Thanks note card

Hi everyone! Hope your week is off to a great start! Mine sure is! As one of the February Guest Designers for Gina K Designs, I'm the Mix It Up Monday Challenge hostess this week! I chose a fun theme called Holey Cardstock! I want to see your project with at least one hole in your cardstock so your stamping shows through. The hole(s) can be any shape and can be punched, die cut or hand cut. It can be layered and adhered to the card base or you can leave the open hole cut through the card base. Come play with us!

I used stamps from two of the GKD February Release stamp sets - Lots of Washi and Signs of Spring - with a simple black and white color scheme. I cut a fairly large round hole to show all five Washi strips through, and matted the piece on black cardstock. I stamped the sentiment and large butterfly on the front, then added some buttons and B&W baker's twine, and attached the unit to the card base.

I used some Stardust pen on the butterfly for a little shimmer. I left the inside blank to use as a note card.

I'd love to enter this note card into the following challenges:

• Open-Minded Crafting Fun Challenges: #4 - Monochrome
• Divas By Design: Rubber Stamps Only
• Challenges 4 Everybody: #38 - Anything Goes
• Word Art Wednesday: #120 - Anything Goes
• Craft Girls Challenges: #12 - Anything Goes
• Card Mania Challenges: CMC#141 - Use A Sentiment/Paste Text
• Love To Create Challenge Blog: #104 - Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations Challenges: #257 - Keep It Simple
• Oldie But A Goodie Challenges: Buttons (have had baker's twine in stash for a couple years)
• Sister Act Card Challenge: #45 (Always Anything Goes)

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury white cardstock; Paper and More black cardstock
• GKD Lots of Washi stamp set
• GKD Signs of Spring stamp set
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Baker's twine
• Papermania buttons

Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)

Hugs,

Leslie

Thinking of you

** 2/25/14 Winner at Mod Squad Challenge Blog! **

Hi everyone! I've popped in this evening to share a card I created this afternoon for a friend who recently had surgery. I wanted something bright and cheerful, so I played with several VersaColor ink cubes, some new Gina K Designs stamps, and some gold embossing powder. This is a fun technique in which embossing powder is applied to Versamark stamped on ink that's not quite dry! ;)

Using the direct-to-paper technique, I pressed several different colors of cube ink down onto the cardstock in random fashion. I stamped the little branches in Versamark and applied gold embossing powder. I lightly tapped off the excess and heat embossed, and got great coverage of the stamped images and light dusting of the background with the gold! ;)

The inked/embossed piece is matted on dark red cardstock, then medium red cardstock, and then finally on gold vellum. I left the inside blank to use as a note card to my friend.

I'd love to enter this note card into the following challenges:

• Mod Squad Challenge Blog: Go For The Gold!
• Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog: #100 - BINGO! (No Pattern Paper/Use Something Shiny/Three Word Sentiment
• Divas By Design: Rubber Stamps Only
• Crafty Girls Challenges: #12 - Anything Goes
• Scribble and Scrap Blog and Challenge: #12 - Always Anything Goes

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury white cardstock; Cricut medium and dark red cardstock; gold vellum
• GKD Little Branches stamp set
• Versamark
• Ranger Gold fine detail embossing powder
• VersaColor cube ink: Opera Pink, Cardinal, Boysenberry, Turquoise, Pacific, Marigold and Topaz
• Memento Paris dusk ink

Thanks so much for stopping by today- we'll see you next time! ;)

Hugs,

Leslie

Day 3: Gina K Designs February Release Blog Hop!

The Cast and Crew for Gina K Designs welcomes you to another fabulous Inspiration Blog Hop! Gina, along with the Cast and Crew, and Guest Designers, will inspire you with many beautiful ideas! And as you hop through our blogs, make sure to leave a comment on each of them because we will choose a few random comments and those stampers will each win a grab bag of Gina K. Designs products! To see the full list of winners check the Big News Forum at StampTV a few days after the hops.

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

What a total thrill it is being a Gina K Designs Guest Designer for the month of February and working along side her talented Deisgn Team! The blog hops featuring the February Releases this week have been a blast! Today we are showcasing Just A Note, illustrated by Rupa Shevde! This set is so awesome! As mentioned, Gina generously provided us with all of the stamp sets in this February release, and each one of them has been wonderful to play with!

I'd love to share my "Where words fail music speaks" card created with the Just A Note stamp set.

I heavily distressed this card to make it look vintage. It's entirely ivory and brown. I attached the front panel with foam pads for a little dimension.

I like this inside sentiment- it really says a lot! I decorated in the lower left corner with more musical notes from the set.

