Inspiration Hop, Day 2: "Branching Out" and "Follow your Dreams"

Good morning! Happy Monday and I hope you all had a terrific Easter weekend! Today our Inspiration Hops with the Gina K team continue, please enjoy all the samples and ideas our team has for you and be sure to leave comments as Gina will be drawing winners from all the comments for stamp sets! The first set I want to show you is my new "Branching Out". Here is a closeup of one of the frames, die cut with a Standard Square Nestabilitie, and layered over Labels 15 and the Fleur de Lis pendant die. As you can see, these frame images work with a lot of different die sets!

I stamped the frame in gray and then the flowers in red, this particular flower is one of my favorites in the set and I love how easy this and all the other tiny elements are to add anywhere to the vine, bringing it to life, and also adding quick pops of color.

Instead of using the large rectangle frame, which was sized with A2 cards in mind, I decided to make a background paper with the longer vine and showcase more images from the set. I placed my Pure White Luxury mat at an angle, corner to my tummy, so I could stamp the vines ion a diagonal in rows, I find it is easy to stamp them "straight" across with the paper turned rather than trying to stamp diagonally, you know?

Next I used Vivid Brick Red to add two different flowers (they can be different types or just the same trumpet flower at different angles) and the berries to random spots on the vines. Depending on the look you are going for, they can all be stamped in consistent spots on the vine for a more symmetrical print, or randomly, turning them this way and that, like real flowers would be. I sponged the edges with gray before adhering it to my card.

This measures 5 1/2" square, I don't normally make cards this large, but I really liked the Pendant die, turned and I think the delicate cut outs go so well with the vine. Cardstock is Smoky Slate, Red Hot and Black Onyx. I notched the corners with the ticket punch and added adhesive nailheads. That beautiful greeting, which really pops in black, is from our next set we are showcasing today, and is also used on the next two "Branching Out" cards which show simple ideas for the birds...
and this one, both simple ones I shared at our release party...

all three of those sentiments are from Theresa's Momber's "Follow your Dreams", another scenic set I know you will love! This boat image I think would speak to every guy in my life! :) She's made it so easy to create a scene with it at the water's edge and a pine silhouette for a background. First I stamped the boat on a 4" x 5 1/4" Pure Luxury White mat and colored it with Copics. The lines below the boat create some ripples in the water, but also help remind me I need to put a little brown there to reflect the boat! Next I masked the boat and sponged aqua ink over it covering the top half of the mat with sticky notes to make a horizon. Remove your mask and sponge more aqua randomly to make the clouds, and olive ink below it the boat for the shore. And once you have your horizon line, you have a spot to add your trees.

Before removing the boat mask, be sure to remember to flip your trees over and stamp again below it, without reinking, this creates the perfect reflection and completes the illusion of water on your card. (Refer to sample for the clouds and boat reflection in the finished scene, I forgot to get a pic of that, oops!)A scene like that deserves a spotlight, so I die cut an oval window through my Kraft mat I'd stamped with the large "Branching Out" frame and then popped it up over my focal point with foam dots. I love doing windows with nature scenes especially, like you are peeking into another world. The frame allows me to come up with a simple but interesting layout that matches nicely! Base is Pure Luxury Fresh Asparagus, and I added just a few silver adhesive nail heads to finish it off.

• Gina K



• Giovana Smith




• Janice Whiting




• Jennie Harper

• Jimmi Mayo




• Lee Murphy




• Melanie Muenchinger (you are here, thanks for visiting!)




• Michelle Woerner




• Sharon Harnist




• Suzanne Dean




• Tami Mayberry




• Theresa Momber Illustrator of "Follow Your Dreams"
  
  
  


• Tina Gilliland




• Valerie Stangle




• Vicki Dutcher




• AJ Otto
  
  
  


• Carolina Buchting




• Cathy Tidwell




• Deb Felts




• Donna Baker




• Emily Giovanni

See you tomorrow as the hop continues, enjoying hopping around today!