Peas Love Happiness~

for your birthday and everyday~

Oh how happy I am that Kim Hughes is back in the stamp illustrating biz!  I was filled with joy when I opened up a padded envelope the other day and found her Paper Smooches Vegtastic stamp set inside.  

This fun set is available March 1st.

I was finally able to play with it today and made this card for Morgan to give to one her best friend's for her birthday.  If you look carefully, the eggplant is a "1" and the peas an "8".....okay it's a stretch, but Mikayla is 18 and I wanted to try and insert that somehow in her card, so for me, it totally works. :)

Kim's whimsical designs have always been fun to paper piece and that is what I did here using solid cardstock colors.  A bit of black gingham ribbon and BoBunny dots paper compliment the colorful images and allow them to pop off the card.

You can find Kim's fantastic new home on the web here:

Paper Smooches

 Visit, you'll be glad you did!

Supplies:

Stamps: Vegtastic by Paper Smooches

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Vivid! Brick, Memento Desert Sand

Paper: SU! Baja Breeze, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Kiwi Kiss; Gina K Designs Vibrant Violet, Ivory

Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny Dot Ocean

Other: Black/White gingham check ribbon, Spiral punch, Distressing tool, Corner rounder, Dauber, Dimensionals

V.~ 

Nina's Thank You~

While not stamped in the expected genre for this stamp set, I love how this card turned out.

No one says you have to stamp the image fully in the center of the card, so I allowed part of it run off the card.  I added a popped up sentiment, a bit of Stickles sparkle, marker spatter and ink distressing to give this a rustic feel.

Because the image is so big, it needed a bit of weight at the bottom of the card; a small embossed smokey strip grounds the card.  A bow of satin ribbon and a heart charm contradict and compliment the distressed feel, unexpected in a good way.

 This card is off to a foreign country.....the longest journey any card of mine has ever made.  :)

Supplies:

Stamps: GKD Christ has Risen by Nina Brackett

Ink: Vivid! Cobblestone and Tuscan Tan

Paper: GKDPL Soft Sand, Smokey Slate and Ivory

Other: Nestabilities Labels 14, Cuttlebug Textile embossing folder, Memento London Fog marker

Dauber, Spatter tool, Satin ivory ribbon, Heart charm, Picture hanger, Corner rounder, Dimensional foam

Enjoy your weekend!

V.~

GKD Framed Greetings Preview

Today is the final day of preview week for Gina K Designs and I'm showcasing the Free with Three set, Framed Greetings.  As it implies, this set is free with qualifying purchases,
check the GinaK Designs site for all the details!

 I've stamped it on GKPL Ocean Mist with Versafine Onyx Black.  After stamping, I quickly added clear embossing powder and heat embossed before I colored the image with Prismacolor colored pencils.  This set has a coordinated Nestabilities die that I do not own, so I merely trimmed it with detail scissors and gave it a quick distress.  A black circle beneath mimics the circle of the focal image.

An embossed layer, gingham ribbon, popped up butterfly and glossy flowers complete the card.

Be sure to check the other designer's previewing today and don't forget to leave a comment to be eligible to win free stamps!:

• AJ Otto
• Carolyn King
• Cathy Tidwell
• Deb Felts
• Donna Baker
• Emily Giovanni
• Gina K
• Giovana Smith
• Janice Whiting
• Jennie Harper
• Lee Murphy
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Michelle Woerner
• Suzanne Dean
• Theresa Momber
• Tina Gilliland
• Valerie Stangle
• Vicki Dutcher

Be sure to join the fun tonight at StampTV for all the Release Party Festivities!

 Supplies:

Stamps: GKD Framed Greetings

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black

Paper: GKD Pure Luxury Ocean Mist, Onyx Black, Green Apple

Other: Prismacolor pencils, Cuttlebug Textile embossing folder, 5/8" Black Gingham,

Glossy Accents, Dimensional foam

V.~

Spellbinders Nestabilities™ Basics & Beyond Blog Tour

Welcome to day 3 of the Spellbinders™ Nestabilities® Basics & Beyond Blog Tour!

If you haven't head about this book yet, it's filled with fabulous ideas, great techniques and tutorials to show you many of the tricks to getting the most out of your Nestabilities dies!

If you are a follower of my blog, you'll observe I use Nestabilities in many of my projects!
Although I'd like to note I am seriously behind on many of the dies that have been released! 

