{stampin' gal val}

Love Struck~

2012-02-06T13:54:00.000-08:00

Today I made a couple of Valentine treat boxes for my kids, done a bit early as on Valentine's Day I will be recouping in the hospital following removal of my gallbladder. It's been a pesky thing I have been dealing with since September and op day is finally happening on the 13th.

No stamping at all was done to make these boxes, it is all done with We R Memory Keepers Love Struck patterned paper, GKD cardstock, eyelets, dies, ribbon and the Scor-Pal.

Finished boxes are 4.5"T x 2.5"W x 2.5"D

To make the boxes:

Trim patterned paper to 6" x 10.5"
Placing the 10.5" side to the top, left side of the Scor-Pal, score at 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10
Rotate and align the 6" side at the top (ensure directionality- this will be the box bottom - if paper has a specific pattern) and score at 1.5"
Cut to where the score lines intersect on bottom. Trim off small rectangle that is leftover.
Pre-fold all scores. Add Scor-Tape to small 1/2" flap and create box form by adhering to inside.
Fold bottom flaps over each other, add Scor-Tape to final flap and secure.

For the lid:

Trim coordinating paper to 5-1/16th x 5-1/16th
Score 1.25 on each side
Cut to where score lines intersect, 2 cuts on opposing sides, 4 cuts total
Find center of lid, punch hole, add eyelet.
Pre-fold all scores, add Scor-Tape to each flap and adhere to create lid form.

Fill box with your favorite Valentine treat.

Cut a length of ribbon that will wrap the box and tie a bow; wrap ribbon around base and up sides, thread through the lid via the underside, gently snug lid in place, tie ribbon.

Embellish box front as desired.

This past weekend we spent a couple days in Tucson, Arizona. We went there to see a very good friend's change of command ceremony on Friday and played tourist on Saturday before heading home.

We are so proud of our friend in his new role! And we thoroughly enjoyed our mini vacation!

We drove the Cactus Loop Trail in the Saguaro National Park East in the morning before heading to Old Tucson to spend the rest of our time before driving back home.

Thanks for visiting!

V.~

Hugs & Kisses~

2012-01-31T07:51:00.000-08:00

Sunday I got to spend a record, shortest that is, time at Winter CHA in Anaheim. This is the second CHA I have had to sit out as part of the Scor-Pal team (shoulder issues make it too hard to demonstrate). However, yesterday I was heading up to meet a slew of some of my favorite people for dinner and decided if I was driving an hour plus for dinner, then maybe, just maybe, I could get into the show for a couple of hours. Well, 3-1/2 hours to be exact, so it was a bit of a speed race through, but fun none the less. I was able to see many friends from the industry and some new product lines, tools, paper and such. I only took a few pics with friends and none of product and now I can barely remember what I saw. Oh well! :)

I did learn an important lesson, I should have just tucked a few things in my pockets and left my purse at home. My arms/shoulders were not feeling so great by the time I got home.

Anyway, I came home feeling inspired (somewhat rested and ibuprofend up for Monday) and knew my Mom was having her painting friends over for lunch and critique on Wednesday. In the past I have made her little treat items to put at each place setting and know they she and her friends enjoy them. These started out in a much simpler direction and sort of ended up here - lots of die cuts and extra doodads!

How the bags were made:

2.5" x 4" Kraft bags are flat with a very small flap top and are stamped with hearts from Wplus9's Heartfelt Mix in white pigment ink. Bags were purchased at Michaels.
In lieu of a doily (which I am out of), I die cut a regular paper napkin and separated the layers. A bit of edge sponging and they fold over the top of the bag.
Brown organdy ribbon just lays over the top, cascading down front and back.
Medallion was made by Nestabilities Circle and Petite Scallop Circle and decorated with Wplus9's envelope and heart dies, the cancellation stamp, month and numbers are from Postmarked.
Sentiment tag was stamped with a sentiment from a long ago retired SU! set, All Year Cheer 1
Mini clothespins were painted bubblegum pink, dry brushed with a little white and tied with brown ribbon.
Tiny heart charm from my stash from long, long ago was tied to the ribbon using fishing line.

The only pictures from the day:

Melissa

Tina

Cindy

Jessica, Laurie, me, Cindy, and Tosh

Kim, me, Carole

Have a great day!
V.~

Sending you Love~

2012-01-20T17:05:00.000-08:00

And the final set of 10 for my friend's Valentine Card Campaign; a raspberry, black and white combo, simply delicious!

As much fun as this was, stamping 40 cards this week, I certainly learned my limitations as far as my frozen shoulder issues. I am still not quite there yet, while it doesn't hurt to actually stamp anymore, which is a huge improvement, I have suffered more pain in the following days than I have in a while. So I know that stamping a card or two a week is probably okay, but not 40!

Finished cards are 3.25" x 6.5"

V.~

Stamps: Heartfelt Mix and The Birds & The Bees by Wplus9

Ink: Tsunkineko Onyx Black and Vivid! Raspberry

Paper: SU! Melon Mambo, GKD Black Onyx, Neenah Solar White

Patterned paper: Bella! Wedding Tie the Knot

Other: Heart die from Hearts & Clouds by Wplus9, Nestabilities Circle Die, Fiskars trimmer scallop blade, Raspberry Satin ribbon, Corner rounder, Dimensional foam

Love always~

2012-01-18T07:25:00.000-08:00

And yesterday afternoon's 3rd set of 10, a little red, white and blue Valentine.

I worked and reworked the navy base several times until I remembered an old Scrapblock from the defunct Cornish Heritage Farms* that was a perfect compliment to the small grid stamp on the image panel. Distressed Grid was inked up in white craft ink and stamped on navy cardstock.

The sentiment and grid are from Wplus9's Sweet Nothings; the heart, white craft ink on red cardstock and cut with the coordinated die from Hearts and Clouds, is from Heartfelt Mix.

Finished card is 4.25" x 4.25"

V.~

Supplies not mentioned above:

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, Vivid! Inky Blue, SU! Craft White

Paper: Neenah Solar White, SKD Lipstick Red, SU! Night of Navy

Other: Black and white gingham ribbon, 1/8" hole punch, Navy eyelet (to tie ribbon thru), Corner rounder, Dimensional foam

*The original Cornish Heritage Farms went out of business a while ago, however, I've recently read that many of the images have been purchased and that there is a new CHF website that offers them in a digital format:

Cornish Heritage Farms

Showering Love~

2012-01-17T10:08:00.000-08:00

Second in the series of 10 card Valentine sets for the Valentine Card Campaign.

Finished cards are 3.75" x 5.5"

V.~

Stamps: The Birds & The Bees by Wplus9

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Vivid! Raspberry

Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU! Melon Mambo, GKD Black Onyx

Patterned Paper: DCWV Madly in Love Stack

Other: Cloud die by Wplus9, Scallop rotary blade, Corner rounder, Dimensional foam

Postmarked Love~

2012-01-16T13:08:00.000-08:00

I just discovered a new to me stamp company before the holidays

Wplus9 Design Studio

and had several of their items in my shopping cart for a week or so before I hit the send button.

This was my first major purchase in forever and it felt so good to play with new stamps today!

Well, I have to say I am impressed with the quality of their clear stamps, dies and their super fast shipping. I ordered on a recent Friday morning from here in SoCal and had the items in my mailbox on Monday, all the way from Florida! Impressive, yes indeed!

Heartfelt Mix, Postmarked and Love Notes Die were the products that I used to make 10 of these Valentine's cards for a friend who is collecting cards for a Valentine Card Campaign for the military.

I plan on making several more 10 card sets in different colors and layouts over the course of this week.

Cards are 4.25" x 4.25"

V.~

Supplies not listed above:

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Rhubarb Stalk, SU! Craft White

Paper: Gina K Designs Kraft, Lipstick Red and Pure White

Other: Corner rounder, Square punch (to make banner ends), Dimensional foam

You Rock!

2012-01-10T14:02:00.000-08:00

14. sigh.

It happened so fast, my youngest is turning 14 in a few days. He's having a few friends over on Friday night to celebrate with junk food, pizza and video games. In all likelihood it will be his last "friend" party as he is in his last year of middle school. Boys and high school parties just don't happen all that much around here. Now girls are another story.....

Anyway, I wanted to tie his card from us and his birthday invitation together, so I pulled the same images and added numbers and red as an additional color plus altered the layout a bit.

Finished card is 3-3/4" x 5-1/2"

The hardest part of this card? Coming up with a clever, non-roll your eyes, inside verse, that is appropriate for a teenager. Found one after a bit of googling. :)

V.~

Stamps: Live Life Loud by GKD, Collage Numbers (retired) by SU!

Ink: Memento London Fog, Tangelo, Bahama Blue, Versafine Onyx Black

Paper: SU! Going Grey (retired), Real Red, Neenah Solar White, GKD Black Onyx, Sweet Mango

Other: Distressing tool, Spatter tool, Black marker, Red mini brads, SU! Word Window and Designer Label punch (trimmed to leave just the top portion), Dimensional foam

Leaves, Anniversary and 14 year olds, Oh My!

2012-01-02T19:28:00.000-08:00

I added a set of notecards to my sister-in-law's Christmas present; she is a landscape architect and I thought these natural, rustic cards would be put to good use for friends or clients.

Finished size 3-3/8" x 4-7/8"

Stamps by Hero Arts

Ink: Vivid! Olive, Ranger Distress Vintage Photo

Paper: GKD Kraft and Vanilla

Other: Spatter tool and marker, Linen thread, Distressing tool, Dimensional foam

My parents were married the day after Christmas and this is the card I made for them this year, last year we had the big party, this year, a much simpler celebration of their 51 years together. Just the 2 of them. This has been a rough year for them with my mom's broken hip and continued recovery; they exemplify "in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad" and continue to be such an inspiration to me.

Finished size 4-1/2" x 6-1/4"

Stamps: retired sets by SU!

Ink: Vivid! Coffee Bean (discontinued)

Paper: GKD Pure Luxury Vanilla

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

Other: Heart punch (retired SU!), Brown taffeta ribbon, Raspberry button, Linen thread, Corner rounder, Dimensional foam

My youngest son is turning 14 shortly and agreed that I could make the invitations for his friend party - an at home party; make your own pizzas and video games with 6 friends, exactly what he loves to eat and do! The graphics of this set are perfect for that hard to stamp for teenage boy age. They are addressed and in his backpack, ready to hand out at school tomorrow.

Finished size 3-3/8" x 4-7/8"

Stamps: Live Life Loud by GKD, Really Retro (retired) by SU!

Ink: Memento London Fog, Tangelo, Bahama Blue, Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black

Paper: SU! Going Grey (retired), Neenah Solar White, GKD Black Onyx

Other: Spatter tool, Black marker, Staples

As I am currently just stamping for myself - gifts and such - and not doing design team work of any sort, I am questioning maintaining a blog......not sure where to take it at this point. So until I figure that all out, my posts will probably be similar to this, an assortment (not really related to each other) of the things I have been making.

Happy 2012 to you, may it be a year of good health, happiness and crafting!

V.~

And I thought I was done~

2011-12-20T22:20:00.000-08:00

However, Jay always takes a gift card to a local restaurant for the ladies in his office, as well as gift cards for the guys in his department. And I have been making the cards, boxes, etc. for years, so I had to ignore my last project until after the new year comment from down below and get these done today!

Box is 2-3/4" x 4" x1" and made using my Scor-Pal and has an insert like the one from this previous post from November 20, 2010.

Instructions to make any size box you'd like may be found here: Making Boxes November 21, 2010

Card is a traditional A2 size, 4.25" x 5.5"

Stamps: Jolly Ornaments by OCL, Holiday Wishes by PTI

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

Paper: Pre-made Robins' Eggs card base by Memory Box, GKD Lipstick Red, Ivory

Patterned paper: Echo Park

Other; Nestabilites Labels 10 and Ribbon Banners, Aqua Surf mini brads by StarlitStudio, last of my Riding Hood Red ribbon by SU!, Corner rounder, Dauber, Dimensional foam

No reinventing the wheel here, just a slightly different take on the layout down below. There are gift card sleeves inside that the gift cards slide into. Nice and compact, the guys don't ooh and ahh like the ladies do over the cute boxes, LOL!

