A Scrapbooker AND Card Maker's Dream

I'm happy to be participating in a very special Gina K Design Release. Tami Mayberry has designed a very special and very large stamp set that will not only make card makers very happy, but will send scrapbook enthusiasts over the moon. It's probably the biggest and most complete calendar stamp set I've ever seen.

I chose to use the Calendar Bits & Pieces set to create a welcoming card that I might send to a friend or family member, inviting them to come visit. Before I separated the month stamps, I stamped them onto cardstock and used it as a list to let my recipient know that they are ALWAYS welcome...any time, any month.

Along with the twelve months, I stamped the separate words, cut them out and attached them to the frame image that contains my sentiment.

To add a little something to this long card, I added some bling and gingham ribbon topped with a matching gingham flower.

For some helpful tips on how to use the Calendar Bits & Pieces and Calendar Grid stamp sets, please be sure to check out Gina's blog and StampTV for a helpful video on just how quick and easy it can be to use! Both of these sets as well as the PDF version of the Calendar Grid image, if that's your preference, will be available for purchase tonight over on our online store.

Stop by our Illustrator's blog - Tami Mayberry for some projects with her timely stamp sets.

You may also want to check out these Gina K Designer Members who are joining in the preview tonight:

Carolyn, Donna, Erika, Jessica, Lee, Cathy, Nina, Melanie, and Theresa

Additionally, these Center Stage Spotlight Designer are playing along too and have more ideas to share with you:

Melissa, Sharri, and Sue

{Supplies}

Stamps: Calendar Bits & Pieces (Gina K Designs)

Paper: Pure Luxury Rocket Red, Farm Fresh (October Afternoon) Brown, Mica Metallic Amber (Paper Temptress)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Accessories: Red Gingham Ribbon, Mini Pop Dots, Sew Mini (Janome) Pearls - (Zva Creative) Gingham Point Blossoms (Maya Road)

Peace, Hope & Love

Hi - I'm wishing all of my American friends a happy Veteran's Day, and my Canadian friends a Happy Remembrance Day as we remember and honor all of our veterans for their service. My Dad was a World War II vet, and while he didn't speak much about his service, I was always grateful for the time and sacrifices he made to serve his country. A heartfelt sentiment of gratitude goes out to all vets for that same sacrifice. I hope you will show a vet your appreciation in some way today - by thanking a vet you may personally know - by attending a local parade to show your support, or if that's not possible, then fly your flag or wear a patriotic flag pen on your label...just let them and others know that you haven't forgotten their service.

The Christmas card that I'd like to share with you today was created for the Gina K Design release party a couple of weeks ago, but I hadn't shared it here on my blog so I thought it was about time.

This card uses Festive Frame. I stamped the image onto Pure Luxury Ivory and then again onto the patterned paper and once more onto a scrap of Tan Leather cardstock. I colored the images stamped on the Ivory using Copic markers and then cut around the corner pieces and adhered them onto the patterned paper. The Tan Leather oval frame was cut and also attached onto the patterned paper.

I'm feeling a little envious of my hubby as he has the next five days off. I think it's totally unfair that I shouldn't have EVERY day off that he does. Maybe I'll leave him a little list of honey-do's instead of feel envious. Yep, that should make me feel a little better. *grin* Have a totally fantastic day!

{Supplies}

Stamps: Festive Frame

Paper: Jolly by Golly, (Cosmo Cricket) Pure Luxury Ivory and Tan Leather

Ink: Lady Bug, Desert Sand, Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Accessories: Mini Pop Dots, Copic Markers, Ticket Corner Punch, Button - Neutral Button Selection

Baby it's Cold Outside - NOT!

It really shouldn't surprise me to see Christmas commercials on television, and ads everywhere to buy this, or order that in time for the holidays. I mean really - after all, it IS November. I just find it a little difficult to get into the holiday spirit when it's 70 degrees outside. I was a little surprised to find that one of my neighbors had taken advantage of the warmer temperatures and put up his Christmas lights! REALLY? Already?

Perhaps what I need is a good old dose of freezing temperatures to get me into the holiday spirit. A hard frost and a day or two of scrapping ice off my car windows would probably do it! Or could it be I just need to make a few more Christmas cards?

This is the first time I've inked up this cute sleigh image from The Petal Press. This set is really versatile because you can choose from four different images to fill the sleigh. I chose to go with the candy canes because of the color of paper that I selected. I added a little sparkle to the candy canes by coloring them with a red Spica glitter pen, but you know how hard it is to capture the glimmer on digital images.

