Prairie Paper & Ink

Barrel of Monkeys

Hey everyone!

I'm currently working on another card video - it takes me a LOT longer to get those done than it ever did - but I still enjoy the process so I'll keep finding ways to get them done in and amongst these 4 monkeys of mine LOL!

In the meantime I have a card for y'all that I didn't do a video for. Sometimes it's nice to just be able to sit down and make something without having to worry about filming and whatnot. I had the idea for this card pop in my head almost immediately when I looked at MFT's new Sweet Safari stamp set.

Anyone remember the Barrel of Monkey's game?

That was the first thing I thought of and what inspired this card:

I die cut the monkey image several times from different colors of card stock, then stamped the coordinating image onto each one with Versamark ink and embossed them with detail white embossing powder.

I wasn't planning on stamping a background but I couldn't resist using one of the smaller splatter stamps from the Distressed Patterns stamp set and the matching ink colors.

I then arranged all the monkeys to be "hanging" from each other from the top of the card and adhered them with dimensional adhesive. 

I decided to finish off the inside of the card by stamping the monkeys in the same manner with the matching ink colors then adding a sentiment from the same set and that was it!

 

Sweet Safari	Die-namics Sweet Safari	Distressed Patterns	Blueprints 2 Die-namics	Smooth White Card Stock
Hybrid Ink Pad Black Licorice	Versamark Ink Pad	White Detail Embossing Powder	Lush Lagoon Premium Dye Ink Pad	Green Room Premium Dye Ink Pad
Daffodil Premium Dye Ink Pad	Wild Cherry Premium Dye Ink	Lavender Fields Premium Dye Ink Pad	Lush Lagoon Prestige Card Stock	Green Room Prestige Card Stock
Daffodil Prestige Card Stock	Wild Cherry Card Stock	Lavender Fields Prestige Card Stock

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Experimental Birthday Card Video

SO....... I have mentioned this card a few times lately on my Social Media accounts (they're all linked on the right under my profile pic - if you're reading this through a reader you'll need to click into my actual blog to see the sidebar schtuff). Normally I don't go so "all out crazy" on a card and use sooooo many products and spend so much time and effort on it.

This was an exception though - when it comes to making cards/projects for loved ones, especially my children - well then that's a whole 'nother story now isn't it? *wink* Also especially when it's a special occasion - it's only once in a lifetime that you turn 10 - so I went all out on her birthday card:

Don't let the product list at the end scare you - I am sure there are a lot of ways to make something similar with a lot less products and effort LOL! I had so much fun with this though and I think I mention in the video that it took me 2 days to finish it. Normally it wouldn't take me anywhere near THAT long - but with 4 kids and a birthday party to prep for I just played around and worked on it when I had the time. I really was experimenting and trying things out and seeing where it all went - and then it turned into this monster of a project LOL! I should have taken a pic of my work space when I was done - it was a complete disaster.

I think I mention in the video (I always say I think b/c it's usually the middle of the night when I get the chance to edit and voiceover videos and then can't remember what I said in them - such is my life LOL!) that I love personalizing cards for my kids. I didn't give any of them crazy or strangely-spelled names - and yet we NEVER find items personalized for them (you know keychains and those sorts of things you run across all the time) - and we make a point to look b/c the girls would be shocked if we ever did! So I do it myself - which I enjoy doing anyway, and is the whole point of having all these alphabet dies in my stash.

I also did some experimenting with masking and sponging and watercoloring and splattering - oh and glazing. It was all just fun and fun and piling on more and more techniques - which usually ends up in one hot mess but thankfully other than a small issue with being impatient and not letting the Pico embellisher dry in separate areas on the balloons before covering them all the card turned out OK! 

I finished off the inside with a bit more personalization, and of course left room to write something to J before I gave it to her. She keeps it displayed on her dresser (insert heart eyes emoticon here) which is another reason I enjoy going all-out on my kids cards. I'd do it anyway b/c they're mine and this is something I do, but knowing they keep them and display them is just a really special bonus for me.