Stamps: Many Merry Messages by SU!

Ink: Vivid! Brick, Memento Desert Sand

Paper: Kraft, Green Apple and Ivory by GKD

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

Other: Nestabilites Labels 10, Striped Grosgrain, Tim Holts Mini Clip, Vintage Gold mini brads, Dauber, Corner Rounder, Dimensional foam

Happiest of Holidays to you!

V.~

Christmas Fudge~

2011-12-18T22:01:00.000-08:00

Making Fantasy Fudge, 15 minutes.

Creating 5 presentation boxes and tags, just under 2 hours.

Boxes made using my Scor-Pal and measure 3.5" x 4.5" finished, with 1.25" sides.

This is the last of the crafting until after the new year.....I am paying for it a little bit and don't want to over do things and set myself back in getting better.

Happiest of Holidays and a Wonderful New Year to all!

Supplies:

Stamps: Holiday Wishes by Papertrey Ink, The Giving Tree by Gina K Designs

Ink: Ranger Distress Ink Vintage Photo, Vivid! Brick

Paper: Lipstick Red and Green Apple by GKD, Prefabricated tags from Joann's (trimmed down), Old Olive by SU!

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

Other: Aqua ribbon (Michaels), Green/white check ribbon, Linen thread, Red button, Antique brad, Snowflake punch (SU! retired), Circle punch (for finger notches on lids) , clothespin, White, Black and Orange craft paint, Glossy accents

V.~

This, That and the Other~

2011-12-15T10:33:00.000-08:00

A few of the things I've done in the past week~

Another card set, same flowers, different patterned papers, for Jay's Aunt Jane.

They were packaged up in a cello box and packed into a Priority Mail Box yesterday.

Stamps: Hero Arts

Paper: Gina K Designs Green Apple and Ivory, Pre-made cards by Memory Box,

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

Other: Nestabilities Labels 14, Memento Markers, Water bottle, Spritzer tool, Corner rounder, Distressing tool, Sanding block, Dauber, Linen thread, Dimensionals

Re-purposed old strands of unusable glass garland that my mother in law was discarding. I unstrung and kept the whole ones, mixed them all together and put them into a decorative glass jar with a bow and stamped tag attached.

I could tell by her reaction that she had an emotional attachment to them - turns out they hold 50 years of Christmas decorating memories in them, from her kids to mine. We gave them to her on Sunday so she could enjoy them this holiday season.

Stamps: Happy Holly Days by OCL, Simple Serif alpha by SU!, retired

Ink: Vivid! Brick, Coffee Bean, SU! Garden Gree, Memento Desert Sand

Paper: GKD Ivory, Lipstick red, SU! Brushed gold

Other: Nestabilities Petite Scallop Circle and Circle dies, wired ribbon, glass jar

I ran out of the 25 cards I made earlier and needed a few more, so using the same set as the jar above I created a few of these.

Stamps: Happy Holly Days by OCL, peace from Everyday Flexible Phrases (retired) bu SU!

Ink: Vivid! Brick and Olive (discontinued), Memento Desert Sand

Paper: Gina K Designs Kraft, Green Apple and Ivory

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

Other: Nestabilities Labels 14, Clip by Tim Holtz, red ribbon by SU!, Dauber, Sanding block, Distressing tool, Corner rounder, Dimensionals

And finally, this morning, being a last minute lucy for teachers' gifts, I ran to Subway after I dropped Brett off at school and picked up gift cards. Using a kit of sorts that was given as a thank you for an Etsy purchase (thank you thank you thank you, you saved me today!) , I quickly put together these little glassine holders for the cards. I did copy the clothespin snowmen from my dear friend, Anna (although hers were the smaller clothespin, much cuter and probably not done on the fly in just a few minutes!). I coffee dyed (versus tea dyed as I already had coffee made) the doilies and little tags first and hit them with the heat tool to speed things up. A little ink distressing on the tags, doilies and trees (pretty sure I want that die!) with Ranger Vintage Photo, an old SU! greeting and they were finished in a very short time. Brett will take them to school tomorrow on the last day before break.

Enjoy today!

V.~

eta: the results of the white elephant were not wild and crazy. My friend got them and hid the bag behind a couch cushion so they would be forgotten about. :) And they were, the most popular trade item for some reason (I couldn't wait for someone to take them from me as I got it first) was a Harley Davidson mug and coasters...blech, sorry, Harley fans.

White Elephant~

2011-12-10T07:48:00.000-08:00

Jay and I are going to a holiday party tonight with a few of his co-workers and friends. Part of the festivities is a white elephant or "real" gift exchange. One of the gals said to him, "Val's cards would be loved by the women".....well, I couldn't very well bring anything else, could I? He's bringing a white elephant gift to even things out. ;)

I still had the flowers out on my counter so I put them to use again and made a set of 6 blank cards that may be used for any occasion. They are all markered and spritzed with water before stamping onto ivory cardstock. A few spatters and edge distressing combined with 3 different ribbon (one with a clip, the other through an eyelet) or linen thread treatments completed the image panel. A smudge of Star Dust Stickles on the flower heads provide a little sparkle.

Image panels were die cut before stamping and layered onto a green apple die cut before adhering to the card base. Base is a Memory Box premade card in Robin's Egg Blue. Patterned paper by Basic Grey.

When finished they are simply put into a clear box and tied off with a ribbon and knot before putting into an anonymous Christmas bag. I may add a tag to the knot before the end of the day, we'll see.

And the rules are unlimited trading....wonder what we will come home with before the exchange is over?

V.~

Supplies:

Flowers by Hero Arts

Ink: Memento Desert Sand for edge distressing

Paper: Robins Egg Blue premade card base by Memory Box, Ivory and Green Apple by Gina K Designs

Other: Nestabilites Labels 14, Assorted Memento markers, water bottle, Star Dust Stickles, Linen thread by Normandy Linen and available at StarlitStudio, Seam binding ribbon, Dauber, Dimensional foam, Distressing tool, Clear Box

Company Cards~

2011-12-04T12:50:00.000-08:00

Every year I make a handful of cards for Jay to hand out to a few of his clients. They need to be generic holiday themed and be more masculine in appearance. Stripes and metal, yep that works! :)

V.~

Stamp: Season's Greeting from Many Merry Messages by SU!

Premade cards are Peapod by Memory Box

Ink: Vivid! Olive, Memento Desert Sand

Paper: Lipstick Red and Ivory by Gina K Designs

Patterned Paper: Season's Greetings by Echo Park

Other: Nestabilities Labels 14, Tim Holtz clip, Artichoke Grosgrain, Tim Holtz Piercing Ruler, Metal mini brads, Dauber, Dimensionals

Peace~ Love ~ Joy

2011-12-01T07:50:00.000-08:00

I was determined to make our holiday cards this year, in a limited supply (just 25 this year), and did so over a 3 week period in early November. The first time my cards have been ready so early! Although doing them so slowly was good for my shoulders it was havoc on my need to be finished syndrome!

At the time, scoring was very difficult for me so I decided to try out Memory Box premade cards, well, they are delightful! And to have a white interior, well, that just made things so much easier! I did trim them 1/2" to make the finished size 3-3/4" x 5-1/2" instead of a traditional A2 size. After trimming, the top right was corner rounded.

After choosing the card base, I was on the hunt for patterned paper and found a non-Christmas paper that reminded me of the Nordic trend that I have seen around and it was a perfect color match. Strips were cut, the top edge folded over and stitched, the bottom banner cut and they were adhered to the base.

Then I hunted for the perfect stamp at various stores, unsuccessfully. In the end, I dug out an old SU! set and found the greeting. Another non-traditional stamp is the little red bird from a Gina K Designs set - Branching Out - who perches on the "J" of Joy. The image was die cut with a Nestabilities Circle die and adhered to the base with dimensional foam.

Finally a seam binding ribbon bow attached with a Tim Holtz paperclip and now the envelopes are ready to be addressed.

I only have 6 more cards to make for this year and that is Jay's client cards that accompany the gift he delivers to just a handful of customers. But, I have a week or so before they need to be done, guess I'd better figure out the design!

Happy December 1st!

V.~

Stamps: All Holidays by SU!, Branching Out by Gina K Designs

Ink: Vivid! coffee Bean and Brick (discontinued)

Paper: Memory Box Thistle, Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Ivory

Patterned Paper: Cloth Feed Sacks from the Piccadilly Collection by Basic Grey

Other: Nestabilities circle die, Tim Holtz clip, Seam binding, Dimensional foam

For Mom~

2011-11-28T07:36:00.000-08:00

Taking a cue from the sympathy card below I made my first card set in many months for my biggest supporter as part of her birthday gift.

She admired the simplicity of the sympathy card so I knew that she would like these as well, and she did. Boxes were made using my Scor-Pal, one to house the cards and envelopes, the other held the vintage silverware bracelet we gave to her.

Floral images were colored direct to stamp with markers and spritzed with water before stamping.

When dry, Stickles were applied to the flower heads and "smeared" with my finger creating a subtle glitter effect.

Again, images aren't new but rather from my supply of well loved floral images.

Cards are 4.5" x 6.25"

Stamps by Hero Arts and Rubber Stampede

Ink: None

Paper: GKD Pure Luxury Ivory and Green Apple

Patterned paper for boxes by Basic Grey

Other: Memento Markers, Water bottle, Spritzer tool, Corner rounder, Linen thread, Stickles, Dimensionals

V.~

To Live in the Hearts....

2011-11-21T07:19:00.000-08:00

We leave behind is not to die.

~Thomas Campbell

A special lady who was knew she was going to live to 103 passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at age 88 and her memorial was on Saturday. Pink was her favorite color so naturally I incorporated it into the card I made for her family. She will be missed.

I kept the rest of the card unadorned and clean so as not to distract from the image panel.

Finished card is 4.5" x 6.25"

V.~

Supplies:

Solidago Sprig by Rubber Stampede from my stash of older, cherished stamps

Ink: Vivid! Coffee Bean (which I just learned is now discontinued)

Markers: Memento Markers Pear Tart, Lilac Posies, Desert Sand

Paper: Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Ivory and Green Apple

Other: Spritzer tool, Corner rounder, Linen thread, Stickles

Teen girls....

2011-11-18T13:50:00.000-08:00

are pretty simple to create for, teen boys that you don't know so well, not so much. Brett is heading to a school friend's 14th birthday party tomorrow and needed an enclosure to go along with the gift card that we purchased. Knowing that it is for a teen boy (who is more interested in the $$ on the gc than enclosure) I created a simple gift card holder.

Using craft paints, bubble wrap and a paintbrush I created most of the decorations on the holder. To finish, a stamped, matted greeting with a stapled ribbon and it's ready to slide into the envelope.

I don't really have any teen boy stamps that would appeal to this boy, so I just created texture using craft paints (colors pulled from the gc) on bubble wrap that I stamped onto kraft cardstock. A few paint spatters with black and white and a bit dragging the edges through white paint and the main panel was done. A die cut and matted sentiment was half adhered to the front panel to give the gift card something to slide under. Two slits hold the opposite end of the gift card. All that it needs now is Brett's signature on the back.

I am slowly getting back into things, crafting starting to be one of them. Very slowly though. While I still am frozen in both shoulders, I no longer have the excruciating pain that immobilized me for so many months, and have found that there are certain things that I can accomplish much easier.

So I hope to be able to share a little bit more, here and there, than I have in the past 6 months.

Happy Thanksgiving!

V.~

Supplies:

Stamps: On your Birthday by SU!

