Cuddles and Hugs

Here is another sample using Cuddles and Hugs, one of the Lucky Seven stamp sets being offered in a fantastic sale at Gina K Designs this weekend. This stamp set is filled with the sweetest animal images, all cozy and cuddly! I used the koala bears on this card. Aren't they adorable!

I colored the koalas with Copic markers and then cut them out. I mounted them on a piece of glossy white cardstock, that I had sponged with Certainly Celery and Old Olive ink, then stamped using the bamboo stamp from the set. I also colored in the leaves on the bamboo with Copics. I layered with GKD Pure Luxury Black Onyx, SU Kiwi Kiss and SEI glitter paper. The sentiment is cut with Nestabilities. Oh, check out those cool nail heads! I love these! They look like brads, but they are flatter and self adhesive, so you can add them last minute and not worry about brad prongs sticking through.

You can read about the Lucky 7 Stamp Sale in this post from yesterday.

Some of the other DT are sharing more Lucky 7 samples tonight. Check them out for some great inspiration.

Jessica Fick
Cindy Lawrence
Donna Baker
JenMarie Taylor

I would also like to thank Lisa for nominating me for a blogging award. Thank you so much Lisa! You rock! Lisa has a bunch of neat 3-D stuff she's posted on her blog recently.

Thanks for visiting. I hope you have a great weekend!

What's Your Lucky Number?

It's your lucky day! Tonight we are having an exciting blog hop featuring seven stamp sets that are included in one of the most amazing specials Gina K has ever offered. (see all the details below) Each design team member will be showcasing one of her/his favorite stamp sets included in the sale to give you some inspiration.

I'm featuring Cuddles and Hugs, a stamp set designed by Melanie Muenchinger last summer. This stamp set is filled with the sweetest animal images, all cozy and cuddly! I just love how Melanie drew the flamingos so their heads formed the shape of a heart. This is a really great set to stamp with and the sentiments are both heartfelt and fun. Card details and more photos below.

And now here are the details of the sale and blog hop...

Lucky Seven Sale Event: July 10-14, 2009

Buy any three of these seven stamp sets(regularly priced at $23.95 each) for $49.95 and you can choose one from these normally priced $19.95 stamp sets for free! (A value of $91.80)

OR, for an even more amazing deal: Buy them all for $125! Purchase all of the Lucky Seven stamp sets and you will receive all 4 of the free stamp set choices for free! (A total value of $247.55)

Lucky Seven Stamp sets available for this sale event:
Many Happy Returns
How Sweet it Is!
Jumping for Joy
Zoo Animals
Christmas Blessings
Whatever Floats Your Boat
Cuddles and Hugs

Stamp sets available for free with the purchase of 3 of the Lucky Seven Stamp Sets:
WhooHoo!
Rectangle Greetings
Heartfelt Hits 1
Kindred Greetings for Kids

To take advantage of these sale prices, look for the Lucky Seven Button on GinaK's Online Store that will go live midnight tonight!

Check out these GinaK Designs Senior Design Team blogs tonight for projects made with these seven Lucky Stamp sets!

Many Happy Returns: Joanne and Lynn
How Sweet it Is: Gina and Carolyn
Jumping for Joy: Cathy and Lee
Zoo Animals: Asela and Donna
Christmas Blessings: Kurtis and Emily
Whatever Floats Your Boat: Erika and Jessica
Cuddles and Hugs: Melanie and Theresa

The Lucky Seven Sale event starts now and will end Monday night at Midnight.


Isn't that a sweet deal? I love that if you order all seven, you then get the four sets that you can choose from for the free with three. If you already have one or two of the sets being offered today, I think I would still consider it and save the duplicate(s) to use as gifts or blog candy. BTW, if you purchase all 7 for $125, plus get 4 sets for free, that works out to a little over $11 per set! If you get three for $49.95, plus one free set, that works out to just under $12.50 per set, still an amazing deal!

And now for details of my card...

I colored the flamingos with Copic markers, starting with RV25 around the edges.

Then I added RV23, followed by RV21 to cover the entire feathered part of the birds. I used my blender pen to push back some of the color in the open areas, creating some highlights.

