GKD Nesting and The Giving Tree Previews~

A few more previews showcasing The Giving Tree by Theresa Momber for Gina K Designs

Stamps: The Giving Tree by Theresa Momber, Block Greetings by Tami Mayberry for Gina K Designs
Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia, White pigment
Paper: Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Soft Sand, Lovely Lavender, Ocean Mist, Creme de Menthe
Other: Cuttlebug Textile, Snowflakes, D'Vine Swirl embossing folders, chocolate, white and green ribbons, Corner rounder
Finished cards are 3-1/2" x 5"

And Nesting by Asela Hopkins for Gina K Designs

Stamps: Nesting by Asela Hopkins, Block Greetings by Tami Mayberry and The
Giving Tree by Theresa Momber for Gina K Designs
Ink: Vivid! Coffee Bean, Memento Desert Sand
Paper: Gina K Pure Luxury Ivory, Chocolate Kiss, Fresh Asparagus
Patterned paper by DCWV
Other: Brown mini brads, Brown transparent button, Thread, Prismacolor pencils, Glossy Accents (eyes and eggs), Grosgrain ribbon, Dimensional foam
Finished cards are 3-3/4" x 5-1/2"

Please visit the blogs below for more examples of the sets previewing tonight:

• AJ Otto
• Asela Hopkins
• Carolina Buchting
• Cathy Tidwell
• Colleen Schaan
• Emily Giovanni
• Gina K
• Giovana Smith
• Janice Whiting
• Jennie Harper
• Lee Murphy
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Michelle Woerner
• Theresa Momber
• Tina Gilliland
• Valerie Stangle
• Vicki Dutcher

Please join the festivities on release night, December 2nd at 7 - 10 pm CST in the Release Party Forum at StampTV!

Gina will be randomly selecting 4 winners from all the comments left on all the designer's blogs - check Gina's blog for all the details!

V.~

GKD Block Greetings Preview

Stamps: Block Greetings by Tami Mayberry for Gina K Designs
Ink: Vivid! Coffee Bean
Paper: Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Ivory, Chocolate Kiss, Little Boy Blue
Other: Cuttlebug Stylized Flowers folder, Nestabilities Scalloped Square, Square, Scalloped Oval and Oval dies, Chocolate Grosgrain ribbon, Distressing tool, Corner rounders, Dimensional foam
Card is 5" x 5"

Stamps: Block Greetings by Tami Mayberry for Gina K Designs
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Vivid! Brick
Paper: Gina K Designs Pure White, Black Onyx, Rocket Red
Other: Scor Buddy (embossed lines on white layer), Nestabilities Scalloped Square and Oval dies, Corner rounders, Gingham Check ribbon, Dimensional foam
Card is 3-3/4" x 5'1/2"

Please visit the blogs below for more examples of the sets previewing tonight:
Blocked Greetings and Mugs & Kisses

• AJ Otto
• Asela Hopkins
• Carolina Buchting
• Carolyn King
• Cathy Tidwell
• Colleen Schaan
• Deb Felts
• Donna Baker
• Emily Giovanni
• Gina K
• Giovana Smith
• Janice Whiting
• Jennie Harper
• Lee Murphy
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Michelle Woerner
• Tami Mayberry
• Theresa Momber
• Tina Gilliland
• Valerie Stangle
• Vicki Dutcher

Please join the festivities on release night, December 2nd at 7 - 10 pm CST in the Release Party Forum at StampTV!

V.~

p.s. A late note: Gina will be randomly selecting 4 winners from all the comments left on all the designer's blogs - check Gina's blog for all the details!

GKD Thankful for you Sale~

click here:
Gina K Designs

to go there!

Making Boxes~

Barb (from the comments on gift card box below) asked if there were directions for making the box. Not really, unless you count the scratch paper I wrote the configurations on as I was starting the project.

While there are tutorials and templates available on the Scor-Pal site for many items like card boxes, cupcake boxes, candy boxes, and such, I, for the most part, scribble down what I need and then begin the process.

One thing to consider when making a box, because its contents will vary, or the gift card size will vary, is that there isn't a one-size-fits-all template. But because they are so easy to configure all you need to know is this:

For the main box:
1. Determine from what you want to put inside, how big you want your finished box to be. For example, the gift card enclosure was 4-1/2" x 2-1/2" . I wanted a 1/4" clearance around all the sides, so I knew the finished box size needed to be 5" x 3" (4-1/2+1/4+1/4 and 2-1/2+1/4+1/4).

2. Next, determine how tall you want your box to be and add this to your finished size. For the gift card box, it just needed to be a shallow 1". So, to determine how big to cut the paper for the box form all you do is take the finished dimensions and add your side dimensions. The gift box starting paper size becomes 7" x 5" (5+1+1 and 3+1+1).

