Soccer Girl

Hi Happy Stampers! I hope you are enjoying your weekend. Here is another scrapbook page I did for the Gina K release party last week. I used Melanie's new set, Sporty Accessories and combined it with a few images from Just So Sporty. As soon as I saw Melanie's new set, I knew it would be perfect for preserving all those fun photos from the sports my daughter played when she was younger. I have piles and piles of soccer, T-Ball, basketball, swimming and softball photos and now I have the perfect stamps to scrap them with.

Here are the details...

I started by stamping the tee shirt from Just So Sporty and then stamped the soccer ball from Sporty Accessories. Then I started my Copic coloring with BG07 around the edges.

Blended from there with BG05, using small circles.

Added BG02, then added some lighter areas with my blending pen. Then went back to the darkest areas with BG07 again.

After coloring, I added the words "All Star" from Just So Sporty to the tee shirt. Then I cut out the image. I used the same colors for the banner and stamped Go Team. I love the banner and horn, with the angled sentiments that fit so nicely. I didn't even have to use a Stamp-a-ma-jig to line it up.

I stamped some more soccer balls and cut them out to place around the page. I made that star background paper using the star border stamp from Ribbons and Stripes. I love those border stamps. They are going to be so nice to doing a lot of different backgrounds and techniques. I used Tempting Turqoise to ink up the stamp and then stamped off once on scratch paper, so it would be a little lighter. Then just repeated the image over the whole paper. I also sponged around the edges a bit with Tempting Turquoise.

I see Gina has a new acrylic block to fit the the stamps in Ribbons and Stripes and I am going to get one with my next order. The stamps in that set are nearly 7 inches long! I'm getting by without having the block for now. I found I could use a piece of Plexiglas from an old stamp positioner, and they even fit on the little plastic case from my Metallic rub on paste. Joanne used her Cuttlebug plates. So don't worry if you ordered the stamp set and don't have a block to fit it, you can improvise with other things you have around. I really do want the new acrylic block, though, because it is nice and thick and easy to grip and it has those nifty gridlines printed on it, for easy placement. I think it will be really great to use with Melanie's The Best Things in Life set, or any word set.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope your day is wonderful!

Horsey ATC

Happy Friday! The Gina K Designs release party was last night and I had such a fun time. I'm wiped out this morning, though! Here is an ATC card I made for a challenge Cathy Tidwell is hosting a challenge to make an ATC. If you play along, you'll be entered for a chance to win a free stamp set.

I am also hosting a challenge to make a masculine card and Melissa Schultz is hosting a celebrating children challenge.

And now a few details...

I started by cutting my cardstock to 2 1/4 by 3 1/4 inches. The overall size for an ATC is 2 1/2 by 3 1/2, but I knew I would want to layer mine, so I cut it a little smaller.

The horse head from Out West was stamped with Memento ink and colored with Copics. I started with E37.

Then added E35.

Next was E33.

Filled in the rest with E31.

Added some highlights by using my blender pen, and some extra shading with E57 and my Rich Cocoa Memento marker (I need some darker brown Copcis).

Embossed the horse head with clear embossing powder. First I used my embossing buddy to remove any static, then went over the image with my Versa Mark pen before embossing.

I sponged So Saffron over the cardstock, then I stamped the stars border from Ribbons and Stripes, using Versa Mark and heat embossed with clear.

Sponged Tim Holtz Distress Ink, going heavier around the edges.

Sponged a bit of Not Quite Navy.

Stamped the diamond border using Distress Ink again.

To finish it off, I added a star brad, some twine and Cat's wonderful barbed wire (see here for instructions).

For some more Out West inspiration...

Check out this fantastic Out West card by Pam.

And how about the amazing coloring skills of Cathy on this card.

I love this fantastic journal from Callmecdogg.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have a great weekend!

Gina K Preview Day 4 - Lazy Days of Summer and Ribbon Stripes

Good morning! Today is the last day of previews for the latest Gina K Designs release. I used two new sets, Lazy Summer Days (the new "free with three" set) and Ribbon Stripes, on today's project.

As soon as I saw some of the sets for this release, I knew I had to get back into scrapbooking photos of my daughter. The cute beachy images in Lazy Days of Summer reminded me immediately of these photos of my daughter from when she was just barely three years old.


To start, I cut a 7 by 7 inch piece of Pure Luxury Ivory layering paper and then I brayered So Saffron ink around the edges. Next I used an image from Ribbons and Stripes to create the dotted border around the edges, using So Saffron ink. The Ribbons and Stripes stamp set is going to be so perfect for creating edge treatments like this, but they can also be used to create beautiful backgrounds and stamp on ribbon.

I stamped the sand castle and bucket with Memento Tuxedo black ink, colored them with Copics, then cut them out. The photos were trimmed and layered with Pure Luxury Black Onyx. The background paper was also layered with black and the base is an 8 by 8 inch piece of So Saffron. I added some gems and sateen flowers that I colored with Copics.

The rest of the team has some fabulous projects featureing these two stamp sets. Be sure to start at Gina's blog and then hop on over to the rest of the team.