  I'd like to show you the sweet ensemble starting on page 29 by Mary Snyder

Such a Sweet Surprise!

I'd like to share my projects made for a pre-teen/teenager - a gift bag with an clear window to see inside and a coordinated shaped card.

The circle was easy to die cut from the bag using 3-1/4" circle die.  Insert the die inside the bag, making sure that the gusset from the side is excluded.  Then a quick run through the Grand Calibur which accommodates the larger size of a white lunch bag and it's time to decorate.  After stamping the bag, insert a transparency to the inside and a black frame to the outside.  The frame is created by following the Making Frames directions on page 6 of the book;  I used the 3-1/4" die with the 3-3/4" die to create the black ring.  A bit of shred and a black ribbon complete the bag.

The shaped card mirrors the circles of the stamped image and the window on the bag.  Following the instructions on page 5 for making a shaped card make creating a circular card easy!  A bit of stamping on the base, a stamped focal image and sentiment flag complete the card.

If you'd like to visit day 1 and 2 of the tour, please visit these blogs!

AJ Otto

Michelle Woerner

Tami Mayberry

If you love using Nestabilities already, or this is your first exposure to them, this book is a great addition to your crafting library!

To purchase a copy of this book, Visit Annie's Attic. 
Also- be a fan! Like Annie's Attic on Facebook

V.~

Stamps on the teen project are from Live Life Loud by Tami Mayberry for Gina K Designs

GKD Spring Flowers and Basket Blessings Preview Hop~

These 2 sets work beautifully alone or with each other, colored or paper-pieced, they are sure to evoke a smile.
Would you like to win one of these fun sets?Here's what to do- Visit each of the blogs listed below and leave a comment.  The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have of winning!
Tomorrow, Gina will announce 4 randomly chosen winners who will each win one of these fabulous new stamp sets!

• Carolina Buchting
• Carolyn King
• Cathy Tidwell
• Deb Felts
• Donna Baker
• Emily Giovanni
• Gina K
• Giovana Smith
• Janice Whiting
• Jennie Harper
• Lee Murphy
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Nina Brackett
• Theresa Momber
• Tina Gilliland
• Valerie Stangle
• Vicki Dutcher

 Be sure to join the fun on Thursday, the 17th, at StampTV for all the Release Party Festivities!

Supplies:

Stamps: Gina K Designs Spring Basket and Basket Blessings by Melanie Muenchinger 
sentiment on card from this month's Free with 3 - Framed Greetings

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa (Spring Flowers set), Versafine Onyx Black (Basket Blessings)

Paper: Gina K Designs Pure Luxury White, Green Grass, Sweet Mango, Sweet Corn, Creme de Menthe

Patterned Paper: Sweet Threads by Basic Grey, Dots by BoBunny

Other: Nestabilities Circle and Petite Scallop Circle dies, Pink  ribbon, Copic Markers, Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder, GKD Creme de Menthe Stitched ribbon, Cuttlebug Tiny Tags die, Distressing tool, Safety pin, Dimensional foam

Happy Hoppin'!
V.~

Stitched Hearts~

 

Jay went out fishing this morning and I could finally finish his Valentine's Day card and matching gift box which I stealthy started last night when he was watching tv...

He's not a fancy, complicated guy so I like to keep his cards simple with just the right amount of added touches - here just a bit of stitching and simple black brads as accents.  The hearts are punched from Basic Grey Wander patterned paper and stitched to GKD Pure Luxury Ivory cardstock, a bit of subtle daubing around the edges along with some distressing before mounting onto GKD Lipstick Red cardstock finish out the card.

The box was again, whipped up using the Scor-Pal  and is 3" x 3" when finished.

It uses the same supplies but adds a bit of black and creme grosgrain ribbon to tie it off.  Inside the box? Well, of course, I can't tell you that! :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

V.~

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Desert Sand

Heart punch and sentiment by SU!

Valentine Nugget Treats

Looking to make an easy last minute, inexpensive, Valentine gift for a friend or co-worker?  I whipped both of these out last night pretty quickly.....and will make a few more this morning. :)

I know that there are lots of nugget treat boxes out there but for me a quick measurement and my Scor-Pal and I was done before I knew it.  Finished box measures 5" x 1-1/2" x 5/8" and holds 5 paper wrapped nugget treats.  I made my box double walled but many like to make these boxes single walled, so I've given quick directions for that below.  After making the box, I wrapped a transparency sheet around the box to allow the yummy goodness to show.  Tied off with a ribbon/bow and tag and you're set!

