No Hour Wasted...

I made this for today's CAS & TLC challenges. I used sponges instead of my brayer and combined SUs Bareback horses with Theresa Momber's Out West sentiment. Added some twine and a silver star charm.
Thanks for looking.

Santa's Sleigh...

Additional Info

Stamps: GinaK

Paper: Recollections

Ink: stazon

Accessories: punch, ribbon, nestabilites, bling, sponge Thanks for stopping by....

Whimsical Trees...

Love this paper from Recollections. 
Thanks for stopping by...

BUY THE MATCHING PURSE!
I was inspired by all of the fabulous shoes and bags from the Inspiration Challenge featured website. I pulled out a stamp set by GinaK.
I used the Viva La Verve Week 1 sketch for the layout.
Thanks for looking!

Additional Info
Stamps: Gina K
Paper: white and dp
Ink: stazon
Accessories: ribbon, nestabilities, silver twine, silver shoe & purse charms, embossing folder
Techniques: paper piecing

SHADOW BOX GIFTS,,,

End of year teacher gifts for my son's teachers and director!

School's out... scream & shout!

Additional Info
Keywords: shadow box gift teacher
Stamps: sidekick sayings
Paper: whisper white, dsp, red
Ink: stazon
Accessories: silk flowers, ribbon, moss

REMEMBERING...

For a friend...

CREAMY FLOWERS...

As soon as I saw the shaving cream technique by GinaK over on StampTV , I knew I had to try it. I decided to stamp the large flower from the Friendship Garden set with black craft and emboss with clear ep, then cut out the flowers. I love how this turned out.Thanks for looking!!

For GINAK DESIGNS

Additional Info
Stamps: Friendship Garden by GinaK Designs
Paper: PureLux white, kiwi kiss, tangerine tango
Ink: black craft, re-inkers (kiwi kiss, tangerine tango, riding hood red)
Accessories: clear ep, ribbon, jumbo eyelet, cb textile embossing folder
Techniques: faux marble

GIDDY UP...

I am so glad that I had some time to play today. I think this technique is so cool!! I love the bandana look. I used Theresa Momber's new Out West set... perfect for this technique!I stamped the horseshoe in black craft and embossed with clear ep, then used my aquapainter to bleach out the center of the horseshoes. I then outlined the images with my white sakura gel pen.I used colored pencils blended with goo gone for the horse.Thanks for looking!For GINAK DESIGNS

Additional Info
Stamps: Out West by GinaK Designs
Paper: GKLux White, chocolate kiss, pacific point
Ink: craft black, stazon
Accessories: colored pencils, googone, ribbon, clip
Techniques: distressed, bandana, bleaching

BUSY BEE..

Happy Mother's Day weekend all!! I am so glad the weekend is here.

This past week was packed with various school functions, 2 field trips, a Mother's Day tea, cheernastics, cancelled softball games, rain, rain, and more rain, trip to the doctor for Andrew's swollen, itchy eye - yup, pink eye!...uugh.. I didn't get much stamping done, but I did start and finish a really good book while waiting here and waiting there..

I hope to get to spend time making a few things today. I really love the Shaving Cream technique video over at StampTV that uses shaving cream and re-inkers to make a marbled bg.. waaay cool. I have read about this technique, but I am such a visual person, I love being able to watch Gina show us how easy it is. In the meantime, I thought I would share some of the cards I had made for the release party. They are in various galleries, but I had not posted them to my blog.

Enjoy, and Happy Mother's Day to all!!

A CARD & A CONTEST!!

Do you love challenges? Especially those where you have to opportunity to win something?

Well, GinaK has three challenges going on this weekend to celebrate the release of the new April stamp sets. There are three challenges, so you have three chances to win a stamp set valued at $24.95 or less.

I am hosting Challenge #2: Yummy Recipe Challenge and this is the sample card that I made. I hope you are able to join in on the fun.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL GINAK CHALLENGES AND CONTESTS..

GINAK PREVIEW DAY 4 - NOT FORGOTTEN

Have you ever started a card and once you got going ended up with a totally different one than you originally had in mind? I love it when that happens, it feels like the creative mojo just takes over. This card is one of those. I started out with something totally different. I even had all of my layers cut out for the sketch I was using... then it happened. I stamped the image and started coloring it. Then thought, what if I just sponged the edges... just a little. That was it, after sponging the main image panel, I knew my course was set for a different direction. I ditched most of the layers, cut a white base (originally it was going to be chocolate kiss) and the rest is history.. As with the Notes to Mom set, this Not Forgotten set is full of incredibly soft and touching sentiments that are spoken from the heart. I always struggle with sympathy or thinking of you cards. Most of the sentiment stamps I have seem so cliche'. The words are right, but the heartfelt meaning is missing. NOT so with this set. This will be 'the' one I go to from now on.

I decided to pair the sentiment with the boat from Rupa's Guiding Light set. That boat just looked so lost and vulnerable.. I've seen boats like this in real life where I grew up on the coast. They are abandoned, on dry ground, some of them barely visible under the tall grass that has taken over ~ haunting even. This image could easily be stamped and you could sponge the sea around it, or have it there covered in overgrown weeds... so many possibilites.