3. Score whatever your side measurement is equally on all four sides. For the gift card box, I scored 1" on all sides. Create box flaps by cutting to where the score lines intersect, 2 cuts each on opposing sides, 4 cuts total. Pre-fold all scores, adhere flaps to inside to make the box form.

For lids:
1. Depending how tight you want the lid to fit, add 1/16th - 1/8th to the finished box dimensions. This lid is the same depth as the box, so I cut the paper to 7-1/16" x 5-1/16" and scored 1" around all sides.

If you want part of your box to show take that into consideration by adding whatever depth you would like the lid sides to be to the finished size. (for example, if I wanted part of the box to show on the gift card box, I might have made the lid sides 3/4" instead of 1").

Repeat the flap cutting procedure to make the lid. I added finger notches on 2 sides to make it easier to remove the lid because it's the same depth as the box.

Inserts:
1. If you want an insert, these are made by subtracting 1/16th - 1/8th (depending how snug you want it to fit) from the finished box dimensions. Determine how tall you want it to be and add that to your finished insert size. For example, the insert on this box was 4-15/16" x 2-15/16" with 1/2" sides. The paper size was 5-15/16" x 3-15/16" (4-15/16+.5+.5 and 2-15/16+.5+.5) , scored 1/2 on all sides, the corners nipped at an angle before pre-folding and inserting into the box.

I hope this helps you out, Barb, in making boxes using your Scor-Pal. Remember you can always visit

Scor-Pal Projects

for a complete listing of hundreds of tutorials!

V.~

20 minutes, about 25¢ in supplies.....and

a quick and easy gift card box is completed.

I ♥ my Scor-Pal! It makes making boxes so easy!

Brett's headed to a birthday party tomorrow morning and wanted to give the ever popular gift card to Game Stop. Instead of just using the enclosure it came with I decided to make a quick color coordinated monogrammed box in lieu of a card.

Supplies:
Stamps: JustRite
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Black Onyx, Rocket Red, Neenah White
Other: Scor-Pal, Scor-Tape, Glue Dots (to hold enclosure in the box) Circle dies, Circle punch, Dimensionals

Finished box is 5" x 3" with 1" sides.

V.~

Simply Thanks~

Jay's sister sent me a gift in the mail as she was unable to attend the surprise birthday dinner he threw for me at a local restaurant. This is the card I am sending to her in the mail today. Frilly is not her thing at all, nor overly embellished, so this CAS card I made this morning will be perfect.

A bit of creativity before my root canal this afternoon. :)

V.~

Supplies:
Stamps: Gina K Designs Seeds of Kindness and Lean on Me
Ink: Vivid! Coffee Bean, Memento Potter's Clay
Paper: GKD Pure Luxury Ivory, Chocolate Kiss
Patterned Paper: Pyrus by Basic Grey
Other: Linen thread, Circle punches, Dimensional foam

A New Opportunity~

See that new blog button over on the right side?
Today I am officially joining the Gina K Designs Design Team!
With the elimination of the Card Kit and its design team, Gina asked if I join her regular design team and I said yes! Her stamps, papers, et. al align perfectly with my style and I feel so privileged to be joining her great team.

As much as I wanted to have something new to share with you, I've had a tough several days with some pretty severe tooth pain and the medication I was taking took every speck of creativity out of me. By the time you read this, I will be at my dentist's office, hopefully getting the problem taken care of!

So instead of something new, I am sharing 2 cards from my archives, the first cards I made for the CKDT from December of last year.


I am looking forward to working with such a fabulous team of illustrators, designers, and friends!

Thanks, Gina, for this opportunity!

V.~

Layered Sorrow~

I've seen lots of layered Nestabilites shapes recently and thought I'd try it - oval, label and circle dies are used on this sympathy card that I will be sending out to a friend. It's hard to see in the picture, but the chocolate circle is embossed with the Cuttlebug Textile embossing folder.

Colors of chocolate, artichoke and blush were pulled from the patterned paper (Basic Grey Capella). The image and sentiment are from 2 Gina K. Designs sets:
Botanicals and Spring Florals
A bit of marker spatter and edge sponging on the image panel, sewn on buttons and a taffeta ribbon bow complete the card.

V.~

Brewing.....

In between major scoring projects today I created these cups filled with yummy treats to give to a couple friends who are coming over tomorrow to start brewing ideas for our holiday cards.

Tutorial for this cup may be found on the newest Scor-Pal E-Zine:

November 2010 E-Zine

Supplies:
Stamps: sentiment from Heartily Yours by Nina Bracket for Gina K Designs
Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia
Paper: Basic Grey Pyrus
Other: Tag punch, Linen thread, Piercing ruler, Butterfly punch, GKD buttons, Grosgrain ribbon, Cello bags, Candy

I know it's been a while since I've posted but I have been working like a busy bee creating new samples for Winter CHA. It will be here before we know it!

V.~