Boo! {Gina K Designs}

Only one week to go till Halloween! I thought I'd share a little project with you today - I make an awful lot of Halloween cards, considering I probably don't send ANY. This is a clean and simple (but not necessarily quick and simple. . . .there's a difference, you know!) card that I created. I used embroidery floss and stitched a little spider web. Then I embossed the spider and sentiment with a fun glittered embossing powder. It gives it a great shimmer in real life! The stamps are from Gina K Designs, Wicked stamp set.  

In this house, we have two fall festivals this weekend. . . I'm just hoping the Halloween costumes will survive until Halloween night! Have a fabulous fall day! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Summer snowflakes {Gina K Designs}

Well? Are you ready? The days are ticking by at warp spread - seriously, how is it already December 12th? No - how is it already December 13th!!??? Funny how I thought my son had a week, plus a half before school gets out. Turns out it's only the HALF of a week. Umm - YIKES. Thanksgiving being so late this year has REALLY messed with me. I finally got the rest of my calendars printed, that we give to our families, but I am not exactly sure they will be here in time to mail to our long-distance relatives! (OOPS.) 

But onward to a card for the day. . . .

I absolutely love this snowflake stamp from Gina K Designs set, Blessed is the Season, and for today's card I paired the snowflakes with some not-so-snowflaky colors! Kinda fun, huh? I used two different colors of ink (Stampin' Up Calypso Coral, and Tsukeniko Mango Madness I think!) and blended them together on my stamp with a sponge dauber (basically a little sponge that fits on your finger.) When stamping more than one color on a stamp, always start with the lightest color first. Then tap the edges of the stamp in the darker color, and blend with the sponge. When I was done, I used the remaining ink on the sponge dauber to add color to the edges of my cardstock block. 

Have a beautiful day! Thanks so much for stopping by, my friends!!!!

Oh Sn@p! {Gina K Designs}

I wanted to pop in and say HI today, sooooooo . . . HI! How's your day?

I'm just taking a quick break from cleaning my kitchen cabinets. It ain't pretty. 

But this card IS. It features:

Gina K Designs . . . Spoon Me stamp set

Discount Cardstock.

the simplest of paper-piecing. (rectangles. can't get easier than that!)

Cheery.

Bright.

Fun.

Just a few of my favorite things.

And now, back to that which I also love, but just not right this minute. . . . deep cleaning the kitchen.

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

nifty 50's cards (Gina K)

I was super excited to get the Spoon Me stamp set a few weeks ago, from Gina K Designs.  I am a sucker for anything retro and 50's themed, and this stamp set jumped out at me as soon as I saw the sneak peeks of it, before it's release.  I've had fun playing with it, and here are a few quick cards I'd love to share today!

This stamp set works so perfectly with this Close To My Heart patterned paper.  I am pretty sure this paper is retired, so I can't use it for publication, but it's a great combination!!!!

What could be better than some funky bright colored glasses? 

(That Kiwi green ink from Close To My Heart is my all-time favorite ink color. It was the saddest day ever when they retired it.  Clearsnap Jalepeno is a close match. . .but I must admit I don't love it quite as much.) 

Sorry to be short and sweet today, but Mommy-Duty calls!!!

Have a great day!

xoxo

Gina K Designs Show Me The Stamps Holiday Hop

Welcome to the Show Me The Stamps Holiday kick off with the Clean and Simple Crew! Several of the Gina K Designs Illustrators have brought together their design teams and guests for a lineup of fun and exciting things to share using their stamps. 

For this month’s hop the Gina K Designs Illustrators will be giving away a $50 gift certificate to the Gina K Designs store!

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on each Illustrator’s blog.

Want an extra entry?

Become a blog follower of any of the illustrators and leave a comment letting them know you did. That’s up to 10 chances to win if you become a follower of each illustrator and leave a comment!!

You can find the complete list of Gina K Design Illustrators participating on Tami Mayberry’s blog.

I created a warm and cozy project with Tami's Simple Snowflakes stamp set.  A card, and matching tube of cocoa is a perfect little gift to leave on a neighbor's doorstep, or in the mailbox for your postal worker. These little cocoa tubes would even be great party favors for a winter get-together.

I used a funnel to pour cocoa powder into the craft tube, and then topped it with some crumbled candy cane bits. (It would be adorable with a candy cane attached to the outside too!)  To create the circle tag, I folded a bit of cardstock and circle-punched it, leaving the folded edge un-punched. (Is that a word?)

Then I stamped the snowflake on another scrap, punched it out and adhered it to the folded card. Easy peasy way to make a circle tag!

