Apple Lemonade Thanks

Yesterday I mentioned how much I adore the newest addition to the Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Family: Green Apple. Now seriously, look how fabulously this coordinates with the new Basic Grey Lemonade papers. Isn't it just sweet?

I'm going to have to make a point to buy some more Green Apple before you all go out and clean out the inventory of it.

This is also a preview of the newest One Free with Three from Gina K Designs titled "Tropical Windows." I inked the leaves and stem with a Pear Tart Memento Dew Drop using just the point of the ink pad. Then I added color to the blossom with an SU marker (A Pink Memento Dew Drop or the Memento Markers would also be fabulous if you have purchased them!)

Then, I just rubbed the tip of my brown Memento Ink pad all around the edge of the stamp for that nice frame for the flower image. Remember to huff quickly upon your stamp before setting it to the paper to re-moisten the ink.

The sentiments will all fit nicely within the bound square, but they're also just the right size to add onto any number of tag dies that you may already own (me, I have a *few*) giving me the ability to add a button, bow, tag combo (I know you're shocked to see that from me again...giggle.)

I added brads from the Stamp TV Kit to each of the corners for a little finishing touch. I *would* have sewn it, but the bobbin needs winding, which I don't really love doing... and besides, the brads were sitting there, needing some lovin' so its all good.

For more projects made with the stamps previewed today, be sure to check out our other Senior Design Team Member's Blogs:

Gina , Cathy, Donna, Emily, Erika Kurtis, Jessica, Lee, Lynn , Melanie and Theresa.

Our CenterStage Spotlight Design Team member, Sue Morris is joining in on our previews today showing off a card she has made with the new Free with Three stamp set - Tropical Windows.

Don't forget to join the team for the Release Party tonight over on SCS starting at 7pm CST. There will be contests, challenges, lots of chatter as well as a ton more samples shared by the Senior Design team members and our CenterStage Spotlight team too! You won't want to miss it!

Gina K Designs - Stamp TV Kit Previews

I've been playing around in my giant box from Gina K Designs and I've been working on some samples with the new "Signs of Autumn" Stamp TV Kit from Gina K Designs.

As always, the kit is filled with a mixture of amazing goodies, including TWO new colors of Pure Luxury Cardstock, luscious ribbon, a ton of brads and of course, two stunning stamp sets. Don't forget that this kit will be used for the next two months of Stamp TV tutorials!

Since the images are so varied, I couldn't use just one... I've got three cards to share with you today!

If you're like me, you've been bemoaning the loss of Kiwi Kiss cardstock. But I have the best news for you, I have in my hot little hands, the most gorgeous green cardstock and its pure luxury! The newest addition is "Green Apple" and it will be available Thursday night!

The color is rich and a perfect match for the newest Basic Grey patterned papers. You *know* that I love it with black for a really crisp look. For this card I used my Pure Luxury White and my Pure Luxury Black as well. I resisted my normal urge to load it up with designer paper, and used my scor pal to create this lattice packground. This cardstock holds such a nice crisp score line.

For my second card, I did go all out with the designer paper (eye roll, I couldn't help myself!!)

I just adore the rooster that is part of the collection and I used it to create a card that is so out of my normal style, but I had a blast working on it, and I do love it (if I do say so myself... oh that's SO rude!)

I've had this gorgeous paper from Graphic 45 in my stash for a year waiting for the right opportunity to use it and this was JUST the time - I was so glad I saved it. I stamped the rooster onto the script patterned paper and then inked all the edges with distress ink,

and sanded all around and stitched it down.

The grid layer is also inked, sanded and sewn, you'll see just a little *peek* of the new Pure Luxury cardstock Pumpkin Spice that is available as part of the Stamp TV kit.

What do you think, should I go for three?

I'm still loving the summer feeling in the air and trying to keep up with my two very active little boys. But as August approaches, I can anticipate picking fresh apples (which is good, because my boys are eating them by the bushel lately!) I always love refreshing my wardrobe with a few new pieces. Doesn't plaid just remind you of back to school?

This designer paper is the Basic Grey "Junebug" collection which Gina is adding to her store.... and I've added Pure Luxury Black Onyx, Ivory and Rocket Red to create my card.

Finished card size here is 4.25 inches square. I love that size!

So, now that I've written an epistle, don't forget to hop all around to visit Gina K and all the members of the Design Team that have previews with the new Stamp TV kit for you today.

