Monday, March 12, 2012

Inspiration Hop, Day 2: Wild About You and Blooming with Blessings


The Design Team for Gina K. Designs welcomes you to another fabulous Inspiration Blog Hop! As you hop through their blogs today, make sure to leave a comment on each of them because we will choose a few random comments and those stampers will each win a grab bag of deeply etched, pre-cut Gina K. Designs stamps! To see the full list of winners check the Big News forum at Stamp TV a couple of days after the hops!

First up, we have the gorgeous safari set "Wild About You" from Theresa Momber. Loving all these animals and silhouettes that so perfectly capture the heart of Africa! Maybe I'll make it there some day, exotic names that roll off the tongue like Kalahari, Congo, and Zanzibar have always captured my imagination, so I'll be making some very inspired sunrises and sunsets with this set in the meantime! TIP: Google "African sunset" to find some gloriously vibrant photos for realistic colors to use and model your cards after!
This card is inspired by a layout and technique tutorial from my book "A Year of Flowers". The torn reverse masked edge is so appropriate for the rugged landscape. Sponged sunset and grass use Wild Honey, Mustard Seed, Barn Door and Black Soot Distressing Inks. TIP: Instead of using a mask to create a hard horizon line, instead I started sponging at the bottom and made strokes upward over and over to crate the illusion of long blowing grass. Card base and elephant are Pure Luxury Moonlit Fog, elephant is popped up to look like he is coming out of the scene.

So easy to color this elephant! Stamp in Memento Tuxedo Black on gray cardstock, then add shadows under the ears, legs and trunk with W-1 and W-5 Copics. TIP: Using Theresa's lines and dots in the image as a guide make it easy to create some wrinkles and folds in the ears with quick strokes of your marker or pencil, starting on the edge and working inward toward the head.

Add a bit of white to the trunk and eyes with an Inkssentials Gel Pen.

Cut out elephant and snip around the ear and pull out slightly to add more dimension before adhering on pop dots. TIP: stamp elephant's feet planted on grass onto white mat, then put cut elephant over it, this way you aren't cutting out the individual blades of grass.

To accompany this card, please bust out your best rendition of one of the most memorable choruses of the 80's, Toto's "Africa"! Altogether now!

It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from youuuuuu
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever doooooooo
I bless the rains down in Aaaaaaaaa-fri-caaaaa
I bless the rains down in Aaaaaaaaa-fri-caaaaa
I bless the rains down in Aaaaaaaaa-fri-caaaaa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never haaaaaaaad

(Nothing like 80's music to get you going on a Monday morning!) ;)

Next up, We have Rupa Shevde's Blooming with Blessings, a sweet spring set of animals and sayings! I chose this adorable duck and found a perfect match for the Copic colors and cardstocks I decided on in this Pure Luxury Petals and Wings print.
Here is a closeup of the coloring. Card uses Pure Luxury White, Ocean Mist and Just Peachy for the mats, Lemon Drop for the base, and Wild Dandelion and Creme de Menthe for the tag.
And here are the colors I used for the duck and water, just a couple shades of each color! This is a much cleaner and easier way to indicate the marker numbers, I'm sure you'll agree. (I saw Jeanne Streiff do this on her blog and thought it looked more professional and easier to read (and faster than stamping again and trying to draw the lines myself.) Thanks, Jeanne!)
Splish splash!

Now please check out all the amazing designs and inspiration:

Have a terrific day! More inspiration coming tomorrow, see you soon!

99 comments:

  1. Oh Mel such beautiful cards, adore them both :-)

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  2. Love the idea of stamping on the grey cs! So awesome Mel! And love the little ducky on his quilt!

    *walks off muttering about darn '80's music*

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  3. Great cards--love the sunset you created on the elephant card.

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  4. What a beautiful background on the card with the elephant. Just so creative!

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  5. I love them both! Your coloring is so amazing, and trimming around that elephant's ear was absolutely brilliant!

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  6. Wowza! These are stunning, Mel! Love your coloring tips. Fabulous!!!

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  7. Love how you did the Elephant card! Very adorable duck too!

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  8. You know I just love your work! Your coloring and layouts are amazing! I love how your sponged the background for the elephant!
    Thank you for sharing your crds for these amazing images!
    Hugs,

    Marie XX

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  9. Beautiful sunset and elephant!
    Really like how colorful and cheery the duck card is.

