Clock ATC

Hickory dickory dock... here is an ATC (3.5 x 2.5") I made for Cat's Gina K release challenge, there is still time (hee!) to play along and upload your creation to SCS for a chance to win a new stamp set, challenge ends Monday 7 PM CST. I used Nina's new "Special Fathers" and Asela's mouse from "Warm and Fuzzy".

DP is Basic Grey Porcelain, also used Gina K Pure Luxury White and Chocolate Kiss. I stamped the clock twice and carefully trimmed out the window with a craft knife and adhered a piece of acetate behind it before popping it up to create glass door in front of the chimes, look cool and layered IRL but hard to capture in this pic! The white CS is scored to make the wainscot. ATC's are fun to make, but I'll probably attach this to a card front at some point, so look for that new project some time here later LOL!

Sick today. ugh. Hopefully better tomorrow. Happy Sunday!

PS It is the final day for Stampin Out Alzheimer's! over a thousand people made a contribution to fight Alzheimer's (it's currently over 6000 dollars!), it has just been such a great week! Not too late to donate to the site!! the clock is ticking! ;)

Fore Dad!

Here's a really easy design to recreate with "Sporty Accessories" for Father's Day, or for any special golfer in your life! (thought Saturday would be the most appropriate to share a golf card) ;)
I started with Always Artichoke CS and Gina K Pure Luxury White. The argyle pattern (perfect for golf!) is made with the new fabulous "Ribbon Stripes" from Gina K, ink up in the Artichoke and stamp across the white, then shift the stamp up (or down) without reinking and stamp again. This gives the lighter color, it's called stamping off, great way to create a pattern and get two coordinating ink colors from one! Now reink and do your third and fourth stripe the same way. You'll have the mat covered in no time! The gridline block makes lining these diamonds up a snap! I'm so excited to recieve this new old block Gina is carrying, my other was a little too short (and this new one has fingergrips, score!)

Now create the border using the golf clubs, isn't that fun? I turned the stamp over each time so that the handle and ends would "nest" together. After coloring, I sponged on some Antique Linen ink around the edges. The little golf green is cut from an oval Nestabilitie! I drew on a little black hole and then made the flag stick from the golf club! The number "1" is from "Just So Sporty". Cut out a little square a to fit the number on and run a black marker around the edge to give this new flag and outline. Stamp, color (I used Cardinal Copic for this and the club handles) and cut out the ball and club and you're almost done! I staggered the "Dad" and "you're a" from "Just So Sporty" down the clubs at the side and finished with with "winner!" from the "Sporty Accessories" set! . I am just loving how with this one set you can make a great masculine card, but just as easily cards for women, kids, teens!

Check back later for a special gift you can make to go with! :) I have a long (loooooong!) tip sheet for this set, just need to finish putting in all the links for you, there are lots of other coordinating sets and products I've gotta recommend! Can't wait to share it! I am so looking forward to seeing all your own ideas when the uploads with it start on StampTV and SCS next week after your orders begin to arrive! eek!!

Next week, more fun stuff, more new release samples, a BRAK request, guest designing stuff, etc, etc! Enjoy this beautiful day! (get out and enjoy some sports!) :)

A New Way To "Letter" in Sports...

The party last night rocked!!! (I'm SO tired, this is going to be a quick post!!) I made this with "Sporty Acessories"! White and Black Onyx Pure Luxury! Copics!

I hope you have a great weekend! More later!

BYE! :)

Important Stuff!!

1. Tina Gilliland will be doing some Guest Designing for me this month with "Sporty Accessories", Gooooooooooooooo TINA!!!! Tina is such a sweetheart and faithful supporter of Gina K Designs and my stamps and has come up with some really clever designs mixing my sets that caught my eye. She didn't get the stamps in time for our blog hop, but I know she's gonna rock this set! :) Stay tuned for samples from Tina here throughout the month!

2. The winner of my blog candy is:

Savor the Journey said...
Melanie, My little ones aren't quite old enough for sports, but I wish you could see what my DD (Jessica) is working on in my DH's Man-Shack. She has rounded up some old lockers, and they're ready for renovation & shelves to be added to her sons' bedrooms. Oh so cool! It's almost like you've peeked into her 'vision'! Smiles,Bev

Congrats, Bev, please send my your addy and I will send the signed "Sporty Accessories" out ASAP! :)

3. There are still a few days left to donate for Stampin Out Alzheimer's and get in on the challenge/freebies/contests/giveaway action before it ends May 31st!!! Almost 6000 dollars has been raised already for Alzheimer's research, thank you everyone who has donated, (I saw people coming through my site has one of the highest donations as a group, so THANK YOU READERS!!!) Click on the "Give" link in the blinky to the right to donate and you'll be sent an email giving you access to the site! Easy peasy!! Click on "Add to Site" to display the blinky on your own blog to help spread the word! (there is a StampTV kit and new release set up for grabs from Gina in the sketch challenge I'm hosting over there!!)

