The BIG hop is just a few hours away!!!*

I will be posting the big hop and candy tonight at 12 CST, just a heads up! There will be prizes you can win just by leaving a comment , but there will be extra chances at winning, if you make your project using any of my stamp sets and add it to the Mr. Linky. Just wanted to let you know in case you are staying in this evening and feel like getting a heads start on your stamping! ;)

See you in a few!

* oh yeah, and New Years, too!

Earth Love Baby

Here's a card I made with Hip to Be Square for my neighbor down the street who just had a baby, I stamped the frame directly onto the Cosmo Cricket Earth Love paper. Cardstock base is Pure Luxury Sweet Corn and White. I added a white paper flower behind the baby face like a bonnet and used more paper flowers and buttons from Gina K to put in each of the squares. Last I rounded the corners with a punch and Cuttlebugged the button trim along the bottom and top.

Thanks for looking, the BIG HOP is almost here!!!

Week 3 with Lee Murphy!

I meant to post this beautiful wintery window card Lee made last week but got so caught up in the holidays, I missed it , oops! Still, you could use this same layout with "Tech Talk" and the "Hip to Be Square" window frame to peep into an office at any time of the year, just changing out the pattern for your screen saver, here she used Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses and it has such a fun color palette of pastel pinks, blues, and green with a little red and cranberry thrown in! I love the scalloped valance she made at the top! Cardstock is Pure Luxury and greeting is framed on Fancy Tag die cuts. Teacup and Rose are from "Lovely Shelf".

There are so many exciting things coming up!! First a GINORMOUS blog HOP for all my sets on Friday, January 1st that you will NOT want to miss, with tons of special guest designers and blog candy (several prizes, hip hip hurray!!!) Then next week new stamp sets from our Gina K Designs release, new cradstock and embellishments and new templates! Squeal, so excited for 2010!!

Unclaimed Candy!

I had to draw a new winner for my latest blog candy, the new winner of my Tech Talk set is:

Lisa808 said...
You are a genius! This card is over the top. Thank you so much for the template. And, thank you for the chance to win this awesome and versatile stamp set.

December 19, 2009 9:25 AM


Congrats Lisa! Please send me your snail addy no later than Tuesday, Dec 29th, I would like to put this set in the mail by Wednesday. Thank you!

More posts to come, I have family in town and we are enjoying our time together. Lots of new goodies in the house I am working on in secret to prepare for our new release, plus a new template, you are gonna flip when you see it! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

His and Hers

Today a sweet little his and hers hot cuppa' card!

I made the steam by inking up the mouse cords in light gray and stamping, then stamping off, then adding the little heart in between. The mugs are pieced from this clothesline paper (Cosmo Cricket Boyfriend), I chose a pair of jeans for the taller man's cup and the little slip for the lady's! (stamped Dad's and mom's under each to make that perfectly clear, hee!) Everything here just says "married couple" card(although the design could easily be adapted for two friends), the clothesline print makes me think of weeks and month and years of laundry, a whimsical way of showing couplehood and growing old together, would make a fun anniversary or Valentine. I added the pencil and punched puzzle pieces (EK Success punch) to suggest rainy weekends spent indoors drinking coffee, doing the crosswords and working jigsaws together... ahh, heavenly! Dotted mat is Basic Grey Junebug and base is Pure Luxury in the Navy, all stamps are from the "Tech Talk" set. Pencil is cut from the Boyfriend pack, heart die is Cuttlebug.

Enjoy the day! I pray you have a very safe and happy holiday! Merry Christmas!!!

Dressing a Festive Table

Today I have a project I came across on StampTV from the lovely and talented Brenda Turner , she used "Festive Frame" to make this gorgeous luminary! I love her 3 sided design, I have never tried that for a candle, but want to now! This could be easily put together with very minimal supplies (Pure Luxury Rocket Red, White and Vellum) to add real "wow" to your holiday tablescape, just had to share with all of you!

As you can see from this view she cut out an oval slightly larger than the window in the Festive Frame image from all three panels of the red, then cut out the oval in the image stamped on white and sandwiched some vellum in between the layers. The little metal dots adhered to the poinsettia centers are the perfect touch! Brenda, I'd love to see how pics of how that looks lit up, maybe on your table in a few days??

Thanks again Brenda for today's inspiration! :) (I''m off to make you know what!!) ;)

Things That Make You Go Mmmmmm!

The following recipe is THE BOMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My mom made this a few years ago and I thought I died and went to heaven, went back for thirds, and i believe I may have also eaten this for my dessert instead of pie! The pineapple, cheese and Ritz create the most delectably sweet and savory dish, that is just as yummy hot out of the oven or chilled next morning for breakfast after unwrapping the gifts, so you can call this a side or dessert. Not to mention it's totally cheap and easy to make! Can't miss!