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black

Paper: GKD: Kraft, Red

Other: Craft paints, Bubble wrap, Paintbrush, Nestabilities Circle dies, Gingham check ribbon, Staple, Dimensional foam

Together~

2011-10-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

Saturday, the twelfth of October

nineteen hundred and ninety one

at three o'clock in the afternoon

20 years together

We celebrated this past weekend staying downtown on the harbor, taking in the sights, eating great food, relaxing by the pool, seeing The Rocky Horror Picture Show on stage at The Old Globe and just being together.

The view from our fabulous room and balcony!

Finished card is 3.25" x 6.5"

Stamps: together from Everyday Flexible Phrases (retired) SU!

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black

Paper: Gina K Designs Ivory, Lipstick Red

Patterned Paper: Luscious by Basic Grey

Other: Heart punch, Sewing machine, Clear embossing powder, Tim Holtz clip, Gray satin ribbon, Corner rounder, Dimensional foam

Spidey Thanks!

2011-10-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

I've always loved to make cute Halloween projects and today I created a quick thank you bucket for my awesome neighbor - I found this cute pail in the Target dollar section the other day and knew it would be perfect for a little token of my appreciation. A medium cello of candy corn and a darling Halloween tea light holder are hiding behind the tissue.

Making a tag isn't really stamping now is it?! LOL My arms paid the price making the cards in the post below so I have been very disciplined in not crafting. I have always loved tags and this one went together just as I imagined it.

Finished tag is 4.25" x 2.75"

Stamps: Batty for You and Thanks for Everything (retired) by SU!, Timeless Textures by Gina K Designs

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black

Paper: Solar White by Neenah, Black Onyx by Gina K Designs, Green Galore (retired) and Only Orange (retired) by SU!

Other: Circle punch, Scallop punch, Ticket corner punch, Square punch (for banner ends) Gingham check ribbon, Orange string, Spatter tool, Marker, Dimensionals

CAS Sympathy~

2011-09-11T13:34:00.000-07:00

With a slow, steady, and controlled hand I set out this morning to make three sympathy cards. Last week was a tough time at our school and its family. My shoulder/arm pain is nothing compared to theirs and I needed to create cards for them instead of purchasing cards from the store. I kept the design the same for all three with just minimal changes between them.

Card size 4.5" x 6.25"

Stamps by Lean on Me (silhouette) by Gina K Designs and Beautiful Borders (sentiment, retired) by SU!

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Paper: Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Ivory, Chocolate Brown

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

Other: Crinkle Ribbon, Mini Brads, Spatter tool, Pear Tart Memento Marker, Corner Rounder, Dimensional foam

Not sure when I'll create again, but it was nice to blow the cobwebs off of not only my work area but also the creative part of my brain. My son walked by when I was creating and said "haven't seen you do that for a long time." Yes indeed, a long time it has been.

V.~

Life. Updated.

2011-08-30T08:18:00.000-07:00

Hello there, just a little update to post today. I can't believe it has been almost 3 months since I have created or posted anything!

One of the things that was keeping us busy was high school prom/graduation/end of year activities for Morgan. As of last weekend she's all settled into her dorm and is experiencing college life.

In May, my mom broke her hip pretty severely. I spent many days at the hospital and rehab center with her before she was finally well enough to go home to finish her recovery. Once home, I went up several days a week to give my dad time off to play his senior softball and to run the errands he needed to take care of. While the hip break was no fun for anyone, spending that kind of time with my parents was wonderful.

About the same time, Jay had some troubling blood tests that required further testing. Two weeks ago he had surgery for cancer. In 4 weeks he'll have another blood test and our hope is that the read is non-existent. By all accounts it appears to have been contained with all margins and lymph nodes clear; he will continue to be monitored for the next 3 years by his specialist.

And finally, one of the primary reasons for my stamp area looking like this for the past 3 months: clean and organized.

In mid-April, I was having trouble with my hands/arms/shoulders. After waiting a bit too long for it to go away I finally went to the doctor and was diagnosed with Frozen Shoulder, in not one but both of my shoulders. A rather painful condition that will take its time to go away - anywhere from 6 months to up to 3 years. I've been in PT and have a series of home exercises I do as well. I have tried 2 times to craft and it is just too painful right now. So who knows when it will clear up, hopefully on the shorter end of the spectrum and not the longer end.

Hopefully this blog won't be collecting dust bunnies for too long, I really miss being creative, it is so much a part of who I am. I hope I remember how! If you are here when I return, thank you so much, if not, well, I am sorry to see you go but totally understand.

V.~

From a Whisper to a Knock~

2011-06-03T06:43:00.000-07:00

First, the universe was whispering in my ear -

I ignored her voice

Then, she began tapping on my shoulder -

I brushed her taps away

Finally, she knocked loudly -

and I needed to answer the door

After some trials that have tested me for the past few months and are continuing, needing to devote my time to other things and reviewing what is best for me, I have come to a difficult decision.

I am stepping away from design team work, blogging and public creating for the time being. For how long I really don't know.

Diana, from Scor-Pal, and Gina, from Gina K Designs, are the most gracious owners, but more importantly, wonderful friends who have left the door open for me should I return to the design team world. Thank you so much for your friendship, generosity and kindness, you mean the world to me!

And thank you to the other teams of my past who have given me the opportunities to showcase their products and work on their teams, I am very grateful for the experiences.

And finally, thank you to you, my blog readers, who have been a part of this journey with me. I am very grateful for all of your support, comments and friendship.

V.~

GKD Vintage Chic Stamp TV Kit Inspiration Blog Hop~

2011-06-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

For even more samples of these new sets, please visit each of the GKD Design Team blogs listed below and leave a comment. The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have of winning! Gina will announce the randomly chosen winners on her blog tomorrow!

V.~

GKD May Release Party Invitation~

2011-05-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

We are very excited to extend an invitation to Gina K. Designs May 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 go shopping!

Here's a peek at one of the cards I will be sharing at the party.

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

When: Today, Thursday, May 26
Where: StampTV Release Party Forum
Time: 7 PM to 9 PM (CST)

Head on over to Vicki's to see what sneak peek she's sharing with you today!

V.~

Anchor's Aweigh and PSA Guest Designer ~

2011-05-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today I have the pleasure of being a guest designer for PSA Essentials
and showcasing a bit of my project here, and the rest over at the

PSA Stamp Camp Blog

I had to chuckle when I read that no it does not stand for Public Service Announcement, it stands for Paper, Stamps, Accessories. :)

Brett has a teacher who is about to have a little boy. I know that they are fans of the ocean and all its offerings, so I knew that making a boxed gift set using PSA Originals Anchor's Aweigh would be perfect! I left them as general purpose cards without sentiments to give her options on how she can best use the cards.

To view the rest of the set and a giveaway, please visit

PSA Stamp Camp Blog

for your chance to win!

Giveaway rules & entry information:

Becoming a follower of PSA Stamp Camp blog

“Like” PSA Essentials on Facebook

Both actions are each an entry to win: 1 custom stamp, 1 Peel & Stick packs, 1 alignment tool, 1 ink. $80.00 retail value.

Thanks for popping by today and good luck over at PSA Stamp Camp!

Supplies:

Stamps: Anchor's Aweigh by PSA Essentials

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, White pigment

Paper: Kraft, White

Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny Dots

Other: Nestabilities Labels 3 and Circle dies, mini brads, grosgrain ribbon, gingham check ribbon, button, linen thread, corner rounder, dimensional foam

Happy Mother's Day~

2011-05-08T12:46:00.000-07:00

for both of our moms....made the same time as the birthday card below, same layout, different papers, colors and images.

Cards are 3-1/4" x 6-1/2"

Stamps by Hero Arts

Inks by Memento

Patterned papers by Basic Grey

Other: Tim Holtz clip, May Arts ribbon, Dauber, Distressing tool, Corner rounder

V.~

Poppy Birthday!~

2011-05-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

California Poppies are in bloom all over the hills, tucked into sidewalks, and along roads and trails right now. They are so festive and bright!

I took a picture of these poppies while we were on a bike ride last week. They are pretty invasive in a home garden so I enjoy them elsewhere. :)

I made this birthday card for a neighbor with the poppies in mind.

I'll tuck it into her mailbox while she is off celebrating at Stagecoach up in Palm Springs.

Supplies:

Stamps: A Real Wild Poppy by Hero Arts, sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes by SU!, inside sentiment by Papertrey Ink

Ink: Memento Pear Tart, Tangelo, Desert Sand, Vivid! Coffee Bean

Paper: Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Ivory, Chocolate Brown

Patterned Paper: Wanderer by Basic Grey

Other: May Arts Orange Crinkle ribbon, Tim Holtz clip, Word Window punch, Distressing tool, Memento Desert Sand marker, Spritzer tool, Corner rounder, Dimensional foam

Finished card is 3-1/4" x 6-1/2"

Stamped envelope to match :)

V.~

And another....

2011-05-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

low maintenance flower from our side yard, a Cymbidium orchid.

Cymbidium

Have a beautiful Sunday!

V.~

Love No fuss, No muss.....

2011-04-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

Epiphyllums that bloom year after year with little to no maintenance. These are the first flowers of this year to show their pretty faces. :)

To read about them:

Epiphyllum

Have a wonderful weekend!

Enjoy the Journey~

2011-04-27T07:32:00.000-07:00

My oldest son turns 26 on May 2nd. Really NOT sure how that has happened so fast! Last night we took both him and Morgan (plus the rest of us) out to dinner to their favorite restaurant to celebrate their week apart birthdays. Pizookie!

I piddled and piddled around with this card and wasn't quite sure if I was happy with the result until he opened it and loved it. He started going over all the little details asking me did I sew on it, how did I get the color on the tag part, what did I do to ink the edges and such. And then his comment that he'll add it to the box of things I've made for him over the years. It put a smile on my heart for sure! He's growing into such a great man.

Supplies:

Stamps: The Journey by Tim Holtz Artistry Collection, Just the Ticket by Papertrey Ink

Ink: Vintage Photo, Weathered Wood and Antique Linen Distress Inks

Paper: GKD Pure Luxury Ivory

Patterned Paper: Max & Whiskers by Basic Grey

Other: Burlap thread, Sewing machine, Paperclip,Blue 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon, Black 7/8" Grosgrain, Ticket die (PTI), Distressing tool, Corner rounders, Sanding block, Dimensional foam

V.~

Branching Out and Follow Your Dreams GKD Inspiration Hop~

2011-04-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to another day of inspiration blog hopping using 2 new sets that are available now at

Gina K Designs:

Branching Out and Follow Your Dreams

Today, it's guy card day around here! From what I hear from many stampers, guy cards present a challenge as they don't come as easily as making a card for a the women in our lives or for the rambunctious kids we love. So I thought I would take these 2 sets, which could easily go feminine, and show the masculine side of them.

Below is the full pic of the sneak peek from last Thursday. The images and sentiment are just part of Theresa Momber's new set Follow your Dreams

To make the rustic feel on the focal image, I dragged 2 distress ink pads across GKD Pure Luxury Ivory card stock before stamping and die cutting. Now, I confess, and I can hear a few of my DT team members chuckling, I own a whole 3 distress ink pads, so to use 2 of them in one fell swoop, well....it's craziness! LOL

After it was stamped and die cut, I colored it with Prismacolor colored pencils. A few drags of the same ink over the GKD Tan Leather for the bottom panel were applied before stamping the birthday sentiment. A twill half bow and stamped cattails and dragonflies finish it off.

Finished card is 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

Supplies not listed:

Ink: Antique Linen and Weathered Wood Ranger Distress Ink, Versafine Onyx Black, Nestabilities Oval dies, Dimensional foam

For this next card, I combined Theresa's set with Branching Out, Melanie's newest set, to make a gift card enclosure

For this base of gift card holder, I stamped the largest of the branch images onto patterned paper and trimmed off the border, just leaving the image you see, a striped strip with linen thread stitching and a "bradded" tab were added to help balance the weight at the bottom and add a pop of color. The focal panel was stamped with the round branch image and die cut. The sentiment is from Follow your Dreams, omitting the dragonfly and substituting a blue bird from Branching Out that is popped up with dimensional foam.