FYI before I get to the video - it's REALLY long just so y'all are warned. I can't remember the last time I posted a nearly 20-minute long card making video before or if I ever have - it took nearly 10 hours to upload the thing after all the editing - hence why I'm getting this all done now well over a week later!

  

To watch directly on YouTube click HERE <-----click!

And now for the monster product list LOL:

 

BB Adorable Elephants	Die-namics BB Adorable Elephants	Die-namics LLD Stitched Alphabet	Die-namics LLD Stitched Numbers	Amazing
Die-namics Blueprints 2	Die-namics Fishtail Flags Layers STAX	Ranger Distress Watercolor Cardstock 20/Pkg (CCD)	MFT Hybrid Ink Pad Black Licorice	MFT Heavyweight Card Stock Smooth White
MFT Heavyweight Card Stock Black Licorice	MFT Heavyweight Card Stock Banana Split	MFT Heavyweight Card Stock Razzle Berry	Lush Lagoon Prestige Card Stock	MFT Heavyweight Card Stock Sour Apple
MFT Heavyweight Card Stock Orange Fizz	Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad TUMBLED GLASS	Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad BROKEN CHINA	Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad BLACK SOOT	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad MINI KIT 14
Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad PUMICE STONE	Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad SPUN SUGAR Ranger	Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad WORN LIPSTICK Ranger	Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad SQUEEZED LEMONADE	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad MINI KIT 13
Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad SHADED LILAC	Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad SPICED MARMALADE	Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad FESTIVE BERRIES	Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad PICKED RASPBERRY Ranger	Versamark WATERMARK Rubber Stamp Emboss Chalk Resist INK PAD
Stampendous DETAIL WHITE Fine Opaque Embossing Powder	Powder Tool Applicator	ROCKLINE BASKET COFFEE FILTERS (8-12 Cup Basket) 700 Filters	Precision Heat Embossing Emboss Tool Gun Hero Arts	Doodlebug BUBBLEGUM Doodle Twine
EK Success CRAFT TWEEZERS Precision Tip	3M 2 INCH WIDE POST-IT TAPE 36 Yards White Mask	EK Success CUTTER BEE Scissors	School Smart Double Sided Graph Paper with 1/2 in Rule - 8 1/2 x 11 inches - Ream of 500 - White	Kool Tak DOUBLE-SIDED TAPE Clear Foam Adhesive
Ranger MINI ROUND INK BLENDING TOOLS	Tim Holtz DISTRESS SPRAYER Ranger 4 Ounces	Tim Holtz DISTRESS SPRAY STAIN SET OF 4	Scotch Advanced Tape Glider & Tape	Tsukineko Irresistibles SHIMMER PICO EMBELLISHER
Copic OPAQUE WHITE WITH BRUSH APPLICATOR	Tombow MONO MULTI Liquid Glu	Kirkland Signature Baby Wipes 900 Count	Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paint ARTIST BRUSHES	Faber-Castell COLLAPSIBLE WATER CUP
Dahle Self-Healing Cutting 18x12	Simon Says Stamp SMALL TEFLON BONE FOLDER Tool	3M Scotch DOUBLE-SIDED FOAM TAPE Permanent	Scor-Pal Scor-Buddy Mini Scoring Board, 9 by 7.5-Inch	Sizzix Vagabond Machine Only - inspired by Tim Holtz (US Version) by Ellison
Sizzix BIG SHOT MACHINE	Sizzix Magnetic Platform for Wafer Thin Dies

InLinkz.com

MFT December Release New Product Launch: All About Ovals

If you're reading this it means that all the December products from MFT are available NOW from the boutique!

Make sure you check out their blog post for all the links to the other DT member's blog posts - b/c the more comments you leave the more chances you'll have to WIN (more info on that at the end of this post).

For the launch my task was to focus on the new Stitched Mini Scallop Oval STAX Die-namics - and I ended up making 3 cards. It felt SOOOO good to just be creative and "play":

This card was funny - if you remember the card I posted a couple of days ago - well the watercolored panel from creating the leaf die cuts on that previous card is what I used on THIS card. It just looked too cool to toss and I wanted to make something with it.

