Prairie Paper & Ink

Woof!

I find myself getting really frustrated lately - I actually have a lot of ideas rolling around for cards and whatnot - and some of them really GOOD ideas (in my opinion of course) - but NO TIME to execute them!

I colored several Bella images last week (at least I think it was last week - might have been longer) - all to match some of the new patterned paper and whatnot I purchased recently.

But to find the time to actually MAKE something out of the colored images - now that's the kicker.

I had a lag today between appointments at my salon - so I actually ran home and made this card LOL! I even had time to take and edit pictures - then saved them on my laptop and ran back to work for the next appointment (one of the perks of living in a small town - I live less than 5 minutes away and if someone did need to get a hold of me they could).

Now I've got a few minutes before my last client arrives for the day so I'm typing this up for y'all. **And now it's actually AFTER work as I was having issues with this post and my client arrived before I could finish it! So I may as well finish it before I head home!!**

SO - the patterned paper and accessories I have been LOVING lately are the Basic Grey Max & Whiskers collection - it is SO cute! I showed it in a recent post/haul video HERE <-----click!

I of course had to go with an animal theme so I went through all my Bella stamps and stamped out all the images that had either dogs or cats in them, and then colored them with Copics to match the images.

And here's the first card:

I LOVE this Woofin' It Up image from Stamping Bella - I've had it for years now. (ETA - yes it is still available! I was reading the comments and a few wondered - if you click on the hyper-link it will take you right to the stamp - it took me some searching - SB has SO many stamps now! plus all the other stuff - but I found it and linked it)

  I stamped woofin' it up onto CCD lightweight Copic Quality cardstock (Memento ink) and colored it in with my Copics.

I used my Spellbinders Label 11 dies to cut the image out (I got this label set MONTHS ago and am not even sure if I've ever used them before?? I really like them tho! Great size for A2 cards....) and actually kept the die in place and SPONGED some Colorbox Chalk ink (bisque) onto the image. I haven't sponged anything in forever!! I don't know why I felt like doing it today - and I was terrified I was going to ruin the whole thing b/c #1 - obviously I haven't been stamping much at all lately and therefore things don't tend to go as well as they usually do and #2 like I said it's been forever since I've sponged anything - and once you start you can't really stop.

Thankfully chalk inks are pretty forgiving and I was able to soften a lot of the streaks and whatnot LOL!!

I pulled out some red grosgrain ribbon (which didn't technically match as the red in the Max & Whiskers collection is much more orangey - but I fudged and used it anyway) and after a bunch of fiddling got it all folded over like you can see:

I attached a couple of BG buttons with thread to hold the main image in place.

I also used a bit of the BG Max & Whiskers Ribbon Doilies - I only let about 1/2 of it peek out from the middle strip there - love the look of that too.

And then on the inside of the card I just added more patterned paper and cut a piece of white cardstock with the largest of the label 11 dies and that was it!

I didn't use any sentiments - I wanted to but I couldn't decide on a specific one and since I was pretty pressed for time I just left it as-is. That way the card can be for any occasion ;o)

Now I need to pack this up and head home! 'night everyone!!   

 

CuttleBug Extended Cutting Plates VIDEO

Yet another requested and promised video:

You can watch it on YouTube HERE <-----click!

Videos, Candles and Craziness

Hello everyone!

As usual even with my best intentions this blog is being sadly neglected. It's getting to the point where I really only have time to stamp and post on weekends, and filming and editing videos is completely sporadic (which is pretty much me in general!).

But I'm ok with that - my life can be a little hectic but I'd rather that then it being dull LOL!

I found another video on my laptop that I filmed a while ago (another thing I need to do better at - I don't keep very good track of that kind of stuff and then months later I keep coming across video's I've made and then forgot about......) so I'll hafta get that edited and uploaded - so look for that in the next day or so (hopefully!)