Finished holder is 4-1/4"x 3-1/4"

Supplies not listed:

Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia, VersaMagic Aegean Blue; Paper: GKD Pure Luxury Ivory; Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Pyrus, Nestabilities Circle die

Happy Hoppin' and Happy 18th Birthday to my daughter, Morgan!

V.~

18 & Full of Possibilities!

2011-04-25T03:02:00.000-07:00

I blinked and she turned 18. How did that happen so quickly? Her life is just beginning and is so full of possibilities!

Happy Birthday, Morgan!

Finished card is 4-1/2" x 6-1/4"

Thanks Amy for continued inspiration!

Supplies:

Stamps: Life Is and The Journey by Our Craft Lounge, SU! Rough Edge Alpha (& sign, retired)

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Vivid Aqua

Paper: GKD White, SU! Melon Mambo

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

Other: Satin ribbon, Eyelet, Clip, Spiral punch, Black mini brads, Staple, Dimensional foam

V.~

with deepest sympathy~

2011-04-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Jay requested a sympathy card for a friend/co-worker.
Simple, yet elegant, perfect for him to give to the recipient and his family to send our condolences.

Modified layout from a previous post using this floral stamp.

Finished card is 4-1/2" x 6-1/4"

Supplies:

Stamps: With Sympathy and Springtime by Unity Stamp Company

Ink: Vivid! Chocolate, Memento Desert Sand

Markers: Memento Pear Tart, Grape Jelly

Paper: GKD Soft Sand, Ivory

Patterned paper: Basic Grey

Other: SU! Spiral punch, Eyelet, Burlap String, Distressing tool, Corner rounder, Dauber, Dimensionals

V.~

Gina K Designs April Release Inspiration Hop~

2011-04-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to day one of Inspiration Hops for Gina K Designs April release.

Garden Silhouettes is this month's Free with 3 set, see Gina K Designs for the details on how to get this set for free!

I've combined it with a new texture background set called Timeless Textures and used the rock and roll technique to frame the flowers. The flowers were colored direct to stamp with markers and spritzed lightly with water before stamping on the image panel.

I also made a matching tall, skinny (Mish) notebook with magnetic closure. I'm still using one that Mish sent to me one year for Christmas, it's battered and well loved! Their size is just right; 5" x 8" memo pads cut in half the long way by your office supply store. Add an stamped and embellished cover and they are the perfect size to keep at hand for your favorite listmaker.

I've kept both samples free of sentiments on the front, sometimes it just feels like the right thing to do....

Supplies:

Stamps: Garden Silhouettes and Timeless Textures by Gina K Designs

Ink: Memento Desert Sand, Rich Cocoa

Markers: Memento Pear Tart, Rose Bud

Paper: GKD Ocean Mist, Chocolate Brown, Green Apple, Ivory

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

Other: Buttons, Linen thread, Clip, GKD Ribbon, White mini brad, Magnetic closure, Scor-Pal, Corner rounder, White pen, Distressing tool, Dimensional foam

Happy Hoppin'!

V.~

GKD April Release Party Invitation and Blog Hop~

2011-04-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

We are very excited to extend an invitation to Gina K. Designs April 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 go shopping!

If you came from Tina'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.

Here's a sneak peek of one of the cards I will be sharing at the party.

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

When: Today, Thursday, April 21
Where: StampTV Release Party Forum
Time: 7 PM to 9 PM (CST)

Now head on over to Vicki's to see what sneak peek she's sharing with you today and see you back here tomorrow for the beginning of our three day Inspiration Blog Hop series for April!

V.~

Basket Tags~

2011-04-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

A couple of basket tags for treats on Sunday~

inspired by all of pine's tags over the years.

A bit of carrot paper piecing, sentiment trimming to make a new sentiment, and their stamped name was a quick and easy project this morning before both climbed out of bed....still waiting on one, you'll never guess who that is?! Both are matted on scalloped ovals in their favorite color. A complementary color for the ribbon hanger and they are ready to go!

Stamps:

Vegtastic by Paper Smooches, alpha is a $1 set currently at Michaels

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Rose Bud

Paper: GKD Sweet Mango, Turquoise Sea, Kraft, Ocean Mist, Lemon Drop

Patterned Paper: BoBunny

Other: Nestabilities Oval and Scalloped Oval dies, Grosgrain ribbon, Eyelet (not seen), Staple, Dimensional foam

Happy Wednesday!

V.~

and the winner is......

2011-04-18T22:29:00.000-07:00

A random number app picked:

Animatarian

Please email me (under My Profile) your snail mail address and I'll pop the samples and card in the mail!

Thanks for leaving your comments.

Valerie~

Bleach for You?

2011-04-15T07:39:00.000-07:00

Remember these from yesterday?

All these bleach samples will sit here for decades, well not really decades, but they will sit for a long time until I forget where they are in my stamping area.

I am not a stamper who pre-stamps images, pre-cuts cardstock to have ready, or one who generally has a plan. I wish I was more like some of my stamping friends who keep an art journal with sketches and ideas in it, but I am not. Not that I haven't tried, I have 2 beautiful black leather covered art journals - small and medium, both to be used to jot down ideas and notes and such - however, their pages are still pristine as the day they left the factory.

When I start to create, I often see in my head where it's going or have somewhat of an idea when I start. Most often the stamps or paper speak silently to me. If I need a little inspiration to kick start the process I will check out out the plethora of sketches that are available web-wide, or page through magazines, or even take a trip down memory lane with my own work, or visit the blogs of a favorite or two. But most often I just follow my creative juices and see where it leads. Sometimes it leads straight to the recycling bin a few times before success happens! :)

So, the languishing images will not do me any good here. So here is what I am offering:

Leave a comment here telling me your crafting process. Are you a planner, a fly-by-nighter, a journal keeper, or what? What is your process?

I'll draw a name on Monday, the 18th and announce the winner of all the bleach stamped samples and the card I made - it's a great way to see and feel (most of) the colors of Gina's cardstock if you haven't tried it before!

The fine print:

Only 1 entry per person
Must live in the United States
The winning name will be posted here on Monday evening.
The winner has 24 hours to email me with their mailing information or another name will be drawn. My email address is available under View My Complete Profile on the RIGHT sidebar.

Have a great weekend!

Valerie~

Bleached Silhouette~

2011-04-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to a fun Gina K. Designs Design Team hop! Today we are showing techniques of all kinds as featured on Stamp TV. We hope you enjoy hopping through the variety of techniques and are inspired to try something new!

I chose to use the bleach technique. It has been awhile since I pulled out the bleach and used it in my crafting. To make a bleach "stamp pad" use a plate and a folded up paper towel. Pour a little bleach on the paper towel and let it absorb, then use as you would use an ink pad.

Bleach as an Ink Pad - StampTV

First thing I did was to stamp the image on every single color of Gina K Designs Pure Luxury colored cardstock that I own to see how the bleach would react to the properties of the cardstock. It can differ paper batch to paper batch and age of bleach, so your experiment may be different than mine.

Most of them bleached out wonderfully with the exception of lavender, lilac and bubblegum pink.

I chose to go with the Chocolate Brown bleached cardstock. The bleach created a golden orange color for the image. After stamping I let it sit a little while to be certain it was dry and the bleach odor had dissipated a bit and then I followed up with a little bit of accent coloring using Prismacolor colored pencils.

Layout is based on the StampTV Sketch Challenge

Your next stop on the Technique Blog Hop is:

Tina

To see a master list of all who are technique hopping:
Technique Highlight Blog Hop

Have fun!

Stamps: GKD Silhouette floral image from Springtime Silhouettes, Thanks so very much sentiment from Framed Greetings

Ink: Vivid Chocolate, Memento Desert Sand

Paper: GKD Pure Luxury Chocolate Brown, Sweet Mango and Ivory

Patterned Paper: Grunge Damask Quarters Digital Paper by Emily Giovanni for GKD

Other: Bleach, Prismacolor pencils, Nestabilites Oval and Circle Dies, Fiskars Threading Waters punch, Spiral punch, Green satin ribbon, Dimensional foam

V.~

Be True To You~

2011-04-06T14:07:00.000-07:00

Quick, no frills, "just because" card on its way to the PNW.

Stamps: Dandy Days and The Journey by Our Craft Lounge

Ink: Memento Desert Sand, Rich Cocoa

Markers: Memento Pear Tart, Rose Bud
Paper: GKD Ivory and Chocolate, unk Green
Patterned Paper: Sweet Threads by Basic Grey
Other: Rockin' Pink Sparkly Fluff, Nestabilities Rectangle and Scalloped Rectangle Dies, EK Success Embossed Scallop punch, SU! Spiral Punch, Pink satin ribbon, Misting bottle, Dauber, Dimensionals

Finished card 4.5" x 4.5"

V.~

Sing Your Best Life~

2011-04-03T16:04:00.000-07:00

Live your life with grace...

I've had this one sheet of Webster's Pages paper for way over a year, looking at it, trying to decide how to use it. I just loved the sayings on it when I bought it and the colors are "my colors" so it truly spoke to me. It was one of those pieces I never wanted to cut....we all have paper like that, don't we?

Well, yesterday and today I cut it up and played a bit. A small paper covered clipboard to hang by my counter, a memo pad, and paper covered shipping tag.

V.~

Simply Springtime~

2011-03-31T19:07:00.000-07:00

the Unity way....

A simple set of 5 cards for my sister-in-law, the landscape architect, to go along with the gift card we will give to her at her birthday party on Sunday.

My CAS style is perfect for my sister-in-law and I thought she'd be able to use these blank cards for friends and clients alike.

Here's how I made this set:

Image was markered and spritzed before stamping onto heavyweight ivory cardstock.
Accent panel stamped with a lined journaling stamp, distressed and punched before sewing to the flower image panel.
Set an eyelet and tie burlap string into a bow.
Add small clip to lined panel.
Adhere to sand base with dimensional foam.
Spiral punch top right corner, adhere green, distressed strip behind with just a smidge of the distressing showing down the length of the card.
Repeat each step 5 times to create 5 cards.

Finished cards are 3-3/4" x 5-1/2"

Today around here we went straight from winter into the hot, dog days of summer.....it was 97 degrees! Spring, please come for a visit, you're one of my favorite seasons!

V.~

Supplies:

Stamps: Flower from the Springtime set by Unity Stamp Company

Lined journaling stamp from the Frame-It set by Crafty Secrets

Ink: SU! Sahara Sand, Memento Desert Sand

Paper: GKD Soft Sand, Green Apple, Ivory

Other: SU! Spiral punch, Tim Holtz clip, Burlap string, Dauber, Dimensional foam

Fabulous Fourteen~

2011-03-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

Funny thing sometimes where the creative tangents take us. This project started out as a card with a coin envelope inside to slip a little birthday money for my niece and evolved into this coin envelope booklet.

5 coin envelopes made from patterned paper are adhered to an accordion spine which is sandwiched in between patterned paper covered chipboard covers.

Each coin envelope holds a small pocket card to slip the birthday currency into; the pocket card needs to be relatively flat or they won't slide comfortably into the envelope, so the only embellishment is the

ribbon pull tab and a bit of patterned paper. Each small card measures 2-3/8" x 3-1/4"

Since I went out on a tangent, I don't really have a tutorial for you, but the coin envelope directions may be found here:

Lisa Somerville, from way back in 2007

Coin Envelope Tutorial

The accordion is 2-3/4" x 6" and alternately scored every 1/2" and adhered like so:

*not to scale, for illustration purposes only, image from a previous class project.

Each coin envelope is adhered to the accordion at the bottom, both sides. I wanted the envelope detail to show so I made that the front side of each page, it's a personal choice, just flip the envelope over to have a plain front.