I didn't want to cover it up too much so I die cut one of the scalloped ovals from vellum and stamped and embossed the sentiment onto it with black embossing powder.

I die cut the amazing from Gold Shine card stock, and hid the adhesive on the vellum under the die cut and the enamel dots from my stash that I added.

For my second card I used the scalloped oval as the background for the little "scene" I created. I didn't do any colouring either - just white embossing on color card stock die-cuts - so fun and so cute!

I popped up a lot of the elements on foam adhesive dimensionals which created a ton of dimension - so much fun.

For my final card I decided to focus on just the ovals - so I die cut them from some watercolour card stock, then watercolored them with various MFT dye inks.

Once they were dry I adhered them to my card with foam adhesive dimensionals.

I finished off the card with another "amazing" die cut and the stamped word "you're" from the Label Maker Sentiments set and that was it!

Die-namics Stitched Mini Scallop Oval STAX	Die-namics Leafy Greenery	Die-namics Doubly Amazing	Distressed Patterns	Amazing
Blueprints 1 Die-namics	Blueprints 2 Die-namics	Ranger Watercolor Paper	Smooth White Card Stock	Black Licorice Prestige Card Stock
Gold Shine Card Stock	Hybrid Ink Pad Black Licorice	Razzle Berry Premium Dye Ink	Summer Splash Premium Dye Ink Pad	Tropical Teal Premium Dye Ink Pad
Lemon Drop Premium Dye Ink	Versamark Ink Pad

InLinkz.com

Die-namics Stitched Mini Scallop Oval STAX	Die-namics Leafy Greenery	Die-namics Sweet Safari	Sweet Safari	Die-namics Blueprints 15
Die-namics Blueprints 13	Top Dog	Die-namics Top Dog	Versamark Ink Pad	White Detail Embossing Powder
Smooth White Card Stock	Summer Splash Prestige Card Stock	Heavyweight Card Stock Grout Gray	Olive Card Stock	Sour Apple Card Stock
Chocolate Brown Card Stock	Heavyweight Card Stock Safety Orange	Kraft Card Stock

InLinkz.com

Die-namics Stitched Mini Scallop Oval STAX	Die-namics Doubly Amazing	Label Maker Sentiments	Black Licorice Prestige Card Stock	Smooth White Card Stock
Hybrid Ink Pad Black Licorice	Ranger Watercolor Paper	Razzle Berry Premium Dye Ink	Daffodil Premium Dye Ink Pad	Lush Lagoon Premium Dye Ink Pad
Lavender Fields Premium Dye Ink Pad	Orange Zest Premium Dye Ink Pad	Green Room Premium Dye Ink Pad

InLinkz.com

GIVEAWAY info!! Visit each of the MFT Designers' December New Product Launch posts linked on the MFT Blog and leave a comment by the end of the day on Thursday December 10, 2015 for your chance to WIN one of two, $100 Gift Vouchers. The winners will be chosen at random from the comments on all the designer's blog posts. Good luck! :) 

Life Update Video December 2015

Hey everyone :). Just a quick random Life Update video - not a whole lot to report on at the moment - it's been a matter of one day at a time. I have people e-mailing and commenting asking how things are and if we're all doing OK if I go too long between Life Update videos though (which I thank you all for your concern - the support and kindness is VERY much appreciated!!) so here's the latest:

 

To watch directly on YouTube click HERE <----click!

I mention my AmyR Stamps line is retiring at the end of this month - you can see what's left here (only a couple sets are still available and they are deeply discounted).

As always you can find me on my Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter on occasion, as well as YouTube of course and here! 

I'll b back later today with the MFT release post when all the December products go live! :)

MFT December Countdown Day 1: Amazing Take 2

Well here it is folks! The last countdown post before the December MFT release goes LIVE at 10pm EST Tuesday December 8!

Make sure you check out MFT's blog post for all the videos/info/links.

