Thursday, August 30, 2012

Gina K Designs Duo Hop and Sale!

Good morning, and welcome to a surprise Gina K Designs mini release sale and hop! ALL stamp set duos are 50% off, including the four *brand new* duos you'll see in our hop today, so you can get a jump start on your holiday stamping projects. These duos are available in deeply etched pre-cut rubber only.

Also, Gina K. Designs patterned paper packs are now 25% off! Stock up now and save!

Sale good from Thursday, 8/30/12 through Monday, 9/3/12.


Here is a very simple card using the above Ornamental Holiday Duo, with the image and greeting in black, colored with Copics and a little red bakers twine glued along the string with some Mono Multi. I remembered these little button baby brads and thought it would sweet to pierce through to hang on both sides.

Card base is Pure Luxury Red Hot. I forgot to add the sparkle in the pics, but holiday cards are always better when you use a bit of Stickles or Glitter pen to accent the details and glitz it up! I'll do that before sending! ;)


Thanks for hopping today and I hope you enjoy the sale and pick up some fun stamps!

http://api.ning.com/files/PsJxvi-*WJtrsT8RMY93fpIX*ncOBPlXz5QBCUxIXw9lMw1MGgzt4vrNGAam-p1JqkZyVNAlmVXhVeAhfA1Vybw7eMoRx8s-/Designteambutton.gif

To see the other new images included in the sale sale and more inspiration, please continue on to the rest of our Gina K Designs team:

Have an excellent holiday weekend! :)

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Discovery...

I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for reading my post about Lynn and reaching out to me and each other with your comments, more about Lynn, and personal emails to me about your relationship with her and what we can do now. (see bottom of this post)
I Promise You: God's Words of Love and Encouragement
I was surprised to hear she was actually an editor of books and manuscripts from Janeen, and then even more surprised to learn from Susan she wrote a few books herself ! I didn't know the half of it when I said Lynn was humble, not even bothering to say she was an author! Add author to the list of stuff I didn't know! She never told me, but me encouraged me so with my writing, now I understand her taking such a special interest in that. Here are her books on Amazon, published in the 90's (perhaps before she got sick?) They are also very well reviewed on Goodreads and ChristianBooks.com. I didn't know the half of it when I said Lynn was humble, not even bothering to say she was an author! And can you believe the titles:

It's like Lynn had everything planned for her friends after her passing to stay strong and to keep speaking to us. These topics will minister to all of us and beyond, what a gift to be able to sit down and read her thoughts and wisdom.

I just had to let you know, it's not to late to learn about Lynn and know she spoke with great authority on God's word. We'll all be grieving the loss of many people over our lifetimes and reading the reviews on that title about grieving in particular, sounds like a wonderful book to give to yourself or someone you know who is hurting... "I Promise You" is on its way to my house, I can't wait to read it! :) Really hoping there *might* be a photo of her inside...

Want to send a card or pray? This message is from Susan:
"I have Lynn's daughter's address. Lynn was estranged from her daughter, but she had expressed a wish to her friend that when she died, she hoped that everyone would send a card to her daughter to let her daughter know that other people loved her. I would like to honor that wish and would love it if all of you would do the same.
Angela Chisum
2971 N.W. Moore Ct.
Bend, OR 97701
I have some other sad news as well and need your prayers. Lynn's beloved cat, Bonnie Blue, is missing. They think she ran out while the police and ambulance were there. They are searching for her, but have not found her yet. Please pray that they find her and get her to a nice safe home.
On behalf of Lynn's friends, thank you all for such wonderful words about her. I don't think Lynn actually knew how much we all loved her and how much she touched all of our lives. She will be greatly missed."


Sunday, August 19, 2012

Remembering Lynn...

It is with a very heavy heart that I share that my friend Lynn Brookside passed away, I found out yesterday on my phone during a belated birthday celebration for my son Jonathan. My heart just broke thinking the last message I got from Lynn was on on my blog last week saying how much she was looking forward to hearing how his swim meet went. I hadn't blogged about it yet being so busy with summer stuff and our release and blog hops after we returned, and now it's too late.* (A sad emoticon at the end of that sentence wouldn't even begin to cover how I feel about not doing that.)

