Loving Hands Mosaic

Here is a quickie, single layer card made from White Pure Luxury using "Where Your Heart Is" and my beloved "Inspiration Mosaic" (oh, stamp how I've missed playing with you!!) The rectangular framed hands image is a natural to place over this grid. Here I colored and trimmed out the hands and layered them over Red Hot and Black Onyx cardstock (so this also fits this week's STV color challenge) on pop dots (without the pop dots this would make a really good "flat design" for sending cards to the troops!*), then colored just a few panes of the frame with R27 Copic. Stamp the little greetings and border from "Inspiration Mosaic" into the corner and you're done!

Thanks for visiting! NEXT will be the guest designer card I mentioned, don't have my post written up for that yet, but wanted to get a card up here! Hope this CAS design inspires!

* Wonder where we are at for number of "Where Your Heart Is" sets sold for January?? I'll find out in about week, can't wait to see how many sets all our customers purchased, that's how many cards I'll be sending to OWH! :)

Stay Warm! (with a simple meal)

I made this for the first time a few days ago, have been enjoying small bowls to he leftovers since, especially on a cooooooooooold day like today! I can't call this one low-fat with the brick of Velveeta!) but it is very simple and tastes great, warms you up from the inside out! Nice kick but not too spicy for the kids! Bet you have most of this at home right now, or if not can improvise, hope so if there is too much snow outside your door to get to the store! Hugs to all of you buried under some really extreme weather right now! (it's freezing here but no snow!)

Maria's Chicken Chili
(as given to me by my mom from a friend, neither of whom are named Maria!)

1 rotisserie style baked chicken, cut up into small pieces
1 can Rotel original
1 jar red pasta sauce
1 can black beans
1 can chili with beans
1 brick of Velveeta
1 bag frozen corn

Put all ingredients in a pot and add 2 cups water. Heat, stir, serve!! (with chips tortillas etc) makes a good dip or would be nice a bubblin' in the crock pot, maybe for Super Bowl?

Back in just a bit with a card from one of my guest designers!!

Don't Text and Drive

Did you see last night's "Extreme Home Makeover Edition"? Here is a clip of the family they selected, this news footage I found online was shot back in 2009:



If you have an opportunity to watch the "Extreme" episode, you'll learn that the Browns have taken that truck and shared their story weekly since the accident with thousands of people in hopes that they'll save lives. In addition to building them a new home, "Extreme Home" is helping them take their campaign "Remember Alex Brown" nationwide. A message not just for teens, but really anyone with a cell phone and a car...

I had to share this today to ask that you NEVER text while driving again. I know I won't.

More on Chris Medina! Good stuff!

Being the "inquiring mind' that I am, I googled "Chris Medina" to see if I could find out more about Julie's condition and more songs Chris has recorded. Here is one more video I found that has both (recorded on what should have been their wedding day). If you have not yet read my post from Thursday, scroll down and read and watch that video first for context!


WOW.

I also found that their wedding is on hold because of the incredible medical expenses they've incurred and continue to have for her recovery. Here is a link to Juliana's Recovery Fund through the Laurus Foundation if you feel moved to contribute, you can easily make a payment through the widget on the site, any amount would help.

I am so excited to see more of them! I know his time on the show will be really hard for them to be separated and her mother will need lots of prayers to manage what she normally has Chris's help for in Juliana's day to day care, but I am hoping for miracles for the three of them in many ways!

PS Can't wait to start downloading his songs off itunes. I went to download "Breakeven" last night but prefer Chris's soulful acapella rendition so much more, so I CAN wait, maybe he'll sing this or get permission to do one of his original songs on the Idol Stage, they are making lots of changes this season so perhaps allowing new songs will be one of them!

PPS Nicole commented on how amazing Steven Tyler was showering love on her after that audition, I completely agree. It revealed what a HUGE heart he has. Thumbs up adding him to the show!

