A Personal Thanks...

 

 

Today I am taking it easy.... REAL easy!  It's been a busy couple weeks and well... why not end the year chillin and then... hopefully... bring it in chillin.  :-)  I decided this adorable Magnolia was a good way to remind myself that though it was a busy and sometimes hectic year... I am very THANKFUL for everything the year brought. 

Whether it was good days or bad... there was an "upside" somewhere... even if it didn't feel like one.  My husband taught me that years ago... "there's always an upside"... we just gotta look for it sometimes. 

My card base is Pure Luxury Ocean Mist layered with Key Lime which I ran through my Vagabond using my Polka Dot Cuttlebug folder.  My image was colored using my Copic markers.  I cut it out and mounted it with Pop Dots.

I sat my sweet girl on my ribbon and added a few Prima roses to the mix.

I hope you have a fabulous New Year's Eve and if you're out partying, please please be careful and don't drink and drive!  I want to keep a many friends going into the new year as I had leaving this year.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!! *HUGS*

Gina K Designs December Inspiration Hop

Wow... what another amazing Gina K Release Party we had last night!!  I LOVE when everyone joins in and chats up the site!!  You can't turn away for 2 minutes and you've missed three pages of posts!! LOL  Fast, fun and full of inspiration all around!  Today the Design Team is sharing a bit more inspiration using two of the newest sets.  First up....

Stately Flowers 2 by Melanie Muenchinger....

I made a very CAS cad with this gorgeous flower.  As I looked up the Alabama state flower, the Camellia, I was shocked at how many different colors this flower grows in.  I just love it!!  I decided to go red!!  :-)  I used Pure Luxury White card stock and added a small border of Red Hot as well.  My image was colored with Copic markers which I cut out and mounted with Pop Dots.  A bit of twine and a little bling finish off my card.

Next up....

Mountain Wilderness by Theresa Momber...

My card today reminded me of a cold Alaskan day (my brother-in-law lives there so I always think of him on snowy days).. hee.  He would truly appreciate this sort of card.  I stamped all my images and made a "moon" by sponging around the trees and a punched circle.  My card base is Pure Luxury In the Navy and I added a small border of Ocean Mist.  I extended my wolf's mountain using my Copic markers.

For even more inspiration... check out the rest of the DT and be sure to leave a comment for a chance at a FREE Grab Bag from Gina K Designs!!

• Gina K
• Melanie Muenchinger – Illustrator Stately Flowers 2
• Theresa Momber – Illustrator Mountain Wilderness
• Michelle Woerner
• Sharon Harnist
• Suzanne Dean
• Tina Gilliland (You're here!)
• Vicki Dutcher
• Carolina Buchting
• Cathy Tidwell
• Deb Felts
• Donna Baker
• Giovana Smith
• Jennie Harper
• Jimmi Mayo
• Lee Murphy

Have a great day and enjoy the hop!!! *smile*

You're Invited - Gina K Designs December Release Party!!!

We are very excited to extend an invitation to Gina K. Designs December Release Party. We have a fun evening planned for you - chatting, prizes, challenges, stamp sets reveal, design team shares, and most importantly, at the end of the party you will be able to start shopping at 7 PM!

If you came from StampTV , you're in the right place.  If not... you can go there and you will find a list of all those participating in today's hop.

Here's a photo of one of the cards I will be sharing at the party.

This is one set that  I'm sure no one will be able to resist!!  It's full of fun images and sentiments!!  And how about that DP??? Yep... it's new too!!  I did a bit of paper piecing on these images and the DP was just perfect along with the sentiment!!!  OMGosh I can hardly wait for you to see all the images in this set!!  Trust me.. you don't want to miss out on all this fun and the awesome sets our illustrators have for you this month!

Hope to see you at the party, here are all the details:

• When: Today, Thursday, December 29
• Where: StampTV Release Party Forum
• Time: 7 PM to 9 PM (CST)

Now head on over to Tami Mayberry's blog to see what she's sharing with you today and see you back here on tomorrow for the beginning of our three day Inspiration Blog Hop series for December!

Have a great day!!

Have a Safe Holiday....

There are two days left before Christmas.... are you ready??? I'm not!!! Of course I've finished shopping... but I haven't wrapped ONE gift!!!  Part of my problem is I always wrap in my bedroom.  Well... since my hubby works the midnight run this year... he is sleeping until 11:30 PM!!!  Ugh!  My secret hidey spot in my bedroom closet.  :-(  This means... I have to transport all the gifts to another area of the house (nope, I didn't think ahead) without the kids seeing them... to begin wrapping!!  Wish me luck!!

