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.

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 - "Springtime Silhouettes"

Today I'm sharing a set of clean and simple cards using GinaK Designs "Springtime Silhouettes".

Combined with some fabric tape these were very easy to put together.

And would a quick and easy set like this make a great gift set??
Thanks for stopping by!
Melisa

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

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Project Details

Stamps : Gina K “Springtime Silhouettes”
Fabric tape : 7 Gypsies
Ink : Colorbox Fluid Chalk Maroon

Stamp image and sentiment. Embellish with fabric tape.

GinaK Designs "Springtime Silhouettes"

And here is my 3rd card for today ...  designed using GinaK Designs "Springtime Silhouettes".  I am really enjoying this set because it has so many little images and cute sentiments in it.

Well that's it for tonight!!  I'm off to bed.

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

Sweet n' Sassy's "Flowers in Bloom"

Good morning stampers!  Today I am sharing a card I created using the Sweet n' Sassy sketch challenge over at The Sweet Stop.  It was just posted saturday, so you have plenty of time to play along.  I used Sweet n' Sassy's "Flowers in Bloom" for this one.

I used "Flowers in Bloom", my Neocolor watercolor crayons, and my Niji Waterbrush (Joann's Crafts).

Thanks for stopping by!

Melisa

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Challenges

The Sweet Stop  (sat) - sketch plus a diecut or punch

Word Art Wednesday  (wed)  - "Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love"  Mother Teresa.   When I read this, I thought of friendship and the joy that it brings to our lives.  So this stamp set seemed perfect for this challenge.

Corrosive (sun) - cute image and a button

Crafty Creations (wed) - color challenge - yellow, blue, and green

Creative Belli (wed)- winged things - use something old and forgotten -  I used really old DP for the yellow patterned paper panel, an old button and lace from my stash.

Whoopsi Daisy (mon) - Include a sentiment

The Crazy Challenge (mon) - anything goes

GinaK Designs "Springtime Silhouettes"

I have received several fun GinaK sets the last few months and just didn't have time to play with them. So that is my goal this month.  The cards I'm sharing today are designed using a set called "Springtime Silhouettes".  It's a fun set that includes images and sentiments for lots of occasions.  I love that the stamps are solid.  So you can whip up cards really quick.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Melisa

You can view all of my GinaK Designs projects HERE.

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Project Details

Card #1

Stamps : GinaK Designs "Springtime Silhouettes"

Ink : Tsukineko Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate

Die : Cheery Lynn Designs "Mega Fanciful Flourish"

Scissors : Fiskars Deckled

Adhere card to a larger piece of brown cardstock and trim around edgs with deckled scissors.  Trim patterned paper, ink edges, and adhere.  Cut 2 brown vines.  Cut 1 apart and use to add an extra swirl and leaves to the first one.  Stamp images with brown ink on cream cardstock, trim, and adhere.  Stamp sentiment.

Card #2

Stamps : GinaK Designs "Springtime Silhouettes"

Ink : Tsukineko Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate and Pixie Dust

Stencil : Crafter's Workshop

Border Punch : Fiskars

Stick Pin : Making Memories

Embossing Folder Cuttlebug

Trim brown cardstock and adhere to card front.  Trim cream cardstock, emboss, ink edges, and adhere to card front.  Trim cream cardstock, emboss, ink edges, and adhere to card front.  Trim cream cardstock 3 1/4" x 4".  Apply pink ink over polka dot stencil, then ink edges with brown ink.  Tie a knot and wrap ends of brown ribbon around edges of panel.  Mat on pink cardstock.  Cut brown strip at least 3 1/2" wide and punch scalloped border on 1 end.  Adhere other panel and then trim 3 edges with deckled scissors.  Stamp sentiment with brown ink.  Stamp image with brown ink on cream cardstock, trim, and adhere.  Embellish with stick pin. 



Mini Album #4 : Friends Altered Gift Tin

Hello Papercrafters! I'm sharing another Mini Album today.  I made this one a while back and just never shared, so the supplies are older.  But you can still be inspired by the idea!

This is altered Gift card tin I got at Michaels.  It's 3 x 5 " and perfect for storing a mini-album. 

I used the "Blush" 6x6 paper pad from a few years back.  Sorry, it's been discontinued.  I combined "friendship themed" embellishments I had been saving up, including chipboard and rub-ons.

And the patterned paper shapes and some punches added even more embellishing.  So when you are shopping for dp, consider the patterns and if they can be cut out, creating your own embellishments.

I had fun creating this little garden and thought it went perfectly wiht the "Plant a seed" quote on the pocket. 

There are 2 layers here that flip up.  Perfect for hiding journaling or photos.

I would love to recreate this one with current products and teach as a class someday, because it was so much fun!

