Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Gina K. Inspiration Hop, Day 2: Half Pint Heroes, Half Pint Heroines, and Xavier Zebra

Good morning! The Cast and Crew for Gina K Designs welcomes you to another fabulous blog hop celebrating the new stamp release for December by our illustrator team! We hope to inspire you with some beautiful card projects as you hop along to each of the designer’s blogs! Today, we are featuring the stamp sets Xavier Zebra by Beth Silaika, and Half Pint Heroes and Half Pint Heroines by Claire Brennan. These whimsical stamp sets are just adorable and oh so versatile! Ready for some inspiration?

I've been needing some cute boy and girl stamps and these Half Pint sets by Claire really fill the fill! (Where were they years ago when my kids were younger?! That's okay, still lots of littles in my life...)

William came in while I was coloring this Half Pint Heroes  and asked, "Is that ME?? 'Cause it looks JUST like me!"  Yep, I agree. Love all the different hair options she added in this set, you really can personalize these to be recognizable, even though they are simple enough to also be anyone. Great job, Claire! Tip: Stamp the rocket and sentiment on a rectangle of white, and then cut a curve on each side of the rocket and around the rocket, it's just one piece, easy!  A great way to create a sense of place and "space", hee!  I also used a black marker to color in the holes on the rocket fins instead of cutting and that really create the illusion of black sky behind without cutting! Stars were stamped in GKD White pigment ink, and then filled in with a white gel pen. Cardstock is GKD Pure Luxury White, Black Onyx, and Blue Raspberry.

I made this card for the little girl I read with each week through Education Connection.  I hope she loves it! Only been partnering with her about a month but she is a really special kid!  I love these affirming, storybook-style sentiments in Half Pint Heroines you can piece together to write your own story. Cardstock is GKD Pure Luxury White, Peach Bellini and patterned paper I used to piece her dress and the background is from the Gina K. Fight Like a Girl pack (how apropos!)

And this is so fun, up, up and way!  Cardstock is GKD Pure Luxury White, Wild Dandelion, Cherry Red, and Black Onyx.  Colored with Spectrum Noir markers. I did a little sponging with GKD Ocean Mist for sky around these adorable and versatile clouds. (That bottom corner is super dark and green because I grabbed the wrong dauber at first, doh!!! Make it work...)

And I made this for a little boy I read with, but found out the next day when I showed up for my session with him he moved. :( (It will still get used. Maybe I knew subconsciously he was heading out?! Nah, but I do wish him the best, wherever he went!!!)  I used the cloud from the Half Pint Heroines set: all the sky elements in these two sets play well together. :)

Next up we have Beth Silaika's newest critter set, Xavier Zebra! Bonus critter, toucan and puns!!

When you say it's a little "toucan", you need to have a smaller then usual card, right? :)  (It's just a square 4" card, not too small!)  Image is colored with Spectrum Noir markers and cardstock is Pure Luxury Blue Raspberry, Black Onyx, Cherry Red and White.


I showed this one at the release and it's one of my favorites!  Gotta really be different with a sentiment as special as this one! Xavier is such a swinger!  Not only is he sweet, the leaf and vine elements are super fun for scene building.  Colored with Spectrum Noir markers and a teensy bit of Ocean Mist sponging for sky and to match the Pure Luxury cardstock base.


Ready for more awesome creations?! Just click on the links below for more from Gina and the Cast & Crew:


Don’t forget to pop over to the Gina K Designs Store and check out all of the new products available this month in the “What’s New” section at http://www.ginakdesigns.com.


Half Pint Heroes


Half Pint Heroines
Thank you for stopping by!

33 comments:

  1. So many beautiful cards! My fav is the zebra, that little guy is just adorable. Love all the variety in your cards!

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  2. I could not begin to select a favorite from these cards. I loved reading about how you were going to use these cards. What a wonderful way to help those readers soar!

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  3. Ha ha - a swinger - he is like a little monkey sometimes! All the samples are fantastic!

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  4. Really cute card samples. These are fun sets. Thanks for sharing.

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  5. They are all super cute. You are definitely inspiring me.

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  6. Melanie these are fabulous! Every one of them! I can't pick a fave, I love the moonscape in the first, I love that you made a story with the second, I love that you put the sentiment inside the cloud!! such a neat idea - the car card just oozes happy! Wonderful happy, jolly colouring!! I adore that the toucan is holding a bunch of flowers in his beak!! The zebra swinging on a vine is genius!! LOL!! You have the best sense of humour!! Superb cards all!!

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  7. Xavier flying is still my favorite. What a glorious layout.

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  8. Super cute but yes Xavier is my favorite!!

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  9. Beautiful cards, Melanie! I just love the little girl with the bunny.

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  10. Another day of fabulous cards and inspiration!

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  11. Your cards would be "happy mail" for any child. Thanks for the tip on a moon and rocket. I also really like your swinging zebra.

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  12. awesome cards, Melanie - they really made me smile especially your zebra on a vine - so funny:)

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  13. All so cute cards. The toucan holding the flowers would make anyone grin . Adorable.

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  14. Love how you did the rocket card and of course it is William. The toucan is just too too cute.

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  15. These sets are so amazing for children (and those children inside adults) - love the characters and the sentiments. and Thank you for the marvelous inspiration.

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  16. You are so talented Melanie. I love all your cards and so appreciate that you share your ideas with all of us.

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  17. Always love your work, Melanie.

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  18. Oh my gosh...all of these cards are absolutely awesome!

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  19. Mark great cards Melanie your work is always beautiful and inspiring I can't wait to get the toucan...

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  20. Melanie your cards are all fantastic!!! I really love that simple "driving by to say hi" card at the end there, just so simple yet adorable!
    Happy Holidays!
    Hugs,
    Jo

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  21. Such fun cards, love the paper pieced heroine.

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  22. Such a great job with these. Love the little zebra idea.

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  23. Beautiful cards. Love Xavier zebra.

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  24. I love your cards, Melanie, and all your tutorials on YouTube. Thanks for the inspirations.

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  25. I used your half pint girl card as inspiration for a card for my 40 year old daughter. Fantastic card idea. What a neat keepsake for her when I am gone (not to be negative). Love your work.

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