Gina K Preview - Holiday Hospitality and Warm Winter Wishes

Holiday Hospitality - by Gina K

Hello. Today I am sharing previews for two more stamp sets being released from Gina K Designs this month. First up is Holiday Hospitality, the new "free with three" set. If you purchase any three stamp sets from Gina K, you get to put Holiday Hospitality in your card for free!

This set contains a fun ornament, along with snowflakes and sentiments, all designed to fit right in the ornament. It's perfect for making tags, hostess gifts, invitations and more. I stamped my ornament and then colored with copics. I stamped snowflakes using white pigment ink in the top and bottom segments and stamped the sentiment in the center. The pattern paper is from the digital paper I designed for this month, called, Deck the Halls.

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Warm Winter Wishes - by Carolyn King


Carolyn King has come up with the perfect snowman set, called, Warm Winter Wishes. This is a very special set that Cammie has designed in honor of her grandmother, who passed away last year from complications from Alzheimer's Disease. All of Cammie's proceeds from the sale of this set will go to the Alzheimer's Association in her grandmothers name.

As soon as I saw this set, I knew I wanted to make a snowman soup gift package that my daughter could give to a teacher or friend. I used the large plastic box from the new Stamp TV kit and added a hot chocolate packet, mini marshmallows, Hershey Kisses and a candy cane. More details below, but for now...

Head over to GinaK's blog to add your comment to her blog entry for a chance to win the stamp sets being previewed tonight our blogs! Then, check in on Carolyn King's blog - the Illustrator of Warm Winter Wishes.

Here are the rest of the links to the Design Team Members participating in the hop tonight:

Cathy Tidwell
Cindy Lawrence
Donna Baker
Emily Giovanni
Erika Martin
Jessica Fick
Kurtis Amundson
Lee Murphy
Lynn Mercurio
Melanie Muenchinger
Tami Mayberry
Nina Brackett

CenterStage Spotlight Designers:

Joy Hadden
Lori McAree

We'd love to have you join us at our Release party tomorrow (Thursday) night over on SCS starting at 7pm CST. There will be lots of chatter, samples, contest questions, and challenges - you won't want to miss it! Check out This discussion if you're new to our Release parties for some helpful information to get you started.

Now a few details about my Snowman Soup project...

I used Copic markers to color the snowman, starting with N3.

Added C3.

Added C1 and then used my blender pen to soften the transition to the un-colored center.

N7 on the hat.

Added N5.

Filled in with N3 and used my blender pen to add highlights.

YR07 for the nose, G5 for the holly leaves and scarf, R22, R24, R27 and R29 for the heart.

After coloring, I cut out the snowman and cut two pieces of Pure Luxury white for the snow drifts. I tore the tops of the snow drift pieces, so they could over-lap in the center.

I used Copics to add some shading to the snow drifts and then placed the left side down, added the ribbon (from the Holiday Assortment Ribbon) and then placed the right side. I popped up the snowman using Pop Dots.

I used a Martha Stewart border punch to create a band around the top and backed it with Rocket Red. I wrote a little poem to place inside...

When it’s snowy outside
And the weather is quite nippy,
Fix a cup of Snowman Soup
And have a little sippy.

Add the cocoa to a mug
Pour hot water in with care
Stir it with the candy cane
Chocolate steam will fill the air

Sweeten it with marshmallows
Add some chocolate Kisses
Then you will know I’m sending you
These Warm Winter Wishes

I've seen a lot of Snowman Soup poems, but I wanted to incorporate the phrase, "warm winter whishes," to go with the sentiment in the set, so I wrote my own. It's kinda corny, but so were the others I saw. LOL

Thanks for visiting! I'll be posting my blog candy winner tomorrow before the party. Have a great day!

Gina K Preview - Holiday Cheer StampTV Kit

Hello! Today we are previewing the gorgeous new StampTV Kit, Holiday Cheer! You are going to love the wonderful collection of fun holiday images and sentiments in this kit and, of course, all the fabulous yummies that are included!

