Card Drive for Kids and Spina Bifida (and a sketch!)

Hello! Giovana is doing a repeat of her card drive for children she knows who have Spina Bifida, you can get all the details here to participate on Giovana's blog. I was delighted to see her post a photo of little Rebekah receiving all her cards from last year's drive! (My card is the little "Bug Me Anytime one in front, hee, I'd forgotten which one I'd sent until she posted!) :) She is asking for cards again for Rebekah, now 8, and a little 2 year old boy named Logan, who both have Spina Bifida. Now several people have sponsored the drive with stamp sets you can win by particpating, you have until November 5th to enter! Please play, it's fun, and these kids will be so happy to get your special creations! I donated my set "Wee Tees", which is not just for babies! Here I cropped the stamped onesie to make a cute tee for that cutie Rebekah! I made the flower with some silk ribbon from Sharon I twisted together with some Scor-tape. DP is from the Basic Grey Olivia pack (and I know just what I'm going to do next for Logan with the Wee Tees set and the Basic Grey Oliver paper! choo chooooo!)
Since this card turned out different than I originally planned, I thought I'd go ahead and make up the sketch of it for you! Enjoy! If you make something with it, please let people know about my sketch with a link to this post and share a link to your card in the comment section below! It would also be great even if you can't participate to link this post on your blog to spread the word about the card drive, thank you in advance!

And if you do play, don't forget to add your card to Giovana's blog, not here! The sketch is NOT part of a requirement for the card drive, just for fun, anytime! Good luck winning Wee Tees or one of the other great sets offered! :)

Have a terrific weekend!

Button Tee

Today I have a clean and simple baby card (had to share a more borish one this time!) made with the "Wee Tees" onesie and the button image and sentiment from "Square Pegs". After scoring a large grid onto the Ocean Mist CS, I stamped a button into each to make a coordinating background, added a few real buttons for texture and then mounted everything on Black Onyx and White. I love these colors together, and how that white onesie just pops off the card like soft 100% cotton, so fresh! :)

This weekend I am trying to get some of my favorite cards assembled in ot a few different posts for you from the Two year Anniverysary Blog hop, stay tuned!

Wee Girly Tee

Today I have a "Wee Tees" sample using the "Square Pegs" set: after stamping my Onesie in Memento Black, I stamped the XO image all over it to make this super sweet hugs and kisses pattern and then simply stamped the heart over it. I popped it up onto a die cut Innocent Pink Scalloped Rectangle, and added little dots of Inkssential white pen to the border.

Cardbase is white glossy, the Swiss Dot Cuttlebugging in this glossy finish looks like a hundred little pearls, so girly! last add some white ribbon and a romance button, and it's done!

Hope you liked this card, and your day is sweet!

Big Brother

Here is a little two piece (well, three piece if you count the hat from "Just So Sporty"!) set I made using "Wee Tees" and some solid Basic Grey DP. If you stamp the onesie image onto two pieces of paper and then draw a line through the middle of one (here the Pure Luxury Ivory) you can create little tops and bottoms from the image, which is a fun (and sporty!) way to change up the onesie! The outfit is made to look like something his little sister might wear. I paper pieced the middle of the ivory section onto the orange DP so the sleeves would be burnt orange as well.

I made this card for the son of some friends of ours (UT alums) who at age 3 recently became a proud big brother. The little star on the shirt and cap is also from "Just So Sporty" and all greetings on this card are from "Wee Tees".

I used my Scor-Bug to create the stitched borders and Square Scalloped nestabilitie for the mat. just a bit of shadowing with a pale gray marker will give your cut out images a lot of dimesnion.

Happy Monday! Two tip sheets this week plus TWO guest design spots, get ready! :)

Custom Clock

I always had a thing for clocks and watches that had little characters on the face, so I thought it would be fun to try my little teddy bear from "Wee Tees" on Theresa's alarm clock from "Timeless Treasures", I've used colors and papers that would be perfect for a new mom.

This is such a fabulous quote about time and so many moments of mother- and babyhood are breathtaking to be sure! Background uses two prints from the Basic Grey Porcelain DP and Apricot for the base and ribbon. I found a piece of the lace trim on the print that was perfect for punching the threading water border along the bottom. The little clock is framed up in a classic and scalloped square Nestaibilties die cuts.

