It's a Banner Day!~

Here's a few samples showcasing the brand new set from The {Stamps} of Life called

banners4all

you can check out more DT samples here:
banners4all gallery

It's a super fun set chock full of fun banner images and wonderful sentiments for use within the banners or so very useful in many other ways, too~ Good thinking, Stephanie!

Stamps: banners4all; Ink: Rose, Celery, Blue, Yellow, Brown; Paper: Kraft, Ivory, Rose, Celery, Blue, Yellow; Other: Threading Waters punch, Ribbon, Staples, Hemp, Mini brads, Dimensional foam

Stamps: banners4all, boxes4abc ; Ink; Memento Cantaloupe, Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa, Paper: Kraft; Patterned paper by Basic Grey; Other: Ribbon, Sewing machine, Buttons, Twine, Dimensional foam

Stamps: Banners4all; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Real Red, Baja Breeze; Paper: Neenah White; Patterned Paper: BoBunny; Other: Striped ribbon, Button, Wax thread, Wide grosgrain, Dauber, Dimensional foam

Stamps:banners4all; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Vivid! Lime, Orange, Yellow; Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU! Tango Tangerine; Patterned Paper by BoBunny; Other: Circle punches, Threading Waters punch, Gingham ribbon, Grosgrain ribbon, Mini brads, Foam dots

Here's to a fabulous weekend! We are in birthday party mode, Morgan just turned 17 and Kyle will be 25 on Sunday, so we're having a taco bar party tomorrow afternoon with family to celebrate, yum!

V.~

Let US Eat Cake!~

Today while walking the aisles at Target and browsing the birthday cards I *almost, almost* bought one for a special birthday tomorrow. But, I still can't do it, although I have to admit those talking cards are pretty funny! (but pricey!) Brett picked out a funny card for her, but I came home and put this together quickly before the birthday girl gets home from a tournament.

I altered a Unity Stamp Company sentiment and substituted a Cuttlebug Red Tag Alpha "US" where it formally said "them." Bold colors, October Afternoon patterned papers, and a big ole button atop wide ribbon make this a pretty striking card for a 17 year old.

Finished card is 4.5" x 6.25"

Now to clean the evidence left behind!

V.~

Supplies:
Stamps: Sentiments O Simple by Unity Stamp Co.
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Gina K Pure Luxury Ivory (base weight and layering weight), Black Onyx , SU! Riding Hood Red
Patterned Paper: Road Trip by October Afternoon - Blue and White Motel
Other: Nestabilities Labels 8 dies, Chipboard, Red Tag Alpha, Wide Striped ribbon, Big red button, Burlap twine, Ivory brads, Sanding block, Dimensional foam

Flowers for You~

One of my best stamping friends has a very, very heavy heart right now because the "Superwoman" in her life passed away. While I can't be there physically for her, I can let her know I am thinking of her by sending her a card.

Layout loosely based on this card: Tuesday
Thanks, Deb~

V.~

Supplies:
Stamps: Flowers for You and Nature's Notes by Our Craft Lounge
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Vivid! Cobblestone
Paper: GKD Pure Ivory, Smoky Slate, SU! Rich Razzleberry
Patterned Paper: BoBunny
Other: Copics, Silver mini brads, Nestabilities Circle Dies, Corner rounder

GKD's Quite the Catch Preview ~

Here's a few samples I made using GKD's April Card Kit "Quite the Catch" -
It can be a fun alternative to stamp line images in colored ink, instead of black or brown ink and coloring the images in with a coloring medium. Colored ink stamping is the technique I choose to do with the four cards I am showing tonight. All cards in this set share a few common elements which are what unite them and make them a fun little set of 3-1/2" x 5" cards.

Supplies:
Paper: Gina K Designs Pure Luxury: Ivory, Turquoise Gem, Soft Sand, Rocket Red and Fresh Asparagus, Sweet Corn
Ink: Vivid! Aqua, Brick Red, Coffee Bean, Olive, Wild Lime
Other: Nestabilities Circle and Oval Dies, Cuttlebug Tiny Bubbles Embossing Folder, Jute Twine, Buttons, Linen Thread, Ribbon, Dimensional foam

Designers Participating in tonight's previews:

• Theresa Momber - Gone Fishing illustrator
• Jessica Fick - Quite the Catch card kit designer
• Gina Krupsky
• Cathy Tidwell
• Donna Baker
• Emily Giovanni
• Erika Martin
• Kurtis Amundson
• Lee Murphy
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Bev Gerard
• Colleen Schaan
• Suzanne Dean
• Sankari Wegman
• Valerie Stangle
• Nina Brackett
  
• Geri Utterback - our Center Stage Spotlight Designer!