For more projects made with the stamps previewed today, be sure to check out our other Senior Design Team Member's Blogs:
Gina, Asela, Cathy, Cindy, Donna, Emily, Erika Kurtis, Jessica, Lee, Lynn,

Melanie and Theresa.

Our CenterStage Spotlight Design Team member, Dawn Lusk is joining in our previews today showing a card today too. Remember to check out StampTV for the new video today - Gina will be showing a project made with the new Signs of Autumn StampTV kit!

I'm SO late to the Gina K previews this week - so in the very unlikely event that you've missed previews so far this week, be sure to head over to Gina's blog so that you don't miss any of the amazing eye candy that the team has come up with this week! Have a great day! I'll have another preview for you tomorrow!

Happy Fourth of July!

Here's a little Fourth of July card that I made using the Gina K Designs free digital download paper "Stars and Stripes" from Stamp TV as well as the "Lazy Days of Summer" and "Ribbon Stripes."

I repeatedly stamped the "Ribbon Stripes" stamp set to Gina's Rocket Red Pure Luxury Cardstock, and then used my Scor Pal to form all my creases.  

I created a little bunting by making only  half of one of those paper medallions and then added two star punchouts from the Lazy Days set.  

Wishing you all a wonderful day celebrating our nation's Independence.  Thank you to all of you who are serving our country in the military, as well as to all of you who have family currently in service.  

Eclectic Thanks!

I've been so busy with new releases lately that I haven't really had a chance to just *play* with the images from the current Stamp TV Kit from Gina K Designs. In particular I've been dying to color up this sweet barrel of pansies.

This afternoon has just been rainy rainy yuck, so the boys are watching Bedtime Stories, and I'm trying to stamp myself a little sunshine!  

I rifled through my stash of patterned papers to find a good fit and I uncovered enough scrap of this Websters Paper pink pattern, and a leftover piee of paper from Basic Grey Bittersweet. 

I love using Gina K Pure Luxury White for my cardbases.  It has such a fresh feel and I love how sturdy it is.  I went ahead and used all the scraps I had available to make two cards, with coordinated linings.  

Be sure to hop on over today to visit Stamp TV.  Gina has posted a new video every Wednesday using the Stamp TV Kit and this week, she is showing the Crayon Resist technique, has a video showing how to use her piercing templates, and of course be sure to welcome this month's Center Stage In the Spotlight Team! 

Getting Ready for Fathers Day

I've been so wrapped up with end of school gifts and cards that Father's Day sort of creeped up on me! Eeks!

I created a shadow box for my Father in Law with Guiding Light, so I had a head start.... I just needed to put together a coordinating card to go with.   Which was fantastic because the gift predetermined my color palette for this project! Which of course, is a great jump start on my design process.

I'm going to be really sad when I use up this Parisian Breeze paper because it is my go to favorite paper right now. I use it ALL the time!

I stamped the seagull image from Guiding Light onto watercolor paper with Stazon ink, grabbed some reinkers and a niji waterbrush and started watercoloring.

I luckily have some Nautical Netting leftover - that stuff went like hot cakes over at Gina K Designs.  

Zip, zap stitched and given a quick Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Cardstock liner and one down.

Now, to take care of my husband and my own father.  Better get stamping!

Promises and Memories.

I made a promise to my friend and Dirty Dozen roomie Bev that I'd play along in the Dirty Dozen challenges with her once our term was over.  And, yipes - I'm super late on this one - she posted hers like two weeks ago - sorry BEV!!  But, I've been able to get it done before the next gallery has opened, so I didn't break my promise!! 

Sadly, I need to send a sympathy card this week, and I wanted it to be an extra special one.  I reached for a very thoughtful set created by Gina titled "Not Forgotten"  The sentiments are so very thoughtful, and the font she used is just so perfectly suited.

And I added blossoms from Asela's set "Friendships Garden" - inking only the blossoms a few times, versus the entire potted plant.  

The sketch is the monthly Dirty Dozen sketch. Did you know that each month all the Splitcoast Fan Club members are invited to play along with the monthly theme, sketch and inspiration challenges?  I'll be playing along monthly now that I'm on alumni status.  Sometimes with the theme, but this time, I completely loved that sketch!  You can find this month's challenge thread HERE and I totally encourage you to play along!

Gina K Designs - New Stamp TV Kit!!

