Sneak Peek: "Where Your Heart Is" and "Ready, Set, Snow!"

Welcome to our first day of Gina K Designs January Sneak Peeks! First up we have my newest set, "Where Your Heart Is", which began with an idea over two years ago and has evolved over time. Stamping has really broadened my horizons in so many ways; beyond crafting, I've met people with common interests but very different life experiences, many who are wives of men serving in the military, like Beate Johns, Emily Giovanni, and Carolyn King. It made the sacrifices that everyone makes in a family where a spouse is away SO real for me, I started thinking about doing a special set to honor people like them and that family members can send to each other.

Then shortly after Gina released her Kindred Spirits Moms, a comment someone left on Gina's blog really spoke to me and took this idea even further: from a woman who was a mom, and a stamper, but it was SHE who was the one away serving in Iraq and missing her kids, saying she wished she was able to be at home with her children like those Kindred Spirits. WOW. I realized the need for something that expressed the love between friends and families who are apart, whether that is months at a time, or just a few days or overnight because they are serving others, in any kind of occupation, was REALLY needed. Nurses. Clergy. The list goes on and on. Factor in all the people around us in our communities who make our lives better, schools better, churches better, through their volunteering, time and servant hearts and the thanks they deserve, I knew the perfect last few sentiments and the perfect image that would make the set complete. The framed hands (which fit the various rectangle Nestabilites sets) forming a heart is so universal that anyone would recognize its meanings, regardless of age or language: My heart goes out to you, I keep you in my heart, I love you, I'm grateful beyond words....

Hands are shaded with E00 and E21 (I will share a tutorial after our peeks are over, very easy to do), I colored the heart in between the hands with R37 and R59 and then sponged Antique Linen Distressing ink around the outside. A very simple way to show your love for someone, even my little boys know what this means! On the card below I used the same focal point but changed up the layout slightly to add a greeting. I could make a card every day with this set for all the people I owe thanks for making my life and the world a better place and those who are in need of prayers, and I still wouldn't be finished, but I'm glad to have sentiments that makes it so easy to express what I'm feeling. And finally one to a friend whose father is very ill. Paper is Pure Luxury Black Onyx, Kraft and Basic Grey Curio, hands are pieced on top with White Pure Luxury and colored with the same Copics listed above.
Perhaps more than any other past set I am so anxious for you to see all the greetings you'll be able to create from the sentiments provided, this set is very near and dear to my heart, but this peek is only a *tiny* peek of what you can say to show your support!

Next up we have Rupa's "Ready, Set, Snow!" It's finally getting chilly in Texas, so it's fun to pull this out now even post Christmas, but, of course still, no snow here!) I asked my kids to pick which image I should use and I knew they would both pick this one! They've only been sledding a few times but those are favorite memories of snow. I cut the white Pure Luxury layers with a rotary blade to make easy curves fro sliding and popped out the colored and cut penguins.

DP is exclusive to Gina K Designs and base is Lipstick Red. TIP: use shades of blue instead of black on the penguin to add some whimsy and make a better, "cooler" match for your snowy background. I used B66 and B37 for the penguins, BG000 for the shadows, Y35 and E07 on the feet and beak, R37 and R59 on the sleds.

The rhinestones flourishes are fun to add both bling and energy to the card!

Thanks for joining us for our first day of peeks! Have fun hopping to the other blogs from our fabulous design team!

See you tomorrow!

• AJ Otto




• Carolina Buchting




• Cathy Tidwell




• Deb Felts

• Donna Baker




• Emily Giovanni




• Gina K




• Giovana Smith




• Janice Whiting




• Jennie Harper




• Lee Murphy




• Melanie Muenchinger (Illustrator of "Where Your Heart is", you are here! thanks for visiting!)




• Theresa Momber




• Tina Gilliland

• Latisha Yoast