I created a border using my Fleur de Lis Borderabilities and then layered a piece of patterned paper of them and finished it off with a ribbon of Ivory Faux Suede and topped it off with a ghost shape snowflake topped with a chipboard snowflake that I inked up and then spritzed with Glimmer Mist.

So, until the weather cools off a bit, I won't be decorating for Christmas, but I will continue to make Christmas cards for a few more weeks - no matter what the weather!

Thanks for stopping by!

{Supplies}

Stamps: Sleigh Ride (The Petal Press - available through i{heart}papers)

Paper: Pure Luxury Ivory, Cranberry, Good Cheer (October Afternoon)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Accessories: Ivory Faux Suede Ribbon, Fleur de Lis Borderabilities, Chipboard (Maya Road), Small Circle Nestabilities, Large Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Snowflake Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Ghost Snowflake (Heidi Swapp), Spica Glitter Pens, Pearls (Zva Creative)

Quicker Picker Upper Flower-Viva-Zva

Wow...is it Monday again already? Where do the weekends go? I blink and they are over...of course with the time change and it getting dark around 5 pm, it makes the day seem like it's over before it has really begun. I probably sound like a broken record (are you old enough to understand that reference?) because I think I probably say the same thing every Monday. I guess that's the attitude you have when you work full time and the only thing that Monday means is that you have to go back to work. But today there are flowers blooming at my house. WHAT you say? In the middle of FALL? Yep, but the flowers aren't blooming in my garden, but in my craft room.

Today on the Try a New Technique Challenge on SplitcoastStampers.com, we are making flowers out of paper towels. Yep, that's right...the quicker picker upper is now the quicker flower maker. So in theory I guess if you spilled something on the floor, you could throw this card on it, and poof - the spill would be gone. Let's hope it wouldn't come to that. HA! If you have time today, pop on over to the group and give it a try. It's fun and easy and requires a minimum of supplies.

My project today uses the technique to create a pink blossom rising from the Zva Creative stem. I love pink and brown color combinations and this paper by K & Company is just so fun and fabulous for today's card. My flower does have a wonderful shimmery sparkle to it from the Glimmer Mist, but that is nearly impossible to capture in photographs, so you'll just have to take my word for it.

I appreciate you stopping by today. That really starts my week off on a positive note!

{Supplies}

Paper: Pink, Brown, Pure Luxury Green Apple (Gina K Designs), Greenhouse Designer Paper (K & Company)

Accessories: 1 Paper Towel, Creme de Rouge Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), Avocado Maya Mist (used on leaves) Chick-a-Dee Alpha Stickers (i{heart}papers), Brad & Pearls (Zva Creative from i{heart}papers), Felt Flowers (Queen & Co.), Corner Rounder

This week has been a very sad one as former DT member of i{heart}papers, Sarah Anderson. Sarah's 3 year old son, Henry, passed away. Little Henry was unable to overcome a virus that made him ill last week.

Lorie Ames has organized a way to donate for a memorial for Henry. Henry loved his local zoo and visited it almost every day in the summer. As a memorial to Henry and his love of the zoo, a tree will be planted there in his honor. Melissa at Pink Cat Studio has created a digital stamp to help raise funds for a tree for Henry. All proceeds from the sale of the digi stamp, minus Paypal costs, will go towards the purchase of these trees.

If you would like to donate towards the tree, please visit Pink Cat Studio to purchase the digi stamp.

Another way to donate to the memorial is to print out this form and mail in your donation directly: http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/Parks/PDF/M ... mphlet.pdf

You may donate any amount using the form. The funds will be pooled.

Please write on the form that the donation is for Sarah Anderson’s son, Henry. Once all of the money is collected, a tree and location will be selected. If you have questions about the form please contact Lorie Ames. Lorie will be in contact with Sarah along this memorial journey to ensure that her wishes are followed.

To contact Lorie, please visit her blog.

If you don’t know Sarah and would like to learn more about her, please visit her blog.

If you are a believer, please lift Sarah and her family up in your prayers. Thank you for your help to raise money for a tree for Henry.

TESC90 In A Guilded Cage

Yippee Skippy - it's Friday again. There's not a lot that can beat that, except maybe being on vacation, but since that isn't happening anytime soon, I'll settle for Friday - how 'bout you?

It's time for another fun Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge, This week, I was really glad to be able to use the supplies from my October Key Ingredient Kit. I'm just loving these papers and this week's sketch really inspired me to break open my kit.

I did a little stitching using my Sew-Mini machine on both pieces of patterned paper before I applied them to the cardstock base. I painted the chipboard birdcage with acrylic paint and then spread a thin layer of glue to hold the glitter I sprinkled on it.

