Grey Heron

Hello and happy Friday! My card today is one I shared at the release party last week. I used images from my latest set, Follow Your Dreams.

I stamped the heron with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copics, starting with C5.

Added C3.

Then filled in with C1.

I used B93 to add a bit of a blue tinge to the feathers, and used N5 to deepen the shadows.

Used E53 on the beak and legs.

Next I heat embossed the image with clear embossing powder. I used a Versa Mark pen to cover the image so the embossing powder would have something to stick to.

Then I sponged Memento Summer Sky.

I masked the top using a sticky not and sponged Memento Bahama Blue.

I layered with Pure Luxury Black Onyx and used a Turquoise Sea card base.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Gina K April Release Hop Day 3

 Hello! Today the Gina K Design Team is spotlighting another new set, What's The Dirt. This set has a wonderful variety of spring images and fun sentiments!

For more inspiration be sure to check out what the rest of the design team has to show you...

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

I used Copic markers to colors the flower pots. I started with Y17 for the flower centers, then added YR07.

Filled in the petals with Y21.

Then used YR12 to blend the orange and yellow. I used YG23 for the leaves.

For the pots, I started with E31 and used my blender pen to soften the edges of the highlights.

Added E15.

Then added E19. After coloring, I cut out the image.

I cut a scallop circle using Nestabilites and sponged very lightly with Memento Bamboo Leaves while still in the die.

I cut a layer of the new Pure Luxury color, Key Lime using Spellbinders Fleur De Lis pendant die. The sentiment is from Garden Silhouettes and is layered with Pure Luxury Wild Dandelion. The background layer is Lemon Drop which I embossed with my Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder.

Thanks for coming by. I hope your day is filled with stamping fun!

Gina K April Release Hop Day 2

Hello! It's our second blog hop for the Gina K Designs April Release. Today we are showcasing two new sets. First up is a set I illustrated, called Follow Your Dreams. I made a matching card and box, featuring images from Follow Your Dreams, the new Scor-Pal and Spellbinders Fleur De Lis die set.

Here is a close up of the card. The overall size is 4.25 by 4.25 inches. I used both sizes of the dragonfly from Follow Your Dreams.

Here is a close up of the matching box. Instructions for making this box are below.

Next up is a fabulous new stamp set from Melanie Muenchinger, called Branching Out. There are so many wonderful silhouette images in this set, that can be used in many different ways. On this card used the large rectangle frame and added the small branches on the right side, then used the smaller square frame for the focal point. The sentiment is from Follow Your Dreams. 

Here is another card with Branching Out. I shared this during the release party, but wanted to share it here, too. One this one, I used the circle frame and the longer border image on the sides. There are just so many ways to combine the images in this set, plus they coordinate with some of my favorite Spellbinders Nestabilities.

For more inspiration using Follow Your Dreams and Branching Out, be sure to check out what the rest of the design team has to show you....

• 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
• Valerie Stangle
• Vicki Dutcher
• AJ Otto
• Carolina Buchting
• Cathy Tidwell
• Deb Felts
• Donna Baker
• Emily Giovanni

Now the instructions for the box, but first check out the new Scor-Pal! I just love this new version with the darker numbers that are easier to read and especially for the .25 inch grooves! Gina just got a new shipment of the new version in stock.

I started by cutting a piece of Lovely Lavender Pure Luxury cardstock to 6.25 by 6.5 inches. Then I scored the 6.5 inch side at 1, 3, 4 and 6 inches.

On the 6.25 inch side I scored at .5, 1.5, 4.75 and 5.75. It was so great to be able to make score lines in .25 inch increments and not have to adjust my cardstock. The grooves in the new Scor-Pal make it so much easier to make 3-D projects!

After scoring, I cut away the sections shown in the photo above and made snip lines for the four tabs.

I used my scallop rectangle Nestabilities to add a scallop edge to the flap of the lid. I fed the edge through the opening and lined up the edge of the die with the score line.

I did the same thing for the two side flaps.

I like to use Scor-Tape when I make boxes because it is such a strong adhesive and really holds boxes together. I added Scor-Tape to the tabs and folded them in, then adhered.

And here is what the basic box looks like before it is decorated. I designed it to fit three Ghirardelli squares, but I couldn't test it out because my Ghirardelli squares kinda disappeared before I got the chance. Sorry about that. They were good! The dimensions of the box are 3.5 by 2 by 1 inches.

To decorated the box top, I sponged Memento Lulu Lavender ink on Pure Luxury White cardstock.

Then sponged Memento Grape Jelly.

Then sponged a bit of Memento Paris Dusk.

I used Copics to color the dragonflies, starting with B00 on the wings.

Then added B04.

Added V04.

Then V06.

For the body, I used N3.

I stamped the water grass with Memento Paris Dusk and layered my background with Pure Luxury Black Onyx cardstock.

Using one of the Fleur De Lis dies, I cut an accent piece using Pure Luxury Vibrant Violet cardstock. Then I added a score link with my Scor-Pal.

I adhered the accent piece so that the fold line matched up to the fold line on the lid, then adhered my background. I added the cut out dragonflies, using Pop Dots.

I held the lid down and used a pencil to mark where I wanted a hole, then punched a hole for an eyelet, then I added the eyelet.

I wanted my brad to stick out a bit so the Fleur De Lis clasp would catch on it, so I use my Cutterbee scissors to create a gap between the brad and eyelet. I folded the prongs of the brad while holding it in place with the scissors.

Since the prongs would be visible on the inside of the box, I added some Scor-Tape to a scrap.

Then adhered it to the inside of the box, covering up the prongs.

Here is a close up so you can see how the Fleur De Lis clasp catches on the brad.

I used my scallop rectangle Nestabilities to add a decorative element too the bottom of the box.

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

Gina K April Release Hop Day 1

Hello! Today the Gina K Design Team are showcasing two of the new stamp sets from our April release. All the new stamp sets, along with a bunch of new products can be found here.

I used both of the sets we are featuring today, Garden Silhouettes and Timeless Textures on the first card. More details on that one below.

For my second card, I stamped images from Timeless Textures on my white card base, using Memento Rose Bud and Grape Jelly inks. The dragonflies and sentiment are from my new set, Follow Your Dreams.

On this card, I used the iris from Garden Silhouettes and stamped it with Versa Mark ink. Then I heat embossed the image with clear embossing powder. After embossing, I sponged Memento Grape Jelly ink. The sentiment is also from Garden Silhouettes.

For more inspiration from the design team, be sure to hop on over and visit the following blogs.

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

For the background in  my first card, I cut an oval using Spellbinders Oval Nestablities, then sponged Memento Cantaloupe ink while it was still in the die.

I inked up the silhouette image using Memento Markers. I used Cantaloupe for the petals and added a touch of Tangelo to the edges of each petal. I inked up the stem with Memento New Sprout and Bamboo Leaves. For the center of the flower I used Memento Potter's Clay.

I added a drop shadow using C3 and C1.

I used Timeless Textures to stamp on the larger panel, with Memento Cantaloupe and Bamboo Leaves inks. then I layered with Pure Luxury Sweet Corn and used a Fresh Asparagus card base.

Thanks for stopping by. We will be back Monday morning for another new release hop. Have a wonderful day!