brad from my stash.

The {celebrate} sentiment is from my Birthday Sentiments set. The patterned paper is from the My Little Shoebox collection.

On the inside of the card I added more of the striped paper then stamped another sentiment from my Birthday Sentimetns set, I punched it out with SU's Key Tag punch, matted it with some black CS and that's all folks *wink*.

 

STAMPS: Curly Surpriseabella from Stamping Bella, AmyR Stamps Friend Sentiments.

CS: CCD White, SU! Black and Pink Pirouette, My Little Shoebox patterned paper.

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black.

ACCESSORIES: Prismacolor Pencils, Clear Spica Glitter Pen, Prima and Bazzill Flower, MM Brad, Ribbon, Dimensionals, SU! Key Tag punch, Small Corner Rounder Punch.

Just Because...

**FYI I have not missed all the comments, e-mails etc regarding coloring with Copics and watercoloring and what inks and cardstock I would recommend for both. I've been typing up that post here and there for a while now, and when I get a free bit of time I am going to see if I can get it all done to post. It will be easier for me to put it all into one post rather than answer multiple comments/questions/e-mails!

I just wanted to post this FYI now so that no one will think I'm ignoring you! :o)**

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Woot woot I got that card DONE!!

 

After cutting out the owl image I had messed up earlier I cut an oval from white cardstock using my nesties die.

This time I made sure to clean the die off with rubbing alcohol before putting it back in place and sponging the ink onto the cardstock.

I adhered the Rachel Anne Miller Hoo Hoo There Owl stamp (I've been wanting this one for FOREVER and it always sells out super-fast at ATS. I finally got my hands on it when placing my latest order so YAY!) using dimensionals.

I cut a scalloped rectangle using another nestie from SU! Basic Grey cardstock and adhered the oval to that.

The rest of the card was kept pretty simple.

The patterned paper is SU!'s Walk in the Park paper from the Occasions Mini.

The flowers are Making Memories - they came in a pack with matching buttons (so of course I had to buy them) that I got from my LSS sometime last year?

Ribbon is May Arts.

The sentiment is from my Love Sentiments set. I stamped that in black and left the inside of the card blank.

I lined the inside of the card with the same patterned paper used on the front and left it at that.

I'm still not feeling like my mojo is back but FINALLY finishing this card feels so good! I'm so OCD about everything that I just couldn't set it aside and try to work on something else. Every time I try and do that I just end up feeling more overwhelmed and get even less done. So yeah that's me!!

 

STAMPS: Rachel Anne Miller Hoo Hoo There stamp (Stampavie), AmyR Stamps Love Sentiments.

CS: CCDesigns Copic Quality White, SU! Basic Grey, Bashful Blue and Walk in the Park DS Paper.

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers.

ACCESSORIES: Dimensionals, Oval and Scalloped Rectangle Nestabilities Dies, MM Flowers, Button, Thread, Ribbon.

Friday Sketch! (April 24/09)

Sorry this is so late guys. I am in a serious funk!! I couldn't come up with a new sketch for the life of me - then I remembered that every once in a while I was going to go back and "re-do" an old sketch - so that saved me for today!

I also decided that I'm not going to number the Friday Sketch! post titles anymore - it's not necessary. All that matters is the keyword I include with each sketch for those that upload to public galleries like Splitcoast and whatnot (making it easier to find them).

And since I'm totally OCD and have to do things in order here's my re-take of AMYRS2 - you can check out the original post HERE <------click!.

Here's the new sketch!:

- keyword to use when uploading to public galleries is AMYRS2.

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

-not sure HOW to link provide a DIRECT link? Check out this post by Kristina Werner - she explains how to with her video (it's meant for her color inspiration challenges but it's the same idea) - check it out HERE <----click!

-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 10pm EST in order to have it included with the participants links - other than that there is no time limits - this is all for fun!

- 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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Can't wait to see what you guys come up with!!!

The links are now closed for this sketch. Feel free to add yours in the comments - and be sure to check out the current Friday Sketch!

AmyR's Friday Sketch! Participants

1. Robbie 2. Sue W. 3. Gretchen R. 4. Candice - Inkurue 5. Allison Cope 6. Donna MacDonald 7. Lisa V 8. Rachel A 9. CheriG

10. Kelly Schelske 11. Tammy Fielder 12. Laura (scrapnextras) 13. Kimberly L 14. Kimberly L (2) 15. erica 16. Dannie Graves 17. StephC 18. Joan Ottevanger

19. Miri K. 20. Maureen W. 21. Denise Cravens 22. Verda 23. Renée 24. Karine 25. Cat Spicer 26. Elizabeth S. 27. Nancy Grant

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AURGH!!!!!