4. The party is less than one hour away, people are already starting to gather, squeal!!!! please come, 7Pm-10Pm CSt, drop in anytime, new release stuff available for purchase at 10PM CST at Gina K Designs!!!

Sneak Peek: Lazy Days of Summer and Ribbon Stripes

Today we have two fun peeks, the first up is the "Free with Three" set "Lazy Days of Summer"! Below I've colored the little pail and sandcastle images with Copics and popped them up. Then I stamped the word "Celebrate" in Close to Cocoa on the Creamy Caramel CS and added some little dots with my marker to look like it was sculpted or written in the sand (and about to be washed away by that "breaking wave" DP! This gorgeous geometric pattern in the Basic Grey "Lime Rickey" Collection (included in the new StampTV kit!! yup, you saw it yesterday and yup, I love it!!) instantly reminded me of sparkling sunlit water, so I tore one sheet at a diagonal, then layered the remaining two triangular pieces on top of each other (offseting the corner and adding a brad for more interest and pop) and curled up the edges with my fingers, isn't that white reveal just perfect as foam?? (I can hear them tumbling and feel salty wind on my face each time I look at it! :) Cardbase is the new Gina K Pure Luxury Rocket Red.

This next card uses the brilliant new "Ribbon Stripes" from Gina K, a set that will be a staple in your collection, much wider and longer (a whopping 7.5 inches!) than other trims or border stamps you might already have, you'll be stamping away faux- or on real 5/8 inch ribbon and stamping the patterned paper of your dreams in seconds flat!

Here I used a long acrylic gridline block and alternated the stars border with the stripes. You'll be thrilled how easy it is to line these beauties up, the aptterns she included are to die for! I added a pierced row above and below with my Scor-Bug, and those big stars, get ready, are also from the "Lazy Days of Summer" free set!! I know, right?! They are die cut with the Star Nestabilites, but you can also use your punches with them. :) Last, I couldn't resist adding some little "Sporty Accessories" to the corner, nothing more "All American" than baseball, (and I love the contrast of the brown with the red, white and blue, such a great palette!) :) In addition to the Rocket Red, I also used the new Gina K Pure Luxury In the Navy as my base, it is the most beautiful true navy color. And the white is of course, the original Gina K Pure Luxury!

More peeks of these two fabulous sets from our team:
Joanne Basile-

Donna Baker
Jessica Fick-
Carolyn King
Cindy Lawrence

Emily Giovanni
Erika Martin
Theresa Momber

Gina Krupsky
and our In the Spotlight designer Melissa Shultz!

The Party is tonight!!! (How long is your wishlist after all the sneak peeks this week??) See you 7PM-10PM CST in the forum, full set reveals peeked throughout!

Sneak Peek: Stamp TV Kit Eclectic Summer

So excited about the newest Stamp TV Kit, "Eclectic Summer" from Gina K, which includes a set of images (and a set of greetings!) to satisfy every stamping appetite! For my first project I decided to use this bold seahorse with a Direct to Stamp technique where I used markers to ink up the different areas of the seahorse, I love the style of this image, aren't his different tiny plates and fins sooooo cool? Here I used SU! Night of Navy, Old Olive and Tempting Turquoise.

The Pure Luxury White and new In the Navy cardstocks, and the Basic Grey Lime Rickey DP are all included in the kit!! I love how this pattern looks like iridescent water. I added a piece of torn Turquoise Vellum from Paper Temptress (on sale in June!) over the DP to let more of that cool faceted pattern show through, these colored vellums are a neat way to enhance your patterned papers and still let you see more of the design. I really like how it adds a wavy "water" element to this!

The kit contains an assortment of beautiful red, white and blue brads you will love, but here I added some self adhesive rhinestones for bubbles and sparkle! At first I was on the fence about whether it was too "over the top" to put the ribbon the tail or not, but I just love this striped canvas ribbon so much (it comes in the the kit!) and I'm really glad I did because it adds a touch of sass! I decided to frame it and put it up in our yellow and blue guest bathroom, isn't that fun? The mat in the silver frame is the In the Navy CS again. I just love sea stuff and blue and white in a bathroom, like you're bathing in the ocean! Instant vacation! TIP: When you have a card you're really happy with, frame it! Make it a piece of art, because that's what it is! Make your card the gift! :)

I have a little shopping list of inexpensive home decor items I can stamp with this image, perfect for pulling out when you want to make your house feel like "a summer home!" I'll be sure to share the results here, of course! ;)

For more peeks of the Stamp TV kit, please check these samples from our design team:

Joanne Basile-
Jessica Fick-
Carolyn King
Cindy Lawrence
Emily Giovanni
Erika Martin
Theresa Momber

Gina Krupsky and our "In the Spotlight Designer" Melissa Shultz!