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  10. Oh my, these are both outstanding cards! I'm awed by your coloring skills, and the scene you created in the first card is breathtaking. Amazing work!

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  11. Love your cards. I love your sponging on the first card.

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  12. Wow, I love the elephant card especially the way you did the torn/sponged background, and the little duck is adorable too.

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  13. I am loving all the sunsets with this set. I really wasn't that interested in it at first but after I have seen it in use, I am loving it!!

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  14. Wonderful cards Mel. I just love the sunset on that first one, awesome.

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  15. Oh Melanie! BOTH of your cards are sweet, but that elephant card is truly breathtaking! That sponged layer technique looks spectacular and thank you so much for taking the time to put together that terrific coloring tutorial for us too!

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  16. Your cards are so lovely and really like the elephant one. Again, I am inspired.

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  17. Love the elephant card, although the duck is really cute, too! Especially how you popped out the ear! Thanks for sharing.

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  18. Love your cards and the way you popped up the ear on the elephant. The background is gorgeous! Love the little duck, too. Thanks for the tutorial.

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  19. The background on the elephant card is outstanding as is the shading on the elephant. Very well done. Ducky card is cute too

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  20. Beautiful job on the elephant card......takes you there.

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  21. Your tutorials are great. They take the fear out of trying something new. Thanks.

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  22. Very nice! I love all your shading on the elephant card. The duck card is something my daughter would love.

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  23. Beautiful cards. I especially love your coloring on that elephant. It's gorgeous.

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  24. Fabulous cards, but now I'm going to be singing Africa all day. The coloring on both cards is wonderful. Thanks for providing all the details.

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  25. lovely cards- and thanks for the coloring tutorial
    Holly

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  26. Love these. The elephant card has such a great background.

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  27. These are great and I love how you did the elephant.

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  28. What a wonderful technique for the grass around the elephant. Off to try it.

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  29. Wonderful cards. Beautiful colors especially the wild about you card.

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  30. love your cards and the numbers for your coloring is an awesome idea! :)

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  31. I really appreciate your instructions for coloring these stamps. I'm lost when it comes to coloring. I'm still chuckling about the duckie's red cheek! LOVE it!

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  32. Love the elephant card and the sunset...beautiful! The duck card is very cute.

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  33. great cards!love the new paper and your coloring thank you for sharing the details it really helps those of us still in practice. Thank you for sharing.

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  34. Awesome coloring of that sunset Melanie. Always so thankful for tutorials by you and Theresa. Thanks for doing them. It really helps. Now I just can't wait to get this stamp set.
    Marcie

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  35. Your elephant card is lovely. My favorite yet. I really like the plaid dp on the ducky card. so cute.

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  36. The African sunset is awesome. The duck card is cute. Thank you for the help with the coloring - it makes a difference. Great job.

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  37. love the WILD card colors!! awesome! The duck card is cute too!~

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  38. Great cards! Love the background that you created for the elephant. Very effective!

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  39. love the sponge layer on the first one. the dp on the other looks like a flannel baby blanket! too cute!!

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  40. WOW!!!! Thanks for the ideas and the tutorial. I sooooooooo enjoy your cards and the tutorials. TFS!
    Jean McGee

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  41. Melanie, you just amaze me with your cards. The elephant card is so cool. But, what I love the most is the duck and how you colored it. And thank you so much for not only giving us a tutorial on the colors, but pointing out where you placed them. That is really helpful.

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  42. Awesome cards. The coloring rocks. Thanks for sharing.

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  43. Just love the cards. So cute. Thanks for the ideas.

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  44. Beautiful work, really inspiring!

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  45. It's official...I need more Copics :)
    Both cards are amazing!

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  46. Melanie, I'm Wild about all of the creations on this blog hop. Such a talented group of artists! Thanks to all for sharing.

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  47. Wow! I absolutely love the elephant and the sunset you created. What talent! Your duck card is so bright and cheery. So cute!

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  48. Beautiful Africa card! And the ducky too! Fab coloring.

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  49. I am totally 'wild' over your first card. The second card is just 'ducky!'

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  50. Love your tutorials, they have helped me so much in my copic coloring (along with Sharon)! I do love your sponging, and the yellow gingham!

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  51. You have done a great job on both cards. Thanks for sharing.

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  52. You made a perfect scene with Mr. Elephant. So dramatic. The background for the little duck is just perfect. Thanks

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  53. Both cards are wonderful! I love the background you made on the first card. It's stunning! the duck card is adorable.