This is a 4-Bar Sized Card

I used the new Tropical Flowers stamp set for this card. I stamped the large lined flower onto watercolour card stock with Black Licorice Hybrid ink, and stamped the leaves with Sour Apple hybrid ink (hybrid ink is permanent and not affected by water - if I'd stamped the leaves with a dye ink they'd become blurry/and or run when I watercolored over them). I then used several different Distress Inks to watercolour in the background and then the flowers.

Once it was all dry I stamped the centres with VersaMark ink and embossed them with gold embossing powder.

I die cut the sentiment from gold foil card stock (soooo shiny - my camera kind of went nuts trying to get a picture of it) and adhered it to the panel (without stacking it - I know some of you are shocked right now LOL - trust me I almost did it). I also flicked some Ranger Tarnished Brass Spray Stain over it, and rubbed my Delicata Golden Glitz ink pad along the edges before adhering the panel to the card base with foam tape.

I finished off the inside with a stamped sentiment from the Amazing stamp set and that was it!

**some links will not work until the products are released in the MFT Store on December 8, 2015 at 10pm EST**

Die-namics Doubly Amazing	Tropical Flowers	Amazing	Gold Foil Card Stock	Smooth White Card Stock
Ranger Watercolor Paper	Hybrid Ink Pad Black Licorice	Delicata Gold Ink Pad	Hybrid Ink Pad Sour Apple	Versamark Ink Pad
Gold Detail Embossing Powder

InLinkz.com

MFT December Countdown Day 2: Amazing

Soon close! Only another day to go until all the new products are available at the MFT store! Make sure you check out their blog post today for all the info and videos and links!

This is an Amazing release this month - no pun intended LOL! But I can totally admit that I'm obsessed with the Doubly Amazing Die-namics and want to put them on everything:

I had some fun with this card. To create the leaves I dampened some watercolour paper with clean water then added some MFT dye inks to it. Once it was dry I stamped the splatter stamp from the new Distressed Patterns stamp set with Black Licorice ink - this is THE set to get if you're like me and you like the splatter look but want more control LOL!

I "stacked" the sentiment as usual (3 die cuts adhered together), and popped the "A" up with dimensionals. I had to re-do the dot on the "i" more than once b/c I kept knocking it off my desk onto the floor and losing it (drawback to having dark flooring with black lines! Either that or my eyesight really is starting to fail....). Finally got enough cut and stacked and adhered to the card LOL!

I had a little space left on the watercolored card stock so I used the smaller die from the Leafy Greenery set to die cut the pieces and adhered them to the inside of the card. I decided not to stamp any sentiments and just leave as-is to give more options and that was it!

**some links will not work until the products are released in the MFT Store on December 8, 2015 at 10pm EST**

Die-namics Leafy Greenery	Die-namics Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle STAX	Die-namics Doubly Amazing	BG Watercolor Stripes Background	Distressed Patterns
Label Maker Sentiments	Tropical Teal Premium Dye Ink Pad	Lemon Drop Premium Dye Ink	Summer Splash Premium Dye Ink Pad	Razzle Berry Premium Dye Ink
Hybrid Ink Pad Black Licorice	Black Licorice Prestige Card Stock	Smooth White Card Stock	Ranger Watercolor Paper

InLinkz.com

MFT December Countdown Day 3: You

Only 3 days to go until MFT's December release is available! Make sure you check out their blog post here for all the links and info and videos!

For today's card I used the Distressed Patterns stamp set to create my background. If you watch the product video for it over on the MFT blog you'll see that coming together.

It's hard to see in the pictures but I used the new Stitched Alphabet Die-namics to create the "You" and stacked them 3 high (as usual) before adhering them to my card.

I finished off the inside with the same stamps and another sentiment from the Amazing stamp set and that was it!

**some links will not work until the products are released in the MFT Store on December 8, 2015 at 10pm EST**

Die-namics LLD Stitched Alphabet	Amazing	Distressed Patterns	Blueprints 2 Die-namics	Fishtail Flags Layers STAX Die-namics
Smooth White Card Stock	Razzle Berry Card Stock	Razzle Berry Premium Dye Ink	Summer Splash Premium Dye Ink Pad	Lemon Drop Premium Dye Ink
Hybrid Ink Pad Black Licorice	Versamark Ink Pad	White Detail Embossing Powder

InLinkz.com

MFT December Countdown Day 4: Amazing

Well I think we're off to a good start with the MFT December countdown - yesterday's post featured an adorable elephant and today's features a new word die cut and have I told y'all how much I LOOOVVVEEE word dies? I can never have enough of them...