Carolyn King
Cindy Lawrence
Donna Baker
Emily Giovanni
Erika Martin
Gina Krupsky
Jessica Fick
Joanne Basile
Melanie Muenchinger

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Melissa Shultz

There will be a release party here in the Gina K forums at SCS, today (Thursday) from 7-10PM. I hope you'll join us. There will be challenges, contests and full reveals of all the new sets. Then, at 10pm central, all the new stamp sets, Pure Luxury colors, ink pads and digital papers will be available in the online store.

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

Gina K Preview Day 3 - Eclectic Summer STV Kit

Hello Happy Stampers! Today I am previewing the new Eclectic Summer stampTV kit from Gina K Designs. Gina has put together a wonderful kit, filled with two stamp sets, pattern paper, Pure Luxury cardstock, brads, scrumptious ribbon and it all comes with weekly stampTV video tutorials, teaching you wonderful techniques and projects.

You can see more sneak peeks from the stampTV kit by visiting the Gina K Design Team.


Gina Krupsky
Carolyn King
Emily Giovanni
Erika Martin
Jessica Fick
Joanne Basile
Melanie Muenchinger

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Melissa Shultz

And now for the details on my card...

I knew I wanted to use the hot air balloon and wanted to have a beautiful blue sunrise background. So I did a Google Image Search for Blue Sunrise and found this photo to use as inspiration.

First I stamped the hot air balloon on Pure Luxury layering cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Then I used Copic markers BG05 and B24 to colored the balloon.

I used N3 and N5 to add shadows to the hot air balloon, then used the blender pen to lift some color from the center of each segment on the balloon, to give it some dimension.

Next, I planned to emboss my image, so I rubbed my embossing buddy over the cardstock and then used my Versa Mark pen to cover the entire image, then heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

Then I sponged the background in. I used Tempting Turquoise in the middle, then added Bashful Blue. Ballet Blue, Lavender Lace and Perfect Plue were used around the edges.

Next, I added some post-its across the cardstock to mask the bottom portion. I used my Pretty in Pink and Blush Blossom ink pads and swiped them across the mask.

Added another mask with torn edges, to simulate the distant hills, then sponged with black ink.

Then I flipped the straight mask around and moved it down a bit so I could do the reflection. I had to tear a new mask for the reflection of the hills, so it would be a mirror image. Then I sponged that with some Pretty in Pink, Going Gray and just a bit of black.

After removing the mask, I did a bit of sponging with Blush Blossom below the reflected hills. I also used a gray Copic marker to add some tiny lines on the top of the hills, to look like the hillside was covered in trees.

I needed to add a reflection of the balloon, so I used a mirror image stamp and stamped the hot air balloon on it, then used that to stamp the reflection.

Yikes, I really messed that up. I stamped the reflection way off to the right of the image. I had invested too much time in this card by now to call it quits (and I didn't have time to make another!), so I used a gray marker and added another segment on the left side of the balloon, so it wouldn't look so drastic. It is still rather offset, but I'm going to use my creative license and call it abstract art. LOL

I added a "thank you" sentiment from Eclectic Summer Sayings (the second set in the kit) and cut it out with Nestabilities, then backed it with a black layer. The main image panel was backed with Pure Luxury Black Onyx and white, then a layer of Pacific Point (SU) and assembled on a card base of Pure Luxury In the Navy (new PL color!).

On the inside of my card I stamped the balloon from Eclectic Summer, using Tempting Turquoise ink and another sentiment from Eclectic Summer Sayings. I accented it with a piece of pattern paper from the new kit and backed with with another piece of the Pacific Point.

That's it for today. Tomorrow there will be two more stamp sets to preview and then at 7pm central there is the release party at the Gina K forums at SCS.

Thanks for visiting and have a happy day!

Gina k Preview Day 2 - With This Ring and Special Father

With This Ring

Today I am sharing sneak peeks at two new stamp sets for Gina K Designs, that will be released this Thursday, after the release party, from 7 - 10 PM in the Gina K forums at SCS. This first card is made using images from Rupa Shevde's newest set, With This Ring. Rupa's elegant style couldn't be more suited to creating a wedding/anniversary themed stamp set.


I stamped the cake on Vintage Silver Lustre Text (Paper Temptress) paper and colored it with Copic markers. I used a pink Copic Atyou Spica glitter pen to color the flowers and added a dot of white in the centers with my Sakura white gel pen.

I sponged the pink layer and added self adhesive pearls. The ribbon is from Gina's Pure Luxury Holiday ribbon assortment. I used my Martha Stewart lace border punch on another layer of the Silver Lustre paper and used Regal Rose (Stampin' Up) for the cardbase.


On the inside of my card, I stamped another gorgeous image from With This Ring, using Regal Rose ink, then added my sentiment over the image.

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Special Father

My next card is created using images from Special Father, drawn by Gina K Designs', newest illustrator, Nina Brackett. This is a wonderful set of images and sentiments that are just in time for Father's Day.


I stamped my image on Pure Luxury White layering weight cardstock and colored it with Copic markers. I layered it with Pure Luxury Black Onyx, then added a Bashful Blue (Stampin' Up) layer that was sponged with Ballet Blue ink.

