With a Stamp and a Song

Make it Masculine!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

This month's Gourmet Rubber Stamps design team challenge is "Make it Masculine!" Guys like bugs, right? LOL! Hopefully so! This card was inspired by the wasp image from Spring Botanicals and the "name of species" designer paper from My Mind's Eye, which I paired with other My Mind's Eye and Authentique papers. The layout is loosely based on Mojo Monday Sketch 219.

Notes:

Spring Botanicals

My Mind's Eye designer papers

Authentique designer paper

Copic blending paper

Graphic 45 file folder ATC

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Copic markers

Nestabilities circles, large and small

Tim Holtz tea-dye distress ink

button

jute thread

spiral clip

grosgrain ribbon

Kaiser Craft black rhinestones

Visit the GRS blog for more ideas for masculine cards...shop for GRS stamps and the supplies to use with them at i {heart] papers.

Sew Fun!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The Design Team for Gina K. Designs welcomes you to a Patterned Papers are Sew Fun blog hop. For this hop we will showcase the fabulous Gina K. Designs Patterned Paper line, stamps, and some fun sewing techniques! The DT Members have all used the wide variety of stamps and paper in this hop to inspire you to get inky too!! Come play along with the Current Challenges at Stamp TV!!!

If you came from Cat's blog, then you're right where you should be. If not, please go to Stamp TV where you will find a list of all those participating.

At CHA back in January, one company was giving away these cute little emergency sewing kits. I stashed mine, knowing it might come in handy but also thinking it would be cute to alter or somehow include in a project! Today's theme, Patterned Papers are Sew Fun, seemed like the perfect occasion.

This Poppy Prints designer paper was a great match for a shiny metal thimble! I used a small piece of red polka dot print to cover to logo of the little sewing kit, tied it onto the card front with some stitched grosgrain ribbon, and embellished it with a button tied with crochet cotton thread and a metal snap. I included some machine-stitching along the edges of the sentiment, as well as some pins, needle and thread.

This idea would be perfect for prom, a wedding, or any special performance where prevention of wardrobe malfunctions is desirable! ;)

Notes:

Sew Pretty

Memento ink

Copic markers

Pure Luxury card stock

Gina K Designs Poppy Prints designer paper

scor tape

Cropadile

stitched grosgrain ribbon

sewing kit

sewing machine

needle, thread, snaps

stick pins

button from the stash

crochet cotton

Now hop on over to Emily's blog for more Gina K. goodness!!!

Oriental Blossom Paper Crafting Kit

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Happy Wednesday! I hope you're having a good week!

Our Flower Soft team is sharing projects made with a gorgeous new paper-crafting kit, Oriental Blossom. This is my favorite kit to date! I die-cut the focal image, which has fussy-cut, dimensional details that are truly lovely. Baby Pink Flower Soft adds color and texture to the cherry blossoms in the background and perfectly matches the pretty pale pink ribbon that carries the softer color into the base of the card. The designer paper included in the kit is a rich, gradient-colored dragon print that makes the lighter colors of the image really pop, and the fussy-cut embellishments are absolutely perfect accompaniments. This layout is SC303. I really love the way it turned out!

This kit includes two each of four designs, along with coordinating patterned papers and embellishments.

Notes:
Oriental Blossom paper-crafting kit
Nestabilities oval die
Baby Pink Flower Soft (the kit recommends Sweet Pea)
Flower Soft glue
dimensional adhesive dots
Creative Impressions crinkle ribbon
May Arts pink twine
button from the stash

CPS 266

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Here's this week's CPS sketch, sponsored by Momenta. I used Momenta designer paper from the Simply Perfect "Family" page kit and a Shimmer and Shine flower along with Stampin' UP card stock and twill ribbon for my card...love these colors! They make me think of lily pads and beautiful blue water!

Check out the CPS blog for more ideas using this layout and Momenta products!

Salt and Coarse Ground Pepper!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Mon, 21 May 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Today's SCS CAS challenge is a fun sketch! I've used images from Paper Smooches' Alfresco for a tasty backyard barbecue invitation.

Notes:
Alfresco
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Copic markers
Art Institute glitter
dimensional adhesive foam
twine
2-way glue pen

OCL Inspiration Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Sun, 20 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Our Craft Lounge's challenge for the week is a gorgeous inspiration photo! It's dreamy and romantic which made me think of our long ago trip to France, so I grabbed my Clearsnap Donna Salazar Mix'd Media Inx and OCL's Vintage Traveler...and I love how it turned out!