What I regret even more, is that I'd planned to do a Q & A about her on my blog as a follow up to some of the cards she made with the Wild Flowers set, so I, and my readers, would know more about this dear woman who was always ready with wonderful compliments for people and loved participating in the StampTV community and uploading her own art, which by the way, was absolutely beautiful. Just look at this card she made, less than a week ago! It's so full of joy and abundance.
Rebekah's bday '12
She knew I planned to do that, I just hadn't sent the questions, and of course she waited patiently, on me, and I never got around to it. Questions like, Can you tell us more about your condition? How are you able to press through pain and craft? How did you get started stamping? What's your favorite Bible verse? And now I'll never know, at least on this side of eternity...I feel terrible that I left things undone...(I invite any of you to share these answers below, if you know)

There's a LOT I don't know about Lynn. I know she lived in California, but don't know how old she was or what she looked like. She represented herself with this sweet kitten avatar on StampTV. Seated, content, in the flowers. I'd just always imagined her as someone with smile on her face and a light in her eyes.

I don't know about her family, although I got the impression she didn't have them around. I was told this weekend that, sadly, they were estranged. Just recently though she 'liked" my sons' school on Facebook to help their school earn gift cards for supplies, since she didn't have any children in school of her own she wanted to help mine out! She was so sweet to think of things like that, and seemed overjoyed when I replied thanking her for "adopting my little ones.

I do know she had chronic pain. I'm not sure she even wanted to tell me all the physical problems she had, (perhaps that would have seemed too much like complaining) because I asked where the pain was if I could pray about it specifically, but she never responded with details. Lynn didn't define herself by those problems, and other than praying about it, it didn't really come up in our correspondence again. She had too many things she was excited about, like praying for others, and making cards that would brighten someone's day. (I know she LOVED making cards!)

I know she was very humble. When I read on Facebook not too long ago, she was praying God would take her life because she was suffering so much pain physically I wrote and asked if we could do a card drive for her. Her response was that there other people in more need of cards than she. Just knowing people would want to do something like that for was enough to lift her spirit.
single hibiscus
I know she was in a wheelchair, which made it almost impossible for her to get out, even to church, which was very difficult for her not to have that fellowship or time to worship. Living alone made the friends she had online that much more precious to her.
Shaker card

I know she believed the best about people.
I'm still amazed, humbled, and thankful how generously she wrote to me and prayed for me, when she knew so little about who I was.

I know she was a Christian
. Not just because she was a praying person, but because she knew Jesus. That's how our friendship and correspondence began about 6 months ago, that she must have known I was a Christian also from a previous stamp set and from reading my blog, and she reached out to me requesting I create a new set that contained more Bible verses. The funny thing was, "Wild Flowers" had already been etched in rubber and was scheduled for release the very next week , yet I had completed it almost two years ago at the same time I was working on Wild at Heart. Would she like a copy? Once she saw it, she said she felt it was made just for her. That we finally brought it out at that time, made me feel like it was God's timing that it was meant for Lynn.

And, because she knew Jesus, I know that she is out of out of her wheelchair today dancing with angels. That was an image that comforted me last night as I was laying awake so sad and regretting that things felt so unfinished between us. Praise God!

Finally I will share something Lynn wrote to me in February after I shared the Bible verse (But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." which really helped me when I was having trouble with my hand, although my pain and problem was nothing compared to what she was dealing with) Her response in italics:

"The scriptures you shared, are, indeed, ones that I cling to a lot. Otherwise, I would be caught in a web of despair with no way out. I don't know WHY God is allowing this to happen in my life, but I'm content to know that He has a purpose and that it's not a senseless accident. He knows what He's doing and that's (usually) enough for me. Sometimes, like today, though, I catch myself looking down at my pain rather than up at Him. Your message brought me right out of that.

Thank you, also, for sending me to your blog entry where you discussed your own bout with injury and pain. I'm praising God that He didn't keep you there but allowed you to resume creating things for other people's benefit -- mine in particular.

Being a shut-in means not getting to church or to a Bible study and so messages like yours make a world of difference to me. You've ministered to my heart, today, in a way no one else has in a very long time."

It's so amazing how God can use everything that happens to us, to just bless and minister to one another back and forth, how I could feel grateful that I had been through something difficult to witness to her what helped me, and that experience. I also knew Lynn had probably read that verse a hundred times but being able to talk about that together really created a strong bond and trust between us. God's word is never wasted. What if I hadn't shared it that day?
Lynn's response of course, lifted me up too, reminding me how blessed I am and not to sweat the small stuff I can get so wrapped up in. And her emails that I've saved will continue to do so, about what kind of example I need to be to others when things are tough. To always find my hope and contentment in Him, not my circumstances.

