Thursday, February 28, 2013

You're Invited! Gina K. Designs Illustrator Hop (and a video!)

Good morning!  Welcome to our Gina K. Designs illustrator hop today, sharing inspiration for all our new sets releasing tonight and making sure you put tonight's party down on your schedule! 
As always we'll have contests, chatting, prizes, and full reveals of the new stamps and projects made with them from our fabulous design team!  

Here is a quick card I made with my new A Year of Flowers 2 set.  In this set, you get all the same types of flowers, leaves and stems (plus a few more!)  that are so versatile for building designs for all the different holidays and seasons from the first A Year of Flowers set, but this time drawn in a more stylized, sketchy way. I think you will love being able to change up the look this way, or really enjoy it if more whimsical images are your preference (or your recipient's) over realistic ones.  They certainly lend themselves to the same techniques as the first set, as well as some others!
Also, if you are a fan of my previously released Pressed Flowers bold set, you'll be happy to know how well those images work two step stamping style paired with these new line art ones.  A sketched  image layered over a more realistic solid image is such an easy way to add color to your projects as well as being a fun, trendy look!  The sentiment here is from Tami's new All Occasion Tags 2, and with the script font and year round sentiments, it is just a perfect match for this year round floral set!  This card uses just two markers, one pad and 2 colors of cardstock, how's that for economical?

After tons of requests from my readers and our StampTV fans of how I do certain techniques since Gina started sharing videos on STV, I finally made a short video for you, of how I colored the card above. Go easy on me, it's my first!   A bit of trivia, this video is just over 5 minutes long but I had to check watching it: the flowers took me only 1 minute and 20 seconds to color! And that's with talking and pausing! Soooo fast and easy! Love it!



Let me warn you,  I didn't notice until afterwards that I called my Copics "Memento markers" (ack, so different!! but at least I listed the colors correctly), presumably since I'd just mentioned my Memento pad*, trying to be all like Gina, ya know,  listing "all the products and tools needed to complete the project", hee! So *please* don't email me that those are Copics in the video. Yes, I know, lol!  Hopefully you saw my notation at that point. My next video will be better!

Anyway, goofs aside, I  hope this conveys how ridiculously quick and simple it is to get beautiful results with your markers and the new images from A Year of Flowers 2! :)

  Supplies used:  Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Black Onyx and Sandy Beach cardstock, A Year of Flowers 2 and All Occasion Tags 2, Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad, Copics R05 and G99.
See you at the party tonight! 7-9 PM CST on StampTV

Now be sure to check out samples from our other illustrators today who are reviewing their new sets! Be sure to leave a comment on each blog for more chances to win a fun prize pack from Gina K:  a package of Birthday Hoot patterned paper (to match the free owl image with any purchase this month!) and coordinating cardstock pack!

 Happy hopping!



*Although I didn't even call it a Memento pad, the name from the lid just burned itself into my brain!

90 comments:

  1. Melanie!! First of all..I haven't mentioned it yet but I LOVE your set. LOVE IT..and so do my girls! Next ...LOVE YOUR CARD! It is Beautiful! And finally...LOVE THAT VIDEO! You are just fabulous! :)

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  2. Wow another great flower set I love this video!!

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  3. I'm so loving this set. AYOF was one of my all time favorites and this will be, too. Love the fun, whimsical way you colored. Fab video!!!

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  4. Love the new set and the card id so pretty, thanks for the video, I will be giving this a try very soon!!

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  5. Great job on the first video, Melanie! Love the new flower set and can't wait to play with it.

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  6. LOVE this new sketchy style Melanie, I think it looks great! And your card is beautiful. Now we can look forward to videos from you as well? SWEET!

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  7. Love those flowers and you make coloring them look so easy!

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  8. What a great video! I love how you talked us through the simple coloring of the flower and leaf. Beautiful work!

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  9. So gorgeous Mel! It's also great to hear your voice and see you working....full action from the master! See you tonight! Hugs! Sean

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  10. AWESome Mel! I so loved hearing your voice! :D What a wonderful video too! Love how you colored the flower, I did one similar!