Yeah so the card I was working on for how many days now has just got even MORE frustrating.

I decided to cut the main image with one of my rectangle nestabilities dies - that was all fine.

Then I decided I wanted to sponge on some pale blue/green palette ink around the edges of the image - leaving the die in place. Usually a snap to do and a nice touch.......

Well it didn't turn out that way:

 

When it started to look all dirty and PINK I was a little shocked.

Didn't take me long to figure out I must have used this die when AIRBRUSHING with my Copics - so there was pink copic ink all over it - and I couldn't see it b/c of the color of the die.

But sponging on the Palette ink picked up the copic ink all over the die and smudged it onto the image.

That Q-tip is what I used to clean off the die - just soak it in rubbing alcohol and run it over the die - something I SHOULD have done before I started sponging.

Obviously if you use your nesties often as "masks" when sponging then it's best to clean them off first (if you use them JUST for airbrushing then it's moot - but using sponges will pick up all that ink).

And trust me it looks worse in real life. I haven't tossed the image but it will NOT work on the card I was fiddling with.

So yeah hopefully this tid-bit helps someone else out before they wreck whatever they're working on.

I'm gonna cut this image out and see what I can do with it - I HATE tossing something I've spent time on coloring!!

Anyone seen my mojo?

Apparently with everything I've had going on lately I've lost my mojo. I've been working on the SAME card for I don't know how many days now and nothing is working. So instead of continuing to attampt to MAKE it work (sometimes that works for me - but right now it's not!) I'm gonna go do other things and pray I get some creative inspiration SOON!

On another note - I've been reading all the comments and e-mails regarding my videos - I am really glad that you guys are liking them! They're simple I know - and not the greatest quality (I just use my little Casio digi camera as I don't have an actual video camera), but I like doing them to be able to share and show things that are more difficult to show and explain with a post and pictures! So yes I definitely plan on continuing to post videos as I have time :o)

Lemme know if there's anything you'd like for me to do a video on, or something you'd like to see "in real life" - I have all kinds of punches, papers, stamps, ribbons etc etc etc and was planning on doing videos every once in a while that show JUST different products and whatnot as I know for me when I see something I like online and order it it can be totally different than what I thought when it arrives on the doorstep!

K I'll be back hopefully really soon with somethin' creative to share!

Liquid Adhesive VIDEO

K I said I'd do another video about the other adhesives I use - it will actually have to be 2 more videos as this one almost ran too long as it is (so I like to talk - hopefully y'all don't mind it!) and I have other types that I use for other things.

This one is about my three favorite liquid adhesives - I use them all the time and haven't yet found anything better (I said yet b/c you just never know. But up to know these are my "go-to" glues and I don't use anything else for liquid glue):

I put the link to the glues in my sidebar but I'll post them here as well:

Tombow Mono Multi: You can get it HERE at All That Scraps. You can also get it through your Stampin' Up! demo.

The Quickie Glue Pen and Glossy Accents I also got at ATS HERE and HERE. I'm sure if you do a search or check out your LSS (local scrapbook store) you will find them as well as the Mono Multi. They're pretty easy to find.

That yellow rubber adhesive remover I use in the video is made by Zyron. I got mine through Stampin' Up! (they still carry it) years ago. It will literally last FOREVER. When it starts getting gummed up on the edges with adhesive you just trim off the yucky parts with scissors and you're good to go.

I hope this helps! :o)

Tweet-ie Flowers

What a weekend. I can barely remember what I did on Saturday but I spent all day yesterday doing laundry and cleaning the house - I had the house all to myself and it was SO nice *grin*.

Tim's parents take the girls on Sundays for church and to play at their house and whatnot and yesterday Tim had a bowling tournament in the city so he was gone all day. I was able to do all the laundry (even got it all folded and put away which I really detest doing), and some cleaning and actually ENJOY a clean house for an hour or two before the girls got home and started tossing toys everywhere.

The weather is finally really nice here (tho I've heard rumors that it might get yucky by the weekend - I'm choosing to ignore that tho) so I spent another couple of hours raking leaves in the front yard. I FINALLY finished the front yard after a WEEK of raking (there are a ton of leaves!) and get to start on the back this week - yay me. I do love the fact that we have a lot of trees on our property - so nice and great for privacy - not great for all the raking.