Pineapple Cheese Casserole

2 – 20 oz cans crushed pineapple (drained)
1-1/2 C. sugar
¾ C. flour
2 C. shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 stack Ritz crackers
1-1/2 – 2 sticks butter

Put pineapple into casserole dish. Mix together flour, sugar and cheese, then mix into pineapple. Crush Ritz crackers and spread on top. Melt butter and pour over pineapple.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Can be served hot or cold.

My husband and I both made this for separate potlucks we attended for Thanksgiving and the pans were just completely cleaned out! I mean to post it for Thanksgiving, but the night of I realized was just too late! So I was determined not miss the opportunity to share it before Christmas so none of you would miss out on this!! Yeah, I know last week would have been better, but I'm sure many of you (not namin' names!) have not yet bought all the ingredients yet for your holiday meals!! ;)


You may want to add a recipe card (the 10 I printed out were all gone when I came to retrieve the pan) or a little note saying what it is next to the dish; to some it might look like scalloped potatoes! (Boy, were those people surprised when they bit into it! LOL!) Please enjoy!

So what are you making for your big holiday meal, do tell!!

Keeping up with Blogging Buddies

Okay, I am already planning some new years' resolutions, to do a better job of staying in touch, and to be more organized, specifically, keeping all my snail and email addys in one place so I don't have to keep emailing more organized friends for others addys!! SO I altered this little address book I found at the dollar store with my "Tech Talk" set, because I want to keep this specifically for addresses (email, snail and blog) and birthdays for those friends that I keep in touch with by computer.
It had a striped purple and white binding and I thought it would be much easier not to have to cover that part since it will be opened and closed a lot, but I had almost no DP with purple in it!! So I found some Basic Grey prints (the front of the album is 6x6 so it was the perfect size) that had light pinks and greens in the patterns to complement the purple.

I wanted to use purple somewhere to tie it in though, so I grabbed one of my trusty white paper flowers and colored it with a Copic, although it looks brighter in this pic than the binding they really do match, I promise! I had fun stamping the different techie greetings all over the front and adding all the envelopes to get me in the snail mailing spirit!

Inside I stamped some different images and greetings onto the purple liner that came inside the cover to coordinate with the front.

It has a ton of lined pages in the back too for journalling, this was perfect for adding all the birthdays. I stamped the month on top of each page using Calendar Bits & Pieces and then numbered the lines accordingly.


This project went really fast and it takes up very little room on my desk, I am excited to fill it up and then put it to good use! :)

I am linking today's project in our customer blog hop for all our new Gina K release sets from this month, if you would like to play along for a chance to in a free set create your December Blog Hop project or use one that you've already created with these new sets:
Tech Talk
Life is Good
Lovely Shelf
Warm and Wonderful
Sweetest Memories
or
the StampTV Holiday Cheer Kit

and add the direct link to your project in the Mr. Linky on GinaK's blog. Then, on your blog entry, refer people back here toGina's blog so they can hop to the next name on the list. Read the full details over at Gina's! Hope you'll play along!

Week 2 with Lee Murphy: Out the Window!

Another brilliant "Tech Talk" project from the incomparable Lee Murphy today, when she sent me this card yesterday, I was a little slow on the uptake, even when she wrote it was inspired by the dreaded "blue screen of death"( if this has never happened to your computer (consider yourself fortunate!) , it basically means your computer is beyond help) Even reading that, I was so busy admiring her cracked glass technique, noticing the little ribbons on the side, totally" got" that the computer was just messed up so it had a broken screen..but then I wondered , "hmm, why did she only do the cracked glass on one side....?"

OHHHHH! because she threw it through the ("Hip to Be Square") window, bwahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhahaha! so then I really "got it", hee! Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) or not, I'm sure you can all relate to feeling like hurling your 'puter through the window when it's not cooperating with you! Too clever of her, once it "clicked", I can't stop hearing the glass shattering! ;) Looks like she did the right side of the computer stamped over the window before cracking the glaze, then just cut out and popped up the left side of the computer before it passes through, I love it!!

Inside of course it was imperative she stamped lots and lots of (((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))! :) You need 'em when that happens!

Let's go see another "Tech Talk" project from Lee!

Blog Candy Winner

Wow, I gotta hand it all my ladies who totally rocked the "Tech Talk" Blog hop on Friday night, every project was so unique and creative, I had a wonderful time hopping around! I know I was totally indpired, i'm sure were too! :)

The winner of the drawing for my blog candy is
Becky said...
wow..this is fabulous, I just love this pop up..YOu are just so creative. And thanks for the freebie

December 19, 2009 12:00 AM

Congrats Becky, please send me your snail addy and I will put the "Tech Talk" set in the mail to you ASAP!

For those of you who have not yet downloaded my desk template, it is still available in this post, as well as in the Idea Center on STV! please enjoy!