I added a crystal eye and a couple of Zva Creative Flourish pieces for a tail on the little chipboard bird that I covered with patterned paper.

Want to play along? I hope so...if you do, be sure to visit the Taylored Expressions blog and submit your card to Mr. Linky. Taylor will be choosing her top ten "Top Crops" and feature them on her blog next week. That you be YOUR Crop highlighted on Taylor's blog!! If you are in need of a little inspiration, be sure and stop by the blogs of the Sketch Crew and see their interpretation of this week's sketch.

Lisa Hjulberg

Melissa Sauls

Jami Sibley

Rachel Sztonyk

Jackie Pedro

Monika Davis

Sherrie Siemens

Alice Lihsuan-Wertz

and don't forget Taylor!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope your weekend is splendid.

{Supplies}

Stamps: Branching Out (Taylored Expressions)

Paper: Blush Red Medium (Prism), Earth Love Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket in Taylor's October Key Ingredient Kit)

Ink: Coffee Bean (Vivid)

Accessories: Sandal Paint Dabber (Ranger), Zva Creative Crystals, Mini Birds Chipboard (Maya Road), Lacy Ribbon (October Key Ingredient Kit), Rectangular Label Punch (McGill)

A Sweet & Sassy Christmas

This really seems to be a productive week for holiday cards for me. At the rate I'm going, I'll be finished with my Christmas cards before Thanksgiving. Now THAT would be a first!

Today the Paper Craft Planet Super Novas are participating in a challenge sponsored by Sweet & Sassy Stamps. Susanna Boyd provided this sketch for us to use and each of the Design Team had their choice of several digital images from which to choose. To play along, create a card using this sketch:

Since I'm on a Christmas card frenzy, I chose the Christmas Candle. I printed the image out several times on one piece of Ivory cardstock and colored the base image using Copic markers, and the poinsettia image on three other images. I then cut out the pieces of the poinsettia and adhered them on top of one another, giving it some depth and dimension.

Now before you tell me, "hey Lynn, you colored outside the lines on your flame", let me just add that I meant to do that...lol. I was going for the image that you get when you see a flame burning, and how the glow from the flame far outreaches the actual flame itself.

I used some great paper by October Afternoon and added a few accessories, such as the felt snowflakes, and a cream colored snowflake button that I had in my stash.

I strip of metallic string enhanced the band that runs behind the focal image.

So are you ready to play along? Just create and upload your card to the Paper Craft Planet photo gallery, and use the tag "SNSS1" -- all caps, please. (Here is a tutorial on adding pictures to the gallery, if you need it.) Sweet n' Sassy Stamps has generously offered a chance to win this adorable stamp for one of our lucky challenge players.

The other Supernovas and I all used the new digital stamps for our cards. I hope you will take a moment and see what the other Super Novas came up with:

Adela Rossol

Kim Burmeister

Wendy Price

Lori Tecler

Sankari Wegman

Susanna Boyd

{Supplies}

Stamps: Christmas Candle (Sweet & Sassy Stamps)

Paper: Light Blue, Red, Pure Luxury Ivory, Good Cheer Patterned Paper (October Afternoon)

Ink: Laser Printer

Accessories: Copic Markers, Mini Pop Dots, Red Metallic String, Felt Snowflakes, Snowflake Button from Stash

CSS Challenge Blog Hop

Welcome to the very first Center Stage Spotlight Design Team Blog Hop!

Jessica Fick, the Design Team Coordinator for Gina K Designs issued a challenge to all of the Center Stage Spotlight (CSS) Design Team members, past and present, to make a Christmas card with one of these sketches:

You're going to LOVE what everyone has designed using these sketches! First, here are the links for Gina K's Current CSS Team Members:

Deb Felts

Diana S. Queen

Karen Knegten

Melissa Cash

Sharri Seffens

Sue VanDeVusse

and the links for all of the past CSS Design Team members participating:

Brenda Turner,

Carla Suto,

Carolina Buchting,

Charlene Merrick,

Dawn Lusk,

DeeMarie Kelemen,

Geri Utterback ,

Giovanna Smith,

Janice Melton,

JenMarie Taylor,

Jennie Harper,

Joy Hadden,

Kay Simmons,

Linda Payne,

Lori McAree,

Melisa Waldorf,

Pam Imholz,

Selma Stevenson,

Shannon Bracken,

Shelly Wilson,

Sue Walsh,

Tina Gilliland

Some of Gina K's Senior Design Team Members and Illustrators wanted to get in on the fun tonight too:

Asela Hopkins

Carolyn King

Cindy Lawrence

Jessica Fick

Lee Murphy

Nina Brackett

Melanie Muenchinger

And Gina too!

along with Nina Brackett's Guest Designer: Lisa Hjulberg. With a lengthy list like this, you're sure to find a little Christmas card inspiration.

