Gina K Designs Inspiration Hop!

Hi, and welcome to Gina K Designs' Inspiration Hop!  It's the first day of a three day extravaganza of card-making ideas!  Today we're previewing two newly released full-sized stamp sets, as well as two of our new Duo stamp sets.

Stately Flowers is the first stamp set in a series that Melanie has begun, which will feature the names and flowers of all 50 states!   My first card features the California poppy.  I love the cheerful colors and loose, open shape of these flowers...in fact, I love them so much that our china is a poppy Villeroy and Boch design named Amapola.  I am really looking forward to traveling to California for CHA at the end of January!

Notes:

Melanie's Stately Flowers

Pure Luxury ivory card stock

Basic Grey Picadilly designer paper

Memento ink

Tim Holtz tea-dye distress ink

Copic markers

Nestabilities classic oval

Ribbon tags trio 3

May Arts ribbon, twine
paper roses

Kaiser Craft bling

Make a Statement is a companion set for Stately Flowers.  Since my husband is retired USN, I couldn't resist making a patriotic card.  Even with all of the difficult times America has been having lately, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!  (I am wondering if I can talk Melanie into a "Cajun Country" sentiment since that's where I'm from!)  ;)  This layout is an adaptation of Fall-to Layout 167.

Notes:

Melanie's Make a Statement

Pure Luxury kraft card stock

Memento ink

Tim Holtz tea-dye distress ink

Basic Grey designer paper "solids"

Nestabilities hearts, scalloped hearts

small star brads

"squeeze" tiny tag die

Copic multi-liner

Thickers letters (colored with a Copic marker)

May Arts twine

If you scroll down to yesterday's release party invite, you can see the card I made using the Close Knit Friends Duo and read the story behind the design!

Here are the designers sharing projects made with today's featured sets!

• Gina K
• Melanie Muenchinger – Illustrator of Stately Flowers and Make a Statement
• Carolina Buchting
• Cathy Tidwell
• Donna Baker
• Emily Giovanni
• Giovana Smith
• Jennie Harper
• Jimmi Mayo
• Lee Murphy
• Michelle Woerner
• Sharon Harnist
• Suzanne Dean
• Theresa Momber
• Tina Gilliland
• Vicki Dutcher

You're Invited!

We are very excited to extend an invitation to Gina K Designs November Release Party. We have a fun evening planned for you - chatting, prizes, challenges, stamp set reveals, design team shares, and most importantly, you can start shopping at 7 p.m. CST!

If you came from  Emily's, you're at the right place. If not make sure to head over to StampTV where you will find a list of all those participating in today's hop.

This card just gives me warm-fuzzies!  However out-dated that term might be, sometimes it is still the most accurate choice!  These "knitting needles" and the close-knit friends sentiment make me smile from the inside out!   For two nights in a row last summer during the week of CHA in Chicago, I had dinner at Gibson's Steak House.  The first night was with a bunch of Gina K friends (pictured here!), and the next with some of the SCS girls, a few GKD friends among them!  

As we were leaving the restaurant, Jimmi showed us all these little Gibson's toothpick matchbooks and of course we each had to have one!  Hehehe...obviously she was impressed by them because she actually took this picture!  ;)  

As soon as I saw them they reminded me of a pair of miniature knitting needles!  I finally came across the perfect image and sentiment to go with them!  And yes...I really did knit a few stitches with them, which was not easy!  

This would be the perfect card for another close-knit friend who's into knitting now!  I miss seeing her lately, we have both been so busy!  Time for a get-together!

Hope to see you at the party!  Here are all the details:

• When:  Today, Tuesday, November 29
• Where:  StampTV Release Party Forum
• Time:  7 p.m. to 9 p.m. CST

Head on over to Donna's to see what she's sharing today...I'll see you back here tomorrow for the beginning of our three day Inspiration Blog Hop series for November!

CPS 246

I taught two Copic classes yesterday at The Enchanted Scrapbook, and in between classes (a Surfing Santa card) I stamped a card for this week's CPS sketch using an absolutely adorable Stamping Bella image, Big Girl Pants.  Some of the students for the evening class arrived early while I was still coloring, and they probably thought I had really lost it because I was practically squealing over this darling stamp!  She is SOOOOO cute!  Making this card was a whole lot of fun!

Notes:

Stamping Bella (Mo Manning Big Girl Pants)

Bazill card stock

Memento ink

Copic markers

Basic Grey Picadilly designer paper

Little Yellow Bicycle crepe paper lace stickers 

Jenni Bowlin buttons

May Arts ribbon, twine

Building the Snowman!

Here are a few cute GRS Stick Chicks Building the Snowman!  Their holiday outfits have glittered ruffles and cuffs, and there's a dusting of Polar White Flower Soft on the ground.  Love these bright, fun, traditional holiday colors and the way a splash of black makes 'em pop!

Notes:
GRS Stick Chicks Building the Snowman
Teresa Collins Christmas at Home designer paper

Memento ink

Copic markers

MS snowflake punches
Polar White Flower Soft
stitched grosgrain ribbon
button
ivory jute string

Black Tie Affair

I still have lots of Christmas cards to make because it is difficult for me to "skip" holidays, but for today's GRS Diner's Club preview I couldn't resist fast-forwarding to New Year's Eve!  My first idea with this wonderful sentiment was to use some music paper...the ones I have are gorgeous (and are, in fact, from the same 6 x 6 pad) but more vintage-styled, and I wanted this to be a black-and-bright-white, tuxedo inspired kind of card.  I love that clean, simple, classic elegance!