Anywho - make sure to pop on over to MFT's blog post for all the links and videos and info for today.

I used several of the new products on this card - starting with the Mini Modern Blooms stamp set. I sponged Tumbled Glass Distress ink onto the panel first, then stamped the splatter stamp from the Distressed Patterns (LOVE this set - I want to stamp it on everything LOL!) in the same ink. I then stamped several of the flowers and leaves from the Mini Modern Blooms set over that with various MFT dye inks.

I used the new Doubly Amazing Die-namics and die cut it 3 times before stacking them together (another favourite thing of mine - stacking word die cuts). Before I adhered it I stamped just the "You are" from one of the sentiments in the new Amazing stamp set.

**some links will not work until the products are released in the MFT Store on December 8, 2015 at 10pm EST**

Mini Modern Blooms	Amazing	Distressed Patterns	BG Primitive Chevron Background	Die-namics Doubly Amazing
Die-namics Blueprints 15	Hybrid Ink Pad Black Licorice	Sour Apple Premium Dye Ink Pad	Orange Zest Premium Dye Ink Pad	Premium Dye Ink Pad Chocolate Brown
Ripe Raspberry Premium Dye Ink Pad	Field Day Premium Dye Ink Pad	Daffodil Premium Dye Ink Pad	Paver Red Premium Dye Ink Pad	Premium Dye Ink Pad Grout Gray
Smooth White Card Stock	Heavyweight Card Stock Grout Gray

InLinkz.com

MFT December Countdown Day 5: Dream Big

Here it is folks! The countdown starts now for MFT's December release - make sure you check out MFT's blog post to see all of today's sneak peek info plus videos and links and all that jazz.

Birdie Brown hit it out of the park again with these ADORABLE elephants in the aptly titled Adorable Elephants stamp set (lol).

This week my obsession is watercoloring with Distress Inks - so I stamped the images onto watercolour card stock with Black Licorice hybrid ink that I'd die cut with the coordinating Die-namics set, and then watercolored them in with the Distress inks.

I used MFT's patterned paper and the new Stitched Mini Scalloped Circle STAX Die-namics to frame this little guy, and added some baker's twine and grey enamel dots from my stash.

I finished off the inside of the card with another stamped/diecut/watercolored elephant and a sentiment from the set and that was it!

**some links will not work until the products are released in the MFT Store on December 8, 2015 at 10pm EST**

BB Adorable Elephants	Die-namics BB Adorable Elephants	Die-namics Stitched Mini Scallop Circle STAX	Die-namics Stitched Circle STAX	Homespun Gingham Paper Pack
Smooth White Card Stock	Hybrid Ink Pad Black Licorice

InLinkz.com

SSS December Release - Happy Birthday Card

Hey everyone! SimonSaysStamp's DieCember release went live today - lots of really cute dies are now available! It's a "non-typical" blog-hop for this release - basically SSS has links to all those that were able to play along in their blog post HERE <---click! You should go check it out and see what everyone else made with the new dies!

They sent me one and it arrived in the mail this afternoon - so I carved out a little time after supper tonight and made this card (while mulling over the ideas as I ate said supper and chatted with the kids LOL multitasking at it's finest). I did film the process but editing and uploading the video will have to come later - I literally don't have any time left now.

Anywho here's the card:

I used the new Happy Birthday die and had some fun with my Distress Inks and blended and spritzed away.

I die cut the balloons from white card stock and adhered them onto a white card stock panel that I then popped onto the card base with foam tape. As I was doing the balloons I thought it would be cute to add a bunch of sequins in similar colors so I did - LOVE! ;)

I finished off the inside with a sentiment from the SSS set linked below, and a die cut balloon that I hand drew the string onto just to "anchor" it to the inside of the card and that was it!