My card today uses one of my favorite angels this year from Susana's Custom Art &  Card Design, Elisabeth Bell's, Angel of Hope.  I just love the flow of her gown, her flowing hair and the huge wings!  I colored her using my Copic markers and cut her out to mount her.  My card base is Pure Luxury Vibrant Violet.  I layered on some Turquoise Sea, some fun glitter paper that my daughter got in a little paper art kit that she KNEW I would need to make cards... hee hee... then a piece of White which I used my D'Vine Swirls Cuttlebug embossing folder on. 

A bit of wrinkled ribbon and Websters Sparkler Button finished off my "guardian angel" for you.  :-)

Have a safe and happy holiday and I hope you make special memories to keep for years to come!!

*HUGS & Blessings*

MY Angel...

Oh for sure!!! MY angel would be dressed in purple!!! No doubt!! :-) The adorable little stamp is Angel Gilli.  I just think the Gilli stamps are so darn cute!!! Also... today is the "Just Bling It" Monday Greeting Challenge over on The Outlawz.  Come join in on the fun!!!

My card today started with Pure Luxury Heavy Base Weight White and I layered on a piece of the Layering Weight card stock.  I ran it through my Vagabond using my Swiss Dot Cuttlebug embossing folder.  I layered on a 4" doilie and added some pearl flourishes around it.  My angel was colored using my Copic markers before I cut her out and added her to my card using Pop Dots. 

I hope you are enjoying your holiday season and getting all your cards and gifts ready.  I've been spending a lot of time designing cards for our family to mail AND for my husband to use at work.  Seems every day he adds another name to his list. LOL  I don't mind though... and I'm hoping to get some homemade fudge and treats made to send with him as well.  Always room for treats when you're a truck driver.  :-)

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!! *smile*

Gina K Designs' Nature's Greetings Hop

Welcome to another Gina K. Design Team blog hop. Today we are sharing cards and projects using the Nature's Greetings set. If you came from Theresa Momber's blog, you're at the right place. If not make sure to head over to StampTV you will find a list of all those participating in today's hop.

Here's what I came up with today.

My card base is Pure Luxury Heavy Base Weight White layered with DP from Echo Park's Marjolaine paper pack.  I stamped my images using my Memento markers to color them in before stamping.  My butterfly was stamped and colored with Copics prior to mounting.  I added a few buttons from the Button Jars offered at Gina K Designs.  I LOVE these buttons!!! Never seem to run out and there are so many sizes I never need to look any further!  Perfect to keep on hand plus the screw on lids are an added benefit!

Head on over to Vicki Dutcher's blog to see what she's sharing with you today!

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you have enjoyed a little more inspiration from the Design Team.  Have a great day!! *smile*

He's Checking His List....

A bit less than two weeks away.... are you ready???  I'm not quite ready, but almost.  Christmas will be here and, as always, I WILL be ready!  Isn't it funny how it comes the same time every year and yet... or so it seems... people are just rushing and fretting and scurrying along to get it ALL done???!!  I don't know why others feel the "rush" of the season but "I" know for me... I hate buying my kids gifts to early.  I mean you know how kids can be, right???  Sure they want something NOW... but will they want it in ohhh three months when Christmas shopping begins??? Or, is it really necessary to wait for the sale catalog and ads to come out.  Because you can bet if you bought something two months before Christmas, chances are... it WILL be in the sale ads.  *sigh*  So for a mom buying for kids... sometimes it's just best to wait.  I know.. doesn't help with the stress, but, in the end... I KNOW they will want something when it comes at Christmas and quite possibly even be less straining on my budget.  Ya know???  ;-)

My adorable little Santa is, of course, a Magnolia stamp.  I'm pretty sure I got it LAST Christmas release but never took the time to ink it up.  And... I think I got kind of "intimidated" with the red and black Copic coloring.  Not so much anymore since I went through Suzanne Dean's Copic classes!  I am STILL in awe at her teaching skills and all the awesome information she gave us.  Hee

I stamped my image and cut him out... adhering him with Pop Dots.  My card base is Pure Luxury Red Hot card stock and I layered on some Sweet Corn.  I added some DP and a row of buttons for my Santa to perch upon.  My sentiment is from the "Wishing You Joy" Stamp TV kit.

I hope your holiday duties are going smoothly and that you don't get to stressed over any of it.  The holidays should be fun... family time... memory making and full of good surprises.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!! *smile*

Snow & Flakes and Blechhhh....

No sirree... I DO NOT like snow!! Do Not!!!  Is that clear?? Butttt.... I admit... making SNOW cards is fun!!!  Today's Greetings Challenge over on The Outlaws is to make a card with snow, snowflakes, etc.  I had so much fun with this challenge that yes... I made more than one.  But... as a blogger... some days, there's not enough time to create when you want, so, I decided to save my "other" snow card for another post.  :-)

My card was creating using one of Mo's Digital Pencil images, "Kai in the snow".  It reminds me so much of my son when I sat him outside in his green and blow snow suit for his first winter.  He didn't have quite a smile on his face though... more of a "what the heck are you putting me in?" look. LOL  And when he fell over... on his side... the green suit reminded me of a turtle on his back that couldn't get up! LOL  Oh he was so adorable.  But, shell shocked, I'm afraid.  Ha Ha! 