Friday was the review-preview day of the Tweet-ies set on the ATS blog. I actually made this card on Friday but didn't get around to posting it 'till now:

 

I love the Tweet-ies set. Their goofy eyes and ridiculously long eyelashes are just adorable in my opinion!

I stamped the Tweet-ie in the wagon image onto CCD White cardstock then colored it in with my Copics.

I used the Colorless Blender to dot the flower pot and push away the ink to make the polka dots.

TIP - the Colorless Blender does NOT "take away" ink. Rather it acts more like a repellant and pushes the ink away/and or deeper into the cardstock. When you use it in a light circular motion over a colored image it will "blend" them together more as it's spreading the ink and pushing them together deeper into the cardstock. (I'm still not Copic Certified but this is something I've learned over time with use).

I used a square nesties die to cut the image out then left it in place and sponged some pale palette ink around the image. When I removed the die it left the nice crisp white border.

A white gel pen was used to add some highlights then a added a mini prima flower with a mini brad to the stamped image.

The patterned paper is fromOctober Afternoon's Weathervane line. I ordered it a month or two ago along with a TON (literally - I went a little nuts on patterned paper and when the box arrived it weighed SO much - the patterned papers alone were over an inch thick!!) of other new papers and didn't really take a good look at it till I made this card. Now that I've used it tho do I ever *heart* it. Especially the cloud pattern - it's adorable!

I went a little out of my comfort zone and actually cut around some of the clouds before attaching them to the card. I had originally just cut it straight and really didn't like the look of it so I pulled out my scissors and started cutting. I added another layer behind the first and was so pleased with the results!

Anywho the sentiment is from my Friends Sentiments set. I stamped it onto a scrap of cardstock, cut it out with one of the double ended tag dies, then left the die in place and sponged ink onto it.

I think all my blabbing about the card took longer than the actual making of!!

 

STAMPS: CC Designs Tweet-ies, AmyR Stamps Friend Sentiments.

CS: CC Designs White, SU! Going Grey and Taken with Teal, October Afternoon Weathervane Patterned Paper.

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers, PT Aqua Mist and Summer Sunrise.

ACCESSORIES: Square and Double Ended Tag Nestabilities Dies, DoodleBug Mini Brads, Prima Flowers, Ribbon (Michaels), White Gel Pen.

 

Lookie What I Got!!!

I had to run downtown this afternoon to get some groceries, and when I was walking by the local hardware store I saw these in the window!:

 

AND - they were only 14.99CA each! I think they're meant for ice/drinks as they each had a little chain attached to the handle with a funky bottle opener, so I took those off and filled the one with my Copics *grin*.

My ENTIRE collection fits into one pail - that's 144 CIAO's plus like 18 or so Sketch Markers (some of my markers aren't in this pic) - I have a little room for a few more markers then it will be full. Hence the second pail. I plan to put the refills and other markers as I slowly get them into that pail.

I'm just giddy about finding these (more like they found me *wink*) - I've been wanting to get theA Muse pails for SO long now, but the cost plus shipping to me (since they're so bulky) was just too much (tho I LOVE their pastel colors!).

These pails are almost exactly the same size as the A Muse ones too - they're 9 3/4" wide by 5 1/4" high and 7 1/4" deep.

I love a good storage purchase *sigh*. Just had to share!

Oh and FYI the store was Home Hardware - I found them online here (not sure if you can order them online - I think you can only get them in-store??).

EDITED TO ADD:

Copics can most definitely be stored upright - since they are alcohol based it doesn't matter whether you store them horizontally or vertically. The ink will still flow evenly through both ends. I've been storing mine upright ever since I first got them 2 years ago and not a problem with them :o)

ETA Again:

Sorry I guess I should have mentioned that Home Hardware is a Canadian store (at least I don't think they're in the States? I might be wrong tho). I guess I just assume that EVERYONE knows I'm Canadian (Canadian made born and raised eh?? LOL) so I don't mention it. And to be more specific I'm in southwestern Saskatchewan - thus the name of the blog - PRAIRIE Paper and Ink *grin*

Sketch Sample - Happy Belated Birthday

**Post #2 for today!! Scroll down to see the Friday Sketch!**

This was the card I made that inspired the latest Friday Sketch - I had to wait for the Stickles to dry before I took the pics:

 

I had to pull out my Miss Anya set for this card. I used it along with sentiments from my Birthday Sentiments set. And I still have my SU! A Walk in the Park patterned paper sitting here (well sitting on the floor by my desk - I really need to clean my studio!) so I used that too.

