Prairie Paper & Ink

Sunshine of Hope Mini Slimline Card

Hello friends! After a couple of crazy weeks dealing with one crazy thing after another I'm back with videos! 

I missed being able to participate in the Support Ukraine Blog Hop that happened earlier this month but you all can check it out HERE for info and inspiration. The stamp set that Studio Katia released for it is donating 100% of net proceeds from the sale of the set to the Save the Children Organization in support of Ukrainian children. I also did a blog post HERE that has some info and a link to places for donating - but I am personally loving how so many of my fellow crafters and crafty companies have been stepping up to help and support and do whatever they can! 

I used the Sunshine of Hope stamp set to make this mini slimline card:

This is a 3 1/8 x 6 1/4" Mini Slimline Card.

I stamped the sunflower from the Sunshine of Hope stamp set onto Canson XL watercolor paper with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink and clear heat embossed it. I then used several of Simon Says Stamp's Pawsitively Saturated Inks to watercolor it.

I used Studio Katia's Spring Pastels Polka Slimline patterned paper for the card front, die cutting both the patterned paper and the watercolor panel using Simon's Mini Slimline Rectangles wafer dies. I white heat embossed a sentiment from the Sunshine of Hope set onto a piece of vellum that I wrapped around the front panel before adhering it.

On the inside of the card I stamped the sunflower with Simon's Sunbeam ink and stamped another sentiment from the Sunshine of Hope set and that was it!

To see how this card came together check out my video below:

Or watch in HD over on YouTube HERE <-------click!

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube! You can also consider supporting me on my Patreon!

I get asked a lot about where to purchase the supplies I use in my videos and blog posts. I list all the supplies I use at the end of my posts (below) or in the description box directly below my video on YouTube.

Compensated affiliate links used when possible at no extra cost to you. Affiliate linking is what keeps my blog and YouTube channel up and running and enables me to work from home and provide for my children! I appreciate your support more than words can say! I occasionally receive product for free from stores/manufacturer with no obligation on my part to use/review - I only use and share what I personally love. Everything else I purchase myself! 

Here for You Sunflower Card

Affiliate links used throughout this post at no cost to you! Affiliate linking is what enables me to provide content (more info on that in the sidebar of this blog ------> as well as at the end of this post). THANK YOU for all of your support!

💛💙WAYS YOU CAN HELP💙💛

(I want to keep this at the top of the post to make it the fastest and easiest to find):

Check out this Global Citizen post <--------click! There are many vetted charities that can be donated to along with other helpful info.

Another thing to check out (more specifically for my card-making friends) is the @ukrainecarddrive <-------click! account on Instagram. They are auctioning off a bunch of cards from a ton of fabulous designers (I missed the chance to participate with my own cards but trust me there are SO many amazing cards to bid on in there) to help raise funds

You can also check out the hashtag #cardsforUkraine on social media. There is so much inspiration and support in our community and it gives me hope

Hello friends!

I have been struggling with the words to say what's on my mind with what's been going on in the Ukraine. Normally I keep world events, politics, religion etc off of all my social media pages. Not because I don't care (quite the opposite in fact) - but because I view my career and my "corner of the interwebs" as an escape from reality if you understand what I mean? Crafting is therapy, and I have been told by a lot of people how much they enjoy being able to unwind and just take part in my videos without having to think too hard.

That said - I still wanted to raise some awareness and show my support. I stand with Ukraine. My heart just breaks for what is happening and people that I KNOW in this industry are sleeping in bomb shelters overnight and making molotov cocktails to use among so many other things that is hard to wrap my head around. Again I have no words.... so instead I made this:

The sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine. Their flag is blue and yellow - so I took inspiration from that to make this card 💛💙.

I die cut Canson XL watercolor paper using Simon's Sunflower Petals wafer die set and the leaves from the Detailed Rose wafer die set. I used a bunch of Distress Spray Stains to color the pieces (specific colors listed below).

I used CZ Designs Here for You wafer die and ink blended Prize Ribbon Distress Ink over it. I clear heat embossed a sentiment from the Well Wishes stamp set and used the same ink over that as well.

I created a textured panel by first die cutting some white card stock with one of the Nested Domed Arches wafer dies then running it through my die cutting machine with the Lumen Embossing Folder.

On the inside of the card I stamped more sentiments from the Well Wishes stamp set using Mustard Seed and Prize Ribbon Distress Oxide inks and that was it!

To see how this card came together check out my video below:

Or watch in HD over on YouTube HERE <-------click!

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube! You can also consider supporting me on my Patreon!

I get asked a lot about where to purchase the supplies I use in my videos and blog posts. I list all the supplies I use at the end of my posts (below) or in the description box directly below my video on YouTube.