Lynn, you earned your rest and finished your work, being salt and light on this earth. Thank you, for blessing me with your prayers and kindness. The memory of your example of encouraging others and handling the worst trials with grace will be with me forever. Thank you for caring about my family, for praying for my boys, and praying for my success with professional projects and my art. Thank you for sharing the vision you had for the work that God intends to do through me. I hope I have the courage and energy to accomplish it all. As you would say, "Bear Hugs"

"Being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." Phil 1:6

Honor Lynn today and bless yourself by going through her gallery and seeing that "stamp of herself" she left on the world and chose to reveal to all of us, things of beauty, not pain, and her concern and caring for others (as well as how much she loved Gina K stamps! What a fan!) BTW, I just spied this one from two years ago, checking to see how long she has been an STV member, called "Not Alone". The sentiment, all things considered, gives me chills. It's like a message to me to pick myself up.
not alone

I could go on and on about Lynn but honestly this is all the energy I have for this now, I'm feeling defeated by the loss as well as inspired at the same time recounting what a remarkable person she was. Sorry for the rambling or if parts don't make sense, it's the best I can manage. I'll close by saying that I pray that all of you who read this today will go send that card or make that phone call you've been putting off because life is busy or because "there will be time tomorrow." We don't know what the future holds. Don't wait.

Thanks for reading. Several StampTV members are working on finding addresses or details for those of you who might want to do something more for Lynn, so stay tuned. Happy Sunday, and God bless!

*PS I *will* share about the swim meet. That is next. When I cried this morning that I left that undone and she had been looking forward to it, William put his arms around my neck and said, "Mama, can't you ask God to tell her for you?"

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Inspiration Hop Day 3: Sun Kissed Autumn STV Kit and Fall Foliage

Good morning! Welcome to our final day of Gina K Designs Inspiration Hops with the design team! As you hop through the blogs, make sure to leave a comment on each of them because we will choose a few random comments and those stampers will each win a grab bag of deeply etched, pre-cut Gina K. Designs stamps! To see the full list of winners check the Big News forum at Stamp TV a couple of days after the hops.
The first sample shows the Fall Foliage Free with Three set, purchase any three sets this month and receive this beautiful set of fall leaves and sentiments free! This month only! I created some cut leaves with the Fall Foliage Silhouette cut file out of white cardstock and stamped the leaves inside. TIP: Be sure to use layering weight Pure Luxury when cutting with your Silhouette, unless you need a very sturdy cut out, the machine has to do less work cutting through this thinner paper and the blade will last longer! Each of these I inked up with two Memento pads: one in Morocco and then rolled the edges in Rhubarb Stalk, the other in Peanut Brittle and Toffee Crunch. At first, I was going to do at least three leaves but then chose two to go with this sentiment, and the greeting balances them out as a third element. I pulled my adhesive pearls off in strips to make the drifting trails behind them just pressing down as I went to create the curves. I thought pearls would give it a very precious quality to go with the "blessings". Patterned Paper is GKD Sun Kissed Autumn. Greeting stamped in Memento Espresso Truffle. Card base is heavy weight Pure Luxury White.
Next we have the Sun Kissed Autumn StampTV kit. This owl and greeting are so stinking cute! Yeah, I know he's a little big for this tree the way I stamped it, but I love the whimsy of it! love how this image can go from tree to branch easily depending on your design and intent! Tree stamped in Memento Espresso Truffle and leaves in Memento Pistachio (which by the way, is a terrific match for the new Pure Luxury Dusty Sage! Card base is Pure Luxury Tomato Soup, I adore this new color! Owl colored with Copics E97, E94, E87, YR18 and BG000.
http://api.ning.com/files/PsJxvi-*WJtrsT8RMY93fpIX*ncOBPlXz5QBCUxIXw9lMw1MGgzt4vrNGAam-p1JqkZyVNAlmVXhVeAhfA1Vybw7eMoRx8s-/Designteambutton.gif
Enjoy hopping with the rest of the Gina K Designs design team for inspiration with these sets:

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Inspiration Hop Day 2: Light Hearted Wishes, American Made and Stippled Nature

Good morning! Welcome back to our Gina K Designs Inspiration Hops with the design team! As you hop through the blogs, make sure to leave a comment on each of them because we will choose a few random comments and those stampers will each win a grab bag of deeply etched, pre-cut Gina K. Designs stamps! To see the full list of winners check the Big News forum at Stamp TV a couple of days after the hops.