Tech Talk Blog Hop

Are you ready to hop with "Tech Talk"?? I've got candy tonight, plus an original template I've designed as a free gift for ALL of you, free, come look!
Here is a card using Pure Luxury Creme De Menthe as base and the cover of my Cosmo Cricket Boyfriend pack, I was able to get all these swatches from the front piece and then just flipped down the corner to cover up the little price! :) I stamped "hello" from the set in the corner and held it down with a paperclip, in keeping with the office theme and "you've got mail!" greeting (stamped and punched out with 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circles). I folded up a tiny envelope from Pure Luxury White and stamped my little heart on the flap, then added a few pieces of notebook paper I cut out from the same patterned pack.

Now for the really fun part, a pop up desk inside!!! Do you LOVE it?? Check out the little dotted drawer pulls, these are part of the pattern and can be left as is like you see here or used as a guide to cover with nail heads, adhesive pearls, rhinestones, etc! This desk is SO simple to make when you download my pattern for free at the end of this post. Instructions for assembly are included along with ideas for how to modify and decorate it, and I am just SO excited what a great complement this is to the "Tech Talk" stamps!! :)

First, line the inside of your card with mats 4"x 5 1/4" (you don't have to, but adding carpet and wallpaper will really complete your scene), these are two more prints from the DP pack.

Here you can see my desk cut out and scored along the front and back edge as well as the flaps. The back flap will be secured behind and below the desktop, but you can also flip it up like a bulletin board or back splash, I will show examples of this later.

Now open your card flat and cover just the back flap of the desk with adhesive and press onto the top inside of the card, with the bottom edge meeting the inside score of your base.

Push the desk back and add adhesive or Scor-Tape to the little flaps.

Press the inside bottom of the card against the desk. This method for adhering the desk ensures that the desk surfaces will be at right angles when you open it and the card will shut properly, closing flat.

Open up, and voila! You're ready to decorate your desktop! :) I kept today's simple just adding the computer stamped on Moonlit Fog and a few more sheets of the notebook DP. Here without the accessories, I hope you can begin to imagine the possibilities for this template that go beyond a desk: kitchen counter, workshop, vanity etc. Of course I'll be back to show more of these options! ;)

Download the free template here. Please remember this is a copyrighted pattern, no selling, submitting for contests or publications, etc and please be sure to give me credit when posting pics of creations made with it. Thanks, I hope you enjoy it!

Please leave a comment below if you would like to win a signed copy of the "Tech Talk" set! I will announce a winner tomorrow night.

For more inspiration with Tech Talk tonight, check out these links:

Melanie Muenchinger {Illustrator}
Jessica Fick
Donna Baker
Lee Murphy
Lynn Mercurio
Nina Brackett

Theresa Momber
Sankari Wegman

Melissa Shultz {CSS Designer}
Peggy Wainman {CSS Designer}
Tina Gilliland {Guest Designer}
Karen Knegten {Guest Designer}

The Tech Talk discussion on the StampTV Idea Center is a very valuable resource filled with tips, sample projects, and tutorials. My tip sheet, this free PDF template as well as the Card Kit is available in the discussion as well.

If you haven't already, stop by GinaK's blog today to leave your comment on her blog for your second chance to win today's featured stamp set or any other stamp set valued at $23.95 of your choice!

Following

Just wanted to let you know about another option (and many of you already know how this works) about keeping up with me when I post on my blog: following. I already have some followers without advertising that but hadn't added the widget because the first time I tried it wasn't working properly, but that's fixed now. I hadn't gotten it up because I have Feedburner and Feedblitz subscribing options that should send out notices instantly when I post, but I've been getting a LOT of feedback these have not been coming in a timely manner, rats! I don't have any control over what that hiccup is that's causing the delay, so following maybe be your best option if you have a blog of your own. Just click on the "Following" widget in my sidebar and my posts will start updating to you automatically. With the Blogger Reading List, you can read all of the latest posts from your favorite blogs right on your Blogger Dashboard. Your Blogger Reading List, conveniently located under your list of blogs on your dashboard, enables you to subscribe to any blog with a feed. It will update instantly each time a new post is published on any blog in your Reading List.



Some people like following their favorite blogs this way, please let me know in the comments if you already do this for some blogs and how you like it/its working out for you!



If you can't follow, my normal schedule of loading to my blog is every day at 10PM CST , just makes it easier to stay consistent with our other Gina K releases and blog hops, as well as giving people a full 24 hours to view a post, however, there are sometimes exceptions to this, when an announcement needs to be made, or someone is sick around here LOL, you know, when life happens...! Hope you will add me, I don't want you to miss anything! Thanks for reading!

