Gina K Inspiration Hop!

It's time for another Gina K Inspiration Hop!  Yay for me that Blogger is finally cooperating!  :)

Today we're sharing cards and projects made with Dreams and Birthday Bash!

Dreams is an absolutely lovely set by Tami Mayberry.  These are the most beautiful sentiments!  I paired it with some lovely butterfly papers, lace, and an assortment of Spellbinders' dies.  Everything was softly distressed with tea dye distress ink.  Couldn't resist adding a flutter-trail of bling!

My second card is made with Rupa's Birthday Bash...isn't this little gift-bearing Bear adorable?!  I used this week's CPS sketch for my layout.  Be sure to check it out...it's being sponsored by Gina K Designs so there's another chance for you to win a GKD set!

Notes:

Pure Luxury card stock (LOVIN' the new Just Peachy!)

Memento ink

tea dye distress ink

Copic markers

Nestabilities circles, ovals, rectangles, butterfly, labels 18 

Here's the list of participants in today's hop!

• Gina K
• Giovana Smith
• Janice Whiting
• Jennie Harper
• Jimmi Mayo
• Lee Murphy
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Michelle Woerner
• Sharon Harnist
• Suzanne Dean
• Tami Mayberry
• Theresa Momber
• Tina Gilliland
• Vicki Dutcher
• Carolina Buchting
• Cathy Tidwell
• Donna Baker

Ice Cream?!

What could be more perfect for Memorial Day?  I hope you've enjoyed the day, which is, in the U.S., the unofficial kick-off of summer.  According to the Today Show, more beef is consumed on this day than any other...and after the cookout, I'll bet there's lots of ice cream!

I edit my pictures on the PC (using a couple of favorite old programs) but prefer to write up my posts and link products from my comfy chair using my Mac laptop.  Earlier this month I loaded some pics to blogger thinking they would be ready and waiting, accessible with the laptop while we were traveling in Louisiana.  WRONG!  Blogger has been having lots of issues this month, and I lost several draft posts during that time.  Now that we're back home and re-establishing the routine, I remembered those photos and gathered them together for today's post.  So happy that I can blog from the freedom of the laptop again!  I don't like being tethered to the desktop anymore!

These cool and delicious desserts are made with two sets from the {stamps} of Life, scream4icecream and cone2dish.  There are solid and line art images of different sizes that coordinate and work interchangeably, which make these two sets fun and versatile!  You can color them, paper piece them, or stamp the solid images with ink. 

My first card was made by paper piecing a soda shop glass, some chocolate ice cream, a bright pink cherry and green spoon for a long card of BoBunny dots and Echo Park designer paper.

It's fun to pair these images with brightly colored papers and other TSOL sets, like invite2create.  Here I used some old DCWV glittery designer paper with a bright silk bow and a big blingy cherry.

You can dress them up or keep things CAS...of course, even with a simple design, a little pink frou frou never hurts!  ;)  Here, the chocolate ice cream was topped with Glossy Accents to mimic Magic Shell.  YUM!  As a kid, that was my favorite.

Last week I posted a hinged card made with these two sets for a VSN challenge.  Easy peasy and lots of fun!

I'll be back in a few days with some cards made with a new club set from the {stamps} of Life, so I hope you'll visit again!

Flower Soft and Bugaboo!

Our Flower Soft team is excited to be sponsoring this week's Bugaboo challenge!  These adorable digital images are lots of fun to play with!  I couldn't resist playing with two of them!  This bird was perfect for a bright colors challenge...Summertime Peeker is absolutely darling, especially at this time of year and would look adorable in brights or pastels!

I colored both of my digi-stamps with Copic markers.  I cut the bird image out with nestabilities labels 16, sponging on some sky colors before removing the shape from the die. The Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Doily Motif that adorns each edge is actually a circular die that I cut into quarters.  For the layered flower embellishment, I cut two small blossoms from the Rose Creations die set, crumpling and shaping the petals for dimension.  The center of this one was made by adding neon yellow Ultrafine Flower Soft to a large dab of PVA glue.

My second card follows the same layout with similar elements.  Summertime Peeker was cut with a rectangular nestabilities die.  I gave this image more color and texture with earth and citrus crush ultrafine Flower Soft.  This flower's center was made with some Flower Soft wire + PVA glue + citrus crush for some "stamen."

I love how soft and sweet this second card turned out!  With her bow and bangs, the girl peeking from the flowerpot looks like a blossom herself!