I sponged Honey, Peridot, and Chiffon inx onto a 7 Gypsies tabbed manilla ATC card, then misted it with Cashmere Smooch Spritz and allowed it to thoroughly dry before stamping the Eiffel Tower image with Truffle. There are several other images in Vintage Traveler that I stamped off before stamping them onto the edges of the card.

For my card base, I scored and cut a tri-shutter card, accenting some of the panels with beautiful BoBunny Gabrielle designer paper matted with kraft card stock. The scored and cut edges of the card base are inked with Chiffon, the designer paper with Honey, and then everything was misted with Smooch Spritz before adhering the focal image. A soft bow of May Arts silk ribbon embellished with a pretty Prima blossom and Jenni Bowlin rhinestone pin balances the colors.

Notes:
OCL's Vintage Traveler
Bazill, Gina K card stock
BoBunny Gabrielle 6 x 6 designer paper
Clearsnap Donna Salazar Mix'd Media Inx
Cashmere Smooch Spritz
May Arts silk ribbon
Prima Espirit Champagne Rose flower
Jenni Bowlin rhinestone stick pin

Weekly Recipe #32

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:49:00 +0000

Happy Friday! I'm here with a card which was originally inspired by the curvy sentiment on Kendra's sketch for GRS' Weekly Recipe. I knew exactly what sentiment and stamp I wanted to use, but in my search for a pretty paper to go with them I came across this fun Simple Stories roadmap print, which really influenced the direction things went from there! Not so much like the sketch any more, but still a fast and easy, fun card, one I could send to a girl or a guy!

i {heart} papers is having a sale, which includes Gourmet Rubber Stamps (15% off through Sunday) and so much more!

Notes:
Bicycle
Bicycle saying
Simple Stories Awesome designer paper
Memento Rich Cocoa ink
Tim Holtz tea dye distress ink
R05 Copic marker (to dot in a few flowers)
dimensional adhesive dots
corner rounder
button
twine

eta: Did you know it is National Ride-Your-Bike-to-Work Day?! Neither did I! hahaha!

ihp DT Challenge!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Welcome to this month's i {heart} papers Design Team Challenge! Because there are lots of good things going on at ihp, this is a lengthy post! Along with our challenge featuring Kim Hughes' Paper Smooches stamps, there is also a Gourmet Rubber Stamps "appetizers" release, the introduction of our new "rewards from the {heart}" program, and a great big Spring Cleaning sale! Be sure to read carefully so you catch all the great details!

First up is my card for our design team challenge using the newest set from Paper Smooches' Kismet Collection along with a sentiment from Get Outta Town! S'mores definitely take me to my happy place! :) This layout is very loosely based on this week's Sparks sketch. I used a couple of prints from Echo Park's Hello Summer along with a leftover scrap of bright green to contrast with those sparkly Stickle flames. I love that Stickles are transparent enough to let the Copic shading show through from underneath!

Notes:

Paper Smooches' Happy Camper, Get Outta Town

Echo Park's Hello Summer designer paper

Copic blending paper

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Copic markers

Stickles

twine

button

Visit my design team mates to see more ideas with Paper Smooches' stamps! I've included their links at the end of my post! I have a couple more cards for you before you go!

Gourmet Rubber Stamps is releasing two great appetizer sets this month, and you can find them both at i {heart} papers! Strawberry Sweet looks so soft and pretty when paired with the pale pastels of My Mind's Eye Be Happy designer paper. This layout is SC304.

Notes:
Gourmet Rubber Stamps Strawberry Sweet
My Mind's Eye Be Happy designer paper
Copic blending paper
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Copic markers
Spellbinders petite ovals small and large
Creative Impressions mint glimmer ribbon
twine
button

I used GRS' other new appetizer set, Happy Independence, for this week's CPS sketch. The sentiment was colored directly with markers, then stamped, trimmed and distressed with Ranger distress ink. After constructing my card, I spritzed it with Shimmer spray. I had to really quickly whip out the heat tool because I didn't even think about it causing the water-based markers to run...I rarely use them anymore, since I really LOVE my Copics! Ha! That's justification enough for me to buy those distress ink markers that I've been longing for! Would not have this problem if I had those! ;)

Notes:
Gourmet Rubber Stamps Happy Independence
Echo Park Dots and Stripes
scrap of yellow stripe
markers
Ranger distress ink
Shimmer spray
twine
button
corner rounder

My GRS design team mates have some beautiful cards to share with our two new appetizer sets, so be sure to visit them and the GRS blog for more inspiration!