And here's the video - I was up late with Gavin last night so I used some of the time to finish editing the video - you can hear him in some of it along with some random thunks as he kept making a grab for the keyboard. He sat in my lap the whole time I was doing the voiceover so sorry if it's a little ramble and full of "um's" LOL! Keeping a 7 1/2 month old entertained while editing a video is an interesting process *wink*:

 

To watch directly on YouTube click HERE <-----click!

Simon Says Stamp HAPPY BIRTHDAY Wafer Die SSSD111559	Simon Says Stamp BALLOONS Craft Dies	Simon Says Clear Stamps BIRTHDAY BALLOONS	Simon Says Stamp WHITE CARDSTOCK 120 LB Base Weight 12 Pack	Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad SQUEEZED LEMONADE
Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad PICKED RASPBERRY Ranger	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad MINI KIT 14	Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad PEACOCK FEATHERS	Hero Arts DYE Ink Pad BLACK	Ranger MINI ROUND INK BLENDING TOOLS
C-Thru T SQUARE RULER Westcott JR12	Tim Holtz DISTRESS SPRAYER Ranger 4 Ounces	Ranger .5 Oz. MINI MULTI MEDIUM MATTE	Quilled Creations PRECISION TIP Empty Applicator Bottle	3M Scotch DOUBLE-SIDED FOAM TAPE Permanent
Copic Multiliner SP 0.03 BLACK Ink Marker	Simon Says Stamp SMALL TEFLON BONE FOLDER Tool	Scor-Pal Scor-Buddy Mini Scoring Board, 9 by 7.5-Inch	Cartwright's Sequins	Sizzix BIG SHOT MACHINE
Sizzix Magnetic Platform for Wafer Thin Dies	Craftmates 2XL Lockables 14 Compartment	Craft Mates Lockables Double Organizer 14 Compartments-9.25

InLinkz.com

Picture with Santa

Hey everyone! Total non-stamping related post for today - I get a lot of people asking when I'll post another Life Update video, asking how things are going, etc etc etc. I don't know when I'll do another Life Update video as of right now - it's more the timing and having a LOT on my plate right now than anything.

However on Monday I hauled all 4 kiddo's to the city for a grocery run. I am still impressed with myself that I managed to fit all 4 of them in the car and not only survive Costco at Christmastime (why that place turns into chaos and brings out the worst in people at this time of year I'll never know LOL!), but I managed to fit everything in the trunk of my car along with a double stroller - THAT was an interesting feat LOL! I literally was hanging halfway out of the trunk trying to arrange everything to fit with a lineup of cars behind me waiting to take my parking spot. I had to take apart my stroller just to make it all fit (or else have to go back in and return the toilet paper lolol) but I made it work. I'm sure the people waiting for my spot had some entertainment watching me tetris it all in there (total life skill playing that game on the Nintendo when I was little - I knew someday it would come in handy!).

Anywho - after surviving that I took the kids to the mall for a treat at Starbucks (they love it as much as I do - but we only go as a treat every once in a while - I just have to keep a close watch on K when we get anything from there b/c any unattended cup gets demolished by her and too much sugar/caffeine for a 2 year old and well.....y'all can imagine), and after we went and got pics with Santa. I didn't plan it out ahead of time (outfits and all that jazz - I was just hoping to make it to the city and back in one piece with my sanity intact) plus it's always a hit and a miss as the lineups can be insane for this one. He's the BEST Santa - no fake beard here:

Katelyn was having NOTHING to do with Santa this year - she took one look at him and headed the other way. The only way to get her in the picture was to be in it myself and hold her on my lap - even then she wasn't impressed. Gavin LOVED Santa (doesn't look like it in the pic but the cameraman kept shaking bells to try and cheer up K and Gavin's expression pretty much speaks as to how he felt about that LOL), and couldn't resist grabbing onto his beard after - so wish I had pics of that! Oh well - Merry Christmas from me and my munchkins!

I'll be back soon with another card - maybe a video too - we'll see! ;) :)