And while you're shopping, be sure and check out all of the links from The Clean and Simple Crew too!  Why? Because Tami will personally be sending out a surprise gift to someone who comments on our blogs as well.

Clean and Simple Crew designers:

Jamie Cripps
Jennifer Ingle
Kelley Eubanks
Laura Williams
Laurie Willison

Plus!

Guest designer: Sean Fetterman, StampTV Moderator

Seems to me you have some HOPPING to do. . .ENJOY! Thanks so much for stopping by!

(Project Goodies: stamps - Gina K Designs, ink - Clearsnap, cardstock - Discount Cardstock, jewels - Close To My Heart, twine - The Twinery, craft tubes - A Cherry On Top)

Deadline to enter for the gift certificate drawing is 5pm Central time on Thursday. November 15, 2012—release party day! AND just in time for someone to do some exciting release party shopping when the new stamps become available at 7pm!


 (It's a double post day! Please scroll down to see my Sweet 'n Sassy post!)

inspired by my blog (CFC72)

I decided to take some time this week and do some cards for no particular reason, other than for the FUN of it. (Rather than for assignments, or "work" .  . . although sometimes assignments and work can be FUN too!)

I thought I'd hop in and do this week's challenge at Cas-ual Fridays.  It's a really fun one and sounded super simple to me! The challenge is:

CFC72:  Create a project inspired by your blog header

We can't wait to check out your blogs! 

Be sure to share the love, and visit your neighbors in the gallery this week :)

I LOVE my blog banner.  It's very. . .ME. Clean and simple, cheery and bright.  All the things I love! It's not too hard to see how I was inspired, because I pretty much just duplicated my banner right there on the card.  I used my sweet friend, Tami Mayberry's stamp set, Perfect Pennants, from Gina K Designs. 

If you'd like to join in on this week's challenge, head over to the Cas-ual Fridays blog and check it out!

Have a great day!!

xoxo

You Go, Girl!

I am so happy to show off some new Gina K Designs stamps, designed by my dear friend, Tami Mayberry!  Tami's newest stamp set is called You Go, Girl!  It has really fabulous quotes and sentiments in it.  Super for cards for your girlfriend, whether she is battling cancer, or even if she's just having an end-of-her-rope kinda day.

I have a few cards to share with you today, so without further ado, meet You Go, Girl!

(My Mind's Eye patterned paper, Discount Cardstock)

 (Discount Cardstock, Prismacolor pencils, The Twinery twine)

(Discount Cardstock, Prismacolor pencils, Want2Scrap jewels, Papertrey Ink ribbon)

I did something a little different with this one - it's always valuable to have a stamp set that you can do something TOTALLY different with! Same stamps, different purpose!

(Discount Cardstock, Prismacolor colored pencil, Want2Scrap pearls) 

Be sure to head to Tami's blog, if you aren't coming from there already!  She's got great designers and inspiration to share with you!

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a beautiful day!

bring the BLING!

I think that Want2Scrap has been one of my favorite sponsors at CPS this year. . . another great example of a company that I might not have purchased from, but WILL be purchasing from in the future, thanks to the Card Positioning Systems blog.  Want2Scrap was a new-to-me company.  They have BLING, BLING, BLING, and a lot of it coordinates with Nestabilities dies.  But I don't HAVE any Nestabilities (yet - but that's a different story!)  so I kind of thought - Ugh, is this going to be a drag to use? But guess what, they are super EASY to use and a lot of fun.  Plus the big sheets of pearls and jewels will last you through MANY a project.  I've used them on just about everything I've created lately, and I think I WILL be restocking shortly!!!

Today I'd like to share two cards featuring the Want2Scrap jewels with you.  This first is based on this week's sketch at CPS.  

 I used Christmas trees from The Cat's Pajamas (you may recognize them from the craft fair Christmas tags I shared a few weeks ago!)  The sentiment, that sweet little bitty "merry" is from The {Stamps} of Life.  The cardstock here (from Discount Cardstock) is called Posh Wagon Red Dungaree.  If you look closely, it has a really nice subtle texture to it, that looks a lot like denim.  So beautiful!

On this second card, I created a nice little row of pearls, along with stamps from Gina K (Tami Mayberry's All Occasion Tags set. . . .HOW much do I love this stamp set? TONS!)  The yellow crepe paper from Discount Cardstock totally adds an added texture and detail to this project that I just LOVE.