Try picking through your small stamp images to make a customized alarm clock, sure to bring a smile to someone's face!

Angel Baby

Here's a really easy card to make with "Wee Tees", I was inspired by one of the fancy corner punches I have and how they look like little wings, thought they'd be adorable paired with the onesie and little halo (traced with the Stardust pen) in this set. Card uses Paper Temptress Metallic Amethyst with White Diamond, and the floral background and pieced onesie use the Gina K "Springtime in Paris" digital pack.

The DP actually started as a square; I cut around the flower pattern through the middle and then spread it out to reveal the white underneath, to resemble billowy clouds. Last, I added a few white paper flowers and Basic Grey buttons.

Our Gina K Designs sneak peeks start THIS Sunday night! Mine's up first, eeek!! I am SO excited about this one, (of course, I'm always excited, but it is completely different and so versatile that I'm going to be using it with our other new sets in the previews!) Wait til you see! The only thing I'm going to say about it now, it's gonna be "BIG"!* ;)

*that's a little clue

Hip Hop Baby

Here's a simple onesie card created from "Wee Tees" and my "Hip Hop Accessories" set. I put together from the sentiments fro both sets to make "world's Hoppiest Baby"! (this would be either of my sons who could almost touch the top of the door frame in their Johnny Jump Up when they were little!) Isn't that little Joey sweet on the tee? I embossed a rectangle and then hung the onesie up with my hanger from "Little Tees", along with an adhesive metal dot like a tack to the border. Round tag is popped up. Cardstock is all Gina K Pure Luxury.

Gotta bounce (stamp!) I am busy getting ready for the Gina K Designs release next week, woo hoo!

Hope your day's a hoppy one!

Week 2: Tina Gilliland

Today Tina mixes it up: "Sporty Accessories" and "Wee Tees"

This card is actually a birth announcement, the front has a very clean and simple design with the onesie, a nice little baseball background and "It's a boy" from "Just So Sporty". I love the summery, patriotic colors and elements she used (my older son has a July 1 birthday, so we've had quote a few red, white and blue parties here!) ;) Cardstock and ribbon from the Stamp TV kit "Eclectic Summer", DP is the free "Stars and Stripes" digital paper.
Now look inside!

Don't you LOVE that bat design for each line item?? (and it keeps your handwriting straight LOL!) The lbs and ounces, my mommy and Daddy and world's cutest are all from "Wee Tees", the meagphone is such a fun way to way to make this very important announcement at the top!

You could easily adapt this design using the club or hockey stick, as well as making this into a party invitation instead (all the words you need for your invite details can be found in "Jumping for Joy". Hope this inspires, I know it did me! (off to make some invitations, the birthday's just a few weeks away!! ;)

Tina has another sample for us today, let's go see! :)

PS Would you like to guest design for me one day? I spend a lot of time browsing the gallery at Stamp TV for my next designers, uploading your creations there with my stamps will definitely show me your point of view and interest! ;)

Football Baby

"Wee Tees" meets "Sporty Accessories" and "Just So Sporty"!
I also threw in a little "Ribbon Stripes" for the background and some stars (die cut with Nesties) from the "Free with Three" set Lazy Days of Summer" (hey, you get that free, when you buy the above sets!!) ;)

I made the football by diecutting a Nestabilites oval in Close to Cocoa and embossing it with the "Tiny Bubble" Cuttlebug folder. To make the stripes on the ball , die cut a white oval and snip out two curved bands. Isn't that fun with the "baby" from "Wee Tees" stamped on the football in the middle of that onesie? Colors are Summer Sun , Eggplant Envy and Gina K Pure Luxury White.

School's finally out, we're eady for a sporty summer full of fun!!

I Heart ART!

Here's a card I peeked at the last release, using Carolyn's "Nurse Feelgood" set, made to look my son's art teacher (with long pants), with several of my small images from "Wee Tees" on punched squares tacked behind her and colored them quickly without to resemble children's artwork. I wrote the names of his classmates on each one and added ART with a marker to customize the "I {heart)} my___Teacher" greeting. Last I scribbled in a little "abstract" onto her papers she's holding.

This was such a fun card to make! :)

Our peeks start tomorrow! Happy Sunday!!!