You may have noticed that the Gina K Designs team has been previewing new stamps since Monday.  If you've missed it, you'll want to hop on over to Gina's Blog so that you can see everything. 

This month's release is simply HUGE!  It includes a five stamp sets, a new Stamp TV kit, two new colors of cardstock, three new ink colors, three new digital paper packs plus TWO FREE digital paper packs!  

My son had a full calendar of events for the holiday weekend that kept me from stamping... but I've got previews for you today and tomorrow and a few goodies stashed for Thursday night's Launch party!

If you've been watching Stamp TV, you've seen that Gina has had so many fantastic techniques to the last few months with the original Stamp TV Kit Floral Frenzy.  Its now time for the release of the highly anticipated second Stamp TV kit, which contains the Eclectic Summer stamp set and the Eclectic Summer Sayings.   Gina will be using these two stamp sets over the next eight weeks of Stamp TV!  

Inside this kit, you'll also find two new luscious colors of Pure Luxury Cardstock - In the Navy and Rocket Red, along with coordinating brads and ribbons.  I used In the Navy for my card base and lined it with Pure Luxury White.  The star patterned paper is a digital paper download which will also be made available on Thursday night.  You may know that I'm totally obsessed with ribbon, and this grosgrain stripe is fabulous.  For me, its the perfect width, and holds up nicely as a bow.  Its beautiful!! 

I have to say that I simply adore the coordinating stamp set in the Stamp TV Kit - Eclectic Summer Sayings. I just LOVE the font on this set and so many fabulous sentiments are included.  It obviously coordinates with the images in the Eclectic Summer set, but I also think that it is a perfect compliment to many other Gina K sets in my "collection!"  

For this card, I paired Eclectic Summer Sayings with "Tropical Flowers."  The patterned paper here is Emily's latest digital paper design "Bright Summer Grunge".  I love the cheery tones, and beautifully designed elements.  I used my SU Mellow Moss (stamped off once) for the leaves, and stamped the blossoms with Apricot Appeal.  I trimmed out the blooms, popped them up with a dimensional and added a button to the center of each flower.

If you're looking for even more inspiration from this month's Stamp TV Kit, you'll find more samples of the latest Stamp TV kit from Gina, as well as Theresa, Carolyn, Jessica, Erika, Melanie, Emily and Melissa our In the Spotlight Designer this month!

I'll be back tomorrow with another preview (or possibly two...) from this month's release!

A Tweet Little Sketch

I really loved the sketch provided from Splitcoast this week, and rifled through my stamps for something that was the right fit.  

This sweet bird from "Home Tweet Home" from Gina K Designs came to mind. And I haven't used in ages, so it was due a little inking! giggle. 

I hunted through my patterned paper and selected soft scripted patterned paper from Scenic Route and the coordinating dotted panel.  I reached for my last watercolor panel (eeks!) and my reinkers.  

I used a variety of stitched to put this one together, the zig zag a straight stitch, and then a very close zig zag on the base layer. 

Its been fun to see all the new birds arriving to our yard daily as the weather improves and as new things bloom in my perennial garden.  I've got to get to the store to buy some more feed for those guys.....

Scrap It!

While unpacking from our trip, I remembered EEKS! My son had a birthday party to attend, and making a card was on my to do list before we left, but I didn't get done.

I grabbed a box of designer paper scraps and rummaged for something boyish...  I had all these blue papers handy at the top of the bin.  And then a quick perusing of my stamps led me to this fun set "Whatever Floats your Boat" from Gina K that hadn't gotten inky in a while... and a quick birthday card was in the works!

No new pieces of cardstock were cut for this project, it was all remnant pieces from other projects.  The skateboard is actually the reverse of a piece of patterned paper that I had handy, I paper pieced that and added some shadows with my Versamarker.  I stamped and cut out a turtle separately which I colored with copics, then gave shine to the shell with Diamond Glaze.

When I'm trying to assemble assorted patterned papers into a card, I like unifying them with stitching.  If I wasn't moving so quickly, I wanted to stitch in a circular motion all around the focal panel, but as timing for the party was tight, I had to skip that step....  

For me, this card is still pretty basic, ordinarily I'd fuss about with extra layers, embellies and the like.  But, given that my house is still in shambles from our long vacation and that we had to get out the door to the party (coupled with the fact that this card is likely already in the trash - gasp!) I had to just keep it simple and get going! It was either that, or have to succumb to my six year olds request for a store bought card from the drug store - YIKES!!!

