Vintage Verse

The weekend went by fast!!!  Last week we were out of town on vacation...we enjoyed being up in the mountains, but my poor hubby came down with a virus that has been hard to shake!  I don't know about y'all, but I enjoy going away for vacation, but I love coming home again!

When I got home I had a new stamp set waiting for me: Vintage Borders.  I was just itching to get it inky ASAP, but had unpacking, settling and other things so it had to wait a bit. :o)  The musical score is very classic looking and will be a beautiful accent for designing cards in the future.   For this card,  I used some K&Company dp I bought years ago and love the vintage look to the paper.  I lightly sponged with Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress ink to age it a bit more and lightly sponged over my focal image.  I thought a strip of ivory tulle would be a nice accent to the image so wrapped it around the bottom panel before adhering.  

Thank you so much for your sweet comments on my blog!   I truly appreciate the time you take to visit and comment and hope you have a wonderful day!

Blessings,

Card Deets:
Stamp: Vintage Borders
Cardstock: Kraft, Ivory, K&Company Hannah Pad

Ink: Creamy Caramel, Vivid Tuscan Sun, Antique Linen Distress

Accessories: Nesties, Scallop Edge Punch, Ivory Tulle

CSS Challenge Hop

Welcome to our first Center Stage Spotlight Design Team Blog Hop!

Jessica Fick, the Design Team Coordinator for GinaK Designs has issued a challenge to all of the past and present team CSS team members to make a Christmas card with one of these sketches:



We know you're going to LOVE what everyone has designed for us tonight!

I have two cards to share for the Blog Hop that I made using each of these sketches (because I couldn't just stop at one!), one with the simpler sketch and the second card with more embellishments added. I think it makes for a nice quick easy card or more detailed one, whichever you prefer. I altered the focal image a bit in each by using a oval instead of a circle... so know that you can tweek it up to fit your interpretation of the sketch (or if you are like me and don't have Circle Nesties yet...) :o)

I used the gingerbread house stamp from the Holiday Cheer Stamp TV Kit and colored it with Copics and heat embossed it with Clear EP. The little snowflakes were embossed with Clear EP as well and then I lightly sponged to make them pop.

Then here is a card using the sketch with more embellishments.....

The images for this card are also from the Holiday Cheer Stamp TV Kit. I added little pearls to the center of the flowers and a bit of ribbon under the sentiment. I am going to keep this short so you can hop, hop, hop!!!

First, here are the links for GinaK's Current CSS Team Members:

Deb Felts
Diana S. Queen
Karen Knegten
Melissa Cash
Sharri Seffens
Sue VanDeVusse

and the links for all of the past CSS Design Team members participating:

Brenda Turner,
Carla Suto,
Carolina Buchting,
Charlene Merrick,
Dawn Lusk,
DeeMarie Kelemen,
Geri Utterback ,
Giovanna Smith,
Janice Melton,
JenMarie Taylor,
Jennie Harper,
Joy Hadden,
Kay Simmons,
Linda Payne,
Lori McAree,
Melisa Waldorf,
Pam Imholz,
Selma Stevenson,
Shannon Bracken,
Shelly Wilson,
Sue Walsh,
Tina Gilliland

Some of GinaK's Senior Design Team Members and Illustrators wanted to get in on the fun tonight too:

Gina K.

Asela Hopkins
Carolyn King
Cindy Lawrence
Jessica Fick
Lee Murphy
Lynn Mercurio
Nina Brackett
Melanie Muenchinger

along with Nina Brackett's Guest Designer: Lisa Hjulberg

All of these gorgeous cards from the entire team will be added to the StampTV gallery throughout the next few days with the tag cssjf1 (which stands for center stage spotlight jessica fick 1)

These sketches are also our sketch challenge for this week, so be sure to check out all the information in the discussion in our Challenge group over on StampTV Thursday morning. We'd love to see your cards with the sketch too!