First up we have Lighthearted Wishes from Tami Mayberry. I love this light bulb! These open, graphic images work so well on a plain white base, so I kept it simple but added the sunburst from American Made inked up in Memento Dandelion with the top edges rolled in Cantaloupe. I love how the bulb, cut with the Silhouette cut file, looks positioned in the middle of these rays! I used Copics, R35, and FY1, Y19. and Y35 for the bulb. (I tried adding some rhinestones colored with yellow Copic for sparkle to the rays but decided I liked it better without. Michelle rocks the tiny sparkle bling so much better than I do!)
Next up we have Becky Oehler's American Made, so I made a Father design. Label is stamped on Pure Luxury White, matted on Cherry Red and card base is Tomato Soup. Sunburst is stamped in Morocco.
After cutting the label and mat with the Silhouette cut file and mat stack, label is stamped in Memento Summer Sky, with Father stamped and then stamped off for a shadow in Teal Zeal, and two step stamped words in Morocco. I used a penny attached with a glue dot for my "dude" bling and I really like how the aged copper element looks with this design centered over the rays. Embellishments don't get much cheaper than 1 cent! (Talk about "American Made", hee!)
This next sample uses Stippled Nature from our newest illustrator Beth Silaika. Love the spongy, distressed quality of these stippled images and the texture they add to your designs! I cut out lots of leaves with the coordinating Silhouette cut file, and then stamped in the matching leaves in several Memento colors to create a rich fall palette: Morocco, Peanut Brittle, Pistachio, Bamboo Leaves, and Cantaloupe. The branch is stamped in Espresso Truffle on heavy wight white Pure luxury, and the bird and greeting are stamped in Teal Zeal. I used the cut file for the bird as well and then just snipped off his legs to better fit this design.
Last I added some adhesive rhinestones for an eye and to accentuate the greeting. Totally adorable sets!
http://api.ning.com/files/PsJxvi-*WJtrsT8RMY93fpIX*ncOBPlXz5QBCUxIXw9lMw1MGgzt4vrNGAam-p1JqkZyVNAlmVXhVeAhfA1Vybw7eMoRx8s-/Designteambutton.gif
Enjoy hopping with the rest of the Gina K Designs design team for inspiration with these sets:

Monday, August 13, 2012

Inspiration Hop, Day 1: Basket Additions 3, Holiday Basket and Country Roads

Good morning and happy Monday! Welcome to our first day of Gina K Designs Inspiration Hops with the design team! As you hop through the blogs, make sure to leave a comment on each of them, because we will choose a few random comments, and those stampers will each win a grab bag of deeply etched, pre-cut Gina K. Designs stamps! To see the full list of winners check the Big News forum at Stamp TV a couple of days after the hops.
Today we are sharing samples with Basket Additions 3. My design today also uses Holiday Basket, newly released in clear photopolymer. I used the matching Silhouette cut files for both Basket Additions 3 and Holiday Basket to make this cut window. I will show more about how to position the cutout on the card base in the following sample and stamp the image inside, but first I want to show you how you can fuse together the tops and bottoms from these sets into one cut!
Open both files in Silhouette Studio. Under Edit, hit Copy after selecting each image you want by clicking with your mouse (school topper and basket). Open a New file, and Paste both images in. Move them on the screen with your mouse so they are touching each other.
Now click on the eraser tool that's on the left hand side of the screen.
Now position your mouse over the line in the middle you want to get rid of, and this big gray dot will appear.
Holding down the left click button on your mouse, begin dragging across and watch the line magically disappear!
Once you've removed the entire line and have one outline for the whole thing, go just above the image top left, hold down the left click button on your mouse and drag to right right lower corner to create a box around it. Go to the toolbar at top, click Object, and then in the drop down menu, select Group. Now these images are attached and you can drag it wherever you want on the screen. (You can also do this before you erase if you want.)
Save this file if you want (ex: "schoolbasket") so that now any time you'd like to stamp these images together, whether as the cut out to stamp on or the window for the images to show through, they'll be cut as one piece! Just be sure not to change the originals, make copies first! :)
If you don't have the Silhouette Cameo, simply stamp the images on white cardstock, color and cut out, then mount on top of the red base popped up. I added some school supply touches like a rubber band and a binder clip, just dug them out of our junk drawer, love the ease, affordability and style of office embellishments! Cardstock is the new Pure Luxury Cherry Red.I also wanted to show a fun hinged card I made using the Create a Cauldron print and cut file with the Halloween image from Basket Additions 3. (If you don't have the Silhouette Cameo, simply use the digital image version and cut with scissors.)
Boo! Surprise! Cauldron and mat are Pure Luxury Smoky Slate and goo is Pure Luxury Key Lime. Patterned paper is from the Gina K Hello Sunshine pack.The top layer is attached with a brad and hidden by the bubbles. Now that I've finished this hinged card, I'm inspired to show you another hinged design using Holiday Basket, check back for that soon! :)