Life is Good Blog Hop

Welcome to another mid month blog hop, this time featuring Theresa Momber's "Life is Good". I'd already given the cabin from the set a lot of love, and couldn't think of any new colors for a sponged sunset Theresa hasn't already dazzled us with LOL!, so it was time to see what I could do with the deer! I had a few last minute Christmas cards that needed making, so this simple design filled the bill quite nicely!
I started with a Pure Luxury White base and stamped out nine reindeer (8 plus Rudolph) in Vivid Coffee Bean, stamping off every other deer before re-inking. I added a little adhesive rhinestone I'd colored red for the nose and stamped this greeting from "Seasonal Sayings" underneath in Vivid Brick. Last some holiday ribbon and a jingle bell attached with a glue dot and it's done!

For even more inspiration tonight with the Life is Good stamp set, check out these links:

Theresa Momber {Illustrator}
Jessica Fick
Nina Brackett
Melanie Muenchinger
Lee Murphy
Erika Martin
Emily Giovanni
Colleen Schaan


Cheri Weston {CSS designer}
Melissa Shultz {CSS designer}
Peggy Wainman {CSS designer}


Geri Utterback {guest designer}
Brenda Turner {guest designer}
Linda Payne {guest designer}

The Life is Good discussion on the StampTV Idea Center is also a valuable resource for tips, samples, and tutorials. Theresa's tip sheet and the Card Kit is available in the discussion as well.

And, finally stop by GinaK's blog today to leave your comment on her blog for your chance to win today's featured stamp set or another stamp set valued at $23.95 of your choice!

Great Teacher

The computer and other techie elements from "Tech Talk" blend beautifully with Rupa's "Back to School" set , perfect for a great teacher OR great student!

Only the mug (stamped with "A+") and round teacher label are popped up. I used a grey Copic to make the shadows under the paper clips and other objects. The pencil cup is paper pieced with Basic Grey Junebug, card base is Pure Luxury In the Navy. I stamped the little heart from set onto Kraft CS and then popped it up over the little apple on the label.

A very special teacher in our life this year is Ms. Daphne, William's preschool teacher. She really notices every little thing he does throughout the day and tells me all about it when I come to get him, and really appreciates what makes him unique and special. I tell you she dotes on him like he is her own grandchild! We love you, Ms. Daphne!! (She is getting a candle this Christmas!) ;)

Lovely Shelf Blog Hop

Hello! I have a sample using Nina's "Lovely Shelf" set, no shelf tonight, just lovely!

At first glance it might look like I used two images here, but I actually used 4. My arrangement was shabby chic inspired: putting the flowers into the teapot as an unconventional vase and creating a lamp with a tea cup base is a style of decorating I love! Little unexpected things like that are just the spice of life, ya know! It would be fun to swap these around and have the flowers in the cup and lamp made from the pot as well! Just thought it would be fun to share even more elemental possibilities, you can omit inking up part of the stamp to put the different images together (which is what I did here) or just cut your stamped images apart and piece them together, whatever is easiest for you. I paper pieced the pot, shade and cup with Basic Grey Lemonade DP, and used a coordinating paper from the same pack as mat over the Pure Luxury Creme de Menthe and Black Onyx. I embossed a piece of Cranberry Tart with Victoria, such a pretty pattern to go with these prints. Next I used a die cut fancy tag an punched large flourish to bring attention to those beautiful flourishes on the shade and china pattern. Last I popped up a little button onto a white paper flower I colored with Mimosa Yellow Copic. I left the greeting off so this can be a pretty anytime card I can stamp my sentiment into later.


For even more inspiration with the Lovely Shelf stamp set, please visit these designer's blogs:

Nina Brackett {illustrator}

Jessica Fick

Donna Baker

Emily Giovanni

Lee Murphy

Peggy Wainman {CSS designer}

Cheri Weston {CSS Designer}

Vanessa Menhorn {Nina's Guest Designer}

The StampTV Idea Center is also a valuable resource for tips, samples, and tutorials on how to use all of GinaK's stamp sets. Check out the Lovely Shelf stamp set discussion HERE. The Lovely Shelf Card Kit information can be found there as well.

And, finally remember to check in on GinaK's blog tonight to leave your comment on her Lovely Shelf post so that you can be entered to win Nina's stamp set or any stamp set valued at $23.95 or less!

Mosaic Monday

Hello! Today I used the "Inspiration Mosaic" frame to improvise a very modular looking shelving unit, and snuck a few key images from other GinaK Designs sets to fill it out: computer mug, picture and pencil can from "Tech Talk", and made a nature photo and screen saver from "Life is Good". Instead of masking the trees into each, I just stamped them and then stamped the screen and picture over them, and cut out the rectangle to mount on top like I was piecing. the pencil cup is pieced with Basic Grey Granola. Card base is Pure Luxury Kraft. it still needed one small something so I added the little baseball from "Sporty Accessories" into one of the nooks. Oh! and I replaced the heart on the keyboard witha smiley! TIP: An easy way to do this instead of omitting inking up the ehart is to cut out the button and then turn it aorudn and tamp the face on the bck, the piece is symmetrical so you can glue it onon the keyboard that way. :o)

Have a great day, blog hop tonight! :)

Card Kit Blog Hop

Welcome to our very first GinaK Card Kit Club blog hop!