Compensated affiliate links used when possible at no extra cost to you. Affiliate linking is what keeps my blog and YouTube channel up and running and enables me to work from home and provide for my children! I appreciate your support more than words can say! I occasionally receive product for free from stores/manufacturer with no obligation on my part to use/review - I only use and share what I personally love. Everything else I purchase myself! 

Simon Says Stamp HDSA Fundraiser

Hello friends!

If you don't follow me on my social medias (specifically Instagram and Facebook) you may not be aware of this awesome fundraiser that Simon Says Stamp is currently doing:

You can check out the Crafty Parcels at the links below (these are NOT affiliate links - 100% of the proceeds is going to charity):

$50 Donation to HDSA

$150 Donation to HDSA SOLD OUT!

Also, if you would prefer to forgo a Crafty Parcel and just want to make a donation directly to HDSA Central Ohio you can do that HERE <-------click!

This cause is very near and dear to Heidi (owner of SSS) who has lost family members to Huntington's, her hubby has it and there is a 50/50 chance of their children getting it. For more info about this fundraising effort as well as a list of just some of the amazing companies that have donated product (not only have companies donated TONS of product, a lot of wonderful people - including Heidi and her family and staff at SSS - are donating their time to fill these boxes. It's just heartwarming to see so many in this industry come together for a good cause) - check out the Simon Says Stamp blog post HERE <-------click!

💙💙💙

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a VERY Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from me and my munchkins!! 

An important message from one of my sponsors...

I had posted this video on my Facebook page, but I know a lot of you aren't on Facebook so I finally figured out how to upload it to my YouTube channel from my phone so that I could post it here too!

My little man has become quite the chatterbox - funniest thing is is whenever I pull out my phone he stares right at it and starts talking away. He's the only one of my kids that doesn't get shy when the phone/camera comes out! Which of course I completely adore, and I'm trying to get his sisters more comfortable with the camera so that I can get more pics and videos of them too!

Anywho - here's the important message from my "sponsor":

 

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

I plan on doing another Life Update video soon, as well as getting back into card making and crafty videos! It's all on my "to-do list" - just a matter of figuring out the logistics around these 4 munchkins of mine! :) 

AmyR Life Update Video - June 2015

Hello everyone! I am still alive :P - people have been commenting and e-mailing wanting to know how things are since I've pretty much disappeared these past several weeks. I won't lie it's definitely been a struggle (to put it lightly) trying to adjust to everything and juggling 2 kids, a toddler and a newborn on my own. 

I filmed a quick Life Update video for y'all:

 

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

AmyR Life Update Video May 2015

Well I combined Gavin's birth story with my latest life update. This is my life now:

 

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

He's here! Quick video

I just posted this on YouTube and thought I'd put it here too for those that might have missed my earlier announcement :) I had a photographer come in to the hospital to capture some moments with my little man and his sisters getting to meet him for the first time. So SO glad I did it as I've got some wonderful pictures and memories captured - in a 1000x better way than I could take with my phone camera LOL!

I included a couple of the shots in the video:

 

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

Welcome to the World Gavin <3

Gavin Xavier was born April 16 weighing in at 8lbs4oz. He's absolutely perfect and we're doing REALLY well. His big sisters are overjoyed that he's here and have been loving on him from the moment they met him ;). We're back home and settling in and I will be back posting soon - not sure about videos and whatnot as I'm just taking it all a day at a time! <3 <3 <3

Checkin' In

Hey everyone :).

No baby yet - still a little left to go - I'm 38 1/2 weeks! But for those that don't follow me on Instagram (which is what I tend to update the most frequently as it's convenient), I had the wonderful stomach flu visit the house over the Easter holidays.

Needless to say it was a week of hell. Katelyn got it first and it lasted for 3 days (poor kid), and I was run off my feet. Then *I* got it and am at least thankful mine only lasted 24 hours - believe me having the stomach flu at 38 weeks pregnant is not an experience I would wish on ANYONE. I already hadn't slept in 3 days and getting sick myself made it a record 4 days of NO sleep. I am SO thankful my mom was able to take my kids during my sick day so I could concentrate on not dying (somewhat an exaggeration but seriously it was awful). My oldest ended up getting it the day after me but hers was also short-lived. I did more loads of laundry than I thought possible this week!!

So between that and the fact that I am at the stage where I'm feeling pretty uncomfortable and just outright TIRED (without having to deal with sick kids and sick self!) I haven't been feeling too creative. That plus I'm finding sitting at my computer or sitting at my craft desk to be only tolerable for short amounts of time.

Anywho that's what's been going on in my life - laundry, sickness, attempting to get things cleaned and organized before baby gets here etc etc. I'm definitely a LOT more prepared around the house this time versus when I had Katelyn (those that remember we were right in the middle of studio renovations and moving my salon and didn't even have the crib put together yet - it was massive chaos). I learned my lesson from that time so I've had the baby's room ready to go for a couple of weeks now and won't have to dig through boxes trying to find baby things and put them together LOL!

