Gina K Inspiration Hop!

Welcome to today's Gina K Designs inspiration hop, featuring Melanie's Stately Flowers 2 and Theresa's Mountain Wilderness.  Such gorgeous sets!  Wait 'til you see the beautiful cards our team has made using them!

I shared the smallest peek ever yesterday of the card I made using the goldenrod image from Stately Flowers 2 and a vertical sentiment from Mountain Wilderness...and after photographing it, I decided that my card wasn't quite finished after all!  I added some texture to the flower centers, tied on some raffia and a pretty button-centered flower.  The layout is again SC365 from SCS.  Don't you think these colors are so warm and cheerful in the middle of winter!?

I had a hard time getting a photograph of my second card, a masculine scene with images from Mountain Wilderness.  I used a Nestabilities oval to cut a window into the card front, then cut an oval 1/8 inch larger for the focal image which is adhered to the inside of the card.  I used Copic markers to color a vibrant sunset...the overhanging branches (a die I got early for Christmas) and the big brown bear on the front of the card appear much closer than the distant landscape behind them.  A sprinkling of "snow" grounds the bear and ties the scene together.  In the photo to the right you can see a small peek of the designer paper under the focal image inside.

Notes:

Melanie's Stately Flowers 2

Theresa's Mountain Wilderness

Gina K Pure Luxury card stock

Basic Grey Picadilly designer paper

Memento ink

Tim Holtz tea-dye distress ink

Copic markers

Nestabilities classic ovals, large and small

Flower Soft

raffia

paper flower

button

jute thread

Here are the designers participating today:

• Gina K
• Melanie Muenchinger – Illustrator Stately Flowers 2
• Theresa Momber – Illustrator Mountain Wilderness
• Michelle Woerner
• Sharon Harnist
• Suzanne Dean
• Tina Gilliland
• Vicki Dutcher
• Carolina Buchting
• Cathy Tidwell
• Donna Baker
• Giovana Smith
• Jennie Harper
• Jimmi Mayo
• Lee Murphy

You're Invited!

We are very excited to extend an invitation to Gina K. Designs December Release Party. We have a fun evening planned for you - chatting, prizes, challenges, stamp sets reveal, design team shares, and most importantly, at the end of the party you will be able to start shopping!

You should've arrived here from Donna's...if not, head on over to the Stamp TV forum so you can start at the top!

Hope to see you at the party, here are all the details:

• When: Today, Thursday, December 29
• Where: StampTV Release Party Forum
• Time: 7 PM to 9 PM (CST)

Here's a teeny tiny peek of a card that I will be sharing at tonight's party!

And now, you're off to Cat's!  Enjoy the hop!  I hope to see you tonight at StampTV!

SCS Sketch 365

Today's SCS sketch was just perfect for a New Year's card using Our Craft Lounge's crafty clear set, Cheers!  I wanted to post a card using this set to the OCL blog and was grateful that today's sketch was one that would work with it.

I used some beautiful My Mind's Eye designer paper, including a beautiful music print, in warm golds and black for an elegant card to celebrate the coming of the New Year.  The image was stamped with Memento ink and colored with Copic markers.  A few Kaiser Craft pearls mimic a rush of escaping bubbles!

Fun sketch, Roxie!  Thanks!

GRS Diners' Club Preview

Today is preview day for a brand new Lizzie Anne/Gourmet Rubber Stamps Diners' Club set, Sealed with a Kiss!  It is such a beautiful set, filled images just perfect for Valentine's Day and more.

The color combo for my card was inspired by the pretty floral paper, part of the Random Collection from Crate Paper.  I love this paper but I'm still trying to decide whether the color combo works!  It is definitely different!  (For most of December I have been fighting a sinus infection...I just kept trying to push through but finally, a few days before Christmas, decided that a break was necessary.  Between feeling yucky and taking more than a week away from card-making, my mojo is very rusty!)

Be sure to visit my design team mates blogs to see what they've made with this fun set!

• Jeni Allen
• Joslyn Nielson
• Joy Stagg 
• Kelli Palmer
• Kendra Wietstock
• Pam Hornschu 
• Rose Ann Reynolds
• Taylor Usry

ihp SALE!!!