The front of the booklet is embellished with more paper covered chipboard cut with Nestabilities dies and Cuttlebugged numbers. The Fabulous tag was punched from chipboard and the greeting was stamped twice onto the ocean paper, punched out, and adhered to both sides of the chipboard. That way if it flips over it still says Fabulous. The tag is tied to the chocolate grosgrain bow with linen thread. Cover measures 2-3/4" x 3-1/2"

Now just to hit the bank for the currency, hopefully crisp bills!

V.~

Supplies:

Stamps: Fabulous from the Life Is set by Our Craft Lounge

Make a Wish from the Just a Note set by JustRite Stampers (can't find on their site right now, hmmm)

Ink: Vivid! Coffee Bean

Paper: GKD Pure Luxury Ocean Mist, Chocolate, White; SU! Marigold Morning (long gone)

Patterned Paper by American Crafts Everyday

Other: Spellbinders Nestabilities Circle and Petite Scallop Circle Dies, Cuttlebug Red Tag Alpha, SU! Round Tab punch, Modern Label punch, Eyelets, Asst. ribbons, Hillcreek Designs Linen thread

GKD TY Spellbinders Hop, Round 2!

2011-03-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Recently Spellbinders gifted the Gina K Designs Design Team with the Grand Calibur die cutting machine. Prior to this machine, the Cuttlebug was my die cutting friend. Now I find I use the Grand for all my Spellbinders die cutting, it just cuts and embosses the dies more efficiently, plus you can't beat the platform size for cutting multiple dies at once. Don't get me wrong, I still use the bug, just not for Spellbinder dies.

For my project for round two I made a chipboard covered tag. Yep, the chipboard cut like a dream with the Grand. I loved the colors I used in a card earlier with this set, I decided to make a tag using the same colors, coloring method and focal shape.

Finished tag is a little over 4-1/2"T x a little over 3-1/4" W

Dies used in the making of this tag:

Labels 8

Petite Scallop Circle

Circle

Labels 6

Supplies used:

Stamps: GKD Springtime Silhouettes STV kit

Ink: StazOn Timber Brown, Vivid! Taupe

Paper: GKD Pure Luxury Ivory, Sweet Mango, Chocolate Brown

GKD Grunge Damasks Digital Paper , Vellum cardstock

Other: Memento Pear Tart, Cantaloupe, Lilac Posies and Desert Sand markers, Spray bottle, Marker Spritzer tool, Organdy and Satin ribbon, Linen thread, Heat tool (to crinkle organdy ribbon), Jumbo eyelet, Green glass bead, Dauber, Mini brad, Dimensional foam

If you're following the hop I'm the last stop, you've just come here from

Theresa's blog

If you somehow missed the beginning, it starts here at Carolina's blog

Thanks so much for visiting, I hope we've inspired you with more projects made using Spellbinders and Gina K Designs!

V.~

Dies - Dies - Dies

2011-03-27T18:14:00.000-07:00

In the never ending search for organizing the plethora of supplies this craft utilizes I made this pattern paper covered chipboard album to store my Spellbinders Dies.

Scraps of medium weight chipboard cut to 6-1/2" x 9", Graphic 45 Le Cirque papers, bits of ribbon, a chipboard blank from Maya Road and Spellbinder dies created a book pretty enough to keep out on my counter full time so I can access my dies easily.

Prior to this system I used cd cases (hidden in the cupboard underneath) that did a pretty good job of keeping things organized until I dropped them (and the cases broke) or the die size outgrew the cd size or the smallest of dies slipped around, or or or....there is always something about most systems that doesn't work as best we'd like.

Inside the album the pages are made from magnetic vent covers, chipboard and clear sheet protectors.

I found packages of magnetic vent covers (3 per pack) at my local hardware store near the heating supply aisle. They started out 8" x 15" and I divided them into thirds so I ended up with three 5" x 8" pieces from each sheet. I adhered the magnetic panels to chipboard cut to size using Scor-Tape.

An Avery label printed with the die name and size is adhered to the magnetic sheet to help me remember what is what. After putting the dies in their new home the entire page was slipped into the 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" clear sheet protector.

A few divider pages ( 6-1/4" x 8-3/4") separate classic sets from scallop sets from labels set. Most pages have 2 sets of dies while several are holding single sets.

Originally I had loose leaf binder circles holding the book together but they were just too big and unappealing. A bit of black leather cording works for now to bind it together. Only time will tell if this will work long term. ;-)

I still have room to add a few more pages should my collection expand. For now, 18 pages is what I have filled. If I ever get the gigantic dies Spellbinders offers I'll have to think of something else as they would never fit in this! :)

It was fun making something "just for me" that I will use daily that is not only functional but fun to look at!

V.~

GKD Springtime Silhouettes Inspiration Hop~

2011-03-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

While I loved all the stamps in the release this time, this set in particular speaks to me the loudest. There's just something about the images, mixed fonts, and how they are work so wonderfully together that make this set rise to the top for me.

The swirl image was repeated 3 times to create the background on the ivory layer.

Stamps: GKD Springtime Silhouettes STV Kit

Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia, Memento Angel Pink and Desert Sand

Paper: GKD Pure Luxury Ivory and Chocolate Brown

Patterned Paper: Springtime Silhouettes from this month's STV kit

Other: Nestabilities Circle and Petite Scallop Circle dies, Pink/White gingham check, Corner rounder, Sewing machine, Sanding block, Dimensionals

Finished card is 3-3/4" x 5-1/2"

A return to the misting technique again for this card.

Ink up the flowers in various Memento markers and quickly spritz with water before stamping the image to paper. This is a technique I used all the time in my early days and one that works so well with solid floral images.

Finished card is 3 1/4" x 6 1/2"

Stamps: Springtime Silhouettes STV Kit, Botanicals (torn strip)

Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia, Memento Desert Sand

Markers: Memento Pear Tart, Cantaloupe, Lilac Posies and Desert Sand

Paper: GKD Pure Luxury Ivory

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

Other: Nestabilities Labels 6, Mini paper clip, Green grosgrain, Antique mini brads, Spritzer tool, Corner rounder, Dimensional foam

Available now at Gina K Designs

For even more samples of this new set, please visit each of the GKD Design Team blogs listed below and leave a comment. The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have of winning! Gina will announce the randomly chosen winners on her blog tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by today!

V.~

More GKD March Release Inspiration ~

2011-03-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Featuring Bring the Bling, Warm with Love and Make A Splash!

Bring the Bling, by GKD illustrator Melanie Muenchinger, is a unique set that has many elements that mimic the bling embellishments that are a hot item right now. Stamped simply or "blinged" up with Glossy Accents, Stickles, Perfect Pearls and the like are a fun way to add that little extra to your project or to make it the main event, your choice, there's no limit to how many you can stamp.

Here I've just used them as an accent on a masculine card. Without the extra sparkle or gloss added they work wonderfully as an accent for this card.

Finished card is 3-3/4" x 5-1/2"

Stamps: GKD's Bring the Bling and Lovely Labels 3 (appearing tomorrow on another DT hop)

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Desert Sand

Paper: GKD Pure Luxury Soft Sand, Ivory

Patterned Paper: Graphic 45 Curtain Call

Other: Nestabilities Labels 14, Antique Brads and Picture Hanger, Black/Ivory Gingham Check ribbon, Dauber, Distressing tool, Dimensionals

Warm with Love, Theresa Momber's newest set, features images and sentiments that work beautifully for a variety of cards. Here, again, I've chosen to go the masculine route with a clean and simple card.

The fern image was inked and misted with a spray bottle before stamping, creating a lightly blurred effect. This was repeated an additional 2 times to create the cluster of three.

Finished card is 3-3/4" x 5-1/2"

Stamps: GKD Warm with Love

Ink: Vivid! Olive, Versafine Onyx Black

Paper: GKD Green Apple, Black Onyx, Ivory

Other: Black mini brads, Linen thread, Distressing tool, Dimensional foam

And finally, Make a Splash by Asela Hopkins, a super fun aquatic set!

The octopus image is stamped on GKD Sweet Mango in black ink, quickly clear embossed and a few select areas colored with Prismacolor colored pencils before cutting out and popping up on the image panel with dimensional foam. The fun jellyfish and bubbles were stamped multiple times tone on tone and accented with white colored pencil to create the underwater feel. The grass? Well that's another image from Theresa's set above. :)

Finished card is 3-3/4" x 5-1/2"

Stamps: GKD's Make a Splash, Warm with Love

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Vivid! Aqua, Wild Lime

Paper: GKD Pure Luxury White, Ocean Mist, Green Apple, Sweet Mango

Other: GKD stitched black ribbon, Nestabilities Circle die, Green mini brads, Corner rounder, Distressing tool, Dimensional foam

Happy Hoppin' and Good Luck!

V.~

Gina K March Release Inspiration Hop ~

2011-03-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Featuring Celebrate in Style and Stenciled Silhouettes.

Celebrate in Style is Gina K Designs and StampTV's special edition 2nd anniversary set, available for free with your qualifying purchases of $35.

Skirt is paper pieced and raised up with dimensional foam.

Stamps: Celebrate in Style

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black

Paper: Gina K Designs Pure Luxury White, Bubblegum Pink and Black Onyx

Patterned Paper: Gina K Designs StampTV kit Springtime Silhouettes

Other: Clear embossing powder (image is heat embossed before coloring in) Copic markers, Oval Nestabilities die, GKD pink sheer ribbon, Fiskars Scallop blade, Celery rhinestone (in flower), Dimensional foam

Stenciled Silhouettes is this month's Free with 3 set.

Just the flower portion of the image was inked in white and stamped three times to create the background on the upper blue portion of the card.

White base is Scor-Pal diagonally embossed for texture and interest.

Stamps: Stenciled Silhouettes

Ink: White pigment ink, Versafine Onyx Black

Paper: Gina K Designs Little Boy Blue, Black Onyx, White

Other: Nestabilities Oval and Scalloped Oval dies, Oval punch, GKD Black/White Gingham check ribbon, Scor-Pal, Corner rounder, Dimensional foam

If you missed the release party last night, you can visit Gina K. Designs to see all the sets and product released last night!

For even more samples of these new sets, please visit each of the GKD Design Team blogs listed below and leave a comment. The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have of winning! Tomorrow, Gina will announce on her blog the randomly chosen winners who will each win one of these fabulous new stamp sets!

All sets that will be appearing on the design team blogs over the next several days are available now for purchase, no waiting!

Thanks for visiting!

V.~

A little bit different~

2011-03-17T07:03:00.000-07:00

We are doing things a bit different this time with the Gina K Designs release.... the release party is first...which is TONIGHT! All the stamps will go live tonight at 9PM CST for your viewing and purchasing pleasure :) You're invited to the party to find out all the details....Here is the link:

StampTV Main Page

And just a little sneak peak of a new set for you....

Oh, and I did I mention, it's GKD's 2 year anniversary!

Happy Anniversary, GKD!

There's a special anniversary edition stamp set, too!

V.~

Gina K Design Team Spellbinders Thank You Blog Hop~

2011-03-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Gina K Designs team would like to welcome to you this special Spellbinders Thank You Blog Hop. Recently Spellbinders generously gifted each member of our Design Team with the amazing new Grand Calibur! What an exciting gift for sure and we are absolutely enjoying this fabulous machine. We have made some special cards and projects to showcase the new Grand Calibur and why we are loving it so much. Thank you so very much Spellbinders!

If you're hoppin' with the list, you've just come here from:

Theresa's Blog

Your next stop is:

Vicki's Blog

To read about my project start here.

My project is a fun little candy basket made from the Labels 8 die with a coordinated card.

If you are a frequent visitor to my blog you'll already be aware that I use Nestabilites a lot, yep, a lot, I just love how easy they are to use. The Grand Calibur has a large cutting platform and cuts the dies easily and cleanly, no ragged edges or uncut portions, at least not in my experience. The large platform allows multiple shapes to be cut at once, either out of smaller pieces of different colors of cardstock or a large single sheet.