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  11. I have all your flowers so far. Can't wait to get these!

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  12. What a wonderful video and I love how you did that flower. A great look indeed.

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  13. I can use all the help I can get when using Copic markers. You make this look effortless. I can't wait to try this technique. I need a sympathy card tonight. I may have to case your card. Thank you for the timely video. Love your flowers!

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  14. perfecto video and perfecto card, love the casual coloring on the card.
    ava g

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  15. I just love the flower. So beautiful. Thanks also for the great video! Looking forward to tonight's review.

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  16. These roses are so beautiful. Love the way you've colored them. Thanks for the video too. It's so better to see what's happening!!

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  17. love that card!! thanks so much for showing how to color it! Great video,surprised it was your first. you did a great job.I may have to get this new set. I love how easy it was to color.

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  18. Great video, learned that less color is a great look

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  19. The set is lovely! Your video is great! It was nice to learn a new and easy technique! Can't wait for the next video!

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  20. Great video! Thanks for sharing. That makes a beautiful card. And, as always, LOVE your stamps!

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  21. Beautiful card. Thanks for sharing your technique. Can't wait till tonight so I can order it!

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  22. Love the card and the new set. I can't wait to get started purchasing your flowers stamps. Just love them. See you at the party. Thanks for the video too.

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  23. Since I absolutely love anything with flowers, you know I will love your new set. Can't wait 'til tonight!

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  24. Thank you for showing us a new coloring technique. Sometimes I guess - less is more. Thanks.

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  25. Amazing video! Great job on your first one! Beautiful card!

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  26. I like how the flowers aren't colored in totally. Very artsy.

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  27. Love the simplicity of these flowers! Great addition to your Year of Flowers set! Good job on your first video!

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  28. Another lovely set of flowers. I just realized that the stamps I have the most of are flowers. These stylized ones are really great!

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  29. Beautiful card Melanie! Love your video too!

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  30. I enjoyed your video - thought you did GREAT - love these flowers I really like the sketchy look - it makes them really unique

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  31. OOOOOOOOOOO Thank you soooooooooo much for teaching us your coloring technique. You made it look soooo easy. Now I gotta try it. I soooo enjoy alllll of your cards.
    Jean McGee

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  32. Love the video, Melanie and another beautiful flower set and your card and coloring touches are awesome. Wish I had all of your sets. I'm hoping to add your book to my next Gina K order.

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  33. Loving these kind of sketchy images, gorgeous! And great video!

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  34. Awesome! Thanks for video! Chittumsh@ aol.com

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  35. How can a card look so beautiful and be so simple to achieve? "Love, love, love" this card.

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  36. Good first video! Thanks for showing us this method of coloring...love all your sets!

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  37. Melanie, I am so glad you have started making videos. I love watching how you stroke and it is visual and I get that so much faster| I just bought your book on my kindle! Love it!

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  38. Love the new set of flowers and the video showing such a quick, easy, and good looking way to color them.

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  39. Loved your video and so looking forward to the next one! Lovely card.

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  40. love your card and how easy you colored it!!!!! I will have to try that!

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  41. Lovely card and great job on your first video! Love the way these sets work together!
    DeniseB

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  42. OMG!!! First, I absolutely love this set! I have the original set and since I love coloring, must get this one!! Great work, as usual!!! Thank you!!!

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  43. Loved your first video and showing how easy it is to color.

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  44. Your card is beautiful! Think I am going to need this set! You did a wonderful job with your first video - your voice is nice and clear as are your instructions! Looking forward to many more!

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  45. Great flower video. You make it look so easy...and it was! Thanks.

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  46. Lovely card! Can't wait to see the full reveal of the set. Thanks for the video - it was very helpful.

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  47. Beautiful card! Can't wait for the release tonight.

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  48. Loved watching you "work"! This new set looks great, I can't wait to get it!

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  49. This is a wonderful card, Melanie!!!!Great video! I was so surprised that you didn't have a Texas southern drawl, like I imagined!!!You sound like us mid westerners!!!

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  50. Unbelievably GORGEOUS card! YOWZA!!! Now on to your video sans Memento Markers! lol

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  51. Beautiful flowers in this new set and I love your technique used today!