Beginning today, December 20th, i {heart} papers is holding an end of year inventory blow out with savings up to 75% off on some products!  There are hundreds of items on steep markdown including:

• Unity Itty Bittys only $3.25
• All other Unity sets $5-$7 (that's 75% OFF!!!)
• All 6x6 pads only $3.50
• All Echo Park and MME 12x12 kits 50% off
• All Hero Arts sets (including die and stamp sets) 50% off
• Lawn Fawn 50% off
• Market Street Stamps 50% off
• All My Cute Stamps 50% off
• All Technique Tuesday, including Ali Edwards sets, at least 50% off
• All Lifestyle Crafts nesting dies only $12
• All Spellbinders Nestabilities only $12
• 3D Embellishments $0.50 - $2
• Zva bling only $1
• and much, much more! Check the sale page for more amazing deals!

The sale will run while supplies last or until New Year's Eve, so don't delay!

Visions of Sugarplums!

Here are a few fun Christmas cards using candy2share and jar4candy from The {Stamps} of Life!  These two sets are made to work together, and can be colored or paper-pieced for a variety of looks...and of course, they are not just for Christmas!  Candy is great for all kinds of occasions!

Notes:

candy2share, jar4candy

October Afternoon Holiday Style designer paper

Stephanie's favorite ink pads!

The Twinery twine

Offray red grosgrain ribbon

green satin ribbon

MS snowflake punch

Notes:

candy2share, jar4candy, funky4lowABC

Basic Grey Nordic Holiday designer paper

Stephanie's favorite ink pads!

The Twinery twine

Nestabilities die

GRS Weekly Recipe #13

I love having a sketch to start construction of my cards...coming up with layouts of my own is not what I would consider my forte` but today it is my turn to host the Gourmet Rubber Stamps Weekly Recipe.  I thought it would be kinda fun to make a card with a detachable tag, much like a bookmark card.

I began with a 4 1/4 x 10 1/2 inch piece of card stock, scored at 4 1/4, and perforated with the Scor Bug at 8 1/2.  The finished card measures 4 1/4 square inches with an additional 2 inches on the back layer for the tag portion.

I used a Spellbinders fancy tags 2 die and matching nestabling along with some Tim Holtz holly leaves for a fancy sentiment atop some pretty designer paper that really goes well with my 5th Avenue Snowflake Stick Chick tag.

I hope you will join me in making a tag card, or use the layout for a three-panel standard A2!

Notes:

GRS 5th Avenue Snowflake Stick Chick

LAD Season's Greetings

Teresa Collins designer paper

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Copic markers

Tim Holtz die

Spellbinders fancy tags 2, matching nestabling

red twill ribbon
silver cording
Kaiser Craft pearl
Polar White Flower Soft, PVA glue

More OCL Peeks!

Welcome back for Day 2 of Our Craft Lounge's Valentine's Day peeks!  If you missed yesterday's posts, be sure to scroll down to catch a glimpse of all the gorgeous cards that our designers shared!  They'll knock your socks off!

You still have time to make the rounds and leave comments in order to become eligible for the blog candy that will be given away on Sunday or Monday...be sure to comment on the OCL blog and "like" our Facebook page too.

Although Smooth Sailing is intended to be a Valentine set, it makes a great everyday set too, especially in a Navy town like Jacksonville!  That is why I chose this red, white, blue and gold color scheme. I tied a bowline knot to add to the nautical atmosphere!

Notes:
OCL's Smooth Sailing
yellow striped designer paper
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Copic markers
Tim Holtz tea-dye distress ink
Nestabilities classic circles and squares, large and small
Canvas Corp nautical cording
EK star punch

Visit our blogs and leave some love!

• OCL Blog
• Kendra Wietstock
• Lori Tecler
• Tammie Edgerton
• Broni Holcombe
• Debbie Fisher
• Carolyn King
• Lori Barnett
• Debbie Corbari
• Lisa Eisner
• Stephanie Serrano
• Amber Hillman
• Meredith Winston
• Joy Stagg
• Michelle Pearson
• Dawn Barrett
• Melissa Cash
• Latrice Murphy

LAD/GRS Design Team Challenge

It's time for another GRS/Lizzie Anne design team challenge!  I am still stamping Christmas cards, and found this challenge to be a very refreshing change of pace!  Look at the beautiful photo we were given as color inspiration for a birthday card!

Although I didn't purchase it with this challenge in mind, I don't think I could've come across a better match of designer paper for this gorgeous color combo!  It looks made-to-order!

I chose a classic greeting from Vintage Verses as a focal point, adding some lovely lace and sheer ribbon along with a pretty flower.  I stamped, diecut/embossed and inked the oval, then ended up putting the rest of the card together in the car on the way to Disney World to hear Matthew sing with FIHS chorus at Candlelight!  The magical wonder of Disney made this sentiment seem exceptionally appropriate, and paper-crafting in the car made the time go faster!  I took my ukulele too, and played a few Christmas tunes on the way!