Since I'm hostessing today's Pot Luck Friday Challenge on Stamp TV today, I figured I'd use scraps as my challenge!  So, grab your scrap pile and meet me over at Stamp TV! Don't forget, all of the daily challenges come with a chance at a free stamp set for one lucky participant!

Dad's Shadowbox

My in laws live in Maine, and have a sizeable collection of lighthouse artwork, small replicas etc.  So, naturally when I saw the latest set "Guiding Light" from Gina K Designs I wanted to create a gift for my father in law.

As money is obviously tight for everyone right now, I wanted to share how easy it was to put together a hand crafted piece with lots of detail very inexpensively.

I found this shadowbox frame at my local AC Moore.  Last week, the frames were 50% off and the frame was only $7.  What a bargain!  

And, if you wanted to create a similar project, you could even use the Digital Paper Pack which Gina created as a freebie for Stamp TV titled Jersey Shore, it would be an amazing choice for a Nautical themed gift! You can find the Stamp TV Digital Paper Pack Freebies here.

I added a piece of designer paper from my stash to the very inside of the box.  I added some Nautical Netting to give it a rugged feel, and then added a border of grosgrain ribbon.

I covered the mat with a coordinating piece of cardstock.  It was so easy to do... using a craft knife I trimmed neatly along the interior edge of the mat to create the opening.   

I then took the mat and ran the interior edges through my Janome with the zig zag stitch to give it a blanket stitch look.  This gives a finished edge to the matting.  

Note: for this frame, the matting was exceptionally lightweight, so I was able to sew right through it. If there was a heavier mat, I would simply sew right through the cardstock layer, then attach it to the heavyweight mat!  

 

Depending on the paper you choose for your project, you can do lots of things to dress up your matting, overstamp it with a background, distress with sponging, add details with brads, buttons etc.  But as I was trying to keep this manly and clean, I elected simply stitching. 

I stamped the scene with Timber Brown Stazon ink to watercolor paper.  Then I colored my scene with a Ninji Waterbrush and reinkers from my SU inkpads.  For me, the trick is to wait to let each part of the image dry.  I tend to rush and add the next color before the image is dry, and then it bleeds.  I either have to be patient, or just zap it with my heat gun.  

Once I was finished watercoloring and the image dried, I added a mat for my image with Gina's latest color of Pure Luxury Cardstock - Chocolate Kiss.  Its truly luscious!  Then, zip zap, right through my Janome for a finished look.  

My husband was thrilled with how this came out, and I'm thrilled to have a Father's Day present all ready!  Right now, I'm enjoying this on my shelf in my stamp room. Its going to be hard to part with, but it will fit **right** in with my in laws lighthouse collection. 

Need a challenge?

If you're looking for a little something to work on today, I'm currently hostessing challenges for both Gina K Designs and My Favorite Things!

First up is my Stamp TV Potluck Friday Challenge - No Squares Allowed!!

Did you know that all the Stamp TV challenges are open for a full week? And that each one offers a chance at a free stamp set valued $24.95 or less?  Get going! 

My challenge is open till this coming Friday morning and I can't wait to see what you create.  You just can't make a standard square or rectangular card.  I chose a scalloped circle card, so fun and easy to create with my nesties!

I used the beautiful new sentiment set from Gina K Designs titled "Notes to Mom" isn't this font GORGEOUS?  The flowers are from the Tropical Flowers set which has become a new go to set for me.  I stamped the sentiment first, then overstamped with the flowers.  

They are inked with a combination of the Memento Dew Drops.  Then I sponged all the edges with Distress Ink while my circle was tucked into my nestie to preserve the nice ivory debossed edge.  In a few places I went a little too heavy with the distress ink, so I added a little bit of white craft ink to soften it out.  

You can join me for the No Squares Allowed challenge HERE

My Favorite Things Who's that Girl Challenge - Rain or Shine!

Since its Monday, I'm also hostessing the My Favorite Things Who's That Girl Challenge with Christina!  This week, the selected WTG is "Rain or Shine" and the challenge part is to use six brads or more on your project!  

Luckily, we've had lots of shine here in Boston the last few days, I'm so done with RAIN!