Thanks so much for coming by today.  And thank you so much to those who hopped this weekend for Operation Julie's Smile.  I had so much fun reading allllllll of your comments! And finally, with a few hours to spare, I finished the hop myself, last night! Phew! 121 blogs?! That's a LOT!!!!!  Have a terrific week! We are in the midst of some blustery, rainy weather here - and I LOVE it.  Going to drink coffee, and fill a box of junk-I mean treasures - to take to Goodwill today.
xoxo

loved and unloved . . .

I have QUITE the stash of October Afternoon papers and goodies, leftover from my stint as a "Designers We Love" at OA.  Apparently, somewhere along the way, us "designers they loved" were dropped, without a word,  but at least I have this big fat box of papers to ease my disappointment!  These are just two REALLY quick cards I made, using Campfire papers.  I have been a busy little bee making cards, and little goodies for the craft fair at my church next month.  Not too many cards, since I have about 200 of them already, but I needed a few more masculine looking cards for the selling-stash.

And now, onto my treasured Scenic Route paper.  I was THE saddest person the day I found out that Scenic Route was closing its doors.  I have HOARDED this paper ever since, but really, I NEED to use it up, and purge the stash of unused products.  SO, I have been making up card sets, using this super simple paper-strip design, with cute simple sentiments from Tami Mayberry's stamp set at Gina K.  I LOVE the hodge-podge feeling of the papers together, and the way all the cards come together in the set, coordinating . . .but NOT coordinating.  And it feels AWESOME to use up all this paper.  So far I've made about 40 of these cards.  (And yes, I am getting pretty sick of them now!)

I was going to use these sets as Christmas gifts, for teachers and such.  But I think I'll try to sell them first! If they don't sell, I'll have built-in gifts, but if they DO, it's not big deal to whip up some more simple card sets later in the year!

You Rock

This week's CPS sketch is sponsored by Want2Scrap.  They have fabulous BLING, in an array of colors and sizes.  They also have their own Nestabling. . .bling that fits the sizes of the Nestability dies.  I do not own a diecut machine, nor do I ever plan to.  I'm just not a die-cuttin' girl.  Too much effort for me! But the Nestabling works just as well without a diecut.  On this card, I used a Silver Square Nestabling.  Want2Scrap also has about a billion colors and sizes of individual blingy delights, aside from the Nestabling.  (I used some of the tiny ones in the corner of this card!)

I paired the Nestabling with Tami Mayberry's Live Life Loud stamps, from Gina K Designs, and dotted swiss cardstock from Discount Cardstock.

In a few days we are headed up to the mountains for a few days to creek-stomp, explore, dig in the dirt, pick up rocks and leaves, build a fort, pick wild blackberries, and relax with my parents.  Ahhhhh! I can hardly wait!  And then, I'll blink my eyes, and it will be AUGUST, and almost time to start gearing up for back to school. (ugh!)

But we won't think about that yet. . . . I need a few more lazy days of summer!
Enjoy yours! It's almost the weekend. . .(well sort of!)
xoxo

You Rock!

Happy Memorial Day!  I am in a cleaning frenzy, while entertaining the kiddos at the same time. . . and we've been at it since pretty early this morning, so although its only 10am, I think I'm wearing down!!!!!

Today's card was my CPS card last week . .no two weeks ago. . .I don't know - sometime recently!!! Gina K Designs was our sponsor, and I used this super cool stamp set, designed by Tami Mayberry.  I KNEW I needed this set when I saw it! It's called Live Out Loud, and it is PERFECT for masculine cards, and cards for people who my stamp stash just don't usually quite work for (like teenage boys!)  I embossed the sentiment and guitar, and then added Stickles over the guitar.  It's quite sparkly in real life!!!

I'm looking over at my littlest man, and his hands are COVERED in green marker.  Apparently, supervising from across the room just isn't cutting it.  I think I better run before his entire shirt and high chair are covered in it!!!!

Have a wonderful week!!!
XOXO

Blog HOPPIN'!!!!

Today I am helping my sweet friend,  Tami Mayberry end her month long Blast from the Past with a customer blog hop. Tami is an illustrator for Gina K Designs; and, if you haven't been to her blog this month to see all of the featured ideas using her stamp sets, you'll want to be sure and stop by today. You could win FIVE of her stamp sets simply by leaving comments on her blast from the past posts. You can click here to find more details.



I had been DESPERATE for Tami's Live Life Loud stamp set, and I was SUPER excited to get it last week!!!  This is the first card I created with it! I stamped the pink background, and then tilted my stamp, stamping it again right on top.  LOVE the effect it gave!!!!  And I embossed the drum set, which gives it a little extra POP in real life!!!


Here is a list of all of the blog hop participants.