Directions to make a Label Basket:

Largest Labels 8 die cut GKD Luxury Baby Blue, scored at 2-1/4" and 3-3/4"
Internal box: GKD Pure Luxury Baby Blue cut to 6-1/2" x 4-15/16" and scored 1-3/4" on all sides. Make 4 cuts, 2 cuts on opposing sides to where score lines intersect. Attach Scor-Tape to flaps. Pre-fold all scores. Adhere flaps to create box shape.
Grass: 9" x 1-1/2" strip of GKD Pure Luxury Green Grass. Score 1/2" along one long side. Using detail scissors snip slices to score line. Adhere to inside box using Scor-Tape, using the score line as a guide for placement.
Adhere finished box inside scored label die cut using Scor-Tape.

note: if you want to have ribbon tie around the front of the basket, place a length of ribbon between the box and the label cover before adhering together.

Handle: 1-1/2" x 11" strip of GKD Sweet Corn, edges scalloped. Adhere to box sides with Scor-Tape.
Fill a cello with treats, tie off bag with ribbon and attach tag with thread. Insert into basket.

Front of basket is decorated with the cute chicks and egg image from GKD Basket Blessings. The image was stamped twice onto GKD Pure Luxury White; one image was oval die cut and the chicks were colored, the eggs from the other image were colored and cut out before adhering to the oval stamped image with dimensional foam.

Coordinated Card:

The largest Labels 8 die was die cut in 2 colors, Grass Green and Sweet Corn. Score the Green Grass die cut in half to use as the card base. Trim a small portion of the Sweet Corn die cut and adhere to green base.

The rest of the card is pretty self-explanatory and follows the instructions for coloring the basket image.

Thank you sentiment from Framed Greetings.

You may find the entire blog hop list at the StampTV blog

And Gina K Designs Online Store for the stamps, paper, inks and ribbons featured in my project.

Supplies:

Stamps: GKD Basket Blessings and Framed Greetings

Ink: Vivid! Coffee Bean

Paper: GDK Pure Luxury Little Boy Blue, Green Grass, Sweet Corn, Bubblegum Pink, White

Copic Markers:

Other: Nestabilities Labels 8, Oval and Scalloped Oval dies, Circle Die, Grand Calibur, GKD stitched and gingham check ribbon, Scor-Pal, Scor-Tape, Linen thread, Cello bag, Candy

If you've made it this far, you've read on the longest posts I've ever done, thank you! :)

Happy Hoppin'!
V.~

Live Laugh Love ~

2011-03-01T15:41:00.000-08:00

Today I made this tri-coaster display for Jay's mom to have during her recovery and the days following her major surgery tomorrow. No flowers or the like are allowed in ICU but a picture of her grandkids is sure to speed her recovery! Just Rite stamps were perfect for this mini display.

The flower border is stamped onto the "solid" side of the patterned paper, die cut and then lightly colored with Prismacolor colored pencils. The center of the circle was die cut allowing the patterned paper from the book cover to peek through. To give the border ring a bit more dimension, I die cut a piece of coaster board in the same manner as the paper border ring and adhered the paper border ring to it. Then I adhered the entire ring to the cover. I mirrored the same process for the back "page". All edges of the coasters and both rings have been sanded with a sanding block.

The sentiments were stamped onto ivory cardstock, die-cut, a bit of edge sponging and then mounted to a petite scallop circle before adhering to the coaster with dimensional foam. Eyelets with grosgrain ribbon bows bind the coasters together and allow it to stand easily.

The center panel is a great picture of the three of them from Christmas Eve dinner. I printed it onto cardstock, trimmed it and mounted it to chocolate cardstock.

Next, the coordinated box :)

4-1/2" square box using the same materials and design as the picture display. Scor-Pal does it again...it's so easy to make a custom sized box that really adds the finishing touch to the gift.

V.~

Supplies -Stamps: Romantic Sentiments and Birthday Celebrations by JustRite Stampers; Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia, Vivid! Coffee Bean, Memento Desert Sand: Paper: GKD Pure Luxury Ivory and Chocolate; Patterned Paper: Blissful, Jalapeno Jelly and Simply Grand from the Hello Luscious collection by Basic Grey; Other: 3 Blank Coasters, Nestabilites Circle and Petite Scallop Circle dies, Sanding block, Dauber, Ribbons, Dimensionals

Peas Love Happiness~

2011-02-24T16:50:00.000-08:00

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~

2011-02-19T08:28:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

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!:

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

2011-02-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

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~

2011-02-14T06:25:00.000-08:00

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!

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~

2011-02-13T08:41:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-11T07:47:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-02-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

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~

2011-02-03T10:24:00.001-08:00

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.~

Miss You~

2011-01-18T06:56:00.000-08:00

I often use color to evoke a specific feeling or message when creating a card. In this card the subtle use of the aqua blue sends the message that I'll be blue because I'm missing you....

This card is off to the other coast, to a friend who won't be attending CHA this time around. And I'll be missing her......

V.~

Stamps:
Sent with Love STV Kit by Gina K Designs
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Paper: GKD Soft Sand, Ocean Mist, Chocolate Brown, Ivory
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Other: Prismacolor pencil, Nestabilities, Ivory Ribbon, Linen Thread, Aqua mini brads, Distressing tool, Corner rounder, Dimensionals

Birthday Love and a new ride~

2011-01-11T06:57:00.000-08:00

Here's a fun CAS birthday card made with the new GKD StampTV kit that released last week, Sent with Love. I'm tucking this away for a birthday for one of my nieces that is coming soon.
Finished card is 3-3/4" x 5-1/2"

It's been a busy weekend and first part of the week around here, I finally replaced my "mom" van and got a sporty car! After 17 years of van driving, it was time. :)

Here is what she looked like before we left the lot on Saturday.

It's the new, redesigned 2011 Sonata Turbo and I love driving it!

Have a wonderful week!

Supplies
Stamps: Sent with Love STV kit
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Rose Bud and Tangelo
Paper: GKD Pure Luxury White, Bubblegum Pink
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Other: Copic Markers, Corner rounder, Stickles, Dimensional foam

V.~

Scor-Pal and JustRite Tag Box~

2011-01-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Back a while ago Sharon asked me if I'd like to create a project for JustRite Stampers using the Scor-Pal.....well, naturally I wanted to! :) As I was deciding what I wanted to create I mused that often times a tag is the perfect addition to a gift in lieu of a card. Having a supply of ready made tags for any occasion would be a great thing to have on hand.

This peek-a-boo presentation box would be a fun gift as a thank you for a special person plus it keeps the tags easy to find at a moment's notice. Change the "thank you" tag to a birthday tag and you've got a great birthday present to give to someone. I can't think of too many who wouldn't appreciate a gift like this!

This tag box is what happens when you merge 3 of the different boxes I've designed in the past: the 4 compartment tag box, the gift card box and the cupcake box.

Instead of housing small tags like the 4 compartment box, this box holds shipping tag size tags that were created from vanilla cardstock. They measure 2-3/8" x 4-1/4" and there are 10 tags in this box. Each tag has a different saying from the JustRite set called

Just a Note Borders & Centers
instead of using the borders that are included in this set, I opted to use the

Decorative Borders 2" Round
using 5 of them 2 times each to make 10 tags.

Both the sentiment and border images are mounted on petite scallop circles before completing the tag.

The top of the box has a circle cutout with a clear card sheet window which provides just a peek of the enclosed tags. The Grand Caliber, that was recently added to my arsenal, makes cutting the large circle for the lid so easy!

The box features a divider insert to keep the tags stacked nicely.

Stay tuned for the full tutorial for this project coming in the near future.

Thanks Sharon, JustRite, and of course Scor-Pal!

Supplies, other than referenced and linked above:
Ink: Vivid! Coffee Bean and Olive, Memento Desert Sand
Paper: Vanilla, Asparagus
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Other: Eyelet, Linen Thread, Tag corner punch, 1/8" hand held circle punch, Jumbo dauber,
Nestabilites Circle and Scallop Circle dies, Scor-Tape, Grand Caliber die cutting machine

Love Hop~

2011-01-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

Funny thing happened along the way to my stamp counter when I started to create these cards for the preview....I totally forgot how to color! After stamping and attempting to color several (okay, more than several!) of the images (that ended up in the circular file) I decided to just go simple; gray with a red heart highlight for the images. A little dab of Stickles over the red hearts makes them all glittery and dimensional. All the stamping is pretty straight forward, the only exception is a wee bit of masking for the sentiment "with love" which was shortened from the full sentiment of "sent with love."

Finished cards are 4.25" x 4.25"

The Sent with Love StampTV kit is wonderful mix of images and mixed font sentiments, perfect for so many different occasions.

For even more samples from this kit, check out these links:

And a little reminder, leave a comment on these blogs to become eligible to win FREE stamps!
See the StampTV blog for additional details:

Gina K. Designs - StampTV Blog

Happy Hoppin'!

V.~

Stamps:
Gina K Designs Sent with Love StampTV kit
Ink: Vivid! Cobblestone and Aqua, Memento Rose Bud and LuLu Lavendar
All cardstock is Gina K Designs Pure Luxury:
Bubblegum pink, Green Grass, Red Hot, Ocean Mist, Turquoise Sea, Lovely Lavender, White
Other: Nestabilities Oval, Circle, Scalloped Oval, Scalloped Circle and Labels 1 dies,
Copic C2, C5, R29, Stickles Star Dust, Silver mini brads and eyelets, Cuttlebug Tiny Tags die, Oval punch, Silver cord, GKD 5/8" Ribbon Wraps

Welcome 2011~

2011-01-01T08:51:00.000-08:00

From Dear Abby's column in today's paper, a little reminder on how to live, Just for Today:

DEAR READERS: Welcome to 2011! While the last year has been arduous for many of us, a new one has arrived, bringing with it our chance for a new beginning.

Today is the day we discard destructive old habits for healthy new ones. I will share Dear Abby’s often requested list of New Year’s Resolution. Many were adapted by my mother, Pauline Phillips, from the original credo of Al-Anon:

JUST FOR TODAY: I will live through this day only. I will not brood about yesterday or obsess about tomorrow. I will not set far-reaching goals or try to overcome all of my problems at once.

JUST FOR TODAY: I will be happy. I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me.

JUST FOR TODAY: I will accept what is. I will face reality. I will correct those things that I can correct and accept those I cannot.

JUST FOR TODAY: I will improve my mind. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

JUST FOR TODAY: I will make a conscious effort to be agreeable. I will be kind and courteous to those who cross my path, and I’ll not speak ill of others. I will improve my appearance, speak softly, and not interrupt when someone else is talking.

JUST FOR TODAY: I will do something positive to improve my health.

JUST FOR TODAY: I will gather the courage to do what is right and take responsibility for my own actions.

V.~

The Party~

2010-12-27T11:59:00.000-08:00

was an absolute SUCCESS!! A fabulous time had by all!
This is one of many pics taken - my 3 kids and me, I love how it turned out!

Time to clean up and put away the holiday decorations and relax a little.
Stay tuned for a GKD release preview and a guest spot for another team :)

V.~

Fudge Samplers~

2010-12-23T22:07:00.000-08:00

Every year we do just a little bit of baking for the holidays. This year all I could get to was Fantasy Fudge which I made today. After making the fudge, I created these little sampler boxes using Basic Grey Jovial papers and the Scor-Buddy. Each little box hold six delicious pieces of fudge, perfect to indulge just a little bit.

Finished boxes are 2-1/2" x 3-1/2"x 1"

Other supplies:
Stamps: retired SU! label set
Ink: Vivid! Brick
Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Natural White, Gina K Designs Rocket Red and Green Apple
Other: Wide striped grosgrain ribbon, 1" circle punch, Scor-Tape, SU! Designer Label and Curly Label punches, Hillcreek Designs Linen Thread

I hope all of your holidays are full of joy and happy memories!

V.~

A basket of 100 treats~

2010-12-20T07:38:00.000-08:00

No lazying around on a Sunday around here!
Another project from the Anniversary party to do list is checked off!