I'm in paper love with the Bittersweet from Basic Grey, so I used that for both her cute little rain coat and her boots too.  I also added a scrap to the inside of the card along with my sentiment. "Friends Brighten Your Day."  I used Amy Sheffer's How'd They Do That tutorial on paper pleating for a fun treatment across the bottom of my card.  I love doing that, and its such a fun little treatment.  I just sewed it right in place with my janome and then added a quick ribbon knot.  

Have a great day, and I'll see you tomorrow!

Gina K Happenings!

Here's a quick little card that I don't think I'd shared with you all yet. This was the card I made for a recent round of swaps with all my friends from the Gina K Designs Forum. It uses the Imaginesce Twitterpated paper which I just love!!  

Have you been over to Stamp TV yet?  There's a ton going on!

Just a quick reminder to all of you that every day Monday through Thursday there is someone from the design team hosting a challenge.  Each challenge comes with a chance at a free set valued at $24.95 or less. And, if you're stamping with Gina K Designs Stamps, you get your name thrown into the raffle TWICE!  

Now, don't forget each challenge is up for a full week, so if you don't get a chance to play along each day, you've got a full week to catch up!  For instance.....Melanie's is still open from last week's Friday challenge.  I'll be posting a challenge either tonight at midnight or tomorrow morning bright and early!  Get stamping!

Donna hosts a monthly 3-D challenge and the latest one is recently up....  get this, it is open for a whole month!

Tomorrow I'll be posting my Friday Potluck Challenge on Stamp TV and I've got a little tutorial over here as well.  I told you, its busy busy!!

Last, but certainly not least, Melanie is celebrating her birthday this weekend. Go show that girl some love! 

So many chance to stamp along, so many chances to win!  Meet you over there!!

Watercolored Iris

After Cindy's fantastic class on watercoloring at Stamp New England, I was excited to come home grab a Ninji waterbrush, and play with Elegant Flowers from the Gina K Stamp TV Floral Frenzy kit.  

I stamped the image to watercolor paper with Stazon Ink and then got to work. The only problem was that I didn't have any purple or deep blue inks for watercoloring the image.  

However, I simply adore browsing for inspiration on Flickr, so lucky for me, I was able to find an inspiration piece of an iris in exactly my favorite color.  PINK!

I love that with the variety of images in the Floral Frenzy kit you can find an image to suit just about any technique you're wanting to play with.  Its Wednesday, which means that Gina has a new episode and a new technique to share over on Stamp TV.  Have you been following along?  I am so excited that we're already over 3,000 members in such a short amount of time. Isn't that incredible? Although given the amazing quality of the videos, Gina's legendary service and of course, her super cute little smile, I'm not in the least bit surprised!

I hope you'll join me over on Stamp TV - don't forget, every week day brings a new challenge, each with the chance at a free stamp set for one lucky winner! Hope to see you there!

Cheers!

Wow! What a week - I'm so glad that you all were able to come and visit all week.

Today I'm hostessing the Friday Pot Luck challenge on Stamp TV!

My challenge is.... no nesties! eeks.   Hard because I used them *all* the time -  but I thought it would be fun to celebrate all those other tools that I have in my collection!  

For this card, I picked "A Charmed Life" the latest release from Melanie for Gina K Designs.  The wine glass was stamped to Gina K Pure Luxury White, colored with Copic Markers, then trimmed out and bumped up with dimensionals.  I added Diamond Glaze to just the wine itself to give the appearance of liquid.  In real life it really shines.

In typical Melanie fashion there are a bazillion greetings interchangeable in her set, and the font she selected is just so elegant.  For this card, I used the "happy birthday" sentiment and the cupcake charm.

Rather than cut out an oval of white cardstock, I used my Coluzzle to cut the large oval in the center of my matting. I loved that this paper looked like a wine label!  

If you'd like a chance at a free stamp set from Gina K Designs, head on over to Stamp TV and join me for this week's Potluck Friday challenge.  One lucky participant will win a free stamp set valued $24.95 or less, and if you happen to use Gina K stamps in your creation, you'll be entered into the drawing TWICE!

Don't worry Nesties, I still heart you, a lot in fact.  Just wanted to let my other tools play a little bit too! 

 

Gina K Wednesday: Zoo Animals Preview and Blogaversary Celebration Continues!

Welcome to my third day of my Blogaversary Celebration!  

Today, I have a preview from an upcoming release titled "Zoo Animals" from Gina K Designs illustrated by Asela Hopkins.  I've really been loving these sweet animal images that Asela has had for us the last few months. They're SO sweet!  And as a mom and daycare provider they're just perfect for all the little people in my life.

