StampTV CSS Blog Hop 2

It's time for another CenterStage Spotlight Challenge Blog hop!

Hostess: Jessica Fick {Design Team Coordinator}
Theme: Stamp and color the image on Patterned Paper { any occasion card acceptable, it doesn't have to be Christmas themed} { image may be cut out and layered, but must be stamped and colored on patterned paper}
Requirement: any GinaK Designs stamp set & Glitter
Bonus Challenge: decorate the inside of your card to coordinate

Here are my cards...I am loving all the shabby style cards that seem to be very popular at the moment. It's very different from my usual style, but am enjoying trying new things. The butterfly is from Take Flight, the "love" sentiment is from Many Wishes. I sponged the edges of the Kraft card base. The PP is from DCWV. I stamped the butterfly on it, then colored with Copics. I stamped it again, then mounted on top of the other. I highlighted both the image and sentiment with a glitter pen. The frame is a die cut using Labels 1 and sponged with Vivid Tuscan Tan ink.

Here's a close up of the glittered butterfly and sentiment.

Another attempt at shabby chic cards...I stamped the music stamp from Vintage Borders on the text paper, then distressed it. The scalloped border is also from Vintage Borders. The butterfly is from Take Flight, the silhouette botanical is from Tropical Flowers and the sentiment is from Elegant Post. I stamped the butterflies in a distressed brick red DCWV patterned paper, then colored with Copics. I highlighted the butterfly and distressed text papers with a glitter pen.

Participating Designers' links:

Brenda Turner
Carla Suto,
Carolina Buchting,

Cheri Weston
Deb Felts
Geri Utterback
Giovana Smith
Gina Krupsky
Janice Melton,
JenMarie Taylor,
Jennie Harper,
Jessica Fick
Joy Hadden,
Karen Knegten
Kay Simmons,
Linda Payne,
Melisa Waldorf,
Melissa Cash,
Melissa Shultz,
Pam Imholz,
Peggy Wainman,
Selma Stevenson,
Shannon Bracken,
Sharri Seffens

Sue Morris
Sue VanDeVusse
Sue Walsh,
Tina Gilliland

Have a great weekend, everyone. I'll be back Monday with GinaK Designs new release previews!

Butterfly happy

I hope you all had a great thanksgiving. We wished we were with our families in the US, but we are very thankful for our Croatian "family," with whom we spent our day yesterday. I'll make this post short and sweet as we are expecting company later today.

I have another butterfly card to show you for Unity's Friends with Flair. Check Unity's blog for the list of participants. Today's butterfly comes from Unity's Butterfly Beauty set. I stamped it using Kaleidocolor Bouquet inkpad. The sentiment is from July 09 KOTM. I used GinaK Sweet Corn for the base and the DP is by Little Yellow Bicycle, ribbon is by Michael's, brad is by Basic Grey.

I have more butterfly cards to show you in the next few days, starting tonight at 10PM CST for the StampTV CSS Blog Hop. I hope you can join us!

Hero Arts Butterfly

Just a quick post before I start preparing for tomorrow's festivities! Here's a card I made for the following challenges:

• Caardvarks Color It Challenge - to color a stamped image.
  
• A Spoonful of Sugar - to use brown as main color
• and Hero Arts' Trimmings challenge. I'm not sure if it qualifies because Trimmings can mean Christmas trimmings, which obviously my card below is not :-). I understood trimmings as using lace, ribbons, etc.

I created the Vintage background paper using 2 Hero Arts brushes available at 2peas. The butterfly is also a download from there. I colored it with Copics. I've been enjoying these vintage cards. Even my daughter noticed how my cards are changing in style. I don't know if that's true, but I do love making vintage, shabby cards at the moment.

Here's a close up of the butterfly:

By the way, have you seen this week's StampTV episode? It's great and Gina uses my music stamp from Vintage Borders. Gina's card is a must-see! Oh, and the sneak peeks have begun for this month's release on Gina's blog. Can you guess which one is mine?

Have a great Thanksgiving to all my American friends!

Calendar Bits & Pieces Blog Hop

Welcome to GinaK Designs' Calendar Bits and Pieces Blog Hop. This versatile set was illustrated by Tami Mayberry. I made 3 cards to share with you tonight. All supplies are by GinaK Designs, unless otherwise noted.