 

And THEN - just this past week I decided to sign up as a demo for Gold Canyon Candles - OMG I am in LOVE with them!!!!

I LOVE candles - and as soon as the weather started to get a teeny bit cooler (tho if you were here the past few days you'd swear it's the middle of summer - it has been SO HOT out) I am burning candles all over the house ALL the time. I burn them year round but in the fall especially I can't get enough of good candles.

Plus when Christmas is getting closer all the really yummy scents start coming out - like Pumpkin Pie and Gingerbread House and Peppermint Bark...mmmmmmm...I have ones like that burning all throughout fall and winter and it is so nice - especially when people are coming over - the first thing everyone says as they come in is "it smells so good in here!"

So yeah if you can't tell I love candles - and I know lots of people who love candles - and where I live it's hard to find GOOD candles that don't cost a fortune (b/c no matter how much I love candles I refuse to pay a ton of money for them!) - so I signed up for Gold Canyon b/c a friend of mine got me hooked on them!

I've literally only had my demo kit for 3 1/2 days but I've already dived in and got my own demo page - you can check it out here if you're interested:

Gold Canyon - Amy Rysavy

FYI if you're in Canada you can order right from my website. If you're in the US I don't think you can order (I think it has to be a demo in the US's website? Not sure on everything yet) but I *think* you can still sign up through mine if you're interested in selling them too.

Guess what everyone will be getting for Christmas this year from me? *grin*

Anywho enough about that. I've also been busy getting everything ready as the girls go back to school on Monday! YAY!! lol

Veronica is in Grade 2 this year and Josie is starting Kindergarten. They're both really excited and so am I - they both really like school (Josie was in Pre-K last year) so that's one less thing for me to have to worry about!

So that's a little update about me - now that it's Friday (another YAY!!) I am SO looking forward to the weekend. I definitely need some "me time" and want to get some stamping in.

*fingers crossed*

Copics - Difference between Original, Sketch and CIAO VIDEO

**this is the second post and SECOND Video posted in 2 days so make sure to scroll down and check out the previous post!**

OK folks - here is the much requested and often-promised video on the differences between Original, Sketch and CIAO markers.

This is just the BASICS. Obviously there is more info/details/whatever but for the purpose of this video and for time constraints I stuck to just these three types of Copics and the differences between them.

AND like I mention in the very beginning of the video I filmed this MONTHS ago (early May I think LOL!) before I had my hair cut and dyed. I find it funny watching this - my hair was so long and dark and boring before! I like it much better now *grin*

Anywho without further adieu here's the video:

And as always you can watch it on YouTube HERE <-----click!

And here's the info from the description box under the video on YT:

I've bought all of my Copics from either All That Scraps or Stamping Bella. There are tons of other sources out there - both online and in brick&mortar stores - to get Copics. These are just my sources and I'm happy with them :o)

All That Scraps only sells CIAO and Sketch markers (plus refills, airbrush accessories etc etc) and not the original markers.

Stamping Bella sells just the Sketch markers.

Bare Rubber Stamps VIDEO

Hello everyone.

I have another video for y'all today - this is one that I filmed MONTHS ago (as usual) on how I use my bare rubber stamps - so I hope y'all like it and find it useful!!

You can also watch it on YouTube HERE <----click!

And here are the links that were mentioned:

Stamping Bella Stamps

Black EZMount (shown)

Grey EZMount

Tim Holtz Scissors

CCDesigns August Review Preview

Hello everyone!

Today is another "Review Preview" day over on the AllThatScraps blog - basically meaning that the design team creates samples with stamps that were released at the beginning of the month.

SO - I've got a card made with the new Teacher Honey stamp to show y'all:

I colored this image a week or so ago without much thought as to what papers or color scheme I was going to use on the finished card (which I normally never used to do as it makes it more difficult to match colors/papers later) but when I did start making the card last night I pulled out some My Little Shoebox papers that I've had for some time and just made them work LOL!