Join us for our Spring Cleaning Sale! Beginning today, May 15th through May 19th. Save up to 50% on selected items and as always, free US shipping with your $60 order!

All stamps 15% off! Spellbinders 20% off! Alterables 25% off! Inks (Sorry, Copics are excluded due to the manufacturer's strict pricing rules) 10% off! 12x12 Collection Packs 15% off! 6x6 and 8x8 pads 10% off! Embossing folders 30% off! And much more!

PLUS! Have you heard about IHP's new rewards from the {heart} referral rewards program? If you love IHP and are looking for another reason to spread the word to your friends, you’ll now be rewarded for doing just that! With our new rewards from the {heart}, simply refer a new customer and earn 10% of their first order placed in the form of a gift certificate. Just have them list you in the “how did you hear about us” section at checkout and 10% of their order will be given back to you as a thank you.

Here are the nitty-gritty rewards from the {heart}details: they must list you at time of checkout; rewards are not valid for any past sales and are only valid for their first order -- but you can refer as many people as you like! There is no limit to the rewards you can earn. We appreciate that you love IHP and want to give back when you share the love. Enjoy, and thanks!

Here are those links I promised:

#1 Sports Fan!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

You already know that I love Granny, but Gramps is pretty fun too! You might think that the recent NFL draft is what prompted this card, or maybe Father’s Day which is a month away, but that isn’t the case! This card is for 11 year old Alexis, an avid Jacksonville Jaguars fan who has Neurofibromatosis. I learned of her illness and recent surgery through a friend who regularly sends prayer requests via email, and realized after reading her story that she is the daughter of a waiter who regularly serves us when we go to one of our favorite local restaurants! I hope a hand-made card will cheer her up! Feel better Alexis! We are praying for you and your family!

Authentique's Free Bird designer print series "Comfort and Familiar" has some patterns in colors that are just perfect for Jaguars fans! Here, a chevron design doubles as carpet! I added some texture to the background with a Cuttlebug embossing folder, and then lined up a row of football accents...I was inspired by SCS sketch 330, although I added a fourth pigskin to balance my layout. Four balls, four downs...LOL!

I'm not the only one "makin' a scene" with this Our Craft Lounge single! My design team mates' cards are amazing, and I've put together a post on the OCL Blog including my card for Alexis and several of theirs... you need to go see 'em! Gorgeous coloring and ingenious creativity!

You can find #1 Sports Fan and supplies for cards in YOUR team colors at i {heart} papers!

Notes:
#1 Sports Fan
Copic blending card stock
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Copic markers
Tim Holtz distress ink
Authentique's Comfort and Familiar designer paper pad
Cuttlebug, no shims mat and texture folder for dry embossing
dimensional adhesive

Flower Soft STAMPS

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:45:00 +0000

Our Flower Soft team is playing with some cute Mabel Lucie Attwell STAMPS! Look how sweet she looks when softly colored to match these pretty Lawn Fawn papers! I kept this layout ultra CAS because I wanted her to be the unquestionable center of attention...isn't that what most toddlers want to be?!

Visit my Flower Soft team mates and the Flower Soft blog to see more creations with Mabel Lucie Attwell designs.

Notes:
Mabel Lucie Attwell "Let's Dance" stamp
Copic blending card stock
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Copic markers, multiliner
Lawn Fawn Bright Side designer paper
Spellbinders Nestabilities ovals, circles
buttons, twine

Daddy-O

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I'm very grateful for design team deadlines that help me get ahead of the game when it comes to cards for my own family and friends! This weekend is Mother's Day, but I've been working on a Father's Day card! I am blessed to still have both of my parents, something to really celebrate since they're in their 80's. I am feeling especially blessed this year since my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer last November and came through her surgery without requiring chemo or radiation.

My GRS team mate, Kelli, posted a sketch on the GRS blog a few days ago, and I thought her design would work with the ties from our appetizer set, Daddy-O. I modified her sketch slightly so that I could use a menswear paisley print for part of the background, and kept it standard A2 sized so I can mail it home to Louisiana when the time comes.