And a quickie box, made with the Scor-Pal, to hold them!
(wishes the embossing folder was big enough to emboss the blue strip!)


The Release Party is this Thursday, April 22 on StampTV. There will be challenges, contest questions, chatter, as well as tons of samples from the Design Team members from 7-10 (central time) all leading to the new products being available in GinaK's online store at 10pm. We'd love to have you join us for our monthly party!

V.~

Gifts of the Sea preview~

When I saw this set by Melanie I just had to have it - it completely speaks to me!
Here are a few samples made with her beautiful set.

A few card details:

• Tall card: sand dollar image has peek a boo spots trimmed carefully with a craft knife to add a bit of dimension and reveal another stamped sand dollar beneath.
  
• Card on right: seashell images were stamped in bleach on tan leather cardstock. Tan leather imitates the sand, Turquoise Gem strip emulates the water, and sea birds flying frame the sentiment panel.
• Small card: 3 stitches of linen thread combined with a smidgen of jute ribbon peeking out and cut out shell shapes create loads of interest on such a small card.
  

Stamps: Gifts of the Sea
Ink: Vivid! Coffee Bean, Tuscan Tan, Aqua
Paper: Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Ivory, Tan Leather, Turquoise Gem
Other: Corner rounder, Nestabilities Circle Die, Craft knife, Bleach, Linen thread, Jute Ribbon, Jumbo Dauber, Distressing tool

Shop here on Thursday: Gina K Designs for Melanie's new set and the absolutely gorgeous new Turquoise Gem cardstock.

Designers Participating in previewing tonight:

• Melanie Muenchinger - Gifts from the Sea illustrator
• Tami Mayberry - Oh Boy! illustrator
• Gina Krupsky
• Jessica Fick
• Carolyn King
• Cathy Tidwell
• Donna Baker
• Emily Giovanni
• Erika Martin
• Kurtis Amundson
• Lee Murphy
• Lynn Mercurio
• Nina Brackett
• Theresa Momber
• Valerie Stangle
  
• Geri Utterback Center Stage Spotlight Designer!

The Release Party is this Thursday, April 22 on StampTV. There will be challenges, contest questions, chatter, as well as tons of samples from the Design Team members from 7-10 (central time) all leading to the new products being available in GinaK's online store at 10pm. We'd love to have you join us for our monthly party!

V.~

Triangle Boxes ~

Metric Triangle Boxes

Imperial (inches) Triangle Boxes

More fun boxes made with the Scor-pal. Tutorial coming soon in a Scor-Pal ezine.

It's been rather quiet here on the blog as I've been working on Scor-Pal projects/ tutorials for Diana.

Tune in later this evening for a Gina K Designs Blog Hop preview: 10 pm cst. I love the set!

Boxes, upgraded~

I added some of those great butterflies from OCL's Nature's Notes to the boxes I created the other day. They sure jazz them up!

I just love that butterfly! Available at eclectic paperie and many other retailers.

V.~

Supplies: Vivid! Coffee Bean ink, DCWV Linen Closet papers, Nestabilities dies, Detail scissors, Dimensional foam

Nature's Thanks

An early morning sketch challenge before starting my day!
SCS Sketch Challenge for 4/7/2010


1. Gorgeous papers from DCWV Mariposa Stack create the blocked base layer.
A bit of embossed and sanded Scor-Pal lines at the bottom help make a visual weight to even out the top portion of the card.
2. Circle focal point instead of square with paper pieced butterflies from Our Craft Lounge's Nature's Notes set. Second set of top wing is stamped again and adhere to image for a bit of depth. A tinge of Coffee Bean Sparkly Fluff is added to the butterfly bodies.
Edges of circle, butterflies, and all paper are daubered with sand ink.
Circle is popped up on dimensional foam to a barely visible blue scalloped layer before popping, yet again, to a chocolate circle.
3. Sheer ivory ribbon tied around card.
4. Thank you stamped onto lower right with coffee bean ink.