Used RV25 to go back over the darkest areas for a little more contrast. I colored the legs with YR02 and the beaks with N5 and C3.

Then I stamped some of the bamboo and grass around the edge of my cardstock and colored those with Copics, too. I then heat embossed the images with clear embossing powder. Before embossing, I rubbed my cardstock with my embossing buddy to prevent static, then colored over the images with a Versa Mark pen so the powder would have something to stick to.

Using a post-it note as a mask, I sponged So Saffron for the sky.

Added a 1 3/8 inch circle to mask out the sun and sponged Apricot Appeal ink.

Added More Mustard.

And finally, Pumpkin Pie ink. I intentionally made the Pumpkin Pie a little splotchy so it would look like there were some wispy clouds in the sky.

Then I removed the mask from the bottom and tore a new mask to show the sun reflecting in the water.

Placed a mask over the sky that I had already sponged to protect it. Then added the U-shaped mask and sponged So Saffron, More Mustard and Pumpkin Pie in the open area.

Removed the U-shaped mask and added the other piece to the area I just sponged. Then I sponged Almost Amethyst, Lavender Lace and Regal Rose.

Used Copic markers, Vo6 and RV23 to add some ripples.

And here is a close-up after assembling. The yellow circle panel was sponged and I used my SU Word Window punch to cut out the sentiment.

I finished the inside of the card using the flamingos stamped with Pretty in Pink and the sentiment stamped in black. I also did some sponging around the edges with Regal Rose ink.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you have a wonderful day!

A Happy Camper and Some Happy Friends

Hello and a Happy Thursday to you! Today, my friend and guest designer, Deb Neerman, has a project using my latest set, Happy Camper, to share with you. I just love gorgeous scene she created!

My card is a combination of stamps from my Happy Camper set and Asela's new set, The Journey. I love how the images in these two sets work so well together.

Sorry, I don't have any detail photos for this one. I started this card last night and finished it up this morning. I stamped my images crooked on the cardstock and needed to crop it, but my family was still asleep, so I was trying to be very quiet and my paper trimmer makes the worst kind of "nails on chalkboard" sound. So my solution was to put it on my card base at an angle. Now my images are straight and the jaunty little angle looks purposeful.

I colored all the images with Copic markers. First I stamped the kids from The Journey, colored them and heat embossed with clear. Then I stamped the mountain scene from Happy Camper. The embossing protected the previous image. All I had to do was swipes the ink from it with a paper towel. Then I colored the mountains and all the background with Copics.

I stamped the sign from Happy Camper, then used the sentiment from The Journey, which fit perfectly. I colored that with Copics and cut it out. The scene was mounted on a piece of Chocolate Kiss Pure Luxury cardstock and the card base is SU Kiwi Kiss (in color).

And I have one more project today, using Happy Camper. This is a scrapbook page I put together the other night as a sample for the Scrapbook Challenge I am hosting over at StampTV. I colored all the images with Copics and cut them out. The photo is layered on a piece of Creamy Caramel cardstock and the background paper is Riding Hood Red (both from Stampin' Up) I stamped the mountain scene twice on the top of the page so it would span the entire width of the page.

I hope you will play along in the challenge. If you do, you will have a random chance at winning a free stamp set of your choice from Gina K Designs. I'll let you in on a little secret. There are not a ton of scrapbookers over at StampTV, so participation in the scrapbook challenges tend to make for some good odds on winning. Tell all your scrapbooking friends about it!

Thank you for visiting. I hope your day is full of fun! Oh, and be sure to stop by tomorrow for something exciting from Gina K!

On Your Specail day

Good morning! This is a tri-fold card that I made using Melanie Muenchinger's new set, Arranged With Love. I used just a portion of the large background stamp to create the side panel that opens up to the right. Then the left side opens up to the left.

Here are the details...

I started by stamping the large flower stamp with Versa Mark ink, then heat embossing with clear.

Cut around the flowers on the right side.

Sponged farily lightly with Bashful Blue ink.

I used Copics to add some color to the flowers. Sorry I missed a few coloring photos. I started with B23 in the deepest parts of the flower, then came in with B21 and B41 working my way out.