For my card, I combined some new and not so new images from Gina's collection. A card base of Kraft cardstock and the addition of In the Navy is the canvas for my card. I stamped several snowflakes using Cream and Inky Blue inks onto Kraft cardstock that serves as a base which is highlighted by a great flourish stamp from Vintage Borders. I stamped the flourishes using pigment ink and then heat embossed them using off white embossing powder.

Thanks so much for peeking in today....I hope you've gained a little inspiration. =)

{Supplies}

Stamps: Vintage Borders, Holiday Cheer

Paper: Pure Luxury Kraft and In The Navy

Ink: Cream White Pigment (ColorBox) Inky Blue (Vivid)

Accessories: Seafoam White Embossing Powder, Ribbon from Stash, Mini Pop Dots, Paper Piercer

A Bough to Unity

There is just something very down-home and warming about using Kraft cardstock on Christmas card. I can really see me using a lot of it this holiday season. It really goes so very well with the traditional colors of Christmas and that's probably one reason I love it so.

This image is from Unity and the pine branch holds a place for a cheerful holiday greeting, and also serves as a nice place to hang a few ornaments that also come in this set of three.

I stamped the ornaments and then filled in color using a combination of Smooch and Spica Glitter pens. I then "hung" the ornaments with some sparklie metallic string and tied a bow topping it off with a glittery piece of chipboard.

How are your holiday cards coming along? Are you motivated yet? No? What about if I told you that there are only 50 days left until Christmas? Has the panic set in yet? Never fear...there is still time. =)

{Supplies}

Stamps: Christmas Bough (Unity available from i{heart}papers and it's ON SALE)

Paper: Pure Luxury-All Spruced Up, Kraft

Ink: Cottage Ivy and Tuxedo Black (both Memento), Gold Pigment (ColorBox)

Accessories: Gold Embossing Powder, Gold Lame & Green Apple Smooch, Spica Glitter Pens, Large Rectangle Nestabilities, Red Metallic String, 1/4" glitter chipboard, Stitch-Doodle-Dot Template (for faux stitching in gold around frame)

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

It comes earlier and earlier every year; in all the stores, alongside the Halloween decorations are the Christmas decorations...there, in all of their EARLY glory, we are constantly reminded that Christmas falls quickly on the heels of Halloween. Those of us in the crafting world also know this fact, and truth be known, we all work on Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas cards all at the same time - side by side. It's as if the three holidays are rolled into one crafting season. Well, now that Halloween is behind us for another year, our focus will turn more toward Thanksgiving and Christmas. My project today focuses more on Christmas.

I created this double pocket card using a new set just released by Gina K Designs, Vintage Borders. Directions on how to complete this card can be found HERE. What a fun way to send a greeting along with a gift card.

I used a variety of the borders found in this set to create all the images on this project. One was used to create the musical background, another to make the Christmas decorations and a third to create the scallop accent along the front pocket opening.

When I actually send this card, I'll select a gift card close in color, but this is what I had on hand, but you get the idea of how the double pocket card works.

The tag holds a place to write a personal note. I used some ribbon from my stash and a button from Gina's new button collection that she sells to add a little flair to the design.

Are your holiday cards well underway? I'm sure that you have probably made one or two holiday cards already, and if you're like me, you'll be making more in the weeks to come. Let the holidays begin! Ready? Set? Create! May the Mojo be with you.

{Supplies}

Stamps: Vintage Borders, Spirit of Christmas, Holiday Greetings

Paper: Pure Luxury Fresh Asparagus, Cranberry Tart, Textured Cream (from stash)

Ink: Olive (Vivid) Cream White (ColorBox)

Accessories: Grosgrain Ribbon (from stash), Button (Autumn Button Assortment) DMC Embroidery Floss, Eyelet and Crop-A-Dile

Before I close this post today, I'd like to draw your attention to a special project, one that you could participate in and at the same time provide some loving comfort to the grieving parents of Somer Thompson. You may recall that Somer Thompson was the little Florida girl who was abducted and murdered last week. Deb Felts, fellow crafter and one of Gina's Center Stage Spotlight Design Team Members lives in the same area, is hosting this week's Potluck Friday Challenge on Stamp TV in honor of Somer. She is asking people to make feminine cards that include a purple ribbon (Somer's favorite color). You can find all the details of this special project HERE.