Last week, I ran across a card I had made from Asela's last release, wrote a little note and tucked it into my six year olds lunchbox. Let me say, he was thrilled when he came home and told me how excited he was to find a card in his lunch.   

So, I knew right away, that the first card I was going to make is for my biggest fan.  And, its in his lunch box today.  I'm going to get into the habit of sending one card a week, it will just be a surprise what day it is.  

I stamped the lion three times to have a paper tole effect.  His body is the first layer, then his mane is popped up one level, then his face is popped up a third level. He was colored with Copic markers, then trimmed out, then given all those layers with dimensionals.  

I happened to have this orange polka dotted paper handy in my stash pile (see, sometimes it pays to not clean up the scrap pile as I have the perfect pieces right at my fingertips) but then had to do some sorting through my file drawers to find just a bit of this So Saffron Designer Prints for the middle panel.  

You'll see more samples of this adorable set on Gina's blog - and then be sure to blurf on over to visit Erika, Donna, Theresa, Kurtis, Jessica, Melanie, Carolyn and Sharri our In the Spotlight Guest Designer this month! 

This is a preview of just one of the four sets being released from Gina K Designs on Thursday evening!  Please join us on the Gina K Designs Member Company Forum for contests, challenges and previews!  (Since I've been so busy with my Blogaversary Giveaway posts this week, I'll have lots of previews to share at the party instead!) Meet us Thursday night from 7-10pm Central Standard Time! 

Don't Forget I've got Blogaversary Blog Candy too!!!

I have been having so much fun working with Gina K Designs over the last year.  I got to hang out with Gina this past summer in Chicago, and let me just say she is every bit as personable and sweet as you'd imagine and so funny!!!  

To celebrate my two year Blogaversary, I'm thrilled to give all of you a chance at some Gina K Goodness!  One lucky winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to Gina K Designs.  You could use that for a new stamp set, or you could buy both the White and Ivory pure luxury cardstocks in both base and layering weights, or it would be about half the cost of the Floral Frenzy Stamp Kit. The choice is up to you.

All you have to do to enter is tell me what YOU would pick with a $25 gift certificate to Gina K Designs.   This contest will be open until 12pm EST on Wednesday. I'll announce the winner when I announce Thursday's giveaway.  Winner will be selected at random from all comments to this post.

Please be sure to include your email in your comment, or be sure to check back tomorrow.  Any prizes not reclaimed within 24 hours will be redrawn! 

Framed for a Friend

I neglected to mention yesterday that a new Episode of Stamp TV was posted yesterday. Its one of my favorite techniques, coloring with pencils and blending with Odorless Mineral Spirits.  I love the soft effect of the pencils, and the process, for me I find just so soothing!

This line art image from Asela titled "Framed Friends" from Gina K Designs is just perfect for this technique.  You won't want to miss Gina's amazing Episode this week.  

Her project is a knockout - and I just love listening to her sweet little voice.  The step by step shading that she does is a beautiful illustration of how to blend and shade your project.

And let me say, her OMS and blending stumps are top notch quality.  I hadn't had good luck with this technique till I picked up her brand, and it made all the difference. 

I kept the construction of this card pretty clean and simple... My to do list today is exceptionally long, so I'd best have at it.  I will say though that I couldn't help but add a little buckle on the ribbon to echo the feel of a dog collar.  I love that WeR Memory Keepers hardware of mine.    

Have a wonderful day everyone!

A Happy, Scrappy Little Card

I've got a scrappy little card to share today.  I always love when other people make them, and never give it a try myself... so here goes.  

I flipped when I saw this orange polka dotted paper from Pink Paisley. I've been on a real orange and pink kick lately (I guess that's probably a welcome change for anyone tired of my pink and cocoa combination I was infatuated with last month...)

Its Wednesday, so Gina has a new Technique Episode and project on Stamp TV posted today, and it features a little technique I put to use on this card.  Kissing. Be sure to head on over to Stamp TV to see the latest episode, participate in the challenges, or just come chat with us!   

I kissed the polka dot patterned stamp from the Bold Flowers stamp set within the Floral Frenzy Stamp TV kit to the large bold flower.  I inked the bold flower with Pink Pirouette and the Polka Dots in Pumpkin Pie and the {mwah} kissed them together, huffed and stamped.