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury Ivory  and Dark Chocolate cardstock
• GKD Just A Note stamp set
• Memento Rich Cocoa ink
• Tonic Ticket Punch
• Ranger Walnut Stain and Antique Linen distress ink
• Bronze brads

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

Check out the Design Team's inspiration and amazing designs created with these sets:

• Gina K (the hop starts here!)
• Beth Silaika
• Cathy Tidwell
• Debbie Corbari
• Laurie Schmidlin
• Lee Murphy
• Michelle Woerner
• Sean Fetterman
• Sharon Harnist

And the Guest Designers:

• Allie Gower
• Donna Phelan
• Leslie Turner (the hop ends with me!)

Well, this is it- the last blog hop for the February Release! I hope you've enjoyed seeing what we created with these brand new stamp sets. And I hope you've left comments along the way so you'll be in the running for a grab bag of Gina K Designs products! To jump-start your mojo, be sure to check out all the wonderful stamps and other crafting goodies in the Gina K Designs store! Thanks so much for hopping by today- we'll see you next time!
Hugs,
Leslie

Day 2: Gina K Designs February Release Blog Hop!

The Cast and Crew for Gina K Designs welcomes you to another fabulous Inspiration Blog Hop! Gina, along with the Cast and Crew, and Guest Designers, will inspire you with many beautiful ideas! And as you hop through our blogs, make sure to leave a comment on each of them because we will choose a few random comments and those stampers will each win a grab bag of Gina K. Designs products! To see the full list of winners check the Big News Forum at StampTV a few days after the hops.

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

I'm so proud to be a Gina K Designs Guest Designer for the month of February! What an amazing opportunity to be part of the February Release Blog Hop along with Gina'a awesome Design Team! Today we are showcasing Signs of Spring, illustrated by Theresa Momber, and Folk Filigree, illustrated by Becky Oehlers! These sets are totally amazing! Gina generously provided us with all of the stamp sets in this February release, and I have thoroughly enjoyed playing with all of them!

The first project I'd like to share is my "Feel Better Soon" card created with the Signs of Spring stamp set.

This is a kinetic spinner from one of my Technique Junkies CDs. This is the first one I've ever made and I'm very pleased with how it turned out. I'm posting the overhead view of it first so you'll get an idea of what it looks like; otherwise, you'll wonder what the heck you're looking at! ;)

I used two papers from the GKD Grateful Heart 6x6 patterned paper pack for the card base.

I stamped the leaves in Memento Bamboo Leaves on one side of the spinner and in Rhubarb Stalk on the other side to compliment the two patterned papers I used. The sentiment is the same on both sides. I stamped, colored and fussy cut a butterfly for each side of the spinner as well. Both flutterbys have Stardust pen on them for a little shimmer but you can only see it in the photo above.

Recipe

• GKD Pure Luxury Ivory cardstock; olive green cardstock from stash; scraps of burgundy cardstock
• Grateful Heart 6x6 patterned paper 
• GKD Signs of Spring stamp set
• Memento Bamboo Leaves and Rhubarb Stalk ink
• Copics: YG17, R89
• Sakura Stardust pen
• Spellbinders Classic Squares, Classic Circles and Scalloped Circles dies

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

The second project I'd like to share is my "Folk Like You Make Me Happy" note card created with the Folk Filigree stamp set.

I used the sentiment as the focal image on this which I think turned out nice. I used a green and ivory color combo with punched lace and a big bow. ;) I love my bows! And can you tell green is my favorite color?!

I left the inside blank since this is a note card, but did decorate the lower left corner with a cluster of tiny sprigs.

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury Ivory cardstock; Colorbok Green Textured cardstock
• Martha Stewart eyelet lace punch
• Memento Bamboo Leaves and Love Letter ink
• Spellbinders Classic Circles and Scalloped Circles dies
• GKD Fresh Asparagus organza ribbon
• Green flat-back pearls

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

Check out the Design Team's inspiration and amazing designs created with these sets:

• Gina K (the hop starts here!)
• Theresa Momber (illustrator- Signs of Spring)
• Becky Oehlers (illustrator- Folk Filigree)
• Beth Silaika
• Cathy Tidwell
• Debbie Corbari
• Laurie Schmidlin
• Lee Murphy
• Michelle Woerner
• Sean Fetterman
• Sharon Harnist

And the Guest Designers:

• Allie Gower
• Donna Phelan
• Leslie Turner (the hop ends with me!)