For the leaves, I wanted a very subtle green. I first saturated the leaf using my blender pen, then added a bit of G21 near the center, the I came back with the blender pen to lighten the green. In the photo above you can see the one on the right is after the application of the green and and the one on the left is after I lightened with the blender pen.

After coloring, I added a layer of Almost Amethyst, cutting around the shape of the flowers. I also added a small magnet under each of the roses, between the layers, to help the card stay closed later.

For the cardbase, I cut a piece of Pure Luxury White lengthwise at 5 1/2 and scored at 4 1/4, then again at 8 5/8. I then trimmed the last section down to about 3/4 inch so that it would hide behind the flower panel.

Made a sentiment panel by cutting a piece of cardstock with my rectangle Nestabilities, then sponged with Bashful Blue while it was still in the die to create a white border. The sentiment was stamped with Lavender Lace ink.

For the left panel, I sponged a piece of Pure Luxury White with Bashful Blue ink then dry embossed it using my Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder. I added a few magnets under the right side, then layered with Almost Amethyst paper. Added a bow, then the sentiment.

On the inside, I stamped the rose, from A Year of Flowers, in Bashful Blue, twice, masking after the first time. I layered that with Bashful Blue cardstock and adhered to the center.

I adhered the flower panel to the 3/4 inch flap on the right. The magnets from that panel are attracted to the magnets on the left panel and keep the card closed.

Thank you so much for visiting. Have a stampy day!

Bug Me Anytime!

Happy Monday! It's time for a new color challenge at StampTV and it is my week to host. I made this card as my sample this week, taking color inspiration from the flowers in my yard. I hope you will play along. You can find the challenge here. All the stamps are from Nina Brackett's new stamp set for Gina K Designs, called Bug Me Anytime.

Here are the details...

I started by stamping the flower stems on my Pure Luxury White cardstock. I wanted to show you this photo so you could see the little notch I cut into my flower stamp. I cut that notch (very carefully!) right at the bottom of the flower to act as a guide for lining up the flower with the stems. I'm a lazy stamper and don't like to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig any more than necessary and that little notch made it easy to place the flowers exactly where I wanted them.

Here you can see the image after I stamped the flowers and leaves. I did a similar notch on the leaf stamp. I was able to free hand stamp all of those images, although I did get just a little gap between the leaves and stem. I fixed that with by drawing a tiny little connecting line with my Copic Multiliner pen.

The flowers were colored with Copics, starting with V06 around the outer edges along the bottom and sides.

Using small circular motions, I added blended out with V04.

Finally, I added some V01, covering nearly the rest of the flower, but leaving just a bit of white space. I used my blender pen to smooth out the transition from bare paper to the pale lavender.

For the leaves, I used YG05 along the veins.

Added YGo3 and then used my blender pen to push some color back for highlights.

I felt like the leaves needed a bit more color, so I added Y11 over the entire surface of the leaves and then YG05 to the lower sides to create some shaded areas.

I pulled out the dreaded Stamp-a-ma-jig (SAMJ) to get the caterpillar positioned perfectly on the stem. I really do love my Stamp-a-ma-jig, I just prefer not to use it if I don't have to, 'cause, like I said before, I am lazy.

I place the plastic sheet, that comes with the SAMJ, against the corner of the positioner. Then I stamped the catapillar on the plastic sheet, using the positioner as a guide.

Then I used the plastic sheet, with the image on it, to line it up exactly where I wanted it. Slid the positioner piece into place against the plastic sheet. Then removed the sheet, keeping the positioner piece in place. Then stamped the image using the positioner as a guide, just like I did before.

Here you can see the catipillar after I colored it. I just used random Copic colors. Then I ran my embossing pad over the paper to remove static before embossing. To emboss, I first used my Versa Mark pen to cover all the colored areas with Versa Mark ink for the embossing powder to stick to. Then sprinkled embossing powder, removed excess and heated with my heat tool.

I sponged the background first with So Saffron ink. Then I added Gable Green, followed by Green Galore around the edges. Sorry I didn't get photos for the last two steps.

I layered the main image panel with Pure Luxury Black Onyx and White and added some piercing. Then came a layer of Almost Amethyst (Stampin' Up) sponged with Lavender Lace ink, layered with more Black Onyx and placed on a Pure Luxury White base weight cardbase.