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  52. Beautiful card! Thanks for the great video, can't wait to see the next one. Congrats on the new stamp set. TFS

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  53. Thanks for the video and I do love the way you colored the roses. Thank you!

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  54. I LOVED your first video. Yes, I laughed WITH you. Your coloring technique in this video is simply magical. It is a very very nice "look"!!! Of course, YOU make it look easy. I am loving the new stylized flowers in this new stamp set, can't wait to see the WHOLE entire set! See you later.....HUGS!

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  55. Super card! Love the simplicity of it. No one 'does' flower like you do.

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  56. Your flowers are all beautiful! I also learned a lot with your tutorial ...thank you!

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  57. Love your new stamp set Melanie! Your video was great and you made it look so effortless that I could even do it! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  58. Love the new images and the video!!

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  59. Your new set is a must buy for me. I love all of your sets. I'm so excited that you are doing videos. I need help with copics and coloring, so I will definitely be watching. Love your sketchy card....so beautiful!

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  60. I like your rich colors. This image is very pretty.

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  61. Great video! Thanks for showing us how to do these flowers! I love how you did them so quickly and came out with such a pretty card!

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  62. I love your flower sets and have some of them. Thank you for your video. So glad to see a relaxed flair, I tend to get too perfect or fussy. Must try your approach.
    Thanks

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  63. The video was great! The new flower set looks yummy!

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  64. Stunning stamp.
    Definitely on my wish list.

    Allie Gower
    My Card Party

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  65. I love the card...so simple, yet beautiful! Thanks for the video of your coloring technique...very helpful!

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  66. You made that coloring look so easy! Thanks!

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  67. Love your video for your "sketchy" technique!

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  68. You did a great job on your first video. Looking forward to more of these. The card is pretty and thanks for sharing how you made it.

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  69. Your card is beautiful no matter what you called the markers! I think it is so wonderful that you let all us mortals know that even the more experienced can sometimes make a boo-boo (just the words, definitely not the card).

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  70. Oh that is soooooo pretty!

    Kris in Alaska
    funamom at yahoo dot com

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  71. WOW, Melanie! I loooove this new set. I'm a fan of Year of Flowers, and now I "MUST" have this one too!

    When I saw your card, I thought you'd created a stamp set to make those gorgeous colours. Sort of like a two-set set, you know? I'm amazed you did that all free-hand, but I shouldn't be. You do an amazing job! TKS.

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  72. Wow, awesome card and tutorial!! Love your stamp sets!

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  73. Congrats on your first vidow! I love all the new sets.

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  74. The first set with the book is one of my favorite stamping set ever. This one is great too!

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  75. Great coloring technique, tfs! I love your flower sets, they are beautifully designed.

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  76. Great tutorial, thanks and thanks for the fun set!

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  77. Wonderful stamp set, as all yours are! Great video......I love to learn from you professionals! Thank you for sharing.

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  78. Lovely and free spirited card Melanie. Congratulations on Video 1, and many more to come!!!!

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  79. Love the whimsical way you have coloured these flowers, Melanie. This set has gone right to the top of my list. Love the video too!

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  80. Great video,really liked the painting technique. Hope to see more fro.you...what type markers do you recommend? I have alot of water base markers, but I'm not liking the brush stroke lines they leave. Can't afford Copics how about the BIC alcohol markers ?I've been looking for them in craft stores but not having any luck. Thanks again for the video. Barb

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  81. Absolutely beautiful.You make it look so easy yet the result is so superb.

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  82. You made that look so carefree. Lovely!

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  83. l just can't wait for my stamp set to arrive I just love these flowers the wimcqule look is so neat I want to try this technique as soon as my stamps arrive. Hugs & smiles

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  84. Beautiful card,Thanks for the video,love the stamp...

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  85. Love this rose card, Mel, and your coloring video is wonderful -- great job! I love how easy this set is to color!

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  86. Please keep the videos coming!!!!!

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Your generous feedback helps make my work and this blog better! Thanks for inspiring and motivating me! :)