This picture was taken at the Coronado Springs Resort with my whiteboard background set up in the back gate of my Jeep Liberty!  ;)  That was pretty much the last of the sunshine for our trip! We stood in line in the cold and rain for more than three hours for a next-to-last-row seat at the second performance (we could hear but not see the first performance from where we stood), but it was so worth it!  Neal Patrick Harris narrated, and a huge choir of high school students and Disney professionals sang...it was so amazing!

Now that we're home again, I think I might add a button or some pretty pearls to dress my card up a little bit more!  I think it needs a little bling!  ;)

Visit the GRS blog for ideas from the rest of our amazing designers!

Notes:
LAD Vintage Verses
Authentique Gathering designer paper
Memento Rich Cocoa ink
Tim Holtz tea-dye distress ink
Spellbinders' Nestabilities classic ovals
Kaiser Craft flower
organza ribbon
lace

OCL Valentine Peeks!

The owners, illustrators, designers and guest designers of Our Craft Lounge are so excited to share sneak peeks of our Valentine release with you today and tomorrow! You are sure to find a set you'll love and a project to inspire you!

I know some of you are "picture people" but please read carefully!  OCL is offering four prize bundles which include one full set and one single.  In order to be eligible to win, you must leave comments on the OCL blog, all of our designers' blogs and on our Facebook page Thursday and Friday.  You have until Friday, December 16th at MIDNIGHT Pacific time/3am Eastern time to leave your comments, so don't feel like you have to hop through them all at once!

Winners will be chosen randomly and announced on the OCL Blog and the OCL FB page on Sunday or Monday, so be sure to check there to see if your name is listed!  You'll need to contact Kendra, our design team coordinator, with your snail mail address to claim your prize!

My project is made with a brand new single called Mr Knight!   He comes with two accompanying sentiments that are just perfect for Valentine's Day, although I suppose you could use them just about anytime!  This designer paper is such a cute design to pair with him, although on a standard card not much of it peeks out from underneath.

Visit i {heart} papers to see lots more from Our Craft Lounge!  Kate has lightning fast shipping, free with your $50 US order/$150 CAN order.

Notes:
OCL new single, Mr Knight
Pinecone Press designer paper
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Copic markers
Quickie glue pen
Sparkly Fluff
Nestabilities petite ovals, small and large
Nestabilities classic squares
Nestabilities lacey squares
Kaiser Craft rhinestones
dimensional adhesive
glitter
sheer ribbon
flower/stamen

Here is the list of designer blogs to love on to become eligible for a prize!  And remember to visit our FB page too!

• OCL Blog
• Kendra Wietstock
• Lori Tecler
• Tammie Edgerton
• Broni Holcombe
• Debbie Fisher
• Carolyn King
• Lori Barnett
• Debbie Corbari
• Lisa Eisner
• Stephanie Serrano
• Amber Hillman
• Meredith Winston
• Joy Stagg
• Michelle Pearson
• Dawn Barrett
• Melissa Cash
• Latrice Murphy

Christmas Friends

This week's CPS sketch is sponsored by Flower Soft.  I made an easel card featuring the stamp set, Little Friend.  (the ready-to-use, color-printed card toppers of this image are retiring!)

I love the way the colors of this card turned out so vibrant and yet still soft and girlie, fun and not-quite-traditional!

Visit the CPS blog to find more inspiration, then play along and link your card!

Notes:

Stamp set, Polar White Flower Soft

October Afternoon Sidewalks designer paper

Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Tim Holtz worn lipstick distress ink
Copic markers

Martha Stewart snowflake punch

buttons, silver cording

Holiday Decorations!

I am so excited to make my first post as a Supernova over on the Paper Craft Planet blog!  Here's a teeny peek at one of THREE projects that I am sharing there!  I hope you will take a peek and let me know you were there!  :)

CSS Blog Hop!

Welcome to the GKD CenterStage Spotlight Alumni's December's hop!  Our theme is holiday treat holders!

You should've arrived from Joy's!  If not, head over to the forum at StampTV to start at the beginning!  Make sure to leave a comment as you hop along because on Tuesday morning, December 13, we will randomly choose one of the comments from all the blogs and that person will receive a huge grab bag of fabulous Gina K. Designs Stamps!

My project is a simple cupcake to-go box filled with cupcakes from the bakery.  Easy peasy!  The top and bottom are scored exactly alike, then the openings for the cupcakes are embossed on top with a Spellbinders' die and sliced side to side with a craft blade.