STV Color Spotlight #10

This week Gina has featured one of my favorite "go to" color combos in the StampTV Spotlight Challenge, black, white and RED (hot!)

I used "Buds and Vases" this week, and have a coloring tutorial to go with!

First color the flowers with R29, Lipstick Red goes beautifully with the Pure Luxury Red Hot.
Next color the leaves with YG93.
Now trace the veins and under the flowers where they overlap the leaves with G99. You could soften these lines with YG93 again or do tip tip coloring with these two greens to create an in-between shade.
Next, using R59, start near the flower centers and make quick flicks outward, going over the little star burst lines in the middle of each. Leave the centers white.Last, and this step is optional, start on the outside of the flower petal and make tiny flicks inward toward the flower middle to create a frilly look. Without the petals look flat (which is cool, some varieties look like that!) With these strokes, the petals have some folds.
Here is a closeup, the pot is paper pieced with Basic Grey Origin DP and shaded at the bottom, left and under the rim with E71, but W or C gray Copics would work as well. I popped up the flower and trio and added one cut blossom over and one under.
The Black Onyx layer is Cuttlebugged with the Victoria folder, rubbed with white craft ink and the center is cut out with a Large Scalloped Rectangle die to reveal the white layer underneath. I used a Bow Easy to create the double bow with the Pure Luxury Satin Ribbon.

Be sure to use the tag STVCSP10 to the STV gallery, I hope you'll play, you could snag from free stamps, good luck!

Have a terrific weekend! Thank you for visiting me!

I cried like a little girl

...when I watched American Idol tonight, this segment with Chris Medina is worth watching multiple times, because he sings like an angel, but also for his story of incredible commitment and love. LOVE. THIS. GUY.

My husband left the room before Chris brought his girlfriend in to meet the judges, and I thought it was because he just didn't want to get choked up (he's a sentimental guy but tried hard to hide it). As the show went to commercial I suddenly realized how easily OUR story could have ended this way. You may have read my post last September about how I got in a terrible car wreck one month before we got married (we'd been engaged about a year and a half). I walked away from it. Because I suffered no injuries, I think I've always viewed it as how fortunate I was to survive, that it was life or death, but I'm not sure if I've ever thought until tonight in terms of how I also could have lived but become quadriplegic, or suffered serious brain trauma like Chris' fiancee did... I shiver thinking about it again. But what a testament this video is to what love is and what it can do.

Excuse me while I go watch it again... (sniffle) and then go download the song (wahhh!) Hope it lifts you up if you weren't watching it tonight and I've helped round up some more fans for him. ;) Go Chris!!

Stamping their HEARTS Out!

Okay, this really has me tickled , Elfrieda and Karen seem to have a little throw down going on over (whether they know it or not! LOL!) at STV for the most creative use of "Where Your Heart Is". Here is Elfreida's latest creation, 'just a little note' (hee!) using the letter image from the set "Picture It"

Elfrieda, I love it!! Drop me a note any time!! (no, seriously, please write to me, I don't know if you are seeing these posts or gotten my messages!! I'm a fan, girl!)

And look at this one, bwahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I seriously spit on my screen (in a good way!) when I saw the hands split and holding this tiny, wee confection, from "Candles on Your Cake"! Be sure to check out Karen's blog for the inspiration pic she used and materials on her card! become a follower while you're there, cause Karen's stuff ROCKS!

Thanks for inspiring me ladies, I bow!

Gotta try to make my own out of the box creation now, I don't want to miss out on this fun! How about you?? Hope this inspires YOU!

Winner of the Tee! Vee! Blog candy :)

Hello! Thanks for waiting on the announcement, the contest from last Tuesday is now closed! the winner of my new set is

Melissa Bove!

Congrats Melissa! Please send me your snail addy and I will ship the stamps to you when I receive them! Our next release is February 17th, and I am so, SO excited for this one!! :) Thank you again everyone for linking me and helping spread the words about the PBS spot!