Masculine cards can be such a challenge! My guys like it best when I keep things simple, so the interest has to come from something other than pretty ribbon tied into a frou frou bow! For this card I used a Spica pen to add some subtle sparkle so that the ties look like shiny satin and the crown, metallic gold. I would not normally use bling on a masculine card, but in this case the king of the castle (AND the remote control!) has jewels on his crown. I even gave Dad's chin a little 5 o'clock shadow using a BV Copic marker.

Check out the Gourmet Rubber Stamps available at i {heart} papers. Look for more Daddy-O inspiration in the GRS gallery. Play along with Kelli's sketch on the GRS blog. And have a Happy Mother's Day! :)

Notes:
Daddy-O
Authentique Free Bird designer paper
Copic blending paper
Memento Rich Cocoa ink
Copic markers
Spica pen
Nestabilities circles and classic circles
satin ribbon
bling

CPS 264

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

This week's CPS sketch is sponsored by Momenta...I used designer paper, a transparency sentiment, and glittery chipboard butterflies from their kit to make this "no stamping" card.

Visit the CPS blog for more inspiration!

Karing for Karen!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to a special blog hop we are calling Karing for Karen, a hop for a very special friend of ours, Karen Knegten. If you have been around the stamping community for any length of time at all, you might have run into her. She is always participating in challenges, offering us wonderful inspiration with her awesome talent!

About a month ago, Karen had to have surgery for two brain aneurysms. She is still in the hospital and we are having this blog hop to inspire more of you out there to send some cards to her AND to her family that is caring for her! We hope you feel inspired with our little hop! Below you will find the links to all of the girls participating...these are from the Center Stage Spotlight Alumni group and the Design Team from Gina K Designs. Enjoy, and be inspired to send a card or two! Here is the address for sending them:

Karen Knegten
c/o R.S.V.P. Rental Services
350 W. Northwest Highway
Barrington IL 60010

I chose a simple, bold, bright design...I wanted to use green because right now, Karen can't have flowers or greenery in her room and I thought maybe green popped with black would liven up that sterile environment!

Notes:
You Go Girl!
Gina K Pure Luxury card stock
GKD Berries and Vines designer paper
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Copic markers
Copic blending paper
SU twill ribbon
Basic Grey button
The Twinery twine

Look at the wonderful cards that will be sent from these talented artists!

TSOL and Clearsnap Hop!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Fri, 04 May 2012 07:01:00 +0000

Please join The Stamps of Life and Clearsnap for a blog hop featuring The Stamps of Life stamps and Clearsnap inks and other fun products. Make sure to comment on all the stops along the hop because prizes will be randomly chosen among the comments.

The Stamps of Life will be giving away 3 prizes – one stamp set (of the winner’s choice) per winner.

Clearsnap will be giving away an assortment of Stephanie Barnard Colorbox Premium Dye inks.

I am hoping that my card will bring you happy-go-lucky thoughts of a breezy day in the sunshine! Yesterday was exactly that kind of day! I combined several TSOL sets and sizzix dies with four fabulous Clearsnap inks for this all-occasion design. I wish you could see the glittery sparkle of the Twinkle watermark ink...the camera just doesn't do it justice!

We got a flyer in our mail advertising that the musical "Mary Poppins" will be coming to Jacksonville in January, so maybe that is what inspired this choice of stamps! It was one of our favorite movies when Matthew was young, so we would love to see it! I'll probably be singing "Let's Go Fly a Kite" all day long now! Maybe you will be too! :)

Notes:
from The Stamps of Life:
branches4flowers

tinytitles2stamp

swirls2build

kites2fly

Sizzix circle and scalloped circle framelits

from Clearsnap:
Archival Dye ink pad (masked/sponged sky)
Colorbox Fluid Chalk ink pads (branch, leaves, kite)
Twinkle watermark ink (swirling "breeze")

Enjoy the hop! Here's another reminder to comment along the way!

CPS 263

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

This card is for this week's CPS sketch, using two sets from our sponsor, Skipping Stones Design. The flower from Victorian Summer was stamped with Memento ink, colored with Copic markers, masked, then over-stamped with the music staff from Timeless Textures and sponged using distress ink. I stamped the flower again on a scrap, fussy-cut the center, popped it up and embellished it with a pretty pearl bauble.