For the focal image, I cut a petite oval and stamped an image from the StampTV kit, Wishing You Joy.  A few flicks with several Copic markers, and a jewel center for the snowflake, and this simple project is ready for gift -giving.

Your next stop is Carolina's.

Notes:
Gina K Pure Luxury cranberry card stock
StampTV Kit, Wishing You Joy
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Tim Holtz tea-dye distress ink
Nestabilities petite ovals, scalloped circles
Copic markers
sheer ribbon
Kaiser Craft rhinestone

Think Snow!

This cute roly poly snowman from Season's Greetings by Lizzie Anne for Gourmet Rubber Stamps was just perfect for today's Flower Soft "Think Snow" challenge.  I used ultrafine white Flower Soft for the fluffy snow, adding a little chunky glitter on the hilltops for shimmer!

Come play along!  Details are on the Flower Soft blog!

Notes:
Lizzie Anne for Gourmet Rubber Stamps Season's Greetings
October Afternoon designer paper
Memento ink
Copic markers
Nestabilities tag die
ultrafine white Flower Soft, PVA glue
Kaiser Craft pearls
button
Creative Impressions white glimmer ribbon
MS tinsel glitter
MS snowflake punch

ihp + MSS=amazing!

Welcome to the i {heart} papers and Market Street Stamps combined teams blog hop!  We're so excited to have you join us, and we know you're in for a real treat!

You should have arrived here from Carolyn's blog.  If not, visit Kate's i {heart} papers blog to start from the beginning.  You'll go from there to the blogs of our designers and finish up at the Market Street Stamps blog.  If you get lost, both company blogs have the complete list of links.

about i {heart} papers:

i {heart} papers is proud that we recently celebrated our 3rd anniversary in October. We’ve grown by leaps and bounds and have not strayed from our core principle of stellar customer service with FAST and FREE shipping. You ALWAYS receive free shipping with your $50 US order/$150 CAN order with no gimmicks or restrictions like so many other companies, and orders are almost always shipped within 24 business hours. We’re thrilled to be hopping along with the MSS team today and to be carrying the MSS line of stamps. If you’ve never ordered from us before, please mention that you learned about us on this hop for a free gift with your first order! Please visit us at www.iheartpapers.com, “like” us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/iheartpapers, where you'll find over 1900 other IHP fans!) and follow us on Twitter (@iheartpapers). Enjoy the hop! If you order by Wednesday midnight EST, all MSS sets are 15% off!  Leave comments along the hop to be entered in a drawing to win one free MSS set. The more you comment, the more chances to win!  You have until Wednesday at midnight...winners will be announced on the ihp blog on Friday!

about Market Street Stamps:

Market Street Stamps, LLC, was founded in January 2010 by Angelica and Jorge Suarez, a husband and wife team who create unique stamps made from peach-tinted photopolymer, the best available on the market today! Market Street Stamps' goal is to produce durable, high quality designs that you'll turn to again and again! We are thrilled to be hopping with i {heart} papers and their incredibly talented design team today! Be sure to "like" us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/MarketStreetStamps) for the latest releases and project ideas from our Design Team!

My card for today is a little different than my usual cards...it has NO COLORING!  Nope!  I didn't use a single Copic marker on this one, nor any other marker, for that matter!  Copics have become my #1 go-to tool, so it is a rare occasion that I make a card without them!  This time I opted for some Palette ink on kraft card stock using Market Street's newly released background stamp, Grace.  The sentiment is from Essential Holiday Elegance, a wonderful set with lovely fonts and classic holiday greetings.  I used a classic oval to cut a window from the stamped background so that the card base could peek through to frame the sentiment, which is adhered using dimensional adhesive.

The flowers were made using Spellbinders' Spiral Blossom One.  I followed Heidi's tutorial to make the bloom and buds, then tucked in some leaves, a few sprigs of ribbon and a big Bow Easy twinkle ribbon bow.

After the card was completely assembled, I liberally misted everything with Gold Shimmer spray.  That gave it a beautiful pearly gold glow!

From here, you're headed to Dobea's blog.  Enjoy the hop!  Thanks for your comments!  Remember to order your MSS from ihp before Wednesday to get the 15% discount!

Notes:
Market Street Stamps Grace, Essential Holiday Elegance
Palette ink
Spellbinders' classic oval, spiral blossom one 
Glubers
dimensional adhesive
Bow Easy
twinkle ribbon 
Gold Shimmer

CPS 247

Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be in dire need of a little R & R after pulling an all-nighter for Christmas!  Hehehe!  Lawn Fawn is sponsoring this week's CPS sketch...I figured there had to be a way to make this set work for winter too!  This is a computer-generated sentiment, but one of the two sentiments in this set ("keep cool" or "have fun") would have worked just as well.

Visit the CPS blog for more ideas using Lawn Fawn stamps!

Notes:
Lawn Fawn stamp set
October Afternoon designer paper
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Tim Holtz tea-dye distress ink
Copic markers
Spellbinders' fancy tags 2
Nestabilities classic circles
Ultrafine White Flower Soft
black cording
black rhinestone

Gina K Designs Inspiration Day 3!

It's the final day for GKD's inspiration hops for this release, and today we are sharing projects made with two new duos, Master Butterfly, and Just Calling to Say, and with one full set, Inspirational Blocks.

I love the dramatic contrast of black and white...it seemed just perfect for a tent card with this retro phone!  My grandma had a phone sorta like this!  So funny how one little image can bring back SO many memories!

Notes:
Just Calling to Say...
Gina K Pure Luxury onyx card stock
Vintage Chic paper pack
Memento ink
Spellbinders grommet tags
stitched grosgrain ribbon
black brads

Here's another simple layout using Basic Grey's Marjolaine, Inspirational Blocks and some Pear Tart Memento ink.  For some reason my camera doesn't like the sponged edges...they photo'd rather grainy, but this card is soft and serene IRL.

Notes:

Inspirational Blocks

Gina K Pure Luxury card stock

Basic Grey Marjolaine designer paper

Memento Tuxedo Black, Pear Tart inks

Tim Holtz tea-dye distress ink

Spellbinders classic squares

satin ribbon

self-adhesive pearls

Here are the designers participating in today's hop:

• Gina K
• Jimmi Mayo
• Lee Murphy
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Sharon Harnist
• Theresa Momber
• Tina Gilliland
• Vicki Dutcher
• Carolina Buchting
• Cathy Tidwell
• Donna Baker
• Emily Giovanni
• Giovana Smith

Gina K Designs Inspiration Day 2!

Welcome back for our second day of inspiration with the stamps sets that were just released!  Today we are sharing projects made with two full stamp sets, Tami's Label Borders, Theresa's Dogwood and Butterfly, and one of our new Duos, Friends are Flowers.

I love kraft, ivory, red and black together, and with Tami's set, I came up with a relatively clean and simple card for Valentine's Day or any day!  This set is SO versatile, and really easy to work with.  I stamped the border in Memento, colored the inset with Copics, then sponged the edges with distress ink and bordered it with red card stock.  I stamped the sentiment panel a second time so that I could pop up it up for added dimension.  I tied a lock and key to a big red button with sparkly cord...the ends frayed, but I love the way it looks!

Notes:
Tami's Label Borders
Gina K Pure Luxury card stock (ivory, kraft, onyx, and lipstick red)
Memento ink
Tim Holtz tea-dye distress ink
Copic markers
black rhinestones
Jenni Bowlin button
Tim Holtz lock and key charms
black cording

I made a simple 4 1/4 inch square notecard using Theresa's Dogwood and Butterfly set.  I tried to color the flowers their traditional colors, pure white with touches of pale pink and green, a bright green center and just a touch of red at the end of each petal.  Of course, white is difficult to color!

The dogwoods always seem to know when it's Easter and time to bloom!  As a youngster, I was taught that their four petals symbolize the cross, their touches of red the nails in His hands and feet, and their center, the crown of thorns.  I love thinking that God uses every opportunity to remind me of His love for me!

Notes:
Theresa's Dogwood and Butterfly set

Gina K Pure Luxury ivory card stock 

Memento ink

Copic markers

crocheted lace

ribbon scrap

I used the same markers, minus the blue-green, to color another notecard stamped with Friends are Flowers.  The focal image layer is popped up on dimensional adhesives, which is a little more formal than a single layer...I rarely make single layer cards with Copics because of the bleed-through.  An ivory satin bow seemed like the perfect simple embellishment.

Notes:

Gina K Pure Luxury ivory card stock 
Friends are Flowers Duo

Memento ink

Copic markers

Satin ribbon

All three of the sets featured today lend themselves to CAS stamping, although they would work equally well in more intricate designs!

Here are the designers participating today:

• Gina K
• Tami Mayberry - Illustrator Label Borders
• Theresa Momber – Illustrator Dogwood and Butterfly
• Tina Gilliland
• Vicki Dutcher
• Carolina Buchting
• Cathy Tidwell
• Donna Baker
• Emily Giovanni
• Giovana Smith
• Jimmi Mayo
• Lee Murphy
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Michelle Woerner
• Sharon Harnist
• Suzanne Dean