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  54. Love your coloring and layer effect on the first card. The second one is just cute as can be!

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  55. Awesome Cards love the Way you shaded and the Blending and that you had step by step. your Cards have so much Detail and the little duck is supper cute. thanks for sharing
    abbraddock@msn.com

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  56. The elephant card is just fabulous!!! Thanks!

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  57. Like the duck but that elephant card is the one for me!

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  58. Great tutorials with your fun samples!

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  59. Aaaaaaaawe-some!! Love your work. Mental note to self order Melanie's book with next Gina K order.......

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  60. They are both fantastic cards. Love the background with the elephant. You do such awesome work, just lovely and always sharing your techniques. I have learned to much.
    Thank you!

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  61. Love the song in there! Wonderful cards. That duck just brings a smile right out.

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  62. Love the Wild about you card. Hope you don't mind, but I just had to Pin It!

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  63. OMG. As always your coloring takes these up about 100 notches! THe sponged background and elephant card is phenomenal. A real showstopper!

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  64. Stunning cards Melanie! Love the sunset and your coloring is amazing! Thanks for the tutorial also! God Bless You!

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  65. Gorgeous first card - love the colors & design and adorable second card!

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  66. I am in love with that reverse masking technique. It looks great on your card! Cute duck too!

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  67. Way too cute. I love all your work.

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  68. I love that elephant card. It is so very cool - great background. I love how his ears are tipped forward. Let's not overlook ducky though. He's having a splashing good time!

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  69. Thanks so much for the pointers(I need them!) Can't wait for my order so I can get my feet wet and go wild!

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  70. What a beautiful card! Such wonderful shading! The sucky is really cute, these sets are fabulous!

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  71. Wonderful cards; love the details and color combos. Love your elephant card. Thanks for sharing.

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  72. I love all the new stamps! I have gotten so much inspiration from following the HOP.

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  73. As always fabulous cards and thanks for the great tutuorials

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  74. Awesome cards Melanie! You've created a gorgeous scene for your first card; and the little duck card is super cute!

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  75. Loved them both! Your coloing tutorials are such a help to me and your designs are always the greatest!

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  76. Lovely, your coloring is impeccable, love the sunset, it is gorgeous and the blowing grass is a amazing touch

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  77. Wowsers! Thanks for all the tips on how you did your cards! Really loving that elephant card!

    Kris in Alaska
    funamom at yahoo dot com

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  78. Great cards! Such a beautiful sunset- the elephant is wonderful! The ducky is so cute! He brings a smile to your face and the colors of the paper certainly echo that feeling.

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  79. I'm so glad others can share in the beauty of my home continent with the Wild About You stamp set! And yes - we South Africans basically see Toto's "Africa" song as our second anthem LOL.

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  80. Stunning scene on Wild About You Mel....wow, definitely want to try that!! Your duck card is so cute and love the dp you used.

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  81. Awesome cards and thanks for the extra help on coloring them.
    TFS,
    Barb S (FL)

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  82. I like that elephant more every time I see it. Thanks for sharing the coloring tips. I'm a horrible colorer on my own, but I can follow directions!

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  83. Oh my goodness! Love your coloring, especially the elephant card. Wowzers.

    Hugs,
    Jennifer

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  84. Your elephant looks as if he his coming right at me! Clever! And that little duckie card is so sweet, I love the gingham ribbon, it's just all so springy!

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  85. Fabulous cards. Thank you for the tip on the elephant's feet.

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  86. Your elephant card is fantabulous - also love how you have him walking out of the background.

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  87. Such wonderful cards! I really love the jungle animal set of Theresa's. Love how you set the scene!

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  88. Melanie, your elephant card is very vibrant. Love it. and the ducky card is very "Spring" like. Beautiful job!

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  89. Cutest Little Duckie! AWESOME sunset card! Thanks soe much for your tutorial!

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  90. Both of your cards are awesome, but I really loved the elephant. It's so generous of you to share how you colored them. You give me inspiration.

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  91. Holy Wow!! That elephant scene is specTACular!!! Wow!!!!

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  92. Darling ducky and that elephant card is amazing, I don't know if it's the sponged background or the shading. Just beautiful!

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  93. your coloring is so great, love the ducky too!

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Your generous feedback helps make my work and this blog better! Thanks for inspiring and motivating me! :)