Tami Mayberry

Emily Giovanni

Laura Williams

Tami Grandi

Debbie Seyer

Cindy Coutts

Vicki Dutcher

Sue VanDeVusse

Michelle Woerner

Jeanne Streiff

Jennifer Buck

Lisa Silver

If you didn't come here from Emily's blog you'll want to start back at the beginning on Tami's blog because each comment left on the blog participants' blogs will also count as an entry into the random drawing for the 5 stamp sets being given away. 

Now, hop on over and visit Tami Grandi for more ideas using stamp sets by Tami Mayberry and another chance to win. Also, If you have Tami's stamps and missed the deadline to sign up for the hop you can still play along by leaving a link on her blog.


Thanks for hopping by today!!!!! I hope you have a SUPER weekend!

Ahoy!

 This week I received my complimentary copies of CARDS Magazine, the February edition, where my card, Ahoy! was published.  I always love having cards published in this magazine, because it is always GORGEOUS!!! It is such a fun magazine to peruse.  CARDS and also Paper Crafts are definitely my two favorites.  This card features stamps from Tami Mayberry's stamp set, called Oh Boy!, at Gina K Designs.

Tami is having a Blast from the Past on her blog. . . .lots of fabulous and inspiring projects, featuring all of her Gina K stamp sets - plus a GIVEAWAY!!!!! You could win FIVE of Tami's stamp sets - (but I'm not sure why I'm telling you, because I want to win them myself!!!) ;)

Be sure to pop over to Tami's blog, share some love, and check out all the fabulous cards.  I am DYING for the Live Life Loud stamp set.  I always need masculine cards - and it's the perfect set.  (But what I really love is that it will make some stinkin' cute rocker GIRL cards too!!!)

Okay - enough rattling on.  Have a terrific week!!!
XOXO

You're not old. . . .

Tami Mayberry's new set at Gina K is Soooooo Grooooovy!!! We all know my obsession with paper-piecing, and I have this cute little paper-pieced television for you today, dressed up with a little blue bling!!!!

I used my ScorPal to create the background stripes that frame my image. Easy peasy and it adds a lot of character! (There's a great video about this at Gina K's StampTV!)

I hope you have a GREAT weekend! I hope to have some new cards to share soon . . .I'm in a bit of a card-making funk, but I do have some cute stuff from earlier this month I can share!!! Thanks for stopping by!

card goodies: stamps - Gina K Designs, patterned paper - October Afternoon, cardstock - Discount Cardstock (Frosted Teal Prismatic, Ivory) ribbon, ink, gems - Close To My Heart)

zoom go the days

With a one year old in the house, we are very much into what SOUND everything makes. "The cat says Meow", "The dog says Woof! Woof!" and the days, it seems say "ZOOOOOM" as they fly right by! I am holding on tight, and trying to savor each and every one. October is my FAVORITE - the weather is starting to cool off a bit. We even opened the house up this week - HOORAY!!!! We'll still have some warm days ahead, but this little break feels AMAZING. I love October too, because we start to feel the anticipation of the truly CHILLY days, and fun holiday festivities, from Halloween, the hubby's birthday, Thanksgiving, Mr. B's birthday, and then Christmas. Phew. I always try to get ahead in October, because it's a downward spiral of insanity from here on until New Years!
This first card I have to share with you, is using the new Christmas set from The {Stamps} of Life. I stamped the holly background, colored it with colored pencils, and then added the gems for a bit of bling. A double scalloped border, and some Papertrey ribbon finished it off.

The second card features those hippie dippie "So Groovy" stamps, at Gina K Designs, designed by my friend Tami Mayberry. I used Papertrey Ink patterned paper, and Close To My Heart ink to create this color scheme (which I LOVE, of course, because teal and green are my go-to colors!)

Speaking of paper, and fabulous colors. . . .yesterday I got my first box of cardstock from Discount Cardstock. 10 pounds of cardstock - DUDE. So fun! I got a big package of Teal Prismatics (Intense Teal and Frosted Teal) Lime Denim, plus a bunch of other great papers. I. Am. EXCITED. Excited to play, and excited to share this great company with you. If you need cardstock, you seriously need to stop by and check out the selection. I am drooling over the color swatch book, and already planning what I want to get next!

Okay, onward to do 10 other things before the little man is up from his nap! I hope you have a GREAT day.

Sooooo groovy!!!!!