Have a beautiful day!
V.~

Supplies
Stamp: Nature's Notes and Growing Gratitude by Our Craft Lounge
Ink: Vivid! Coffee Bean, Memento Desert Sand
Paper: GK Ivory, Chocolate Kiss, SU! Not Quite Navy
Patterned Paper: Mariposa Stack by DCWV
Other: Nestabilities Circle and Scalloped Circle Dies, Scor-Pal, Sheer ribbon, Coffee Bean Sparkly Fluff, Dimensional foam

Spring Hello~

Are you here to stay? Spring's been playing a game of hide and seek the past week, tempting us one day, rain and cold the next......

Quick card this morning combining 2 different challenges:

The color challenge over at SCS : Certainly Tempting Suede
and
The Our Craft Lounge Design Team sketch of the week.

1. Flower image is stamped twice onto ocean card stock with suede ink, cut out, a bit of turquoise sponging around the edges gives it a bit of additional color and popped up with dimensional foam.
2. Stem was stamped in celery onto white oval. Leaves were stamped with celery ink onto celery card stock, cut out, sponged with celery ink, and popped up with dimensional foam. Second design thought: should have stamped the leaves in suede onto celery, so that may happen after I get back from a later than usual Riley walk. An easy fix! FIXED!
   
3. Scraps of Linen Closet papers, still out from yesterday's box project were perfect for this challenge, were cut into rectangular shapes.
4. Turquoise bow added to balance out the left side due to the lower right oval sentiment.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!
V.~

Supply List:
Stamps: Our Craft Lounge Spring Sketches, available at eclectic paperie and other fine retailers
Ink: SU! Soft Suede, Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise
Paper: GK White, Ocean Mist, SU! Celery, Turquoise
Patterned Paper: Linen Closet by DCWV
Other: Nestabilities Oval and Scalloped Oval dies, Oval punch, Turquoise grosgrain, Dimensional foam

Making Pretty Boxes~

Scor-Pal + DCWV Linen Closet = Pretty boxes to hold cards or other items!
Smallest box holds 3" x 3" cards/envies, middle holds 4.25" x 4.25 cards/envies and largest 5.25" x 5.25" cards/envies.

Tutorial coming soon, right now it's scraps of paper thrown about my counter.

V.~

2more~

from this month's The {Stamps} of Life release, happy2beCircles set.

V.~

Supplies:
happy birthday
Stamps: happy2beCircles Clear Stamp Set
Ink: Vivid! Coffee Bean
Paper: Neenah Solar White, Soft Sky, Marigold
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Other: Nestabilities Circle dies, Fiskars Threading Waters punch, Chocolate grosgrain ribbon, Dimensional foam

happy day
Stamps: happy2beCircles Clear Stamp Set
Ink: Vivid! Coffee Bean, Brick
Paper: Neenah Solar White, Chocolate, Bermuda Bay
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Other: Nestabilities Circle and Scallop Circle dies, Prima flower, Large brown brad, Distressing tool, Dimensional foam

Happy 2B~

a Guest Designer for The {Stamps} 0f Life!

A little chit chat at CHA, a bit of emailing and I was asked, and accepted a position, on Stephanie's DT, joining a few of my friends:

Jennifer Buck,
Jeanne Streiff,
Deb Felts,
Beverly Sizemore,
Vicki Garrett,
Joana Studer,
Laura Williams

This month's release is called happy2bCircles and is full of fun circle images and sentiments~
You can view the gallery over at The {Stamps} of Life site by clicking here:

happy2beCircles

Thanks so much for extending an invitation my way!

V.~

Supplies:
happy happy happy card:
Stamps: happy2bCircles by The {Stamps} of Life
Ink: top card: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Mambo Melon
Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU! Mambo Melon, Basic Black
Other: Circle dies and punches, B/W gingham ribbon, Dimensional foam
happy everything card:
Stamps: happy2bCircles by The {Stamps} of Life
Ink: SU! Bermuda Bay, Tango Tangerine
Paper: Neenah Solar White
Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny
Other: Circle dies and punches, Tim Holtz Design Ruler, Piercing tool, Distressing tool, Sanding block, Dimensional foam