**ADDED BONUS**

Nina Brackett is giving away an extra copy of Melanie's Hip to be Square stamp set to a random commenter from one of the blogs, but no idea which so be sure and leave comments along the hop and it could be YOU! :o)

Special thanks to Jessica for organizing this...she is AMAZING!!! Now I am off to hop myself and see what these creative ladies have to share.....I am giddy with excitement! :o)
Blessings,

Creative Clear Stamps Special!!!!

Creative Clear Stamps is having a fabulous deal right now! Be sure and check out their blog HERE for the code to get $10 off your order....but it is only for a limited time so HURRY!!! I heard something about the Grinch sleeping....Hhhmmm.. :o)

Enjoy the Attention

With a new month, I have some new stamp sets to share with you from Creative Clear Stamps... I made this card using Bunch A Numbers and the Sentiment Single Enjoy the Attention. I lined up the numbers (1-9) on a 2x4 acrylic block and stamped them using Memento Tuxedo Black several times to create a background. I stamped my sentiment, embossed it with Nesties and sponged over it with Taken with Teal. A very simple card to put together and this design makes it easy to create a lot of cards in a short amount of time! I do hope you have a wonderful day!
Blessings,

Card Deets:

Stamps: Enjoy the Attention and Bunch A Numbers

Cardstock: Black, Taken with Teal, VV

Ink: Memento Black, Taken with Teal

Accessories: Nesties

Limelight Sketch #33

I made this card for the Limelight Papercrafts Sketch Challenge #33 featuring a sketch by the uber talented Lauren Meader. I used Basic Grey Indian Summer designer paper and the stamp set Take Flight from Gina K. Designs. I stamped the butterfly twice on a piece of the plum colored leaves designer paper (from Indian Summer) and like the way it gives various shades to the butterfly without actually needing to color it. I cut them both out and layered them popping up one to give extra dimension with its' wings taking "flight". Here is a close up:


It is just a beautifuil sentiment... Have a wonderful day!

Blessings,



Card Deets:
Stamp: Take Flight
Cardstock: Chocolate Kiss, Ivory and Basic Grey Indian Summer
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Pale Plum and Pink Pirouette
Accessories: Brown Organdy ribbon, Button, Circle Punches and Basic Grey Bling

CCS Blog Hop Winner!!!

Woo~Hoo! I have the winner for the CCS Blog Hop... Will craftieodame come on down, your name was drawn for your very own Nappy Hour Sentiment Single and you also get a Blog Hop Badge. :o) So excited for you Olga! Just send me an email: (mjharper AT copper.net) with your address and we will get that right out in the mail to you :o)

SG8 and Award

Is this a great looking sketch or what??? Leigh Ann comes up with the best sketches...  I love this one...Here is what I came up with:


I just love this sketch and see myself using it again and quite possibly with my Christmas cards this year. It is a pretty basic card....the stamps are from the Holiday Cheer Stamp TV Kit.  I embossed the snowflakes and sentiment with White EP and added pearls to the center of the snowflakes. Sorry the top of the card is a little blurry, I think it was the light not reflecting well with the white cardstock. I tried several times and could not get it clear enough...

Be sure to check out what the other Sketch Girls came up with and we would love for you to play along with us over at the Sketch Girls Blog :o) 

Before I say ado...


Mary Anne gave me just the sweetest award. I so enjoy her blog and chatting with her over at STV...really have met a great group of ladies over there! So I am supposed to tell 5 things you may not know about me... Let's see:

1. When I was 6, I jumped off of a cliff holding onto a Hawaiians back into a pool of water on the island of Oahu. From the smidgen I remember, it was fun. My dad was a Marine and stationed in Hawaii.
2. I graduated high school in Okinawa, Japan (my dad was still in the Marine Corps)
3. I always wanted to have 4 kids and homeschool. Well, the Lord blessed me with 3 children (the last being a distant third and we are extremely blessed, but done in that department) :o)) Too old to do that again....being labeled "advanced maternal age" at 35, left me needing some serious therapy (just kidding, of course)
4. I love when I can stay in my pajamas all day, stamp and watch movies (especially in the winter when it is cold and I can have a nice fire in the fireplace and a cup of coffee). It doesn't happen often! :o(
5. I am not sports inclined at all! I enjoy watching others play, but when I participate people are embarrassed for me...just ask my husband! :o)) So I stick with paper crafting!