Take a Quote, Leave a Quote

Heard this this morning on the radio (Spirit 105.9), read by a child,

in a "Words of Encouragement" segment, although I don't know who said it:

"People rain on your parade
because they're jealous of your sun,
and tired of their shade"

Just thought I'd pass this good thought on...

Don't let people steal your sunshine!

blog candy winner announcement coming up...

Chocolove: I'm a sucker for it!

Here's another card that seriously made me bounce the other day when I was perusing the StampTV gallery, made by the lovely and talented Sue VandeVusse:
Is that gorgeous, or what?? This turquoise jar, made from my stamp set "Buds and Vases" looks so fabulous with the Labels 14 wrap from "Labelled with Love" and these handmade chocolate suckers Sue created with punches! Looks like soemthing in oan old timey candy store, a candy store I'd like to go in!! The tiny hearts balance out the pops. I just love, love, LOVE this!!

Hope it inspires you to see what YOU would/could put in this jar! :) Thanks, Sue for shairng your talents and ideas with us today!

You can find the full list of materials Sue used HERE.

Sketch Spotlight #10

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend! Time for our 10th Sketch Spotlight Challenge!


(I think Gina made this one for my ""Where Your Heart Is set) ;) I used Innocent Pink for the base and focal point and some fun, contemporary looking Valentine-y DPs by The Paper Studio I found at Hobby Lobby. Mats are Pure Luxury Black Onyx.

TIP: I stamped the hands right onto the Innocent Pink and colored them with Copics E02 and E51. It will look SO dark as you start to lay the color down but it WILL fade. You will not get such a natural looking effect if you try this on blue or green cardstock, just sayin' LOL! But working on pink since it's close to a flesh tone is great for girly, love-y cards, and keeps you from having to color the background. I trimmed it to have about 11/8" inch around the border and ran my Copic R27 around the outside of the line to look like I have an extra red layer.

I also cut one of the hearts out of the DP and popped it up over the heart shape instead of coloring, isn't that a fun look? This is another alternative to coloring in or paper piecing the heart shape, the fit of your punched heart or heart cut out doesn't exactly have to match the space in between the hands!

Last I stamped "i love you" from the "Where Your Heart Is" set onto plain white printer paper instead of cardstock so it has more of a fortune /love note feel. I found these cute little clips at the Target Dollar Spot in different Valentine colors, isn't that sweet? Sometimes the smallest little bling detail is all you need!

Hope you'll join us in playing this week's Sketch Spotlight Challenge on STV, be sure to upload your creations with the tag STVSKSP10. Looking forward to seeing what you make, you might win some free stamps!

Thanks for visiting me today! :)

StampTV Gallery Gazing

In case you were wondering where the usual guest design spots have been this month, never fear, they are on the way! I wasn't able to get sets out to my designers as quickly as usual, but they will have some things to share soon!

Fortunately, I can always rely on finding beautiful , creative samples in the StampTV gallery from our fans and customers any time, so I thought I'd point out two terrific ideas I spotted this weekend using "Where Your Heart Is", both from Elfrieda Everett !! These were FIRST uploads in our STV gallery and I hope she will continue to delight us with ideas like these! Here she used the hands image on card for the current sketch challenge, and I just love the whimsy she created with those bold hearts from "Picture It" stamped again and again bubbling up out of the middle! How perfect for a Valentine or for any time, just makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside!
The next sample she got crafty with Gina's "Spring Florals", I love this idea of cutting out the heart shaped hole and tuck in a sweet bouquet! So precious, would make such a fun birthday card for a friend, or change up the colors and it would be a very touching sympathy card!! (She has another beautiful sample in the gallery with this idea but changed the design.) She stamped the "God Bless", also from the "Where Your Heart Is" set onto a stamped flower image for the corner, which is a nice addition to the other flowers! I know there must be a ton of other flower images in our Gina K Designs collection that would be just lovely in these hands and I can't wait to hunt through and try them ALL! :)

Well, I'M inspired*, how about you?! just had to share this talent with all of you, welcome to StampTV, Elfrieda!! I think your designs rock! :)

*For the first time in days I'm inspired, can you pray for me, please, so I can get back to stamping?? I have been having real issues with my neck that is causing a lot of pain to sit at my desk and I'm noticing it's starting to affect my right hand again (had some pinched nerve in my neck last year that caused a lot of pain and numbness in my wrist and thumb), trying to take it really easy and do my stretching! More samples soon to come!