I have had the hippie dippie, way far out, totally fab job of making some cards with BRAND NEW stamps, designed by the hippie chick herself, Tami Mayberry. This set, called So Groovy, is adorable - and I've gotta say, pretty darn versatile too. It's got a great assortment of hippie dippie little cuties, (I really like saying hippie dippie, it totally makes me smile!) and fun sentiments. You can make fabulous cards for your favorite girlfriend, but you can totally make some great masculine birthday cards, and all occasion cards too. This is just one fab little peek!!!

The set will release TONIGHT at the Gina K Release party, from 7-10pm, central time, at StampTV.

I'll have some more cute projects using this set, to share with you soon!!! And I hope to make some more tonight, when I spend some stampy time with my girlfriends, during Girls' Night!

Have a super Thursday. . .the weekend is almost here!

clean and simple CPS 174

This week's CPS sketch was sponsored by Gina K Designs. I suppose, since it is Saturday, I almost missed sharing this card on time!!! I am on vacation at my parents' house this week, celebrating my grandmother's birthday with oodles of family in town! It's lots of fun, but I've spent most of the time chasing a crawling baby through a non-baby-proofed house! So that's my excuse for lack of posts this week!!! But I'll be home next week. . ..for a whole three days. And then we leave AGAIN!
I struggled with this card, trying to keep it simple and understated - but it's hard to find that balance between boring and perfectly clean and simple. I hope I achieved it!
I hope your weekend is TERRIFIC!!! I think we'll be spending most of the day in the POOL!!!
XOXOX

I had such fun designing some projects in April for Tami Mayberry's new stamp set, Oh Boy! over at Gina K Designs! I am happy to share one more project with you, based on the Gina K's Sr. DT Challenge Blog Hop . . . .the challenge - to create a card based on a favorite movie.
Even before I lived in a house full of boys, I had always loved the movie Toy Story - so I tried to infuse a little Toy Story love into this card. The colors, the little clouds and the overall theme hopefully remind you of the movie! You can see some more cards using Tami's Oh Boy! stamp set, based on the challenge at the blogs of Tami's other guest designers:
Jen,
Linda
Kim

For the specific details of the Senior Design Team challenge, please visit GinaK's Blog
Then, check out these designer's links for all the projects they have prepared for tonight's challenge:

• Jessica Fick


• Nina Brackett


• Theresa Momber


• Melanie Muenchinger


• Tami Mayberry


• Asela Hopkins


• Cathy Tidwell


• Lee Murphy


• Emily Giovanni


• Geri Utterback - Gina K's CenterStage Spotlight Designer

CPS 164 Just My Style!

I turned Tami's CPS sketch sideways this week. And i LOVE it! I LOVE this patterned paper from October Afternoon (the main image is part of the patterned paper too. So fun!) I added a sentiment stamp from Gina K, a bit of ribbon (Bazzill) and some buttons (PaperTrey Ink) and this card came together quite simply. I love the mixture of bold colors with a vintage feel. (And of course i adore ANYTHING with black and white polka dots!!!)

Although I really like this card, I must admit, I am feeling like I am in a card-making funk right now. I hit this point every so often that I am just not happy with my work. . .it just doesn't feel quite THERE. Or not quite where I want it to be - but I just can't figure out how to step it up. So I am spending some time pouring over cards that I love, and "studying" some of my favorite cardmakers to gain some inspiration and direction. I am hoping to get back on track QUICKLY, because deadlines always approach as the end of the month comes around!

Have a terrific week!! Thanks for stopping by!
XOXO

Oh Boy!

My sweet friend Tami Mayberry designs stamps for Gina K Designs, and this evening is the Release Party!!! (You can join in HERE) Tami sent me the new stamp set to play with, and share some projects with you!


The stamp set is called Oh Boy! and it has the most fun and paper-pieceable (is that a word?) images in it - and we all know I LOVE LOVE LOVE to paper-piece!!!! There's a super sweet sailboat, a truck, helicopter, and a rocket! And lots of fun phrases. (I think my favorite is "I love you to the moon and back." This is a great set for Little Boy cards and scrapbook layouts, baby cards, Father's Day cards and layouts, and I am thinking about even a "We're Moving" card with the truck.

I hope you'll go and check out Tami's new stamp set, plus some other fun new releases at Gina K tonight! (I can't wait to see them all, based upon the sneak peeks, there are some GREAT new stamps coming out!) The details for the release party are HERE.
card goodies:

*Ahoy - patterned paper (October Afternoon) cardstock (WorldWin) ribbon/button (PaperTrey Ink)

*Just Like Dad - patterned paper (October Afternoon) cardstock (Couture Cardstock) dotted line rub-on (Doodlebug Designs)

*I Love You.. - cardstock (Close To My Heart)