Card #1: I stamped the music stamp from Vintage Borders with Vivid Tuscan Tan ink, then stamped the numbers from Calendar Bits and Pieces on top of that with Memento Rich Cocoa. The patterned paper is something I've had for years. I love how the paper turned out.

Here's a close up of the patterned paper. The sentiment is from Tami's Special Delivery set. The buttons are from the Neutral Asst Pack. The lace is from Walmart.

Card #2: I stamped the music stamp from my Vintage Borders set on Emily Giovanni's Vintage Holly digipapers. The Labels 1 stamp, tree and sentiment are from Calendar Bits and Pieces. I used Kraft, Ivory and All Spruced Up CS, twill ribbon and the Holiday Assortment buttons. The lacy panel is actually a plastic table cloth that is common in Croatia. I just cut a square and used it on my card.

Card#3: This goes with the Color Challenge this week at StampTV that I'm hosting to make a monochromatic card. Here's the other half of the patterned paper I created from Card #1. The sentiment and Label outline are from Calendar Bits and Pieces. I stamped the smaller numbers from the Special Delivery set on the paper flower.

For more inspiration, please visit Calendar Bits and Pieces' illustrator, Tami Mayberry, then to the following Blog Hop Participants from the GinaK Designs team:

Carolyn, Erika, Donna, Jessica, Lee and Theresa.

The GinaK Designs CSS team: Deb, Sharri, Sue, Melissa.

And Tami's Guest Designer: Jennie.

Make sure you stop by Gina's blog to leave your comment for a chance to win this amazing stamp set for free! Remember to check our Idea Center for even more samples, tutorials, and links!.

StampTV Color Challenge

I am hosting this week's Color Challenge at StampTV. My challenge is to make a MONOCHROMATIC card. Please upload your creation to the STV gallery, using the tag STVCC40. Check out the STVCC40 GALLERY to jumpstart your mojo.

You do not need to use Gina K stamps to participate, although we'd love it if you did! In fact, if you use Gina K Stamps in your entry, your name will be added to the prize drawing TWICE! You have until next Monday, November 30th, at 8am CST, to upload your sample. One winner will be drawn at random to win a Gina K stamp set valued at $24.95 or less!

Here are my samples, first in reds:

All supplies are by GinaK Designs, unless noted otherwise.
Stamps: Vintage Borders
Papers: Soft Sand, Cranberry Tart, Ivory CS, Vintage Holly digipapers
Ink: Memento Rhubarb Stalk
Accents: Cranberry Tart ribbon, lace, Basic Grey pearls
Tools: Labels 4

And my brown monochromatic card:

All supplies are by GinaK Designs, unless noted otherwise.
Stamps: Vintage Borders
Papers: Kraft, Chocolate Kiss CS, Vintage Holly digipapers
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accents: button, lace, Basic Grey Pearls and ribbon
Tools: Labels 4

Starting tonight at 10PM CST, the GinaK Designs team will be featuring Tami Mayberry's Calendar Bits & Pieces set in a blog hop. I hope you can join us.

Card Patterns and Over the Top Award

First, I want to remind you, if you have one of GinaK Designs' newest releases, please join us for the first StampTV Blog hop going on all weekend. Make a project using one or more of the new stamp sets, post it on your blog, then put the link via Mr. Linky on Gina's blog. Gina will be picking three winners from the posters to win a GinaK stamp set each. The deadline is Monday evening, so get crafting :-)!

Now, it's time for CardPatterns sketch again. The sponsor is Sherrod Studio. Here's the sketch.


And here's my card, using Sherrod Studio images. I used the Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg papers again. The cardbase is GinaK's Pumpkin Spice.

Finally, I received this lovely award from two of my good friends, Natalie and Jane, whom I hope I will meet someday. Thanks, my dear cyber buddies, for presenting me with this award.

Here's the rule: I need to pass this award on to five people, post on their blog to let them know I left this award, and then I need to answer a list of questions in ONE word.