My card base is Pure Luxury Ocean Mist.  I layered some White and added DP from a few different paper packs I had in my stash.  I colored my image with Copic markers and cut my image using my Square Nestabilities and mounted it using Pop Dots.  My flourishes were cut using my Slice machine and added a few punched out snowflakes.  My flakes are sparkled using Frost Stickles. 

I hope you're not getting to much snow... unless, of course, you love the snow like my friend, Lee Murphy. Hee Hee 

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!! *smile*

Simple Peace...

Something very CAS.... something that says it all without much fanfare.  THAT is what I was going for with this card. 

My sentiment is from the Stamp TV Kit, "Wishing You Joy".  I love all the sentiments in this kit and the adorable images.  But for this card... the perfect sentiment was all I needed.

I began with Pure Luxury Heavy Base Weight White card stock.  I used Gina's tutorial on Partial Embossing with a Cuttlebug folder to follow.  You can watch the video HERE.

I used my Bow Easy to make a triple loop bow and finished it off with my sentiment.  I LOVE how clean and yet classy this looks.

Are you working on your cards?  Are you mailing them yet???  I'm done with mine so... off to address and stamp.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by! *smile*

Inspiring Trio...

Inspiration!!  I LOVE being inspired and I LOVE inspiring others.  Today I'm sharing three cards I made with the new "Inspirational Blocks" from Gina K Designs November release.  This set has such awesome words in it and I couldn't quite decide which I wanted to use.  Then... it hit me... my kids!  I LOVE giving my kids as much inspiration as I can.  So I chose words which I felt could work for a little inspiration I can give to them on any day (I love to mail them cards for no reason at all... hee). 

My cards base is Pure Luxury Heavy Base Weight White.  I used the Layering Weight white to heat emboss my images using red, black and teal embossing powders.  I followed Gina's awesome video on Gold Edge Embossed Holiday Card to do my embossing and edging/layering of my blocks.  I added my ribbon and attached my blocks with Pop Dots.  My sentiments were also embossed on the card base matching the blocks.

This would make such an awesome card set to give as a gift as well.  But... I will send them to my kids for now.  :-)

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!! *smile*

Make it a Tall One....

My card today is one I designed for the Outlawz Greetings Challenge this week.  Your challenge is to make  "TALL" card!  I rarely do this so it was fun to create this sample to give you all a little inspiration.

My card base is Pure Luxury Heavy Base Weight White and I stamped my image from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, "Christmas Light Clear Stamp Set".  I put out a call for help in looking for religious stamp sets I could us for Christmas.  It seems it's harder and harder to find such stamps some times and I really prefer to keep the "true" meaning of Christmas in my card designs.  Luckily for me, my sweet friend, Korin Sutherland directed me to this beauty!!  Thanks, Korin!!  I LOVE it!!!

I colored the image with Copic markers and added a bit of added bling.  My sentiment is stamped on the White and I used my Labels 9 Nestabilities to cut it out.  I added a bit of Memento Wild Dandelion ink around the edges before removing the Nestie.  I adhered a white doilie to the card base before putting on the sentiment using Pop Dots.

I hope you play along.  The winner will receive a $20 gift certificate from the E.K. Success!!!  With Christmas around the corner, I'm sure that certificate could be put to good use!! :-)

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!! *smile*

Poppieeees....

Red!!! It's NOT just for Christmas anymore! Hee Hee.  Sorry... couldn't resist that! LOL  Today I wanted to share with you one of the cards I created for the Gina K Designs November Release party.  My poppy is from the awesome set Melanie Muenchinger released this month, "Stately Flowers1"... of course, the poppy is California's state flower!  :-)

My card base is Pure Luxury Red Hot layered with White.  I added a layer of the DP from the "Natures Greetings" paper pack.  My image was stamped on White and colored with my Copic markers.  I used my Labels 4 Nestabilities.  I used Pop Dots to add some dimension to the card. 

I hope you are having a great Tuesday!!! I am still reorganizing my studio and am happy to report that it IS complete enough that I actually created a little last night!!  Woot!  It's going to be a cold one here in Iowa so I'm planning to stay put and maybe... just maybe, sneak in a little nap while the kids are at school  too!!  Mmmmmm sounds so toasty on a cold December day! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!! *smile*

Gina K Designs November Inspiration Hop Day 3

On our last day of the Inspiration Hop I hope you have enjoyed seeing all the awesome creations the Gina K Designs Design Team created for you!  AND... I hope you got your order in early because this release has hit it BIG over the last few days since the release!  Isn't it exciting to know there are more coming in conjunction with this release??? Today we are finishing up our samples but remember comment, comment, comment for your chance to win the HUGE grab bag of stamps that Gina will be drawing for!  Christmas is near and we all can use a little FREE Christmas gift for ourselves, right??? :-)  Now... on with the hop!  First up....