I added some piercing around the main image panel and adhered to cardbase using the new Pure Luxury cardstock, In the Navy.

On the inside of my card, I stamped the same image, using Ballet Blue ink and added a sentiment stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

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Two New Pure Luxury Colors

This month, Gina is releasing two new Pure Luxury colors, In the Navy and Rocket Red. The red is a textured cardstock and the navy is smooth like the Chocolate Kiss and Black Onyx. I've been wanting to show you a picture of Gina's cardstock, next to other cardstock you might be familiar with, so you could see how rich and deep the Pure Luxury cardstock is.

I have Stampin' Up cardstock, so that is what I used for a comparison. Sorry, I didn't include the white and ivory. But all the rest of the colors are there, including the two new colors. If you click on the photo (or any photos in this post) you can see a bigger picture.

Every time Gina has released a new color, I have been amazed at the depth of the color. The cardstock feels so luxurious and the colors are so intense. The photo doesn't really do justice to the difference, but hopefully it will give you some idea just how wonderful the Pure Luxury colored cardstock is.

To see some amazing projects using Special Father and With This Ring, visit the rest of the design team and be sure to start at Gina's blog for a chance to win one of these gorgeous new stamp sets.

Carolyn King
Cindy Lawrence
Emily Giovanni
Erika Martin
Gina Krupsky
Jessica Fick
Melanie Muenchinger

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Melissa Shultz


Thank you for visiting. I'll be back tomorrow with a preview of the new stampTV Kit. You're going to love it!

Have a great day!

Sporty Accessories - Gina K Preview Day1

Happy Monday morning! It's day one of the Gina K Designs previews and today I am sharing a peek at Melanine Muenchinger's newest stamp set, Sporty Accessories. You're going to love all the wonderful sports themed images in this set. It is perfect for kids, teens and any sports enthusiast. It is a fantastic stand alone set, but it also coordinates beautifully with Melanie's "tee" sets, particularly Just So Sporty.

My nephew is about to graduate from high school, so I decided to use the locker to make a pocket card/money holder for him. You can see all the details on how I made this card below.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the team has created using Sporty Accessories and don't forget to start at Gina's blog for a chance to win a set! And be sure to check back each day this week as we preview all the new stamp sets, the new stampTV kit, new digital papers, Pure Luxury Cardstock in two new colors and new Vivid ink that Gina will be carrying in her store.

Carolyn King
Cindy Lawrence
Erika Martin
Gina Krupsky
Jessica Fick
Melanie Muenchinger
Melissa Shultz (aka Javagirl on SCS) our In the Spotlight Designer for this month.

And now a few details...

I started by placing the plastic sheet from my Stamp-a-ma-jig against the corner of the Stamp-a-ma-jig(SAMJ). Then, with the locker stamp on my acrylic block, I stamped the image on the plastic sheet, using the SAMJ as a guide.

Next, I stamped the locker once, on a piece of Pure Luxury White cardstock. Then I placed the plastic sheet over my cardstock and lined it up so that the locker on both pieces lined up right next to each other. Holding my plastic sheet in place, I moved the SAMJ piece so that it fit around the corner of the plastic sheet.

Then I removed the sheet, leaving the SAMJ in place, being careful not to move the cardstock. Then stamped the image, using the SAMJ as a guide.

As you can see, using the Stamp-a-ma-jig, made it easy to get both lockers lined up perfectly.

I repeated the process with the Stamp-a-ma-jig two more times to create a neat row of lockers.

Used a craft knife to cut around the door of the second locker from the left, leaving it attached on the right side.


I used Copic markers to add a bit of dimension to the lockers. (N3, N5 and C1). Then I added a bit of graffiti to the lockers using a black marker. Then I attached the lockers to a piece of black cardstock, being careful to use adhesive only around the edges of the lockers, so my slider piece can slide in easily later.

For the slider portion, I cut of piece of Pure Luxury white cardstock and a piece of the new Pure Luxury Rocket Red textured cardstock (to be released this Thursday!), slightly larger than the white. I stamped a sentiment from Tag Lines, a bit off center to the right.

Then I used my Stampin' Up slot punch to create an opening to place the money in. I punched once, then lined the punch up with the previous cut and punched again. I repeated this process until I had a large enough opening. You could use a craft knife to create an opening if you don't have a punch like this one.

I stamped some of the sports images and colored them with Copics, then cut out the images. I used W1, W3, R24, R27, N3 and N5 on the shoes and tennis racket.

For the baseball glove, I used E31, E33, E35 and E37. For the soccer ball (not pictured) I used C3 and C1).


Next, I assembled the pieces for the slider insert. When adhering the top piece over the Rocket Red layer, I was careful to keep the adhesive only around the very outer edges, so the I could slide money inside later. Then I placed all the cut out images along the left side.

And here it is with some money in place. I just folded my bill into fourths and slid it in. Having the opening toward the bottom, and just having it peak out, leaves me room to write in a little personal greeting.

And here you can see it fits by sliding into the locker that I cut earlier. I added another layer of the Rocket Red textured cardstock behind the black piece.


That was a long one! Thanks for sticking with me. I'll be back again tomorrow with another peek. Have a happy day!