*sorry the color is just a tad washed out on all of these pics - I made the card later last night and it's difficult to get a "true" picture when it's dark out*

I stamped Teacher Honey onto CCD lightweight Copic quality cardstock (memento ink) then colored her in with Copics.

I cut her out with Paper Snips (SU! fine-tipped scissors) and used a craft knife in the spots where the scissors couldn't reach.

Of course I had to add a little bling so I added Stickles to her little star barrette and to her shoes. 

The sentiment is from the Autumn Sentiments set.

The ribbon is May Arts and the buttons are from my stash - it's been a while since I dug though my big jar of buttons looking for just the right ones to use on a card. It was kinda fun *grin* 

The inside of the card was lined with more patterned papers and that was it!

Make sure to check out the ats blog post with all the other DT samples for this week!  

 

Mermaids...

A couple of weeks ago I was watching a movie with my family (I'm pretty sure it was WALL-E for the dozenth time - the girls went through a phase a few weeks ago and were obsessed with that movie - they watched it nearly every day! I couldn't blame them - it's a cute movie IMO) and as I was doing so I decided to color in some of the Sweet November mermaid images that I've had sitting here and begging to be inked up.

I got three images colored - and as of right now have only had time to make one into a card:

 
This one is using the Pearl Tidepool image.

I stamped her onto CCD lightweight Copic Quality cardstock (memento ink) and colored her in with my Copics. I cut her out and added Stickles to different areas for some added bling.

  That little starfish braddie is by Doodlebug - I got it last year (along with a few other styles) and never used it - I was digging through my stuff trying to find my Summer Sentiments set that I had misplaced and came across these braddies and knew I had to use them!

The rhinestones are from A Muse - I attached them at random to the card. The embossed swirl was done with one of the new Tim Holtz embossing folders. I had shown them in one of my recent haul videos and decided to pull it out for this card.

The sentiment is from my Summer Sentiments set and then I added a few more of the A Muse twinkle stickers to it to bling it up too!

Finally on the inside of the card I stamped the Pearl Tidepool image again using a turquoise dye ink, then added a strip of kraft cardstock along with a leftover piece of the embossed swirl cardstock and that was it!

I gotta run and get to work! Have a great day everyone!    

SNEAK PEEK - Take a Seat Kit

Hey everyone! FYI I may as well warn y'all now I'm in a really chatty mood for whatever reason and I really ramble throughout this post!

Sorry my post is late - it was supposed to go up yesterday. I am STILL sick - Tim's had it for 2 weeks now and I'm going on over a week (and REALLY hoping it doesn't go on for 2!!). I feel absolutely rotten right now :o(

Anywho - all the ATS design team peeps have been making samples with a NEW set of stamps from CC Designs that are being released on Monday (August 9) and will only be available until September 20/2010.

The kit is called "Take a Seat" and will be sold ONLY as a set (not individual images) and only during this limited time. 

You can find out more HERE <----click on the ATS blog as well as see a bunch of the DT samples! And you can check out the second sneak peek post on the ATS blog HERE <----click! for even MORE samples!

So here's what I made:

Isn't she CUTE?? This sunflower Emma image is part of the kit. FYI the pumpkin image and the sentiment are NOT. The pumpkin image is for another release (my bad - I was assigned the Sunflower Emma image and saw the pumpkin stamp in the envelope with all the other stamps and never thought to double-check. So the pumpkins will be released a little later). 

The sentiment is from my Autumn Sentiments set.

ANYWHO - like I said I am still fighting off this rotten cold, and needed to whip this card up as I had to work all week and didn't have much energy or time to create!!

So I did it in parts - I stamped the images I wanted to color onto CCD white cardstock then colored them in while laying on the couch watching a movie (VERY carefully colored I might add - I have been coughing a LOT and when you're coloring in tight areas one needs to pull the marker away when a coughing fit strikes - TMI??) .