Can't wait to share some more StampTV kit samples at the party, they are totally different and totally fun! One more day til the par-TAY...!! Have a good one!

Sneak Peek: With this Ring and Special Fathers

Today we have two peeks, the first is of Rupa's newest set "With this Ring". I was inspired by the beautiful hand-tied bouquets with the pearl pins in weddings, so I added several adhesive half pearls to the card and on the stem wrap.

I echoed this theme using some new Pearl Glimmer CS from Paper Temptress and embossing it with my Swiss Dot Cuttlebug folder, looks like a million little pearls now doesn't it? Base is Paper Temptress Amethyst Metallic and DP is the "Springtime in Paris" Digital paper from Gina K, isn't it perfect with the flower mix in this image? I stamped the image on Pure Luxury White and colored it with Copics. It is double mounted it with Petite Scalloped and Classic Petite Oval mats, the scalloped silver rims you see is Paper Temptress Silver Metallic. Ribbons are SU!

The next project previews a set from our newest Gina K Designs illustrator Nina Brackett, called "Special Father". The grandfather clock image is stamped in Memento Black, colored with Copics.

I wanted to the clock to look like one you'd find in a formal front hall, so I used some Basic Grey Porcelain DP for the wallpaper. With my Scor-Pal, I scored a white strip of CS to make the baseboard and scored these diagonals in the Creamy Caramel CS to look like floorboards. The little green rug you see is a new ruched paper from Paper Temptress coming out in June, so elegant! Please click for a closeup to see all the texture these little details add to the scene!

I stamped the little greeting from the set, this time selecting the word "Dad"( there are many options to choose from), onto a square and matted it with the green and brown to look like a framed picture on the wall. This could be a great "grandmother" card with different colors! The brown you see is Gina K Pure Luxury Chocolate Kiss. Base is SU! Creamy Caramel.

Check out more peeks from our Design Team of these two sets here, and don't forget to leave a comment on the post below if you haven't already to win my new set! :)

Jessica Fick-

Emily Giovanni

Carolyn King

Cindy Lawrence

Emily Giovanni

Erika Martin

Theresa Momber

Gina Krupsky

and our In the Spotlight designer Melissa Shultz!

Have a great day! Still two more days of peeks!!!!

Sneak Peek: Sporty Accessories

Finally, the set to perfectly accessorize your attire and those sporty words from "Just So Sporty" is here! I've also incorporated gear to compliment many of the sports in the "Tee Talk" set. :) "Sporty Accessories" features stuff for sports year round and is perfect for boys, masculine cards, teens and tweens and even some very girly cards (let's see if we find some in our blog hop today!), it's one of my most versatile sets ever! You will have a blast creating scenes with all the stuff. If you're not a sports fan now, you will be once you start playing with these stamps, look at this little scene below!

A really unique image in this set is the single locker (although my fave is probably these shoes!), there are so many things you can do with that stamp! Here I've stamped them in a row, very simple to line up with a gridline block, and placed my different balls, each punched with a 1" circle punch, along the top like a shelf. All the balls in this set are great for making background or just when you need a little popped up something in the corner of your sport cards! I wanted to represent a lot of different sports in this sample (to give you more peeks!), so I chose the greeting "All Star" from "Just So Sporty".

Of course I have some new words in this set for you, too , there's one hiding in here, can you spot it? (AND, I also have a peek here of another set that will be released this week, a great compliment to "Sporty Accessories", what might that be....? hmmmm) Cardbase is the new Gina K Pure Luxury Rocket Red (with a beautiful striped texture, front AND back!) and the die cut star is the new Pure Luxury In the Navy releasing this month! Images are colored with Copics. Coloring the basketball was fun, if you click for a closeup, I added some dots with my orange marker to give it some texture.

Be sure to check out more peeks of Sporty Accessories from our Gina K team of All Stars:

Jessica Fick-
Carolyn King
Cindy Lawrence
Erika Martin
Theresa Momber
Gina K
and our In the Spotlight Designer this Melissa Shultz!


Please leave me a comment about your favorite image from this set from the peeks and what your favorite sport is or what you're hoping to find in here! :) I will choose one comment at random to win a signed "Sporty Accessories" set from me, winner announced Thursday!

One more thing: Gina K and I are also hosting a challenge over at Stampin' Out Alzheimer's using the sketch I created for the card above, she has sponsored it with a very generous prize! For a small donation, you can have access to the Stampin' Out Alzheimer's site and play along with this and many other challenges for a chance at over 30 different prizes, I hope you'll donate and join in the fun, it lasts til June 1st! :)


More peeks tomorrow, can't wait!!!!

I Heart ART!