Want a free stamp?! The first 50 orders today are receiving a free stamp with their order. All stamps are 25% off (excluding Diner's Club sets.) Happy shopping!

Visit the GRS blog to see the rest of the images in this great new set, appropriately named "Let's Celebrate!"  You'll also want to visit our designers' blogs to see what they have made with it!

Enjoy your weekend!

Notes:
Gourmet Rubber Stamps "Let's Celebrate"
MME Lost and Found Sunshine designer paper
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Copic markers
Spellbinders tag die
Creative Impressions crinkle ribbon
silver cording
Kaiser Craft bling
Quickie glue pen
glitter

ihp sale!

It's not even Thanksgiving yet, but let the Black Friday frenzy begin!  i {heart} papers is having a great sale!  Here are the details:

• valid Wednesday 11/23-Sunday 11/27. 
• 25% off EVERYTHING storewide (in stock items only, not valid on gift certificates) using code black25dt for orders totaling a minimum of $35
• 10% gift certificate bonus. IHP will add an additional 10% of the value of the gift certificate during this sale. (25% discount does not apply to gift certificates.)

Enjoy this Thanksgiving holiday!  Celebrate your blessings!  I hope you are able to spend some extra time with your family and friends!  

CPS 245

Hello friends!  It's been a while!  I didn't really plan to take a blog break, but sometimes life just gets in the way of creativity.  I'm hoping that I can jump back in without hesitation because there are lots of fun things coming up in the next few weeks!

This week's CPS sketch is sponsored by Clearsnap.  Visit the CPS blog to see the great cards made by my design team mates!

Notes:

Clearsnap rollagraph, rollers, and ink

Gina K Pure Luxury card stock
Tim Holtz worn lipstick distress ink
Jillibean twine
SU heart punch
Kaiser Craft pearls

Winter Blues!

This week's Flower Soft challenge is "Winter Blues!"  Perfect timing to use this adorable Moments in Time Little Friends Christmas card topper, which is being retired!  Thankfully, it is available as a stamp also, which is not on the retirement list!  If you haven't made your Christmas cards yet and want a fast and easy way to make multiples, you should snatch these pre-colored card toppers right up!

I trimmed this topper down to fit a standard A2 card, then cut a notch in it with a circle die, and scored 1/4 inch in from the straight edges.  That gave a little room for the beautiful blue to peek from underneath a glittery snowflake and gingham bow embellishment.  Easy peasy and super cute!

Notes:
Moments in Time Little Friends Christmas card topper
Nestabilities classic circle die
Polar White Flower Soft
PVA glue
gingham ribbon
MS snowflake punch
glitter
blue button

Visit the Flower Soft blog for links to the challenge designs by the rest of the team!

GRS Design Team Challenge

Our Gourmet Rubber Stamps team was given an inspirational color  challenge!  Just look at this beautiful Fall image!  I was drawn to the soft turquoise blue hues and the speckling of the leaves.

I started with kraft card stock spritzed with Tsukineko's Summer Sky Fireworks, then added two prints from Authentique's Gathering designer paper.  The Big Thank You sentiment was stamped on a tag cut from the flip side of the dotted print.  I colored and shaded the letters with Copic markers, keeping the colors soft.  To embellish, I added a layered bow of satin, twine, flowers and jeweled pins, along with matching pearls and swirls.  The pearly Fireworks makes it so pretty IRL, very hard to catch in a photo!

This layout was inspired by CAS Fall-to-Layout #166.

Be sure to visit the GRS blog!  There are peeks there, and links too, of all of my design team mates' challenge creations.  Now's a great time to shop...it's Black November!  Everything (except Diner’s Club stamps sets) is marked down 25%!

Notes:
Lizzie Anne's Big Thank You from Gourmet Rubber Stamps
Authentique's Gathering designer paper

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Tim Holtz tea dye distress ink

Tsukineko Summer Sky Fireworks

Copic markers

Kaiser Craft pearls

Zva small taupe pearl flourish

two-tone satin ribbon

natural twine thread

Kaiser Craft flower

antique stick pins

ihp Design Team Challenge!

It's time for this month's i {heart} papers design team challenge.  With the close of 2011 in sight and a brand new year on the horizon, we're spotlighting some cute calendar stickers provided by SRM Press.

I recently started teaching coloring classes, and for the past several months I've been stashing receipts wherever they happen to land.  The need to be more organized inspired this project, which will also provide safe-keeping for seasonal class ideas, marker color choices, etc.  Isn't it more fun when the ho-hum everyday things can become more colorful and sparkly?!

I will be adding an envelope to the ring for each month of the year and hanging the ring in a prominent spot so that it is easily accessible, probably on the handle of one of my Copic crates!  I'll be able to see at a glance when my classes are scheduled and how long I have before the prep-work needs to be finalized.  Receipts for supplies will go straight into the appropriate envelope instead of getting lost amongst the rest of the paper scraps in my studio!

The closure that I used is a ready-made twist closure that I purchased from Michael's...it barely lasted long enough to take this photo, so from now on I'll be using some circle dies, eyelets or brads, and cute twine to make my own!

Notes:
Paper Smooches Swanky Snowdudes
Memento ink
Tim Holtz tea-dye distress ink
Copic markers
October Afternoon Holiday Style designer paper
Stickles
Inkssentials white opaque pen
White twinkle ribbon
Kaiser Craft rhinestones
white coin envelopes
twist closures
hinged metal ring

Visit the blogs of my design team mates to see how they've used SRM calendar stickers in their projects!

• Carolyn
• Gretchen
• Kendra
• Loretta
• Lori
• Lynn
• Tracy
• Kate