Head over to GinaK's blog to add your comment to her blog entry for a chance to win the new StampTV kit being previewed tonight on our blogs! Then, check into StampTV for a new video technique showing shimmering background paper with an image from the new StampTV kit!
Here's the links to the Design Team Members participating in the hop tonight:

Carolyn King
Cathy Tidwell
Cindy Lawrence
Donna Baker
Emily Giovanni
Erika Martin
Jessica Fick
Kurtis Amundson
Lee Murphy
Lynn Mercurio
Melanie Muenchinger
Tami Mayberry

Here are the details on my card..

I stamped the gingerbread house with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, then used Copic markers to color, starting with E57.

Filled in with E31.

Used E33 to blend.

On the roof tiles, I used N3 and C1.

R22 and R24 on the chimney.

On all the little candies, I used two shades of each color, a light and a dark. I went around the outside edges with the dark color and filled in with the light. I didn't worry about blending in such small areas.

Tip: If you only have a dark of a particular color, you could fill in the whole candy and then touch your blender pen to the centers to add some highlights. You might have to touch it two or three times depending on how much lighter you want it. If you only have a light of a particular color, you can fill it all in and then go around the outside a few times to add some lowlights.

I used the same colors on the door as on the house front and the same on the curtains and windows as the blue and yellow candies.

After coloring, I used a Quickie Glue and glittered it all up with my Doodlebug Glitter.

For the background I stamped and embossed these whimsical trees.

I tore post-it notes to mask off the bottom and then sponged Bashful Blue ink.

Sponged Ballet Blue ink.

Sponged Vivid Purple (new color available Thursday from Gina K).

Used N5, C3, C1 and my blender pen to add some shadows to the snow.

Quickie Glue pen and more glitter to add some sparkle to the snow.

I stamped the medalion from the second stamp set included in the kit, Holiday Greetings, then punched it out with a 1 1/4 inch circle punch, then added a Rocket Red layer cut using scallop circle Nestabilities. The card is layered with Pure Luxury Black Onyx, Rocket Red and Vibrant Violet (the Vibrant Violet is not part of the kit, but will be available Thursday as a single color pack or in the Autumn Assortment Pack).

Thanks for stopping by. I'll be back tomorrow with our final day of previews. Have a great day!

Gina K Preview - Lord of the Season and Hip to be Square

It's day two of the Gina K Previews and I have samples to share with you from two fabulous new stamp sets...

Lord of the Season - by Nina Brackett

I used Lord of the Season, illustrated by Nina Brackett to make this card. You are going to love this beautiful set of seasonal topiary trees. The images in this set are so elegantly drawn and so charming!

I used Copics to color my image and then pulled out my Quickie Glue Pen and added some Doodblebug Glitter to bling it up just a tad. After coloring, I cut out the image using rectangle nestabilities and then sponged while still in the die, using Pretty in Pink ink. I layered with Pure Luxury Black Onyx, White and a piece of Basic Grey Bittersweet DP.

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Hip to be Square - by Melanie Muenchinger

This card features images from Melanie Muenchinger's latest, Hip to be Square. This set has a large "window" background stamp and accompanying images. You are going to love the versatility of this set. I had so much fun making this card! The snowman was created using all separate stamps, so you can move his face around, point his nose in different directions and even tip his hat!

Head over to GinaK's blog to add your comment to her blog entry for a chance to win the new stamp sets being previewed tonight our blogs!

Then, check in with the Illustrators of our two stamp sets featured tonight:
Nina Brackett: Lord of the Season
Melanie Muenchinger: Hip to be Square

Design Team Members participating in the hop tonight:
Carolyn King
Cathy Tidwell
Cindy Lawrence
Donna Baker
Emily Giovanni
Erika Martin
Jessica Fick
Kurtis Amundson
Lee Murphy
Lynn Mercurio

CenterStage Spotlight Designers:
Giovana Smith
Janice Melton

And now here are the details from my snowman card...

I started by stamping the large window stamp.

Then I used post-it notes to mask of the side and bottom of one square and stamped the circle, eyes/mouth, nose and hat. I used the mask because I wanted my snowmen to be peeking out from the squares.

Moved my masks and stamped another snowman.

Moved my mask again and stamped another snowman. This time I stamped the hat so that it wasn't touching his head.

I used a Tuxedo Black Memento marker to draw in his twiggy arms to be waving "hello."