Want to see what other sentiments are in this set? Then start hopping and visit the rest of the team...

• GinaK
• Erika Martin
• Jessica Fick
• Donna Baker
• Carolyn King
• Melanie Meunchinger
• Theresa Momber
• Emily Giovanni
• Cindy Lawrence

Tonight's the night!! Join us in the GinaK Forum at SCS from 5 to 7 pm central, for the release party! There will be more eye candy, prizes, and three challenges - one hosted by me!! So, come on over and join the fun... I'll have a seat saved for ya!!

Well, what can I say? This is the last day for the GinaK April Release Previews and my last day in the 'spotlight.' It has been such a fun rollercoaster ride, but I have to admit I'm a little sad that it has come to an end. The week has passed so quickly. GinaK's team has been extremely helpful and are just as friendly behind the scenes as they appear in real blogdom. I have also enjoyed having new surfers arrive on my blog and leave such wonderful, kind, and encouraging comments. Thank you all so much for making this week a fun and memorable one.

All the best,

GINAK PREVIEW DAY 3 - NOTES TO MOM

Do you wish you could find just the right sentiment that really expresses exactly how you feel towards your mom? Well, look no further ~ it is here in the Notes to Mom set by GinaK. And what could possibly make it better? This set is the 'Free With Three' set!!

I decided that I really wanted the focus to be on the sentiment. In keeping with my brown and blue theme this week, I simply embossed the base with my Scor-Pal, then added some dsp backed with GinaK's chocolate kiss cardstock. I thought the prima stickpin adds a nice touch (I sponged the edges with the baja breeze ink - love how it turned out). The smaller photo is the inside. I hope my Mom will like it.

Mark your calendar and join us in the GinaK Forum at SCS Thursday, from 5 to 7 pm central, for the release party!

Want to see more?? Check out what the rest of the team made...

• GinaK


• Asela Hopkins


• Erika Martin


• Jessica Fick


• Donna Baker


• Kurtis Amundson


• Joanne Basile


• Carolyn King


• Melanie Meunchinger


• Theresa Momber


• Emily Giovanni


• Cindy Lawrence

GINAK PREVIEW DAY 3 - NURSE FEELGOOD

Isn't she great! What a super fun set by Carolyn King. Nurse Feelgood is the perfect compliment to Dr. Feelgood.

What a fun and super-easy card to make. Knowing that her uniform would be white, I stamped her in black craft ink and embossed with clear ep to add dimension and shine. I used my aquapainter with baja breeze ink to outline and for the cuffs and colar. The charm is another find from the Dollar Tree.

There is much more to this set, so hop on over to the following blogs for more previews...

• GinaK
• Carolyn King
• Erika Martin
• Jessica Fick
• Donna Baker
• Joanne Basile
• Melanie Meunchinger
• Theresa Momber
• Cindy Lawrence

Thanks for stopping by!

GINAK PREVIEW DAY 2 - FRIENDSHIP'S GARDEN

Aren't these flowers perfect for Mother's Day - or any day for that matter. This is one image of a set by Asela Hopkins. I love how she draws. There are so many fantastic images, it was hard to pick which one to show today. I went with this one because I think the flowers match so perfectly with the flowers in the dsp.

I stamped the image twice and popped up each of the flowers on dimensionals. I used my aquapainter to color the image and added some dazzling diamonds to the flower centers (sorry that the sparkle doesn't show so well in the photo).. I love the many layers of this card. And with so many layers, it made the card quite heavy, normally this would be a problem and cause the card base to buckle - not so with the GinaK heavy base weight PureLux cardstock. It really is the best choice to use as a cardbase. I also added a butterfly charm that I brought from the Dollar Tree.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the team made with this set... You won't be disappointed!

• GinaK
• Asela Hopkins
• Erika Martin
• Jessica Fick
• Donna Baker
• Kurtis Amundson
• Emily Giovanni
• Cindy Lawrence
• Joanne Basile

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

GINAK PREVIEW DAY 2 - OUT WEST

Yee Haw!! Theresa Momber has designed/illustrated an INCREDIBLE stamp set. There are so many images, you have to check out what everyone else made with this set.

Since my daughter is a horse lover and takes riding lessons, this set will come in handy - not to mention, I think it works well as another masculine set. Masculine cards are always SO difficult for me, however, when the stamp design is right - it is easy peasy.

The base of this card is made with Gina's Chocolate Kiss cardstock - LOVE it! It is really the perfect dark brown. I stamped the image with stazon, then used my SU! markers and ink with my favorite tool - aquapainter. I had some twine on my table and I started playing with it, the next thing I knew, that saddle had a rope on it - LOL! I added my favorite masculine embellishment - brads. I love how this turned out.

Be sure to check out other projects made by the team...