The nugget mailbox I saw somewhere, I can't remember where, but this is my adaptation from what I remember.  Two stacked nuggets wrapped in patterned paper with a mailbox flag.  I made my flag using the SU! Word Window punch and itty bitty Nestabilitie rectangle and scalloped rectangle dies.

The Word Window punch is sandwiched between 2 of the completed die flags, add a button, a bow and a punch heart and this cute little treat is finished.

Quick directions for a single walled box:

Use sturdy cardstock, I prefer Gina K Designs cardstock for boxes as it so thick.

Starting paper size: 2-3/4" x 6-1/4"

Score 5/8" on all sides

Make 4 cuts to where the score lines intersect (2 cuts each on opposing sides)

Pre-fold all scores

Attach Scor-Tape to flaps 

Remove liners and adhere flaps to inside box sides to create box form

Nugget wraps are 1-1/8" x 3-1/2" and are wrapped around nuggets, secured with Scor-Tape on the bottom. 

Transparency is 5" x 5" and is wrapped tightly around the box and adhered with Scor-Tape to itself so that it slides off the box easily.

Stamps are from the Banners4all set by The {Stamps} of Life

Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia

Paper: GKD Bubblegum Pink, Chocolate Brown

Patterned Paper: Sweet Threads by Basic Grey

Other: Scor-Pal, Scor-Tape, Nestabilities Circle and Scalloped Circle dies, Wide striped grosgrain, Pink/brown ribbon, Thread, Transparency sheet, Heart punch, Word Window punch, button

Happy Friday!

V.~

It's a Virtual Birthday Party for Gina K!

YOU are invited to a Virtual Birthday Party for Gina K! Each blog features some part of the birthday experience. Hop around to see the amazingly creative projects the team created to honor Gina on her special day!


When: TODAY!
Where: On the design team's blogs!
Why: To wish Gina K a Happy Birthday. After you are finished hopping along, don't forget to head on over to Gina's Blog and wish her a Happy Birthday. TWO lucky commenters will receive a party favor---a FREE stamp set!

Happy Hopping!!!

Here is my birthday card and guest of honor chair for Gina!
I used the color and sketch challenges from STV and the chair is from a tutorial I created that may be found here: Wedding Chair Box

Next, stop by Suzanne's blog for some tasty hors de ovres!

Scrap Bitz by Suzanne Dean

Happy Birthday, Gina!

V.~

Supplies:
All GKD Stamps: Dream Birds by Asela Hopkins
Wishes and Dreams by Alicia Krupsky
Lovely Shelf by Nina Brackett
The Giving Tree by Theresa Momber
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: GK Pure Luxury Sweet Mango, Bubblegum pink, Black Onyx,White
Patterned Paper: Jillibean
Other: GKD ribbon, Scor-Pal, Nestabilities Circle and Petite Scallop Circle dies, Cuttlebug tag die, White mini brads, Copic markers, Corner rounder, Dimensional foam

CHA samples~

Here are a few of the samples I created for the Scor-Pal booth at Winter CHA in Los Angeles....it was a busy month or so behind the scenes!

Graphic 45 envelope display box

Graphic 45 Square Envelobox display

Graphic 45 Square Envelope display

Die Cuts with a View Triangle Boxes
Stamps by The Stamps of Life

Die Cuts with a View Cardfolio and matching cards
Stamps by Gina K Designs

Die Cuts with a View Get Well Trio - Tea Bag holder, Coffee Cup and Tissue Box Cover

Stamps by JustRite Stampers

BoBunny Trio: Cupcake Box , Pizza Box Stack and and an It's a Wrap Box
Stamps by Unity Stamp Co and Paper Trey Ink

Basic Grey Trio: Notecard Box, Post-It holder and Accordion File
Stamps by Tim Holtz Visual Artistry Collection and Unity Stamp Co.

Pretty soon it will be almost time to start on samples for July!
Many of these projects are available on the Scor-Pal website.

Scor-Pal Projects Listing

Many thanks to the paper companies listed above who donated patterned paper for the projects!

This afternoon we find out if Morgan gets her foot cast off, crossing all digits she does! For her and for me, her chauffeur right now :).

V.~