Here's a card I peeked at the last release, using Carolyn's "Nurse Feelgood" set, made to look my son's art teacher (with long pants), with several of my small images from "Wee Tees" on punched squares tacked behind her and colored them quickly without to resemble children's artwork. I wrote the names of his classmates on each one and added ART with a marker to customize the "I {heart)} my___Teacher" greeting. Last I scribbled in a little "abstract" onto her papers she's holding.

This was such a fun card to make! :)

Our peeks start tomorrow! Happy Sunday!!!

Back in the Saddle Single Layer

Here I wanted to make single layer card using Theresa's "Out West" and a few simple technique to create depth.
I started stamping the saddle in Memento Black onto Gina K Pure Luxury Vanilla Base weight Cardstock so I can color it with my Copics and not worrying about it bleeding through. After finished, I placed an oval mask over it and stamped the crackle background from Gina's Bold Flowers all overs it, and sponging Rich Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, and RangerAntique Linen all over before removing. I removed the mask then went back in with more antique linen working toward the saddle but leaving it lightest in the middle. I stamped this greeting at the bottom and then tied a long loop of hemp around the side and making a loop which I secured to the right of the greeting with a little Mono Multi so it frames up the senitment like a lasso, isn't that fun?



I love the challenge of single layer cards and the "layers" you can create with masks, stamps, and ink, and I LOVE THIS SET!

Our Gina K sneak peeks start Monday! (but she's already started a bit of peeking, did you see?) Party this Thursday can't wait, can't wait!

See ya round, pardner! ;)

Potluck Friday 5/22: Textures and Patterns

A little of this a, a little of that, that's what a successful potluck is all about! Are you ready for another Potluck Friday at StampTV?

Today's challenge is to use both texture and pattern on your card. The pattern is pretty self explanatory, any patterned paper you choose that compliments your design! Here I used some of the mottled digi-paper from Gina K's "Jersey Shore" to create water for Rupa's "Guiding Light" seagull.

I added some texture with the Nautical Netting. Your textured element could be something you embossed, a scored pattern your create, a crumpled piece of paper, dry leaves you found outside, anything that adds some nice texture, have fun with it! Uplaod your new creation to STV by May 28th with the keyword STVPF14 for a chance to win a free set, details here!

Are you signed up for the Stampin' Out Alzheimer's site yet? Did you know: I will be hosting a challenge on Monday to go with a big ol' prize Gina K is donating? yep (new stuff!) Hope you'll come play! The fun begins Memorial Day, March 25th! and so do our SNEAK PEEKS!!

Have a great weekend!

Guest Designer Libby Hickson

You all recognize this little lady, right?























It's the best dressed girl on the net, Courtney, from "Courtney's closet!" (Of course this was long before she knew she'd have some inspirational wardrobe, click the purple link for an adorable Coutrtney story). :) (This photo really touched me because I have one so similar of my William from his birth announcement, sleeping with his squishy baby fingers under his head, so sweet!) I love how Libby used the three onesies from "Wee Tees" to for her "world's greatest baby" subtitle. The white pen accents on the title and onesie ribbing really pop! What a perfect addition to a baby room! Great design Libby!

Please see Libby's blog for more inspiration, a little bird told me that Cortney's Closet Challenge is turning one! Expect fun stuff!!

Stretch Your Nesties and Save Your Nest Egg Tutorial

I got SO excited about exploring the possibilities of "two step cutting" with my Nestabilities dies to create new shapes like I did before in this "Faking it"post, so I played around with a few more, here are the results! I hope it gets you thinking outside of the box with dies you already have (or helps you pick which ones you REALLY want to get!) and saves you a few precious crafting dollars! TIP: For all of these, it is extremely important you have your die centered over the cut out so the pieces being cut off are symmetrcial, otherwise your final shape will be wonky, I didn't measure or anything, just look at it before you add your top plate and run it through. :)



While I DO love my scalloped dies, my favorite Nestabilites dies are the more classic, simple geometric shapes, so besides the Labels One Die Set, I haven't yet gotten any of the curvy, more ornate offerings that have come out from Spellbinders recently. Occasionally though I'll probably want something that has a fancier feel, so here's one I made using the Labels One set. Start by cutting one out.

Then turn you die a quarter turn over the die cut and cut again.

Voila! A kind of more angular substitute for the Labels Four die, has a more masculine feel(would make a cool, badge/belt buckle or just a different shaped frame... (be sure to save those curvy corners you have left over for something else!) ;) Below you can see I made a white mat with the smaller die, I'll stamp something on that later! :)

Now, onto the "Octagons"! Sorry, although I've seen some beautiful cards made with the Octagons dies, I personally can't look at octagons and not think "STOP!" (and that's where my creativity stops with this shape LOL! so I haven't bought the octagons either!) But what if I want to make a stop sign?? Well, an 8- sided shape is really a four sided shape cut twice, observe!
Cut your square, then turn a quarter turn and cut again.

...an octagon! (and photo corners, ooh ahh! hee hee!)