Once I huffed and stamped, I trimmed out the flower, and then bent each of the petals so that they sit forward on the card.  I also used the white paper flower from the kit, and the green grosgrain ribbon for my stem.  All the edges were sewn with my Janome.  I kept the sentiment simple, just good old "Happy" - its open ended for whatever happy occasion I might need it for.  Till then, all that orange and pink just makes ME happy.

Announcing StampTV!

I'm sure by now, you've already been over to Gina's Blog and read her big announcement and seen what's in the box!  I can't wait to see who was lucky enough to win that box of happiness!

There is just SO much news to share, you might want to snuggle up on the couch with a coffee, or you can simply pretend that you're very very busy with email at work!  

If you haven't already heard, Gina has started up a new offering from Gina K Designs: StampTV. For anyone that has wondered how specific techniques work, or scratched your head trying to follow along in a step by step photo tutorial, let me say, this is just an outstanding resource to literally watch Gina work.  

The video quality is truly magnificent, broadcast quality. So clear, so professional, and so so easy for you to follow along at home.  And besides, is Gina just the cutest thing or what? 

With the coordinating "Floral Frenzy Stamp Kit" you literally can follow along and make the projects she creates on each Episode.  The kit includes stamps, paper, ribbon, embellishments and patterned paper! The kit contents will vary with each launch, depending on the techniques Gina will feature, but this month, the kit contains two amazing stamp sets.  

Yesterday, you saw just a preview of Elegant Flowers, but today, I've got a sample with Bold Flower to share with you.  I simply **adore** this stamp set!  And I squealed when I saw this adorable Neapolitan Patterned Paper.

Guess what, there's MORE!  If you've been using the Gina K Pure Luxury cardstock, you'll just FLIP out when I tell you that its now available in Ivory. Yes, IVORY! I love it.  I'm finding that I use Pure Luxury Cardstock for almost all my cardbases now, and having the flexibility to make it with Ivory is perfect!  I also love having ivory cardstock that works like a dream with my Copics.  Its available in both the Base Weight and the Layering Weight.

Gina has the link to the new site where you'll be able to watch the Stamp TV episodes and where all of us on the Design Team have been lurking secretly all week!  The Gina and the Design Team will be hosting challenges Monday through Friday, and each challenge will have a chance at a free stamp set!!  Our challenges begin on Monday!  To get started, hop on over to Gina's blog!

Can't wait to see you over there!

Are you ready??

Have you been following along on Gina K's Blog all this week to guess "What's in the Box?"  I've got to say that its been so fun to read all of your guesses. 

If you haven't already been over there to enter the contest, get going, a winner will be selected at random and announced on Friday along with the big reveal!  

That's only one more sleep till you get to see something totally new to Gina K Designs! Let me just say that Gina's been very very busy!

Today, many of us on the Design Team have hints too.  As usual,  you won't want to miss Gina's blog today!

For a little more Gina K Eye Candy today, please be sure to hop on around to visit: 

Asela, Cammie, Cindy, Donna, Emily, Erika, Jessica, Kurtis, Melanie, Theresa and of course GINA!

To keep you busy while we wait for Friday's big reveal, I've got two cards to share with you today.

The materials used to make these two cards came from a special new product being launched tomorrow at Gina K Designs!  You won't want to miss it!  

The first one is pretty much solemn, and gender neutral, but I just loved that big pop of rusty red across the olive backdrop.   

Lately when I've been making cards, I've decided that when a card is missing something, an extra layer of matting either black or chocolate seems to do just the trick.

That and of course, my standby, stitching.   I used faux stitching on my first card, and lots of machine stitching on my girly card.   

Have a great day, and I'll see you tomorrow!!

GKD Challenge - Get Krafty

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. This one sped right past me - I can't believe its Monday again.  I feel like I made completely no progress against my to do list, maybe its just because most of what I'm working on is for some upcoming deadlines...

I posted this week's challenge to the Gina K Designs Member Company Forum last night.  I challenge you to Get Krafty!  This challenge is open until next Monday and one lucky participant will be selected at random to win a stamp set valued $19.95 or less from Gina K Designs. 

Its no secret that I adore Kraft cardstock and use it in probably half my creations.  This time, I stamped directly to the Kraft cardtsock, and then colored with my SU watercolor crayons.  

Quick post for me as my to do list is long this week, lots of valentines to finish up!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a GREAT day!