Notes:

Victorian Summer

Timeless Textures

Bazill card stock

Memento ink

Tim Holtz distress ink

Copic markers

American Crafts ribbon

Prima pearl bauble

Chill!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

This past week has been one of the busiest weeks of my life! Between my son's schedule and mine, we have been on-the-go, fast-and-furious, and we are really ready to CHILL! I think we still have a few more days of busy before we can take a serious break...and we can't wait!

Today's card celebrates the joy of a cool treat on a long hot summer day! This is pops2eat, a brand new set from The {Stamps} of Life. The colors of Echo Park's Hello Summer designer paper set the atmosphere! Can't you almost taste that yummy icy orange flavor?! To make the popsicle look icy, I used some new sparkly watermark Twinkle ink from Clearsnap.

Notes:
pops2eat
Echo Park Hello Summer designer paper
Memento Gumdrop ink assortment
Clearsnap Twinkle watermark ink
fabric flower trim
Kaiser Craft pearl

Gina K Inspiration Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The Design Team for Gina K. Designs welcomes you to another fabulous Inspiration Blog Hop!!! Gina and the Design Team will inspire you with many beautiful ideas! And as you hop through their blogs, make sure to leave a comment on each of them because we will choose a few random comments and those stampers will each win a grab bag of deeply etched, pre-cut Gina K. Designs stamps! To see the full list of winners check the Big News forum at Stamp TV a couple of days after the hops!!

Here's my card using the One Free with Three, One in a Million. I love Love LOVE this new designer paper! This image is fast, fun and easy to color, and the sentiment, with its handwriting-style font, it sends s a relaxed, cheery greeting that will be sure to bring a smile!

Notes:
One in a Million
Pure Luxury card stock
GKD Poppy Prints designer paper

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Tim Holtz Weathered Wood distress ink
Nestabilities long rectangles

Copic markers
stitched grosgrain ribbon
rhinestones
ribbon flower

Check out all the amazing designs and inspiration:

Hello!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:59:00 +0000

Here's a cute little birdie from GRS' Swingin' Spring! How fun are all those gorgeous patterns of plumage?! Look for this set and the supplies I used at i {heart} papers!

Notes:
GRS Swingin' Spring
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Tim Holtz tea dye distress ink
Copic markers
Copic multi-liner
Nestabilities classic rectangles
Creative Impressions glimmer ribbon
button

More Gina K Inspiration!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The Design Team for Gina K. Designs welcomes you to another fabulous Inspiration Blog Hop!!! Gina and the Design Team will inspire you with many beautiful ideas! As you hop through their blogs, make sure to leave a comment on each of them because we will choose a few random comments and those stampers will each win a grab bag of deeply etched, pre-cut Gina K. Designs stamps! To see the full list of winners check the Big News forum at Stamp TV a couple of days after the hops!!

My beautiful new GKD designer papers arrived over the weekend...I was hoping to get to make some cards with them before today's hop, but that just didn't happen. With all the prom preparation and the time it took to recover from the lack of sleep that resulted from waiting for Matthew and his "not-date" group to get back home, there just wasn't any opportunity. This proud mama just has to share a picture of her young man! If we're friends on FaceBook, you might've seen it already...

Thanks for indulging me! Now I'll get on to what you're really here for!

I gave a really tiny sneak peek of this card before the release party on Thursday...

It is made with Tami's newest set, Vintage Notes, along with a pair of sentiments from her previously released "Girl Talk" set. I thought they were really funny together! I am gonna have to order the new Spellbinder's Office Supplies dies that coordinate with this set because I love that look! After finishing my card, I began to wonder when or to whom I might send it, and decided that it would make a great get well card for Karen! Her illness certainly caused a big buzz among those of us who are her friends. The release party just wasn't the same without her!

Notes:

Pure Luxury card stock

GKD Red Carpet designer paper

Memento Rich Cocoa ink

Tim Holtz distress inks (Fired Brick, Frayed Burlap, Tea Dye)

corrugated cardboard arrow

spiral clip

flower brad

brown grosgrain ribbon

Here's a sweet and simple design using Theresa's new set, Sweet Strawberries. These beautiful berries are so fun to color...their colors are so fresh and clean and bright! I gave them a very thin layer of Stickles so they would look dewey, or maybe freshly washed and ready to eat!

