Dawn of the Butterfly

Hello! My card today is for the Featured Stamper Challenge at SCS. This week Dawn Easton (aka Treasure Oiler) is the featured stamper. I chose this card, from Dawn's gallery, for inspiration. Participants were to change at least two things. I changed...

Different colors
Used a bow in place of the flower
Different (but similar) stamps.

The butterfly is from Take Flight (Gina K) and is colored with Copics. I started with RV29.

Added RV25.

Added RV23 and left a portion un-colored.

I used my blender pen in large circles to pull some of the surrounding color into the highlighted areas.

Cut a circle with my Nestabilities and then sponged Regal Rose ink while still in the die.

Cut a rectangle and sponged Regal Rose ink along the edges.

Ran it through my Cuttlebug, using my Swiss Dots CB folder. Then I added a little more sponging (with a nearly dry sponge dauber) to add a little colors to the dots so they would stand out a little more. .

I layered with Chocolate Kiss (GKD) and used a Pretty in Pink (SU) cardbase. The little bit of designer paper on the smaller circle is from a Basic Grey Bittersweet paper pack. The sentiment is from Botanical Dreams. I also sponged the circle and stamped it with Pretty in Pink with the crackle background stamp from Bold Flowers.

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

Christmas Cardinal

One of the things I love about Asela Hopkin's newest stamp set, First Christmas, is how versatile it is. Although it is perfect for those "first Christmas" celebrations, all of the images can be used for any Christmas or seasonal occasion.

Today, members of the Gina K Design Team, Center Stage Spotlight Team and friends are having a special blog hop featuring First Christmas. Are you ready for some more Eye-Candy!? Stop in at Asela Hopkin's blog (our featured Illustrator tonight) and see what she has prepared for us.

Then, check out these GinaK Designer's blogs for their projects:

Carolyn, Donna, Erika, Jessica, Lee, Melanie

as well as our CenterStage Spotlight Designer's blogs:

Deb, Karen, Diana and Sharri

Remember, the Idea Center has lots of tutorials, photos, and links that will provide even more ideas for you with this stamp set!

And, if you haven't already done so, be sure to leave a comment on GinaK's blog for a chance to win this stamp set tonight too! If you have already purchased this set, you may swap it out for any other GinaK stamp set valued at $23.95.

I did a Google image search to look at cardinals before coloring and I came across this picture and loved it so much I just had to case it for my card.

To start, I colored the cardinal from First Christmas, using an R29 Copic Marker.

Added R27.

Added R24.

I wanted a warm look for the highlights, so I used YR02 to fill in.

Then went over that with R22.

Used my blender pen to lighten some areas.

For the beak, I used YR02 and YR12.

To create my background I used Weathered Wood Distress ink and sponged from the center of my Pure Luxury White cardstock.

Next I stamped the branch from Winter Foliage using Memento Tuxedo Black. Then inked up just one side of the mountain scene stamp from Happy Camper, using Gable Green ink and stamped that on the left.

Then I inked up the other side of the mountain scene stamp, using the Weathered Wood Distress ink again. I stamped that side repeatedly, re-inking each time.

I used G28 and E35 to add some color to the branch, then added some shading to the rocks using N3. I thought the foreground looked a little plain, so I used Post-it Notes as masks and sponged a little more Weathered Wood to look like snow banks.

The cardinal was popped up using Pop Dots and I added a sentiment from Festive Frame. The button is from the Autumn Button Assortment. I layered with Pure Luxury Black Onyx and Moonlit Fog and used White heavy base weight for the base.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend!

Calendar Bits & Pieces and Calendar Grid

Hi! We are having a very special blog hop to introduce Tami Mayberry's newest stamp sets for Gina K Designs, Calendar Bits & Pieces and Calendar Grid. Oh my word, I have never seen a stamp set this large!!! Calendar Bits & Pieces is huge and Calendar Grid is enormous.

The possibilities for these sets are endless! I used the calendar grid to make a grid background for my card. I used one of my favorite stamps from the set, the label stamp that fits of the the Spellbinders Labels 1 Nestibilities!

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 will be available for purchase tonight over on our online store.

After that, stop by our Illustrator's blog - Tami Mayberry for some projects with her timely stamp sets.

Here are the GinaK Designer Member's links who are joining us in the preview tonight:

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

You'll also want to check in on these CenterStage Spotlight Designer's blogs for more ideas:

Melissa, Sharri, and Sue

I don't have many photos for this card, since it is pretty basic, but I did take a few to show you how I did the grid background. I stamped with Versa Mark and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

Then I sponged Bashful Blue(SU) ink.

Sponged Ballet Blue ink.


Then I used the snowflake stamp from Calendar Bits & Pieces and stamped randomly using Bashful Blue ink. I like the way the sponging comes out using the grid stamp. I think it looks a bit like faux tile. The embossing caused the ink to be just a bit darker along the lines.

I cut my background into two pieces and assembled the card using Pure Luxury Black Onyx, White and In The Navy cardstock. I stamped the snowflake and sentiment using Vivid Inky Blue and then used my Startdust Glitter Pen to add some sparkle to the snowflakes. (sorry that didn't show up in my photo).

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

Festive Frame Blog Hop!

You can click on any of the images for a larger view

Hi! We are having a Gina K Designs blog hop, featuring Melanie Muenchinger's new set, Festive Frame. I love all the ways you can use this set. For my project, I decided to make a gift box and matching gift tag. I did an oval cut out window so my candy bag could show through. More details below...

