Valentine Cards Day #2

Hello friends.  I'm back today with a couple more Valentine cards. These cards also feature Tami Mayberry's "Simple Hearts" by Gina K. Designs.  These images make it easy to create some quick, clean & simple cards.

Gina K. Designs "Simple Hearts" by Tami Mayberry

Tools :

punch's : "Heart" Martha Stewart

"Scroll" Pattern Large Edger Punch EKSuccess

embossing folders : "Swiss Dots" Provo Craft Cuttlebug

dies : Spellbinders "Classic Scalloped Circles"

Thanks for stopping by!

Melisa

You can check out all my Valentine Projects HERE.

Valentine Day Cards Day #1

Hello friends.  I have several post coming with inspirational Valentine cards over the next couple of weeks.  Love this set, 

"Simple Hearts" by Tami Mayberry for Gina K. Designs.  Using it makes it easy to create some clean & simple Valentine Cards.

The first card above is a mini easel card I created using Spellbinders "Classic Heart" and "Classic Scalloped Hearts" dies.  I also used "Cupid" 2 x 2" die by Lifestyle Crafts.  Apparently Lifestyle Crafts was purchased by We R Memory Keepers back in 2013 and they did not continue to carry this little guy : ( .  But it looks like you can still get this one on Amazon HERE  and Ebay HERE and Creative Cutters Corner HERE  and Shopping.com HERE.  

The other 3 are 3" x 3" mini cards.

TOOLS :

stamps : "Simple Hearts" Gina K. Designs

embossing folders : "Swiss Dots" and "Hugs and Kisses" Provo Craft Cuttlebug

dies : Spellbinders "Classic Heart", "Classic Scalloped Hearts", 

and "Classic Scalloped Circles"

border punch : "Dotted Scallop Edger Punch" EK Success

punch's : "Heart" Martha Stewart, 1/2" & 1", 1 1/4", 1 1/2" circle punches

Thanks for stopping by!

Melisa

You can check out all my Valentine projects HERE.

Shabby Chic Christmas cards and tag

Well I hope you didn't wait til today to do your shopping for Thanksgiving.  It's going to be crazy in the grocery stores.  We actually celebrated Thanksgiving on Halloween this year while my daughter and boyfriend were visiting from Colorado.  It doesn't matter what day you do it on.  For us it was about recapturing some of that family time cooking in the kitchen together, singing Christmas carols, and just enjoying being together.  I treasure those moments even more since my children are grown now.  We stopped at putting up the Christmas tree though.  It was just way too early for that.  I miss having my girl with me every Thanksgiving, it's just not the same with out her.  I hope you enjoying your family's as well this year!

Today's project ...

LOVE this color combo and I'm hoping to make lots more of these cards to mail out while I'm on my trip to Georgia this week.  Here's the problem.  I don't have any more of that lace, trim or the sentiment.  So if I can find suitable substitutes .... some of you may be seeing this one show up in your mail box.  This one is designed using Hero Arts "Branch and Flourish".  I think I picked this one up at Michaels a few month's ago.

I love sending cards.  I can't make any promised because I'm not sure how many cards I will get done on my trip ... but if I don't already have your address and you would like to receive a Christmas card from me :

Email me your address and birthday to luv_2_stamp@yahoo.com

I design this one using a retired set by Gina K. Designs.  But another image I can see on this layout is a large deer in green ink, leaping across, above the sentiment.

Like these :

"Flourish Reindeer"

"Sparkle and Clear"

"Christmas Silhouettes" (I've seen this one at local craft stores)

Or even better .... look what I found :

Waltzing Mouse's "Vintage Ornaments"

JustRite "Heritage Christmas Ornamants"

JustRite "Noel Christmas Ornaments"

and here is a Christmas tag using "A Very Merry Christmas"

Check out all the details below.

I'm going to take a break from the daily inspiration for Thanksgiving but will be back with more to share Nov. 30th.  See ya then!

hugs, Melisa

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Christmas Blessings - 4.25” x 5.5”

Stamp : Hero Arts

Ink : Glimmer Mist “Piece of My Heart”, Momento “Bamboo Leaves”, Tsukineko “Pearlescent Chocolate”

Dies : Spellbinders, Cheery Lynn Designs

Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug

Punch : Martha Stewart

Sentiment : Flower Soft

Flower : Offray

Trim cream cardstock, emboss, ink and adhere to card front. 