Guest Designer Libby Hickson

You all recognize this little lady, right?























It's the best dressed girl on the net, Courtney, from "Courtney's closet!" (Of course this was long before she knew she'd have some inspirational wardrobe, click the purple link for an adorable Coutrtney story). :) (This photo really touched me because I have one so similar of my William from his birth announcement, sleeping with his squishy baby fingers under his head, so sweet!) I love how Libby used the three onesies from "Wee Tees" to for her "world's greatest baby" subtitle. The white pen accents on the title and onesie ribbing really pop! What a perfect addition to a baby room! Great design Libby!

Please see Libby's blog for more inspiration, a little bird told me that Cortney's Closet Challenge is turning one! Expect fun stuff!!

Out of this World!

Greetings, earthlings!
Today's card was inspired by the Basic Grey Offbeat Collection of papers and my little space baby from "Wee Tees"! I just love the colors and star and diamonds in this funky paper! I also tried a different matting this time with the two offset ovals, I tried to give it an "alien feel" if you will, either the the mothership opening up or one big cyclops eye, hee hee! I embossed and cut the little star with my nestabilities and stamped "I'm here!" ("the baby has landed!" LOL!) and added an adhesive metal dot to the center. Base is Gina K Pure Luxury Chocolate Kiss, I also used SU! Ruby Red, Old Olive, and Bordering Blue (edges sponged with same ink to give it a but of a glow).

PS This isn't the "Nestabilites fun" I promised, still have to get all the steps written up, tomorrow I think!! :)

Guest Designer: Libby Hickson

Look at this beautiful sample from Libby! Don't those snuggly kitties (from "Cuddle and Hugs", one of my FAVORITE animal sets!) paired with the senitment from "Wee Tees" just make you say, "awwww!" Sweet as sweet can be! I love all the layers and textures she added here with the patterns, lace, Cuttlebugging and heart brads! And the REAL stitching, I might add! :) Thank you Libby, for another great card!

So did anyone get "Wee Tees" with the coupon last week? Did you know our NEXT release is justa week and a half away??? Eek!! Any guesses what I have for you THIS time??

Happy Sunday!!

Baby Love

Here is a simple card I made with just one image: the onesie! I am really enjoying looking through my favorite printed papers and finding images that would be sweet centered on the front, this little giraffe pair as well as the background paper and distressed cranberry paper for the heart are all from the Basic Grey Sugared pack. I popped the onesie up on top of the Nestabilitie die cut heart, (I really liked the hearts here with those funky heart-shaped leaves in the pattern!) and used my Scor-Bug to create a pierced border, going over with a brown marker to create some faux stitching. TIP: When faux-stitching I try to go off the end of a row at an angle with my pen to make it look like a little stray or snipped thread, this makes it a lot more realistic-looking and less like a drawn box, KWIM?

Base is Old Olive to match the DP, although it looks a little bright here. I used a warm gray Copic to fill in the neck and leg holes for shadows.

Hope your day is sweet!

Sweet treat!

Quickie post, I am stamping up a storm to get ready for a baby shower tonight, but here is a simple cupcake topper I made with "Wee Tees" and a safety pin!
I stamped the polka dot background from Gina's "Bold Flowers" in pink onto my Basic Grey paper (onesie is stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa) and added the little cupcake image from my "A Charmed Life" set (omitting the jump ring part of the image), isn't that fun? (betcha wine isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of onesies LOL!) I inked up just part of "sweetest" from the Wee Tees set to make "sweet" underneath. Ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.

I attached the safety pin with a glue dot, and the tied ribbon with a glue dot on top of that. TIP: Use a doublesided DP for these so they look just as pretty from the back as from the front (I figured that out AFTER I made this mock up LOL! it's all good, the 13 new ones I made are!) ;)

This style of cupcake topper coudl be so easily adapted using the "Little Tees" for a girly slumber party or "Just So Sporty" for an after-game celebration! (substitute toothpicks for the pins)

I'll be back from the shower with stamped gifts and decor ideas I used ( think stamped onesies, a centerpiece, framed art, and embellies on the table! I think it's going to be so cute! Can't wait! :)

PS Do you have a shopping list for your Gina K coupon code yet?? Hurry, it expires soon!!

