Gina K Designs Challenge!

Welcome to our latest Gina K Design team challenge hop! This month Gina challenged us (and now you!) to create a card inspired by a favorite summer memory using our newest sets from the last release. I had never really associated summer with birthdays before since none of our family had birthday in these months... until my first child came along...
Jonathan was born on July 1st, so stars and stripey things always often abound for his party decorations! His first birthday was my first time to get really crafty as a mother (I started stamping just a few months after he was born, I actually stamped "I'm one!" and the date on this onesie he's wearing below) and throw a big party in our first home, so that year in particular has lots of special memories.

We also had a LOT of people so I spelled out the "happy birthday..." on cupcakes and as well as make an American flag cake with berries, I'm sure you've seen those before!

Now for the card (which I call "Stars, Stripes and Cupcakes Forever")! All the images on this card are from "Candles on your Cake" and I wanted to showcase some of the images in different ways than I have for you previously. I thought the tiniest candle row stamped in Brick Red would make some fun and festive stripes for an American flag (no need to Stampamjig these, just use a gridline block), and the stars are embossed in white on In the Navy cardstock. I layered onto Silver Lining, more navy and Pure Luxury White.

The stripey candle is probably my favorite because you can add such quick pops of colors inking it up with different markers! The flag background still needed a little something so I spelled out "I love cupcakes" over it with the candle and heart and cupcake from the set. Marvy Scalloped Heart punches fit the heart. TIP: To make the frosting sit on top a nice puffy cupcake, stamp the bottom onto yellow paper (or "flavor" of choice), then round off the top above the image as you cut. Now ink up just the edge of the bold icing with a marker, cut out and pop up on a dimensional slightly above the cupcake liner. Last I added Stardust pen to the centers of the stars and on the heart...

For all the specific details on how to enter your card in Gina's Design Team challenge, please visit GinaK's blog.


Then, stop by these participating GinaK Design Team member's blogs for their projects for tonight's hop:

• Jessica Fick



• Nina Brackett



• Theresa Momber



• Melanie Muenchinger (you are here!)



• Tami Mayberry



• Cathy Tidwell



• Lee Murphy

• Donna Baker

• Kurtis Amundson
  
  
• Carolyn King



• Emily Giovanni



• Erika Martin