Die cut doily from tissue paper and spray with ink.  Die cut label,

emboss, and ink.  Stamp tree, trim and ink.  Adhere doily, lace

trim, label, and tree to card front.  Punch snow flakes and ink. 

Spray trim.  Adhere trim, snow flakes, sentiment, and flower

to card front.

Merry Christmas - 4.25” x 5.5”

Stamps : Gina K. Designs

Ink : Glimmer Mist “Piece of My Heart”, Momento “Bamboo Leaves”, Tsukineko “Pearlsecent Chocolate”

Dies : Spellbinders, Cheery Lynn Designs

Embossing Folder : The Paper Studio

Sentiment : Flower Soft 

Flower : Offray

Trim cream card stock a little smaller than card front, emboss,

and ink. Die cut doily with tissue paper and spray with ink. 

Die cut label from cream card stock, emboss, and ink edges. 

Adhere card stock panel, doily, label, lace trim to card front. Stamp ornament images, trim, and ink edges. Adhere images, inked trim, sentiment, and flower to card front.

Season’s Greetings Tag - 2 ¼” x 4 ¼”

Stamps : Gina K. Designs

Doily : Joann’s Fabric

Ink : Tsukineko “Pearlescent Chocolate”, Glimmer Mist Spray Ink, Momento “Bamboo Leaves”

Dove Blender Pen     Ribbon and Flower : Offray

Punch : Martha Stewart          Sentiment : Flower Soft

Embossing Folder : Cuttlebug

Cut tag from cream card stock, emboss and ink.  Spray

paper doily.  Stamp image on book paper, color with inks

and Dove Blender Pen, and trim.  Punch snow flakes and ink. 

Layer all elements.  Tie ribbon and adhere.

The Cutting Cafe / GinaK Joy Word Shaped Card

Hello friends.  Today's Christmas card was actually featured in the November issue of Paper Crafts Magazine.  It was designed using The Cutting Cafe's "Joy Word Shaped Card" (comes in a PDF for hand cutting or WPC / SVG if you have one of those fancy cuttin' machines) and embellished using one of the images from Gina K. Designs "A Very Merry Christmas". 

I love sending cards.  I can't make any promised because I'm not sure how many cards I will get done on my trip ... but if I don't already have your address and you would like to receive a Christmas card from me :

Email me your address and birthday to luv_2_stamp@yahoo.com

More Christmas card inspiration tomorrow.
thanks for stopping by!   Melisa

You can check out all my Gina K. Designs projects HERE.
You can check out all my Cutting Cafe projects HERE.
You can check out all my Christmas projects HERE.

Gina K. Designs "Vintage Chic" + Rainbow Ink Pad = AWESOME

A while back I shared a fall card I created using Tsukineko - Kaleidacolor "Cappuccino Delight" rainbow ink pad.  You can check it our HERE if you like.  Today I'm sharing cards using the Tsukineko - Kaleidacolor "Berry Blaze".  These pads are really fun and add a different and great look to your cards.  I think you can get them at Hobby Lobby.  I've had mine many years and the ink is still great.

I combined the ink pad with Gina K. Designs "Vintage Chic" and "Vintage Notes" images.  These cards are really quick and simple to put together,  

For each card :

Trim white card stock panel slightly smaller than card front and emboss with "Swiss Dots" embossing folder (Cuttlebug).  Gently rub ink over the panel to color the dots.  Adhere to card front.  Stamp Vintage Notes with the rainbow pad then stamp the other images in black.  Trim and adhere to card front.  Easy peasy!

Make sure and check out the cool colors these ink pads come in HERE!

Hope you are finding some time to get crafty this week!!

Hugs, Melisa

You can check out all my Gina K. Design projects HERE.

StampTV sketch challenge blog hop

Hello stampers.  Tonight I am excited to be playing along with the StampTV Center Stage Alumni team.  If you arrived from Miesje Flach blog then you have landed on the next blog in the loop.  If you are just checking in at my blog first .... then head on over to Vicki's blog to start the hop.