Melanie Muenchinger, the Illustrator of Festive Frame has invited a couple of her friends to join in on the blog hop tonight, so click on their blog links to see the projects they've created for us:

Joan Ervin
Wendy Price

Linda Payne

Then, check in on these GinaK Designer's participating in the Blog Hop tonight:

Carolyn King
Donna Baker
Erika Martin
Jessica Fick
Lee Murphy
Melanie Muenchinger
Theresa Momber

And our fabulous Center Stage Spotlight Team:

Deb Felts
Diana S. Queen
Melissa Cash
Sharri Seffens

After you're done hopping to all the Designer's blogs stop by GinaK's Idea Center here: Festive Frame for lots more ideas on how to use Melanie's stamp set. And, don't forget to check in on GinaK's blog so you can leave your comment to be entered as a chance to win this stamp set, too!

To make the top layer, I stamped the Festive Frame stamp and colored with Copics. I used V09 to start.

Added V06.

Added V04.

I used the blender pen to soften the highlights, then used V06 to darken the edges of the petals.

Used E59 in the darkest areas of the cone.

Blended with E53. After coloring, I used a white gel pen to add some highlights to the cone.

I used Post-in notes to mask the edges and then sponged with Vivid Tuscan Tan ink.

I colored the borders of the image with my Grape Jelly Memento marker and then cut out the center.

To make the box I used an 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper and scored at 1 1/4 inches on either side, lengthwise. (Sorry, my pictures for this part of the project are showing kraft colored cardstock, rather than lavender)

I rotated the paper and scored at 4 1/2 from either side.

Folded on the score lines. Then I placed my largest classic oval Nestabilities die centered on one of the larger sides. I used a piece of tape to hold it in position. Since the paper was too wide to fit in my Cuttlebug, I folded the flaps over so I could get it to pass through. With the flaps folded, it was 6 inches wide and just barely fit in my Cuttlebug.

After cutting out the oval, I added Scor-tape to the flaps, made cuts in the center, for the bottom flaps, as shown and then assembled.

I layered the top piece with Vibrant Violet, which I cut the center out of, then I sandwiched a piece of Clear Craft Plastic between the box and the top layers. I added self adhesive pearls to the centers of the poinsettias and a ribbon bow with a button from the Autumn Button Assortment.

I filled the box with a bag of candy. Just a tip for filling your plastic bag - place your bag in the box and then fill it with it in place. This will keep the candy from bulging into a shape that won't fit in the box.

Thank you for visiting. Have a wonderful day!

Reindeer Fun

Hi there! Today's card is for the featured stamper challenge at SCS this week. The featured stamper this week is Christine M and what a beautiful gallery she has. I chose this card for inspiration. Participants were to change at least two things. I changed...

Different Stamps
Different Layout
Added Embellishments

I started by sponging Blush Blosson (SU) on Pure Luxury White cardstock. I also added a 1 3/8 inch circle, punched from a post-it note, for a moon mask.

Sponged Pretty In Pink (SU) ink.

Sponged Regal Rose.

Sponged Bravo Burgundy.

I stamped the trees and deer from Holiday Cheer, using black ink. I stamped the trees a few more times without re-inking.

I added some sateen flowers, that I sponged to color and some little punched branches (Martha Stewart punch), and a die cut element in the corner. I used an EK Success slimline punch for the side detail on the left. Layers are Pure Luxury Cranberry Tart, Black Onyx and Ivory and SU Blush Blossom.

Thanks for visiting. I hope you have a wonderful day!

A Very Merry Matchbook and a Card by my Daughter

Hello! I hope you all had a happy weekend. Have you been following the Holiday Tutorial Blitz at Split Coast Stampers? There is a whole passel of new tutorials posted, all featuring holiday projects. I wrote one of the tutorials for this Pocket Matchbook Candy Holder. You can see all the holiday tutorials, past and present, here, and you can see the Holiday Blitz Gallery right here.

I used the holly sprig from A Very Merry Christmas and colored it with Copic markers. For the background, I sponged a little Certainly Celery on Pure Luxury Ivory and then stamped the branch from Christmas Blessings. Cardstock layers are Rocket Red and Black Onyx.

On the inside, did the background the same as above and then stamped the sentiment, from Christmas Blessings. You can see all the step by step photos and even a video, here.

I also had to share this little card that my daughter made the other day. She really surprised me by wanting to make a card. She used the sprig of holly from A Very Merry Christmas and colored with Copics. The image was cut out and layered with Rocket Red and an All Spruced Up cardbase. This was her first time using Copics and I think she did a fantastic job.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope your day is full of stamping fun!

By the Light of the Moon

Hello happy stampers! Have you ever seen a crescent moon that was so bright you could still see the shape of the entire moon? That is what I was trying to reproduce on this card. I think it came out looking more like an eclipse, but I kinda like it anyway.

I started by sponging my background. I punched a 1 inch circle from a post-it note and placed it as a mask for my moon. Then I sponged some Pretty in Pink ink, using my Jumbo Round Sponge Dauber.

Sponged Regal Rose ink.

Sponged Real Red.

Sponged Bashful Blue.

Sponged Ballet Blue.

Sponged Vivid Inky Blue.

Next, I removed the moon mask and then placed a post-it note, with the circle cut out, right over the moon.

Then I added another post-it, overlapping the first just a tad, to cover the crescent.

Sponged with the same colors.

Used torn post-its to mask off an area on the bottom and sponged Basic Black ink.

Stamped the smaller tree from Tree Silhouettes with Going Gray ink.

Stamped the pine branch from Winter Foliage with Memento Black ink.

I stamped the tent from Happy Camper with Memento Black ink and used Copics to color. I started with B95.

Added B93, then used my blender pen to soften the highlights.

Used E59.

Added E55.

Added E53, then used my blender pen.

I cut out the tent and layered the background with Pure Luxury Black Onyx and White. The cardbase is Pure Luxury Smoky Slate. I stamped the sentiment, from Happy Camper, with pigment white ink.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a great day and wonderful weekend!