Blog Candy Winner from Friday!

Sorry I am late in posting in the CardMaker blog candy winner, I have been attending a women's conference at my church (my heart is so full after hearing some wonderful women of God share these past two days! Will pass along some of what we learned and a few resources!)


The winner of the Cardmaker issue candy is:
Mary Friederichsen!


Please send me your snail addy Mary and I will pop the issue in the mail! Thanks everyone for commenting, I loved reading about your birthday wishes! :)

Now a BIG oops I just noticed: on the post with the PBS videos when I asked you to share them on your blog or Facebook, I meant to put "I will post a winner next Tuesday", but I JUST noticed it says "I will post the winner next day!" doh!! I must have been trying to decide how long to leave it open and forgot to add! So anyway, I WILL post it Tuesday! Still time to link the videos or post to win my set coming out in February, please scroll down to Tuesday's post to enter! Sorry again for the omission!

Blow out the Candles!

Hello! Have you seen the newest issue of Cardmaker? Their March issue is packed with all things Spring, plus some other fun techniques!
Featured on page 22, is one of my favorite intereactive designs I've created, a birthday blowout using "Candles on Your Cake"!

Just blow and pull to make them go out! hee hee! (wouldn't it be GREAT to just have 4 candles for all birthdays from now on??) ;)

A big hip hip hurray to our other Gina K Designs team members in the issue!

I have an EXTRA copy of the issue to give away to one of you, tell me a birthday wish you made (come on, I know you still make them before you blow out those candles!) that came TRUE! I will leave this open for a few days and pick a winner on Friday!

Have a great day!!

PS Thanks so much for your well wishes yesterday and I really appreciate everyone who is posting! I wanted to address Mary's observation that they didn't mention the name of the stamp set on the program: they let us know in advance they would not be able to say it during the episode because of PBS rules, but that's why they have it in the project pdf sheet! So that's the main reason why I really want to get the word out, some people may have seen the episode previously and not known what the set was or where to get it! Again, I really appreciate your help! Scroll down to read the post if you would like to help me let people know and you get a chance to win my upcoming set! ::)

On TV! not STV this time, Tee! Vee!!!!! :)

What a wonderful surprise I had on Saturday, to get an email from my friend Patricia Dunbar saying:

"OMGoodness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(her words!!) "Your "Arranged with Love" stamps are on "Scrapbook Memories" on PBS RIGHT NOW!"


Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! (my words!)

You can check the "Scrapbook Memories" site's program guide to find out when the full episodes will air again on PBS, OR you can watch the clip with just my stamps, RIGHT NOW (there is also one with "A Year of Flowers"!) from youtube! Here they are below, enjoy learning how to watercolor with glitter pens and how to make clear embellishments with transparencies, courtesy of Julie Fei-Fan Balzer!


using "Arranged with Love"


Using "A Year of Flowers"


I am still so excited and honored that out of all the stamps out of there that could have been selected to show these techniques, they chose *mine* from Gina K Designs! So blessed!

Enjoy these tips and tricks from Julie Fei-Fan Balzer and download the pdfs to recreate these projects! Stardust Card

and Transparency Embellishments with Glaze

Thanks again Patricia for the heads up!! Made my week!



Would you like to win my upcoming stamp set from our next release? (Think Spring!) Help me spread the word by linking this post (you can also embed the video or pdf if you like) on your blog or Facebook account. Two entries if you post to both! Just come back here and leave the links back to your posts in the comments section, I will announce a winner next day! Thanks in advance!