Carolina Buchting (Gina K. Designs DT ) has put together a wonderful blog hop and one blessed blog hopper will WIN a free grab bag of Gina K Designs products!!  Leave comments along the way on each blog for a chance to win.  There will be an announcement of the winner over at StampTV on Tuesday Oct 15th.

For this CSS Blog Hop we were challenged to create a card with the sketch below.  We would love for you to play along as well HERE .

My card was designed using Melanie's "Stately Flowers 1 ".  So many gorgeous images in her Stately Flowers series.  I decided to play with my water color crayons for this one.  I took a few close-ups and will share them at the end of the post.

You're next stop is ...

 Lori McAree's

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Project Details

I started out by creating a soft water color background.  I used NeoColor Watercolor II Crayons.  I also own Lyra as well.  I like the Lyra better (I think they are creamier), but only had a 6 color set, so I decided to give the Neocolor II a try for more color options.  Of course since them I found that you can get more colors with the Lyra as well.   I used some inexpensive water color paper from Target.  It for children.  The reason I liked it was because of the flat surface.  It was smoother and easier to stamp on than some of the water color paper I have used in the past.

I brushed some water over the entire panel ... then picked up some blue pigment  from one of my water color crayons and tried to randomly apply it.  I wanted a  mottled / soft look.  I heat dried the panel.

If you take a look at this particular set HERE comes with 2 different sizes of a California Posie.  I wanted to use both so I had to do some masking.  

When ever you are working with 2 images and layering them you need to mask the image in the forground before stamping the image in the background.  I use Eclipse Masking Tape.  In the photo above I had stamped the smaller image / foreground image, stamped it again on the masking tape, trimmed out the image, and then covered the image stamped on the panel.  It has a pink hue to it in the photo.  Then I stamp the larger / back ground image over it.

This is the result.  I played around with the first 2 petals and then decided I would try to shoot a few step by step photo's in case anyone was interested.

I started out dipping my brush in water and then loading it with yellow pigment from my water color crayon.  I don't "rub" the paint on because the paper is cheap and it will break down, but the other reason is because I have that blue in the background and it could mix with the yellow to make green.  I definitely didn't want green on my petals.  I just patted it on.  I wanted the color uneven so I let the paint flow where ever it wanted.

Next I switched to orange and patted it on.   While it was still wet, I reloaded with some yellow and patted from the outside edge of the petal in to try and blend and get rid of that harsh line you see with the orange.  

Sometimes it's a little hard to control the paint, so if I needed to, I added a little more orange to try and add depth / shadowing.  Water is your eraser.  So if you go out of the line a little, sometimes you can rub a little water over it and pick it up with a paper towel.  

Hope you enjoy the hop and are inspired to try using some watercolor crayons!
hugs, Melisa

You can check out all my Gina K. Designs Projects  HERE.

Gina K. Designs "Fall Foliage"

Hello friends.  I know "fall is in the air" for some of you ... sadly not here in Texas.  We are still in the mid 90's every day so far for September.  I am so ready for fall.  So I've started putting up all my fall decor.  I've started a fall banner for the mantel.  I have all the flags done ... just need to add some leaves between the banners.  Hopefully will be able to share that soon.

In the meantime you can check out a fall banner I made last year with a cool tutorial on how to make some textured leaves HERE.

Some of the ladies from the Stamp TV Center Stage Alumni are having a blog hop and here is the inspiration photo :

So I'm sure you will be able to find more fall inspiration based on this photo.

You can check it out HERE.

For today I want to share some cards I created using Gina K. Designs "Fall Foliage".  I will be adding some of these to my banner as well.  I wanted to play around and see what different looks I could get.  On the card above and on the last one, I stamped the image in brown ink over patterned paper.  I used my favorite brown ink Tsukineko - Brilliance "Pearlescent Chocolate".  

But for this one I used my a rainbow ink pad.  This particular one is by Tsukineko - Kaleidacolor "Cappuccino Delight".  Gorgeous fall colors.  Tsukineko makes rainbow pads in lots of fun colors and you can check them out HERE.

On the card above I simply stamp over patterned paper again.  You could whip up fall cards very quickly with these beautiful images!

Have a blessed day!