I hope you've enjoyed all of our creations on today's blog hop! Be sure you're leaving comments as you hop so you'll be in the running for a grab bag of Gina K Designs products! To jump-start your mojo, be sure to check out all the wonderful stamps and other crafting goodies in the Gina K Designs store! Thanks so much for hopping by today- we'll see you tomorrow for another fun blog hop, as we have one more awesome stamp set to showcase for you!
Hugs,
Leslie

Day 1: Gina K Designs February Release Blog Hop!

The Cast and Crew for Gina K Designs welcomes you to another fabulous Inspiration Blog Hop! Gina, along with the Cast and Crew, and Guest Designers, will inspire you with many beautiful ideas! And as you hop through our blogs, make sure to leave a comment on each of them because we will choose a few random comments and those stampers will each win a grab bag of Gina K. Designs products! To see the full list of winners check the Big News Forum at StampTV a few days after the hops.

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

I'm over the moon excited to be a Gina K Designs Guest Designer for the month of February! And very proud to be part of this February Release Blog Hop! Today we are showcasing Stately Flowers 8, illustrated by Melanie Muenchinger, and Lots of Washi, illustrated by Beth Silaika! These sets are just gorgeous! Gina generously provided us with all of the stamp sets in this February release, and I was like a kid in a toy store... I couldn't decide which one to play with first! ;)

The first project I'd like to share is my "For You Friend" card created with the Stately Flowers 8 stamp set.

I chose bright friendly colors for this card and matted all the elements on black cardstock just so I could use that black and white gingham ribbon! ;)

Here's a peek at the inside with a beautiful stamped scripture.

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury White cardstock; Paper and More Black cardstock
• GKD Hello Sunshine 6x6 patterned paper
• GKD Spring Parade 6x6 patterned paper
• GKD Stately Flowers 8 stamp set
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Copics: Y08/17, YR09, YG61/63/67
• Spellbinders Classic Ovals and Scalloped Ovals dies
• GKD Black Onyx gingham ribbon

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

The second project I'd like to share is my "Happy Birthday" card created with the Lots of Washi stamp set.

I must still be in the Valentine's Day mode, as I used shades of pink and red ink for my strips of Washi! I had never, until this year, ever even thought of using pink and red together! But it really works and I love it! And even added some random flowers to this sweet birthday card!

I used the GKD Birthday stamp set duo for the front and inside sentiments.

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury White cardstock; Cricut Red cardstock
• GKD Lots of Washi stamp set
• GKD Birthday Duo stamp set
• VersaColor Opera Pink and Cardinal ink; Memento Love Letter ink; VersaMagic Pink Petunia and Pink Grapefruit ink
• Inky Impressions clear Inky Drops
• Marvy Uchida tiny flower punch
• Tiny white flat-back pearls and tiny red gemstone

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

Check out the Design Team's inspiration and amazing designs created with these sets:

• Gina K (the hop starts here!)
• Melanie Muenchinger (illustrator- Stately Flowers 8)
• Beth Silaika (illustrator- Lots of Washi)
• Cathy Tidwell
• Debbie Corbari
• Laurie Schmidlin
• Lee Murphy
• Michelle Woerner
• Sean Fetterman
• Sharon Harnist

And the Guest Designers:

• Allie Gower
• Donna Phelan
• Leslie Turner (the hop ends with me!)

I hope you've enjoyed all of our creations! And I hope you've left comments along the way so you'll be in the running for a grab bag of Gina K Designs products! To jump-start your mojo, be sure to check out all the wonderful stamps and other crafting goodies in the Gina K Designs store! Thanks so much for hopping by today- we'll see you tomorrow for another fun blog hop, as we have more awesome stamp sets to showcase for you!
Hugs,
Leslie

Wintertime Subway Art Note Card

Hello, crafty friends! I'm tickled to share my Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog DT inspiration project - a CAS Wintertime Subway Art note card created for LTSCB #24 - Anything Goes! We're being sponsored this time by the wonderful Lacy Sunshine Stamps and Scribbles Designs! We know you love Anything Goes, so come play with us!

This was probably one of the easiest cards I've made in quite a while! It's amazing to me how something so simple can pack such a huge punch! ;) I used the Scribbles Designs wicked cool Wintertime Subway Art digi and created a note card with the idea of using it as a thank you for a Christmas gift. But this card could very easily be turned into a pretty awesome Christmas card!