Notes:
Bugaboo Summertime Peeker digital stamp
Echo Park Summer Days 6 x 6 designer paper
Basic Grey Hopscotch 6 x 6 designer paper
Copic markers
Ultrafine Flower Soft in citrus crush, earth, neon yellow
Flower Soft wire
Flower Soft PVA glue
Nestabilities rectangle, labels 16, fleur de lis doily motif
Crinkle ribbon
Silk ribbon
Bow Easy

Gina K Inspiration Hop!

Welcome to today’s Gina K Inspiration Hop!  Were you able to make the release party last night?  It was so much fun and there were so many beautiful cards shared by our amazing design team! 

I've been having blogger woes, unable to sign in...hopefully this time, it's gonna work!  You should have arrived from Cat’s.

Today we’re sharing cards made with Vogue Vases and Melanie’s Border Bling. 
I couldn’t resist using some star patterned paper from October Afternoon and our newest color of Pure Luxury card stock, Just Peachy to go along with this fun quote!  The rhinestone star has been sitting in my stash for ages!  I used a Bow Easy and some ribbon from the new StampTV kit, Vintage Chic for the bow.

From here you’re going to Donna’s!  Just in case, here's the entire list!

• Gina K
• AJ Otto
• Carolina Buchting
• Cathy Tidwell
• Donna Baker
• Emily Giovanni
• Giovana Smith
• Janice Whiting
• Jennie Harper
• Jimmi Mayo
• Lee Murphy
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Michelle Woerner
• Sharon Harnist
• Theresa Momber
• Tina Gilliland
• Vicki Dutcher

Lizzie Anne Designs Sale!

A huge selection of stamps are 30% off today through May 30th.
There are also quite a few stamps and sets that we have RETIRED, including several past limited-edition Mix sets! Get them while you can... once they are gone, they will never be reprinted.

CPS 219

This week's CPS sketch is sponsored by Kraftin' Kimmie...I used the adorable Caroline to make a card for my niece, who is expecting her 3rd child.  Her firstborn, my great-niece Faith, was visiting last weekend (along with her brother Jeremiah) and she helped pick out the accoutrements...it sure was fun to work with her, and she is hand-delivering this card with a {hug} for her mom from me.

Except for stamps, supplies are from i {heart} papers.

Notes:

Kraftin Kimmie's Caroline

October Afternoon 5 & Dime designer paper

Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Tim Holtz tea dye distress ink
Copic markers

sheer gold twinkle ribbon

Making Memories garment pin

glass beads (if I'd had baby beads, I would have spelled "boy!"  :)

VSN Cards

We've been visiting in Louisiana for a little over a week...since my dad is nearly homebound, I brought a stash of stamping supplies to play with while we sit and chat and enjoy each other's company.  Mom is a crafter at heart, so she has been content to watch and help with some of the decision-making.  It was fun to play a few VSN challenges over the weekend.

My first card was made for Beate's color challenge:  aqua, kraft, and light green.  This BoBunny designer paper had those colors along with some beautiful blush.  I opted for an image from Lizzie Anne Designs and added a few hand-rolled roses to a crocheted flower and button.

This card was for Amber's ARRR challenge.  My r's included some rainbow Echo Park paper, a cute little Lawn Fawn raft, some glimmer ribbon and a round button tied with twine.  This sketch is Fall-to-Layout #141.  

Here's my card for Stephanie's hidden treasure challenge.  This is a soda shop image from the {stamps} of Life, stamped with Memento ink and paper pieced from some Echo Park paper with a big button cherry on top.

Notes:
Happy Spring card
Lizzie Anne Designs Follow Your Dreams
BoBunny designer paper
Nestabilities Labels 14
Memento Rich Cocoa ink
Tim Holtz tea dye distress ink
Copic markers
Kaiser Craft crocheted flower, lace
silk ribbon scrap for "leaves"
button
jute thread


Have Fun card
Lawn Fawn Swimsuit Season
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Copic markers
Echo Park Summer Days designer paper
glimmer ribbon
scallop edge punch
button
twine


Ice Cream card
the {stamps} of Life scream4icecream and cone2dish
Echo Park Summer Days designer paper
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Copic markers (shading only)
brad
button
twine

Faith's Card

My son and I are in Louisiana visiting my parents, and last weekend my SIL and great-niece-and-nephew came for a visit! I canNOT tell you how much it meant to me that Bridget was willing to drive so far (all the way from Dallas to Westlake) for such a short visit!  They came for a long weekend, and we had the best time!

Faith is nine years old, but she is already showing signs of being a master crafter!  She made several pairs of adorable altered flip flops with bandana fabric into narrow strips, knotted around the straps.  They were so bright and fun!

I think she was a little intimidated by the carry-on case of supplies I brought, but on an outing to Walmart we spied some cute designer paper and a big jar of ribbon, rick rack, pom poms, sequins, etc.  We went through my stash of stamps, and settled on this moovelous image and sentiment from Lizzie Anne.  I think it came out so cute!  I worked on several cards with Faith's direction, and I will be sharing another in a couple of days.

Happy Sunday!

Crazy in Love!

This week's OCL challenge is a supply challenge, to use twine on your project.  This Be Mine designer paper inspired a "crazy in love" card which could be sent for Valentine's Day or any day.  Love love LOVE the color combo of this paper!  I used Memento ink and Copic markers for my images and sentiment,  popping some elements up on dimensional adhesive squares to give more depth.  The lined paper stamped with the sentiment was meant to look like a postcard greeting wrapped with twine, ready to be mailed.

Check out the OCL blog to find the details for the challenge!  I hope you'll play along!








Notes:
Our Craft Lounge Sending Love stamp set (sentiment from Notes of Love)
Echo Park Be Mine designer paper
Memento ink
Copic markers
Zva dimensional adhesive squares 

hot pink twine

buttons 

Sent with Love!

Hello friends!  Here is a card for Flower Soft challenge FSC29--ovals.  I used the beautiful Lavendar papercrafting kit and some scalloped oval nestabilities to create a layered focal point with a gorgeous butterfly fluttering along its edge.   The sentiment is from the set, Sent With Love, from Layers of Color.

We are in Louisiana visiting my parents, so the "stash" of craft supplies had to be pared down to what could be carried in a small carry-on bag.  Thankfully I had some cardstock to match, but no lavender and no patterned paper.  I used some tulle to bring some of the soft lavender color into the design.  The lace and tulle echo the lacy scalloped edge of the focal image.  A soft crinkle crepe ribbon bow made with the Bow Easy, topped with a tulle bow, embellished with pearl pins and a pretty heart charm make this especially feminine.  When I get home, I'll add some of the fluffy stuff to bring even more texture into the design!

Please join us in this challenge!  More info here!

Stitched With Love!

Today is challenge day for the i {heart} papers design team.  This month we're playing a color block challenge.  I thought that since it is national scrapbooking month, a color block challenge would lend itself to a scrapbook page should any of our designers or customers choose to make one!  We'll see!

For my project, I altered a paper mache` container to create a little sewing box.  The color block technique is perfect for use with quilt block patterns.  I used two small-patterned prints from Basic Grey's Sweet Threads designer paper pack to piece together Grace's spools.  It was a tedious process because each of the squares is only 3/8 of an inch.  It takes 9 squares (some cut in diagonals) to construct one spool which measures approximately 1 1/8 inches.  I made two rows of 3 spools each (~3 3/8 inches square), with a sentiment from Our Craft Lounge in place of the center row.  I used Copic markers to color the tiny heart of the sentiment, then inked the edges and the entire color blocked panel with distress ink.

The box sides are covered with more Sweet Threads designer paper.  The finished box is approximately 4 1/5 inches square, perfect for keeping spare bobbins, needles/thread, buttons, etc.

In spite of how much time and effort it took to make this project, I really love the way it turned out!  It is pretty AND functional.  I adore all the fabulous sewing images that are turning up in the stamping world lately!

Notes:
Our Craft Lounge stamps
Basic Grey Sweet Threads designer paper
Copic blending paper
Copic markers
Memento ink
Tim Holtz tea dye distress ink
gold ribbon
Bow Easy
glue dots
adhesive dots
i {stick} papers tape
sparkler rose flower
Upcycle buttons
scraps of green silk ribbon, "tape measure" ribbon

Here are the rest of the i {heart} papers designers' links!  Can't wait to see what they've come up with!  Please leave 'em some love!  They work hard to bring you such great inspiration, and I love every one of 'em!

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

Keep Cool!

This week's CPS sketch, #218, is sponsored by Lawn Fawn.  This summer set, Swimsuit Season, is SO perfect for Florida!  A splash of bling and a trio of glasses filled with refreshing pink lemonade are sure to lower the temp!  

This was a really fun sketch, with images that are great for coloring with Copics.  I even used some warm greys to shade the paper-pieced swimsuits.

Notes:

Bazill cardstock

Lawn Fawn Swimsuit Season

3 bugs in a rug Chloe, April Showers designer paper

Memento ink

Copic markers

Nestabilities Classic Squares

Reflections bling

LAD DT Challenge

It's time for another Lizzie Anne design team challenge, and this month we were given a photo for some color inspiration!  Isn't this a gorgeous room?!  These colors are so soft and serene...just looking at the picture makes me feel more relaxed!  ;)

For my card, I chose some gorgeous BoBunny designer paper.  I stamped the sentiment, Hope, directly onto the dp using Memento Rich Cocoa ink.  The tulle brings a little splash of pink, with a satin bow, pearl pin, flower and butterfly charm to add some interest.

The butterfly is a great reminder that just when things seem impossible, something beautiful can happen!

Visit the Lizzie Anne blog to find links to what my amazing design team mates have created!

CSS Blog Hop!

This month's Center Stage Spotlight hop is a great sketch by our very own Melissa Cash!  Isn't this circular design fun?!  I love doing shaped cards...it is so refreshing to do something a little different!

You should have arrived here from Giovana's...with all of blogger's issues, plus our travel to Louisiana Friday (which took about 3 times as long as it was supposed to!) I am arriving late to the party, so you might have come from somewhere else!  If you missed the start, head over to StampTV's forum to catch the beginning.

I used my Grand Calibur and a grand scalloped circle die to form the base of my card, and classic circles small and large for the layers.  The colors for this "green thumb" card were inspired by a pretty floral print from Basic Grey's Sweet Threads paper pack.  I stamped images from What's the Dirt?! on scraps of white PL, colored them with Copics, cut them out and adhered them with pop dots.  A few pearl-centered paper blossoms are sprinkled alongside the fancy tag sentiment and on the gingham bow.  The entire design is light-hearted and happy and just makes me smile!

Notes:
What's the Dirt?
Pure Luxury card stock
Sweet Threads designer paper
Memento ink
gingham ribbon
Bow Easy
pop dots
paper piercer
pearls

From here, you're heading to Cheri's!  I know she's got something fabulous to share with you!

Gina K--Sew Fun!

The Gina K design team is hosting a fun hop with a sewing theme!  There are lots of great ways to add stitching to your cards...from hand stitching with thimble, needle and thread to fancy machine stitching or even faux stitching, you'll see some great inspiration in today's hop!

You should have arrived from Cat's!  Didn't you love her hand-stitched petals?!  If you missed the projects before that, visit StampTV to start at the beginning!

I couldn't resist using Asela's Sew Pretty set for my card!  I used machine straight-stitching to emphasize the lines of the layout (Theresa's sketch, which was still current when this post was first published before blogger freaked and deleted it!).  The focal image was paper pieced with a scrap of Basic Grey Marjolaine designer paper, which made this a fast and easy card.

I trimmed around to sentiment to keep from covering up so much of this lovely lady.  The shape of the sentiment adds to the retro feel of the card...kinda reminds me of a neon sign from a 50's drive-in!  In keeping with the sewing theme, I added a button-trimmed satin bow and some snaps.  I hope you like it!

Notes:

Sew Pretty

Pure Luxury card stock

Memento ink

Tim Holtz distress ink

Basic Grey Marjolaine designer paper

Nestabilities Labels 10

satin ribbon

light green button

snaps

Your next stop on our Sew Fun hop is Donna's!  Just WAIT 'til you see the darling project she has come up with!

Flower Soft Blog Hop!

We invite you to join the fabulous Flower Soft® team on an inspirational blog hop featuring projects using Flower Soft Stamps!  You should have arrived here from Dina's!

The blog hop starts on the Flower Soft® Blog on May 11^th at 6:00 a.m.  CT and ends May 24^th at midnight CT. The winner will be announced on the Flower Soft® Blog on May 25^th. If you get lost along the way the complete hop list will be posted on the Flower Soft® Blog.

Be sure to comment on every blog in the hop. One lucky person that comments on one of the blogs will be chosen to receive a $50 Flower Soft® shopping spree!!!

Flower Soft® website: http://www.flower-soft.us.com/index.php

My project for today features Flower Soft's Charlie's Ark rubber stamp, In the Air!  I stamped this cute little guy directly onto a piece of Webster's Pages designer paper (everything except the boy and his diploma are part of the 6 x 6 print), colored him with Copic markers, and accented the page with "typewriter key" letters and chipboard numbers to go along with the schoolhouse theme.  The striped paper strips and square corners framing the design give the page the look of an old-fashioned calico quilt block, especially with some machine stitching along the page's edges.  

This would make a nice framable kindergarten graduation keepsake with a pocket underneath to stash certificates, report cards and other sentimentals, or it could be used as part of a two-page spread with pictures commemorating the school year.  

Visit the rest of our team for more inspiration using stamps from Flower Soft!  If you're hopping, you should be on your way to Cibele's!  And if you're lost...here's the entire list!

Dina Kowal
Cibele Glazer
Debbie Sherman
Jeanne Streiff
Linda Beeson
Debbie Seyer
Gini Cagle 

CPS 217

I finished a card for CPS 217 (shown below) and just wasn't really wild about it, so I started over and made another one with this cute little Paper Smooches owl.  Kim Hughes, my "SCS Dirty Dozen roomie" for six months, recently opened her own company and is sponsoring this week's sketch.  I absolutely adore the set she shared with me!  Her style is so recognizable and fun!

Notes:

Paper Smooches Chubby Chums

Gina K card stock 

My Little Shoebox designer paper

Memento ink

Copic, SU, and Marvy markers

The Twinery twine

Walmart buttons

The inspiration for my first card was the "Cupid's Bow" shape of the Spellbinders grommet tag...I thought that it resembled lips but in the end, decided maybe not so much!  What do you think?  Which card do you like best?  wooHOO! or sMOOch!?

Notes:

Paper Smooches Chubby Chums

Best Creations designer paper

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Copic markers

Spellbinders Grommet Tags

Bazill brads

The Twinery twine

Walmart buttons

National Scrapbooking Day!

It's National Scrapbooking Day, and Our Craft Lounge is hosting a hop! Many of us are more comfortable as card-makers (in spite of a long-ago start as scrappers!), but we've put together some scrapbooking eye candy for you today!

My most recent pictures are from our church's annual benefit golf tournament.  This one function funds our youth ministry for the entire year.  There are so many local businesses and individuals who sponsor holes, donate prizes, organize foursomes to play, provide food and more...it is a really amazing event!  My friend Lisa took this picture of my husband and his coworkers at the 18th hole.  These "old guys" really do rule!  Although they sunk two balls in the lake on hole #10 (the closest to the pin contest), they went on to win the tourney with a score of -2!   It was an especially great victory, because one of their team mates, Ed, is retiring and returning to the Philippines.  This was Patrick's last chance to spend some time with him and to say goodbye.

Notes:
Our Craft Lounge Golfing Gramps (ask Kate from ihp to order it for you!)
MME Abbey Road 12 x 12 designer papers
Copic marker blending paper
Memento ink
Tim Holtz tea dye distress ink
Copic markers
Spellbinders' labels 2 die
Zva dimensional adhesive dots
Old Guys Rule brads
The Girls' Paperie chipboard alphabet

Here are the girls participating in today's hop!

• Heather McNally
• Kendra Wietstock
• Amber Hillman
• Latrice Murphy
• Mandy Sarver
• Pam Hooten
• Lori Tecler
• Debbie Seyer

If you decide to play along with us, make sure to leave a link at the bottom of today's OCL post so that you will be entered in the chance to win a free stamp set!  Our design team will vote to select a winner!  There will also be a drawing from all those who leave comments on today's OCL blog post.  The winners will be announced on the OCL blog on Monday, May 9th.

LUCKY YOU!  

IHP has a 10% off coupon for you when you spend $40 or more, valid through Sunday. Use code NSD2011DT. Plus, all single digistamps are only $1, and all orders $100 or more will get a free extra gift from Kate as a thank you. It might be a paper sampler or a stamp or something else! It’ll be a surprise!

CPS 216...Sweet!

Flower Soft is sponsoring this week's CPS sketch.  When I very first saw this cute topper it made me think of a scrap of very old Provo Craft designer paper that I had used for a long ago Valentine's Day project.  Don't you think those swirly sweets and heart-shaped strawberries go great with it?!

I cut and embossed the Flower Soft Yummy Recipes card topper using a Nestabilities labels 2 die, placed it atop a classic circle, and embellished it with some Ultrafine Raspberry Fizz and Toffee and added a few strategically placed small pearls to accentuate the die shape.  The sentiment is stamped on a little tag from a JustRite nested frames die set, tied with twine to a pretty pink bow.

Notes:

Flower Soft Yummy Recipes card topper

Ultrafine Raspberry Fizz and Toffee

Provo Craft designer paper scrap

Our Craft Lounge sentiment (Sweet on You)

Spellbinders classic circles, labels 2, JustRite

American Crafts ribbon

The Twinery twine

Kaisercraft pearls