Melisa

You can check out all my Gina K. Designs projects HERE.

You can check out all my FALL projects HERE.

Gina K. Designs - "Retro Boutique" and WINNERS from last weeks give-away!

Good morning my crafty friends.  Quick post today to share a couple of cards designed using "Retro Boutique" by Gina K. Designs and the winners of last weeks give-away.  

Yesterday was a long day.  We finally made it to Wichita KS about 9 pm last night.  Today we are headed to Denver!  We will spend tomorrow moving our daughter into her apartment and then hopefully get to do some site seeing.  We have never been this far north before (We are GA, FL, TX people), so it will be fun to explore a different area of the country.

If any of you are familiar with Denver and have any recommendations for site seeing / eating out we would love to know!

I know we only had 12 commenters to draw from, but I still drew 2 names!  I used Random.org and the winners, after excluding blog hop participates are Maxine and Shelly!!  I know it says 1-100 on the photo's below, but I did use 1-12.  For some reason when I copied and pasted them, it changed to 100.

Ladies please email me your address's at luv_2_stamp.com and I will get your prizes to you as soon as we get back from vacation. 

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:7Powered by RAN
True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:9Powered by RAN

Thank you so much for following my blog and taking the time to comment!
hugs, Melisa

You can check out all of my Gina K. Designs Projects HERE.

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Project Details

Card #1

Stamps : Gina K Designs

Patterned Paper : Authentique 6 x 6 paper pad

Copic Markers Y13, R32, W4, C8

Cover card front with patterned paper.  Trim white card stock 2 5/8" x 5 1/2", stamp image and sentiment.  Color image and adhere to card front.  Adhere lace.

Card #2

Stamp set : Gina K Designs

Patterned Paper : Authentique 6 x 6 paper pad

Copic Markers : Y13, R32, C8

Deckled Scissors : Fiskars

pop dots

Cover card front with patterned paper.  Trim white cardstock 2 1/2" x 5 1/2", adhere to black cardstock, and trim edges with deckled scissors.  Adhere   and trim.  Adhere to card front.

Scrapbook Layout using GinaK Designs "Gift's of the Sea"

My layout today was designed using stamps by Gina K. Designs.  I used up some really old products from my stash (patterned paper, cardstock sticker embellishments)!  The hemp / sea shell trim was a really cool find from years ago at a local craft store.

I created the sand using Pumice (Golden).  You can find it in the art supply section of a local craft store.  It is grey in the container but mixes with acrylic paint.

 I mixed it with a cream color and then rubbed some off white paint over it to add some highlights.  

You can check out all of my Gina K. Designs Projects HERE.
  
Hope you are staying cool this summer!
Melisa



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Project Details

Stamps : GinaK Designs "Gift's from the Sea" and "Lovely Labels 2"

Die : Tim Holtz (flourish)

Deckled Scissors : Fiskars

Distress tool : Making Memories

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Challenges

Scrap It Girl - Use your dies (swirlies and label with "Faith is Knowing" sentiment)
Scrap the Girls - Winter colors (blue and brown)

Moxie Fab Trigger Tuesday Challenge

Hello friends.  Hope you are having a fabulous Saturday.  Today I am sharing a shabby chic styled card inspired by this weeks Moxie Fab Trigger Tuesday Challenge.

I was also inspired by a couple of other challenges posted this week.

I hope you get a chance to do some crafting this weekend as well!

hugs, Melisa

You can check out all of my Gina K. Designs Projects HERE.

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Stamps : Gina K. Designs "Dogwood and Butterfly" and Studio G (faux washi tape image)

Patterned Paper : Sweetly Smitten (6 x 6 paper pad ) by Sassafrass Lass

Die : Cheery Lynn Designs (doily)

Embossing folders : Cuttlebug - Swiss Dots, The Paper Studio - Quarterfoil

Lace trim - Joann's Fabrics

Ink : Momento "Angel Pink"

Copic Markers : Y0000, Y00, Y11

Gina K. Designs "Close-knit Friends" and "Retro Boutique"

Hello friends!  I'm doing 2 post for today.  I'm trying to get back into crafting and blogging on a regular basis now that my mom is doing better.  Right now I'm working on some magazine calls and then I will switch back to blogging more.  So many idea's, so little hours in the day!  The first post was so personal, that I wanted to split them up because I have more cards to share with you.  I love this set!!!  Isn't the sentiment so clever???   I paper pieced the image for this one.  I liked the color combination of the kraft, black and orange so much that I decided to see what else I could create using them. 