I will be back with cards here on the blog soon though - possibly a video or two too - it just depends on how I'm feeling and whatnot. Now that everyone is feeling better and I'm back to getting *some* things accomplished the creative juices just might start flowing again ;). And when the baby arrives of course I'll be letting y'all know on here and on my Instagram/Facebook/YouTube accounts ;) ;).

Life Update: 37 Weeks Video

Here it is finally :) - lots of people requesting another update and wondering what's going on. Honestly not a whole lot other than life LOL. I'm still hanging in there - just super crazy busy and tired!

So here's my rambling random update - I'm sure I forgot a million things to tell y'all but like I say in the video I filmed this after a loooonnnggg day in the city and was so exhausted, but at least it's another thing off my to-do list ;)

ETA: Just an FYI - y'all can keep checking in as I'm not planning on taking any time off from my blog/YouTube channel etc etc. When I said in the video that I'm not posting another Life Update video 'till after the baby comes it was just THAT type of video - not everything in general. I'll still be posting *somewhat* regularly on here and doing card videos and all that as time allows me. I'll be busy of course but I'm ALWAYS busy LOL!

Also I do a lot of this as a job, and being self-employed means there's no benefits or paid time off. So I do what I have to to pay the bills and put food on the table ;). Of course it all depends on what happens when the baby arrives but the great thing about what I do is that I'm able to do it around all the chaos and at odd hours and whatnot. I love what I do - being creative is a BIG stress-reliever for me as well - so I'll keep posting on here as much as I can!! :D

 

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

Life Update! 30 Weeks + Gender Reveal! Video

FINALLY got this one done. I actually filmed it last Friday, edited it at some point this week and uploaded it a day or two ago so here it is!

So many people asking for updates and info and whether it's a boy or girl - and yes I did finally find out and tell y'all in the video. I appreciate all the comments and concern and well-wishes. I've been CRAZY-busy but that's how it always is with me LOL so I just take it all in stride and do what I can do!

 

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

Life Update: Preggo Vlog?!?

Hello everyone! It's been a while since I posted - the past week has been pretty rough - LOTS going on, coupled with me being exhausted/achy/not feeling well/etc etc etc. I just haven't felt up to stamping or being creative much at all - my stamping mojo has completely abandoned me :P. 

I've had a lot of requests for updates/info/life update videos etc - and it's been long overdue. Needless to say this one was LONG - and took forever to upload LOL!

If you missed my blog post from a couple months ago announcing this pregnancy you can see it here.

 

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

Now that I've got this off my to-do list I can get to working on some other things - which will hopefully include some stamping! I miss it...

Big News...

So this got posted on my Facebook page and Instagram account - and since I know there's a lot of people that read my blog that don't follow me on either of those accounts I better post this here too!

Another one of the reasons (among work and family and all the technical issues my blog has been having lately that I've already mentioned) I haven't been posting as much on here lately. I've been naseous and tired and not feeling all that creative! But hopefully I'll be posting with some regularity ASAP!

(sorry for the cruddy pic - I took it with my phone in the evening and Katelyn couldn't stand still if her life depended on it LOL. So I just chose the best least blurry shot)

Updates! 20lb Weightloss, Erin Condren Planner, GIVEAWAY!

Hey everyone! I've been running around like a crazy person the past couple of weeks, but finally took a few minutes to film a quick update video on all the things people have been asking me lately.

I apologize for the out-of-focus video - totally didn't realize it wasn't clear 'till I went to edit - and I HATE having to repeat everything - so I'm sharing it anyway:

  

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

Here's the link to my original What's on My Wrist? It's a FitBit post <---click! I am REALLY happy with it still. I don't notice it's there and I still love having my steps calculated. I forgot to mention in the update video that I still haven't got their Aria scale but it's on my list to get it - mostly for the convenience factor. The scale we have now is OK but I want that one and those that I've talked to that own the Aria scale love theirs so I plan on getting it in the near future. If/when I do I can let y'all know or show it in a video if there's enough interest.

You can check out all the different FitBit options and the scale here:

FitBit

And here's the link to my original Erin Condren Life Planner Unboxing Video post <----click! I definitely couldn't live without mine now. I LOVE it, and keep track of all the craziness I have going on with it. I much prefer a paper planner to anything on a phone/computer - I never use my iPhone calender or anything like that. I just don't like to. I prefer writing it down and keeping track that way. So the Erin Condren one works fabulously for me. You can find them all and the options here:

Erin Condren Life Planners

Which brings me to the GIVEAWAY! I'm giving away a $100 gift certificate to Erin Condren to one lucky winner - so enter your info in the Rafflecopter giveaway below (if you're reading this through a reader you may need to click over onto my blog to see the widget) for your chance to WIN! 

ETA: Thank you all who entered and for all your encouraging comments! A winner has been chosen and e-mailed with 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway