Monday, November 2, 2015

Gina K. Sparkling Christmas Inspiration Hop

Good morning!  Happy November (where has 2015 gone?) The Cast and Crew for Gina K Designs welcomes you to another fabulous Inspiration Blog Hop! This blog hop is for our October Sparkling Christmas StampTV Kit Release, and we hope to inspire you with some beautiful card projections as you hop along in the hop this month.  Please enjoy the gorgeous inspiration samples from the team and then comment on each blog for your chance to win an awesome grab bag of GKD goodies!  To see who won, check the Big News Forum at StampTV a few days after the hop.

Two of today's cards I showed at the release party last week, now with creation details. Two are new! Check it! :)
First, I have a very simple chalkboard design.  Just some White Gina K. Pigment ink and Black Onyx cardstock are all you need. I love wordy cards so I thought these stylized, big greetings along with the longer sentiments would fill the space really nicely, and the fancy borders finish it off.  Base is Cherry Red from the kit.
Next, here is clean and simple design with the reindeer. I just love lots of white space, and white space is perfect for a big expanse of freshly fallen snow!  Be bold and add some foot prints and a shadow (Spectrum Noir IG3), it will make this design spring to life. Base is, again, my favorite Cherry Red! Dot the "i" with some rhinestone bling. Done! (You can't see it from this angle in this photo, but I gently swiped my Wink of Stella glitter pen ALL over the white, so tilt it just right and it's all super sparkly!)

Here is a stepped up version with the reindeer, Santa's sleigh is sure to follow! Still just a single layer! Reindeer is stamped and stamped off in Gina K. Dark Chocolate ink. I added shadows to the reindeer (EB3 and EB5), and footprints are BT4.   Have fun adding some stripes or detail to the open scarves and socks for some individuality (JG5 and DR3).  Sponging and masking with Ocean Mist and Turquoise Sea inks to make a few drifts and cloudy sky really make scene.  Last I added a pearl I colored with the DR3 marker for a nose. Brr, I'm getting cold, are you?

Finally, the silhouette trees in this kit are perfect for a cold, silent starry night, with "the" star!  Stamping the trees all the way around the mat rather than just on the horizon easily create the effect of sitting in the snow looking up or standing in the middle of a clearing, gazing towards the heavens.  I sponged on first Gina K. Lovely Lavender to the middle of the Pure Luxury White mat, followed by Powder Blue, then Blue Denim and Navy inks around the edges.  Adding the Edible Eggplant to the corners and just a touch through the middle adds some mystery and that hazy quality of the milky way. You don't need as many blue inks as this, but it saves time not having to layer as much ink. Also, using both blue and purple tones, instead of just blue really makes the sky richer, and "inkier"! 


Next stamp the trees, both the single and the trio at random in the eggplant, stamping off to create distance, and making sure to vary the placement of trees as you go, some higher or lower or it will look more like a pattern of arrows than trees, know what I mean?  Always stamp silhouettes after sponging to keep images crisp, (unless you are going for a hazy look,  and that can work, too!)  Finally dot a sprinkle of stars with white gel pens (Big Pitt (for the big and Ranger for the tiny) .  I added a few small rays to the one in the middle (a small "x " and a big"+"), in the lightest area of the card (planned!) above the greeting to represent the Christmas star.  Base is Pure Luxury Powder Blue.
I love how it turned out!  You can do this!

Sparkling Christmas StampTV kit

And here are the lovely incentives this month!

If you missed my paper pieced owl cards with these knits, see here. :) 

Need any more convincing this is a great kit you need?  (and I didn't even bust out the included snowflake dies on these cards!) Well, alright then, go see what the rest of the design team has now, they will surely cement your decision, in the best way!  :)



Melanie Muenchinger (you are here!)

Hugs, thanks for hopping with us today!

72 comments:

  1. These are all Fantastic! I Love your birds, and the reindeer are so precious… The black & White one has the chalk board look that is so awesome, I keep getting drawn back to the night sky with the trees! Beautiful…. Love them all. Of course I usually do! <3 :) Thanks for inspiring!

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  2. What gorgeous cards, Mel! That row of reindeer is spectacular and I love the night sky through the trees. Wonderful - all of them!!!

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  3. Footprints in the snow makes me LOL every time I see them. Was hoping to see you use the incentive paper?

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    1. Hi Bonnie, I posted the knit paper pieced owl card here on Friday! Hth!

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  4. All are fabulous, and that chalkboard one really motivates me to try that technique! Such great inspiration you have shown us!

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  5. All the cards are so elegant! I love the silhouette trees on a starry night! So very, very pretty!

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  6. Stunning cards, couldn't pick a favorite. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  7. especially love the night sky...stunning

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  8. Love all of them! What awesome cards - the silhouette cards is just WOW! And the reindeer, so cute! Thanks for sharing with all of us!

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  9. These are all great! I seriously cannot choose a favorite, lol!

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  10. I LOVE all your cards, love the footprints. I really love that last card with the sky and trees! TFS!!!

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  11. Great cards!! Love the reindeer footprints!!! Really adds so much!! I also really love the last card!! I can imagine laying in the woods looking up at the night sky, surrounded by trees!!! Really a great technique!! Thanks for the inspiration!!!

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  12. OMYMY! The Reindeer creation with footprints stole the show! It has a Wow factor and all other creations are so classic, love them all!

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  13. Fabulous, as always! Would love to see a video of the "starry night" card. So many techniques and truly stunning!

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  14. Grand cards..I truly loved the footprints..maybe my favorite???

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  15. so Awesome cards! Like the chalk board card, and simply mesmerized by your night sky! I can remember making snow angels as a child and having a similar sky line, maybe not spruce trees but trees. so beautiful

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  16. I love them all. Those reindeer are so cute and love the hoof prints in the snow too!

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  17. Beautiful cards! I especially like the night sky. Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.

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  18. Love that reindeer! Can you please do a video on the night sky with trees? It's so amazing!

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  19. Mel, I always love your cards! Your night sky with the trees surrounding is awesome!

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  20. Love those reindeers! Those paw prints are too cute!

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  21. Great cards, all of them! Absolutely love the second card, those footsteps...
    The last card is just stunning. I also looked at your owl card - love it! Thank you for your great cards and ideas.

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  22. As always you never disappoint. Just love your work. Thanks for sharing your wonderful creations. The reindeer group just has to be a favorite.

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  23. That blue card is ever so lovely.

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  24. Wonderful cards~! The evergreen trees in the night sky is AWESOME!

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  25. Love your cards, Melanie. I particularly love the card with the reindeer lined up and the beautiful, whispy blue sky. I love their shoes!

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  26. Fantastic cards, love the different techniques you employed!

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  27. love them and the one with the trees and blue in the middle gives me a haarypotter idea thanks

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  28. Love all the variety of cards you made with this kit Melanie!

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  29. I love the reindeer, but the trees are my all time favorite. They are gorgeous! The prettiest card I have seen in a long time. It just speaks to me. Beautiful!

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  30. WOW, great creations! Love the reindeer and the row of them too! The trees are cool too:-)

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  31. Love your cards, especially the one with Rudolph:-)) Made me smile.

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  32. Love all of these! The chalkboard design, the reindeer and especially the last one with the trees and the star are all beautiful!

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  33. Have not doen chalkboard before. That looks cool. thanks

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  34. Great cards! Love the deer - so whimsical and festive!

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  35. Fun festive cards! The reindeer cards are so much fun!

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  36. Your cards are so beautiful. Truly artistic. Your reindeer card is so pretty. Love it. Thanks for sharing all your lovely creations!! - Payel (Beau Monde Designs)

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  37. Great variety--my fave is the chalkboard one.

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  38. Love the reindeer cards. You did a fabulous job. thanks for sharing.

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  39. I love the reindeer one with the diff color scarves - but the blue one looking up at the trees - ahhh! love it - reminds me of twilight!

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  40. OMGness - I love, love, LOVE the reindeer card with Rudolph at the front - and the night sky card -- so many ideas you have given me! thank you!

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  41. The parade of reindeer is so wonderful!!

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  42. Melanie all your cards are great. I like how the reindeer had a family. The night sky card
    Is one of my all time favorites. Live, love, love it

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  43. Okay! Your cards have made me fall in love with the reindeer. Great stamps and wonderful cards!

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  44. Melanie your cards are once again both unique and inspiring. I love the multiple reindeer card it is just too stinkin cute! I must say though, the starry night sky has me feeling like I am in the card. I could fall headfirst into that one. Thanks for sharing your talent with us

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  45. These cards are so inspirational, Melanie. I LOVE your night sky, trees around the card image. I can almost picture being in a forest and looking up through the trees to see the Christmas stars. Thank you so much for sharing your amazing talents with us:)

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  46. Melanie, you never disappoint! Your cards are always so clever and unique! Love them!

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  47. Beautiful cards. Love the trees with the night sky.

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  48. The chalkboard card is perfect with the pretty Cherry Red card! I like how different the deer cards are and how the shadow and prints add so much to the deer and sentiments. The stamping off is fun and I like the different scarves and boots. My how I love the starry night card! I don't have so many blues and purples but think I might have to give that technique a try with what I have! Beautiful job.
    quilt 4 fun 2 at hot mail dot com

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  49. Elegance at it's best.....that's what you have created AGAIN! Love these so much! Hugs! Seanie

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  50. Beautiful cards, as always. So creative!

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  51. Love the whimsy of the row of reindeer, and the beauty of the deep blue card. Great job!

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  52. That reindeer is so adorable and what a unique way to use that tree!! Gorgeous, thanks for sharing your awesome ideas :)

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  53. Thud!! Your cards as always are gorgeous. Love what you've done with the reindeer. But that last one is amazing. The star actually looks like it's glowing. Thanks for the sponging details.

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  54. WOW!! The chalkboard design is totally awesome and I loved the reindeer during the release and the herd of deer reminds me of the Rockettes :). I could only hope to CASE the starry night looking up to the heavens.....WOW!!

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  55. And of course then we get to Melanie and then I almost faint! Seriously Melanie, I would have to gush through this entire window and blogger would likely cut me off and it still wouldn't be enough to say how much you blow me away! Incredible will have to be enough said!

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  56. Wonderful cards! All of them are beautiful The last one....That background....YUM ♥

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  57. Awesome cards! Love the deer and that gorgeous scene with the trees!

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  58. All of your cards are very nice. I'm not really "into" the chalkboard look yet, I'll probably begin liking it about the time it goes out of style, but I do really like the way you have arranged the stamps. We do not "play Santa Claus" at our house, but I do think that the scarves and socks, along with the foot prints in the snow, look cute with the reindeer. "Wisemen still seek Him" is one of my favorite Christmas themes, so your Starry Night card is definitely my favorite. The paperpieced Owls and Spinning Triple Play Ornaments are also cute, I especially like the way that you anchored the Owls to the left side of their piece of cardstock.

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  59. All of your cards are beautiful. Thank you for sharing them with all of us.

    Kathleen

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  60. Wow, super cool. Thanks for the great tips, too. That helps to know how you accomplished your look.

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  61. Wow! That pretty much says it all. I absolutely love the night sky you created on the last one.

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  62. WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!! Your work is stunning! I was more inspired everytime I scrolled down!

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  63. As always, simply amazing cards - thanks!

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  64. That night sky card is amazing. I feel like I am lying on the ground looking up at the
    Prettiest sky ever...

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  65. Wow! The sillohette tree card is amazing! Makes me wanna lay down in a forest and star gaze!

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  66. I love all of your cards, they're so creative and unique! The first reindeer card is so elegant and beautiful, and the multi reindeer is such an amazing take on that. Great ideas! Thank you!

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  67. WOW Melanie! These are stunning! Love the group of reindeer - hard to believe that it is only a single layer card!

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  68. I love the reindeer! So creative. Thanks for sharing!!

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  69. You are so inspiring, just love all your cards! Merry Christmas!

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