I stamped the Anya onto CCD White cardstock then colored her in with my Copics.

The C-1 marker that has the black line on it is a marker that ran dry on me, and before I got a refill I just bought a new marker. Instead of throwing the dry one out I refilled it with Colorless blender (then later added a bit of C-1 when I got it) so it's a SUPER pale grey. I use it to blend out shadows and whatnot to give them a softer edge.

I added Yellow Stickles to the image so it's all sparklay ;o)

The felt flowers are from SU, and the little heart brads are Making Memories.

I added the 4th flower to the corner of the card to cover the ©Stampin' Up! writing on the patterned paper.

I am really loving their patterned papers lately - but still do NOT like that they have the © right on the paper - it's small but so noticeable when used on a card. It should either be on the back or they should add a strip to the bottom that can be cut off. OK rant over!

I stamped the sentiment onto a scrap of cardstock then adhered it to the main image before adhering that to the card.

On the inside of the card I used more of the patterned paper mimicking the layout on the front, then added a strip of cardstock that I stamped the Happy Belated Birthday onto.

 

STAMPS: The Greeting Farm Miss Anya Set, AmyR Stamps Birthday Sentiments.

CS: CCD White, So Saffron, Pink Prihouette (SU), Walk in the Park DS Paper (SU!).

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers.

ACCESSORIES: May Arts Ribbon, Stickles, MM Mini Heart Brads, SU! Felt Flowers, SU! Scallop Edge Punch.

Friday Sketch! #57

Man it feels like it's been forever since I've posted a sketch! Taking a break from posting last week was nice tho - I had enough going on and it definitely helped to not stress about getting a new sketch made and posted. Now I'm back on schedule SO....

Here's the new sketch!

- keyword to use when uploading to public galleries is AMYRS65 (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.

-not sure HOW to link provide a DIRECT link? Check out this post by Kristina Werner - she explains how to with her video (it's meant for her color inspiration challenges but it's the same idea) - check it out HERE <----click!

-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 10pm EST in order to have it included with the participants links - other than that there is no time limits - this is all for fun!

- 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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Links are now closed - be sure to play along with next week's sketch!

AmyR's Friday Sketch! Participants

1. Stampin Su 2. Riley 3. Nicole Dean 4. Lisa V 5. Dawn Easton 6. Crystal Irwin 7. Erica D 8. Mercy Kerin 9. Shannan 10. The Memory Keeper 11. Anna F 12. Michelle Woerner (sf9erfan)

13. Alanna 14. k berthiaume 15. Katie Skiff 16. Janet B 17. Laura (scrapnextras) 18. Sue W. 19. Jenny W 20. JenTapler 21. MacKenzie - "Midnight Scramper" (2 cards) 22. Amber R. 23. Kelley 24. Danni

25. Michelle McDaniel 26. Rachel A 27. Kate Lewis (UK) 28. Kathy (TheatreDiva) 29. Jenny S 30. Maureen W. 31. Kimberly O\'Rosky 32. StephC 33. Stephanie Kraft 34. Arlana

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Adhesive Runner Comparisons

I have 3 different adhesive runners that I've been using for some time now - so I thought I'd do a comparison video for y'all to show the differences between the 3:

I know if you search online there are a lot of sources for the Tombow (same as the SNAIL) adhesive runner for a decent price - some places offer a bulk discount if you buy a lot at once. I never bothered in the past to really research that tho as I've had a hit and miss experience with the SNAIL. Sometimes it works great, and other times my cards fall apart after some time. And I never use it to attach bulky layers as it definitely can't hold the weight.

The ATG and Glue Glider Pro on the other hand are really great. Either one are good in my opinion - it's just up to personal preference when it comes to price (14.99 for the GGP vs 55.00+ for the ATG), the cost of refills and the amount of plastic being thrown away with the refills.

I will have another adhesive comparison video showing some of the other adhesives I use (and love!) - obviously I couldn't own just these ones could I?? *wink*

SNAIL: Stampin' Up!

Glue Glider Pro: All That Scraps

ATG: NHS Media

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You can check out my post with the video on how to refill the ATG here <-----click!