Next I thought I'd try cutting out an oval and then seeing what my Labels One die would do when centered over that...

A "softer" version of the first one I showed you today (it's easier to see the difference side by side at the bottom of ths post), not so pointy. It's very close to the original Labels One cut out, but I like just cutting off those rounded corners gives you a slightly different option. These two I meniton both have more of a Labels Two or Labels Three feel.... Certain stamp images and designs really do call for very specific shapes sometimes! (hey look, do you see a pair of lips on either side?! I just noticed that-HA!! I'll be using those!)

This next one using the Stars die set is cool for piecing together a quilt collage, maybe making the head of a prize ribbon, etc. Cut out a star. Now turn the star die so that each point is exactly in between the other points.

While not so curvy, layering several of these together could make a really cool looking flower, similar to the "Dahlia" Die set.

Here they all are:

I hope you liked this! :) I'm off to try to work these "new shapes" into some samples for further inspiration! New stamps are in the house!!! ;)

If you have not read the Alzheimer's post below, please do! The event has't even started yet and they are already halfway to their goal! My hope is at the end of the event we'll find there is going to be a 10, 000 dollar check written for Alzheimer's research!!

Stampin' Out Alzheimer's!

I want to share some information about a very special project with you today that involves some of my Paper Craft Planet friends. Jen Tapler, from Jen Tapler Designs, and Susanna Boyd of Card of the Week are hosting a 7 day stamping and scrapbooking event to help raise money and awareness for Alzheimer's Disease. Alzheimer's Disease is currently the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. It is a fatal, progressive disease that slowly robs a person of their precious memories.


We are involved in the memory preservation hobbies - so what better cause for the papercrafting community to join together to support? The site, Stampin Out Alzheimers.ning.com, will feature a variety of challenges, contests, classes and more in different paper crafting categories (stamping, cardmaking, paperscrapbooking, digi scrapping, hybrid, etc) - with prizes donated by over 30 generous sponsors. It's set up as a "Pay to Play" community.



For a small donation (any amount will do), you'll get permission to join the online community which will be up from May 25 to June 1st. 100% of these funds will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association to help with their efforts to provide and enhance care and support for all those affected by this heartbreaking disease.The site isn't "live" yet - it will open soon and the events will begin on Monday. For a quick link to join and make a donation, check out the widget in my sidebar. Check out the video on Paper Craft Planet's home page for a special mesage from Susanna and more about the event by clicking here.



I'd LOVE it if you'd share the badge (see it on the sidebar on the right? just click where it says "add to site" and it will give you the html to copy and paste) on your blog and help us spread the word! We'd like this to be the largest community fund raising effort in the stamping and scrapbooking space. Please help. You'll help us raise awareness and money for Alzheimer's.

Out of this World!

Greetings, earthlings!
Today's card was inspired by the Basic Grey Offbeat Collection of papers and my little space baby from "Wee Tees"! I just love the colors and star and diamonds in this funky paper! I also tried a different matting this time with the two offset ovals, I tried to give it an "alien feel" if you will, either the the mothership opening up or one big cyclops eye, hee hee! I embossed and cut the little star with my nestabilities and stamped "I'm here!" ("the baby has landed!" LOL!) and added an adhesive metal dot to the center. Base is Gina K Pure Luxury Chocolate Kiss, I also used SU! Ruby Red, Old Olive, and Bordering Blue (edges sponged with same ink to give it a but of a glow).

PS This isn't the "Nestabilites fun" I promised, still have to get all the steps written up, tomorrow I think!! :)

Southwestern Boots

Today's sample uses Theresa's "Out West" and some of the new "Rough and Rugged" Digi paper from Gina K Designs. These colors together remind me of Santa Fe (or rather, what I imagine Santa Fe is like, hee hee!) I love using this little hat from the set popped up in a corner that needs a little sumthin'...

I stamped my red paper with Versamark and the Gina K Pure Luxury Ivory paper with Antique linen Distressing ink with the crackle background from "Bold Flowers" to give them some old West texture. I sponged the Antique Linen around the edges to the Nestabilitie cut oval and then glued my hemp twine using the Quickie Glue Pen around the edge to make a frame, using the embossed rim as a guide, tracing it with the pen. Isn't that fun how the vertical rope on the patterned paper and the the loop create a lasso? Boots and hat are colored with Copics.

Hope you had a heckuva weekend, take care! More Nestablities fun comin' up!

Guest Designer: Libby Hickson

Look at this beautiful sample from Libby! Don't those snuggly kitties (from "Cuddle and Hugs", one of my FAVORITE animal sets!) paired with the senitment from "Wee Tees" just make you say, "awwww!" Sweet as sweet can be! I love all the layers and textures she added here with the patterns, lace, Cuttlebugging and heart brads! And the REAL stitching, I might add! :) Thank you Libby, for another great card!