The sentiment was stamped then cut out with Nestabilities. Then I carefully stamped the catapillar and ladybug. Not carefully enough, because I burned through four of those little circles before I got one stamped the way I wanted it. Yes, the Stamp-a-ma-jig would have been the way to go, but I'm lazy, I tell ya! Yep, I'm one of those people that assemble first and read instuctions when it doesn't work. I bet I'm not the only one, am I? LOL

Thanks for putting up with me on a Monday morning! I hope you have a great day filled with sunshine and happiness!

In the Limelight!

I have some exciting news! I was asked to be a guest designer for the Flourishes blog for the month of July! I am so thrilled and honored. If you have followed my blog long, you know how much I love Flourishes stamps.

Each Sunday this month, I will be featured on the Flourishes blog with a new project to share. This week I made a card using the new Life, Love and Lemons stamp set. Here is a little peek of the card, but if you want to see all the details, including the step by step photos on how I made it, you'll need to hop on over to this post at Flourishes.



I hope you all are enjoying your Fourth of July weekend. We had a fun day yesterday up at my moms, for a barbeque and a bit of kayaking.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a great day!

Happy Camper Tip Sheet

I love the way Melanie always makes a tip sheet to go with her stamps and decided to give it a go myself for my new set, Happy Camper. Here is a list of ideas and suggestions that I have come up with so far. Some are my own ideas and some are from projects that Gina K Design Team and Customers have come up with. If you have any ideas you would like to share, please leave me a comment.

The Sign

Most of the sentiments in this set were designed to fit in the sign.

Stamp "Happy Birthday" on the sign for the card front and then stamp "and many s'more'' on the inside of the card.

The Ceclia Thaxter quote will fit if it you leave off her name.

Most of the sentiments from Out West will also work in the sign.

Use sentiments from other Gina K stamp sets and place them on the sign.

The Tiny Lantern and Cookstove

These were designed to be “placed”on the picnic table if desired. Just stamp either or both small images, mask them and then stamp the picnic table.

Use them to decorate the back of your envelope.

Stamp in an irregular pattern to create a themed background paper.

Stamp in a row to create a border along the side or bottom of a card/page.

The small lantern can be used inside the tent like on this card my mom made.


The Lantern

The large lantern can be used as a focal image, or part of a scene.

It works great with some of the stamps from Winter Foliage as seen in the card above.

Use the lantern with the saddle and boots from Out West for a montage of outdoorsy images.

The Fish and Raccoon

The fish can be used to make a wonderful background or border. Check out this sample by Melanie for an example of a wonderful fish background.

You can stamp a group of fish on a line like in this sample by my mom. She also used the fishing pole from Rupa's King of the Grill set.

Make a stick pole using a small twig and some twine. Check out Melanie's sample again.

The raccoon can go fishing using a twig pole or do it the old fashioned way by swiping one right out of the river. If he is sneaky, he could even steal a fish from a bunch that strung up and hanging from the sign.

The Campfire and Marshmellow Stick

The campfire pit can be unlit during the day, or colored to look like there is a fire going.

The marshmellow stick can be propped up over the campfire or stamped as the main focal image, like on this wonderful s'mores gift box that Gina made.

Ink up the stick, leaving one part of the fork un-inked and put a fish on the end, to roast that over the fire.

Have the raccoon roast marshmellows or fish over the fire.

The Mountain Scene

The mountain stamp can be used to build a camping scene, or be used by itself.

You can stamp it more than once to create a mountain range on a horizontal shaped card.

Use it with images from Out West for a rugged cowboy card.

Use the mirror image technique to make it into a lake scene.

Combine it with other Gina K nature sets like Tree Silhouettes, Autumn Leaves and Winter Foliage.

Most of the images from Asela's new stamp set, The Journey, will work beautifully with the mountain to create a gorgeous scene.

Pull out your Christmas stamps and get started on those cards. The mountain stamp would make a wonderful winter scene all by itself, but will work beautifully with many of Gina's Christmas, Winter sets.


Thank you for visiting. Have a wonderful day!