Jessica and GinaK have added a new facet to our design team. They have assembled an amazingly talented group of designers who will be sharing cards based on Jessica's Card Kits. they are all Rock Star Designers and we are so excited to have them on board!

For this month's hop, Jess asked them to design their projects using the same basic sketch and measurements of the class card that she designed, but to put their own personal touches on them adding whatever embellishments, patterned papers, etc. that they would like to use!here you can see the "starter card" from the kit that each designer was assigned to and link to their blogs so you can see what they've created for us!

Each of the designer's cards will be added to the StampTV gallery and the GinaK Idea Center over the next few days.

Life is Good {stamp set by Theresa Momber}
CKC Designer: Colleen Schaan

***************************

Tech Talk {stamp set by Melanie Muenchinger}
CKC Designer: Sankari Wegmen

************************

Warm and Wonderful {stamp set by Rupa Shevde}
CKC Designers: Bev Gerard
and Suzanne Dean

************************

Lovely Shelf {stamp set by Nina Brackett}
CKC Designer: Valerie Stangle

Happy hopping, Leave some love on their blogs for them, welcoming them to the team, won't you?

I'll see you back here tomorrow night with another GinaK blog hop featuring Nina Brackett's "Lovely Shelf" stamp set. Later in the week, hops for "Life is Good" and "Tech Talk"!

Life is Good

Here is a very simple window card I made with "Hip to be Square" frame and Theresa's "Life is Good" . I just love making window cards, it involves the recipient in such a different way, like they are really there peeking out or in rather than just holding a piece of art. :) Card base is Pure Luxury Ocean Mist, I used aqua ink to sponge in to complement the base and colored the border brown to match the cabin. TIP: Sponge over a punched circle to make the perfect sun or moon behind the cabin. Keep the inky patchy, allowing white to show through for the clouds. The sentiment is framed up in a large and small oval punch and adorned with adhesive nailheads.

Have a blessed Sunday!

Guest Designer: Lee Murphy

Everyone knows Lee right??? Yeah, I know she's on our design team now, she found a permanent spot with us before I got to pic her, but I'm so glad I waited for the "Tech Talk" set because it is just soooo LEE!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;) She is just one of the bestest blogging buddies around, and such a talented stamper!

Lee has a blinged up shaker to share with us today, these little stars she found to put inside the screen are so cute! :) I hope you all saw the totally over the top pop up she created for the party, I am still hyperventilating over how fabulous that was, look!!!!! Just gotta share it again in case you missed it!!

Here are her answers to some craft questions about Lee:
FAVORITE TECHNIQUE: I do enjoy so many techniques.......but I have to say one of my favorites is Copic coloring.......although I still have a lot to learn.........I just love coloring and blending!!! And layers........I ADORE layers with lots of bling!!! Is that a technique??? Well, I'm calling it one!!! LOL

COLORS/COLOR COMBO: I will always enjoy Pink & Brown......it was an early favorite of mine!!! But I've expanded and now I'll take PINK with pretty much anything!!!! LOL

FAVORITE GINA K SET BY MELANIE: Seriously??? DUDE!!!!! I have to choose??? There is NO way I can pick just one.......I probably can't pick just 2 or 3 either!!! LOL Well, Just So Sporty with the hoodie is definitely one of my faves.......Little Tees.....OMGosh it's just precious!!! I reach for Festive Frame a LOT!!!! And this new Tech Talk is sooo fun!!!! Ya know.....I could go on..... Sorry.......can't pick just one!!!!

FAVORITE GINA K SETS (FROM ANY ILLUSTRATOR) Again with the impossible questions!!!! LOL I will always just adore Warm & Cozy Christmas with those precious little ones!!! That was my first stamp set I got to use when I was asked to be a Guest DT over a year ago!!!! Okay, NO......I seriously will not allow myself to mention any others because then I really won't be able to stop!!!!

CRAFT SUPPLIES I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: Everyone.......all together now........BLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yep........y'all know it!!!!!!!!!! LOL

I’VE BEEN STAMPING FOR (HOW LONG): I officially have been stamping for 3 years now!!!! But I'm telling you my first 6 months I was LOST!!!! So much to take in and no idea where to start!!!! Thank GOODNESS I found the Gina K. forum on Splitcoast!!!!!

I GET MY INSPIRATION FROM: Honestly.....living in the mountains all I do is look out my window........in any season........I am truly blessed with scenery, nature and, of course, my amazing family!!!!

THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT STAMPING/CARDMAKING ARE: One: to do what I love and not what somebody decides what's "in" or "out" of style!!!! Two: to share with others what I create from my heart.....a handmade thinking of you can be so powerful!!

SOME OF MY STAMPING/CRAFTING GOALS ARE:

1. To finally get my entire stamp room organized!
2. To get over my cowardice and actually submit something!
3. To try some new techniques.
4. To send out more of my cards.
5. To make my first Tutorial.
6. To really learn how and get my zillion photos scrapbooked!

FAVORITE THING TO MAKE THAT AREN’T CARDS: Treat holders......of any kind!!! They're such a great, inexpensive, special little hostess gift or thinking of you gift!!!

SOME OF MY STAMPING/CRAFTING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: I have enjoyed being a part of a lot of wonderful companies and challenge blogs.......and for now being on the Gina K. Designs DT is just me living my dream!!!! I feel so blessed and honored!!!! And a big HUG to Melanie for believing in me long ago and reaching out to me when I didn't really know what I was doing!!! LOL Thank you so much!!!!

I'll be writing more about how I came to know Lee and share more projects of hers next week, for now let's go see what she's got on her blog, have a great weekend everybody!

Farewell So Sketchy

If you've been following my blog awhile, you'll remember me sharing samples with new sketches designed by the lovely and talented Allison Cope of So Sketchy. Allison will be closing the doors on So Sketchy at the end of the month, so she invited all her past designing Sketchy Sistas to help it go out with a bang, with new samples and sketches all month, so be sure to check the out! Today's card uses a sketch she designed especially for me, you can see it here.
I substituted the big poinsettia from "A Year of Flowers" for the star (since I still need to make more Christmas cards!!) embossing it in gold onto Pure Luxury Mother of Pearl CS twice, and then cutting them out and layering some of the leaves from the second one on top. I used just a bit of Copic Mignonette to shade and add color to the back leaves. The middle is accented with colored adhesive rhinestones. I popped it up over a piece of white CS for contrast. I embossed more Mother of Pearl with the Snowflakes folder and the green you see is the new Pure Luxury Creme de Menthe. (BTW, if someone can tell me how to type the accent over the "e" in creme I would be much obliged!) The gold lined organdy ivory ribbon was perfect for the strip in the sketch and brings out the beautiful gold undertone and shimmer of the Mother of Pearl. I'm so pleased with all these colors together, it makes for such understated holiday elegance.

Best of luck and prayers, Allison, in all you new ventures and adventures! Thank you for providing all these inspiration these past years with your sketches! :) Don't be a stranger! ;)

All I Want for Christmas

Here is a pic of my son William taken with Santa at his school. William wants a new Nintendo DS (to replace the one he got in February from his Papa, which is now broken beyond repair!) Well, Santa would have to bring that gift because I'm not!!
isn't he darling, though?? He assured me Santa said he promised to bring him one...

Just had to share, thanks for visiting! I'd like to know: what do YOU want for Christmas?? Do tell! :)

Alter it! Mouse Pad

Blah.
Better!!!

This was the mouse pad my husband gave me to go with my new computer. Well, what kind of stamper would I be to let this big, bare space go to waste?? All it took was some StazOn, stamps are obviously from "Tech Talk". I put the computer smack in the middle and then had fun collage stamping the other smaller images and greetings all over it. finished it in less than 5 minutes, I think I used about 15-20 stamps from the set! I like this sooooo much better, the little emoticons and LOL!'s bring a smile to my face, which is often since I loooove to be on my computer!! :)

Now I have to make some other coordinating desk items, will be sure to share! ;)

Have a great day! Next up, a guest design spot! :D

Light it Up

Here is a card I made with Theresa's "Life is Good". Pure Luxury White is matted on Chocolate Kiss with an In the Navy base. I really wanted the focus of my card to be the cabin with the adhesive rhinestones like big old school colored Christmas lights so I chose a simple layout. I colored the image with Copics, choosing BV31 Pale Lavender for the small shadows on the snow and to round out the little hill and create a path, then sponged just a bit of blue ink around the top edge of my mat. I'm too lazy to mask the image or emboss it when sponging sometimes so I was just careful LOL! TIP: Leaving some white space around the cabin really works though for this snowy effect rather than coming up to the very edge of the outline with the ink. Last was adhering the rhinestones along the roof line and going in with my Inkssentials white pen to add a few icicles and then the dots and dashes for falling snow. I didn't add any other details or embellishments , wanted the tiny lights to draw you in. :)

Click for a closeup and you'll see the glowing yellow windows to suggest that someone is home making a fire and the curling smoke coming out of the chimney....

Enjoy the day! How is everyone doing on their holiday shopping and baking??

Computer Holiday Shaker!