I sized the image for a standard 4.25" x 5.5" card, printed it on white antique linen cardstock, matted it on red cardstock and added a few tiny white flat-back pearls to the snowflakes. It doesn't get any easier than this! :)

I'd love to enter this super simple Christmas card in the following challenges:

• Pile It On: #7 - Sentiment As The Focus
• Scribble and Scrap Challenge and Blog: #12 - Always Anything Goes
• Challenges 4 Everybody: #38 - Anything Goes
• One Stitch At A Time: #200 - Use A Digi
• QKR Stampede: #75 - Sentiment Only
• Sister Act Card Challenge: #44 (Always Anything Goes

Recipe:

• Hamermill white cardstock; Marco's white antique linen and red cardstock
• Scribbles Designs Wintertime Subway Art digital image
• Tiny white flat-back pearls

There you have it... a simple but very versatile card for the Christmas holidays! Hope you've found a little inspiration to create something fun for our Anything Goes challenge! To get your mojo going, be sure to check the fun images that Lacy Sunshine Stamps and Scribbles Designs have to offer! Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Mermaid In A Bottle

** 2/22/14 Top 3 at Shopping Our Stash! **

I've been so busy with personal commitments and other design team efforts that I feel like I've abandoned my post as guest designer for Bombshell Stamps! But I've gone "that extra mile" to make up for it... I've created a Mermaid In A Bottle! I've wanted to do this for a long time and finally have the perfect mermaid stamp, so I did it! I took my time with it and it took me a little over a week from start to finish.

Using the acetone-soaked twine with flame trick, I "cut" the wine bottle in two near the bottom. I cut a styrofoam ball in half and glued it into the bottom piece and filled the moat around the ball with clear glue. I sprinkled metallic blue, metallic seafoam and silver metallic micro marbles, as well as blue and green flock over the glue. I let it dry for several days and added a little more clear glue, micro marbles and flock to the sunken areas, and let it dry for several more days.

In the meantime, while the sea bottom was drying, I stamped the Bombshell mermaid, treasure chest and ship's wheel with sentiment on ivory cardstock and colored them with Copic markers. I used a Sakura Stardust pen on the mermaid's tail for added shimmer. I also used Deco Liquid Silver and Gold paint on the booty in the treasure chest. I attached the mermaid and the treasure chest to narrow pieces of clear cardstock and set them aside until final assembly. For the tag, I cut the ship's wheel and sentiment with a circle die and inked the edges, and set it aside.

I stamped the seaweed twice on clear cardstock and cut both clumps out. After a day's drying time, on the non-stamped side, I outlined the seaweed in green, teal and blue Stickles and sprinkled the blue and green flock on them while still wet. I let these dry for a couple days.

After a little over a week, it was finally time to assemble my project! I cut slits in the bottom and glued the mermaid, treasure chest and clumps of seaweed in place. I found some coral and fish stickers along with a tiny seashell in my stash which I thought were perfect additions to my sea bottom! I glued the top of the bottle back onto the bottom and let it dry for a day. I applied a narrow strip of clear packing tape around the seam and then wrapped the seam in twine.

I applied a bronze eyelet and jump ring to the tag, cut a small length of ball chain, and attached the tag to the bottle.

Yay! It was finally finished and I love how it turned out! My hubby is my biggest fan... he always compliments my projects and he loved this one too! ;)

I'm proud to enter my Mermaid In A Bottle into the following challenges:

• Stamping Sensations: February Challenge - Wings, Fantasy & Fiction
• Addicted To Stamps and More! Challenge Blog: #82 - Make Your Mark
• Word Art Wednesday: #119 - Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls Challenges: #11 - Anything Goes
• Challenges 4 Everybody: #38 - Anything Goes
• Shopping Our Stash: #138 - Oh, Shiny!

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury Ivory cardstock; Heartfelt Creations clear cardstock
• Bombshell Stamps Mermaid Treasure stamp set
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Copics: E00/33/51/99, G24, C1, B02, V15, R85
• Sakura Stardust pen
• Ranger Walnut Stain Distress Ink
• Spellbinders Classic Circles die
• Tim Holtz Idea-ology ball chain and jump ring
• Empty wine bottle
• 1/2 styrofoam ball
• Clear glue
• Blockheads Metallic Blue, Metallic Seafoam and Silver Metallic micro marbles
• Patina, Waterfall and Starry Night Stickles
• Recollections Horizon and Cricket flock

I hope you like my Mermaid In A Bottle! To get your crafty mojo going, be sure to check out the coolest stamps in town... Bombshell Stamps! Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)

Hugs,

Leslie

So thankful

Howdy again! I'm back with the final reveal from the Gina K Designs Release Party this evening!

This is Lots of Washi- illustrated by Beth Silaika. I love this- the possibilities are endless!

I used a blue, teal, green and yellow-green color combo for my So thankful note card. I layered all the elements on black cardstock. The sentiment is from the GKD Falling For You stamp set.