Guest Designer: Laura Jean

Look how sweet "Wee Tees" project is for a baby room! "Name frames" are one of my favorite kids to give children or babies, there's nothing like being validated seeing your name up and everywhere, and I just love this design of hanging it on the doorknob, perfect for a nursery! Thanks, Laura Jean for this lovely idea, the letters on the pieced onesies are too cute. For the dimensions, she used the largest Nestabilities Scalloped Circle (4.25" round), and cut out the same size of tag board to reinforce them (I used the White tagboard that comes in a package of SU DSP) and then backed each with a scalloped piece of Riding Hood Red. The DP is from DCWV (Animal Crackers). The total length of the hanging is approx 20".

Here is a little more abut Laura Jean, in her own words:
Favorite Technique-- Paper piecing.

Colors/color combo-- Anything I can use with brown, My favorite colors are Pacific Point, Certainly Celery, & Riding Hood Red.

Gina K set by Melanie-- Do I have to choose? My top three would be Little Tees, Just So Sporty and Wee Tees. I'm a pretty big sports fans so all those sporty sentiments just fit my personality.

Gina K sets (from any illustrator)- Rupa's Retro Boutique and Just Be-Claws. I just love those little crabs!

Craft supplies I can’t live without— Ribbon & Basic Grey Brads. I usually have a hard time making a card without one or the other.

I've been stamping for (how long)— I started Scrapbooking my baseball vacations 9-10 years ago with just a 8.5X11 binder, some card-stock and a few stickers. I bought my first stamps (an alphabet set which I still have) about 2 years later (from Gina K ironically) to stamp baseball team names, and then my mom showed me SCS. I've been making cards, and other stamp projects since. I still do my baseball albums, but I really love working with a "smaller canvas" (i.e. card).

I get my inspiration from -- Gina K (of course!) and other blogs/web galleries. I also get PaperCrafts magazine which refer to a lot. For Scrapbooking I usually rely on Becky Higgin's Sketch Magazines for layout design.

The most important things I’ve learned about stamping/cardmaking/scrapbooking are - A sketch is just a "starting" point & if you change it up that's fine. I've started so many "challenges" only to come out with something completely different that doesn't even fit the challenge requirements, and that's okay. I've also learned that there is so much out there I have not even learned. Which makes me keep going.

Some of my stamping/crafting goals are- continue to learn more about the craft, there are a lot of techniques I have not tried yet. I also want to improve my coloring technique. Art was one of the worst subjects for me in school. LOL!

Favorite things to make that aren’t cards (if any): Scrap-booking, & coaster-book albums. I also enjoy altering tins.
Some of my stamping/crafting accomplishments are— other than being a Guest Designer for Melanie my list is pretty short. :)

And here is another sample from Laura Jean , check it out!

BIG NEWS: Have you read the "Stamping Lifestyle" Magazine yet? I am so excited to try those recipes I haven't had yet, and as well as check out some of those books! I could go on and on, but like with all things Gina K , the magazine truly surpassed all my (already very high) expectations!

Go enjoy! and have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend! More to come! (don't forget to leave a comment on this post<---click here if you haven't already to be entered for the Paper Temptress Blog Candy!)

Guest Designer: Libby Hickson

BWAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I love it!! Love Libby's sense of humor putting together the happy face and "have a nice" sentiment from "Little Tees" with the baby and onesie from "Wee Tees"! (Every mom holds their breath for a little one with a sunny disposition, don't they??)Highlighting "baby" in yellow really gives the punchline some extra punch, know what I mean? The yellow ribbon and polka dots are all such nice touches, too!

Thanks for another great project, Libby, your card is totally hip! Now please go check Libby's blog for another fun project with "Wee Tees"!

Have nice day, baby! ;)

Rock a Bye Baby! (and Blog Candy!)

The blog candy is closed. Winner announced here.

Today I have a fun interactive card using a So Sketchy Sketch of Allison's (which I tweaked a bit!), and my first video upload! When I first saw the half circle sketch I was a bit stumped what I should do with it, but I guess I've just had babies on the brain lately (wink!) and am really excited about what the sketch inspired!