I know that these awards have been all over the place so will try to nominate some I think haven't received one yet.

Cat ~ just love her designs..they always inspire me!
Tina ~ love her very creative designs...and she is always so helpful when I have a question...just recently with a paper trimmer.
Melissa ~ love the way she uses color and dp...I have bought a few extra things because of what I have seen her create :o)
Michelle ~ my Aussie friend who has such a versatile stamping style
Shelly ~ new stamping friend who just amazes me with her projects!

Have a great day!

Blessings,



Card Deets:
Stamp: Holiday Cheer
Cardstock: Cranberry Tart, White and Basic Grey Wassail
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Nesties Labels 4, White EP

CCS Blog Hop=Blog Candy!!!

I am so excited for our second Creative Clear Stamps Blog Hop and this one is focused on the versatile Sentiment Singles line. Each member of the Design Team will be showcasing a different sentiment and giving a new one away to a lucky commenter!

I made both of these cards using the Sentiment Single Nappy Hour from Creative Clear Stamps. I think this is just the cutest sentiment and while some may enjoy a nap themselves....I enjoy the quiet bit of time I get when my youngest (who is 19 months old) takes a nap! That is what I call "my time"...I can read, clean the house, fold laundry, but what do I do a majority of the time, yep, STAMP! :o) All those other things will be there when he wakes up, hee~hee.

For this card I embossed a piece of Basic Grey Lemonade designer paper with the Herringbone folder.  I love the distressed look it gives to the thinner paper.  I then sponged over it with Pretty in Pink to really accentuate the distressing.  These cards also fit perfectly with the Creative Button Challenge this week, how cool is that? :o)

You can win a Creative Clear Stamps Sentiment Single of your own if you sign up to be a Follower on the CCS Blog (if you aren't already) and be sure to check in on these Design Team Members and leave a comment. Each member of the CCS Design Team is giving away a brand new Sentiment Single that is used on their post today!!! So there are 5 chances to WIN!!!! Hopping our blogs will also give you a chance to win a Blog Hop Badge, which helps earn your way into the January Guest Designer Spot!

Shelly
Lisa
Linda
Rebecca

I will announce the winner tomorrow evening and can't wait to see what you create with your own Creative Clear Stamps!

Season's Greetings

Today I want to share a holiday card I made using two Creative Clear Stamp sets. I used the tree from Let It Snow and the sentiment is from the set Holiday Sentiments (which I used to create the background). Paper piecing is a favorite technique of mine and I used the designer paper from the Basic Grey June Bug 6x6 pad. This green pattern is perfect for the Christmas trees! Since this week the creative challenge for Creative Clear Stamps is buttons...I added a button to the center of my plaid bow..and of course I had to add a bit of snow with Polar White Flower Soft.

I hope you enjoyed what I had to share today and now for the big FUN news...TOMORROW we are having a Blog Hop and with that comes 5 chances at blog candy, Woo~Hoo!!! Have a wonderful day!
Blessings,



Card Deets:
Stamps: Let It Snow, Holiday Sentiments
Cardstock: All Spruced Up, Real Red, WW and Basic Grey June Bug
Ink: Handsome Hunter, Memento Black
Accessories: Flower Soft Polar White, Ribbon, White Thread, Button

Tone on Tone Gold

It was a busy weekend with just a little bit of stamping. I did make this card for the Tone on Tone Embossing Challenge over on Stamp TV. There are only two pieces of gold cardstock in my kit which I didn't want to use... obviously because then I don't have any more. :o( How silly is that??? I know, I know... Well, you can be sure I am ordering some of this on my next order. It really takes it up a notch.

I used the bird image and sentiment from the Holiday Cheer Stamp TV Kit. The bird image was stamped with Versamark and I used Gold Embossing Powder. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Blessings,



Card Deets:
Stamps: Holiday Cheer STV Kit
Cardstock: Luxury Ivory and Gold
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Gold Detail EP, Ribbon, Gold Brads, Nesties Label 4