I was in a "fall" mood when I was coloring (I love Fall - it is my absolute favorite season) so I went with a brown/green/mustard/orange color scheme.

I cut Emma out with Paper Snips (fine-tipped scissors) and even went further and cut out the white spaces between her legs and between the flower and her face with a craft knife. Normally I don't bother with that as it's extra work but I was enjoying the detail process and just kept going!

I added some yellow Stickles to the sunflower petals for a little sparkle.

I used my CuttleBog Swiss Dots embossing folder on the mustard cardstock, then added some Prima flowers from my stash and some May Arts ribbon.

The sentiment was stamped onto a scrap of green cardstock and cut out with a Nestabilities Label Trio die.

I kept the inside of the card REALLY simple (I was drained by the time it came to the inside and just wanted to get the card DONE) by just stamping the Sunflower Emma image onto white cardstock with light brown ink, matting it with brown cardstock and lining the card with mustard cardstock.

The sentiment is another from the Autumn Sentiments set, again stamped onto green cardstock and then punched out with SU's small oval punch.

That's it for now folks - I'm going to take some more cough medicine!! Have a fab weekend everyone!

*oh and PS - thank you all for the nice comments about my hair in my last video LOL! It was actually pretty simple to do (even tho it was the first time I've ever done my hair like that) and when I get better I might attempt to show how I did it*

*second PS - there were several links posted to other Canadian retailers in the comment section of my last post - so if you're one of those that would prefer to order AmyR Stamps/CC Designs stamps from a Canadian source you can definitely check them out!*

 

Attention Canadians!!

This post is for all my Canadian readers out there:

Ever since I started designing stamps I've received numerous comments/e-mails/etc asking if there were any Canadian stores/online stores located in Canada to buy my stamps at - OR if I would sell them/ship them out etc etc.

I have zero plans of selling anything (shipping in Canada is generally quite pricey) and honestly I have no desire to start an online stamp/scrapbook store. I can barely keep up with this blog and life in general let alone take something like that on LOL!

I do tell people that you can order them straight from All That Scraps as their shipping policy is REALLY reasonable (and if you order over a certain $$ amount you get free shipping) - that's why the bulk of my stamping purchases are made there - I don't like paying an arm and a leg for shipping (when that $$ can be put towards MORE stamping goodies *grin*).

However I have promised people that I would keep my eye out for Canadian retailers that carry my stamps (and even if you're not in Canada and you want to carry any of the CC Designs stamps (which include the AmyR Stamps line) you can by going here) - and I found one!

I was told not too long ago that Scrapbooker's Paradise in Calgary, Alberta got my stamps in (I took my Copic certification class there last summer) AND I just discovered that you can order online from them!

So all you Canadians can check out Scrapbooker's Paradise for my stamps! 

AND if it's your first time ordering from them you get FREE shipping (says so on their site) - all you have to do is put "First Time Order" in the comments section of your order and they'll remove the shipping charge when they process the order.

AmyR Stamps - The Best

Sorry folks I had planned on having daily posts recently - but last week ended up being a rotten week for personal reasons, and then we went on a mini-vacation over the weekend and THEN I got sick on vacation.

I spent a good chunk of time in bed in the hotel - really bad head cold and aches etc etc - so much fun *sarcasm*. I missed out on being in the pool with the girls (first time ever for them on a waterslide!!) which really upset me - but I could barely walk let alone go swimming.....:o(

Anywho we're back from Calgary and I have one day left before I have to go back to work - still not feeling well but I'm hoping I get better ASAP as I am booked solid for the rest of the week at work!

And as the title of this post mentions - my latest stamp set was released at All That Scraps yesterday:

 The Best <----click!

AmyR Stamps <---click!

Hopefully I can get the energy to make more samples - there were a LOT of really cute images released this month at ATS and I didn't eve know which ones to begin with! The ideas have been swirling tho (which is a good thing after having a missing "stamp mojo" for months now!).