I added a bit of shading using Copic markers, starting with C3 around the outer edges of his head.

Added C1 and then used my blender pen to soften the edges of the marker line.

Used the same colors to do the remaining snowmen.

I used three separate stamps to make the ornament, the circle, the sentiment and the nifty little topper piece. To color, I started with R29 along the outside.

Added R27.

Added R24.

Filled in with R22, leaving just a tiny sliver for a highlight.


I used Crystal Lacquer on the ornament to make it shine and a tiny bow. On the snowmen hats, I added some little green sprigs that were the little punched out pieces from an EK Success corner punch. Then I added some red Stickles for the berries (couldn't get those berries to show up well in the photo). I used a pale blue Copic to add a little shading around the edges of the squares. Layered with Pure Luxury Rocket Red and used a Pure Luxury Base Weight White card base.

Thanks for stopping by. I'll be back tomorrow with a preview of the new StampTV kit! There is still time to enter my blog candy below. Have a great day!

Gina K Preview - Special Delivery and A Very Merry Christmas

Special Delivery and Special Delivery Add-on - illustrated by Tami Mayberry

Hello and welcome to the first night of previews for the Gina K Designs September release. I am so thrilled to be sharing a project by a brand new illustrator to Gina K, the fabulous Tami Mayberry!

For her debut, Tami has illustrated two wonderful stamp sets. The first is called Special Delivery and has fun assortment of images for creating postage/postcard inspired cards and projects for nearly any occasion. The add-on set has a large background stamp and other elemental images that coordinate perfectly with Special Delivery.

For my card, I decided to go with a Christmas theme. I stamped the ornaments and colored them with Copics, then heat embossed with clear. Then I sponged just a bit of Certainly Celery ink and stamped the holiday themed post mark image. For the background, I stamped the snowflake from Special Delivery, using Versa Mark and then heat embossed the flakes, so they would stay white. Next I sponged the background using Bashful Blue and Ballet Blue inks, then stamped the large postage background stamp from Special Delivery Add-on.

I layered using Pure Luxury Black Onyx and the brand new Vibrant Violet card stock! I love this new color! You'll be able to purchase it as a solid color pack or it is also part of the new Autumn Assortment Color Paper Pack.

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A Very Merry Christmas - illustrated by me!

Here is a sample using my new set, A Very Merry Christmas. I picked my favorite image from the set to make my card. I also used the new Good As Gold Pure Luxury card stock for my card base.

Would you like to win my new set? Leave me a comment at the end of this post for a random chance to win. I'll leave the contest open until Wednesday night at midnight and announce the winner shortly before the release party on Thursday.

Stop by GinaK's blog today to add your comment to her blog entry for another chance to win the new stamp sets being previewed tonight on our blogs!

Then, check in with the Illustrator of the other stamp sets featured tonight:

Tami Mayberry: Special Delivery and Special Delivery Add-on

Design Team Members participating in the hop tonight:
Carolyn King
Cathy Tidwell
Cindy Lawrence
Donna Baker
Emily Giovanni
Erika Martin
Jessica Fick
Kurtis Amundson
Lee Murphy
Lynn Mercurio
Melanie Muenchinger

CenterStage Spotlight Designers:
Kay Simmons
Linda Payne

Now here are a few details about my card...


I stamped the jingle bells with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, then used Copic markers to color, starting with Y17 on the darkest parts of the bells.

Then added Y23.

I added a little Y21 (sorry I didn't get a picture of that), then blended it all with my blender pen.

For the openings in the bells, I used E35 and YR12.

On the ribbon, I started with R29 in the darkest areas.

Added R27.

Then added R24. I filled in with R22. Sorry another missing photo. After coloring, I cut out the image.

For the background, I sponged So Saffron on a piece of Pure Luxury Ivory cardstock.

Then sponged Creamy Caramel.

I stamped the sentiment with Memento Black and then added the snowflakes, stamped with Creamy Caramel. Layered with Pure Luxury Chocolate Kiss and Rocket Red, with the new Good as Gold for my cardbase. (those brads are from the new StampTV kit!)

Thanks for stopping by. I'll be back tomorrow with more previews and don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win my new set!

Have a great day!