Simply add a punched or die cut circle to the top with a scalloped circle behind it for a bonnet and you have a little baby peeking out! I used Blush Blossom CS and pale peach Copic to make some cheeks and a little upturned nose, then a pen to make simple eyes, mouth and curl. The shimmery coral paper you see is Paper Temptress Rocket Red Pearlescent CS. I used the lid of a pitcher to trace a half circle the size I wanted on the paper since all my dies were too small, the diameter of the circle is 5 inches, so 2.5" tall when folded. With the addition of the head, it still fits in an A2 card. :) I added a bit of Gable Green punched with the Threading Water Punch to the top and a little Cuttlebugged strip to the front. I substituted some tied ribbon for the butterfly, tried to make it resemble one with the bow as best I could. DP is Basic Grey Porcelain (thank you, Cammie!)

The sentiment is from my "Wee Tees". You'll see how appropriate that is here in my first video upload (fingers crossed I did it right!), go easy on me with the quality, I just wanted to capture the motion for you (I decided to spare you me singing a lullaby)


My baby rocks!!!! If you try making this fun card, please link this post if you share it and also let me know so I can come check yours out! :)

Now for the candy! Patricia the Paper Temptress has a pack of ALL her assorted metallic colors up for grabs! (The mica/metallic line 25% off this month!) To enter, please leave a comment on this post with a request for a project you'd like to see here on this blog (or request for something using a particular stamp set or technique), I will randomly draw a winner and post the lucky person's name this weekend! Looking forward to reading your comments! :)

Be sure to check out the new videos today on StampTV, too!

PS If I can score a tripod, you just might see more videos in action here, would you like that??

Three Faces of Baby

Here's a little "progressive" card I made using "Wee Tees" and the paper piecing technique.

This inside says "Spit happens!" Fun for showing new parents what's in store, reminding second time parents about those crazy baby days, or just aha ha anytime card. I am loving the Basic Grey Offbeat papers, what great colors! Angel onesie is pieced from Paper Temptress White Diamond (for shimmering angelic look! halo is outlined with Lionet Gold Copic), "Stinker" in Kraft paper, and "devil" in Real Red. Base is the new Gina K Pure Luxury Chocolate Kiss. The little arrow is from "Little Tees" .

Happy Monday! This week I've got two guest design prjects you'll love, a few GK "sightings" I just have to share, a sweet treat party idea with "Wee Tees" and some blog candy, mmm mmm!

PCP Sketch Challenge

I am hosting this week's sketch challenge this week at PaperCraftPlanet, I hope you like it! :) (The stars don't have to be stars, that's just any old embellishment!)

This week, we are thrilled to have MyGrafico sponsor our weekly Paper Craft Planet sketch challenge. While you don't have to use any particular stamp sets or products to win the sketch challenge, MyGrafico wanted you to be able to play along. To celebrate National Scrapbook Day, they are offering 40% off all digital downloads until May 3rd! They also have two really great sets that you can download for FREE! (Here are the freebies: Baby Silhouettes and Vases and Flowers.) Plus, if you play along during this week's sketch challenge, you can win the Butterfly Garden set!

I made today's sample using a free digital image download from Baby Silhouettes, pairing their sweet little sail boat with a greeting from my "Wee Tees" set from Gina K : "My daddy rocks!" ('cause the boat rocks, ya know??)

I made a cut out window with a classic circle Nestie to mimic a porthole and popped up the sailboat. The waves were created with a scalloped edge scissor. I added some SU! Rich Regal buttons to the corners with Glue Dots and created a pierced border in the Gina K Pure Luxury base with my Scor-Bug. I just love nautical cards because a clean simple layut and red ,white blue are so easy to put together for fresh looking results!

To play along in the challenge, please upload your creations with this sketch to PaperCraft Planet with the tag SK050209. To get you excited, the rest of our DT is showcasing the sketch challenge prize set Butterfly Garden. Check out their blogs sometime today to see what they made :)

Adela Rossol
Lynn Mercurio
Kim Burmeister
Wendy Price
Jen Tapler
Tammy Hershberger
Diana Gibbs
Erika Martin
Lori Tecler
Jessica Fick
Sankari Wegman
Susanna Boyd

Check out our sketch challenge entries for this week
Join the Sketch Challenge Group.

Have a terrific weekend! :)