So did anyone get "Wee Tees" with the coupon last week? Did you know our NEXT release is justa week and a half away??? Eek!! Any guesses what I have for you THIS time??

Happy Sunday!!

Baby Love

Here is a simple card I made with just one image: the onesie! I am really enjoying looking through my favorite printed papers and finding images that would be sweet centered on the front, this little giraffe pair as well as the background paper and distressed cranberry paper for the heart are all from the Basic Grey Sugared pack. I popped the onesie up on top of the Nestabilitie die cut heart, (I really liked the hearts here with those funky heart-shaped leaves in the pattern!) and used my Scor-Bug to create a pierced border, going over with a brown marker to create some faux stitching. TIP: When faux-stitching I try to go off the end of a row at an angle with my pen to make it look like a little stray or snipped thread, this makes it a lot more realistic-looking and less like a drawn box, KWIM?

Base is Old Olive to match the DP, although it looks a little bright here. I used a warm gray Copic to fill in the neck and leg holes for shadows.

Hope your day is sweet!

Kicking it Up!!

Today I have a fabulous card/gift bag design to share that I received from the lovely and talented Carolyn King, when she came by to treat me to a birthday lunch!

Woweee!! I love how she matched up my little zebra from "Jumping for Joy" with this red white and black party-themed stuff (she used part of the napkin like DP!), and I thought her "card on a bag" design was so clever! The little white bag is A2 sized so you just adhere your card to the front, to decorate the bag, and then lift to read what's written inside, is that not the cutest??!! The Zoo Brads are also from Gina K. She also made this adorable little cupcake topper with punches and a toothpick, the black gingham is the perfect touch. The bag contained some beautiful Basic Grey paper and oodles on embellishments she hand-picked to compliment all my stamp sets, and she left the party supplies with me so I could throw a little birthday celebration with my family later, it was all over the top fabuolous and thoughtful and I just loved it! I love you, Carolyn, thanks for your friendship and inspiration!! :)



Still more birthday cards and gifts to share, I was so blessed, stay tuned!

Time for a Physical

A double dose of good feelings today with Cammie's two sets Doctor and Nurse Feelgood!
I' not sure what to say for this card except that.... we'll assume they're married (cuz' they have the same last name, ya know??)...and I masked it!

Hope I started your day with a giggle! :)

PS This is about as "naughty" as I can get on a card, I maintain this is still a family friendly site!!

Palomino

Today a card with Theresa's "Out West" set!

So how do you like that fibrous stuff that's adding texture but also creating a cool fence and or "hay" kind of theme on this card?? It's called "Nautical Netting" and it's new from Gina K Designs (which I fondly refer to as "manly mesh", isn't this amazing "guy ribbon"?! ) Be sure to pick some up, it's very easy to adhere, I just rolled a little Dotnroller on the back and pressed it down! It's really wide but you can cut it down to any size you need. Base is Gina K Pure Luxury Chocolate Kiss, I also used her Ivory and SU! Creamy caramel. Image and greeting are stamped in Rich Cocoa, and the horse is colored with Copics. I Googled some Palomino images (one of my favorite breeds) to get the shading right, I just love being able to find live models that won't move to help me with my coloring this way! :) After cutting it out with a Labels One die, I left the die in place and sponged on some Memento Rich Cocoa and Ranger Antique Linen, then popped it up.

Last I added a double row of holes with my Scor-Bug to the top ( can't stop using it: too fast, easy and fun not to!!)

Sketchy and Sporty

Here's a birthday card I created using one of Allison's So Sketchy layouts, I pulled out my "Just So Sporty", which I know I will be using a lot this spring and summer! :) (wait til you see the cards I made for Jonathan's soccer coaches!!)
I began the card looking at the circles on the side of her sketch and decided to take them literally: a figure 8! There's lots of 8 year-old birthdays coming up soon around here so I thought ta big 8 on the side instead of framing images up in them would be pretty cool, and just to make sure everyone "got" the 8 (hee hee!) I added a jersey with the number "08" on it! I love having the numbers in the set to use this way for birthdays. The sketch was perfect for a little banner and I completed it with a bard in a star, and few lines of piercing just up to the 8. The jersey is stamped on red paper and the trim is colored with a white Koh-i-Noor pencil.

I just love how by it looks, thanks Ally for another great sketch! Be sure to go check out the original sketch on her blog! Have a great day! PS This also works for Cammie's color challenge this week on Stamp TV, I hope you'll play!

Sweet treat!

Quickie post, I am stamping up a storm to get ready for a baby shower tonight, but here is a simple cupcake topper I made with "Wee Tees" and a safety pin!
I stamped the polka dot background from Gina's "Bold Flowers" in pink onto my Basic Grey paper (onesie is stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa) and added the little cupcake image from my "A Charmed Life" set (omitting the jump ring part of the image), isn't that fun? (betcha wine isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of onesies LOL!) I inked up just part of "sweetest" from the Wee Tees set to make "sweet" underneath. Ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.