I have several other mini albums I will be sharing in the future.  I would like to share 1 monthly, but not sure if I can keep up that pace.  We'll see.  If you miss them.  Just check the "Project - Mini Albums" label in my side bar to view them all!

You can view all of my Altered Projects HERE
You can view all my Mini-Albums HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!

and have a blessed week

Melisa

Dare to Get Dirty Projects

So, as you may have read on an earlier post, that I have been crazy busy making projects for 33 challenges over at SCS for this years Dare to Get Dirty Contest.

It's only done once a year, they post challenges for 7 days for a total of 33 challenges, and you have to be a Fan Club member to play. Now, you didn't have to complete 33. But, there was a chance for 12 participates who complete ALL the challenges to win prizes, so I had to give it a go. Let me tell you this really pushed me. And I'm not a big fan of sketches, so those were to hardest for me. I have already posted some of those projects, but there were a few more I wanted to share with you (and a couple I don't, teehee). So today is a parade of some of these projects. The contest ends July 31 and I'm hoping that I am a winner!

You were able to combine challenges and I posted 19 projects total.

This one was a color challenge.  I have chosen to leave several of my cards without a sentiment on the front recently, so I can use them for whatever comes up.

Stamp sets : Flourishes Nurture Yourself (pot), Stamper's Anonymous (scalloped border), Great Impressions (swirly background), butterfly unknown

I gathered tissue paper to create my ruffled border.

I actually had stamped a couple of these images out a while back and colored, but never complete on a card.  Don't you just want to sit down and color sometime??  I have a pile of images that are colored and I just need to do something with them.  So I was thrilled to finally use this one.  This image is by Kraftin' Kimmie.  There is another image with it that is so cute.

This one was for a "movie challenge".  My daughter loves Audrey Hepburn and I had bought her this image a while back.  So it was a perfect fit.  Then I bagan googling quotes by her.  This one worked out well I think.

Stamps : B-Line Designs (Audrey), SU (background stamp)

For this shaped card I used a template I downloaded from Bee-Crafty Downloads.  Looked like a good idea when I down loaded it, but I turned it into a fiasco.  After I figured out to enlarge and printed it, I decided that I didn't like the thickness of the lines so I decided to paper-piece it.  But that meant that I had to draw the icing lines myself.  But after all the frustration, I think the outcome is ok.  I considered turning the cherry into a candle, but the practical side of me won out.  The cherry fits in an envelope.  BTW, I like alot of her templates, but just be aware that they are adobe files.  So it was a little tricky for me to figure out how to copy and paste it into a word doc so I could resize it.  If I had know, I wouldn't have went with this one.

Stay tuned for a blog candy announcement coming August 1st!

I hope your day is filled with great joy!

Beach themed Circle shaped Card

I found this digital company recently and fell in love with their images.  Even if your not a digi fan, I think these images will tempt you to give a try.  So when your done here, take a minute to check out Isabella's Sketchbook.  I double dog dare you!  And if you decide to give them a try, let me know if I helped to convert you!

OH, and guess what??  I played along with their challenge blog last week and won!!  Wooowhooo!!  Check out the Challenge Blog HERE! 

 

I just love that these 2 friends seem so joyful just being together.  So I used the sentiment "Life's a beach with a friend like you".

I used Beach Fun, Shell 1, Shell 2, Shell 3.  Oh no!!  And I just realized while linking this up that there is a Shell 4.  How did I miss that one!?!?  The shells are much bigger in the original file.  That's the fun thing about digital images, you can resize them to fit your design!

DP : Memory Box 6x6 Paper Pad - Spearmint

I love the soft colors of this pad

Ink : Versa Magic Oasis Green (around the edges of both circles)

Coluzzel extra lg circle template

Spellbinders die

ribbon - unknown

Chalk : Pebbles Inc

I used an aqua on the outer area and then transitioned into a light green.  You can barely see it in the photo, but in real life it adds so much.  I use these alot.

The "Shimmer" Chalks are the best because they go on and blend the best to me.

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous weekend!

You can view more of my projects using Digital Images / Stamps HERE.

You can view my Shaped Cards HERE.

You can view more of my Summer / Beach themed projest HERE.

Layers of Color Scrapbooking!

Double post today, because I am double blessed!!  I'm am blessed to be on both the Layers of Color and Mark's Finest Papers' this month.

Today I am sharing projects I created using 2 of Layers of Color stamps sets.

This 12x12 Layout features "Joyful Noise" .   As soon as I saw this set I fell in love and new I would be able to use it for more than just card making, since my daughter plays the violin.  I used the butterfly, treble clef, and musical flourishes.  But there are 2 other stamps in the set, so take a peak at the link above.