Simple nugget holders for the guests to take as they exit the party. I still need to find an elegant bow to tie to the handle of the golden basket.

Candy holders are embossed with the CB Textile folder, scored, and tied together with ribbon.
A Word Art text circle with a gold embossed 50th is die cut and mounted to a die cut petite circle scallop mat before adhering to the wrap with dimensional foam.

It's easy to make these simple wraps:
Base is 1-1/2" x 5-1/2"
Scored at 2-1/4" and 3-1/4"
Punch holes for the ribbon on both ends
Adhere candy to inside with Scor-Tape
Thread and tie ribbon through punched holes
Add medallion

Enjoy!
V.~

2010 Client Cards and more~

2010-12-18T10:32:00.001-08:00

Just Rite and PTI along with Basic Grey and a familiar layout equals client cards for Jay to take to work on Monday.
Finished card is 3-3/4" x 5-1/2"

Supplies
Stamps: JustRite Decorative Borders, Paper Trey Ink Holiday Wishes
Ink: Vivid! Brick, Olive
Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Natural White, Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Fresh Asparagus (very thin mat behind the focal panel)
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Jovial
Other: Nestabilities Circle dies, Olive and Red Grosgrain ribbon, Corner Rounder, Distressing tool, Dimensional foam

and now the more.....the newly redesigned Scor-Pal!
1/4" increments across the entire bed of the board, 1/8" increments at the start and end of the ruler, color screened ruler numbers, and all the useful cardmaker's grooves you're accustomed to plus a reduced price!

Scor-Pal Products

It's so easy to score the above card using the 1/4" increments, the need to adjust the left side starting point has been eliminated!

V.~

Golden~

2010-12-08T07:04:00.001-08:00

Signed, Sealed and Delivered....I'm Yours!
Anniversary party invites for the 50th Anniversary of my mom and dad went in the mail yesterday!
Layout from below (GKD Giving Tree preview) is perfect for a photo image card.

I selected one of my favorites from their wedding album, converted it to sepia from black and white, and used it as the focal point for the invitation.
A brushed gold embossed strip, ivory ribbon and an heat embossed gold 50th medallion are all this invite needed. Any thing else would have detracted from the joy in their faces looking towards their future together!

Now time to start scanning old photos to create a slide show!

Love you, Mom and Dad!

V.~

Supplies:
Stamps: MLM Invitation Essentials by CHF, no longer available
Ink: Encore Gold
Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Natural White, Brushed Gold
Other: Nestabilities Textile Embossing folder, Nestabilites Circle Die, Circle punch, Corner rounder, Gold Embossing powder, Hillcreek Designs Linen Thread

Donna asks.....

2010-12-06T17:24:00.000-08:00

How did I attach the Linen Thread on the card below?

Donna, I never want my buttons to fall off the card so I actually sew them through the cardstock.

My process is to place the button where I want it, poke through the button holes with a piercing tool, and then with a needle and linen thread, sew it on. No bow, I tie it off in a knot on the backside. If I want a bow, like on the card below, I just tie it into a bow as if I were tying my shoes.

I hope this helps.

Valerie~

ETA: attn. Donna, the wreath is stamped in brown ink, the berries in red. The only linen thread is tied with a bow onto the button. HTH, Valerie

Our Christmas Cards and a Google find~

2010-12-02T15:47:00.000-08:00

40 quick, simple, and easy to mass produce cards done in 2 days. I just had to sit down and do them the last 2 days for a couple hours each day or they wouldn't have gotten done, and well, when you've been sending handmade cards for years..........

Since they are pretty straightforward, the supplies are:

Stamps: A Wreath for All Seasons and Holiday Wishes (inside sentiment) by Papertrey ink
Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia, Vivid! Brick
Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Natural White, SU! Real Red and Kiwi Kiss
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Other: Corner rounder, Linen Thread, Red Button, Distressing tool, Adhesive
(no dimensionals or extra thickness makes mailing a snap)
Finished card is 3-3/4" x 5-1/2"

Now onto my Google find.

I've always enjoyed using SU!'s Linen thread and have been looking for a while for a similar product locally at the big box craft stores and smaller craft stores nearby without much luck. I can't justify the shipping and tax for just the thread from SU! So when I was getting down on my last pack yesterday, I decided to Google using very specific keywords "linen thread in Santee."
Who knew it would be a successful search with those specific words. The first hit was this place, an online store based about a mile from my home.

Hillcreek Designs

It arrived today. Not only do I like it better than the SU! Linen thread, it's much less expensive and has so much more on the spool! I prefer it because it's lighter in color and cleaner in texture than SU!'s thread and it ties beautifully! Plus it comes on a wooden spool!

They carry 3 different weights, the one I found suited me best is the Normandy Linen Thread 16/2, approx. 60 yards for $5.

They also carry a large variety of buttons, but if I came home with any more buttons Jay would certainly check me into a facility somewhere! :)

Anyway, now time to start sixty 50th Anniversary cards for my parents anniversary party at the end of the month. Yep, 60 to be completed and in the mail by Monday, no pressure! :)

V.~

GKD Nesting and The Giving Tree Previews~

2010-11-30T20:00:00.000-08:00

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:

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

2010-11-29T20:00:00.000-08:00

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

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~

2010-11-26T07:01:00.000-08:00

click here:
Gina K Designs

to go there!

Making Boxes~

2010-11-21T09:33:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-20T19:57:00.000-08:00

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~

2010-11-17T10:05:00.000-08:00

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~

2010-11-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

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~

2010-11-07T12:35:00.000-08:00

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.....

2010-11-03T15:50:00.000-07:00

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.~

Hello Mac~

2010-10-18T17:18:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been an adventure in computering...our PC was in a crash/blue screen mode and spent more days than not in the shop.Before it crashed permanently I backed it up one more time and went shopping for a new computer, a Mac this time.

The transition was fairly easy for me, but I still find that I have notes stuck around on the desk for reference and decided to make a "pretty" notepad instead of the freebie realtor tablet that I have been using.

I hauled out the BIA, some scrap chipboard (3" x 8"), October Afternoon scraps (the apple was perfect!), and assorted stamps (nothing current, sorry - CHF and SU!) and went to work this morning....I think this looks much better than that realtor pad! I haven't decided what the all of the tabs will be as of now, but know for sure one will be keyboard shortcuts because they're different than what I am used to.

Time to make the mashed potatoes for dinner!
Have a great night~

V.~

Flights of Fancy~

2010-10-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

This morning, after my walk in the drizzle with Riley, I created this card for a friend's birthday, belatedly. Her birthday was in Sept, when I was deep in the slump, so her gift was cardless.....little did I know until she told me that she has saved all the cards I've given to her. I felt so sad and complimented at the same time.

Since she'll be coming along with us to dinner tonight because it's her hubs birthday dinner, I am going to slide this card to her on the side.

Yes, it sentiment-less on the outside. There is so much going visually with the paper patterns, images and the bow, that there just wasn't a place for a sentiment. That's okay, there's a heartfelt message on the inside.

Supplies:
Stamps: Flight of Fancy from the Tim Holtz Visual Artistry Collections (Michaels)
Ink: SU! Soft Suede, Memento Rhubarb Stalk, Desert Sand
Paper: Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Ivory, Lipstick Red
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Curio
Other: Nestabilities Petite Scallop Circle and Circle Dies, Square Punch (banner ends), Dauber, Ivory Satin ribbon, Dimensional foam

Have a wonderful weekend! We are starting with dinner with friends tonight, a couple soccer games on Sat and Sun, and closing with Burn the Floor Sunday night.

V.~

Ticket to Celebrate~

2010-10-14T17:14:00.000-07:00

Plaid with Blue and Green, perfect for a guy, right?
I hope so, it's the big 50 for a friend of ours and we're taking them out for dinner tomorrow night and I'm taking this card along.

I've wanted this set and coordinating die for a little while and decided to take the plunge and order them along with a birthday greeting set plus the sets I'll be using for our Christmas cards this year - gotta get that free shipping, right?! I love the die! (and the stamps, too, but the die is so fun, it even perforates just like a real roll of tickets). It took a while for all of them to be available at the same time, so when they were, I submitted quickly!

I have loads of stamps but for some reason always feel more creative with something new. It's been awhile since I ordered PTI. My first experience with them was when I wasn't all that familiar with clear stamps and I had a hard time making the transition, so much so, I sold a few of the early sets I bought. Fast forward a couple years and clear is no big deal anymore. Red, Clear, Mounted, Unmounted, it doesn't matter anymore!

V.~

Inspiration for this layout: pine is here
Stamps: Just the Ticket by Papertrey Ink
Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia
Paper: Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Ivory
SU! Old Olive, Soft Sky
Patterned Paper: The Guy Stack by DCWV
Other: PTI Ticket die, Circle Nestabilitie Die, Olive Grosgrain, Ticket corner punch, Staple, Dimensional foam.

Cherish Each Moment~

2010-10-06T15:23:00.001-07:00

19 years worth~

Our 19th wedding anniversary is coming up and I thought my slump was going to continue and I wouldn't be able to make Jay a card............in case you haven't noticed, posts have been far and few between for the last several months with a serious case of
slumpiness going on. I even had a farewell post all typed up as it felt very permanent.

BUT, today I was excited to make a card, saw it in my head the way I used to! Not only did I do it, I loved doing it! Here's hoping the slump is leaving! The bit of symbolism in this is the clock hands - they are on the 10 and the 12, our anniversary date. :)

Stamps are from the Tim Holtz Visual Artistry Collection from Michaels Arts & Crafts - I wanted a new set and I wanted it today so supporting one of my fav online stores was out of the question.....so off to Michaels I headed.
Ink is Vivid!, Memento and Versafine
Cardstock is Pure Luxury Ivory by Gina K Designs
Patterned paper is from the Wanderer Collection by Basic Grey
Other: Mini brad, Tim Holtz Piercing Ruler, Distressing tool, Black grosgrain, Buttons, Thread, Dimensional foam

Finished card is a new favorite size: 3-3/4" x 5-1/2"
Not a standard size but I like it very much!

On another note, there is always chatter amongst us papercrafters on what we use to take photos of our projects - from daylight outdoor shots to fancy lightboxes. I've always used a simple piece of posterboard (around 5o cents or so at Target or similar stores) flanked by the OTT lights I have on my counter. It works for me, plus I just don't have the room for a permanent set-up. The posterboard slides behind the hutch in the next room and is used until it's too beat up. Simple and cost effective for me.

Thanks for visiting!
V.~

They're Coming to Take me Away.....

2010-09-28T20:00:00.000-07:00

ho ho, he he, ha ha to the Funny Farm, where life is beautiful all the time!
Whoops, not that funny farm! This Funny Farm, a cute new set from Gina K Designs.

My samples use 2 of the animals and sentiments from the Funny Farm set. The piggy may have been playing in the mud a little bit before posing for his portrait. :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Gina K Designs Funny Farm
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Gina K Pure Luxury Red Hot, Green Grass, Ocean Mist, Onyx Black, White
Other: Nestabilities Circle and Scallop Circle dies, Piercing ruler, GK Silver eyelets, GK Black/White Gingham check, GK Button, Corner rounder, EK Border punch, Black wax thread, Dimensional foam, Copic Markers

For more samples with tonight's new stamp sets, please visit these participating designer's blog links:

Gina
Theresa
Tami
Jessica
Melanie
Nina
Carolyn
Cathy
Lee
Lynn
Asela
Bev
Colleen
Sankari
Suzanne
Tera - Center Stage Spotlight Designer

The entire team would like to cordially invite each of you to our release party this Thursday night, September 30. We'll have contest questions, challenges, chatter, and lots of samples with the new stamp sets to share during the party. Please make plans to join us from 7-10 central on Stamp TV!

V.~

GK Fanciful Fall & So Groovy Blog Hop~

2010-09-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

Autumn is one of my favorite times of year - cool crisp mornings, warm but not blistering hot days days, lots of warm colors abound - today's weather is the exception, it is blazing hot (topped out at 117 at one point out on our patio!)

Supplies:

Stamps: Gina K Designs Fanciful Fall Stamp Set
Memento Rich Cocoa, Potter's Clay and Desert Sand
Paper: Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Ivory and Pumpkin Spice
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Pyrus
Other: Gina K button, thread, Nestabilities Circle and Petite Scallop Circle dies, Oval punch, 5/8" Ivory Grosgrain, Dauber, Distressing tool, Dimensional foam
Copics: YG91, 95, 97 E07, 13, 15,97,99 and YR24

Finished card is a non-standard size of 3-3/4" x 5-1/2". It just felt better than a standard A2 size.

For more samples with tonight's new stamp sets, please visit these participating designer's blog links:

Gina
Theresa - Illustrator of Fanciful Fall
Tami - Illustrator of So Groovy
Jessica
Melanie
Carolyn
Cathy
Lee
Lynn
Asela
Suzanne
Tera - Center Stage Spotlight Designer

The entire team would like to cordially invite each of you to our release party this Thursday night, September 30. We'll have contest questions, challenges, chatter, and lots of samples with the new stamp sets to share during the party. Please make plans to join us from 7-10 central on Stamp TV!

V.~

Over 6000 pictures...........

2010-09-14T07:10:00.000-07:00

Have been perused (all of us made copies of our pics and exchanged with each other, we took about 2000 of our own), many edited, and my Snapfish album for our fantastic trip was submitted yesterday - a mere 86 pages short!

That's what I've been doing the last few weeks, along with end of summer activities, soccer and school starting.

A few family pics representing our stay:

Sunday - a rafting trip up the Na Pali Coast, totally breathtaking!

Monday - Waimea Canyon drive and hike, spectacular!
Top picture is all of us, lower picture is with my parents and my 2 younger brothers. My sister and her family were not able to make the trip with us.

Tuesday - Irrigation Ditch Tubing and pond swimming! Fun times!

Wednesday - Snorkeling with sea turtles, dolphins, and reef fish! The turtles are so cool!

Thursday morning - Tunnels Beach, more snorkeling. I can't get enough, it's so calming for me to don a mask and snorkel in the beautiful underwater world.

Thursday afternoon - Kalalau Trail hike
Words can't describe this afternoon, not just in its beauty; the determination my mom showed in completing this hike (4 hours or so) was so inspiring for all of us, my brother's and myself and the grandkids (a few opted to stay at the beach with Jay and Grandpa) - You rock, Grandma!

Friday - Ziplining over Kipu Ranch - thrilling!!! I'd do this over and over and over!

Saturday - checking out of our beachfront vacation rental. Great homebase for our stay!
We were left with 1000's of pictures and priceless memories to last a lifetime.

Now that this ginormous project is done, I am hopeful my mojo will return!

V.~

With Sympathy~

2010-08-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

The husband of one of my mom's dearest friends passed away this week and I made this card this morning to express our family's sympathy to her and her family.

It's always hard to make cards for my mom's watercolor friends. They are all professionals and their work is so beautiful. I choose to make a card that nods to their medium (although many of them are mixed media, acrylic, and digital artists) by creating a card using Fabriano notecards.

I used 2 cards - one for the image, one for the base.

The image is created by:
1. Liberally spraying notecard with water from a spray bottle
2. Drop reinker (Adirondack Pesto and Caramel) and allow to spread, freak out a little while it does its thing.
3. While still wet, but not sopping, sprinkle a little salt into wet color
4. Dry with heat tool, rub off any excess salt
5. Flick rubbing alcohol with fingertips
6. Dry with heat tool
7. Stamp flower image (Hero Arts) with Versafine Black Onyx
8. Quickly dunk into clear embossing power, brush away excess powder, heat
9. Trim to size, tear top and bottom edges
10. Wrap gold cording around, tie, mount to base with dimensional foam.

V.~

GKD Lean on Me Preview Blog Hop~

2010-08-25T20:00:00.000-07:00

This sample was inspired by a sarong that we bought my niece while we were on vacation. The card, matching sarong and a little cash is headed to Ohio where she remained over the summer working at the college she attends. She's a Cali-girl at heart and we knew she would love the sarong....it may not be practical for Ohio but it will be a reminder of warmer temps of home come winter!

Card details:
Finished card is 5" x 5"
Stamps: Hibiscus flower from Lean on Me
Ink: Vivid! Aqua, Lemon Ice, Wild Lime ; Versamark
Paper: Pure Luxury Ocean Mist, White, Blue
Other: clear embossing powder, heat tool, white mini brads, aqua grosgrain ribbon,distressing tool, corner rounder, dimensional foam

This flower image (flower and stem are separate images) reminds me of agapanthus flowers. I'm not sure if that's what they are intended to be but that is what I made them into ☺.
I used to have a number of agapanthus planted in both the front and back yard here and now they reside in just the front yard. For some odd reason or another Riley likes to eat them, flowers, leaves and all, so since she hangs out in the backyard we had to take them out. Weird dog.

Card details:
Finished card is 3-1/4" x 6-1/2"
Stamps: Flower and stem from Lean on Me
Ink: Vivid! Violet Mist, Cobblestone; Memento Bamboo Leaves
Paper: Pure Luxury Smokey Slate, Green Grass, Lovely Lavender and White
Other: silver mini brads, satin ribbon, loose glitter, distressing tool, dimensional foam

For more samples with the stamp sets being previewed tonight, please check out these participating designer's links:

Gina Krupsky
Jessica Fick
Melanie Muenchinger
Theresa Momber
Tami Mayberry
Cathy Tidwell
Lee Murphy
Kurtis Amundson
Suzanne Dean
Bev Gerard
Colleen Schaan
Sankari Wegman
Nina Brackett
Miesje Flach

You are invited to join us at the StampTV Release Party Forum tomorrow night August 26th from 7-10 central time for contest questions, challenges, and chatter along with tons more samples! The party leads up to the new products featured this week on our blogs being available for purchase online through Gina K Designs at 10pm.

Thanks for stopping by!

V.~

Lessons learned...

2010-08-16T16:22:00.000-07:00

I learned (re-learned, actually) a few things while on vacation and thought I'd share them here. In no particular order and certainly not all of them:

Family is so important to me. Togetherness sometimes gets lost in the details of raising a family; running a household, homework, balancing the checkbook, laundry, etc, etc, etc, things all a necessary part of family living, can also be a cause for disconnecting. Reconnecting and spending a week of quality time together reinforces that importance for me. Rediscovering how much I enjoy hanging out with all of them; my family, my parents, both of my brothers, my brother's girlfriend and all of our 6 kids - some families can't be in the same room for long, we had 13 of us in one vacation rental house for 8 days and loved every minute of it. I just wish my sister and her family could have joined us - another vacation, someday.

Slowing down and breathing life in, enjoying what life is offering now. Slow isn't how I would typically describe our vacation as we crammed as much as possible into the 8 days. But the overall feeling on the island is a slower paced lifestyle and it fit me nicely. Heck the speed limit on most of Kauai is 25mph - a bit strange at first but once we were adapted to it, it was kind of nice to actually observe what's going on around you when driving from place to place. I intend to add slowing down to my daily repertoire (although not on the roads, LOL, pretty sure it would be stressful for me if I did, iykwim!).

My watch came off on the 7th and didn't put it on until the 14th. How freeing!

No TV for me for an entire week and I didn't feel like a missed a thing (our dvr here at home says otherwise LOL). I think I'll re-think what I watch here at home.

Computer time was minimal. We purposely left our laptop at home,so any computer time for me was quickly done on my brothers iPad. Another freeing experience and it will have an impact on me now that I am home. I will not be on the computer as much. As far as keeping this blog up and running, the decision is still out.

I left my cell phone at the house most days, not all, but most. Although I did send out a dozen or so picture texts, so it was helpful to have around. :) But not feeling naked without it was a great feeling!

Mahalo, Kauai, for everything!

V.~

Back Home~

2010-08-15T20:38:00.001-07:00

13 of us, all family, just returned from a week on the island of Kauai -
we had the time of our lives exploring the island's beauty; everything from sea rafting up the Napali Coast to Ziplining and everything in between.

This is the early evening view from the vacation home we rented during our stay in Poi-Pu Beach. I can't wait to return someday.

Not so sure about that red-eye return flight, though..... haha!

Now it's time for a vacation from our vacation :)

V.~

Deepest Sorrow~

2010-08-02T13:31:00.000-07:00

While I was away in Chicago having a wonderful time, my very good friend and neighbor, Kelly, received very unexpected and life changing news. Her father passed away, at much too young an age, and all alone in his home. My heart is so heavy for her and her family.

V.~

Supplies:
Stamps: Spring Florals by Gina K Designs
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Desert Sand, Versafine Olympia Green
Paper: Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Ivory, Fresh Asparagus, Black Onyx, Sweet Corn
Patterned Paper: Curio by Basic Grey
Other: Copic Markers, Antique mini brads, Oval punch, Scor-Buddy (embossed lines on green strip), Corner Rounder, Dauber, Dimensional foam

Cats & Dogs

2010-07-31T14:27:00.000-07:00

My nieces are celebrating birthdays today and are both animal lovers. As they've come to expect something made by me I decided to try and baby-step my way back into crafting. Simple sour cream containers house the "green-one-size-fits-all" tied roll that is inside.

While these are called Sour Cream Containers by the crafting population, my kids and their friends know them as "Push Up Pops" due to the dessert treat that was/is offered at their schools.

A reminder of how these simple containers are made for a finished size of 6" x approx. 3-3/4":

Start with a 6" x 8" piece of patterned paper.
Attach Scor-Tape to one of the short sides.
Roll up and adhere together. It will look like an empty tp roll at this point.
Attach a strip of Scor-Tape to inside of the tube that you want to be the bottom, adhere.
Crimp bottom.
Twist slightly so that the top and bottom edges are opposite each other.
Punch and set jumbo eyelets.
Fill with shred and your choice of gift.
Tie ribbon to close.
Add coordinated tags.

V.~

Supplies:
Stamps: Kim Hughes Quirky Alphabet (no longer available)
Ink: Vivid! Brick
Cardstock: Gina K Designs Pure Luxury White, Slate, Turquoise Gem. Sweet Corn
Patterned paper and stickers used: Basic Grey Max & Whiskers
Other: Nestabilities Circle and Petite Scallop Dies, Jumbo eyelets, Black Hemp, Dimensional foam, Gina K Designs ribbon

Back from Chicago~

2010-07-30T13:34:00.000-07:00

The one and only picture in my camera from CHA!
Lynn, Diana, Roy, and me in the Scor-Pal booth
I got back late last night from yet another incredible experience in Chicago.
I am always so happy to see all my long distance friends again, meet new friends, and visiting with new and returning Scor-Pal customers.
I am ever so grateful to Diana and Roy Crick for allowing me to have the experience of working with them and their wonderful product!

V.~

The Creative Flame~

2010-07-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

8 years or so ago a flame was ignited within me; a creative spark lit up a part of my brain that had been dormant for quite a while. I was introduced to rubberstamping. From that point rubberstamping and papercrafting were all I could think about - I dreamed and saw inspiration everywhere. I amassed a large collection of the tools to participate in this craft.

And for 8 years I created. I taught. I was published. I participated on design teams and in stamping forums/galleries. I wrote tutorials and was part of the Dirty Dozen. CHA's and Mania's were attended. I found fantastic, lifelong, friends who shared this craft.

And then about 4 months ago or so the flame started to ebb. No longer did I wake up with the desire to create. I tried all the usual methods to reignite the spark. However, the more I obsess about my lack of creativity and desire, the more it has stayed away.

The more it stays away, the guiltier I become about not maintaining a regular source of projects for my blog.

So for now, I am taking a hiatus from my blog and creating. I am hoping to be recharged when I attend CHA with Scor-Pal in a few weeks.

Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Valerie