I attached the safety pin with a glue dot, and the tied ribbon with a glue dot on top of that. TIP: Use a doublesided DP for these so they look just as pretty from the back as from the front (I figured that out AFTER I made this mock up LOL! it's all good, the 13 new ones I made are!) ;)

This style of cupcake topper coudl be so easily adapted using the "Little Tees" for a girly slumber party or "Just So Sporty" for an after-game celebration! (substitute toothpicks for the pins)

I'll be back from the shower with stamped gifts and decor ideas I used ( think stamped onesies, a centerpiece, framed art, and embellies on the table! I think it's going to be so cute! Can't wait! :)

PS Do you have a shopping list for your Gina K coupon code yet?? Hurry, it expires soon!!

Happy Mother's Day! A few fun things for you....

First, the winner of the my Blog candy for the Paper Temptress Metallic Paper assortment is :

Denise (peanutbee) said...
Awwwwwwwwww! This is THE cutest!!
May 7, 2009 5:58 AM

Congrats Denise! Please email me your snail addy by Tuesday and I will have Patricia ship the paper out to you ASAP! :) Thank you everyone who left a comment, be sure to take a look around the Paper Temptress store the Metallic line is 25% this month and has 33 colors tochoose from!

Next, check out this "Mother of the Year" video! it's about ME! (don't worry, (G rated) and it can be about you, or the other moms you know! Pass it on! ;) Enjoy!

Last, be sure to check out the StampTV Stamping Lifestyle magazine in the next couple days, it will always be available for you to read, BUT there is a a three day only coupon code in there for Gina K Designs and it starts TODAY, don't miss it!

Have a wonderful Mother's Day! I can't share my project I made for my Mom yet, because I have a stomach virus so we had to cancel them coming in for a visit so I haven't given it to her (of COURSE she reads my blog) But it is a gift that would be fun for birthdays , Father's Day etc, too, so I will share that soon!

Tomorrow you'll be seeing a sweet treat, just in time for a baby shower, yum! and hopefully, I will be able to share some Mother's day treat i got fom my own kids, Jonathan has been busitng at the seam sto give me what he amde at school all weekend! :)

Later this week, I have been experimenting with my Nestabilities again and have some pretty cool things to share, can't wait!

PS Many of you wrote to me about the "babies on the brain wink": just to clear that up, it's becuase I have a baby set out and can't stop makign baby stuff, no other reason, I promise! :)

Pretty Little Red Things

Today I have a beautiful card and gift I got from Donna Baker!

I'm not sure if I mentioned it here but a couple month ago, someone smashed a window in my car and stole my favorite little red purse (which contained my wallet, all my favorite little credit cards etc! wahhhhhhhhhh!!) Saying the loss was a total bummer is an understatement!! (but I did get my car fixed, cards cancelled and replaced, so things are better now, but that particular purse, unfortunately, is long gone!) Donna was so sweet to "replace my purse" for my birthday with this beautiful Brighton key chain and charm, along with some exquisite handmade glass earrings she bought while on vacation in Savannah. Of course she had to make a card to match, with these paper pieced (Basic Grey Bittersweet) purses of Rupa's from "Retro Boutique" and a customized sentiment from my "The Best Things in Life" set, with a dash of Just rite "RED" thrown in!

I love my pretty new things, Donna, they make me feel beautiful as you are, inside and out!



Have a great day!

Guest Designer: Laura Jean

Look how sweet "Wee Tees" project is for a baby room! "Name frames" are one of my favorite kids to give children or babies, there's nothing like being validated seeing your name up and everywhere, and I just love this design of hanging it on the doorknob, perfect for a nursery! Thanks, Laura Jean for this lovely idea, the letters on the pieced onesies are too cute. For the dimensions, she used the largest Nestabilities Scalloped Circle (4.25" round), and cut out the same size of tag board to reinforce them (I used the White tagboard that comes in a package of SU DSP) and then backed each with a scalloped piece of Riding Hood Red. The DP is from DCWV (Animal Crackers). The total length of the hanging is approx 20".

Here is a little more abut Laura Jean, in her own words:
Favorite Technique-- Paper piecing.

Colors/color combo-- Anything I can use with brown, My favorite colors are Pacific Point, Certainly Celery, & Riding Hood Red.

Gina K set by Melanie-- Do I have to choose? My top three would be Little Tees, Just So Sporty and Wee Tees. I'm a pretty big sports fans so all those sporty sentiments just fit my personality.

Gina K sets (from any illustrator)- Rupa's Retro Boutique and Just Be-Claws. I just love those little crabs!

Craft supplies I can’t live without— Ribbon & Basic Grey Brads. I usually have a hard time making a card without one or the other.