Inspiration Blocks by Gina K Designs

I LOVE the inspirational words in this set and I have been thinking of my kids with every card I make using it.  Perfect little "reminder" for them and I'm the mom that is always leaving notes for them or even mailing them a card of encouragement so this set is right up my ally!!  AND.. this month this set is your "Free with Three" set!!  My card begins with Pure Luxury Wild Dandelion card stock.  I layered on a piece of Black Onxy which I first embossed using my Holly Ribbons Cuttlebug folder.  I know it's more for Christmas but I thought it looked good with my stamp image.  :-)  Next I added another layer of the Wild Dandelion which I heat embossed my images.  My sentiments are overlapping in red and I wasn't sure how it would turn out (afraid it would melt down into the black and nothing would show), but it still kept the fine line of the letters and I like that!  Next up....

Master Butterfly Duo by Gina K Designs

I love coloring big butterflies and this one was no exception!  I started off with some Pure Luxury Turquoise Sea card stock and did a partial embossing on the side using my Bird Call Cuttlebug folder.  I added a layer of Wild Dandelion and some DP to the left and stamped my sentiment at the top.  My butterfly was colored with Copic markers and cut out then mounted with the winds folded upward.  I used a bit of Frost Stickles on the butterfly as well.  Next up...

Just Calling To Say Duo

For my last card I used Pure Luxury Kraft card stock as my base.  I added a layer of Little Boy Blue and some DP next.  I stamped my image using Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Faded Jeans.  I distressed the edges a bit and added some more Tim Holtz Ink, Vintage Photo. 

I hope you have enjoyed these hops and there still more to see... hop on down the list and remember to leave comments on all the DT blogs for a chance to win.

• Gina K
• Jimmi Mayo
• Lee Murphy
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Sharon Harnist
• Theresa Momber
• Tina Gilliland
• Vicki Dutcher
• Carolina Buchting
• Cathy Tidwell
• Deb Felts
• Donna Baker
• Emily Giovanni
• Giovana Smith

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!! *smile*

Gina K Designs November Inspiration Hop Day 2

Did you enjoy yesterday's hop??? Well the Gina K Designs Design Team has even more eye candy for you today.  This release is sooo packed with fun to color and awesome flowers and today's sets are no exception.  Let's get started!!!  First up...

Dogwood and Butterfly by Theresa Momber

For my card I began with Pure Luxury Heavy Base Weight White and added yet another layer on top using Pop Dots to give it dimension.  I stamped the "branches" on the corners and my sentiment in the lower right for balance.  My flowers and butterfly were colored with Copic markers and cut out and also applied with Pop Dots.  I added a bit of Frost Stickles to the butterfly.  I know I will be using this set quite often... just adore the flowers!!  Did you order yours yet???

Next up...

Label Borders by Tami Mayberry

Tami does it again with another fabulous set that not only makes for quick and easy cards, but is still so flexible!!!  My card began with Pure Luxury Blue Raspberry.  I added a layer of White and then grabbed some DP from my stash to add yet another layer.  I stamped the border on White and added it to the middle.  Instead of using the label area I cut a tag using the Nestabilities Grommet Tags and added a bit of sponging around the edges.  Two self adhesive pearls cover the grommet holes.  I also used Pop Dots to raise it up a bit.  This set is FABULOUS for belly bands and even though my band didn't go "around" the card, it looks as though it did.  LOVED working with this set and I'm sure you will as well.

Last but not least....

Friends are Flowers Duo by Gina K Designs

I love images like this flower that can be used both as a DP image and still be colored in and used as a focal image!!  I decided to use it to create my background on my card base.  I used Pure Luxury Heavy Base Weight White and stamped my image in three colors randomly around the card.  I added a small middle of Pure Luxury Creme de Menthe which I ran though my Vagabond using an embossing folder on just the top and bottom.  My sentiment is stamped and bordered with more self-adhesive pearls.

Now hop on over to the rest of the DT's blogs and remember to leave a comment for them all as Gina will once again draw for a winner of a huge Grab Bag of stamps!! 

• Gina K
• Theresa Momber – Illustrator Dogwood and Butterfly
• Tina Gilliland  (You are here!)
• Vicki Dutcher
• Carolina Buchting
• Cathy Tidwell
• Deb Felts
• Donna Baker
• Emily Giovanni
• Giovana Smith
• Jimmi Mayo
• Lee Murphy
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Michelle Woerner
• Sharon Harnist
• Suzanne Dean

Thanks for stopping and enjoy the hop!! One more hop tomorrow and another chance to win!!!  Have a great day!! *smile*