I wish you could see it up close.  I used old music paper and distressed it to create the border along the side.  And the background DP is so cool.  All the flourishes are velvety feeling.

Frame Tutorial
I started by drawing the outlines of a rectangular frame on cardstock.  The outside measurement was 4 3/4" x 5 3/4"  and the inside was 3/4".  You want your pencils lines light enough to go back and erase later.  Then I stamped and embossed the musical flourish around the inside of the frame, allowing some parts to extend outside the lines of the frame.  I decided which parts of the flourishes that extended outside of the frame I wanted to keep.  I used an Exacto Knife and metal ruler to begin trimming along the pencil lines, making sure not to cut off the part of the flourishes I wanted to keep.  Then I used sissors to trim around the the parts that extended outside the frame.  The I adhered this peice to the brown paper and began trimming to create a mat.

 

Flower Tutorial

I made my own paper flower on this one.  Very simple to do.  I cut multiple sizes using my Spellbinders Scalloped Circles dies from old book paper.  Before cutting, I had colorized the paper using some pigment ink.  I simple folded over and layered the different scalloped circles until I got a shabby look.

The card below features "Royal Birds" and "Touch of Elegance".  These images are just a sneak peak of the whole sets, so make sure you click the links about and check them out!

Frame Tutorial using Spellbinders

Begin by tracing around the edges of a Spellbinders die - Classic Frames on patterned paper or cardstock using a marker to create the frame.  Then stamp the decorative swirlies at the top and bottom.  Trim around the inside and outside of the frame.  

I have had so much fun designing with these stamps, they are just gorgeous!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sweet 'n Sassy Friendship Card

Good Morning.  Time has flown my and it's time for another Creative Belli Challenge!

The Challenge : Die Cuts  I used a Spellbinders Die this one.

The Belli girls are showcasing Sweet 'n Sassy Digital images this week as well.

They are our Sponsor this week, so I know there will be an awesome prize involved, so come play along!

You can view more of my projects using Digital Images / Stamps HERE.

You can view more of my Sweet N Sassy projects HERE.

You can view more of my friendship themed projects HERE.

You can view more of my floral projects HERE.

Creative Belli Challenge #85 - Color Spray

The Creative Belli Challenge Blog is all about getting you to use some of those embellishments you have been hoarding!  We would love to have you join us every 2 weeks.  This week we were challenged to use color spray.  Our wonderful sponsor is The Stamping Boutique and they provided a few of their digital images for us to play with.  I checked out their store and seen some cute children, fairies, a Princess Jennifer line (sassy), and some great circular sentiments that would work perfectly with spellbinders!  With a variety of styles like this, you will need to click through all the catagories to see it all!

This week's challenge was to use Color Spray.  So here's what I came up with.  I kept mine pretty simple.  I just sprayed some patterned paper with yellow glimmer mist.  You can't really see the shimmer, but it looks pretty cool.  But, I'm sure the Creative Belli DT will be able to show you a variety of  uses for your color spray.  So hop on over to the Creative Belli Challenge Blog and check them out!

Teacup Card

Good Morning!  Today I am sharing a tea themed card with you!

Product Review

I have to do a product review with this one.  I don't usually state negative opinions, but I have to tell you, I tried the Fiskars circular punch on this one and did not like it.  Of course part of the problem was my own.  I accidently threw away the cutting template.  But I had another sewing template that guides you for cutting 4" and 6" circles (the sizes you are suppossed to start with)  and it didn't work.  I could not get it to punch through cardstock.  I'm wondering if the circle you start with is a different size and the final product is 4" or 6".  That may be my problem.  So if anyone has one of the cutting templates that come with it, I would appreciate a measurement on the diameter.  I really do want to like this punch, teehee.

You can view all of my Tea / Teacup related projects HERE

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Project Details

Stamp Set : The Angel Company

Border and Circular punch : Fiskars

Deckle sissors (my favorite)

Flowers - Bo-Bunny

DP - My Mind's Eye

Designing with Vintage Digital Images / Stamps

I am so excited to be a Guest designer for Digital Two For Tuesday today.

As I have mentioned before I LOVE Cora's vintage images and today's post is no exception.

I haven't spent alot of time designing with images of children, so it was fun to do something diffenrent.  I would love to have you join me for this challenge.  To play along, hop over to Digital Two For Tuesday, download these  images and join me this week.  The images are free.  After you have created your project, post a link in the comments section, and I will check them out.  I can't wait to see what others come up with!   Cora just ask that you not post the actual images anywhere else and that you give her credit when you post you project.  She spends alot of time shopping for and repairing these images for us to use. 

You can find these images to copy and print HERE.

Wanna see what other projects I have created with Cora's free digi's??   Click HERE.

Thanks for looking!
Melisa

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Project Details

Card #1

Patterned Paper : 7 Gypsies Barcelon Line, Matarro.