If you tilt your computer screen back just a little, you'll be able to see the clear embossed sprigs on the white background.

I used the same sprig stamp (also from the Falling For You stamp set) on the left lower inside corner, leaving plenty of room to write a thank you note.

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury White and Fresh Asparagus cardstock; Paper and More black cardstock
• GKD Lots of Washi stamp set
• Versamark
• Ranger clear embossing powder
• Memento Danube Blue, Teal Zeal, Bamboo Leaves and Pear Tart ink
• GKD Falling For You stamp set (sentiment and sprig)
• Spellbinders Classic Circles and Lacey Circles dies
• Assorted buttons from stash

I hope you love this new stamp set as much as I do! Thanks so much for stopping by to look at all these new release projects- we'll see you next time! ;)

Hugs,

Leslie

Celebrate Your Day

Hi, everyone! I'm back with another reveal from the Gina K Designs Release Party this evening!

This is Signs of Spring- illustrated by Theresa Momber. What a gorgeous and versatile set of stamps!

I created a birthday card in a green and purple color scheme, which is one of my favorites. All the elements are layered on dark teal cardstock which compliments the teal stripes in the plaid paper. I dug out the pearl flourishes and created a double loop bow with the double stitched ribbon.

I stamped a small butterfly on one of the crocus flowers, masking and layering the wings for a 3-D effect, and then adding some Stardust pen for a little shimmer.

I kept the inside simple with just a Happy Birthday sentiment.

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury White cardstock; Colorbok Dark Teal cardstock
• Recollections Bold Basics paper pack
• GKD Signs of Spring stamp set
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Copics: V12/15/17/91, YG17/61/63/67, C7, BV08, BG18
• Sakura Stardust pen
• GKD Fresh Asparagus double stitched ribbon
• Creative Memories corner rounder
• Want2Scrap white pearl flourishes and green flat-back pearls

I know you will agree that this new stamp set is amazing! Thanks so much for looking- we'll see you back soon for the last reveal! ;)

Hugs,

Leslie

Happy Birthday to you

Hi again! You tired of me yet?! (Teeheehee!) This is yet another reveal from the Gina K Designs Release Party this evening! There were five new stamp sets revealed, so there are two more to see after this one!

Here is Stately Flowers 8- illustrated by Melanie Muenchinger. What a gorgeous set! And "my" state (Florida} is included! Woo-hoo!

I used a very simple white and green color combo for this birthday card. The background is dry embossed for a crisp, clean look, and I left the orange blossom flower petals uncolored.

This is an easel card. I used a Piestra Tile die on the bottom panel which I think looks gorgeous with the green showing through. The birthday sentiment was cut with a SB die and layered on a scallop and another circle for dimension. I added a pearl flourish to complete the bottom panel.

I stamped Orange Blossom on a stitched sentiment flag die cut, and created a triple loop bow with some gorgeous ivory organdy ribbon. I think I've created a monster with the Bow It All! ;)

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury White and Fresh Asparagus cardstock
• GKD Stately Flowers 8 stamp set
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Copics: Y17, YG61/63
• Tim Holtz Alterations Checkerboard embossing folder
• Lil' Inker Designs Stitched Sentiment Flag die
• Memory Box Pietra Tile die
• Spellbinders Classic Circles and Big Scallop Circles dies
• GKD Ivory Organdy ribbon
• Green gemstones
• Want2Scrap Pearl Flourish

Isn't this set gorgeous?! I can't wait to create another project with it! Thanks so much for looking- and stay tuned for couple more reveals! I guarantee you won't be disappointed! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Just A Note (Set of 4 Note Cards)

Hi there! I'm back with another reveal from the Gina K Designs Release Party this evening!

This is Just A Note- illustrated by Rupa Shevde. Wow is about all I can say - this set is amazing with awesome detail on all the musical instruments and notes. I'm lovin' it!

I created a set of four note cards. I've mentioned before that I had been dubbed "The Note Card Queen" a while back and yes, I've struck again! There's no such thing as too many note cards! This set features gold embossed instruments, black and white gingham ribbon and floral bows, and white flat-back pearls.

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury White cardstock; Paper and More Black cardstock
• GKD Just A Note stamp set
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Versamark
• Ranger Fine Detail Gold Embossing Powder
• Black and white gingham ribbon
• Papermania black and white bows
• White flat-back pearls

Isn't this stamp set just fabulous with no many possibilities! Love me some note cards! Thanks so much for looking- we'll see you again soon I hope! Stay tuned for another reveal coming up shortly! ;)

Hugs,

Leslie