Here is a simple shaker I made with "Tech Talk" , crafting plastic for the screen, Doodlebug glitter, and Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly papers. Simply cut out the screen on the stamped computer and adhere the plastic to the underside, I stamped {fun} from "Sweetest Memories" on it beforehand (because what's more fun that a shaker??) with Stazon. Make a continuous row of pop dots around the edge and pour some glitter into the center. Adhere a coordinating piece of paper to the underside, and mount on your card.

Here you can see the glitter spread out when the card lays flat. Cardstocks are Rocket Red, White, and Ocean Mist. This was really easy to make, and I just love the effect! The aqua glitter is so fun as snow with this swirling printed snowflake paper.

Have fun today, whatever you do!
:)

"Tech Talk" Tip Sheet

"Tech Talk" is a really fun set for guys and gals of all ages, for anyone who loves their 'puter and all their friends who live inside it! Please refer to this image sheet of the set as you read through the tips below...

Great for guys cards, birthday, father's day. Make him a manly office to match, or make it look like your place along with a "you've got mail!" Create valentines for anyone with the heart and heart theme throughout the set.

Works beautifully with Nina's "Lovely Shelf": add some of these feminine elements like the vases and lamps to round out the desk scene when creating cards for your lovely lady friends and relatives. Also try putting the shelf above the screen, or put the mugs and pictures on the shelf.

The style of the images in this set will also work with many of Rupa's sets, like this birthday card above with the cupcake from "100% Sweet", the coffee them in my new set with the mugs and sentiments is also a nice complement to "My Cuppa Joe", have fun mixing an matching these! Using "Back to School" is the obvious choice to create a laboratory or classroom! :)

"Inspiration Mosaic" behind the computer makes a really cool modern little background or with accessories stamped into the boxes, a bookcase! The little circles, squares and lines from this set are perfect touches for a "Tech Talk" project corner or homemade patterned background.

The words, relationships and hobbies from "Tee Talk" (ex "I'd rather be blogging" fit the screen, as do most of the greetings in our other Gina K Designs sets, and the rest of your stamp collection!

Make some "computer wear" with the jargon and emoticons from this set stamped onto the "Little Tees" shirts or "Just so Sporty" sweats! Or for a future techie baby by stamping them on the "Wee Tees" onesie!

Stamp your favorite images or sentiments onto the screen. Create a reverse mask like in this post to add images easily.

You can also sponge ink into to the screen to add color or create a glowing effect.

Pop up the heart button on the keyboard.

Have the fun with the various emoticon faces, just stamping on on the screen will speak your message loud and clear! Add a coordinating sentiment inside the card.

The sentiment also looks great stamped above or going or up or down the side of the computer. the small greetings would look great on a popped up tag as well.

Paper piece the screen with DP or a photo to make the ultimate screen saver.

Use the emoticons or acronyms like LOL! to make your own custom designer papers to match

Create the office or craft room of your dreams but putting a beautiful wallpaper background of DP behind the computer! Add a picture frame cup of pens, and mug to complete the scene. Use geometric and bright prints and colors or vintage and traditional papers to make a more sophisticated one.

Ground the images with one line by placing a straight edge over the middle of your computer screen and desk accessories then draw aline across with a epn, now you have the dimesnion of a wall and desktop. Easy peasy!

Stamp your favorite little images or words in the picture frame or add a real photo! The easiest way to put the photo in is to stamp the frame right over your picture and cut the little rectangles out to piece over your stamped image on CS. Try this with pictures from postcards, magazine etc to really personalize it for the recipient. Do this to make beautiful screen savers for the computer too.


Lefty and righty mouses have been provided. ;) Add the cord or make them wireless, you choose!

Cut a little parallelogram out of your favorite patterned paper to go under the mouse for a mouse pad.

Cut out and pop up the mouse to make it look like it's front of the keyboard for more dimension.

Make a cute dangling charm out of the mouse like Cat did by cutting out both the left and right one and adhering them back to back with a piece of real cord running through, looks good from both sides!

Make a shaker by cutting out the screen, stamping you image or greeting on acetate and putting your favorite shakey stuff inside.

Add a tiny bow or flower to the corner of the screen to make it look more girly.

Add small scraps of paper adhered just along the top edge around the sides of the screen stamped with the little emoticons, like sticky Post it reminders!

Place a piece of acetate over the screen or use Crystal Lacquer to give it realistic shine and smooth texture.

Add some bling around the perimeter of the screen. Put a rhinestone, pearl, or nailhead over the heart on the keyboard.

Stamp the small faces, words or other images onto the mugs or try paper piecing the mugs.

Cut the little easel part off the left of the picture frame to use the facing front or put a collection of them above the computer like they are hanging on the wall.

Combine the different words in the set or other words from collection under "password".


Create a pop up of the laptop opening inside you card by cutting out the image, scoring where the screen meets the keyboard, folding and then adhering the laptop to the inside of the card. See Melanie's blog for the tutorial.