Do any of you have a cutting machine??  Which one do you think is better????

I paper pieced the dress on this one.  I used my black oil pastel around the circles to make them pop.

What do you think about this color combo??  I hope you are inspired to give it a try and as always ... if you are, let me know so I can check out your project!

Hope your day is filled with sunshine and joy!

hugs,

Melisa

You can check out all of my Gina K. Designs Projects HERE.

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Project Details

Card #1

Stamps : Gina K. Designs  “Close-Knit Friends”

Patterned Paper : My Mind’s Eye

Cream and Kraft Cardstock : Papertrey Ink

Markers : Copic YR68, YR07, E31, E55

Ink : Momento “Tangelo”

Stitch cream panel to kraft panel and adhere to card front.  Trim

strip of patterned paper with deckled scissors, scrunch and

zig-zag stitch.  Adhere to card front.  Stamp yarn / basking on

cream and kraft cardstock.  Color, trim and paper piece yarn / basket.  Adhere to card front.  Stamp sentiment.  Embellish with buttons.

Card #2

Stamps : Gina K. Designs “”Retro Boutique”

Patterned paper : My Mind’s Eye

Cream and Kraft Cardstock : Papertrey Ink

Circle Punches : EK Success and Paper Shapers

Oil Pastels : Crayola

Trim kraft panel, stitch around edges, and ink edges.  Punch circles

from patterned paper, ink and doodle around edges, and lay out on

kraft cardstock panel.  Lightly trace around edges of circles with pencil

and then set circles to the side.  Apply black oil pastel around penciled

outlines and rub / blend with fingers.  Adhere patterned paper circles

to card front.  Adhere kraft panel to cream card front.  Stamp dress on

kraft cardstock and patterned paper.  Color belt / trim black, trim, and

then paper piece dress.  Adhere to card front.  Stamp sentiment.

Gina K. Designs "Petals and Wings"

Hello friends.  I hope you are all well.  Hope the weather is warming up where ever you are.  It's been wonderful here except with the Spring comes the pollen and allergies. You can find all the info about my card at the bottom of the post.  

Today I want to take a minute to share a personal testimony with you as well.  It is the desire of my heart to always bring honor and glory to my Savior and my life has changed so much since December, that I feel He is leading me to share with you.  I don't consider myself a great writer or communicator so I am trusting that He will lead me in writing this.  

Some of you may be hurting, and desperate for change in your life.  And I want to share how God is healing me and has changed my life.  I'm not a bible scholar or saint, nor would I consider myself a mature christian or anyone knowledgeable enough to council others.  I certainly don't have all the answers, but thank goodness I know a God who does.  I'm just a regular gal who loves God and wants to share that with others.  Who gets up everyday and struggles with the same sin and problems you do.  I think too many times Christians are hesitate to share their problems / sin with others.  They want everyone to think they have it all figured out and sometimes we are afraid others will judge us.  So I'm putting my heart out there today to share something very personal with you, not because I seek your sympathy but because you need to know how awesome God is!

Life has really improved around our house.  My mom is slowly improving since her surgery and is doing well enough that we got her moved into her own little apartment.  I am so thankful for answered prayers and for all of you who have prayed for us the last 4 months.  We moved her here back in December thinking that we had her lined up for her to move into and apartment of her own shortly after arriving.  Living with us was never an option.  After getting her here they told us they would not accept her because of her bad credit ...  imagine our shock.  She was on the list for 2 other HUD apartments and they denied her as well.  So we were starting from scratch, and not sure when we would be able to find her something since she had already been rejected 3 times. 

What God taught me through this experience ...

