Guest Designer Sue Van DeVusse

"Gifts from the Sea" is now available for purchase at Gina K Designs! Thank you everyone for giving it such a warm reception! It was such a joy to read form all your comments on Gina's blog, mine and the release party thread how many of you are connected with the sea, be that through your current residence, childhood home, or vacation spots! Here is a pic of the full set, tip sheet coming soon!

For my first guest designing spot of the month, I have this lovely creation by Sue van DeVusse! Please help me give a warm welcome to Sue, one of my guest designers this month! Sue makes such elegant cards, and adds such beautiful details to her scenes, I had no doubt she would totally rock this set! Although this design is expertly crafted, she has chosen a very simple but effective technique to create the shore and water than even a beginner can execute well: grab a sponge and daub in lots of blue to the corners, concentrating most of the ink at the corner and working out. Now do the same with tan ink working from the opposite corner toward the middle to make the sand. The space in between becomes foam and shallow water meeting the beach, I am just in love with this look! Just so artsy and stylized yet realistic at the same time! Add the cut and colored shells of your choice and a greeting and your down, scene and card complete!

Here is the card recipe, followed by a little more about Sue:

Stamps: GKD Gifts from the Sea illustrated by Melanie Muenchinger
Cardstock: Gina K Pure Luxury white, ivory, Soft Sand and In the Navy
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa, Summer Sky and Danube Blue, Vivid Tuscan Tan and Taupe
Accessories: Prismacolor markers, sponges, piercer


Describe your style/what you think you do best: My style varies greatly depending on my mood. Sometimes I like to do whimsical and other times more elegant. Sometimes CAS and other times elaborate.

FAVORITE TECHNIQUE: I love the look of sponging, so I do that quite a bit.

COLORS/COLOR COMBO: Once again, depends on my mood, but I do tend to lean more toward neutrals and softer colors.

FAVORITE GINA K SET BY MELANIE: It has been A Year of Flowers, the first set I got, but now is a toss up with Gifts From the Sea.

FAVORITE GINA K SETS (FROM ANY ILLUSTRATOR) I have quite a few GKD sets and love them all. I reach for Nina’s Vintage Borders a lot and have been getting a lot of mileage from You Know You’re Old When…

CRAFT SUPPLIES I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: Pure Luxury cardstock, it’s the best.

I’VE BEEN STAMPING FOR (HOW LONG): 5 years, my daughter got me into it

I GET MY INSPIRATION FROM: Mostly from the different challenges on Stamp TV, but sometimes I see things in nature or something else in everyday life that inspires me.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT STAMPING/CARDMAKING ARE: Mistakes are only opportunities for more embellishments*

SOME OF MY STAMPING/CRAFTING GOALS ARE: I just really enjoy making cards and it makes me feel good when my daughter “shops” through them for cards she needs. Maybe someday I will work up the courage to submit a card to try to get published.

FAVORITE THING TO MAKE THAT AREN’T CARDS: Stamped tumbled tile coasters, they are quick and easy to make and great gifts for any occasion.

SOME OF MY STAMPING/CRAFTING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Being selected for the Center Stage Spotlight team on Stamp TV and now being a part of the CSS Alumni. And, of course, being a Guest Designer for Melanie!

CHALLENGES I LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN: I try to participate in all of the challenges on Stamp TV, there are very few that I miss.

WHAT I DO WHEN I’M NOT STAMPING: During the daytime, I work as an Office Manager/EMT/Medical Biller. In my spare time I also like to spend as much time as possible with my 3 grandsons and golf.



More samples to come from Sue throughout the month (one more today on her blog!), as well as Deb Felts, Keri Lee Sereika and Holly McMillen with this set, you can click on their names to see their samples, big thanks to all of them for jumping all over this set and making it sing at our release! :) Be sure to check their blogs for more amazing sea samples!

* hee hee, she's got that right!! :)