Notes:
Pure Luxury card stock
GKD Red Carpet designer paper
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Copic markers
Nestabilities classic squares, large and small
Stickles
satin ribbon

Check out all the amazing designs and inspiration:

Gina K
Tami Mayberry - Illustrator Vintage Notes
Theresa Momber – Illustrator Sweet Strawberries
AJ Otto
Carolina Buchting
Carolyn King
Cathy Tidwell
Donna Baker
Emily Giovanni
Giovana Smith
Jimmi Mayo
Lee Murphy
Lori McAree
Melanie Muenchinger
Michelle Woerner
Sharon Harnist
Suzanne Dean
Tina Gilliland
Vicki Dutcher

Gina K Inspiration Hop!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Here is a quick, easy card using Melanie's Basket Additions 2 along with the basket liner from the original Basket Additions set. The mix-and-matchability of these sets is what makes them SO fun and versatile! Hopefully with this warm gray coloring, the basket liner looks like one of those heavy-duty canvas liners with all the pockets in them. I can just imagine it stuffed with all kinds of seed packets and little labels and stakes for the garden. Just a couple of pops of pink in this card for my girlfriend! Can you see the little "gripper bumps" on those pink garden gloves?

It's prom weekend for my son...he had his big chorus Spring Concert last night and looked so handsome in his tuxedo. Maybe that is what inspired this card using Lacy Borders! Since I grew up "the only girl" of the family with two older brothers, and remain "the only girl" in the home I share with my husband and son, I really enjoy girlie, frilly things! Lacey Borders is one of my favorite sets of this release!

For this project, I stamped each of the laces on white card stock, misted them with Smooch Spritz, inked them with distress ink, and fussy-cut them. (The lowest border has a tiny picot edge which I cut away). I scored each panel just under the solid portion at the top, which is the only part adhered to the card. To give the illusion of that delicate, dainty picot edge, I stamped that border toward the bottom of the already misted kraft card stock before aligning the cut-out border on top of it and adhering only the top edge to the card front. The rest were adhered one by one, top edge only, with a tiny bit of overlap.

This shapely dress form is from True Love...Gina has several others that would be equally lovely! For some reason, these images together make me think of a young bride taking grandma's bridal gown for fitting and alteration with an "Aunt Bea" looking seamstress sporting a tape measure and straight pins!

I wish you could see how shimmery and beautiful this vintage card is in person! Even though the layout is very simple and uncluttered, it is very elegant!

Check out all the amazing designs and inspiration:

Gina K
Melanie Muenchinger – Illustrator Basket Additions 2
AJ Otto
Carolina Buchting
Cathy Tidwell
Donna Baker
Emily Giovanni
Giovana Smith
Jimmi Mayo
Lee Murphy
Lori McAree
Sharon Harnist
Theresa Momber
Tina Gilliland
Vicki Dutcher

You're Invited!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The Gina K Design Team is excited to invite you to another fabulous Release Party!!! The party starts at 11:00 am Central Time in the Stamp TV Release Party Forum. Join us for challenges, contest questions, design team samples, full stamp set reveals and, of course, party chit chat!!! Everything will go "live" at 11:00 am Central in Gina's Store so there won't be any long wait to start shopping! Hope to see you there!

If you came from Cat's blog, then you're right where you should be. If not, please go to Stamp TV where you will find a list of all those participating. Here's a sneak peek of one of the cards I will be sharing with you at the party:

Hopefully that really peaks your curiosity and whets your appetite! I hope to see you at the party where I'll share the rest of this card, and a few more!

Now you're off to Donna's! Enjoy the rest of the hop!

Swingin' Spring, New from GRS!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Here's a clean, simple masculine card made with a brand new set called Swingin' Spring from Gourmet Rubber Stamps! I love this classic image, and the cool fonts for the sentiment that goes with it! Perfect timing, too, because my oldest brother's birthday is at the end of May, and Father's Day is in June!

This is not *just* a masculine set, though! Look at all the fun images that are in it! I absolutely adore the variety that Tricia and Meridith put into our Diners' Club stamp sets! There is something for everyone, from cute to elegant, feminine to masculine! Their art is so versatile!