Add a raindot heart over the heart on the keyboard. Omit the heart when inking up the stamp (can do on the mouse as well) if you want to bypass the heart element completely and add your own little stamp or embellishment.

Tech speak translation:

TTYS= Talk to you soon!

omgosh= oh my gosh

WTG= way to go!

LOL! = laughing out loud

:) smile (the tiny ones with circle, dashes or etc in between are added noses!)

:( sad

;) wink

;P silly, sticking tongue out

: O open mouthed, wide eyed ( use this with omgosh!) :)

: l hmm, blank expression

Makes wonderful gifts, tags and gifts wrap for teachers, techies, teens and tweens!

Decorate desk sets and office supplies with the different images and greetings, think mouse pads, stationary, memo pads, pencil holders, your stapler etc! With a little Stazon you could put a smiley just about anywhere! :)

Create the perfect gift card holders, especially for online shopping! Adhere the gift card inside and cut out the window of the screen on the card front so the amazon.com logo (or whatever!) shows through.

More tips to come plus some special projects (I have a plans to create a pop up desk for the isnide, just need to get a template made so I can share it with you here, going to be so! cute!) and a blog hop on the 18th! You will LOVE this set!

Away We Go...

Here is a card I made with Rupa's "Are We There Yet?" set. This stamping off technique of stamping your image again and again without reinking (I recently heard it called "generation stamping", makes sense but that term was new to me! LOL!) is one of the first I learned when I began stamping, often it's just to create a variety of colors to make a pattern but you can also create motion with an image like falling leaf or this rolling bicycle. It went well with the "we'll miss you!" sentiment. I added a little row of dots from "Inspiration Mosaic" in front of it, these dots have become one of my favorite images lately, just for when you need a little somethin'! Card uses Pure Luxury Smoky Slate, Black Onyx, Rocket Red and White.

So do you all plan to keep reading blogs in the next few weeks or will you be too busy making holiday plans and preparations?! :) I will be posting soon about what things you'd especially like to see here in the next year. My two year anniversary blogging and illustrating is rapidly approaching!

Gift Bag! Open Me...!

I can't believe I forgot to share this gift bag from last month! (I totally got this idea for a "card on a bag" from Carolyn King, who gave me an adorable zebra card gift bag on my day this past year!) You may be out doing a little holiday gift shopping this weekend so here's an inexpensive and easy idea for gift packaging: these small plain gift bags can be found at craft stores, I found this at Hobby Lobby, they have solid colors too, 4 for $1! They are the perfect size to adhere an A2 card to the front to decorate the bag and have your greeting inside, "lift the flap style"! Stuff your gift and some tissue inside and you're done! her I used the Festive Frame and cut out the window allowing the Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses DP to show through. Greeting is stamped on a diecut oval to make it pop.

Have a wonderful weekend, we are going to cut down our tree tomorrow, it's super chilly which will be sure to put us in the mood, there have been seasons past that it has been in the 60's or 70's; not so Christmas-y!

Speedy Recovery

Thanks everyone for coming to the party last night!! :) Here is one of my favorite cards I shared with "Tech Talk", it also uses Nina's lamp from "Lovely Shelf". I made this card a little larger, not because my scene wouldn't fit on an A2, but I just LOVED this flourish on the Basic Grey June Bug DP I wanted to use the majority of the 6x6 sheet! Also it allows me to show off more of the beautiful new Creme de Menthe Pure Luxury above and below it! :) After stamping the element of the scene onto Pure Luxury White and coloring (the pencil holder is pieced with another sheet of June Bug. I cut the bottom straight and then made a line through the middle and cut around the top, popping it up over the DP. The small mats of black above below and under the desk really provide a beautiful contrast wit the lighter color. TIP: I love how using mats the same width and color of the laptop screen frame really tie them all together! The rectangular screen doubles like a framed tag on your cards when you have a greeting in the center. :)

I enjoy the feminine touch the DP and lamp give this scene, just because you have gadgets in your office doesn't mean it has to look like a computer lab! ;) A few more details were cutting along the bottom with some decorative edged scissors and adding adhesive pearls, then coloring a sateen flower and adding to the top. Oh, something else fun: the raindot hearts fit perfectly over the heart on the keyboard, click for a closeup! ;) Inside says "Praying for a speedy recovery!" (I really got taste of praying for recovery in a computer kind of way over the summer when my hard drive died and I was not able to get ANYthing off of it, years of stuff, booo! So although it wasa totally frustrating thing, this pun of this sentiment kind of cracks me up, hee)

The only person I know who is sick right now is ME! (throat! huuuurts!!) But I will wait to send this card to someone else, I know it won't be long with flu season...

Being under the weather the last few days I have not yet completed my tip sheet for the new set, but I will share very soon here as well as posting it to the STV Idea Center. More to come, have a great weekend!