Just to share a little background ... my mom was a single mom and an alcoholic.  My dad was not a part of my life.  There was a lot of hurt and neglect.  Children should feel loved and safe growing up.  And unfortunately things that happen to us as children can affect us as adults.  My  relationship with my mother has always been very strained.   We have tried to help her so many times in the past.  But frankly sometimes people don't want to change and you can not force them.  Her health began to really go down hill the last couple of years, and it became apparent I was going to have to step up and help.  This was not what I wanted to do.  It would not be easy.  And I wasn't sure HOW I was going to do it emotionally, but I felt like it was what God was calling me to do.  Sometimes when someone hurts you over and over again, you build a wall.  I didn't feel any love for her at all.  The relationship was so strained that seeing that she was calling me caused anxiety, and hugging her made me cringe.  I dreaded holidays if I was going to have to see her.  I'm just trying to share with you how bad it really was.  Sometimes as Christians we think we are trucking along, living like God wants us to, but maybe hiding away just one little something and refusing to deal with it.  We rationalize that it's ok to hide away this one little thing because there are so many other things we do that are good.   Well for me that was my relationship with my mother.  I always said I had forgiven her .... but really had I ?? if I loathed her that much???  I know now that God wanted me to deal with it and not in just the same town, but the same house.  I was so broken, and stressed, wondering how we were ever going to work all this out.  We had tried helping her and letting her live with us in the past and it did not go well.  She has some mental issues as well.  And I was stuck in between my mother and husband wondering every day if someone was going to explode.   I had no where else to go but to God.  I began praying for Him to speak to my heart ... to change my heart and help me to see my mother differently, to help me forgive and love her as a Christian should. 

 First He reminded me that everything I have is His.  My house is His and if He wants to use it to help someone less fortunate I had to accept that.  I began praying fervently not just in general for God to take care of this problem, not just that He would open up another option for somewhere else for her to live, because that's the natural response we have to something like this ....  but that He would teach ME whatever it was I needed to learn from this situation and help to change my heart. My desire to live and love like He wants me to has to be bigger than my selfish desire to continue to continue like I had been.  I knew there was now way my mother was going to change and become this lovable little angel.   But I believed and knew that God could help me to change.  Sometimes we want to pray for God to change the other person we think is the problem ... but we don't want God to tell us what we need to change about ourselves.  We think that if they would just change ... then we could love them.  But that's not the kind of love God has for us .... it's not conditional, thank goodness!  Because there is nothing we can do to earn it.   Not everyone is easy to love.  The easy thing to do is to avoid/ignore the problem, tuck it away like it doesn't exist ... but like in my life it may catch up with you and you may have to deal with it.  God decided it was time for me to deal with my un-forgiveness.  I began reading a book by Beth Moore "Praying God's Word".  WOW!  God has used this book to speak to me like never before.  I'm breaking though my stronghold of un-forgiveness, among other things.  I know it may always be a struggle, but the joy and peace I have now is amazing.  Seriously .... God is MY Xanax!  The feeling of relief when we finally let things go and give it to Him is amazing. Sometimes I have to get up, pray and give it to Him several times a day.  It has changed me in such a way that others have noticed as well.  My daughter and husband have been so surprised at how I have stepped up and dealt with things, and I give God all the honor and glory.  There is no way I could have broke through all the anger / resentment / un-forgiveness / anxiety regarding this with out Him.  He is changing my heart.  And I'm excited about what else He is going to teach me!

Please just know that if you are hurting that God loves you, wants to have a relationship with you.  Not the kind where you show up for church every week and think you are doing all the right things, volunteering and serving. But one where you are depending on Him, talking to Him about everything, reading His word, seeking His council ....a real relationship.   A personal relationship just between you and Him.  You will begin to hear His voice and it will change your life.  I hope that you will open up to God and let Him help you with challenges in your life as well. Not sure where to get started?  Email me at luv_2_stamp@yahoo.com

I hope you have a fabulous week!!

Melisa

You can check out all of my Gina K. Designs Projects HERE.

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Project Details

Stamps : Gina K. Designs “ Petals and Wings”

Patterned Paper : My Mind’s Eye

Kraft Cardstock : Papertrey Ink

Trim patterned paper and kraft panels, and ink edges.  Stamp

kraft panel with polka dots, and orange panle with florals / butterflies.

Add French knots to center of flowers.  Stamp sentiment on

kraft paper, trim and ink edges.  Adhere to card front then embellish

with 2 cross stitches.  Adhere both panels to card front.  Embellish

with buttons.