1. Where is your cell phone? pocket.
2. Your hair? dark brown
3. Your mother? Blessing
4. Your (step)father? Generous
5. Your favorite food? Chinese
6. Your dream last night? Boring.
7. Your favorite drink? Coke zero
8. Your dream/goal? Heaven
9. What room are you in? living
10. Your hobby? Papercrafts
11. Your fear? germs
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? healthy
13. Where were you last night? Zagreb
14. Something that you aren't? singer
15. Muffins? Chocolate
16. Wish list items? DigitalSLR
17. Where did you grow up? Philippines
18. Last thing you did? dishes
19. What are you wearing? casual
20. Your TV? unused
21. Your pets? none
22. Friends? heaven-sent
23. Your life? BLESSED
24. Your mood? content
25. Missing Someone? lots
26. Vehicle? Mazda
27. Something you're not wearing? make-up
28. Your favorite store? GinaK Designs :-)
29. Your favorite color? red
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? yesterday (watched a humanitarian aid video)
32. Your best friend? hubby
33. One place that I go to over and over? kitchen
34. Facebook? Yes.
35. Favorite place to eat? Nana's-kitchen

Since I've seen this blog award everywhere, I don't know who's been tagged. So, if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged and leave me a comment so I can read about you.

StampTV's First Customer Blog Hop

This is so exciting to feature all the fabulous StampTV fans. I can't wait to get hopping all weekend. I have an ornament to show you today, using Asela's First Christmas set. I used all GinaK Designs products. Please go to Gina's blog to get the list of participants.

I stamped and cut out the cute bear, adhered it to a Fresh Asparagus die cut with Oval Nesties. I punched holes on both ends, threaded the Rocket Red ribbons. I put it inside a pillow box and also punched the lids (I love my Cropadile). I threaded the ribbons through the holes and decorated the rest with buttons and string. Easy peasy! I would like to add some glitter confetti or something resembling snow inside the box for a better effect, but I don't have any. Maybe I'll find something later to put inside. I hope to make more of this with my girls later to give away as gifts.


Here's my little Katy modeling it for me.


Okay, I'm off now. There's a new mall in town and we're going to check it out. It's a BIG deal here in Croatia and I hope I'll find some good deals. Happy hopping!

Unity meets Cosmo Cricket

Thanks to the generosity of my friends, I have some new Unity stamps that I used for today's Friends with Flair cards. They are so good to fuel my Unity addiction - gotta love friends like that. For a list of participants, go to this thread at SCS or the Unity blog. And don't forget to find the flair for a chance to win some Unity stamps!

My first card uses the Folk Inspired set. The clock is colored with Copics. The patterned papers are Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg, my current favorite papers. The colors are so yummy and I'm so glad I have the matching Copic markers to go with them. The cardbase is GinaK Kraft and the tag is Sweet Corn. The ribbon is by Michael's and button is PTI.

The second card is probably my favorite of the three. I just love that big Plaid Journal Box. The sentiment is by Cloud 9. The papers are again by Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg. Other supplies used are SU Certainly Celery ribbon, PTI buttons and GinaK Chocolate Kiss cardstock.

My last card uses the Jolly Little Winter set and Cosmo Cricket Jolly By Golly papers. They just work well together, don't you think?


I hope you all have a good weekend, everyone.

GinaK Designs Blog Hop: Vintage Borders

Thank you for joining us on our hop today, featuring my newest GinaK Designs set, Vintage Borders. Make sure you visit the StampTV Idea Center to download the Tip Sheet for this versatile set. I have two cards and an ornament to show you today.

Gift card holder card - As I was looking for a gift card holder template, I found that most of them are too small for mailing. It gave me an idea to design one that is a normal A2 size card that is also easy enough for mass production (if you're like me who doesn't have access to the many sales at the malls, gift cards are the best gift to give). The tutorial is found toward the end of this post.

The text, scallop border and ornaments are from Vintage Borders set. The sentiment is from Tami's Calendar Bits & Pieces set. I used Rocket Red and Soft Sand cardstocks, Vivid Brick Red ink. The ribbon is Pure Luxury white organdy.

Click on the image for a larger view.

Here is an ornament I made, using the Spellbinders Fleur de lis Pendant and Labels One dies. I stamped the music stamp from Vintage Borders with white pigment on Cranberry Tart cardstock. I also used the Fresh Asparagus cardstock and ribbon.

Click on the image for a larger view.

Here it is hung.

Click on the image for a larger view.