Next up, we have Theresa Momber's Country Roads, one of my favorite sets she's ever done! She really captured the pastoral feel of the country with the images and I love the fonts, particularly the graceful calligraphy. On today's sample, I used the covered bridge image and the matching Silhouette cut file to create a window to frame it. Using not just the cut outs themselves but the negative space as well, strategically placed on your mats and card bases, is so striking (and uses ALL your paper, no waste!)
Let me show you how! After opening the cut file, click on the bridge image and select "Copy" under Edit on the toolbar. Open a New file, then hit Paste. This will add the bridge to the new file. Considering this top fold card will be 4 1/2" X 11", position the images within 4 1/2" from the left side of the square on the mat, and the bottom half of the card, which will be the front, spanning from about 6 1/2" to 9". The grid helps you position is where you want.

Now place your cardstock (4 1/4" x 11") portrait style on your mat aligned with top left corner, hit "Send to Silhouette" and "Cut". Pull your cardstock off. Save the cut bridge for another project. Save this new file you made if you want to use it again, as "Bridge Card", or something like that.
After the Silhouette cuts it out, score at 5 1/2" as usual for an A2 card and fold. Now cut the white layer to go inside, 4" x 10 3/4" and score at 5 1/4". Adhere to inside (just the back, front is free to move)


Hold the layers down and stamp the bridge (inked in Memento Espresso Truffle) inside the cut out.
Fold back front and color with Copics. (I used most of the same colors as Theresa used in this post. I also added little darker blue stripe under the bridge to cast a shadow on the water.)
Last, add the greeting in Memento Tuxedo Black and add some trees around the window with Versamark. Create pierced rows for detail with Scor-Bug tool. Cardbase is the new Pure Luxury Honey Mustard.
http://api.ning.com/files/PsJxvi-*WJtrsT8RMY93fpIX*ncOBPlXz5QBCUxIXw9lMw1MGgzt4vrNGAam-p1JqkZyVNAlmVXhVeAhfA1Vybw7eMoRx8s-/Designteambutton.gif
Enjoy hopping with the rest of the Gina K Designs design team for inspiration with these sets:

Friday, August 10, 2012

Simple Single Layer

This card using Theresa's Country Roads is so minimal, but I love how it turned out! I used a Pure Luxury Sandy Beach base, gorgeous with those natural flecks, and stamped the tall and short stalks randomly in Memento Tuxedo Black, then added the greeting and windmill.
Next I tore a sheet of paper and covered the bottom of the card, then sponged in Memento Bamboo Leaves, concentrating along the tore edge and pulling up with the sponge to make the green fade out. Last I inked up another sponge in Memento Morocco and smudged up the top of the card, instant sunrise/sunset! Terrific set, Theresa!

Have a great weekend!

I still need to update you all with our swim meet results and vacation details! we had our release party right after we got back so I just haven't had chance but will try to in the next few days! Thanks to all of you who kept us in your prayers! :)

Sunday, August 5, 2012

New Pure Luxury Colors and Comparisons

Hello, happy Sunday! I was so excited to get my order of new Gina K Pure Luxury colors in yesterday's mail, I just had to pull out some other Pure Luxury colors to compare and show you! The first pic shows all four, plus white, to help the colors appear more true.

Check out the new Tomato Soup, I am in love with this new gorgeous orange-red! So warm and rich, love it! (Pass me the Ritz!) ;)
And the new Cherry Red is my *new* favorite red! Now, you all know how I feel about Lipstick Red (near and dear!), and although they do look similar in this photo, you can definitely tell the difference: Lipstick Red is browner and doesn't have as smooth an appearance, while the Cherry Red is so much more vibrant and smooth as silk pure color! Cherry Red is the perfect name for this perfect shade!
Next up is the Honey Mustard, this color really isn't like anything we've had before, and I am so excited about it, just in time for fall! So elegant! Completely different than our yellows, but too yellow or brown to be called an orange, the closest thing is Tan Leather, pictured below. You can see how much more golden it is, though, and of course the smooth finish.

Last, the Dusty Sage, this such a gorgeous color! I can never have enough greens, and this one is completely different than the others in Pure Luxury line. Love how muted it is, it will be a wonderful neutral paired with so many other shades. Here I put it next to the Pure Luxury Grays so you can see how much bluer they are, and how subtle it is next to the Green Apple.

Hope this is helpful in planning your purchases and designs for Autumn projects! Can't wait to start cutting, and matting! Which new color is your favorite? Excuse me while I go work them into some samples for our inspiration hops, starting on the 13th!

Thank you for visiting me today! Hope your weekend has been great and Monday kicks off an even better week!