Visit the GRS blog and my GRS friends for more ideas. I am SO VERY EXCITED to officially welcome my friends Stephanie Lee and Jennifer Ingle aka just "Jingle" to our team! Thrilled to get to work with you! xoxoxo

You can find Swingin' Spring and lots of other GRS goodies and great supplies to go with them at i {heart} papers! Have fun shopping! :)

Notes:
Basic Grey designer paper
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Tim Holtz tea-dye distress ink
Copic warm gray markers
foam adhesive
jute thread
brads, charm

Flower Soft Toppers!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:45:00 +0000

Our Flower Soft team is featuring card toppers and stamps for this week's challenge! My card was made with one of our Charlie's Ark 3D kits...hopefully you can see the depth and dimension of this kit in my photos! The sentiment is from one of Flower Soft's new sentiment stamps, which goes perfectly with this topper. I remember blowing dandelions and making lots of wishes, don't you?!

I used a nestabilities label to cut the shape of the base layer before adding the fussy-cut dimensional pieces to it with the foam dots that are included in the kit! It is accented with some Shamrock Green Flower Soft grass.

Her blond piggie-tails and pretty blue dress dictated my patterned paper and card stock choices. I used a punch to make the tag and tied it on with a little scrap of white jute, which I frayed and fluffed, hoping it would look a little like a wispy dandelion, but I'm not so sure that idea comes across! After I had my card fully assembled I kinda wished I had pressure-embossed the blue with Swiss dots and a touch of white craft ink! Ah, well, such is life! ;)

Visit the Flower Soft blog and my design team mates' blogs to see more ideas with Flower Soft toppers!

Notes:
Charlie's Ark 3D kit
Cutterbee paper snips
Floral sentiment stamp
Shamrock Green Flower Soft grass
Basic Grey designer paper
Authentique designer paper
Nestabilities label die
SU punches
Memento ink
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Basic Grey button
flower brad
white jute thread

CPS 262- MFT!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:25:00 +0000

This week's CPS sketch is being sponsored by My Favorite Things...I just love this cute little bee and the pretty edges of that die! Bright, sunshiny honey yellow and fun polka dots make this a really happy card!

Here's a close-up of her sweet face...hopefully you can see the "pollen" on the tips of the Flower Soft wire that I used to accent her headband.

Notes:
My Favorite Things Just Bee Yourself stamp set, decorative doily die
Gina K Pure Luxury card stock
Copic blending card stock
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Copic markers
Flower Soft PVA Glue, Ultrafine Citrus Crush and Flower Soft wire

ETA: My card also qualifies for this week's Twisted Tuesday challenge! Thanks, Melina!

New GRS Appetizer Sets!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:45:00 +0000

It's time for a few new Appetizers from Gourmet Rubber Stamps! I had so much fun playing with these cute sets!

First up is Clothesline Greetings! There are two laundry lines in this set, each with its own coordinating sentiment! One is adorable baby clothes with the saying, "happy new baby!" Looks so sweet paper-pieced with some MME designer paper which will work whether the baby is a boy or a girl. I added some shading with my Copics just to give it a little more depth.

The other stamps in Clothesline Greetings include a summer clothesline and the sentiment, "sending warm thoughts!" Here I paper-pieced the center stripe of the towel and Copic colored the rest. The outside of this card was meant to have a sand and surf look...

...and the inside mimics the shallow waters of the tide pool. I love the way this sentiment looks alongside Message in a Bottle!

These two paper-pieced cards qualify for my friend Wendy's Friday free4all challenge at SCS..."mix 'n match!"

The second Appetizer set we're releasing is called Water Your Soul! I just love the sound of that (and I can imagine the sound of a fountain from somewhere nearby in this lovely garden)! This bench looks great with the arm rails and seat portion popped up for extra dimension...next time I think I'll try coloring some bricks in underneath it! The clay pot of tulips would be beautiful enough on its own but I really like the way they look grouped together, especially with this colorful Lawn Fawn floral paper!

Check out the GRS blog and what my design team mates have created with these fabulous new sets! They are amazingly talented and always inspire me! :)

Notes:

Clothesline Greetings

Water Your Soul

Message in a Bottle

MME designer paper (baby card)

Kaiser Craft designer paper (beach card)

Lawn Fawn designer paper (garden card)

Memento ink

Tim Holtz tea-dye distress ink

Copic markers

May Arts ribbon

tiny clothespins