Here's a matching card to go with the ornament that has a shabby feel. I used Emily's Vintage Holly digipapers and the following Pure Luxury cardstocks: Cranberry Tart, Fresh Asparagus, White. The buttons are from the Autumn Assortment.

Now, please visit my dear friend, Lisa Hjulberg, joining in the blog hop tonight. Then, stop by these GinaK Designer's & Center Stage Spotlight blogs for even more samples: Asela, Carolyn, Cindy, Emily, Erika, Jessica, Kurtis, Lee, Lynn, Melanie, Tami, Theresa, Deb, Melissa, Karen, Sharri, and Sue

Before you finish hopping, be sure to check in on GinaK's blog to enter your comment for a chance to win Nina's Vintage Borders stamp set. If you already have purchased Nina's set, you can substitute any GinaK Designs stamp set valued at $23.95 or less.

For those of you are who looking for a quick and easy Christmas card idea, check out the Vintage Borders Card Kit available online in GinaK's store tonight. The Kit includes the step by step tutorial as well as all the card stock cut to the exact measurements needed to make 4 cards. For more details and photos of this card kit, see Jessica Fick's blog link as well as this Class Kit link.

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Tutorial for Gift card holder:

1. Cut 2 cardstock panels: 4" x 11" and 4.25" x 5.5". Score at 3-14/", 8-1/2" marks. If you have a ScorPal, you can set your cardstock on the right side and score as shown below.

2. Stamp the card front. Make the pocket for the gift card by attaching brads as shown.

3. Adhere the card front to the other card panel. Decorate and tie a ribbon around the card front. Or you can tie the ribbon first around the card front before attaching to the red panel. I prefer the first method just because it's easier for most people to slide the ribbon back intact, rather than re-tying it to close the card. This card can be done as is, or see below for a fancier design.


Here is the inside. Inserting cash works, too, but probably not best for mailing :-).

Happy hopping!

Card Patterns and Hero Arts cards

Here are some cards I made over a week ago that I never posted here. But before I show them to you, I just want to let you know that the GinaK Designs Vintage Borders blog hop start tonight, 10 PM, CST. I have a few projects and a tutorial to show you. I hope you can hop along with us!

My first card is for the Card Patterns sketch this week. And guess who's the sponsor? GinaK Designs will be giving away a stamp set valued at $24.95 or less to one random participant. I hope you can play along with us.

All Supplies from GinaK Designs, unless noted otherwise.
Stamps: Vintage Border (music background), First Christmas (sentiment)
Papers: Kraft, Ivory, Cranberry Tart, K&Co patterned paper
Ink: Memento Rhubarb Stalk
Others: sewing machine, Spellbinders Fleur de lis Pendant dies, lace and ribbon from my stash

I used some HeroArts stamps for these next two cards. I love HA's whimsical and cute stamps.

Stamps: Jolly Christmas
Paper: GKD White
Ink: Vivid Straw, SU Certainly Celery, Pink Passion, Memento Sky Blue
Other: ribbon by PTI, button from GKD Autumn Assortment

Stamps: Holiday Dolls
Paper: SU Certainly Celery, Cameo Coral, GinaK Kraft, Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Other: ribbon is by Michaels, button by PTI

Photo card with Festive Frame

This is my very first shadow box card. I was inspired by this week's Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge. If you want to learn how to make this, you can go to THIS link or THIS.

I used Melanie's Festive Frame set. I colored the frame with Copics, then cut parts of some of the petals to make them look more 3D. I stamped "Joy" all over the frame to give it a unique, patterned paper look. The card base was stamped with the text stamp from my Vintage Borders set using Versamark.

Here is a close up of the card.

Another Plum Crazy Card

Okay, I just had to make this card for the Moxie Fab's Plum Crazy Challenge and Copic Creations challenge this week. I really love the Gold and Plum together. They're such regal colors. Though it's not a traditional Christmas color combo, I imagine the magi's gifts to Jesus had these colors.

The filigree image is a digi stamp from Layers of Color. I added the glaze using Crystal Lacquer. I got some old newsprint and did a ruffle on the bottom. The lace is from Walmart, ribbon is PTI. I used GinaK's Sweet Corn cardstock and Neutral buttons assortment.

Here's the shine on the image close up.