I've been stamping for (how long)— I started Scrapbooking my baseball vacations 9-10 years ago with just a 8.5X11 binder, some card-stock and a few stickers. I bought my first stamps (an alphabet set which I still have) about 2 years later (from Gina K ironically) to stamp baseball team names, and then my mom showed me SCS. I've been making cards, and other stamp projects since. I still do my baseball albums, but I really love working with a "smaller canvas" (i.e. card).

I get my inspiration from -- Gina K (of course!) and other blogs/web galleries. I also get PaperCrafts magazine which refer to a lot. For Scrapbooking I usually rely on Becky Higgin's Sketch Magazines for layout design.

The most important things I’ve learned about stamping/cardmaking/scrapbooking are - A sketch is just a "starting" point & if you change it up that's fine. I've started so many "challenges" only to come out with something completely different that doesn't even fit the challenge requirements, and that's okay. I've also learned that there is so much out there I have not even learned. Which makes me keep going.

Some of my stamping/crafting goals are- continue to learn more about the craft, there are a lot of techniques I have not tried yet. I also want to improve my coloring technique. Art was one of the worst subjects for me in school. LOL!

Favorite things to make that aren’t cards (if any): Scrap-booking, & coaster-book albums. I also enjoy altering tins.
Some of my stamping/crafting accomplishments are— other than being a Guest Designer for Melanie my list is pretty short. :)

And here is another sample from Laura Jean , check it out!

BIG NEWS: Have you read the "Stamping Lifestyle" Magazine yet? I am so excited to try those recipes I haven't had yet, and as well as check out some of those books! I could go on and on, but like with all things Gina K , the magazine truly surpassed all my (already very high) expectations!

Go enjoy! and have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend! More to come! (don't forget to leave a comment on this post<---click here if you haven't already to be entered for the Paper Temptress Blog Candy!)

New Magazine! Free Subscription! :)

It's almost here, the first issue of "Stamping Lifestyle" from StampTV! This publication is free to everyone, just go to StampTV and click on "Magazine". There will be regular issues you can read online (or print them out if you want a hard copy!), full of things I know will interest you! Gina K and her team will be regular contributors and you might even find yourself in a future issue! Enjoy exploring this new pub and don't miss the coupon inside! :)

Should be up at midnight CST! Can't wait, can't wait!!

Guest Designer: Libby Hickson

BWAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I love it!! Love Libby's sense of humor putting together the happy face and "have a nice" sentiment from "Little Tees" with the baby and onesie from "Wee Tees"! (Every mom holds their breath for a little one with a sunny disposition, don't they??)Highlighting "baby" in yellow really gives the punchline some extra punch, know what I mean? The yellow ribbon and polka dots are all such nice touches, too!

Thanks for another great project, Libby, your card is totally hip! Now please go check Libby's blog for another fun project with "Wee Tees"!

Have nice day, baby! ;)

Rock a Bye Baby! (and Blog Candy!)

The blog candy is closed. Winner announced here.

Today I have a fun interactive card using a So Sketchy Sketch of Allison's (which I tweaked a bit!), and my first video upload! When I first saw the half circle sketch I was a bit stumped what I should do with it, but I guess I've just had babies on the brain lately (wink!) and am really excited about what the sketch inspired!

Simply add a punched or die cut circle to the top with a scalloped circle behind it for a bonnet and you have a little baby peeking out! I used Blush Blossom CS and pale peach Copic to make some cheeks and a little upturned nose, then a pen to make simple eyes, mouth and curl. The shimmery coral paper you see is Paper Temptress Rocket Red Pearlescent CS. I used the lid of a pitcher to trace a half circle the size I wanted on the paper since all my dies were too small, the diameter of the circle is 5 inches, so 2.5" tall when folded. With the addition of the head, it still fits in an A2 card. :) I added a bit of Gable Green punched with the Threading Water Punch to the top and a little Cuttlebugged strip to the front. I substituted some tied ribbon for the butterfly, tried to make it resemble one with the bow as best I could. DP is Basic Grey Porcelain (thank you, Cammie!)

The sentiment is from my "Wee Tees". You'll see how appropriate that is here in my first video upload (fingers crossed I did it right!), go easy on me with the quality, I just wanted to capture the motion for you (I decided to spare you me singing a lullaby)


My baby rocks!!!! If you try making this fun card, please link this post if you share it and also let me know so I can come check yours out! :)

Now for the candy! Patricia the Paper Temptress has a pack of ALL her assorted metallic colors up for grabs! (The mica/metallic line 25% off this month!) To enter, please leave a comment on this post with a request for a project you'd like to see here on this blog (or request for something using a particular stamp set or technique), I will randomly draw a winner and post the lucky person's name this weekend! Looking forward to reading your comments! :)

Be sure to check out the new videos today on StampTV, too!

PS If I can score a tripod, you just might see more videos in action here, would you like that??