Emphemera : Jenny Bowlin Red Memo Notebook

She has some really cool products that I REALLY need to add to my stash!

Colorization : Copics

Ribbon : Antique shop

Charm : local Stamp Store - A Small Cleverness

Card #2

Patterned Paper : old My Minds Eye from 2008

(Yep, I'm using up my stash and lovin' it!!)

Border Punch : EK Success

Colorization : Copics

Shirt and socks, blocks : light red : R32 and then combine with R27 for shading (use R32 to pick up a little R27 from a plastic surface, or try tip to tip)

Collar, sleeves, shorts red : R27

blue shirt and blocks: BG0000, then combine with BG72 for shading  (use BG000 to pick up a little of BG72 from a plastic surface) 

yellow collar, shorts, blocks :  YR31 and then combine with Y26 as described above for shading

green blocks, bunny jacket : YR31 and then YG91.  The color in the paper was a weird greenish yellow that I just had to play with to get a shade that matched.  I added a little brown on the jacket when I was distressing the project using my eye shadow applicator and my palette burnt umber

skin : E50, E000, R00

brown hair : E35, E37, E29

blond hair :  I can't remember, sorry.

bunny : E41, picked up a little E35 to shade

Designing with Vintage Digital Images / Stamps

Well after creating like a mad women, ignoring everything else, and posting everyday last week, I found myself feeling overwhelmed by emails and other real life stuff that had to be taken care of by Sunday.  I was in a funk for a couple of days, so I started blog hopping tonight, checking out challenges, searching for inspiration.  And then, there they were ...  these 2 sweet little girls.  I found them on Cora's "Digital Two for Tuesday" Blog and I immediately was inspired to print them and color. 

Isn't it funny what each of us are inspired by and right now, at this point, there is just something about those vintage images that is calling my name, teehee.  And they are free, that helps too!  I am on an extremely tight budget so I think that's why I creating more with digitals right now.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my rubber and clear stamps, and if I had the money would be loading up on them, but alas, real life doesn't always work out that way.  So for now the digi's are getting me through.  Thank you Cora!! 

You can find this image to copy and print HERE.

I love it when Cora tells us where the images are from too.  This one is from a book written in 1900's.  There is just something soooo cool about knowing that someone so long ago sat down and put their heart into their art,  that it was preserved until now, and that we can still enjoy what was their passion so many years ago, making it a part of what we love to do. 

Wanna see what other projects I have created with Cora's free digi's??   Click HERE.

have a great day!  Melisa

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Project Details

DP : K&Company 6"x6" Paper pad

Flower : Prima

Ribbon : found in an antique store

Deckled scissors

Copic Markers : 

Green - G21, BG34

Blue - B41, B34, B29

Browns - Hat E31, E35, E59

Hair - E35, E37, E59

Skin - E50, E000, YR000

Impression Obsession Challenge

I created this one for the Impression Obsession "Shaped Card" challenge.  Mine is definitely not as fun as some of the other creative shapes that some of the other participates and DT came up with, so if you interested, hop over to the Impression Obsession Blog and check out the blog hop, HERE.
If you love Impression Obsession and would like a chance at winning a $25 Gift Certificate, then you will definitely want to play along with their challenges !! 

Stamp Set : Lucky Ladybugs by Impression Obsession

Patterned Paper : Melissa Frances

Purple Cardstock

Colorization : Copics

Distressing tool : Tim Holtz

white ink around edges of scallop by Brilliance - Cloud White

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

Cornish Heritage Farms Summer Stamp Star Contest

Cornish Heritage Farm is hosting a "Summer Stamp Star" Contest with weekly challenges. This is my project for Challenge #1 Color It !! They are awarding weekly winners and then 1 Over-all Winner. So there is still time for you to qualify to enter one of the weekly Catagories.

I used Single Blackeyed Susan stamp and one of my favorite colorization techniques - H2O Watercolors.
Cornish Heritage Farms has an AWESOME BACKGROUND COLLECTION. I used Polkadots. I love polkadots and new this one would be a good investment, something I would use over and over. They also have a great sentiment collection under MONA LISA. I found a beautiful set of friendship sentiments.

Corner Punch is by EK Success. I also used Spellbinders Label and Bird Dies. I added the eye and wing to the bird. I'm not sure who the button and ribbon are. I got it from my huge stash. Patterned paper is by Basic Grey. I used Pearlescent Chocolate Ink to stamp polkadots / sentiment and Palette Noir to stamp image. Micron 005 Black Pen to accent doodle.

Helpful Links :

Cornish Heritage Farms

CHF Blog

Summer Stamp Star Details

Twinkling H2O's

You can see more of my projects using Spellbinders Dies HERE.