• GinaK
• Theresa Momber
• Erika Martin
• Jessica Fick
• Donna Baker
• Kurtis Amundson
• Carolyn King
• Melanie Meunchinger
• Cathy Tidwell
• Cindy Lawrence

eta: Do you want to win this set??? Then head on over to Gina's blog.. She is giving one away - woot!!

Also, Bertlady on SCS commented that this would make a great retirement or moving card - I couldn't agree with her more. Great idea!

Thanks for looking...

GINAK PREVIEW DAY 1 - GUIDING LIGHT

Today is Preview Day 1.

I just LOVE the Guiding Light stamp set designed by Rupa Shevde. It has so many wonderful images as well as sentiments that I had a hard time picking which one to feature on my blog today (I've already made 3 very different cards with this stamp set so be sure to attend the party in the GinaK Forum at SCS on Thursday to see the others ;). I love the way the sea gull is perched on the bulkhead. I can just smell the salt in the air and feel the breeze - I LOVE the sand, ocean, the breeze ~ so naturally, I adore this set.

For this card, I stamped the image twice, then cut out the gull and popped him up with some dimensionals. I sponged the background with baja breeze and used my aquapainter and basic brown ink to color the bulkhead. Next, I added some twine to for a 3-d effect on the posts. I simple punch a hole then ran it through just as I would ribbon, taping the loose ends on the backside. I added some Malibu sand by Muddpuddles to the base of the bulkhead under the grass (colored with my aquapainter and kiwi kiss ink). I stamped out the Dad sentiment and used my oval punch to punch it out, then combined it with my HPH. The narrow baja breeze layer was run through my cuttlebug with the swirls folder which I inked up with baja breeze to give it some depth. I also used my oval punches to create tabs which actually hinge the front to the back of the card.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the team has created with this set as well as the Wee Tees set designed by Melanie Meunchinger, also being previewed today.

• GinaK
• Asela Hopkins
• Erika Martin
• Jessica Fick
• Donna Baker
• Kurtis Amundson
• Joanne Basile
• Carolyn King
• Melanie Meunchinger
• Theresa Momber
• Emily Giovanni
• Cindy Lawrence

Thanks for stopping by, and check back tomorrow for Preview Day 2...

In GinaK's Spotlight!!

What a thrill to be among the wonderful GinaK team. As many of you know, I just love GinaK stamps.. what a privilege to get to be in the spotlight this month and participate in the April Stamp Release. I can hardly wait for next week!! - EEK! - You will love the stamp sets!

Thank you so much Gina!!

eta... Why didn't I send her a photo of me with a big cheesy grin on my face? ... that is what I really look like! Snort!

RELAX...

Additional Info
Stamps: You Are My Sunshine by GinaK Designs
Paper: whisper white, not quite navy, sahara sand
Ink: white craft (to emboss image), not quite navy, riding hood red, summer sun, old olive, river rock (for water coloring)
Accessories: aqua painter, clear ep, muddpuddles 3-d sand, nesites, oval punches, dew drops

Technique: Woodgraining (see how this is done on StampTV)

INSPIRATION CHALLENGE ...

I made this for the Inspiration Challenge. Thanks Anne, aka Itsapassion, for asking me to make a sample for today's challenge.At first I was having a loss of mojo, then I decided to go with the journal in the upper right hand corner seen here. I was inspired by the flower and the bands of color. I think the Hawaiian Papaya dsp matches the colors perfectly along with the Botanical Dreams by Asela Hopkins for GinaK Designs.Come on along and play, I'd love to see what these journals inspire you to create!

Additional Info
Stamps: Botanical Dreams by GinaK Designs
Paper: chocolate chip, whisper white, Hawaiian Papaya dsp
Ink: jet black stazon; for watercoloring: old olive, tangerine tango
Accessories: HPH, ribbon, oval punch, scallop punch, black maker

TWO TURTLES, TWO DOVES..

THE TWELVE DAYS OF FUNKY CHRISTMAS - DAY 6

These are for the Twelve Days of Christmas Challenge over on Paper Craft Planet. The Challenge for today was to create a card with either two doves or two turtles... so, naturally I did both. Thanks for looking!

Have you heard? Santa had to lay the reindeer off. What with the price of grain and molasses, the turtles were MUCH cheaper... but somehow, I don't think this is gonna fly this year. They are currently doing some test flights around the north pole, but the poor little turtle's shells are sooo heavy, and their legs soooo short. Where, oh where is Rudolph.. oh that's right.. busy playing Reindeer Games with the Elves.

Additional Info
Stamps: GinaK, CTMH
Paper: GK Pure Lux
Ink: craft black, soft sky, baja breeze, not quite navy, old olive, ridinghood red
Accessories: dazzlin' diamonds, clear ep, wiggle eyes, circle punch
Techniques: embossing, sponging

Additional Info
Stamps: GinaK
Paper: GP white, GK PureLux white, chocolate chip, kiwi kiss, dsp
Ink: craft black, baja breeze, kiwi kiss
Accessories: aqua painter, ribbon, clear ep, coluzzle
Techniques: embossing